A world beyond saving.
In his third simulation, within the martial arts world, Xu Xi had once said the sa thing. However, this ti was different.
The “illness” of the martial arts world stemd from people, from the decay of the Great Qian Empire as a whole.
The “illness” of the sorcerer world, on the other hand, was a true affliction of the world itself. The once-normal world of the living had been caught in the grasp of the endless Netherworld, gradually assimilating into its domain.
It was a deep illness.
A sickness that had seeped into its very bones.
In the martial arts world, Xu Xi could rally those who wished to survive and lead them in rebellion against the incompetence of Great Qian.
But this ti, he had no such option. The resistance was too overwhelming—it was the world itself that was being corrupted and eroded.
Unless one day in the future, Xu Xi could shatter his limitations and beco a legendary Seven-Ring Sorcerer.
Otherwise, the world’s destruction was inevitable. Everything that existed would be consud by the Netherworld, losing their sense of self, losing their emotions, becoming nothing more than mindless undead.
“Sylvia, saving people is easy, but saving the world is nearly impossible.”
Xu Xi opened his fingers and took a small sip of water, explaining the origins of the undead catastrophe and the ultimate fate of this world to the girl who had never truly understood the sorcerer world or the Netherworld.
It was a disaster that no human effort could stop.
Perhaps in a thousand years, or maybe in just a hundred, the Netherworld’s influence would completely corrupt the sorcerer world.
At that ti, everything familiar would vanish in an instant. Whether it be the mories shared between people or the long and glorious history, all would be erased by the tide of the Netherworld.
“Sylvia, you’ve already noticed it, haven’t you?”
Xu Xi looked at her. “This world is dying. The number of undead has been increasing year after year. Soone like you, who interacts with them constantly, should be well aware of this.”
“…I…”
Sylvia was at a loss.
She lowered her head, staring at the steel-covered hands that had once wielded a heavy sword with ease, now trembling weakly.
“…You’re right.”
“In the past, I could clear out the undead on my own. But in the last two years, their numbers have increased so much that I can no longer keep up.”
Sylvia confird his words.
Her voice was filled with confusion.
Her gaze lost focus.
She had always upheld the spirit of a knight, following the Crowfield family’s creed to protect the people of her land.
Even though a thousand years had passed and no one rembered the na Crowfield anymore, that did not stop her.
She willingly, wholeheartedly, protected every defenseless commoner, believing it to be her duty, a way to atone for her parents’ past.
But now…
The cruel truth had shattered her fragile dream.
The world was heading toward its demise.
The people she had sworn to protect would perish alongside it.
They would beco mindless undead, losing all traces of who they once were.
Would such a world still have any aning?
Sylvia remained silent for a long ti before asking Xu Xi once more, seeking confirmation.
“Master Sorcerer… Will the world truly die?”
It wasn’t that she distrusted him.
But the matter was too great—she had to ask again.
“Yes,” Xu Xi nodded, looking into her solemn skeletal face. “To us, the world is vast and boundless, making it difficult to fight against.”
“But in truth, the world is fragile. When faced with an existence far greater than itself, it can shatter like glass.”
Xu Xi knew better than anyone how a world could be destroyed.
After all, in the courtyard of his real-world ho, there were four girls doing that exact thing every single day.
“…”
Perhaps the revelation was too overwhelming, utterly crushing the belief she had held onto for so long.
The flas of her soul dimd, and she sat there motionless, frozen in place.
Xu Xi rose to leave.
He decided to give her so ti alone.
The corruption of the world didn’t actually affect Sylvia.
She had long since beco one of the undead—she couldn’t be tainted a second ti.
But the brightest and kindest erald of the Crowfield family…
Would always worry about others before herself.
“A false hero, huh…” Xu Xi murmured, recalling how she had once referred to herself. He shook his head.
The distinction between a false hero and a true one had never been about power.
It was sothing deeper, sothing that couldn’t be seen with the eyes.
——
[In the stillness of the night, you sat in the decayed mansion, contemplating your future plans. You decided on your next path and set even greater goals.]
[Train, grow stronger, study life and death, explore the soul, seek the truth.]
[These were your top priorities.]
[As you pondered, you encountered Sylvia Crowfield, returning from her patrol against the undead.]
[You had a conversation that night.]
[As a parting gift, you told her the truth about the world, giving her ti to prepare so she wouldn’t be caught off guard when the end ca.]
[The girl remained silent for a long ti after hearing the truth, seemingly shaken by the revelation.]
[She looked as though she had broken inside.]
…
[As the blood moon set, the black sun rose.]
[A new day began. You were concerned about Sylvia’s state, but she was far stronger than you had expected.]
[She had no hero’s strength.]
[She had no hero’s holy sword.]
[Yet she possessed a will that far surpassed that of ordinary people.]
[After processing your information, Sylvia declared that she would not give up easily. Even if the world was dood, she would stand her ground until the very end.]
[After speaking, she willingly laid herself onto your experint table, removing her armor.]
[She turned her head away, unable to et your gaze.]
“Sylvia, are you still not used to this?”
“Y-Yes… Sorry, I still feel a little embarrassed…”
[As usual, you studied Sylvia’s skeletal structure, but this ti, you noticed the flickering of her soul flas—perhaps she was more embarrassed than before.]
[You sped up your research.]
[So she could quickly finish the examination and put her armor back on.]
“Master Sorcerer is very kind.”
[Sylvia took note of your consideration and handed you a ‘good person’ card.]
[Training, research, more training, more research.]
[Ti passed quickly, and before you knew it, the month you had set had co to an end.]
[After conducting your final study, you packed up all your data and instrunts, sealing them inside a special biological storage bag, and prepared to bid farewell to the undead girl.]
[At the mont of parting, she made one request.]
The wind howled.
Bones wings flapped, and a massive skeletal bird descended.
The powerful gusts it generated dispersed the foul stench lingering around the mansion.
Sylvia gazed at it, then turned her hollow, undead eyes toward Xu Xi, clad in his sorcerer’s robe.
“Master Sorcerer, may I ask you for one favor?”
“What is it, Sylvia?”
“Before you leave… could you take into the sky, just once? I want to look down upon the Crowfield family’s lands from above.”
From the doorway, her voice echoed from within her heavy, rusted armor.
Uneasy, hesitant.
Afraid he would refuse.
“Of course. That’s not a problem,” Xu Xi replied with a smile.
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