Chapter 224

"Can't hold it for long!" Void Lin Yu gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his face; every second of blocking felt like a thousand-pound weight pressing down.

Lin Yu's gaze shifted back and forth between Xuanyuan Qing's silver cocoon-like halo and the giant eye in the sky that was slowly closing in.

"Must leave this hellhole."

"Leave? What a joke!" Void Lin Yu sneered, sweat beads sliding down his forehead. "The Mirror World has been locked by the Terminators; unless it is completely destroyed, no one can escape."

Lin Yu frowned: "Destroy the entire world? How can that be done?"

"Rely on you, rely on that energy of Void-Reality Unification in your chest." Void Lin Yu pointed at his chest.

"But I just..." Before Lin Yu could finish, the cracks on the barrier had spread to the edges.

"Don't dawdle, if we drag this out, we're all finished."

With a sharp cracking sound, the protective shield shattered completely into specks of light, and the black light of the Terminators headed straight for the crystal tower; the entire top of the tower began to disintegrate the moment the black light touched it.

Lin Yu didn't even think and rushed out: "Qing girl!"

The golden-black energy inside him surged into his right arm, condensing into a giant sword that transcended physical limits; the golden and black colors intertwined and wrapped around the blade, constantly changing form.

"Get back!" Lin Yu swung his sword at the black beam of light.

The light produced by the energy collision was blinding. By the time Lin Yu could see his surroundings again, the crystal tower had turned into ruins, and he stood in the center of the debris, trembling all over, his lungs burning with pain.

The eye in the sky remained motionless, becoming even larger instead. The indifference emanating from the pupil was enough to suffocate anyone.

"It's useless." Void Lin Yu slumped on the ruins, his voice flickering. "You only managed to block one strike; it will come again soon."

Lin Yu looked down at his right arm; the energy sword had dissipated, leaving only golden-black patterns wandering on the surface of his skin. His internal energy reserves were near empty, and he felt an unprecedented weakness.

"Tell me what to do."

Void Lin Yu looked up at the sky, and after a long while, he spoke: "There is only one way left."

"What way?"

"Void Sacrifice."

Lin Yu waited for the rest.

"The ultimate secret technique of Void creatures: sacrifice all one's power to tear open a passage to the Void Core." Void Lin Yu's tone was calm, as if he were talking about today's weather.

"And then?"

"And then?" Void Lin Yu pulled out an ugly smile. "Lure the Terminators inside and trap them in the core forever."

Lin Yu's eyes widened: "You intend to sacrifice yourself?"

"As the Void Monarch, this is my destiny." Void Lin Yu stood up, walked to Lin Yu, and raised his hand to press it on his forehead. "Remember, only the power of Void-Reality Unification can defeat the Terminators; you are the last hope."

Surging energy rushed into Lin Yu's mind, and strange memories and understanding of the Void flooded in. He felt his skull about to explode and his vision went black, but he gritted his teeth and held on.

Void Lin Yu's body gradually became transparent, eventually turning into a cluster of pure black light specks, which melted directly into Lin Yu's body.

"Go!" The last sentence echoed in Lin Yu's mind.

He picked up the unconscious Xuanyuan Qing and rushed into the rift in the sky, and a piece of darkness swallowed them.

Lin Yu opened his eyes and found himself in a boundless dark space, with no up, down, left, or right, no light, and not even any sound.

"Where?" he asked, but his voice was swallowed by an invisible barrier.

Xuanyuan Qing in his arms was breathing steadily, but still hadn't woken up.

Lin Yu carefully placed her on the invisible ground, sat cross-legged himself, and began to sort through the memory fragments that had suddenly crowded into his mind.

Void Sacrifice, Terminators, Void Core... all the information pieced together, forming a suffocating truth.

The real threat was never a Void invasion, but the Terminators.

And he, of all people, had become the only one who could stop this catastrophe.

Reflecting on his closed heart, Lin Yu sighed and opened his eyes again.

He stood up, faced the darkness, and his voice echoed in the emptiness: "No matter who you are or what you want to do, I will stop you."

A point of light appeared in the distance, gradually expanding and condensing into the shape of a door. The door floated in the darkness, emitting a faint fluorescence.

Lin Yu picked up Xuanyuan Qing and walked toward that door of the unknown.

Pushing the door open and entering, the door behind him closed automatically, and darkness shrouded everything once again.

"Welcome to the Void Cage." The voice came from all directions.

Lin Yu turned around abruptly, but could see nothing in the darkness.

"Who?"

"Not important," the voice continued, "What's important is that you have stepped into my domain."

"Your domain?" Lin Yu sneered, "You can't trap me."

"Who said I wanted to trap you?" The voice became sharp, "I only want her."

Lin Yu looked down and was horrified to find his arms empty; Xuanyuan Qing was gone.

"Qing girl!" He looked around abruptly, even though he couldn't see anything in this pitch-black environment.

"Don't bother," the voice said, "She is in my hands."

"What exactly do you want?" Lin Yu clenched his fists.

"Do me a small favor," the voice suddenly became gentle, "Open the seal of the Terminators."

Lin Yu's footsteps paused: "Are you crazy?"

"Not crazy," the voice said calmly, "Only by opening the seal can the Terminators be completely eliminated."

"Bullshit!" Lin Yu roared, "Opening the seal will only let the Terminators destroy everything!"

"So what?" the voice said coldly, "This world was already beyond saving."

"There is still hope! I am the hope!"

"You?" A sneer came from the darkness, "What kind of hope are you? Just a container, a tool!"

"I am Lin Yu!" he roared, "Not anyone's puppet!"

"Is that so?" The voice became playful, "Then prove it to me."

"How to prove it?"

"Kill her," the voice said slowly, "Kill Xuanyuan Qing, and I will believe you."

Lin Yu fell silent, looking at his empty hands, his heart feeling cold.

"Can't bring yourself to do it?" the voice mocked, "As expected, still too weak."

"I..." Lin Yu's tongue tied, at a loss for words.

"Do it," the voice urged, "This is the only chance."

Lin Yu closed his eyes, and the bits and pieces of his time with Xuanyuan Qing flashed through his mind.

"No," he shook his head, "Absolutely impossible."

"You must!" the voice exploded, "This concerns the fate of the whole world!"

"Screw you! I won't sacrifice Qing girl!"

"Then go to hell!" In the darkness, countless tentacles attacked him.

Golden-black energy condensed into a sharp blade on Lin Yu's right arm, and he brandished the weapon, slashing at those invisible threats.

"Come on! What kind of storms haven't I, Lin Yu, seen before!"

"Uncle Lin, farewell..."

She raised the silver bell and shook it violently.

The crisp bell sound echoed in the darkness.

"No—" Lin Yu let out a heart-wrenching scream.