Meanwhile, with the activation of the Serenity Gem, chaos erupted in one of Schicksal's laboratories.
"Dr. Markey, the Serenity Gem has suddenly started reacting violently…"
"How could this happen? Is the experiment going to fail again?" Dr. Markey cried out in despair, staring at the Valkyrie within the glass enclosure, writhing and screaming in pain.
"Doctor, should we report this to the Overseer?" a younger researcher asked hesitantly.
"No, let's wait a little longer."
-------------------------
"It seems like it failed again, Doctor." Otto walked in from outside and looked at Dr. Markus, who was kneeling on the ground. He spoke with an expressionless face.
"Your Excellency, Bishop," one of the researchers said upon seeing Otto enter.
"Yes... yes," Dr. Markus glanced at Otto, muttered a few words, and then stumbled out of the laboratory. At that moment, a thought crept into his mind—an urge to put an end to this experiment.
It didn't matter who, as long as someone could take the gem away...
"Heh~ The test subject is dead. Clean up the lab quickly," Otto said with a smile as he watched Dr. Markus leave. He then turned to the staff nearby and, with those words, left the lab himself.
"Why isn't the live stream starting yet? The host hasn't been kidnapped and locked up in some dark room, has he?" Otto stretched his arms lazily under the bright sunlight, glancing upward as he spoke.
...
Fu Lin clutched his chest, looking in the direction of the laboratory. The Serenity Gem within him seemed to be pointing toward a certain place.
"Lin, what's wrong?" Fu Shi waved her hand in front of Fu Lin, who had suddenly frozen, trying to get his attention.
"It's nothing. Let's hurry up. I can't wait to tour Mount Taixuan." Fu Lin playfully punched Fu Shi on the head but immediately regretted it, clutching his reddened fist in pain.
"Didn't even hurt at all!" Fu Shi instinctively touched her head and, upon realizing, gave Fu Lin an annoyed glare.
"...Damn it, looks like this body needs some training too," Fu Lin muttered, setting a silent goal in his heart. Sooner or later, Fu Shi would face justice.
Yae Sakura glanced at Higokumaru, who was sleeping soundly on her shoulder. The corners of her mouth curled into a gentle smile. Moments like this were nice. If only Kallen were here too...
"By the way, Lin, didn't you forget something?" Fu Shi asked Fu Lin.
"Forgot something? Oh—thank goodness you reminded me! Lend me a strand of your hair." Fu Lin grinned as he pinched Fu Shi's cheek, then quickly plucked a strand of her hair while she was caught off guard and darted away.
"You! How dare you!" Fu Shi stared after Fu Lin, who had already run far, her face filled with helpless anger. She stroked her soft, silky gray hair with a bit of heartache.
"Good thing this body has such a special ability; otherwise, I'd really be in trouble," Fu Lin murmured as he wrapped Fu Shi's hair around his hand. His appearance began to transform into hers.
Disguised as Fu Shi, Fu Lin quickened his steps nervously as he passed the alleyway from before. He couldn't help but shiver and instinctively moved faster to get away.
But what had to come would come. Kiana slowly emerged from the alley and began to pursue Fu Lin, calling out, "Lin, you can't escape! I don't know how you got out of the Imaginary Space or erased the mark I left, but I'll just catch you again!"
Hearing the voice behind him, Fu Lin dashed toward the intersection ahead, ripping off Fu Shi's hair to revert to his original form. He messed up his slicked-back hair, letting it fall back into a disheveled look.
'Damn it, even a certain paramecium has learnt how to ambush these days.'
"You can't escape—huh? Where'd you go?" Kiana dashed into the intersection, only to see a purple-haired young man leaning against the wall, looking at her in surprise.
"Hey, did you see someone with long gray hair run past?" Kiana asked Fu Lin.
"Th-they went that way..." Fu Lin stammered nervously, pointing toward a nearby bar.