Night had fallen over Jing Yuan's residence.
"You seem to be living quite comfortably here these days."
Jingliu took a gentle sip of her tea.
"This flavor… it's from Yujue, isn't it?"
Jing Yuan chuckled.
"After all these years, Master, you can still tell?"
He raised his cup, blew across the surface, and took a slow sip.
"The taste hasn't changed at all."
"But the people I used to share it with… they're no longer here."
Jingliu set her cup down, her reflection trembling softly in the rippling surface.
"There were five of us back then," she murmured.
"Now, only you remain."
Bai Heng was gone. Dan Feng had shed his scales and reincarnated. Yingxing had been corrupted by the Abundance's spawn. And as for herself—she had long danced on the razor's edge, half-lost to the Mara-struck madness.
Only Jing Yuan, who had stayed out of that incident, survived unscathed.
Jing Yuan sighed and set his cup aside.
"I never imagined they'd do something so reckless."
"Bringing the dead back to life… that's not something mortals can achieve. Perhaps only an Aeon could ever bend the laws of the universe so far."
"It doesn't matter anymore," Jingliu said softly.
"They paid their price."
Her gaze fell, quiet and distant. Beside them, Daichi and X were whispering between themselves, uncertain if they should speak.
[Daichi, what are they talking about?]
"Something personal," Daichi replied, patting the device.
"No need to pry."
[Oh… alright then.]
Jing Yuan chuckled at their exchange. Then, turning serious, he looked at them both.
"Forgive me for keeping you waiting. A few system hours ago, the Ten Lords Commission delivered their report on the injured Cloud Knight."
He steepled his fingers thoughtfully.
"According to their findings, the soldier's body has recovered completely. Even the traces of battle left from the Mara-struck have vanished."
"And interestingly, the report mentioned something else: that the patient now seems incapable of experiencing strong negative emotions."
[That's due to the lingering effect of the Purify Wave. It will fade in time.]
Purify Wave—one of Ultraman X abilities was meant to calm raging beasts. Against creatures of violent temperament, if the wave wasn't strong enough it wouldn't work.
In this case, it had simply been too strong. The effect would fade… eventually.
"I see." Jing Yuan glanced toward Jingliu, who was quietly savoring her tea.
For the first time in ages, she felt at peace.
No more fits of Mara-struck madness clawing at her sanity, no more pain of a body on the verge of mutation.
It felt like a dream she might wake from at any moment.
"You two have done more for the Xianzhou than I could ever repay," Jing Yuan said earnestly.
"Anything you wish for, if it lies within Luofu's power—it shall be granted."
Daichi rubbed his chin.
"I don't think I need anything… The Luofu already provided housing, and the Divination Commission covers all our expenses. What else could I ask for?"
He turned to X.
"What about you, X?"
[…Actually, there is something.]
The screen on X Devizer flickered, and his voice grew steady.
[I want you to monitor the universe—for anomalies.]
"Anomalies?" Jing Yuan frowned.
"What sort of anomalies?"
[Planets where all life suddenly vanishes. Worlds once thriving, now dead and silent.]
The meaning behind his words was clear.
It was Bullton power that had pulled X into this universe and if that was true, then another being, Greeza might have followed.
If so, the lives of countless worlds were in danger.
"That's…" Jing Yuan looked troubled.
"Truthfully, incidents like that are not rare."
[Huh?]
"The Anti-Matter Legion," he explained.
"They follow the path of Destruction, spreading destruction across the stars. When they target a civilization, it's usually erased completely."
"Take the Lord Ravager Zephyro as an example. A few years ago, the Mourning Actor reported that the Tianhua Star System had been annihilated by him. Entire civilizations, technologically advanced, blessed by destiny—all gone."
Jing Yuan sipped his tea again.
"If you wish to investigate such events, it may be best to watch the Anti-Matter Legion first."
[So… they're that evil?]
The device trembled faintly. The thought of an entire star system had been wiped out filled him with quiet rage.
[Then Daichi and I will keep watch too. But—let me rephrase my request.]
He paused.
[I want you to keep an eye out for something else. A creature that is nothing, yet can be seen by the naked eye.]
"Nothing, yet visible?" Jing Yuan blinked.
"That's… contradictory."
[I know. But such beings distort the space around them—bending reality so that their absence becomes visible. That's how they appear.]
That was the nature of Greeza.
"I've never heard of such a thing," Jing Yuan said.
"But I'll have the Alliance and our allies watch for it."
He turned to Daichi.
"And you? Surely you have a request too."
"I thought I didn't…" Daichi began, then his gaze landed on X Devizer.
He smiled. "Actually, I do. Jing Yuan, I want to learn swordsmanship."
"Swordsmanship?" Jing Yuan blinked.
But before he could respond, Jingliu's attention had already shifted toward Daichi.
"With your strength, why bother learning the sword?" she asked.
"To become more strong." Daichi replied without hesitation.
"The enemies we'll face aren't weak. If I can grow stronger, I can save more lives. I don't want anyone to die just because I wasn't strong enough."
He clenched his fists.
"X power is tied to mine. If I fall behind, I'll only drag him down. A human vessel isn't just a vessel—it has to be an equal partner."
"Because the vessel was too weak…" Jingliu's voice trailed off.
For a fleeting moment, she remembered that war long ago. Remembered the one who had fallen because she wasn't strong enough.
"If you don't mind," she said quietly.
"I can be your teacher."
"Eh?" Jing Yuan blinked.
But Jingliu was already watching Daichi, her gaze unwavering.
Daichi straightened his back and nodded solemnly.
"Then I'll be in your care, Master. I've never handled a sword before so I might be a slow learner."
"No matter." Jingliu's lips curved faintly.
"Jing Yuan wasn't suited for the sword either, and yet now he's one of Luofu's finest."
"Those who only choose disciples for talent," she added.
"Seek glory, not truth. I teach whoever wishes to learn."
Daichi bowed deeply.
"Master!"
Jingliu smiled. "Good. Then, unless you have business I'll be taking your junior for a test Jing Yuan."
He sighed, scratching his head.
"No objections. I'll take you to the training hall."
They followed him to a vast open space filled with practice dummies and weapon racks.
"Learning the sword isn't easy," Jingliu said, sweeping her gaze over the room.
She approached the rack, picked up a blade and weighed it in her hand.
"Three feet, seven inches. A little over seven pounds."
She tossed it lightly to Daichi, who caught it and mimicking her casual swing.
"Good reflexes." She smiled faintly.
Moonlight shimmered in her hand, condensing into a pale blue blade of ice—weightless and pure.
"Let's see what you can do!"
She moved, her figure a blur. A streak of moonlight slashed toward him.
Clang!
Instinctively, Daichi raised his sword to block.
"Not bad," she said. Her wrist twisted, redirecting his force.
Daichi pulled back just in time, avoiding his own counterforce.
"Good adaptability."
After a few exchanges, Jingliu stepped back, satisfied.
He was untrained but experienced in battle, with a fighter's instincts. She could already tell how to train him.
After showing him the basics of sword form, she left him to practice and joined Jing Yuan at the sidelines.
"Your junior's talent surpasses yours," she said lightly.
"That means you won't have to struggle as much as you did teaching me," Jing Yuan sighed.
"By the way Master, what brings you back to Luofu after all this time?"
"To find an old friend."
"An old friend…" Jing Yuan frowned.
"I thought the ones closest to you were—"
"Gone?" she interrupted gently.
"Perhaps. But fate has a way of bringing people together again."
She looked toward Daichi, swinging the blade with steady determination. A faint smile touched her lips.
She'd come seeking the past… yet perhaps her purpose had already changed.
—————————————————
Meanwhile, somewhere far away—
A lively girl's fingers danced across a game controller, her character unleashing a dazzling combo that shattered her opponent's avatar on-screen.
Behind her, a tall man with a battle-worn sword gave a curt nod and returned to his room, the door closing softly behind him.
"Huh. Blade's finished his scene already," the girl muttered.
"So why haven't Kafka and I had our scene yet?"
"Patience, darling," a sultry voice answered from the mirror.
A mature woman applied lipstick with calm precision, her smile curling like smoke.
"According to the script… it's almost time for us to make our move."