Chapter 116: My Name is Miracle (Part 2)
(PS: This chapter is best enjoyed with the BGM "Immortal," as it was written while listening to that song.)
In the memory fragment, Mu Qing was dressed in a black combat uniform, wearing the captain's badge of the "Dawn" Domain Combat Squad, and devouring food in a restaurant.
Compared to the Mu Qing Feng Qi remembered, she had shed her youthful immaturity. Even her appearance had transformed significantly.
The gazes of passersby around her were no longer filled with fear or disdain. Instead, they were brimming with reverence and respect.
This Mu Qing was no longer the adorable foodie loli; she had become a cool and commanding presence with an air of unyielding determination.
The mysterious girl appeared in the scene, sitting across from Mu Qing, resting her chin on her hand and curiously observing her as she ate.
Mu Qing looked up at the girl with a puzzled expression and asked, "Do you need something?"
"Hey, I knew I wasn't wrong about that old man. They actually succeeded." The mysterious girl's gaze landed on the crimson rune crystal embedded in Mu Qing's left arm, her expression filled with joy.
Seeing Mu Qing's confused look, the girl leaned forward eagerly.
"Mu Qing, are you interested in doing something big with me?"
"I don't even know you," Mu Qing replied flatly.
"But I've known you for a long time and have been following your growth. I know what you desire, and what you desire is exactly what I desire too."
Mu Qing's expression shifted slightly at this, showing a hint of interest. "What do you think I desire?"
"You and Feng Qi share the same desire. It's just a pity Feng Qi died too early, or I'd have supported him as well."
At the mention of "Feng Qi," Mu Qing's body visibly trembled.
That unfamiliar name had not been uttered for a long time, yet it had never faded from her heart.
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Mu Qing asked coldly.
"I want to fight for humanity," the mysterious girl said, her usual playful demeanor giving way to a solemn expression.
"I'm already fighting for humanity," Mu Qing replied firmly.
"What you're doing now is just small-scale skirmishes. After all these years, you've honed your exceptional combat command skills and possess unparalleled strength. You're capable of achieving truly monumental feats…"
As time passed, the restaurant gradually emptied, and Mu Qing continued to listen to the girl's plans.
The girl, growing increasingly animated, began gesticulating enthusiastically as she spoke, her playful and cute demeanor starkly contrasting Mu Qing's cool composure.
Slowly, Mu Qing's indifferent expression began to waver.
"So, you're suggesting we establish a scavenger army and consolidate all the scavenger forces?"
"Exactly. First, we build a powerful army, then we proceed with the subsequent plans."
"What are the subsequent plans?"
"Heh, I can't tell you that just yet. I'm worried about the security of the people around you. Revealing it now would be risky. For now, let's focus on building the army. I'll help you."
The scene grew blurry at this point.
When Feng Qi saw Mu Qing appear in the memory fragment, he suddenly realized who this mysterious girl was.
She was the enigmatic figure "Mu Yan" he had read about in the database—the second-generation leader of the Dawn Army in the future.
From these memory fragments, he confirmed a suspicion he'd held for a long time.
Mu Yan was the "Miracle" Lü Yue had spoken of.
She seemed to be constantly searching for anything that could aid humanity's rise.
The founder of the Crimson Research Institute, Mu Qing, Ye Huang, the mysterious boy, Wei Wei…aside from the boy, whom Feng Qi knew nothing about, every one of them had stood at the forefront of the fight against domain creatures.
At this moment, Feng Qi recalled something Lü Yue had once said about the mysterious girl.
He had described her like this:
"She has lived for countless years, tirelessly searching for miracles for humanity. Despite repeated failures, she has never given up. To me, she is humanity's miracle."
The contents of the memory fragments seemed to confirm Lü Yue's words.
Mu Yan continuously sought out miracles, or perhaps nurtured their emergence, but all she received was failure.
The alliance of domain combat squads established by Ye Huang was long lost to history.
The Dawn Army under Mu Qing was wiped out through brutal suppression.
Wei Wei and the Crimson Research Institute met a similar fate, ultimately falling under the relentless attacks of the shadowy powers.
There might have been much more that Feng Qi didn't know, but every force connected to Mu Yan he was aware of had ultimately been destroyed.
When the fifth fragment ended, a new memory began to unfold in his mind.
At this point, he felt an excruciating pain in his head, as if it might split apart. The overwhelming influx of information was almost too much to bear.
The sixth memory fragment was set in the Crimson Research Institute, inside Wei Wei's private lab.
In the scene, Mu Yan held Suction Cup in her arms, rubbing her cheek against Suction Cup's face affectionately. Her voice carried a playful yet persuasive tone:
"Little Mu Qing, you must grow up quickly. Once you've learned enough, you need to strive for humanity's resurgence, okay?"
Though Suction Cup looked thoroughly annoyed, she still nodded vigorously.
Not far away, Wei Wei, dressed in her research coat, watched the scene with a helpless expression and said, "You old woman, isn't it about time you left? This isn't where you're supposed to be. Be careful, or I might lock you up as a test subject. I've been eyeing your body for research purposes for quite some time now."
Mu Yan ignored Wei Wei's remark and continued to affectionately pinch Suction Cup's cheek as she asked,
"Who braids your hair? It looks so pretty."
Hearing these words, Suction Cup's face lit up with a surprised smile:
"I braided it myself! It took me so long~ (v｀)"
"Hehe, amazing! Make sure to grow into a great person!"
As this scene ended, Feng Qi felt like his head was on the verge of collapsing under the pressure.
The seventh memory, the eighth memory… an avalanche of fragmented images flooded his mind like shattered glass but could no longer piece themselves together coherently.
Just as the overwhelming pain reached its peak, the broken fragments began merging into one cohesive image.
In this scene, Mu Yan stood in tattered battle armor, her face still adorned with an unwavering smile.
It seemed as if no despair or sorrow in the world could defeat her. Despite countless failures and moments of despair, her heart remained steadfast.
In front of her, an endless horde of domain creatures surged forward, rushing toward her like an unstoppable tide. Yet, there wasn't a trace of fear in her eyes.
Gripping a silver spear, she charged headlong into the swarm.
With a single sweep of her spear, a dragon's roar echoed as the energy of the heavens and earth coalesced. A silver dragon materialized, spiraling above Mu Yan's head.
As the spear pointed forward, the dragon roared and lunged at the domain creatures.
She looked like a war goddess. Wherever her figure passed, the domain creatures fell lifeless, destroyed by her spear.
Even the most terrifying creatures, capable of tearing through space with a mere wave of their hands, were no match for her. In the face of her silver spear, they were reduced to ashes, their life force extinguished amidst blooming silver lotuses.
This battle seemed like the final confrontation before the world was fully engulfed by the domains.
Feng Qi could see the black mist forming a curtain that gradually descended to shroud the world. Meanwhile, a blood-red moon slowly rose over the horizon.
It devoured the sunlight, dimming the entire world.
Feng Qi could distinctly feel the sorrow and despair in Mu Yan's heart within the memory, but she refused to give up. She chose to keep fighting.
Even if she was the last person standing in the world.
Fragmented scenes rushed through Feng Qi's mind, one after another.
On a wind-swept mountain peak, Mu Yan stood with her silver spear on her back. Arms spread wide, she gazed at the sun and shouted with a smile:
"I, Mu Yan, never admit defeat. If there's no miracle, then I'll create one myself!"
Outside a remote scavenger village, she stared at a dirty little girl before bursting into laughter, hands on her hips:
"Hahaha, found another little miracle to look forward to! I'm so happy!"
In the midst of a snowstorm, heavily wounded, Mu Yan lay in the snow. Blood flowed freely, staining the white snow red. She ignored her injuries and stared at the sky, pouting and murmuring to herself:
"Failed again, huh. I should be used to it by now, but it still hurts. So frustrating!"
Under the bright moonlight, Mu Yan soared through the clouds, her face brimming with joy as she hummed a tune:
"Miracle, miracle, where are you? Don't hide, I'm coming to catch you! Lalalala!"
Through these memory fragments, Feng Qi could vividly sense the unwavering belief in Mu Yan's heart that had never wavered from the beginning.
If there were no miracles, she would create one herself.
That belief was rooted deep within her heart. Even as the world was about to be swallowed by the domains, it never faltered for a second.
[Although her methods are different, she's just like you, enduring despair after despair without ever giving up on the possibility of light, always waiting for a miracle. Qi-ge, it turns out you're not alone.]
Hearing the narrator's words, Feng Qi couldn't help but sigh.
At this moment, his heart was deeply moved.
As the shattered memory fragments reached their final scene, the sky darkened completely. Mu Yan stood alone, her blood-streaked battle armor glinting faintly as she gripped her spear with one hand.
Blood dripped down her armor, pooling at her feet.
Yet, she didn't retreat. Not even a single step.
The sky and ground, as far as the eye could see, were filled with the forms of domain creatures. Fearlessly, she stood firm, spear in hand.
Wherever she went, silver lotuses bloomed, and no domain creature could withstand even one strike from her.
However, as the black curtain of mist in the sky fully enveloped the world, Mu Yan's strength began to wane. Those she had once slain effortlessly now stood as insurmountable foes.
It was as though her fate had intertwined with the world itself. As the world was devoured by the domains, she too approached her end.
When the black curtain consumed the entire sky, Mu Yan's body became shrouded in a jade-colored light. Her movements grew stiff and sluggish.
Just before her body completely froze, she swung her spear one last time, pointing it skyward.
The anger, hatred, and despair in her heart erupted into a final, devastating burst of power.
An invisible force radiated outward from her, obliterating the domain creatures around her. In its wake, they disintegrated into dust.
The ground collapsed into a massive crater, sinking into the earth.
As the sun was overtaken by the blood moon, Mu Yan's face bore a trace of sadness. A crystalline tear slid down her cheek as she murmured softly:
"No one to share the dusk with me."
At this moment, Feng Qi felt the profound loneliness that filled Mu Yan's heart as her life slipped away.
She had faced countless failures, yet each time, she chose to stand back up, searching again for the intangible and elusive "miracle."
She was a witness to history and a force that drove it forward.
Deep within her heart lay a hidden sorrow, revealed only in her final moments as the sun set and her quiet sigh took form:
No one to share the dusk with me.
As her body finally froze, she transformed into a statue, her spear eternally pointing skyward.
The sky opened up, releasing a torrential rain, as though the world itself mourned the loss of a warrior who had never bowed to despair.