You—are on the brink of death...
The prophecies scattered in the wind ultimately dissipated into the breeze that swept in from the platform's rear.
Rek'Sai slowly extended a claw, quietly pointing at the void before him. "Night... is that you?"
"..." As expected, silence lingered. Xiao Mu Yu's expression remained cold and indifferent. Amidst his tousled gray-white hair, his eyes, filled with despair, were icy and unyielding.
(Tch... to think that this great crocodile could guess my identity. How dull. Is my aura truly so easily discernible?)
In the realm of consciousness, the demon muttered irritably.
(Hey! Human boy, what are you planning to do next? You should know that the duration of [Temporal Stasis] is limited. If you don't quickly devise a solution for that toy bear during this time, you all will surely perish.)
"..." Xiao Mu Yu remained silent for several seconds before coldly responding, "Isn't that question more pertinent to you?"
(Me worry? What should I be worried about? Heh... You really are amusing, human boy. That toy bear is not the embodiment of the Goddess of Childlike Innocence; it cannot perceive my existence as a soul. Once the effect of [Temporal Stasis] fades, it will be you who perishes... As for me? Heh... I will remain unscathed.)
"..." With a frigid gaze fixed on the toy bear, which appeared somewhat bewildered after losing its target, Xiao Mu Yu coldly stated, "The moment [Temporal Stasis] dissipates, I shall first shatter the Night Demon Crystal."
(Gah... uh... what... what did you say? No way! Are you trying to get yourself killed, human boy? You fool!!!)
In the realm of consciousness, the demon's voice grew increasingly frantic.
(Why should you want to kill me? I am not the one who caused your demise! I clearly informed you that during the activation of the divine art [Temporal Stasis] from the time staff, you should quickly escape this pyramid. Once you leave, you need not fear that toy bear!)
(But you, you stubborn fool, insisted on coming here to save that girl named Annie. Now, the duration of [Temporal Stasis] is insufficient for you to escape the pyramid. You have trapped yourself in this predicament; what does that have to do with me?!!! Fool!!!)
"..." The demon's roar went unanswered as Xiao Mu Yu continued to gaze coldly at the floating toy bear, reiterating his resolution, "The moment [Temporal Stasis] dissipates, I shall first shatter the Night Demon Crystal."
(…)
Thus, the demon fell silent.
...
On the platform, the sudden collective disappearance of many beings left [Shattered Childlike Innocence] puzzled. The toy bear tilted its head, flying around in the air, attempting to locate those who had vanished from its perception.
However, under the protection of the laws of time, its search was destined to be in vain.
Consequently, the only being remaining on the platform—Rek'Sai—was finally targeted for annihilation by the toy bear, now agitated by the sudden absence of its prey.
The toy bear, suspended in the void, abruptly turned its head, abandoning the pursuit of Xiao Mu Yu's aura. Its obsidian eyes shifted toward the crocodilian figure on the platform.
Crack—crack—
The sharp rows of serrated teeth brushed against each other as the toy bear drifted slowly toward Rek'Sai.
Without flinching or fleeing, the crocodilian stood still, awaiting the bear's approach. It was only when the toy bear floated right before him that Rek'Sai finally spoke.
"Chaos... shall soon follow," he said, raising his head to gaze quietly at the group illuminated by the radiance projected by the gears of time. The doomed divine envoy—Rek'Sai—broke into a hearty laugh. "Prepare for calamity, everyone! Rek'Sai awaits you in hell, ha ha ha!!!"
The toy bear's arm lifted gently, and ten sharp black claws protruded from its plush palm.
Simultaneously, a dazzling light emanated from Rek'Sai's form.
The toy bear's claws pierced gently into Rek'Sai's body, sinking in as if entering water, leaving no trace of injury and not a drop of blood spilled.
Brilliant light surged from Rek'Sai's head, transforming into a colossal beam that pierced the dark void above.
The toy bear's claws stirred within Rek'Sai's body, and upon discovering something, it revealed a gleeful smile. Then, it withdrew its claws from Rek'Sai, extracting a radiant golden object.
Shrouded in brilliant golden light, the onlookers could not discern the object's full form. Yet the strands of divine power emanating from it evoked a profound sense of reverence.
Snap—
The instant the divine essence was extracted, it shattered into luminous fragments, which danced like living sprites upon the platform before gradually dissipating.
With the sound of bubbles bursting, Rek'Sai's body floated gently in the air, akin to diluted paint in water, and then... vanished.
The wind, blowing from the dark firmament above, gradually intensified from gentle to fierce, culminating in a colossal tornado that descended upon the platform, embodying all of Rek'Sai's power.
Boom!!!
The violent force struck down, sending tremors throughout the entire sealing ground.
Boom!!!
The earth quaked violently, and the massive platform was physically diminished under the onslaught of this ferocious power.
"Pu—cough..."
Under the impact of this raging force, Lux, who was exerting all her strength to maintain [Temporal Stasis], trembled and collapsed, blood splattering forth.
Though the divine art [Temporal Stasis] had sheltered them, rendering them nearly independent of this world, the force of Rek'Sai's strike could not harm them. However, the massive wind column that pierced through heaven and earth contained an enigmatic power that disrupted the operation of the golden time gears above.
Thus, under Xiao Mu Yu's (the demon's) guidance, Lux, who barely activated the divine art inscribed on the time staff, was rebuffed by the overwhelming force.
The energy explosion generated a gale that forced everyone to stagger back, their garments flapping wildly. The fierce wind lashed against their faces like knives.
Amidst the tempest, gray-white hair fluttered, and amidst the rustle of his cloak, the man gently removed the Night Demon Crystal from his chest.
"..." His pitch-black eyes slowly closed...
And then opened.
Xiao Mu Yu paid no heed to the girl who had fainted from blood loss due to the powerful backlash; instead, he directed his cold gaze toward the floating toy bear.
Unscathed...
Despite the terrifying force that far exceeded a full-strength strike from a holy being, the toy bear known as [Shattered Childlike Innocence] remained completely unharmed.
As [Temporal Stasis] faded, the group on the platform was once more exposed to the toy bear's perception. Observing the sudden appearance of the group on the platform, the toy bear paused for a moment before breaking into a wide grin...
Naturally, Xiao Mu Yu, standing at the forefront, became its primary target. However, he coldly diverted his gaze from the approaching toy bear.
Ignoring the encroaching threat and the impending death, Xiao Mu Yu fixated on the Night Demon Crystal in his hand, his icy gaze... as unfeeling and frigid as ever. "Your life... has three seconds remaining."