"Bailu."
Daichi's hand rested gently on the girl's head.
"Wha—why does everyone like patting this lady's head so much!"
Bailu puffed up her cheeks in protest, though she didn't push his hand away.
Ever since X told her she probably wouldn't grow any taller, she'd stopped caring about it.
Probably.
Daichi gave her hair one last ruffle and said.
"I need a favor. Do you think you can get that Judge to give me a chance to help the one who turned Mara-Struck?"
"Mara-Struck? You can cure that?"
Bailu's golden eyes went wide in disbelief.
"I can't cure it."
Daichi admitted.
"But if my theory right, I might be able to return him to his normal self."
He continued, still patting her head.
"It's only a theory. I've never actually seen a Mara-Struck before, so I don't know if it'll work. That's why I need you to get me a chance to try."
Because if Daichi asked on his own, Judge Xueyi would never give an outsider, someone who'd only been on Luofu for a few days such an opportunity.
Among all the people he knew, only Bailu the renowned High Physician of the Alchemy Commission might actually convince them.
Well, Jing Yuan could too, but he wasn't here right now.
"Really? Then I'll try!"
Bailu looked him over skeptically for a moment, then started trotting toward Xueyi.
Maybe she agreed because she too, was searching for a way to cure the Mara-Struck.
What if Daichi's method actually worked?
"Lady Bailu, what brings you here?"
Xueyi turned toward the small dragon girl, her tone calm and measured.
"I... I have an idea that might cure the Mara-Struck!"
Bailu crossed her arms, puffing her chest proudly.
"So—would you cooperate and let me test it out?"
"That's..."
Xueyi tilted her head slightly.
Hadn't Lady Bailu already tried that before?
Her treatments had shown some effect, yes—but only barely.
Those she treated had their condition delayed for a short while, yet it also interfered with the Ten Lords Commission's containment work.
She remembered filing those reports to the Alchemy Commission.
Why was Bailu still trying to treat one now?
Hadn't they told her the results already?
"Lady Bailu."
Xueyi said evenly.
"The follow-up reports on your past treatments have already been submitted to your Commission. You may review them when you return."
"No, not the old one!"
Bailu pouted.
"This time I've got a new method!"
"Lady Bailu, please do not interfere with—"
"Oh? I think we can let her try."
came a familiar voice from behind.
A tall figure stepped forward, his commanding presence instantly shifting the atmosphere.
"General Jing Yuan."
Xueyi greeted him with a bow.
"Thank you for your efforts, Ten Lords Commission, Cloud Knights."
Jing Yuan walked to Bailu's side and crouched down, meeting her gaze.
"Lady Dragon Physician, I must admit—I'm rather curious about this supposed cure."
"I don't know if it'll really work."
Bailu said nervously, glancing aside.
"It's... it's Daichi who said he might have a way, so I came to ask for a chance to test it."
"Daichi? You mean..."
"Jing Yuan."
[Hello again, Jing Yuan. Long time no see.]
Daichi and X voices came from the terminal, making Jing Yuan's lips curl in quiet amusement.
"Good to see you both." he said.
"Let's skip the small talk. Do you truly have a way to heal the Mara-Struck?"
"We're not sure."
Daichi replied.
"That's why we're asking for the chance to try."
"If this truly works."
Jing Yuan said, his voice low and deliberate.
"It would be a blessing not only for Luofu, but for the entire Xianzhou Alliance."
His gaze drifted toward the restrained soldier, whose corrupted body still twitched under suppression.
"The people of the Xianzhou have suffered from this curse for far too long."
he murmured.
"Even if it cannot cure it completely, even a delay in its onset would be monumental."
He turned back.
"Tell me, Daichi. what is your method?"
"X can emit a light."
Daichi explained.
"A wave of light that purifies all negative emotions."
He continued, eyes on the afflicted soldier.
"Your doctors say the Mara-Struck condition is linked to memory. As Xianzhou people live longer, their memories pile up endlessly."
"When the mind reaches its limit, it discards the most common emotions first—joy, comfort, happiness."
"What remains."
Daichi continued quietly.
"Are the rarest, most deeply carved memories: pain, grief, loss, and sorrow."
"Over centuries, those emotions accumulate until the mind collapses and the power of Abundance twists the body into something monstrous."
Jing Yuan's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"...And you believe you can erase that negativity?"
Daichi shrugged.
"Never tried it. That's why I want to."
The General chuckled softly, then struck his palm against the ground.
"Then—by all means, try it. Even if you fail, it doesn't matter. But if you succeed, the entire Alliance will never be the same."
"Understood."
"Let's do it X."
[Yeah!]
Daichi pressed the upper button on X Devizer.
A gentle X-shaped glow spread outward, bathing the plaza in pale golden light.
In an instant, X manifested in his human size standing tall and radiant.
Even Jing Yuan's usually relaxed gaze sharpened with intrigue as he watched the being appear.
X nodded politely to him, then raised his right arm placing a hand over his chest-mounted color timer.
Streams of luminous blue data coursed across his body.
["Purify Wave"]
He extended his palm forward, releasing a surge wave of shimmering azure light that enveloped the afflicted soldier.
As the energy flowed into him, the spasms stopped.
His breathing steadied.
The golden leaves sprouting from his flesh withered and fell away.
The twisted mutations receded, revealing unscarred skin beneath.
Fragments of his embedded armor clattered to the ground, exposing his original arm.
Before their eyes, the creature known as a Mara-Struck reverted back into a Cloud Knight once more.
Only those within the sealed perimeter, the Ten Lords Commission and Jing Yuan's party witnessed the miracle.