Chapter 312

No. 26 Huayuanjie.

Fifteen minutes after the meteor fell and Amber vanished.

Wu Chang and Aileen searched everywhere nearby but found no trace of Amber.

Not only was Amber gone, but Wu Chang manipulated water to cool the meteor and excavated the deep crater—beneath it was nothing but a soil pit, with no remnants of a house.

That meant the entire No. 26 Huayuanjie—the house, the lawn, and Amber—all vanished.

This discovery, however, relieved Wu Chang and Aileen.

If the house wasn't crushed by the meteor, it wouldn't directly trigger Amber; even if her true form was the house, she should be fine.

After confirming the situation, the next question arose.

Where should they look for Amber?

Wu Chang's first thought was the Sigev City Orphanage—he remembered Teacher Marivela saying that beneath Amber's anxiety lay a fear of returning to her origin.

Regardless of whether Amber's days of volunteering had eased her fear of the orphanage, she should appear there.

But before heading to the orphanage, he first went to Knox Elementary to check the school's condition.

When Amber suffered anxiety attacks, the Mark of Misfortune had appeared not only at their home but also at Knox Elementary—both places clearly held extraordinary significance for her.

To avoid drawing attention from Lin Jiang and others to Knox Elementary's anomaly, Wu Chang drove there under Social Anxiety.

Knox Elementary was eerily quiet at midnight, with no abnormalities—but Wu Chang encountered someone there.

Teacher Marivela.

She arrived in a hurry, as if something urgent had occurred; she parked at the gate and sprinted into the classroom building, then emerged minutes later with a solemn expression.

Was her presence here a coincidence?

When Marivela stepped out of the building, Wu Chang lifted his Social Anxiety and rushed into the school with an anxious demeanor.

Marivela froze upon seeing him, then greeted him voluntarily:

"Mr. Xiao En, why are you here so late?"

Wu Chang forced a weak smile and said, "Nothing much—I lost something and thought it might be here, so I came back to look."

Marivela asked, "Do you need help?"

Wu Chang shook his head. "No, I can manage alone."

Marivela said, "I left something in the classroom building too—I just checked the office, it was clean. Your lost item probably isn't here."

"Sometimes, when something is lost, it's not truly gone—it's just returned to where it belongs, and we didn't notice."

Wu Chang's face lit up with understanding. "Alright, I'll look elsewhere."

"Wait." Marivela called out to Wu Chang.

Wu Chang: "What else?"

Marivela removed a silver leaf pendant from around her neck and handed it to Wu Chang.

"It's my lucky charm—it can help you find lost things. I'll lend it to you; return it to me tomorrow at work."

Wu Chang took the pendant, his eyelid twitching involuntarily.

The Omniscient Crystal in his personal space stirred—the pendant, like Grace's cross, was a gateway to the Primordial Spirit Nexus.

He took the pendant and said, "I'll use it well."

"One more thing," Marivela said with deliberate meaning. "I recall Teacher Yuye, who teaches art, saying that in her homeland, there's a belief: all things have spirits."

"Lost objects, like lost children, feel afraid when alone. If you find them, they might need a hug."

Wu Chang paused, then replied, "Thank you."

He put on the pendant and drove swiftly toward the Sigev City Orphanage.

Marivela's late-night visit to Knox Elementary was no coincidence—she wasn't searching for Amber; she was waiting for him.

He was certain Marivela knew he was searching for Amber; her advice, the pendant she lent him, and especially her final words about a hug—all pointed to Amber.

Now it seemed clear: Marivela's precise understanding of Amber's anxiety wasn't merely professional insight—she knew Amber intimately.

Wu Chang stared at the silver leaf pendant in his hand—another item tied to the Primordial Spirit Nexus.

What was Teacher Marivela's true identity? What role did she play in the Mark of Misfortune scenario, and in Amber's life?

He took a deep breath, hung the pendant around his neck, and set aside thoughts of Marivela—for now.

Whatever her identity, at least for now, she meant no harm to him or Amber. As for her true nature, he could investigate after finding Amber.

Wu Chang drove fast and arrived at the orphanage just as it was nine o'clock—the staff were guiding the children back to their rooms to complete their nightly prayers before bed.

During Amber's days as a volunteer, Wu Chang had waited inside the orphanage for her; he'd spoken at length with Director Susan, and they were now acquaintances.

Seeing Wu Chang arrive in haste, Susan led him to her office and asked what had happened.

Wu Chang gave no detailed explanation—only that Amber had said she had something to attend to and left home, and he couldn't find her, so he wondered if she might be here.

Susan poured him a glass of water. "Don't worry. Amber may be troublesome, but she's sensible—she wouldn't do anything to trouble you."

"She likes to walk when confused. Maybe she just walked too far—by the time you get home, she might already be in her room."

After entering the orphanage, Wu Chang felt the pendant Marivela had lent him grow subtly warm—as if guiding him toward something.

But in the Mark of Misfortune scenario, most native inhabitants were ordinary people—he didn't want Susan to notice anything unusual and later bring trouble to Amber—so he didn't rush off, instead feigning calm.

He was about to make an excuse to use the restroom and activate Social Anxiety to search for anomalies when Susan suddenly said:

"Did you know? Before today's volunteering ended, Amber came to me. She said she wanted to change, to try accepting herself, and that she wanted my forgiveness."

Wu Chang, halfway to standing, sat back down.

Susan continued: "I was surprised. In my experience, Amber always avoided confronting herself—and me. To be honest, I was flustered, spoke incoherently, and didn't express myself well."

"If you see Amber when you return, tell her: it's not me who needs to forgive her—it's herself."

"And…"

Susan pulled open a drawer and took out a golden five-pointed star.

"This five-pointed star was a gift my sister had prepared to give to Amber, but she had an accident and never got to deliver it, so I've kept it ever since."

"At first, I thought all the disasters were brought by Amber, and I resented her. Only after becoming the orphanage director and growing more composed did I realize I had merely taken out my anger on her without cause."

"I've repented, but I've never mustered the courage to apologize to Amber, nor do I believe I have the right to replace my sister and give her this Bethlehem Heart."

"For a long time, Amber and I avoided facing each other. Today, she was the first to confront the past, while I could only be stunned by her growth and ashamed of my own childishness."

Director Susan took a deep breath, cupped the Bethlehem Star in both hands, and handed it to Wu Chang.

"Amber's changes all began after you adopted her. Mr. Xiao En, only you have the right, like my sister, to guide Amber's path and bring her hope and courage."

Wu Chang took the Bethlehem Star and said solemnly: "I will."

At that moment, the director's office door was pushed open; Yu Siyi burst in, grabbing Wu Chang and dragging him off to find Amber.

Wu Chang was curious how Yu Siyi had found Amber, but now wasn't the time to chat—he followed her all the way to the orphanage chapel.

Yu Siyi could see that this time, the orange line appeared at the chapel's entrance.

After bringing Wu Chang here, she suddenly froze—the location was found, but she had no ability to take Wu Chang inside.

Sweat began to bead on her forehead; she glanced at Wu Chang, thinking: this native of the instance must have been able to lend me so much power through the orange line—he should have his own way.

Wu Chang indeed had one. Standing at the chapel's entrance, the silver leaf pendant on his chest grew intensely hot.

He looked at Yu Siyi, thought for a moment, turned his back to her, pulled out a sheet of paper, and used Mystical Control to imprint upon it a complex mystical array, its center a chaotic rune forged from his Chaotic Authority.

The paper itself had no special power; its only function was to prove it was drawn by him.

He handed the paper to Yu Siyi and said: "Someone named Peace owes me a favor. Leave this as a token. I'm transferring that favor to you. If you ever need it, go find him."

Yu Siyi had killed many in Wanghai City; as Amber said, she wasn't a good person. But as he and Amber had said, he didn't care. Whether Yu Siyi was good or bad, she had helped him—he owed her a favor.

Yu Siyi took the array paper, her mouth slightly agape. No wonder he could eliminate instance monsters across the orange line—that Peace, so highly valued by the four organizations, deemed to have cheated, even in the instance owed him a favor.

With Peace's favor, when I bind Lu Langfeng with the Thread of Reconciliation, I'll have backup.

Wu Chang handed the paper to Yu Siyi, then turned and walked into the chapel. As heat pulsed from his chest, his vision blurred—he stood inside a chapel unlike the present one, brightly lit, filled with Christmas cheer.

Wu Chang recognized this place. In Director Amanda's resentment, this was the scene when she prayed with Amber.

But now, there was no Director Amanda—only Amber herself.

The Amber before him was much younger, only six or seven years old.

The young Amber stood before the marble statue, hands clasped tightly, whispering:

"Praise the deity. Divine One, can you tell me why, no matter how hard I try, I always return to the beginning, back to this place?"

"Is it that children like me are a mistake—only capable of hurting others, hurting ourselves, never receiving redemption?"

As it had that day, the statue did not answer Amber. Instead, it trembled slightly, then tipped forward.

!

A benevolent smile, accompanied by the forward tilt—mocking.

Looking up at the falling statue, Amber's face showed no disappointment—only an expression of "I knew the answer would be this."

As she calmly accepted the statue's reply, a figure darted from beside her and delivered a flying kick, sending the statue flying.

The one who kicked the statue landed on the altar, taking its place. He crouched and patted Amber's head, saying:

"Your existence is meaning itself. You will be redeemed—Yego cannot stop it. I say so!"

Amber stared at the man before her—the fear in her eyes faded, replaced by confused bewilderment.

She seemed to recognize the man, but she had forgotten.

Wu Chang jumped down from the altar and said: "Do you remember our promise? Just be yourself. Everything else is my responsibility."

Hearing Wu Chang's words, the bewilderment in Amber's eyes dissolved—she remembered the man before her.

Even when returned to the day she least wished to recall, facing the statue crashing down again, she had faced it without fear. But now, her nose stung.

"Xiao En, you're late again."

Wu Chang shrugged. "Sorry, took me a while to get in. But I made it just in time."

He opened his arms and embraced Amber, saying as Director Amanda had:

"It's over now. Everything will be alright."

"And welcome home."

As Amber regained her memories, the entire orphanage shook violently, its interior beginning to collapse.

Wu Chang noticed the statue, kicked into the corner, had vanished.

Amber's face turned pale. "What's happening?"

Wu Chang said: "Perhaps the one who kicked it doesn't want you to leave."

It seemed Amber's past wasn't ready to let her go so easily.

Amber grabbed Wu Chang's arm. "This is dangerous—let's get out."

"Wait."

Wu Chang pulled Amber back in front of him and pulled the Bethlehem Star from his pocket—the one Susan had given him.

Amber's eyes widened as she stared at the Bethlehem Star in Wu Chang's hand—she seemed to understand what it was.

"This is..."

Wu Chang smiled. "It's a gift entrusted to me by Director Amanda and Director Susan. When you feel lost again, when you doubt your own worth, it will give you courage and guide you forward."

With the guidance of the Bethlehem Star, Amber and Wu Chang moved through the orphanage without hindrance—the collapsing structures did not block their path, and they reached the orphanage's exterior.

Only then did Wu Chang notice the world's anomaly: it looked identical to Sigef City, but fine cracks spread everywhere, as if ready to shatter.

Hmm—not ready. Something had already begun to collapse.

The crumbling orphanage resembled a sleeping monster, now slowly awakening, trying to pull its body from the ground.

In Amber's memories, the orphanage was her origin.

While Director Amanda was alive, it was her final harbor—no matter the hardship, she could always find refuge here.

But after Sister Amanda died, this place became a monster that devoured everything about her, binding her here no matter how hard she tried to start a new life—she always returned here.

Its existence seemed to tell Amber that every time she left, it brought nothing but harm to others.

So to leave this place, it seemed she must defeat Amber's origin: the Sigfus City Orphanage.

Wu Chang stared at the orphanage and sighed helplessly—it was a four-story building; destroying such a massive monster was far more troublesome than the previous three inner demons.

Amber tugged at Wu Chang's sleeve, her face tense.

Wu Chang smiled at Amber and said, "Don't worry—we'll win."

He said they'd win, and they would win.

Who is he?

Deep Dungeon player, Knox Elementary PE teacher, Amber's adoptive father?

No, none of those—he is now the mayor of Sigfus City.

A mere orphanage dares to bare its fangs at him? Thinking of demolition, are you?

It's too late to start demolition from the outside; only the mayor himself can act.

To destroy such a massive monster, heavy firepower is required.

He sent his awareness into his personal space, selecting the right tools.

You're the one—"Dawn's Weight Hammer!"

After He Yi upgraded Dawn's Weight Hammer, there was a feature he was curious about, but the cost was too high—he'd never had a chance to test it until now, and finally there was a target.

"High-Energy Beam: A fusion of mysticism and science. Damage against non-human targets increased by 50%. Automatically generates one High-Energy Beam every three hours. Can also consume five energy points to instantly refill one High-Energy Beam. Current High-Energy Beams: 12/12."

"Destruction Mode: Merges all High-Energy Beams in the chamber into one and unleashes them, delivering a devastating blow to the target. After use, Dawn's Weight Hammer will suffer temporary damage and must be professionally repaired by its creator to be used again. Repair duration: one plane; skill cooldown: two planes."

The 50% damage boost from High-Energy Beams, combined with Destruction Mode—only this level of impact could be called a Hammer!

As Wu Chang activated Destruction Mode, the twelve energy chambers storing the High-Energy Beams lit up in sequence; the muzzle of Dawn's Weight Hammer split open, its slender barrel reconfiguring into a rocket-launcher-style cannon.

As the twelve High-Energy Beams merged into one, energy surged through the gun's body—so intense it made Wu Chang's heart tremble; if struck by this shot, even he with his Titan form might trigger limb severance.

Dawn's Weight Hammer locked onto its target; guided by its built-in AI, it automatically adjusted its firing mode, forming a basketball-sized energy sphere at the muzzle.

Zzzt.

Intense energy coalesced, emitting a hair-raising electrical hum; compared to the energy now gathered by Dawn's Weight Hammer, his previous hyper-electromagnetic cannon was nothing more than a hyper-electromagnetic beam.

He looked down at Amber and said, "Look—fireworks."

The next instant, a column of energy erupted, its thickness swelling rapidly—from basketball-sized at first, by the time it reached the orphanage, the beam had engulfed the entire building.

With a flash of light, when Wu Chang and Amber's vision recovered from the blinding glare, there was no orphanage before them—only a smooth, rounded semicircular depression.

Even though Wu Chang had prepared himself, the effect of Destruction Mode still exceeded his expectations.

But as a cost, the front half of the Dawn's Weight Hammer in his hand had completely melted—only the rear half and the chamber remained.

In other words, without He Yi to repair it, this shot was equivalent to trading a B-grade custom item.

In that light, the result wasn't too extravagant.

Remember, a B-grade custom item is stronger than a standard A-grade item; without He Yi, he'd rather use his true body's avatar—the Sea Giant—to smash it down fist by fist than waste it like this.

Where the orphanage once stood, a rift in space opened; through the rift, the real-world orphanage of Sigfus City could be seen.

Wu Chang took Amber's hand and said, "Let's go—Eileen is waiting for us to come home."

(End of Chapter)