Chapter 697: You Incurable Bastard

Lynn said nothing more. He simply gazed at those eyes beside him, confused and staring ahead, watching the surging torrent of data and chaos within them.

In this vast darkness, only that bridge, shimmering like starlight, shone brightly.

Lynn's gaze finally softened.

Then he closed his eyes.

Without another word.

He gently patted her shoulder, brushing past her as if his gaze had traced her cheek and slipped silently through his fingertips.

Eyes shut, he walked step by step back toward the direction from which he had come.

Immense and desolate.

Behind him stood the faintly glowing, colossal Throne. Beneath his feet, the winding and surging Sea of Books erupted into towering waves at that very moment, transforming into countless pages that swirled above their heads—all of them representing the memories and knowledge reserves of the Colossus's Heart from ages past.

Though he didn't want to let go.

Though he really didn't want to say goodbye.

But who doesn't face times of parting?

And besides, he had always been deceiving her, always treating her poorly, even cruelly crafting this very body for her through Mimicry. On the other hand, Zuo Zuo had saved him time and again in those early, critical moments.

Even though she always cursed and grumbled, threatening to break up and take them both down at the slightest disagreement, Lynn could see that she was a kind-hearted girl.

They just got along this way.

She often laughed at him mercilessly, too.

But still...

Lynn kept his eyes shut, forcing himself to look relaxed as he walked. Far away on the bridge, behind him, the endless stream of pages coiled around her body, awakening the knowledge of her past.

"Goodbye, Zuo Zuo. If we ever meet again, I hope we can still be friends."

He muttered under his breath.

Then he forcefully lifted his head, pulling a strained smile across his face, doing his best to appear at ease.

After all, a man—even if he falls into hell—how could he so easily show weakness?

But just then—

"Stupid Brain!! You bastard!!"

An angry scream suddenly came from behind him.

Lynn's retreating footsteps froze instantly.

Countless pages swirled around her with a rustling roar, each sheet's text blazing with a golden halo. Every line of words reflected in her furious, trembling eyes, making her the very center of the storm.

The knowledge held by the Colossus's Heart, along with the memories of countless ages, was so vast and chaotic.

Lynn was silent for a moment.

But he quickly lifted his head, clenched his fist tightly, and without looking back, pressed on resolutely.

As if he had already made up his mind.

Though his heart ached with reluctance, he knew all too well that for her—for Zuo Zuo, who was originally the Colossus's Heart—this was already the best...

"You bastard!! I already guessed it! You brought Zuo Zuo here just to abandon me! You selfish, self-centered bastard!! You never asked me! Who gave you the right to decide for me!"

Amid the radiance behind him.

Zuo Zuo's eyes blazed with angry, hysterical tears. Under the onslaught of countless memories and knowledge, she struggled like a little bird trying to dodge a collapsing mountain, clawing desperately at the golden currents around her, fighting to control her own body.

Like someone chained and shackled in an avalanche, she finally managed to turn her head with all her might.

"You stinking pervert! You lunatic! You incurable bastard!"

"Your heart is so selfish inside, yet you put on this noble act at times like this! What do you think you are to me!"

Her eyes were red, and she screamed in fury.

Bound by countless streams of light, she gritted her teeth, trembling as she reached out, crawling step by painful step toward that retreating figure.

Every inch forward was agonizing.

As if carrying the weight of an entire mountain collapsing behind her.

Tears and rage surged in her eyes. She had heard every word he and that guy had said. He called her the Colossus's Heart, the twin of the Colossus, saying that returning here was her destined and best fate. So he wanted to secretly abandon her and leave without even saying goodbye.

He never considered her feelings, always making decisions on a whim, treating her as nothing but his accessory.

"So I really..."

"I really hate you!!"

That cry echoed throughout the dark void.

Lynn stood there silently, fists clenched, but his feet felt as heavy as lead, unable to move forward even an inch.

A vast silence.

Only behind him, on that bridge, the girl who glared furiously at his back still crawled inch by inch toward him, bound by the chains of countless memories and knowledge.

Just like when they first learned of each other's existence and tried so hard to stay apart.

Like when they would chop at each other, even while sleeping soundly under the covers, suddenly pulling out hidden knives and clashing clang-clang-clang for hours before reluctantly going back to sleep.

But when real danger came, she would still struggle to drag this hot-headed, reckless bastard to safety.

Really...

Heartbroken, watching that still-silent figure standing there motionless, she finally broke down, screaming and crying toward his direction.

"You bastard!!"

The echo rang through the empty void again and again.

At that moment, the countless streams of knowledge and memory finally yanked her crawling arms back, as if a thousand mountains were collapsing upon her. The memories of the Colossus, stretching back to the distant ancient times, drowned the angry, heartbroken girl in their vast radiance.

Suddenly, he clenched his fist.

His blood-red eyes snapped open.

"Damn it!"

The voice, nearly grinding his teeth to dust, was soaked into his crimson pupils.

He spun around and, without a second thought, broke into a sprint toward that sea of light.

He didn't know what he was doing.

But he knew.

She had won.

Because ever since he joined the Night Doctors and gradually grew stronger, he had never done anything on a hot-headed impulse. Every move he made had to be considered one step, two steps, even a hundred or a thousand steps ahead before he would act. This calculated approach had allowed him to scheme even against the Root.

Because he was no longer that hot-blooded youth from before, he considered all the grave consequences of any action before taking it.

Because he had already passed that stage of reckless fervor...

So he knew...

"You incurable bastard!"

With one step forward, Lynn gritted his teeth and charged headlong into that sea of knowledge without a care.