Jiang Jianming was led out by the crystal bones.
The rest of the world retreated away, including the startled calls of the generals behind him. His eyes only reflected Ryann’s figure.
The doors before him opened to both sides. Amidst the raging battle, the Crown Prince with platinum blonde hair straightened his spine and strode towards the dark universe and the dazzling crystal light.
It was just like the countless nightmares that had haunted the military academy student during those three years.
Only this time, Jiang Jianming followed that figure outward.
His military boots stepped onto the damaged starship port, each step resonating like church bells; vast crystallization danced like snow, burned away by Ryann’s crystal bones before they could touch his hair.
This time, there was no more confusion and sorrow.
“Your Highness,” Jiang Jianming said with lowered eyelashes, walking and smiling, “You wouldn’t want to create another bloodbath right in front of me, would you?”
Just after saying this, he felt he had misspoken – the last time when the Base Body was “torn” to pieces, it was Ryann’s original consciousness in control. The one before him didn’t remember that, so how could it be “another time”?
“…”
Ryann gave him a deep look, a flash of barely noticeable crimson gold passing through his pupils before ebbing away like a receding tide.
After two seconds, he spoke in a hoarse voice. “I won’t.”
Jiang Jianming’s pupils trembled.
He slowly raised his head. “Ryann?”
Ryann’s lips curved into a proud smile as he looked down, stroking the crystal bones on his wrist, “Once familiar… twice proficient.”
Jiang Jianming held his breath.
Thump, thump… he heard his own heartbeat, the sound stirring up a tempestuous wave.
He opened his mouth, his throat and eye sockets both burning hot. “I thought…” thought I would never see you again.
Jiang Jianming frowned and closed his eyes, swallowing the weak words, murmuring, “Is throwing such a tantrum to see me also considered ‘once familiar, twice proficient’?”
“It’s the last time anyway, so bear with it,” Ryann winked playfully, slowly turning back, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Does the Commander have anything else to say to Zhen?”
……
“Chief!!”
Inside Black Shark Base, Diana’s startled cry suddenly shattered the oppressive silence.
“000’s consciousness projection is abnormal—”
“The original consciousness is forcibly occupying the Base Body, he’s coming over here!!”
As if a dying candle was burning up its last strength, the previously weak and intermittent lines on the display screen began to jump violently. Next to that mysterious instrument, various indicator numbers rose sharply.
Sylph, who had been buried among the instruments, suddenly stood up, knocking over her chair with a bang against the floor.
The chief stared at that machine for a moment, then suddenly turned and ran towards the base’s exit.
She ran through the corridor, leaving behind one bed after another of disabled patients. The automatic door opened, revealing the scene at the starship port far below.
“Your Highness!!”
“What are the two Highnesses trying to do!?”
Outside the port, the generals all sensed something was wrong. But Ryann had locked the electronic access rights as soon as he walked through the passage door with Jiang Jianming, leaving everyone extremely anxious but helpless.
Ryann stood with his hands behind his back at the end of the starship port, his ice-green eyes gazing into the distance.
The crystal bones extended backward, forming claw-like shapes that gently enclosed the black-haired military officer. It was as if a giant’s fingers were carefully caressing a delicate treasure.
Jiang Jianming said softly. “Nothing else, just want to remind you that you still owe me a promise.”
Ryann: “I seem to owe you more than one promise, like the wedding, like…”
Jiang Jianming interrupted. “Only the one I actively asked for counts, the others don’t.”
A flash of understanding crossed Ryann’s expression, and the crystal bone claw tenderly brushed against the disabled human’s cheek, “I understand.”
Jiang Jianming said frankly. “I will come to collect it.”
Ryann: “A lover’s suicide?”
Jiang Jianming smiled. “Whatever you say it is.”
Sylph threw herself against the window glass.
“No! Kaios, stop—you can’t!!”
Her heart felt like it was being cut by a knife, she almost blurted out. “Your Majes…”
But at this moment, Jiang Jianming turned back, his gaze swept across the generals behind him, then looked up to meet Sylph’s eyes from afar, his expression could even be described as gentle.
He raised his arm, placing his index finger against his lips.
Shh.
Don’t disturb.
Ryann closed his eyes, crystal-like cracks piercing the corners of his eyes.
A flame-like radiance began burning up from the starship port of the Golden Sun Wheel space station.
Like the rising sun, illuminating the winter land.
But the Crystal Nest had no snow, no clear sky, no sun, and no land.
It was just a person, or rather a monster’s disintegration.
Time traced back over a hundred years, in the depths of the old empire’s Gray Owl laboratory, that embryo born under the “Chaos Correction” project, that beautiful child named “Kaios” by the tyrant…
“Your Highness…”
“Your Highness the Crown Prince!!”
He was also the young heir of the new empire, that invincible deity, that eternally blooming golden rose.
The soldiers fighting in the star domain were also shocked by this change, all turning their heads back.
Under the gaze of countless humans and crystal particles, Ryann Kaios transformed into his true form.
The crystals extended in all directions, quickly consuming his human form, flesh and bones and other tissues vaguely assimilating with the crystals, but that was only temporary.
Last time, he had torn apart his own body, sent the crystal particles back to his loved one’s side, and walked towards the depths of the Crystal Nest with his broken human body.
This time, the crystal particles were used to protect this empire’s fortress, the human body was now useless, would only add unnecessary sorrow.
Therefore, in the next second, that tangible crimson gold suddenly shattered.
The part belonging to crystal particles turned into clouds, crimson gold mist rose up, passing through the barely adequate crystal particle shield overhead, wrapping the entire Golden Sun Wheel space station.
The part belonging to human turned into rain, blood rain like silk, drizzling down in one corner, even the sound was fine and soft.
There were no nauseating pieces of flesh, internal organs, or bone fragments mixed in. It seems His Majesty’s technique for “tearing himself” had indeed become much more proficient.
On the starship port, only one figure remained.
And there was still that stubborn crimson gold crystal bone protecting him.
Jiang Jianming quietly looked up, several drops of blood fell from the tip of the sharp crystal bone suspended before his eyes. He was shielded underneath, not splashed by even a single drop of the crimson rain.
But this didn’t mean it was comfortable. Despite being mentally prepared, the smell of blood still made him dizzy.
Jiang Jianming dazedly narrowed his eyes, stroking the gradually dissipating crystal bone beside him, muttering. “…this isn’t much better either.”
That crystal bone claw suddenly poked his back.
Jiang Jianming stumbled a step forward, right into the arms of the approaching Sylph—
“Commander!”
Sylph called out urgently in a low voice. She gripped Jiang Jianming’s hand tightly, feeling cold, damp skin.
The constantly shaking space station stabilized.
Jiang Jianming shook his head, silently withdrawing his hand from Sylph.
He lifted his eyelids to see several generals walking towards them, their steps slow, expressions solemn or grief-stricken.
Lieutenant General Jin Min was the first to stop, roaring through tears, “Salute to His Highness, Crown Prince Ryann—”
The generals raised their hands in salute to the crimson gold protecting overhead, and countless soldiers watching this scene through the portholes followed suit.
But their expressions were dazed – a living person vanishing in an instant, turning into just clouds and rain… this completely exceeded their understanding. Most soldiers were in a state where they couldn’t even cry.
Jiang Jianming looked at the open port door and said to Sylph beside him. “So His Majesty gave you the highest authority too.”
Sylph paused for a moment, her voice hoarse when she spoke. “It wasn’t from Kaios, it was given to me later by Lin Ge.”
“Commander.” Sorrow rippled in her eyes, “Will you go to the same place as His Majesty? Is this outcome… both of your wishes?”
Jiang Jianming first nodded, then said, “Sorry for not telling you beforehand.”
But though he apologized, his tone clearly showed no regret, perhaps a tiny bit of guilt, but it didn’t matter much.
Jiang Jianming then spoke to the generals. “Alright, stop saluting, go back to sleep. Under this kind of assault, His Highness Ryann won’t last long either, those who can rest should take the chance to rest.”
After speaking, he turned and walked towards the main door, brushing past the generals, leaving the starship port and that bloody scene behind.
Inside, Jiang Jianming first leaned against a deserted corner wall, closing his eyes to rest.
Actually, his condition was already quite bad, fortunately the crystal particle concentration had decreased significantly now. Even a fragile disabled human like him could hold on a bit longer, to finish what he needed to do.
Half a minute later, Jiang Jianming opened his eyes and calmly walked towards the command room. But this time, he hadn’t taken many steps before footsteps followed from behind.
Jiang Jianming turned his brow to look – it was Xie Yuduo silently following behind him.
“Major General Xie?”
“Little Excellency.” Xie Yuduo’s voice trembled.
“Have you… already made up your mind…”
Jiang Jianming made an affirmative sound, saying, “I have some plans, I can only say I’ll try my best.”
Xie Yuduo: “This humble official isn’t asking about tactical plans.”
Jiang Jianming stopped and turned back.
There was no one around, only a quiet corridor. Xie Yuduo let out a bitter laugh, staring straight at him. “Are you also planning to follow His Highness Ryann?”
…Is it that obvious? Jiang Jianming thought silently.
“Since ancient times, there has only been the logic of generals dying for their monarchs, it shouldn’t be…”
Xie Yuduo choked up, suddenly grabbing Jiang Jianming’s arm, breaking into tears. “Commander!”
“This is already the second time. This humble official… I… how can I face myself…!”
Jiang Jianming let out a soft sigh, his pitch-black eyes still gentle and profound. “Major General Xie.”
“Let me take your place, please?”
Xie Yuduo said through incoherent tears, “Little Excellency, the empire cannot lose both Highnesses, especially since you are—”
“Xie Yuduo.”
Jiang Jianming shook his head, holding the general’s hand, “Since you call me Commander, you should know… whether it’s me or Kaios, we are people who should have left already.”
“What the empire cannot lose is not the legends in history books, but the newborn heroes.”
“Not me, but you.”
“Xie Yinxing is lovely and brave. She admires you greatly, and her personality is very similar to yours.”
“Your wife Donna… I know your relationship is complex and contradictory, but problems need to be solved, not avoided.”
“Major General Xie, this is Commander Aslan’s order… you must return alive and reunite with your wife and daughter.”
Xie Yuduo held his breath, staring blankly at the non-crystal young man before him. Jiang Jianming looked back at him with a faint smile, saying softly, “Moreover.”
“What I want to try next, no one else can substitute for.”
“The Base Body plan was created to fight against crystal particles. If I die here, it would be a worthy death; being able to follow His Majesty the Emperor would be achieving what I desire.”
Xie Yuduo closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling his chest filled with endless emotions, “Yes, this humble official..”
He was about to say he would obey, when he suddenly heard Jiang Jianming’s next words.
“If I happen to survive.”
Jiang Jianming was still smiling, his eyes clear and determined.
“I will bring Ryann back with me as well.”
