Evans looked at him with a somewhat speechless expression before tossing the metal boxes into his mouth one by one.
The metal boxes created sharp, angular bulges in his neck as they were forced down by immense strength.
After finishing his meal, Evans brushed the dust off his hands.
He then extended his right hand toward Sword-man with his palm up and raised an eyebrow, his expression neutral.
The meaning was clear: Give me back my cross.
Sword-man held the cross between his fingertips, looking quite reluctant to part with it. He stroked the rough wooden surface of the cross, attempting to haggle with Evans.
“Don’t be so stingy, kid. Pops is going to give you more Anomalies later anyway.”
“How about this? I’ll sneak a few extra ones later and trade them with you for this talking wooden hunk. What do you say?”
“I feel like this little thing and I really hit it off. It would make a great sword tassel.”
Evans didn't even look up. His right fingertips twitched slightly, and his tone remained flat. “No trade.”
Wu Erhun knew some information about Ren Yi, so he couldn't let it out of his sight.
“Aw, why are you being so petty?” Sword-man switched into relentless pestering mode.
“Look, even though it and I haven't known each other long, we’ve already established an extremely deep, unbreakable friendship.”
“Right, little cross?”
However, before Sword-man could start getting sentimental, the Wu Erhun Cross, which had been playing dead, suddenly acted like its tail had been stepped on and screamed at the top of its lungs:
“No! Absolutely not! Don't try to act close to me!”
Wu Erhun twisted its wooden body frantically between Sword-man’s fingertips, shouting at Evans with the utmost sycophancy:
“Lord Evans! Don't listen to this scrap-metal-wielder’s nonsense! My loyalty to you is as clear as the heavens and earth!”
“I am Lord Evans’ man in life, and Lord Evans’ Anomaly in death! My Lord, save me quickly!”
This earth-shattering declaration of loyalty directly rendered Sword-man, who had a stomach full of arguments ready, completely speechless.
“…Fine, you win.”
Sword-man rolled his eyes and finally, with a look of distaste, slapped the cross back into Evans’ open palm.
“I was kindly trying to offer you a way out, but here you are, rushing to be someone’s emergency rations.”
Once back in Evans’ palm, Wu Erhun immediately became as quiet as a real wooden carving, not saying another word.
Evans casually tucked the cross back into his pocket.
Subsequently, the two equally abnormal young men walked outward, engaging in meaningless banter along the way.
However...
Just as they reached the edge of the metal plaza where the fight had occurred earlier...
Sword-man, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped without any warning.
The ancient longsword that had been tucked diagonally into his waist suddenly emitted an extremely faint yet piercingly sharp hum.
“What is it?”
Evans frowned slightly, looking at his abrupt reaction with confusion.
Sword-man didn't answer. Instead, he slowly raised his head, his sharp eyes piercing through the layers of darkness to stare fixedly at the space above them.
At the mouth of the Deep Abyss, which was completely locked down and pitch-black.
Following Sword-man’s gaze, Evans also looked up.
In the next moment, a massive tremor arrived.
“BOOM——!”
A thunderous roar echoed.
Above them, the ceiling emitted a tooth-gritting screech. Rust and dust rained down like a torrential storm.
It was denting and deforming, fighting a desperate battle against the impact.
Evans could clearly feel the violent force that the thick armor plating above was enduring.
The vibration lasted for a full ten seconds.
However, in the face of this great power that could completely reset the fragile ecosystem on the surface, the ceiling of the Deep Abyss... ultimately held firm.
It did not collapse.
Evans retracted his gaze and turned to look at the Sword-man beside him. “Was that...?”
Sword-man reached out and flicked the longsword on his back. As the ancient flying sword emitted a clear, crisp ring, his expression relaxed again.
“What else could it be? Like Pops said, once a nuclear bomb exists, there’s bound to be a second one.”
“It’s just the City of the Sky Lake going crazy again.”
“Relax, our ceiling can take a few more hits. And even if it breaks, this Deep Abyss is full of natural air-raid shelters.”
After tossing out a few casual remarks, Sword-man said no more and continued to lead the way, sauntering ahead.
A moment later, he led Evans through a short passage and stopped in front of a small, independent shack welded together from steel plates.
“We’re here. The conditions are simple, so just rest here for now. Someone will bring over the ‘supplements’ the old man picked out for you in a bit.”
Having handed over the quarters, Sword-man should have turned and left.
But he stood by the threshold, grinding his toe against the floor, and for once, he fell silent for a few seconds.
“Uh... Evans.”
Sword-man suddenly dropped his previous flippant attitude, his voice kept very low.
“Pops... he has a lot on his plate, and he carries too many burdens.”
“He cares about too much, so when he thinks things through, he inevitably ends up using those schemes. He truly offended you today.”
Sword-man looked up, a rare flash of sincerity in his eyes. “But anyway, the old man has no real malice toward you. He’s just desperate.”
“If you’re really holding a grudge, wait until the New Era arrives, find a place where no one’s around, and give that old geezer a good thrashing.”
“I promise that as long as you don't kill him, this Sword Immortal definitely won't stop you.”
“You can even beat him until his face looks like a pig’s head.”
Evans listened quietly, his eyes flickering.
“Judging by your tone, you don't seem to have much of an obsession with the ‘New Era.’”
“Uh, sigh...”
Sword-man let out a long sigh and spread his hands, his posture slouching again.
“No, no, no, how could I not? I’m just... slightly better at handling pressure, that’s all.”
“We don't even know if it’ll succeed this time. If it fails, this whole thing is just a dream.”
“And who can guarantee that after the next era reset, we’ll still have the chance to wake up again?”
His silhouette looked somewhat desolate.
Evans looked at him, and after a moment of silence, he spoke up with a rare word of comfort:
“You will wake up. Though the truth of this world is absurd, it hasn't reached the point of being just a dream.”
“Who knows?”
Sword-man tilted his head, his face twisting into a strange expression that was somewhere between a sob and a smile.
“Dream or not, to be honest, I didn't really care much before.”
“Even though my memory occasionally has problems, I can still tell what’s real and what’s fake.”
“To tell you the truth, not long ago, I could still see through the void, but now I suddenly can't.”
As Sword-man spoke, he slowly turned around and gave Evans, who was standing inside the doorway, a deep look.
“Speaking of which, it’s quite a coincidence.”
“It was today, shortly after meeting you at the tunnel entrance, that I suddenly discovered... for some reason...”
Sword-man raised his right hand, pressing his fingers together like a sword and lightly tapping his own brow. His voice was so light it seemed like a gust of wind could blow it away.
“My ‘Sword-heart’ has been inexplicably clouded by a layer of dust that won't wipe away.”
The corners of his mouth quirked up, revealing a strange smile that was somewhat chilling.
“So, maybe everything I’m seeing right now is fake.”
“Catch you later, ‘Fallen One’.”
With a flick of his black trench coat, Sword-man completely vanished into the depths of the lightless shadows.
Rate on N.U.
