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The skies above the Raven Abyss turned gray, like ash settling over a grave.
Li Tianming stood alone at the edge of the collapse zone. His Chaos Eye pulsed in its new form — glowing faint violet-black, its layers spinning in opposite directions.
He'd barely survived the Origin Code.
And now… something else had arrived.
> [Warning: Dimensional Insertion Detected]
[3 Signatures Detected – Source: Blackborn Authority]
[Elite Class – Anti-Chaos Assassins.]
> "They didn't waste time," Tianming muttered.
From the far side of the horizon, the air shattered.
Like glass breaking in reverse.
Three figures stepped through what looked like cracks in space — tall, elegant, and deathly still. Their skin was pale gray, almost translucent. They wore no armor, only shadow-wrapped bodysuits etched with silver code.
Their faces were emotionless masks.
But behind the eyes… something screamed silently.
> [Analyzing...]
🔹 Name: Subject #03 – "Zeir"
🔹 Trait: Soul Flare / Blade Instinct
🔹 Threat Level: Tier 8 (Overmatch Expected)
> 🔹 Name: Subject #09 – "Nara-Null"
🔹 Trait: Mirror Flesh / Time Echo Drift
🔹 Threat Level: Tier 10 (Extremely High)
> 🔹 Name: Subject #12 – "Kuro-Yue"
🔹 Trait: Memory Leech / Chaos Immunity
🔹 Threat Level: Tier ??? (System Obstruction)
> [Warning: Target #12 is linked to host's past self]
[Suppressed memories may resurface upon encounter]
Tianming's grip tightened on his blade.
> "Why does her name sound… familiar?"
The middle assassin — Kuro-Yue — tilted her head, slowly.
Then she spoke.
> "We found you… Root Bearer."
Her voice was distorted, like overlapping recordings.
> "You weren't supposed to wake up. You were supposed to rot."
Tianming said nothing.
Instead, he activated his new trait.
> [Activating: Timeline Drift – 3 Seconds]
In that instant, three versions of Tianming appeared beside him — slightly different in posture, in gear, in aura. Past echoes from diverged timelines.
They moved with him — in unison — as he charged.
First strike — toward Zeir.
Tianming slashed wide, blade screaming with soulfire. Zeir caught it mid-air with bare hands, but the timeline drift Tianming triggered let his other self land a strike to the ribs.
Zeir staggered — then exploded in a wave of white heat.
> [Trait: Soul Flare – Partial Detonation.]
[Side Effect: Inner Soul Burned. Host Sync at 89%.]
Tianming winced, coughing blood — part of his soul scorched.
He had barely 30 seconds before the drift ended.
He turned just in time to face the second one.
> "Null…"
Nara-Null smiled.
Then she shattered into glass — dozens of mirrored shards, each one copying Tianming's face and form.
He barely raised his shield before dozens of slashes rained in from every angle — angles that didn't obey physics.
> "You're fighting your own reflections," the system warned.
"Abort or override."
Tianming snapped.
> "Override it."
> [Skill Activated: Echo Pulse]
[All soul-based phantoms in 20 meters disrupted.]
A shockwave of black energy burst out of him, shattering the illusions instantly. Nara-Null screamed — blood running from her eyes as her Time Drift collapsed inward.
She vanished into herself.
> [Subject #09 Status: Annihilated.]
[Soul Count +1]
Tianming dropped to one knee, panting.
Only Kuro-Yue remained.
She hadn't moved.
> "You remember me," she said softly.
Tianming looked up.
His Chaos Eye showed flashes — half-broken memories.
This girl. This voice. This sorrow.
A dark lab.
Her hand reaching for his.
Her voice, whispering:
> "If you ever wake up… don't forget me."
> "You were there," he whispered. "In the vault."
She nodded slowly.
Then removed her mask.
Her face was flawless — pale, framed with black-silver hair. Her left eye was completely white, her right one gold.
> "You called me Yue'er, once.
But I am not that girl anymore.
They turned me into this… to kill you."
Tianming's heart twisted.
> "You don't have to follow their commands."
She smiled faintly.
> "They don't control me.
But if you become what they fear… I will destroy you myself."
She raised her hand. A pulse of voidlight danced across her palm.
But she didn't attack.
Instead, she pointed to the east.
> "Your next path lies in the ruins of Azure Crown.
That's where they've kept the next Chaos Memory.
Go there. But know this—"
> "If you awaken the second Root… we will all burn."
---
[Meanwhile – Land of the Morning Calm, Sector W-31]
In a frozen chamber, an armored king opened his eyes.
> "The Blackborn failed," he said.
> "Then send the Choir."
> "Send the Leviathan Host."
> "Send the Fathers."
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