Because that dream had long since shattered.
Because you had long since decided to have nothing more to do with him.
Whatever his reason for leaving you this message, hadn't severing all ties that day already proved your resolve? Why would you let yourself step into this vortex again?
Why did you have to rely on him?
That voice kept speaking to her.
She floated in the empty Data Network for a long time, silent.
She slowly tightened her grip on the painting.
In the painting was that boy bathed in sunlight, spirited and full of life, as though he might step out of his home at any moment and stride off on an adventure. No matter how many hardships and dangers lay ahead, he was utterly fearless.
Finally.
She abruptly raised her head, sprang forward once more, and flew in that direction.
One last time.
That was what she told herself.
Whether he's waiting for you there or has left you some message, this will be the last time.
"What's wrong?"
In the Data Network Passage leading to the next Light Banquet Machine, Lynn's data stream abruptly stopped. He held back Light Banquet beside him, staring ahead with a frown.
Light Banquet looked at him in confusion.
They had already devoured several Light Banquets. She didn't know why he had suddenly stopped.
Lynn kept his eyes fixed ahead and held her back, saying:
"There's something up ahead."
Within the pitch-black Data Network Passage, the road ahead was an expanse of emptiness. They were still immersed in the torrent of data, but the powerful intuition brought on by his psionic response made him instinctively sense a faint anomaly along the path ahead.
It was extremely slight.
But he had still clearly noticed a trace of sluggishness in the