Echoes of the Space-Time Corridor

Before the engines of "Messenger Two" had even cooled down, the alarm at the Temple of Balance shattered the tranquility once again.

This alarm did not come from the Star Orbit, but from the "Space-Time Corridor" at the bottom of the temple—a core area for studying the Origin of Balance, where energy imprints extracted from fragments of the Primordial Plane are sealed. At this moment, bursts of energy hummed from the depths of the corridor, and the originally stable imprints began to flicker violently, projecting chaotic light and shadows on the stone walls, as if something was trying to break free from the rift in time and space.

When Tang Nian and Lan Che arrived, the stone gate of the corridor had already been sealed by an invisible energy barrier. The barrier was covered with seven-colored patterns similar to those of the Primordial Core, but it carried a chilling feeling that was completely different from the Chaos Energy they were familiar with.

"It's a ' Space-Time Backflow ' phenomenon." Blue Crystal's voice came through the communicator, tinged with unusual solemnity. "The ancient texts of the Crystal Galaxy record that when Primordial Fragment comes into contact with a strong belief in balance, it will rewind spacetime, projecting fragments of the past or future. But this energy fluctuation is too violent; it's more like... being forcibly awakened by some force."

Tang Nian placed her palm on the barrier, and the seven-colored halo at her fingertips resonated with the patterns on the barrier. She could feel that the Primordial Fragment behind the barrier were releasing countless streams of information. These streams were chaotic, but they all pointed to the same core—a blurry figure standing in a void, holding half a broken Primordial Core in its hand.

"That figure..." Tang Nian's voice trembled slightly, "... has the same fluctuations as the energy imprint left by Senior Tang San in the light trail."

Lan Che pulled up the energy map of the corridor. On the map, the fluctuation frequency of the Primordial Fragment highly matched the Catalytic Rune variant of the Shattered Star Belt, only purer and more ancient. "It is the Primordial Fragment itself 'calling'. It is activated by the residual energy of the Catalytic Rune and is recalling memories related to the Primordial Core."

Just then, an ancient line of text suddenly appeared on the barrier. The text, composed of energy, automatically translated into a language they could understand. "At the end, where is balance?"

The words echoed like thunder in the corridor. Tang Nian and Lan Che exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes—this was not just a question, but more like a prophecy, hinting that the ultimate test of balance was about to arrive.

"We must enter the corridor and find the root of the Primordial Fragment's regression." Tang Nian made her decision. She Chaos Energy into a blade, attempting to cut through the barrier. "If this is a harbinger of the future, we must prepare in advance."

Lan Che immediately cooperated, drawing precise cutting lines on the barrier with his Order Energy: "Be careful, the spacetime in the corridor may have become disordered. Any mistake could lead to a time paradox."

The energy barrier cracked open under the combined attack of the two forces. Tang Nian and Lan Che flashed inside, instantly enveloped by a strong sense of dizziness. Spacetime in the corridor had indeed been distorted; the light and shadow on the stone walls were no longer chaotic, but instead formed flowing images—

In the scene, a figure in a long robe stands on the ruins of the Primordial Plane, the Primordial Core in his hand cracking, his face contorted with painful choice. The scene shifts, and Tang San's seven-colored light, emanating from the Star Track Rift, merges with the core of the Dark Matter Nebula's mother star, forming a new light of balance. Finally, the scene freezes on a void space where countless shattered plane fragments float, a huge black shadow looming over the debris, at the center of which is a Primordial Fragment radiating an aura of absolute nothingness.

"That's a ' Fragment of the End '." An aged voice echoed in the corridor.

Tang Nian and Lan Che turned around abruptly, only to see an old man's figure made of energy emerge from the shadow of the stone wall. It was the energy projection of the figure in the long robe. The projection was already very unstable, as if it would dissipate at any moment.

"The Primordial Core is not solely composed of the power of balance," the robed figure's voice trembled with weariness. "From its very inception, it split into two fragments: 'Balance' and 'End.' The Fragment of Balance gave birth to the laws of balance across countless planes, while the Fragment of the End represents the instinct to return to nothingness, devouring all planes every trillion years, plunging everything back into chaos."

He pointed to the dark figure in the image. "Now, the Fragment of the End has awakened. It is devouring the surrounding planes, and its next target is the Web of Balance you are in. Catalytic Rune and Order Seed are its vanguard, released to weaken the balance of each plane."

Lan Che's metallic hand clenched tightly. "Then, is the balance we've been protecting ultimately in vain?"

"It wasn't in vain." The projection of the robed figure pointed to the seven-colored halo in Tang Nian's palm. "The true meaning of balance lies not in eternal existence, but in choosing to protect the beauty of the present even knowing the end will come. Just like Tang San, who knew the dangers of the Star Track Rift, yet still chose to sacrifice himself, because he knew that the balance at that moment was worth protecting with his life."

Looking at the light emanating from Tang San in the image, Tang Nian suddenly understood something. "The Fragment of the End devour planes because they believe that all balances are temporary and will eventually return to nothingness. But we can prove that even temporary balances can leave an eternal mark."

"This is the purpose of the Primordial Fragment's journey through time." The projection of the robed figure smiled with satisfaction. "It is searching for an existence capable of answering the ' Question of the End.' Balance is not a weapon against the End, but rather the courage to still choose to bloom when facing the End."

As he spoke, the Primordial Fragment in the corridor suddenly burst forth with intense light, and countless tiny points of light appeared on the surface of the fragments. These points of light were the energy imprints left by various planes in a state of equilibrium—there were colorful vines of continents, the Tree of Life of Dark Matter Nebula, and the Refraction Matrix of Crystal Galaxy. Each point of light was flashing with a unique light, which never went out even under the shadow of the end.

"These marks are the answer to balance." The projection of the robed figure gradually became transparent. "The end may be inevitable, but as long as every plane and every life has safeguarded its own balance, then even if we return to nothingness, these marks will forever remain in the echoes of the primordial beginning, awaiting the next rebirth."

The moment the projection dissipated, the Primordial Fragment transformed into a stream of light, merging into Tang Nian's Blade of Chaos. The spatial-temporal disorder in the corridor gradually subsided, and the images on the stone walls faded away, leaving only the words "At the end, where is balance?" But now, the words no longer contained a cold premonition; instead, they held a warm revelation.

When they left the corridor, Tang Nian and Lan Che's states of mind were completely different. The shadow of the end did not frighten them; instead, it strengthened their belief in protecting the dead.

Beneath the dome of the Temple of Balance, Xiao Wu and Blue Crystal awaited them. Seeing the light in their eyes, they knew that the new guardians had found their own answer.

"You all know about the Fragment of the End?" Xiao Wu asked softly.

Tang Nian nodded, raising the Blade of Chaos in her hand. Amidst the blade's seven-colored light, a trace of the ancient aura of Primordial Fragment appeared. "It's not the end, but the reason we protect the balance. Just as Senior Tang San said, the Chaos Azure Lotus will find a new balance, and so will we."

Lan Che brought up a star map, marking countless new points of light beyond the continent, the Dark Matter Nebula, and the Crystal Galaxy: "The devouring of the Fragment of the End will take time. Before that, we must bring the imprints of balance to more planes. Even if one day everything returns to nothingness, these imprints will still tell of our existence in the echoes of the primordial beginning."

When "Messenger Two" set sail again, its destination was no longer a known galaxy, but the unknown territories deep within the Sea of Stars that had never been explored before. Tang Nian stood in front of the porthole, looking at the light trail connecting all things in the starry sky. The seven-colored light on the light trail intertwined with the imprints of the Primordial Fragment, forming a bridge that transcended time and space.

She knew that the story of balance never had an "end," but only one "present moment" after another—in each present moment, choosing to protect, choosing to bloom, choosing to let the light of balance illuminate even the darkness for only a moment.

And this is the best answer to the "Question of the End".

The Sea of Stars is boundless, the light trails extend, and the messengers of balance, carrying primordial revelations, are embarking on their own endless journey.