"You're...still here?" I couldn't help but murmur as I stared at Song Qian Long's weak body, lying on the ground. i Mo was nowhere to be seen, but...he was still here.
By this ti, everyone else had also co back to their senses. The Midnight Syndicate mbers, having lost their main force - the monsters - attempted to retreat, and our own army confronted them. The other Golden Monarchs all stared at the scene in shock, clearly surprised by the fact that Song Qian Long's body was still sohow here...with the exception of Li Hai Tang, who appeared to be unconscious.
"This shouldn't be...possible..." Mayor Zhou murmured to himself. "When your core shatters, your body is the first to disappear..."
Then, suddenly, I heard a few faint words from none other than the man himself, lying on the ground weakly.
"I...conserved...a little bit...of my core...so that...I wouldn't...die...instantly..." he explained quietly.
"...But by the looks of it..." Yu Ao said, walking over with a pained expression on his face.
"Yes...I'm afraid...he does not have long," Mayor Zhou finished.
Hearing this, an unexplainable emotion clawed at my heart. I crouched down next to Song Qian Long, fists clenched.
"Can I...see your...face?" he asked softly.
I want to. I want to show you my face...but I'm afraid...I'm afraid if I do, my tears would begin flowing out uncontrollably.
...But...this is...this is the last ti I will get to see him.
Slowly and hesitantly, I took off my mask. At the sa ti, however, I kept my hood on, so that only Song Qian Long could view my face. Seeing my actions, he smiled peaceably despite the state he was in, and with what little strength he had left, he raised his arm, gently caressing my cheeks.
"Kai Kai...I'm...sorry..." he muttered, tears flowing out of his eyes. My own threatened to do the sa.
"...What the hell are you apologizing for...?!" I yelled, unable to hold back my emotions any longer.
"It seems...I won't be able to...accompany you...on your journey...any longer..."
I gritted my teeth, and clenched my fists even harder, digging my nails into my palms to the point where they almost bleed.
"Kai Kai...your parents...and I...we're all very proud of you..." he continued, tone gentle and ek. "Stay strong, my dear boy...and as I have seen...you have found yourself...many, many good companions by your side. Don't try to shoulder everything alone...you are allies for a reason..."
I nodded firmly, unable to do anything else.
He smiled upon seeing my response, and tapped my cheek with his hand.
"Now then...before I go...can I...hear you call 'godfather'...?" he asked sincerely, tears all over his face. "...Just once...?"
By this ti, I really could not contain my emotions any longer. I began crying, slamming my fist into the ground, frustrated at the feeling of not being able to do anything to save him - the only family I had left, apart from Qing Yue.
I'm so powerless. I know it isn't my fault that Song Qian Long ended up in this state, but...why am I so weak?! I'm sure...I'm sure if I was strong enough...there could definitely be a way to and his broken core...
...But. There is only one thing I can do for him, as I am right now. His final wish...will be granted by .
I brought my hand up slowly so that it overlapped his on my cheek, and I murmured a single word.
"...Godfather."
Upon hearing my single word, Song Qian Long's smile beca the widest I've ever seen him ever make in all the ti I've t him - but at the sa ti, his tears also beca the heaviest.
A brilliant golden light illuminated Song Qian Long, and...
...The mont the light disappeared, so did he. My hand, which had been on top of his, now felt nothing beneath it.
And amidst the silence of the stunned crowd and the morning breeze, I swear I heard the faintest whisper.
"Farewell, Kai Kai. And...I'm sorry."
*****
On that day - January 1st, 2023, the city of Shenzhen survived a mass-scale attack from the Midnight Syndicate. This event would later go down in history known as the 'Nightmare War'. But what the future textbooks filled with heroic tales of the soldiers and Golden Monarchs didn't speak of, was the cost of this seemingly impossible victory.
On this day, the city lost. It lost buildings, citizens, resources, money, everything. But beyond all of that, most importantly...
The city, and I, both lost the man known as Song Qian Long.
For the city, he was the number 1 mage - the Dragon of Shenzhen. He was their protector, their leader, their hero. Soone who would eventually be replaced as a stronger person ca along.
But to , he was so much more. My guider. My helper. And most importantly of all...my godfather. He was irreplaceable to . No matter how many more people co wanting to be my godfather, I will only ever have one. Even if he is already gone in the real world...he will forever live within my mories.
After Song Qian Long disappeared, our soldiers hunted down all the Midnight Syndicate mbers, who had been trying to run away. The knight was nowhere to be seen, but I had a dark feeling I would et him again in the near future...and not as friends.
After i Mo disappeared, all the monsters did as well, apparently. That ant the city was safe once more...but what's done is done. The destruction done to the city of Shenzhen in this invasion will take a few years to fix, and perhaps even a few more to get the city back into its original state.
But...the city will never be able to go back to what it was before, without the Dragon of Shenzhen.
In any case, we returned to the Coastal tropolis to bring the good news of our victory, but I wasn't in the mood. None of the Golden Monarchs were, either...with the exception of Li Hai Tang, who didn't seem to care much about Song Qian Long's death. The representatives from the other cities, Mr. Tan and Mr. Gao, decided they would stay here and help out with the reconstruction of this city for a bit longer before going back to their holands.
When it was announced on the PA of the mall that the city was now safe again, everyone rejoiced. But these people who weren't present at the actual fight have no idea just what was sacrificed for them to still be able to cry out in happiness right now.
Instead of returning to the mall, I decided to head back to the school dorms. My own dorm room, in particular. I needed so ti by myself, and reflect on what happened today. I know the girls are probably worried about , but I really didn't want to deal with anyone right now. Sotis...being alone is for the best.
Luckily, the dorm buildings weren't hard. Only the school's main building was. So, I still had an intact room to go back to, which was good.
As I sat down on my bed, I began contemplating things.
Humans...or perhaps any other intelligent race...are truly flawed creatures, huh? We don't even realize sothing - or soone - is important to us...until we lose them. More often than not, we regret doing things, but then realize we can't turn back ti to fix it.
Well...actually, it's possible to turn back ti...I read about a Divine Tier spell that could do that sowhere, but since no one has actually achieved the Divine God level, no one is able to cast that spell.
Oh well...what do I do now? I can't really stay in Shenzhen, since I wouldn't have anything to do. The school is destroyed, and the principal of said school is...well, gone.
I sighed. I would think about this more later. For now...I needed so rest. I headed into the bathroom, took a long shower, then ca back out. It was then that I realized the new notifications on my phone.
I looked at the screen.
5 missed calls. From: Qing Yue.
I sighed and dialed her number, calling her back. Almost imdiately, she answered.
"What do you need, Qing Yu-"
"Big Brother Xuan Kai? Where are you right now? Did you hear the announcent they just made? The city is safe now!"
"Yeah...I heard," I replied stoically.
"Hm...? Why do you not sound happy at all...?" Qing Yue murmured in confusion.
"...It's nothing. I'm really...glad that the city is safe now. Really."
Hiding my pain, I forced these words out my mouth.
"Huh...well...okay then. Let's et up! Where are you right now?" Qing Yue asked excitedly.
If I said I needed to sleep right now, they would know I went to do sothing else when I should've been sleeping while they slept at the Sleepless Starlight.
"Right...uh, how about you tell where you are? I'll co to you," I responded.
"Hm...okay, the others and I just woke up to this announcent, so we're still at the Sleepless Starlight."
"I see...I'm coming," I said briskly, then hung up.
I know that Song Qian Long sacrificing himself is for the best, but...I still can't help but feel it should've been soone else to be the sacrifice. I know that's a pretty damn evil, selfish thought, but who's to bla ? Anyone, if put in my position, would also wish the sa.
I sighed for the third ti in this short duration and glanced out the window.
On this day, January 1st, 2023, the Dragon of Shenzhen fell.
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