Chapter 400: End

Heimu's mind almost stopped thinking in that instant.

(... huh?)

(... so... I've become the Extinction Great Lord under Na Nuke again?)

Countless complaints surged in her mind, finally turning into a sigh only she could hear.

(Fine... at least the portal is about to close, other forces can't get in for now, Destruction is in my own hands... anyone can dawdle.)

She shook her head, suppressing those tangled thoughts for a moment, and refocused on reality.

Black Tower had drawn a little closer, its violet‑black eyes fixed on her, brows furrowed: "Who exactly are you?"

Its tone returned to calm, but the curiosity and lingering anger were unchanged.

Heimu looked at her, then with a mischievous grin and a familiar tone said:

"My dear little sister, it's only been a short while since we last met, and you don't recognize your elder sister?"

Answering her was a magic projectile that Black Tower shot without hesitation!

The violet‑black beam shot straight toward her face!

However, just as the projectile was about to hit Heimu, it passed through as if through a layer of Holographic Projection, slipping through unimpeded and silently blooming like a tiny firework in the distant void behind her.

Heimu spread her hands, expression innocent: "Alright, if you can't hit me, don't waste your magic."

Black Tower lowered its hand, its face still expressionless, but its gaze grew colder: "Be serious. Who are you, really? Why do you look so much like me?"

She said the last few words with some difficulty.

Smart as she was, she already had several astonishing guesses in mind, merely needing confirmation.

Heimu's teasing expression on her face slightly subsided.

She was silent for a few seconds, looking at Black Tower's eyes that shared the same origin, and spoke softly:

"Actually, you already have the answer in your heart, right?"

Black Tower's breath briefly faltered.

She didn't deny it, merely pressed her lips tightly.

Heimu gave the final and only answer:

"I am you."

"Or rather, you in another world, another possibility… yourself, or the path not chosen."

Black Tower closed its eyes.

Long lashes cast faint shadows under the starlight.

She inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly.

When she opened her eyes again, the raging storm in her gaze had been forced down, leaving only cold calm and a trace of complex emotion.

"Honestly..."

She whispered a sentence, tone flat, yet seeming to contain a thousand words.

She didn't press for details.

Some answers, once the beginning is known, allow most of the process and ending to be inferred.

Now isn't the time to delve deeper, and the location is unsuitable.

Heimu seemed to see through her thoughts, and in a way only the two could hear, left a remark:

"If you want to know more… return to the Space Station. I'll tell you slowly."

Then, without waiting for Black Tower's reply, her figure began to fade, merging into the starry backdrop and vanishing swiftly.

Perspective shift.

The terrifying rift in the sky contracted at a visible speed, and the suffocating multi‑layer high‑rank pressure receded like a tide.

Although the city remained scarred, Insect Swarm and the wreckage of void soldiers littered everywhere, at least the cloud of Destruction seemed to have temporarily cleared.

"Is… it over?"

San Yue Qi asked uncertainly, the ice‑blue bow still held aloft.

Artoria gazed at the now‑calm night sky, the weight in her emerald eyes unchanged, though her tense body relaxed a bit.

The Communicator on Tengwan Lixiang's wrist rang again with Doctor Roman's urgent voice: "Lixiang! What just happened?! All observations showed a violent rupture! We lost about three minutes of video and data from your side! Only an incomprehensible over‑spec space fluctuation was detected."

"Doctor, Da Fenqi—"

Tengwan Lixiang hurriedly replied, scanning the surroundings for her comrades: "The situation… is complicated. The enemy seems… to have retreated? Those rifts in the sky are closing. We're temporarily safe, but the losses…"

"Safety first! Safety first!"

Doctor Roman seemed to sigh in relief, then immediately grew serious: "We just detected a gaze sweeping by as if from a cosmic scale, then quickly receding… Lixiang, what exactly did you face? Do we need to dispatch support right away? Da Fenqi—has already prepared to activate the Heroic Spirit summoning system…"

"No need for now, Doctor."

Tengwan Lixiang declined, looking at her companions; though weary and wounded, their main forces remained, and the situation here was unclear, a rash reinforcement could cause new problems: "We'll handle the site first, verify subsequent conditions. Keep the Communicator open, stay in contact."

At that moment, San Yue Qi pointed to the sky and shouted: "Hey! It's Black Tower Lady!"

The figure of Black Tower descended slowly from the heights, landing near the group.

Her complexion was paler than before, Magic Power Consumption evidently massive, yet her posture remained upright.

"Black Tower Lady! Are you alright?" Mashu asked concernedly.

Black Tower gave a slight nod: "No problem."

Her gaze swept over everyone.

"The matter is resolved."

She announced concisely, "The portal is closed, those agents of Destruction have departed. In the short term, this world should be safe."

Upon hearing this, everyone's taut nerves finally relaxed completely, a post‑catastrophe fatigue washing over them.

Really… it's over.

Ailisi Feier looked at Weigong Qiesi, who gave her a slight nod, indicating that his condition was stable.

Weber collapsed into a sitting position on the ground.

Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu exchanged a glance, both seeing relief in each other's eyes.

Black Tower, however, did not take part in this brief rest and reflection.

In her mind echoed Heimu's last words: "Return to the Space Station, I'll explain slowly."

A strong curiosity surged up, impossible to suppress.

She must know the truth; she must figure out exactly what is going on.

"Take care of the rest of this situation yourselves."

Black Tower said to Tengwan Lixiang and the others, her tone reverting to the usual impatient "I'm in a hurry": "My Task is completed. The contract… is also considered fulfilled."

She looked at A Xing: "You…"

She seemed to want to say something, but ultimately she just waved her hand: "Forget it. Do as you please."

Regarding this Master who had used up his Command Spells, the "Sincere" Master, her feelings were complex.

A Xing nodded silently.

Black Tower said no more; her magic stirred slightly, and her figure began to blur.

The perspective shifted.

Heimu's figure re-formed.

【System】: Welcome back, lady.

External threat has been confirmed neutralized.

Xingyue World passage integration: 98.7%; estimated complete isolation countdown: 3 minutes 42 seconds.

Detected a new high-dimensional contract binding…… analyzing…… confirmed as authorization of execution rights for the Destruction Path.

Authorizer: Nanuke (Destruction Star God).

Authorization scope: Xingyue World (ID: unknown).

Execution limit: unlimited (conditional).

Status: activated.

Heimu looked at the information displayed on the System Panel and couldn't help but sigh again.

"As expected…… not at all surprising."

She muttered to herself.