Vortex of the Root

"Sigh, if only the workshop were still here." Touko Aozaki lit a cigarette, leaned against the window, and looked at Bai Mo's various health indicators. She said with some frustration, "Only one lobe of his lungs is functioning normally, his heart is only half the size of a normal person's, and whether his liver is functioning properly is basically a matter of luck. The worst part is this..."

"Touko, don't waste your breath. I know my situation. What I want to know isn't how long I can live. I can get through those things with my strength for now." Bai Mo put down his cup. Asclepius's medicine was gradually taking effect, bringing him a cooling sensation.

Touko sighed deeply and said, "I know, sigh, you men never take your own bodies seriously."

She opened the cigarette pack, only to find that the one she had just smoked was the last one. After clicking her tongue in dissatisfaction, she threw the cigarette pack into the sea, sat on the table, and slowly explained, "The Shiki you met before, she's not Shiki Ryougi's other personalities. She's someone with quite a background."

This world is different from the world you once knew. Everything in this world flows from the Root. Although it sounds unbelievable, it is true. The Root determines and records everything in this world.

From the appearance and disappearance of gods and Buddhas to how many bowls of rice an ordinary person ate yesterday, everything is determined by the Root. The Root is the 'cause' of everything. Knowing the 'cause' allows one to calculate the result. Therefore, almost all Magecraft now consider reaching the Root as their sole goal.

Bai Mo's lips twitched as he said, "This is too outrageous! It's like your world is just a program in a computer, and anyone who touches the Root of it can change the whole world?"

"It's outrageous, but it's true. Theoretically, if someone can go to the Vortex of the Root, they can modify everything in this world, even the laws of physics. And the Ryougi Family, through some unknown method, allowed Shiki to be born from the Root in human form."

She is a part of the Vortex of the Root. Generally speaking, being omniscient and omnipotent, she should be completely indifferent to everything outside the world. The Ryougi Family was unaware of her awakening, and she never interfered in anything outside the world... until she met you."

Perhaps because she had no cigarettes to smoke, or perhaps because she felt powerless about what was happening, her voice gradually faded.

"You don't belong to this world at all, even though only your soul does right now. But for her, you must be the only person in this world who makes her feel anticipation, which is why she keeps running away. And she unconditionally accepts all the influence you bring."

"And now, your damn system is probably using her to completely reshape this world. The reason we're still chatting here is probably because the old man and the others are trying to resist."

Upon hearing Touko's words, Bai Mo's eyes darkened, as if he were deep in thought. After a while, he asked, "By the way, when I went to Noah's Ark before, I didn't see Mikiya. Was he on another ship?"

Touko fell into an eerie silence, and that silence itself was the answer.

For an ordinary person, surviving in a world where powerful magnetic fields exist is extremely difficult. It could be the aftershocks of Giant Shark, the destruction caused by Supreme Heavenly King's indiscriminate bombing, or even a volcanic eruption or earthquake after a war.

Touko placed a spell on her disciple, Azaka Kokutou, to understand her situation and protect her. Just recently, the spell transmitted news of Azaka Kokutou's suicide. There could only be one reason for that disciple to give up on life.

"I understand, I'm sorry, Touko."

Bai Mo's words were filled with regret and sadness. Although they hadn't known each other for long, that ordinary yet hardworking person shouldn't have ended up like this. He clenched his fist, filled with determination.

"Although it's not good for me to say this, Bai Mo, perhaps you should consider whether you want to embark on this path of no return. Shiki Ryougi... she's almost completely destitute."

Without answering, Touko sighed and left the room. She hadn't gone Shiki Ryougi when she met Ryougi Shiki at the corner. She seemed to have been waiting there for some time. Seeing Touko emerge, Shiki Ryougi asked, "How did it go?"

"This is very bad. Less than 20% of his bone marrow is still functioning normally; a normal person would have died long ago. Bai Mo is currently standing on the edge of a cliff, and a super typhoon is about to hit."

Upon hearing Touko's words, Shiki Ryougi walked towards the door where Touko had just come out without turning her head.

Inside a room on the Argo, protected by Magecraft barrier, three women sat at a table, their arms crossed. Though no weapons were visible, the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder. Fran, Atalanta, Circe looked at each other, while Medea, touching the Golden Fleece in her hand, watched them with a helpless expression.

"Hey Aunt, what exactly do you want from us? And when did you start wearing glasses?" Medea looked at the three of them with a helpless expression, as if they were three cowboys engaged in a life-or-death duel.

"Three rules: Although it's regrettable, what Bai Mo needs most right now is rest, so I don't want anyone to disturb him, or cause him, who is already burdened with so much, trouble because of their own feelings."

Circe had somehow donned a pair of glasses; his face was dark, and the lenses reflected the light. Atalanta frowned and said, "What nonsense are you thinking? How could I possibly do something so absurd at a time like this?"

Circe, then took a deep breath and said, "Just in case. Besides, aren't there still two dangerous elements here!"

"Hey, don't drag me along!" Medea retorted immediately.

"Medea, although I can turn a blind eye to what happened before, since he's still alive, I hope you won't have those kinds of thoughts about your uncle." Circe gazed at Medea with a meaningful look, and said softly, "After all, on Aeaea Island, you tried so hard, you were so heartbroken; it didn't seem like you were purely feeling guilty..."

Upon hearing this, Medea's face instantly turned as red as a boiled shrimp. She turned her head and snorted, "Auntie, you seem the most likely person to do such a thing! I'm not so stupid as to not understand the current situation."

"Medea, have I been too lenient with you? And only now am I realizing how well you've developed your figure! How awful!"

"Who told you to drink wheat porridge on the island every day!"

The two immediately began to wrestle, Atalanta, rubbing her forehead, watched the scene with utter exhaustion. But Circe was right; there was indeed a very dangerous presence here.

"Then, Miss Fran, could you please refrain from any rash actions during this time?"

Atalanta stared threateningly at the gothic girl sitting opposite her. Fran belatedly realized what was happening and stretched.

"Sure, it'll all be over in the end anyway, so I... don't want to bother him for now."

Finally, despite some doubts, everyone made an agreement based on this, and then...

Half an hour later, Circe, carrying a steaming bowl of Huke's soup, crept up to Bai Mo's door with a wicked smile.

"Although we shouldn't disturb him, if he can't help himself, there's nothing we can do. After all, warriors who are engaged before going to war often don't come back, hehe. The formula is fully adjusted, there's no way it will go wrong."

Witches keep their promises, but only to the extent of promises.

She quietly opened the door and tiptoed to the bedside. She put down the stylist and stealthily climbed into bed.

"Nobody here?"

The clean, cold bedding indicated that the room had never been used, Circe sighed deeply. What a blunder! Was he too happy to have considered this?

Just as she was about to leave, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door. Circe was overjoyed and immediately turned off the light and lay down in bed. Jason had furnished Bai Mo's room quite luxuriously, even replacing the original hammock with a warm, large bed. The wool blankets were more than enough to cover Circe's petite body.

The door opened, footsteps drew closer, Circe felt her heart pounding. How reckless of her! How could she just lie down on the bed like that? This is... amazing! She hoped they wouldn't find out, and that they wouldn't even have the strength to kick her out, and would just give up resisting.

Then, a hand reached under the covers, and as if sensing someone inside, a soft voice came from beneath.

Are you asleep?

Upon hearing this voice, Circe's expectant expression vanished instantly. She grabbed the newcomer's finger and looked at Atalanta with an expression of utter dismay.

Then, Atalanta's face showed the same expression as Circe's.

"I knew you had ulterior motives!"

"Circe?! You're already under the covers, how dare you say that!"

"I... Isn't he unwell? What's wrong with me warming his blanket?"

"Listen to what you're saying! Do you even believe it yourself?!"

Just as the two were about to engage in their final battle, Atalanta's ears twitched. She immediately grabbed Circe ears, and both of them heard footsteps outside the door.

Medea, holding some potions—potions with sleep-inducing properties—hesitated at the doorway, muttering to herself, "Just give him some sleep-inducing potions, then leave. Hmm, keep a calm mind."

Suppressing the slight girlish fantasy in her heart, Medea opened the door. There was no light on inside, and the blankets were slightly raised, indicating that someone was already asleep.

"Asleep? Then I'll just leave. "Medea thought to herself, then placed the potion on the floor. Her goal was achieved; there seemed to be no reason for her to stay any longer.

For reasons unknown, Medea inexplicably walked to the bedside, seemingly reaching out her hand, as if wanting to see the face of the person she felt guilty and worried about, and then...

She saw Circe and Atalanta looking like they'd stepped in dog poop.

So where did the person who was supposed to be in this room go? On the deck, Bai Mo leaned against the railing, holding a bottle of fruit wine in her hand. Just as she was about to drink it, Shiki Ryougi snatched it away from her.

"The alcohol content is very low." Bai Mo, Shiki Ryougi to the side, was like a panting cat; any move she made would only elicit a defensive paw strike from her.

"Your liver isn't healthy either. Don't tell me about using some Magnetic Field Power to fix it. You'd be better off resting." Shiki Ryougi put the fruit wine away, looking like she wouldn't accept any explanation or compromise.

A sea breeze blew, causing Shiki Ryougi's hair to flutter, and the atmosphere became somewhat tense. Bai Mo broke the silence, saying, "I'm very sorry about what happened to Mikiya."

The words had barely left her Shiki Ryougi when Ryougi Shiki, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, grabbed Bai Mo's shoulder and stared intently at Bai Mo. Her gaze was full of reproach, but not for what she had done to Mikiya.

"How could you think that? The reason that happened was entirely that damn thing's fault!"

Bai Mo shook his head and explained, "No... when I encountered that system, I was hit by a truck. At that time, I didn't have any power and was about to die. Back then, in order to fulfill some desires in my heart... I ended up making this world like this."

As he spoke, his eyes were filled with regret and resentment. Shiki Ryougi looked at Bai Mo sitting on the ground, feeling as if a giant hand was gripping her heart. She also sat down beside Bai Mo, looking up at the starry sky. At this moment, how insignificant humanity was.

"Take that thought back. Even if it doesn't come looking for you, that thing will go looking for someone else. You're by my side now, not colluding with that bastard."

Seeing Ryougi Shiki's somewhat agitated Shiki Ryougi, Bai Mo's expression shifted slightly as she said, "Shiki, what's wrong? You can't be this agitated, can you?"

"Mind your own business! Someone who doesn't even care about themselves has no right to talk to me!" After saying this, she seemed to lose all her strength, resting her head against Bai Mo's chest. "Do you really have to go? With your physical condition, what good will it do if you win? You'll still die, won't you?"

Mikiya said the same thing to her before.

If one day I contracted a contagious disease, and if I survived, everyone else in this city would die, then I would probably commit suicide. Not for the sake of others, but because I don't have the courage to fight against the entire city alone.

The sea breeze caressed Bai Mo's face. He sat down cross-legged, and for some reason, he thought of his past.

Some memories he didn't want to face, some dark memories of the past, but buried within these memories were things he had once forgotten, those vanished dreams. That day, Bai Mo walked down the rainy street, having just said goodbye to the last person he cared about in that world.

Something's not right.

His heart was screaming and roaring incessantly.

This shouldn't be the case.

Why do kind people suffer such unjust fates, while those despicable parents live carefree lives? Something must have gone wrong. It is this mistake that allows the wicked to triumph while the good suffer a miserable end.

At that time, Bai Mo had a wish rising in his heart: he wanted to change, to change this mistake. But this dream died the moment it was born; reason told him that even if he devoted his whole life to it, he couldn't change anything. Perhaps fate took pity on him and granted him the power to fulfill his wish.

But in reality, this is just another cruel twist of fate. If he were to take action, the entire world would be thrown into turmoil by this Magnetic Field Power, suspicion would spread among humanity, and ultimately only lead to a greater tragedy.

Finally, he buried this dream in the grave of his memory and devoted himself to repaying the being who gave him a second life.

Now that gratitude no longer binds him, power has returned to his side, and the dream in the grave is gradually emerging.

Shiki Ryougi received no reply for a long time. By the time she realized what was happening, Bai Mo was sitting cross-legged like an old monk, his whole being entering a mysterious state.

"You... you're too cunning." Shiki Ryougi was about to take him back when a voice suddenly came from beside her.

I suggest you don't bother him.

Shiki Ryougi was startled. She could clearly sense the presence of anyone. Looking up, she saw a half-naked man standing next to Bai Mo, looking at the seated Bai Mo with great interest.

"You are... that guy? Didn't you leave?"

Shiki Ryougi knew the owner of this voice; he had interrupted the system's words when it connected everyone.

Bai Wunan leaned against the railing, looking at Bai Mo sitting cross-legged, a smile appearing on his lips. "Who said I left? I'm going to watch the final battle; I'm just hitching a ride here."

"What happened to Bai Mo?" Shiki Ryougi asked, since the person in front of her shouldn't be an enemy. Bai Wunan gave a mocking smile, "Little girl, your sweetheart is fine. Oh, sorry, I should say your friend is fine."

Shiki Ryougi Bai Wunan was choked by Shiro Takeo's breath and really wanted to use her excellent eloquence to stab this guy in the back, but for some reason her brain couldn't think of any words.

Bai Wunan's gaze was focused on Bai Mo's lower abdomen, where Magnetic Field Power were quietly operating, forming a small Tai Chi Ryougi.

"I really didn't expect that my unintentional act would actually allow this kid to touch this realm, giving me such an unexpected surprise. So, Bai Mo, what will your Final Realm produce?"

The so-called unintentional act was actually the act of "releasing" the Source of Power, so that Bai Mo would no longer be bound by heavy debts involving life and death. That's just his personality—so indecisive. If it were Blue Dream, she wouldn't have taken it to heart at all.

Bai Wunan hadn't expected things to turn out this way, but this action didn't seem sufficient to represent a final breakthrough in his mental state. So, it stemmed from his past memories—facing them directly, combined with the martial arts skills bestowed upon him by the Giant Shark, did he achieve a breakthrough?

This damn system really knows how to pick people. What has this kid been through in the past?

Seeing Bai Wunan muttering to himself while looking at Bai Mo's lower abdomen, Shiki Ryougi suddenly felt that this guy didn't seem quite normal, so she took off her red jacket and covered Bai Mo with it.

"How gentle! But your clothes haven't been washed in ages, have they? Couldn't you have gone to his room to get a blanket or something? Oh, sorry, I probably didn't think that far ahead."

Bai Wunan's words, coupled with his seemingly enlightened expression, made Shiki Ryougi Shiki's teeth grind. She couldn't take it Shiki Ryougi and retorted, "If you had taken that weird look away, I wouldn't have had to do this. Sir, have you always looked at men like that? I remember Bai Mo is a normal heterosexual."

"You sharp-tongued little girl, can't even tell the difference between loving eyes? Looks like not only did you not do your laundry, you never look in the mirror either." After saying this, Bai Wunan left with a smug look on his face, leaving behind only Ryougi Shiki, who was so displeased that she would indiscriminately Shiki Ryougi on everyone.