Selene moved, a dazzling blue beam of light shooting forward, destroying everything in its path. A thunderous explosion resonated. BOOOM! The Faceless Man's body was utterly crushed and destroyed, leaving not even a single piece of flesh.
The beam continued to fly forward relentlessly, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake wherever it passed. Selene panted with exhaustion. Her body, burdened by accumulated strain, trembled slightly before she collapsed to the ground. But the young woman did not lose consciousness. She tried her utmost to resist the darkness from engulfing her vision and awareness. Selene didn't want to die. She didn't want to die now, because there were still many things she hadn't accomplished.
"Chief!!" Aleah cried out loudly as she swiftly rushed to help support the weakening young woman. She carefully received Selene into her arms. Her pastel pink hair fell against the other's cheek. Aleah tried to stare at that exhausted face as if afraid that in the next second, she wouldn't be able to see it again in her life. However, the clear liquid blurring most of her vision prevented the young woman from seeing Selene's face clearly.
"Don't look like I'm about to die…" Even though she felt she was reaching her limit, Selene still forced a smile back at the young woman looking down at her with tears.
"But you… why did you say that earlier…" Aleah tried to hold back from crying like a crybaby. Unfortunately, the young woman failed. Not only did she fail, but the clear liquid flowed down her cheeks even more profusely. When she imagined not meeting, not talking, not seeing that familiar face again, Aleah's mind almost completely broke down.
"I was just saying it in case, but as a team leader, I won't die easily." Using all her remaining strength, Selene's hand slowly reached closer, trying to touch the pink-haired young woman's cheek, wanting to wipe away her tears and comfort the heart burdened with guilt. Selene didn't care about her own physical condition in the slightest.
"I'm sorry… please don't leave me, Chief!" Aleah's face unconsciously moved closer to the cold touch of that palm. In this instant, the young woman's world suddenly became completely dark. There was only her and her chief. Aleah no longer cared about anything else. All traces of bright emotions suddenly faded, leaving only mental suffering slowly gnawing at her heart.
"..." Selene's pale lips parted slightly as if to say something, but she had no strength left. She couldn't even move her mouth to speak. Just moving her finger, reaching out to touch Aleah earlier, that was already a miracle. The remaining strength at that time came purely from sheer willpower.
Elena walked silently closer to the two. She said nothing, only stood watching and tried to think of a solution to the current situation. Given Selene's condition at this moment, it was feared that even the best recovery medicine currently available might not be able to prolong her life for long.
Suddenly, Elena's eyes caught a glimpse of something. A technological metal spear was heading their way. Her eyes widened slightly in shock. The young woman moved hastily and nervously. The heavy bow was thrown with all her might. The two technological metals clashed loudly before falling to the ground a second later.
"Aleah… look out," Elena stepped in front of the two young women, who were not in a state to fight. With a slight movement of her hand, the bow spun back to its owner. Elena's eyes were serious, staring into the distance. Her senses expanded, clearly seeing the culprit in this situation.
The Faceless Man… it wasn't dead! Although its condition didn't look good at first, the body of this interdimensional being was slowly regenerating. Footsteps moved to close the distance, one step at a time. Danger was creeping closer, step by step. At the same time, there was a rhythmic clapping sound of flesh. A clear 'clap, clap...' sound echoed loudly in the otherwise silent place.
"Excellent! Truly excellent! Hahaha… I never thought that low-level humans could bring me to this point. Be proud, humans! I will let you depart peacefully. That is my mercy, a supreme exalted being!"
The Faceless Man tilted its head slightly. Its surface developed a wide, long crack that stretched across its face, becoming a twisted and bizarre smile. This sight wasn't particularly frightening, yet it made both young women, Aleah and Elena, shiver.
"Why…" Aleah's eyes were filled with despair. She looked back at Selene in her arms. Even though the team leader risked so much, why is this interdimensional being still alive, looking completely fine? Is this the strength of a catastrophic-level interdimensional being? So vastly different from A-level. Isn't it a bit too strong?
"Because I am…" Just as the Faceless Man was about to boast and display its power, something thin and small shot out, clamping around its mouth. Soon after, the Faceless Man's head was violently torn off and rolled far away.
"Are you two alright?" A soft yet firm voice unexpectedly sounded. In front of Aleah and Elena stood the perfect form of a young woman. Hope immediately returned to Aleah's eyes at the sight of that figure, as if she were an angel sent from heaven to save humanity. Flawless beauty, a body beyond any description.
"Sister Lian! Chief…" Before Aleah could finish explaining, Ling Lian stroked her head, comforting her, then nodded as a sign of understanding.
"Selene will be fine." After saying that, Ling Lian took out a prepared syringe and injected it into Selene's veins. Then, she slowly and gently transferred interdimensional energy from her own body to the other young woman. Ling Lian's actions didn't greatly improve Selene's condition, but it could sustain her life for several hours. That time was enough to take her for treatment.
The Faceless Man's body moved to retrieve its head and put it back in place. Once reattached, it murmured with interest, "Another human female… a new toy… truly delicious."
A long, sharp, crimson tongue emerged from its own lips. The Faceless Man stepped closer to Ling Lian without fear. With the senses of a catastrophic-level interdimensional being, it quickly observed that the newly appeared human was not in perfect condition, and with only her current strength, she could not be a threat to it.
"Aleah, the Director's sword," Ling Lian turned to warn the pink-haired young woman, whose mental state was recovering.
"The Director's sword…" Suddenly, Aleah remembered something important she had completely forgotten. The young woman's hand reached for the high-quality sword hilt at her waist. Why couldn't she remember this earlier? That's right! She had the Director's sword. A weapon no less powerful than the Chief's technological spear. If I could use it… the young woman murmured.
"Sister Lian, can I use it?" It was an unintentional question. Aleah didn't have the courage to use this sword without permission. It was the Director's sword, a weapon equipped with all types of cutting-edge technology. It had been bathed in the blood of countless catastrophic-level interdimensional beings. Did someone like her truly have the qualifications to use it?
"I'm not as proficient with swords as you… Aleah, you can use it fully. I'll talk to the Director myself later. He won't mind." Ling Lian shook her head gently, then looked back at the pink-haired young woman with trust in her eyes. That made Aleah automatically shrink back, losing all confidence. She didn't dare accept the other's expectations. The image of Selene replayed repeatedly in the young woman's mind.
"I…"
"Aleah, this isn't like you! Just do your best, that's enough. No one is disappointed in you, and no one blames you." Elena quickly pulled the sword from the young woman's waist, then threw it to her. Aleah quickly caught the sword in her arms, filled with extreme care. How could she drop the Director's sword?
"Mmm… I understand. Thank you, Elena." There was still some self-doubt remaining, but Aleah no longer hesitated. She didn't want to let the efforts of those around her go to waste. So, from this second, she would stand up and fight on, not allowing anyone else to be injured because of her.
"You're welcome."
"Finally, are you done talking?" The Faceless Man looked bored. Even so, it waited patiently. It felt very confident and held its supreme honor above all else. There was no need to ambush mere ants like humans. It could deal with the other party easily.
"I… This time, I'll take you down!" The technological metal was pulled from its scabbard, like a beast unleashed from its chains of development. The surrounding atmosphere churned. The immense amount of interdimensional energy contained within the black sword exploded, creating chaos throughout the entire environment.
[Identity confirmed. Aleah Morgan, A-level member, Team A, 18 years old.]
[Unlocking functions with Level 2 access rights.]
[Guardian's Blessing System activated… Sacred Garment System activated… Automatic interdimensional energy absorption in the area activated…]
Amidst the surprised gazes of the other young women, Aleah's combat suit transformed into another form. A thin layer gradually formed, creating a beautiful, intricate, and unique appearance suitable for her. Not only that, a pink light appeared in the young woman's eyes, along with an aura of mist radiating around her.
"Seeking death, human!" The moment the sword's functions activated, the Faceless Man felt a threat like never before. Just touching the aura released by that beautiful garment, its body trembled uncontrollably with fear, for unknown reasons.
"I feel like I have endless power," Aleah clenched and unclenched her hand, feeling excited in her chest. When she noticed the Faceless Man rushing to attack with dozens of disgusting black octopus tentacles, the young woman gently swung the sword in her hand. No energy wave was generated, yet all of the Faceless Man's tentacles were utterly destroyed.
"Impossible!" The Faceless Man shrieked in pain, filled with unwillingness. Its entire body, which had vanished from the young woman's attack, slowly regenerated. Compared to its previous regeneration speed, the current speed was pathetically slow.
Crimson liquid flowed from Aleah's mouth. The moment she touched it with her finger, the young woman's body suddenly weakened. She collapsed to the ground. The pain brought uncontrollable tears. She secretly bit her lip, propping herself up using the Director's sword stuck in the ground. Not yet… This isn't her current limit. She can still do more. She can still go on a little longer.
Thinking that, Aleah's gaze was resolute, unwavering. She endured the pain, forcing her body, which could no longer receive interdimensional energy, to stand. She pointed the long black sword in her hand at the catastrophic-level interdimensional being. She took one step forward, preparing to charge at the Faceless Man again.
However, after taking only one step forward, Aleah's body, beyond its limit, suddenly fell.
"You don't know your own limits, do you?"
A voice came from the darkness. Aleah slowly opened her eyelids and tilted her head slightly. She didn't fall to the ground. Instead, she was held by something strong yet surprisingly warm. This feeling… Aleah pressed her body closer to the powerful touch, abandoning the thought of forcing her body further.
"Director… you're back…" The young woman willingly released her grip on the sword, letting him take it quickly. Her combat suit returned to its original appearance. The limitless power vanished, but she felt no regret. On the contrary, she liked it. The feeling of weakness in this embrace. Aleah was willing to stay here for the rest of her life. A place so safe, warm, and longed for.
"..." At first, Kilenc wanted to hand Aleah over to Elena, but the young woman clung to him, with no intention of separating. He sighed softly and let her remain in his arms. Earlier, Aleah had shown Kilenc a small spark within her. This young woman had the qualification to touch his body. Kilenc wasn't that disgusted.
"Yes, I'm a little late. My apologies." Kilenc spoke unhurriedly. His voice was unusually soft and gentle, as Aleah had never heard before. For a moment, she thought she was caught in an illusion created by an interdimensional being. However, in less than a second, the young woman was very sure. This feeling, this touch, it was different… This wasn't something an illusion could do.
So gentle… Aleah murmured softly. As her body completely relaxed, drowsiness rapidly began to attack her consciousness. The young woman didn't resist, simply letting it directly overwhelm her mind. The Director was here now. The man who made this place the safest in the world. If he was here, there was no danger anymore. So, why should she still worry and not succumb to sleep in his arms?
The pink-haired young woman fell asleep peacefully. Kilenc looked at Aleah for a moment before placing her body with Elena. After that, he sheathed his sword. A mid-stage catastrophic-level interdimensional being? Killing it with that sword would be an insult to the sword. This Faceless Man doesn't even deserve to die by his hand.
What Kilenc disliked even more than foolish humans were arrogant interdimensional beings who didn't know their place, who didn't know how to assess their own strength. Just a small interdimensional being, yet it dared to call itself a supreme exalted being.
"Ling Lian." Kilenc stared back at the Faceless Man with emotionless eyes.
"Yes? Do you need something, Director?"
"This thing is just a lowly, cowardly, and pathetic slug. Find its true body and eliminate it!" Naturally, Kilenc wouldn't act himself, and the reason he brought Team A and Ling Lian here was for training in the first place. So, it was appropriate to let them handle it themselves.