Bart's Dream

Lin Feng glanced at Bart lying on the ground and strode over.

"Bart, wake up!"

Lin Feng hurried to Bart's side, a trace of concern on his face. He crouched down and gently patted Bart's cheek.

"Cough, cough..."

Bart coughed twice and slowly opened his eyes, his gaze somewhat unfocused.

"Where is this?"

Bart looked at the unfamiliar surroundings and asked weakly. Clearly, he had yet to recover fully from the fierce battle moments ago.

"We're still in that underground space."

Lin Feng spoke calmly, with a hint of concern that was difficult to detect.

"You... you subdued that Demon Sword..."

Bart suddenly remembered something. His pupils contracted sharply as he asked urgently, his voice filled with shock and disbelief.

"That's right. I've already subdued it."

Lin Feng nodded, returned God Slayer to its sheath, then held it out in front of Bart so he could see it more clearly.

"Th-this... how is that possible?!"

Bart's eyes widened as he stared fixedly at God Slayer in Lin Feng's hand. His face was filled with shock, as though he had witnessed something unbelievable.

"You really subdued it?!"

His voice trembled, filled with disbelief. Clearly, he could not accept this reality.

"What's so impossible about it?"

Lin Feng grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "I'm going to become the strongest man in the world. How could I fail to subdue a mere sword?"

"You..."

Bart opened and closed his mouth as he looked at Lin Feng's completely confident expression. For a moment, he did not know what to say.

He had originally thought that Lin Feng would be devoured by the demon sword and become a madman who knew nothing but slaughter.

Yet Lin Feng had actually subdued the demon sword. Moreover, he seemed to have gained some kind of powerful strength. This completely overturned Bart's understanding.

"Bart, how are you feeling now?"

Lin Feng put away his smile and asked with concern.

"I... I'm fine."

Bart shook his head, his gaze somewhat complicated. "I just won't be able to recover for a while."

"That's good."

Lin Feng nodded. "Let's leave this place first."

"Mm."

Bart took a deep breath and slowly stood up. Although his body was still somewhat weak, he could already walk on his own.

Seeing this, Lin Feng nodded and motioned for Bart to follow. The two of them walked toward the exit together.

As they walked, they warily observed their surroundings to guard against any unknown mechanisms or dangers that might still be hidden within the ruins.

"By the way, Bart, you said before that you had an unfinished dream. What is it?"

On the way, Lin Feng suddenly spoke, his voice filled with curiosity.

"A dream..."

Bart's body stiffened. That word was truly unfamiliar to him.

His only "dream" had once been to become the most powerful weapon.

But now, he was no longer a weapon.

He was a person, a person with free will.

"I..."

Bart opened his mouth but did not know how to answer. Confusion flashed through his eyes.

"I... want to find them..."

After a long while, Bart finally spoke slowly. His voice was hoarse and low, with a faint tremor that was difficult to detect.

Trembling, he took a pocket watch from his clothes and gently opened its cover. Inside was an old black-and-white photograph.

The photograph showed a young woman and a little girl. Their smiles were radiant, their faces overflowing with happiness.

"They are..."

Lin Feng looked at the woman and little girl in the photograph and felt his heart stir. He vaguely guessed what was going on.

"My... family."

Bart's voice was very soft, yet it carried deep longing. His eyes also grew gentle.

"I... want to find them. I want to know whether they... are doing well..."

Lin Feng fell silent. He had never expected Bart to have such a past, and for a moment, he did not know what to say.

"Don't worry. I'll definitely help you find them!"

Lin Feng suddenly spoke, his tone solemn and his gaze resolute.

"Really?"

Bart abruptly raised his head. Hope burst from his eyes as he stared intently at Lin Feng.

"Of course!"

Lin Feng nodded heavily.

"We're partners, after all!"

"Partners..."

Bart muttered to himself. Those two words were both unfamiliar and warm to him, as if a stream of warmth had flowed into his heart.

"Thank you, Lin Feng."

Bart looked at Lin Feng, his eyes filled with gratitude and his voice slightly choked.

"Why thank me? We're partners!"

Lin Feng grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, and vigorously patted Bart on the shoulder.

"Mm, partners!"

Bart nodded heavily, his eyes filled with determination. It was an expectation for the future.

The two exchanged a smile and continued toward the exit with firm steps.

"Lin Feng, do you really believe that the demon sword won't turn on you?"

Bart suddenly asked, his tone carrying a trace of concern.

"Of course I do." Lin Feng grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "The old man said that true experts can't be controlled by external objects! How could a mere demon sword make me submit?"

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Besides, I feel that sword seems to be hiding some kind of secret..."

"A secret?"

Bart was stunned. "What secret?"

"I don't know yet."

Lin Feng shook his head. "But sooner or later, I'll figure it out!"

"When that time comes, you'll know!"

Confidence glittered in Lin Feng's eyes. It was a determination to explore and uncover the unknown.

"Mm, I believe you!"

Bart nodded, his eyes filled with trust.

The two continued forward. Their destination was the vast, boundless sea!

Meanwhile, far away, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

Inside a room, under dim lighting, a crystal ball hovered silently in midair. Strange patches of light refracted across its surface, illuminating the cold, twisted patterns on the masked face of the black-robed figure and making one shudder.

"Lin Feng... Demon Sword Demon God..."

The black-robed figure's voice was low and hoarse, like two coarse stones grinding against each other. Every syllable carried a bone-chilling coldness.

"Interesting. Truly interesting..."

"Joy Boy... I haven't heard that name in a very long time..."

The black-robed figure narrowed his eyes slightly. His tone remained calm, but a hint of wariness flashed through his gaze.

"Hmph. Whoever you are, whatever your purpose, don't even think about disrupting this world's balance!"

A cold glint burst from the black-robed figure's eyes, and his voice suddenly turned icy. "This world can have only one order!"

"Someone come!"

The black-robed figure suddenly shouted sharply, his voice echoing through the empty room.

"This subordinate is here!"

A shadow instantly appeared inside the room. He knelt on one knee and lowered his head respectfully.

"Pass down my order. Keep a close watch on Lin Feng's movements. Have CP8 investigate first. If necessary, send CP0 into action." The black-robed figure's voice was cold and emotionless.

"Yes!" The shadow accepted the order and quickly vanished into the darkness. The room once again fell silent, leaving only the black-robed figure standing alone beneath the dim light, his silhouette exceptionally sinister.

The crystal ball hovered silently, its surface flickering with strange radiance that illuminated the mask on the black-robed figure's face. The twisted patterns seemed to have come alive, sinister and terrifying.

"Joy Boy... will the prophecy you left behind really come true? Or is this the beginning of another cycle?"

The black-robed figure gazed at Lin Feng's image within the crystal ball, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

"Joy Boy's will, the fate of Demon Sword Demon God... this world doesn't need a second variable..."

A hint of wariness—and... anticipation?—colored the black-robed figure's voice.