Chapter 78: Return

Chapter 78: Return

The sword sliced through the abyssal crevice with little resistance, splitting it in two.

"What was that sound?" Hua Mi tilted his head, perplexed by the peculiar noise emanating from the depths of the abyss. It resembled... a horn!

It lasted but a second before abruptly ceasing.

Simultaneously, the severed abyssal halves shrank into nothingness.

The palpable sense of rhythmic panic in the air dissipated.

The laser emitted by the Fire Seed retracted at the same time.

A piercing howl echoed from the black mist, followed by a slender figure plummeting from within.

Unno was enveloped in swirling black mist, sprawled on the ground, roaring towards them.

Leaning on the Purifier Sword, Hua Mi was drenched in cold sweat.

"It hurts!"

Neurotoxins had invaded his body, an excruciating pain piercing deep into his bones, making him contemplate severing his throbbing hand.

Yet Unno's relentless shouting added to his disquietude.

Unno clawed his way up, the dark mist cloaking him akin to a malevolent spirit, staggering towards Hua Mi.

"Hell!" Hua Mi cursed, rising and lifting the heavy sword.

Just then, a muffled boom resonated.

The Fire Seed erupted, leaving a ring of scorch marks around.

Instinctively, Hua Mi raised the Purifier Sword in front of him, witnessing the shockwave sweep Unno.

Instantly, flames engulfed him entirely, and within half a second, he turned to ash amidst the blaze.

After the fire had spread to a certain distance, it abruptly receded.

The entire Fire Seed drastically diminished to the size of a ping-pong ball, its flames extinguished, now quietly suspended like an ordinary night pearl.

Gripping the hilt of the sword, Hua Mi lowered his gaze, an expression of endless melancholy in his eyes—numbed by the pain.

But soon, he noticed something unusual.

"Why does it feel like the sky is getting darker?" he mused aloud.

Beyond the dome, the storm vortex persisted, clashing against the sky, yet the celestial flames seemed notably dimmer, and the city's luminance had significantly decreased.

Without the Fire Seed continuously supplying energy to the sky, how much longer could it hold?

"It needs a reboot... the Fire Seed needs a reboot," Tin Can appeared at some point, regarding Hua Mi with trepidation, speaking in a hushed tone.

"How do we reboot it?"

"The Fire Seed has entered a self-locking state. You need to use the Purifier Sword in your hand to break its outer shell..." Tin Can said respectfully. "Only you can do it."

Hua Mi glanced at the Fire Seed and indeed noticed a faint outer shell encasing it.

Just break it open?

Cracks—ominous shattering echoed from above.

Looking up, a fissure had already split the sky.

"We must act swiftly. Without the Fire Seed's power, the sky won't hold for long," Tin Can urged urgently.

Hesitation was a luxury Hua Mi couldn't afford now. He lifted the Purifier Sword again.

Hua Mi obtained a packet of "Gifts from the Mother Goddess," along with other miscellaneous alchemical materials.

This journey also yielded an unexpected treasure—Crimson Fire Bees.

Additionally, he gathered intelligence and forged friendships with the Fire Nymphs.

Despite saying "balancing out deeds," the Fire Nymphs held him in high regard.

After all, he was the first person after King Lulu to wield the Purifier Sword.

The Fire Nymphs hailed him as the "Keeper of the Sword."

Both Fire Nymph Kings reached an agreement, granting him the right to wield the Purifier Sword.

They crafted an anti-magic gold plaque as proof, inscribed with "Keeper of the Sword" in both human and Fire Nymph languages.

It was the right to wield, not ownership.

The Purifier Sword, as a prized possession of the Fire Nymphs, couldn't be given away casually.

It forever belonged to the Brass City.

Hua Mi didn't mind much. "Keeper of the Sword" sounded impressive, likely just an honorary title.

While the Purifier Sword boasted potent anti-magic effects, its operation was challenging, especially for humans.

Short bursts were manageable, but prolonged use? Muscles would cramp.

Due to its anti-magic properties, it couldn

't be stored in spatial equipment, requiring personal carriage. Imagine lugging that thing around; exhaustion might strike before reaching the destination.

...

About three days later, the Fire Seed stabilized.

Alyss erected a portal on the square, opening a passage.

Before departure, a group of Fire Nymphs came to bid farewell.

Of course, they were there for "Keeper of the Sword" Hua Mi.

Toward Alyss, they remained considerably indifferent.

Passing through the dimensional passage, the two travelers smoothly returned to Alyss's study.

Outside the window lay the familiar Black Forest.

Familiar air, familiar sounds of nature.

Hua Mi felt considerably more at ease.

"Before we set out, you didn't mention how perilous this trip would be, and this time's danger falls squarely on your shoulders."

Hua Mi paused, saying, "Gonna need more compensation."

"I can fulfill your future needs for free. Will that suffice?"

"Deal."

To receive such a commitment from a top-tier architect made many envy, but he couldn't let this opportunity slip away.

"But you'll provide your own materials. I don't have time to gather them for you," Alyss said, already beginning to pack. "I need to return to the Emerald City immediately. The Abyss is stirring, and the Abyss Research Association is no longer reliable. This information must reach the Emerald City promptly."

Hua Mi understood her urgency. "I need to get back quickly too. I don't know how the greenhouse fared."

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