Chapter 2306 - 100: Crow's Prophecy III_3

But he immediately confirmed he hadn't misheard, because that voice was still faintly recognizable, it was the voice of that young Ranger.

"Little Kong?"

"Dai told me, you guys are back."

"Are you alright?"

"...Not very well, I'm afraid of frightening Dai, didn't let her come in. Sister Shaya, I'm not in a good state... You, you should go and rest... " The boy's voice sounded filled with dismay, he bit his teeth, slightly panting, as if suppressing something.

Shaya stood hesitantly in front of the tent. But Fang Hong had already stepped forward, lifting the curtain, the boy inside was greatly surprised, he looked at him with some surprise, but surprise eventually turned into disbelief:

"God Ade?"

Fang Hong looked at the other, feeling equally shocked in his heart. The boy he remembered had disappeared, replaced by what seemed like an empty shell, sitting on his bed, turning his body slightly to avoid facing them, his pallid face showed not a shred of the vitality that should belong to a human.

The pupils of his eyes had vanished, ghostly purple flames burned from the void within, his face covered with scars, purple flames flowing beneath the scars. He turned his face away, blocking his chest with one hand, but unable to conceal a hideous wound there, the wound had scabbed over but not healed, inside was like a scene from hell, emitting purple firelight from the chest cavity.

Shaya covered her mouth, took a step back, he hadn't looked like this in the morning.

"Little Kong?"

"Mr. Ade..."

The boy let out a dismal laugh: "Sister Shaya told me you were here, but if only I could meet you a bit earlier," his voice rasped like two paper slips rubbing together, hoarsely ringing from his throat, "I wouldn't have had to meet you like this, scaring you and Sister Shaya..."

"Little Kong, why have you turned out like this?" Shaya asked incredulously.

"I don't know why either, Sister Shaya," Little Kong lowered his head, "I don't know why I turned out like this... Sister Shaya, it's just that the one I encountered in Idris was actually the person I admired the most, and he even gave me a gift..."

"...You know, Sister Shaya, that was the happiest time in my life, when you and Mr. Lifers selected me from the Youth Training Camp, when I learned it was Mr. Ade who gave me the bow, I couldn't even dream such a thing..."

"...I was supposed to live up to everyone's expectations, I thought I could do it. But... The Tabopolis Knights Order is gone, everyone is gone, even the bow Mr. Ade gave me was lost by me, Sister Shaya..."

The boy turned around, there was no sadness in his eyes, not a single tear could be shed. Only two bands of pale purple flames, giving an indescribably eerie feeling.

"...Turns out, all my thoughts were just unrealistic fantasies."

"...Mr. Ade, I wanted to see you, just to apologize."

"I'm sorry, you were once the person I admired the most, from the very first day I arrived, I've been listening to your legends written in Dolifen. I really wanted to become a hero like you, but I'm sorry, in the end, I couldn't even protect the bow you entrusted to me..."

"I'm sorry..."

Little Kong pressed tightly against his chest, the purple flames seemed to emerge from any crevice in his body, blazing fiercely, as if ready to engulf him at any moment, reducing him to ashes.

His voice weakened accordingly, murmuring like a dream.

"...Sister Shaya, I had a friend in the Youth Training Camp, but he wasn't chosen by you. On the day we left the Youth Training Camp, he told me behind the Stargate lies a cruel world..."

"I never believed such words," Little Kong's voice appeared somewhat ethereal, softly, "From beginning to end, until now, I still think I experienced a beautiful life. But perhaps it doesn't belong to me, and will soon be slipping away..."

"I hurt so much, Sister Shaya..."

Shaya bit her lower lip, unable to speak a single word.

Fang Hong shook his head lightly, that bow meant nothing to him, if he wanted, making a hundred, a thousand wouldn't be any different. Though he certainly wouldn't say it now, "That bow is just one of many works of mine, Little Kong."

He spoke: "But that doesn't mean I'll give my works to just anyone."

"So, do you know what that signifies?"

Little Kong hesitated, turned back, flames rolling along his cheeks, gaze vacant towards this direction.

Odin said he saw his own shadow in him.

And how could he not see his former self in this boy.

Fang Hong couldn't help but recall the last stretch of road accompanied by Miss Sicape in the Elf Ruins, the tears he shed there, how could they not be marks left by this world.

Since then, he never viewed things with the same simple eyes, though the pursuit in his heart never changed. Behind all unrealistic fantasies, isn't it just a reflection of human ideals.

All simplicity, is a resolute pursuit of self.

He looked at Little Kong now, as if seeing himself once undergoing trials, now he had found his own path, alongside like-minded companions. And he knew, there ought to be a path belonging to Little Kong, leading to the distance.

People shouldn't face such blames for pursuing ideals, in the moment he fell into hardship, it was Miss Tata, and that ancient and illustrious Great Alchemist who gave him the last glimmer of hope.

That hope continues to this day.

Perhaps it is kindness that prevents ideals from severing—

In a moment of silence, he asked Miss Tata.

No one has mastered the method to reverse Starlight.

And the scholars of the Silver Tower equally know nothing about these beings born from purple flames.

However, fortunately, through all these events, it granted them a single hope — Idus Wanderer's desperate wail seemed to still echo in their ears.

"Remember what you said today, Little Kong," Fang Hong reached into his bosom, pulling out a necklace, "You will see many aspects of this world different from your imagination, but a moment's setback won't make you fall completely."

The pendant on the necklace holds a round ring.

That ring is bathed in golden light, illuminating the dark space.

...