Chapter 16: See you again in the next life

At the moment the flow light appeared, the mother ship sensed a huge threat; she hastily opened her huge mouth, and the strange insect howl spread across the sky as countless blood ships rushed back at extreme speed, trying to block that cyan flow light.

Useless! The cyan flow light was unstoppable; in an instant it tore to pieces all the blood ships that had tried to block it.

After several seventh-level gene warriors sacrificed their lives to imbue Lin Ran with Gene Source Energy, the power of the cyan flow light had already reached ninth-level strength, even surpassing it; this strike would surely pierce heaven and earth, dooming the mother ship!

"Roar!!!"

The mother ship roared, and the surrounding gland turrets burst forth several thick red laser beams, all shooting toward Lin Ran within the cyan flow light.

"Heavenly Catastrophe Equation! Activate!"

Lin Ran shouted in her heart, and the cyan flow light's speed suddenly surged, instantly becoming blindingly bright as it frenziedly poured into the mother ship's body.

In an instant, the mother ship's internal organs were torn to shreds, countless unknown glands spewed everywhere, and the mother ship's massive body was blown apart into pieces by the flow light.

Decapitation... succeeded!

Having lost all her strength, Lin Ran fell from the sky, watching the blood and flesh flying all around, and her tense mood finally relaxed.

"Zhang Jie... I did it..."

With the mother ship's death, all the blood ships, as expected, lost all activity and fell to the ground.

But... that was all there was...

Several hours later...

At this moment, Lin Ran felt every muscle in her body aching intensely, unable to move a muscle.

When she opened her eyes again, she saw Zhang Jie's gentle face.

She happily went to Zhang Jie to claim credit.

"Zhang Jie! I... I did it!"

"Mm, you did it."

Only Zhang Jie's praise—although it was enough, it wasn't what she had imagined.

The surrounding cadres looked at her, full of loss and reluctance, and the atmosphere around them felt so strange.

This wasn't what she had imagined!

Lin Ran's face changed instantly; her voice trembled as she pleadingly looked at Zhang Jie and at the surrounding cadres.

"I... I did it... right?"

"Right? Please..."

At that moment, a gentle broadcast voice sounded, completely shattering Lin Ran's hope.

"Attention all members of the Fire Seed Project, the Ark has set sail, the Ark has set sail, route... unknown, heading... unknown, sailing time... unknown, destination... unknown"

"Please take one last look at our homeland, please... don't forget it..."

"Members of the Fire Seed Project, residents of Yong Kingdom, frontline warriors, we will meet again in the next life..."

The broadcast ended, and Lin Ran's emotions finally collapsed completely.

She was on the Ark, she had accomplished nothing, their sun remained covered in flesh and blood, and nothing had changed.

"I can't do anything..."

"It's all because I'm not strong enough...."

"Sorry... sorry..."

She had clearly succeeded in beheading the mother ship, so why... why is all this still not over?

Zhang Jie let out a soft sigh, his hand gently stroking her head.

"It's okay, it's not your fault."

"We were all mistaken; even if we killed the mother ship, our sun would not reignite."

"So... rest and recover, don't blame yourself too much."

Looking at Zhang Jie's appearance, Lin Ran suddenly had a bad premonition, even though Zhang Jie was right beside her.

But why... why does it always feel like Zhang Jie will leave her in the next moment?

"Zhang Jie... you're not hiding anything from me, are you?"

Zhang Jie remained silent for a while, finally letting out a helpless sigh.

"Well... Lin Ran, I won't stay on the Ark with you."

"What do you mean?"

Lin Ran stared blankly for a moment, looking at Zhang Jie in disbelief, and her anxiety surged like a tide.

"You're not going with me? Why? Where are you going?"

Lin Ran asked urgently, tears welling at the corners of her eyes, but her body couldn't move.

If she could, she would surely cling tightly to Zhang Jie, but she couldn't.

"What time is it now, Zhang Jie! Don't tease me anymore, okay!"

All that could be seen was Zhang Jie gripping her hand, as if speaking, as if saying goodbye.

"Lin Ran, some things... someone always has to do them."

"Didn't you say you'd support me no matter what I do?"

"This won't do! Only this won't do!"

"Please... only this won't do..."

Lin Ran looked helplessly at Zhang Jie, pleading softly, hoping her beloved would change his mind.

"Lin Ran, you know I'm a stubborn person."

Zhang Jie gave a helpless light laugh, gently wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes with his hand.

"An ancient scholar once said, the universe is constantly cycling; what you have experienced will happen again in 120,000 years."

"Don't say it! Please don't say it... let's go together, okay!"

The girl shook her head desperately; her only one, her everything, was saying goodbye to her in such a quiet way.

Ha, Lin Ran, if you live long enough, you might still get to see my reincarnation.

My girl, I'm really glad to have met you.

We'll meet again in the next life.

After speaking, the final kiss landed on that tiny tear mole, both a farewell and a confession.

Zhang Jie turned and walked away; he didn't dare look back, afraid he couldn't bear to leave Lin Ran.

Zhang Jie! Come back! Come back!

Come back... I only have you left...

Ugh...

Don't go... don't go...

Leader, are you really going to do this?

I dare to say this, but such a sacrifice is meaningless; only you can lead us onward.

Ha, who says I can't succeed?

Zhang Jie turned around with a carefree, slightly smiling look, looking at the Ark personnel behind him who were seeing him off.

Back when I single-handedly took on Caesar's life, did anyone think I could succeed?

But this is different...

There's nothing different about it.

Zhang Jie was currently wearing a set of biological armor, yet he still couldn't survive in the sky relying solely on his flesh.

But...

Alright, let's leave it like that.

I still have a lecture to give, so I won't keep you any longer.

... Hmm.

Leader Sir! Take care!

He's gone.

Zhang Jie's figure vanished inside the isolation chamber; the Ark's hatch facing space opened, and the biologically armored Zhang Jie floated out slowly, with the biological propulsor behind him pushing him toward the sun.

He was about to do something no one could have imagined, nor even dared to think of—a great undertaking!