Chapter 717: The Girl Who Became the Origin

Her voice came through low and soft.

"Did you plan this all along, so you expected I'd personally bring the heart back to you? You who even dared scheme against a god, no wonder my Queen following you has some detestable reasons."

Then he dully saw that slender hand curl into a fist.

Bang—

It landed a merciless little punch on his head.

Like an outburst of anger with no cause.

Like she couldn't vent unless she hit him.

"And you fixing me into this body."

That low voice came again, watching Lynn, who was unconscious and lying in her lap.

"That really pisses me off. I'm starting to suspect my Queen was treated the same way by you, fixed into that humanoid female form, which is why she looks so human."

Bang—

The swinging fist struck Lynn's head from the other side.

At least a level three concussion, minimum.

Finally.

She raised her head. Her thin body was draped in long silver hair that flowed like a waterfall, the soaring crimson radiance and the dark sky seeming to tell her clearly—she was no longer the god representing the Colossus. She had become the Root made of flesh and blood, shackled by a heavy curse.

But it wouldn't end like that.

Just as that guy had said.

There was still a new hope waiting for her, untrustworthy though it might be, yet the future he had shown her...

At least it brought new hope.

"So, anyway..."

She looked down softly at Lynn resting on her lap, her fingers lightly tracing his brow and cheek.

"Even though you're a bastard, I still have something to tell you..."

Threads of powerful light curled around her fingertips, injecting new vitality into his brain.

Between the fading silver glow and the surging blood-red light, that low voice spoke.

"Thank you..."

Hum—

In that instant, like rain after long drought, Lynn's eyes snapped open. A powerful heartbeat drove a tide of blood surging into his brain.

Dazzling crimson light flooded his dilated pupils.

System notifications streamed into his ears without pause.

[ Ding! You have bio-armored with the resurrected Colossus's Heart. Your Level +5, your Constitution +30%. The awakening Colossus's Heart will gradually unlock higher permissions as your Level and strength increase. ]

[ Ding! You have been imbued with the Colossus's Brain's mental energy. Your consumed mental energy has been restored to 100%. ]

[ Ding! The Colossus's Brain's affinity toward you has reached Trust. Congratulations, you have triggered the long-term quest: Twins of the Colossus. ]

[ Twins of the Colossus ] Epic quest: Can only trigger when both the Colossus's Brain and the Colossus's Heart reach Trust with you.

[ Quest Objective ]: Further improve the relationship with the Twins; when their Affinity reaches one of [Close Friend][Admiration][Tamed], the next-stage quest will open.

[ Quest Reward ]: Way of the Colossus's Flesh Ascension x1, Special Epic Reward x1. (If Affinity route reaches [Admiration] or [Tamed], there is a chance to open a special anomalous experience.)

Amid the constant system chimes in his ears, Lynn blinked blankly and scanned through everything in a flash.

Without a doubt.

That he could wake up meant he had succeeded.

He had successfully made the Colossus's Brain incarnate as a Root; everything he'd done suddenly had meaning.

"Awake?"

A low voice came from behind.

Lynn sprang up and turned around. In the swirl of blood light he saw the girl standing with her back to him, silver hair like a waterfall. She glanced at him sideways, and around her slender wrists and ankles twisted shackles and blood-red chains.

Her petite, pale body, silver pupils, and the cursed shackles floating around her formed a striking contrast of beauty.

If one looked closely, she bore a resemblance to Zuo Zuo.

Only Zuo Zuo seemed more sprightly, while this girl's brow held more steadiness and depth.

This was not coincidence.

When Lynn used Mimicry, he had deliberately considered this: after all, both had emerged from the same place, so the similarity was natural and needed no explanation.

And since both were originally genderless consciousnesses, whether they took on male or female forms didn’t matter.

But she was just too beautiful.

Because she had been molded according to his own mental image, the Mimicry perfectly matched his aesthetics and preferences, producing an almost flawless form.

Of course!

Lynn had no dirty thoughts. When he mimicked, he never entertained improper ideas.

He had simply given the Colossus's Brain a combat-ready body at random.

Yes!

Exactly like that!

He quickly tore his gaze away from her body, cautiously moved close, backing to back with her, a faint smile at his lips:

"How is it? Not as miserable as you imagined, right? Even cursed and shackled, you're still you, aren't you?"

The silver-haired girl lifted her head and said:

"The pain, my soul is icy. It feels like being dismembered. I can sense the connection of every piece of flesh, yet I cannot call them."

Lynn looked at her in profile.

He vaguely realized the effect of the curse binding her...

If that was true, it indeed tortured her terribly.

"It's okay."

Lynn lowered his head; her reflection shone in his eyes as he spoke slowly:

"Aren't I here? At least as the bearer of the Colossus's Heart, we’re in a kind of intimate relationship, aren't we?"

Lynn reached back and hooked her small hand from behind.

Like kin bound by blood.

He made a tentative, small touch.

Slap—

[ Ding! Your right middle and index fingers are broken. Your Life -100. ]

Lynn winced: "Oof..."

The silver-haired girl glanced sideways and said, "I know your wicked intentions. Though I don't care about gender, I know you fixed me into this form for a vile purpose. If you're thinking of using this to copulate with me, I advise you to stop. Our relationship isn't that far along."

Her words stabbed straight into his heart without mercy.

Lynn immediately understood her personality; no doubt, compared to Zuo Zuo's foolish tsundere, the Brain was independent and rational.

Although small in stature, if placed in human society she would definitely be the strong, capable type.

A queen!

At least queen-level.

"You misunderstand!"

Lynn gestured to the empty air, seriously pulling his fingers back:

"I don't have the malicious thoughts you accuse me of. If you got to know me better you'd see I'm an honest person. If I were the kind of pervert you think, would I be so kind? You're the one who misunderstood."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

A short, nutritionally empty exchange.

Lynn suddenly lifted his head, clenched his fist and said, "This isn't the time for idle talk. We're not out of danger yet. I just spoiled their plan to carve you up for parts. They won't let us go! We must prepare for a fight to the death!"

The girl slowly raised her head. Silver hair billowed, long blood-red chains clattered and twined around them in a dance.

She no longer had divine power.

Now she was merely a Root newly formed.

But she showed no fear.

Just as Lynn prepared to act, he felt the girl behind him take his hand.

Lynn froze.

Then he heard her low voice behind him and saw those sidelong eyes.

"Stay by my side. Leave the upcoming battle... to me."

No more words. She suddenly lifted her head; with her silver hair in motion and blood-red chains thrashing like serpents, she grabbed Lynn's hand and leapt. Amid the surging crimson radiance, they broke through dust and black mist, soaring into the high sky together.

Like Adam and Eve stepping out of Eden.

Clad in nothing.

Yet shining with brilliant light.

...