“They only gave me ten minutes to stay this time, that's so stingy. Are they complaining about me spending too much time on simulations?”
I thought I'd have some time to plan for what's next. Who knew it would only be ten minutes? What's that even enough for?
Grumbling to himself, Luo Chen knew time was of the essence, there was no room for waste.
At the very least, he had to finish what he had to do.
First, he released the people of the Hundred Nations who had been sheltered in the “Heaven’s Helm” space. He had no time to bother with these people who looked at the giant golden and white tower with bewilderment. Luo Chen looked towards the Flower God and the Great Tree King.
Due to the impending separation and return to his original time, his whole body was enveloped in light and his figure became somewhat transparent.
“Sorry, I don’t have time to explain. The end is near, it’s time for me to leave. Tsk, I really don’t want to go.”
He couldn’t tell if it was because he had developed feelings for the first time in a simulation, or if it was a fondness for a thousand years, but the regret in his words caused the Flower God to purse her soft lips tightly.
There was no explanation for the disaster, no time for him to express his pain at leaving.
Luo Chen looked at the Flower God with affection: “This is not a permanent goodbye. In the distant future, we will meet again, transcending the cause and effect of time.”
He wiped away his companion’s falling tears. For the first time, Luo Chen felt the sadness of parting.
For him, perhaps it was only a moment before he left this world and returned to the distant future.
But for the Flower God, just because of this promise, which she didn’t know if it was real or not, she would have to live through a thousand years, enduring the pain of longing before she could reach the future.
The time scales they experienced were completely different.
That was why he felt pity.
Even for a deity, a thousand years was not a blink of an eye.
If it were, Morax, after being washed by the tides of time for thousands of years, would not have grown weary of guiding Liyue, choosing to wander the mortal world as Zhongli.
The continent of Teyvat, wear and tear, was an inescapable cause and effect.
Seeing that the countdown had already passed three minutes, he couldn’t afford to continue making promises to the Flower God. Instead, Luo Chen turned to the Great Tree King.
As pure and highly overlapping soulmates, they had never experienced the close contact that he had with the Flower God, but the feelings they shared were no less profound.
The Goddess of Life and Wisdom showed no sadness, her eyes, like four-leaf clover prints, were filled with faint affection.
As if remembering something, Luo Chen laughed: “Speaking of which, I haven’t given you any gifts for the Flower God’s birthday. In this last moment, let me offer my heartfelt blessings.”
He waved his hand, tearing open space. The next moment, a sacred object, tinged with golden light and blue enamel, appeared.
It was engraved with ancient, mysterious fairy script, and a faint glow emanated from it, giving off a sense of thick, protective power.
“This is my scabbard. Let it stand in for me and guard you in the future, until I fulfill my promise to meet you.”
That’s right, this was the last thing Luo Chen had to do.
He gave the Great Tree King the scabbard, which symbolized “absolute protection.” It contained even more power than the ultimate divine sword, the Starforged Sword.
Unlike the divine sword, which represents destruction and judgment, the owner of the scabbard would not be affected by any physical, elemental, or spiritual damage, or external influences.
Even just possessing it would constantly heal injuries and curses.
It was practically representative of “invulnerability” in terms of defense.
“With this, I can rest easy.”
He merged the scabbard into the Great Tree King’s body, and brushed his fingertips against her soft cheek. Luo Chen smiled slightly, relieved of his final concern.
With the scabbard guarding her, even if the war in Khaenri'ah happened and the Abyss returned, the Great Tree King would no longer perish from history as she did in the original timeline.
No matter how badly she was hurt, no matter how poisonous the curse, she would eventually be restored to her former self thanks to the nourishment of the scabbard over long years.
【Remaining Return Time: Ten, Nine, Eight… Three, Two, One】
“I hope that in the distant future, we can meet again. By then, there will be peace and joy, a unified paradise without distinction, without any disasters.”
“May our happiness, like a mirage, become eternal, and may there be no more pain of separation...”
When the countdown reached zero, Luo Chen, enveloped by a hazy halo, his transparent body reached its limit, shattering into strands of starlight.
Like the tail of a shooting star across the sky, the starlight dispersed, releasing fluorescence, gradually fading into the air.
Seeing Luo Chen disappear with their own eyes, even though they had just made a promise to meet in the future, the two goddesses could not be optimistic.
To them, that promise was more like a comforting last word.
But it was Luo Chen who said it, and even if there was only a millionth of a chance, the two deities were willing to wait.
“The King will arrive with a brilliance like the sun, removing the crown of thorns woven from roses for the children of men.”
“Pleasure that has an end will eventually end in bitterness. Sweet memories will eventually fade into smoke and dust.”
Chanting words that might or might not be called a ballad, Marika Tata lingered, holding onto the last wisp of starlight, before turning decisively and leaving.
Even though she knew where she was going, the Great Tree King still asked: “Where are you going next?”
Without stopping, the Flower God turned her back on her only remaining friend, raising her ethereal voice.
“I came from exile, cursed to never look back at the sky. Thankfully, I have maintained my form until now.”
“My homeland is calling me every moment. The disaster of the stars and the abyss has already emerged from the crystal.”
“To fulfill that promise, from this day forward, I will sleep in the Eternal Oasis, forever existing as Patisaaran in his fantasy.”
As her figure receded, the exiled goddess left behind her murmured words.
“Finally, my friend, remember my warning. Do not follow the master of the four shadows, do not pry into the secrets of the sky and the abyss.”
“Otherwise, as the judgment nail shows, the consequences will be nothing but disaster and bitter ends.”
“The coming of the dark wave will not be extinguished. The distant future will eventually return.”
For Marika Tata, who knew the truth, this was the only help she could offer her friend.
She would not appear in the world again in the coming years.
The Goddess of Wisdom remained silent. Unlike the Scarlet King who had lost his mind, she had enough self-control.
PS: Please give flowers! Please rate! Please comment!