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墨書 Inktalez
"It’s impossible..."
Virgil mumbled as she walked, only daring to glance back after she had gone quite a distance, realizing that Miao Chengmin was no longer in sight.
Taking a deep breath, Virgil tried to calm her racing emotions, having been so anxious earlier that she forgot to deactivate Alert Eye before fleeing.
Alert Eye was a basic embedded soul technology belonging to the Divine Realm. This detection method was part of a very mature technological field, having transitioned from military to civilian use within the Divine Realm. Generally, any Ghosts who had resided in the Divine Realm for twenty days could apply for operational qualifications. Once activated, Alert Eye allowed the observer to detect energy fluctuations within a fifty-meter radius, enabling them to determine if any Ghosts were nearby—each Ghost emitted varying degrees of energy fluctuations, similar in principle to infrared detection.
However, after scanning with Alert Eye, Virgil found herself still empty-handed. This left her feeling disappointed while also giving rise to a sense of resignation and acceptance within her. Everything happens according to fate; perhaps this attitude towards life was still correct in the current world.
"Alright, being that foolhardy worker without pay might just be closer to happiness than being calculative," Virgil said with a bitter smile as she turned off Alert Eye. But immediately afterward, her vision darkened, and she stumbled through the wilderness, swaying unsteadily until she leaned against a tree stump.
During her three hundred days in the Divine Realm, Virgil had operational qualifications for Alert Eye and understood why this situation occurred: such darkening of vision often resulted from a significant energy disparity in a very short time. After shutting down Alert Eye, it left behind a brief afterimage in her vision that resembled seaweed but changed state rapidly, causing intense visual discomfort. This was why Virgil experienced such an effect—the energy disparity was too great.
"I’ve never experienced this before when activating Alert Eye, and I only took a quick glance. How could there be something on Earth emitting such strong energy fluctuations... No way."
Virgil realized something and reopened Alert Eye. Her eyes burned again as the world around her quickly became obscured by pure colors, reducing everything—tree trunks, grass—to mere fragmented outlines. The only clear elements were those color blocks representing different energy intensities.
Most areas here appeared brown since Earth lacked the strong energy fluctuations typical of the Divine Realm; almost all readings were close to zero intensity. Scanning her surroundings revealed nothing noteworthy behind her.
However, in that moment of distraction! A wave of dizziness hit her suddenly; Virgil lost her balance and sat down hard on the ground. Habitually reaching for her eyes, she remembered she had no eyeballs and opened her eyes instead—this time she saw clearly.
A massive energy fluctuation appeared on her left side, an eye-searing dark golden light flashing intensely there, even displaying tidal-like flowing patterns radiating from the center and filling Virgil's entire field of vision.
In this world with almost no energy fluctuations, it was impossible for such powerful energy to exist naturally! Virgil firmly told herself: it must be Chaos Crystals!
Like a hunter crouched in the bushes finally spotting its prey, Virgil immediately half-crouched down, one hand touching the ground as she prepared to leap out of hiding. After confirming and marking the location of the Chaos Crystals repeatedly, she deactivated Alert Eye and moved toward the sleeping Tu Jiaomin.
Perhaps due to being in deep sleep, Tu Jiaomin showed no awareness of Virgil's approach at all. Initially tiptoeing carefully beside him, when she noticed that even the sound of dry leaves cracking underfoot didn’t stir him awake, she boldly walked up and leaned down for a closer look.
Tu Jiaomin showed no signs of abnormality; however, there was a faint milky glow emanating from the bushes beside him. He curled up like a ball, snoring thunderously without any indication of waking up.
Even so, Virgil remained in a state of utmost caution and tension. She moved as if walking in space—slowly lifting one leg and then gently placing it down again. Just before her foot touched the ground, she felt as if she had returned to that afternoon over three hundred years ago when she watched the colonial ship dock in the distant bay before resolutely walking toward the village entrance...
Once assured that there was not a sound to be heard, Virgil began her next move. Everything felt like that morning over three hundred years ago—carefully standing up so as not to wake her brother in his cradle while gazing out at the sea surface dusted with golden powder...
One step completed; next step—be careful, even more careful...
Run carefully so as not to be seen by colonists with flintlock rifles.
After finally reaching the low bushes beside her, another headache-inducing question presented itself: how could she silently extract the Chaos Crystals from this clump of trees?
Virgil glanced back at the sleeping Tu Jiaomin: since I’ve come this far, even if he wakes up now, I can grab the crystals with just one step—I don’t care anymore!
With two dirt-yellow hands riddled with crevices darting into the low bushes like lightning, suddenly there was a rustling sound that echoed like thunder in this quiet place. Relying on what little impression Alert Eye had given her earlier, Virgil fumbled around on the ground among the bushes.
Nothing?!
Virgil found nothing; her hands grew increasingly frantic as they flailed about on the ground but only encountered tree trunks—nothing...
Suddenly, a crisp sound caught her attention; Virgil's hand touched something cold. A surge of excitement rushed through her as she trembled and leaned closer while glancing back nervously—Tu Jiaomin hadn’t woken up yet but his snoring had stopped. With one last effort, Virgil yanked hard; leaves from the bushes rustled violently like a storm as she pulled out the Chaos Crystals as if uprooting a carrot.
"My little treasure, I've finally found you." At that moment, Virgil's heart felt like a pot of boiling water, the excitement crashing against the surface, producing a crisp sound.
"Mm..."
The sound startled Virgil, a bolt of lightning striking her heart. She turned around abruptly, thinking Tu Jiaomin was standing right behind her, ready to fight to the death—at worst, she would be judged and sent to the Demon Realm.
If an unreset soul lost its body again, it would have to descend into the Demon Realm, which represented a negative dimension. Too many memories could lead to complex emotions; if not cleared in time, countless souls with past life memories could spread across various civilizations, easily causing chaos in the star domain society. Thus, one had to cultivate for a long time to qualify for returning to the positive space. Moreover, the souls collected in the Demon Realm were mostly irredeemable; it would be a terrifying period. If one died again in the Demon Realm, their soul would truly vanish from existence, becoming silent string waves in the microscopic realm.
However, it seemed nothing unexpected happened. Tu Jiaomin merely turned over and continued sleeping in another spot. Virgil gazed at the Chaos Crystals in her hand—the supreme creators of the universe now lay in her palm. Awe and unfamiliarity compelled her to close her eyes. In that instant, singularities exploded in her vision, forming countless suns and moons along with Time...
"Hello."
In the vastness of space that sent chills down her spine, a sound wave seemed faster than light, slicing through the world Virgil imagined and pulling her back to reality. She opened her eyes suddenly as two autumn leaves quietly fell before her.
"Hello."
Virgil anxiously looked down at the Chaos Crystals in her hand—it was as if the creator of the universe was speaking to her.
During her more than three hundred days in the Divine Realm, she spent her time at the center of knowledge known as Curry, where Ghosts could read books like humans do, learning about the past and present of all known dimensional worlds and everything publicly known about the two crystals from the beginning of creation. On Earth, she had never seen a book nor experienced the joy and satisfaction of acquiring knowledge until she opened her cognitive repository in the Divine Realm. She realized that this was her greatest fortune since becoming a Ghost.
In the Divine Realm, she learned so much; Virgil eagerly absorbed knowledge that couldn't be found on Earth, including—
1. The two crystals are a form of supernatural life.
2. How to communicate with these supreme crystals (especially with extensive experience regarding Life Crystals).
And there was a third point... Virgil thought it was merely a divine speculation and didn't dwell on it much, but she remembered.
Unlike other zombies, Virgil had spent longer in the Divine Realm than any other soul from Earth returning here. She had long understood the power of Chaos Crystals and was filled with awe and curiosity while also knowing that failing to control what she absorbed could lead to complete disappearance.
"The creators of our universe are not some grand super deities but two crystals: Life Crystals representing all beginnings and Chaos Crystals representing all endings. They store their energy within stone-like shells and exist in an unexplained form of life within the universe, drifting between four major star domains. No one truly understands them or can explore their powers..."
Virgil's third point about the crystals originated from this statement. At that time, she didn't believe it: just a stone—could it really have consciousness?
But now she believed it; that unique aura of life emanated from it as it surrounded her like an eye, questioning her intentions. Virgil began to tremble all over; something that appeared merely as a stone felt overwhelmingly oppressive. She knelt down and shakily placed the Chaos Crystals on the ground, burying her face in the soil as she humbly bowed and pleaded:
"Respected... supreme creator, disaster is approaching; lives are suffering. May I borrow your meager strength... We pray in your name to quell evil..."
"I see."
Virgil cautiously lifted half her face, scrutinizing the chaotic creator who had just spoken those three words within her consciousness.
"You wish to gain my power."
"No!" Virgil vehemently denied it, terror etched across her face. She feared that Chaos Crystals would tear her apart.
"This is your third understanding of me."
The voice of Chaos Crystals echoed again in her mind; only then did Virgil realize there was nowhere to hide. It had created the universe along with Life Crystals and naturally knew everything about itself.
"You wish to destroy this planet that displeases you."
This time, Virgil did not resist any longer; she lowered her head in shame, acknowledging Chaos Crystals' analysis of all her inner thoughts. Faced with Chaos Crystals, her thoughts were like newly sprouted seedlings that could be easily uprooted.
Virgil regretted it; everything about her had been exposed. Being seen as a threat by Chaos Crystals and eliminated would happen in an instant.
However, gradually, Virgil found her world rising, a magical force surging like water against her chest. She was floating in mid-air, her face turned upward to the sky, arms outstretched as if welcoming a divine journey from above.
"How could this be..."
"That's right!"
How could she have forgotten? The Chaos Crystals represented all "endings," including destruction. In its judgment, "ending" was the only truth.
Clearly, the zombie body had no consciousness, but soon a wave of pain spread throughout her body along the perceived veins.
Virgil was caught off guard by this sudden sharp pain; at first, she tried to endure it, but the intense sensation felt as if two giant hands were tearing her apart—how could she possibly hold it in?
Virgil screamed out loud.
"Ah—"
Miao Chengmin, who had barely fallen asleep, was jolted awake by the loud scream from afar and the powerful energy fluctuations that his soul could sense, pulling other zombies from their slumber as well. They opened their snow-white eyes and looked around warily.
Miao Chengmin listened carefully; it seemed the sound came from the two o'clock direction. That was where Tu Jiaomin was sleeping.
"Awoo—" Zombie Wolf dashed away from Miao Chengmin's side. "Hey, little guy, wait!" Miao Chengmin immediately stood up and ran after Zombie Wolf.
The mountain terrain ahead formed a nearly sheer cliff compared to their current height, covered with dense grass and bushes, making the visible area very limited. Looking at the autumn leaves being blown down for some unknown reason in the distance, an uneasy premonition began to grow in Miao Chengmin's heart.
The horrifying screams continued intermittently, mixed with another cry. Both voices felt somewhat familiar to Miao Chengmin.
Suddenly, the intermittent screams ceased, leaving only the visible energy fluctuations spreading like waves in the air.
Zombie Wolf also stopped in its tracks; Miao Chengmin and Zombie Wolf had reached the edge of a higher point on the mountain, just about to descend.
"What’s wrong?" Miao Chengmin bent down to restrain the eager Zombie Wolf. Its expression was fierce, baring its teeth and crouching as if ready to leap at any moment.
"Let me go..."
From below came faint cries that seemed to be choked off. A terrifying thought surged through Miao Chengmin's mind; he trembled at his own thoughts, standing there holding his breath and focusing intently, waiting for something that seemed inevitable to happen, yet he hoped it wasn't true and could only stand there awaiting the answer.
Below the edge, a zombie slowly rose up—it was Virgil, confirming Miao Chengmin's fears. She was enveloped in outwardly spreading gray energy waves, her left hand gripping Tu Jiaomin's neck while her right hand cradled the Chaos Crystals that everyone had vowed to protect. Having gained Chaos Power, her eyes now resembled two reflective gray-white gradient glass orbs with black flames flickering within them. Despite there being no wind, her hair danced as if blown by a gust and had thickened significantly, covering her entire head. Behind her floated two rings on either side, inscribed with ancient chaotic symbols that had some angular details upon closer inspection. The entire area fell silent; an automatic fear of facing the unknown pressed heavily upon all zombies like a graveyard's eerie stillness—oppressive and heavy like night—yet under the bright sunlight of day it felt as if they had returned to where corpses belonged.
Virgil and Miao Chengmin stared at each other without making a move; the gathering zombies stood behind Miao Chengmin with astonished expressions as they gazed at Virgil who could actually fly into the air.
"This is the gap between you and me, child—oh no, Miao Chengmin," Virgil's ethereal voice echoed through the forest. "I have succeeded! Unlike you all who cling to faith and dare not try anything."
With a casual toss, she threw Tu Jiaomin back to the ground, formally announcing to this world:
"I am the Zombie Queen!"
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