harleyscars Page 26
Page 26
Gu Chuan listened quietly. He walked to Saeko's side, but instead of squatting down, he looked down at her and the knife in her hand.
He didn't use any abilities, but simply stated the facts in a calm tone: "My power is used to 'correct the world.' It pursues large-scale, highly efficient 'results,' but the process is brutal and can easily lead to the collapse of the world itself."
He pointed to the Murata sword in her hand.
"But your sword is different."
"Its significance lies not in destroying the world, but in protecting the small space within."
Gu Chuan's gaze deepened: "Don't compare Storm to Shield Wall, Saeko. They have different functions, but both are indispensable on the battlefield. As for that 'darkness' in your heart..."
He seemed to see through all her unspoken secrets.
"Power itself is neither good nor evil. Use it to protect your companions, and that is the 'Darkness of Protection.' Do not fear the tools; you only need to... master them."
These words struck Saeko like a thunderbolt.
Yes... they have different functions.
Protecting the small space... protecting the darkness...
He did not deny her efforts, but instead endowed her with "swordsmanship," a completely new and irreplaceable "definition" in this chaotic apocalypse.
In that instant, all the confusion, wavering, and self-doubt that had been troubling her melted away like snow.
Her state of mind was clear and bright like never before.
“I… understand.” Saeko slowly stood up, her eyes regaining their captivating brilliance—a sharpness that was purer and more resolute after all the artifice had been washed away.
Looking at the man before her, she was filled with indescribable gratitude and emotion. He had not only saved her life, but also her "path."
"Gu Chuanjun, thank you." Her voice trembled slightly, yet remained gentle.
Under the moonlight, the atmosphere became exceptionally ambiguous.
She took a half step forward, almost touching Gu Chuan, and reached out her slender hand to naturally straighten his slightly disheveled collar.
"My sword will cut a path forward for you and for everyone."
She looked up, his image reflected in her purple eyes, as if the whole world had shrunk to just him.
"Gu Chuan! So you were here!"
Just as the atmosphere was getting right, a slightly annoyed shout came from the balcony doorway.
Rin Tohsaka stood there with her arms crossed, puffing out her cheeks in a huff.
As soon as she came out, she saw Saeko and Gu Chuan standing very close together, their posture intimate. The look of sunshine and tender affection on Saeko's face set off alarm bells in her heart.
What is this woman (three) doing in the middle of the night?!
Moreover, the live streams are all turned off now, and Saeko Busujima isn't in her own bedroom; instead, she's in the living room with Gu Chuan... even though she doesn't keep watch at night!
Lin was instantly consumed by jealousy. She immediately made an excuse, strode over, grabbed Gu Chuan's wrist, and dragged him into the house.
"Hmph! Instead of standing here in the cold wind, let's do something more meaningful! There are still a lot of zombies in the blocks downstairs. Let's go clean them up and further test the weapon's performance!"
Without a word, she grabbed Gu Chuan, as if asserting her dominance, and glared at Saeko defiantly as they passed by.
Saeko simply smiled and remained silent, but a sharp glint of shrewdness, as if she had met her match, flashed deep in her eyes.
……
Downstairs in the apartment building, on the empty street.
"Look at me!"
Rin seemed to really enjoy fighting zombies, appearing incredibly enthusiastic. She continuously fired red light bullets imbued with magic, accurately blowing the heads off wandering undead.
"How about that? Pretty efficient, right?" She turned around and showed off to Gu Chuan like a proud kitten.
Gu Chuan simply smiled, neither confirming nor denying.
Just as Rin was getting a little carried away with her triumph, she didn't notice that in the shadows of a building, a mutant creature far larger than an ordinary zombie, with arms mutated into bone blades, was silently rushing towards her at high speed!
"Watch out!" Gu Chuan's voice rang out.
Rin was startled and turned around abruptly, only to see a hideous and terrifying face right in front of her.
She didn't even have time to react.
However, the anticipated attack did not occur.
An ice wall suddenly rose up in front of Rin without warning. The powerful mutant crashed into it and was instantly frozen into a lifelike ice sculpture.
The next second, Gu Chuan appeared in front of her.
He pressed one hand against the ice wall, trapping Rin between himself and the ice wall, forming a standard "wall slam" pose.
He looked down at the pretty face in his arms, her eyes wide with shock and surprise, her cheeks slightly flushed, and said calmly, "Don't get distracted during the battle."
"I...I wasn't distracted! You, you idiot! You're too close!"
Rin's heart began to pound uncontrollably.
This distance...
So close!
Wow, Gu Chuan's eyelashes are so long, and he's so gentle.
No, that's not right. I'm going to expose your private belongings.
Why did it turn out like this!
Lin was momentarily at a loss. She was completely enveloped by Gu Chuan's strong masculine aura, and her mind went blank. She could only use a fierce but weak shout to cover up her heart pounding in her chest.
Looking at her adorable, contradictory expression, Gu Chuan's smile deepened.
He didn't say anything more, but with a casual wave of his hand, the ice sculpture shattered into countless sparkling ice shards with a "crack".
In an awkward silence, the two "efficiently" finished cleaning up the nearby streets.
As they walked back to the apartment side by side, Rin was still blushing from her racing heart, but a sweet feeling, which she herself was unwilling to admit, welled up inside her.
She glanced at the group chat and breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, she's not streaming right now, otherwise Alicia would definitely prick her again.
52 Sleepless Nights and the Invisible Battlefield
The night under the apocalypse, devoid of the lights of human industrial civilization, appears exceptionally pure and exceptionally lonely.
The moonlight, like a thin layer of frost, spilled over the desolate city, outlining the silent silhouettes of the buildings.
In Nan Lixiang's apartment, temporary security cannot bring true peace.
The fierce battles and relentless assaults of the day had already exhausted the girls, but as they lay on unfamiliar beds, the image of the pulsating "aggregate" on the horizon, like a mountain range, lingered in their minds like a nightmare.
Shizuka Marikawa tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
Unlike others, she possessed neither great strength nor exceptional wisdom.
In this apocalypse, all she could rely on was the protection of her companions.
The quieter it was, the clearer the fear of the unknown became, like a cold, venomous snake coiling around her heart.
In the end, she couldn't bear the loneliness and fear of being alone, so she quietly got up and went to the living room to pour herself a glass of hot water.
In the living room, the lights were off, only moonlight streamed in through the huge French windows, casting a silvery patch of light on the floor.
A figure stood quietly by the window, hands behind his back, as if admiring the dilapidated night view.
His tall, straight back, bathed in moonlight, appeared both aloof and reliable, like a silent guardian deity.
It's Gu Chuan.
The moment she saw him, Shizuka's anxious heart miraculously calmed down.
He seems to have a natural magnetic field that makes people feel at ease.
She didn't make a sound to disturb him, but simply hugged her knees and quietly sat down on the sofa not far from him, watching his back in silence.
As long as (二〨)陵二印鏾0扒 could stay by his side, the bone-chilling fear seemed to lessen considerably.
"Can't sleep?"
Gu Chuan did not turn around, but his calm voice rang out clearly.
"Ah...yes. I'm a little...scared."
Shizuka answered somewhat shyly, her voice barely audible.
Gu Chuan slowly turned around, the moonlight outlining his handsome features.
He looked at Shizuka, who was curled up on the sofa wearing only a thin nightgown, and noticed that her shoulders were trembling slightly from nervousness and the chill of the night.
He didn't say much, but turned around, picked up a thick wool blanket from the clothes rack next to him, and walked over to her.
Shizuka looked at him approaching, somewhat at a loss.
Gu Chuan gently and carefully draped a warm blanket over her, wrapping her up completely.
As he tucked the blanket around her and smoothed out the edges, his fingers inevitably brushed against her slightly cool neck and shoulders.
That tender care from a man, devoid of any lust yet incredibly gentle, instantly struck the softest spot in Shizuka's heart.
Her mind went blank, and her body acted entirely on instinct. The moment Gu Chuan covered her with a blanket and straightened up, she subconsciously leaned back and gently, dependently, rested her head on his warm, broad hands and chest, which he hadn't yet withdrawn.
It was just a fleeting touch.
Shizuka immediately realized what had happened, her pretty face flushing bright red. She sat up abruptly as if electrocuted, stammering an apology: "Ah! I'm so sorry! I... I didn't mean to!"
"It's alright." Gu Chuan withdrew his hand, his tone still calm. "Get some rest. There's a lot to do tomorrow."
He looked at her adorable, flustered, and blushing face, and a smile that he himself didn't even realize flashed in his eyes.
This scene was witnessed by a figure that quietly appeared at the bedroom door.
Miyamoto Rei was just thirsty and wanted to get herself a glass of water.
But she never expected to see such a scene.
She looked at Jingxiang, whose face was flushed with shyness as Gu Chuan draped a blanket over her, and then at the patient and gentle Gu Chuan. Suddenly, a bittersweet feeling welled up in her heart that she couldn't quite describe.
She didn't say anything, but quietly retreated back to her room, even forgetting to drink the water.
……
Later in the night.
Gu Chuan returned to the balcony.
He had just stopped when another figure followed him out.
It's Rin Tohsaka.
"Hey, aren't you going to sleep?"
Rin crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame, her tone sounding somewhat unfriendly.
"Not sleepy," Gu Chuan said succinctly.
"Hmph, perfect."
Rin puffed out his chest, a hint of genius pride on his face. "The defenses of this apartment are too weak. I'm going to set up a top-level defensive rune barrier here. You can come and learn what true 'defense' really is."
She clearly wanted to prove her value in the "professional field" in front of Gu Chuan.
After saying that, she took out several expensive, perfectly cut rubies and placed them on the balcony in a mysterious position, while she began to chant ancient and complicated incantations.
Magic began to gather, and countless golden, intricate runes appeared in the air.
Seeing this, Rin was a little smug and took a picture using the chat group's camera function, then posted it in the group.
[Jewel Magician]: (Photo JPG.) Look! This is the jewel magic passed down through the Tohsaka family for hundreds of years! Its precision and splendor are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people!
[March 7th]: Wow! It's a magic circle! So beautiful! Just like the energy matrix in Lady Black Tower's space station!
[Butterfly Dance]: Little March, are you still awake?
[March 7th]: Hmm! Why isn't Rin streaming anymore? I wanted to watch her fight zombies.
[Gem Magician]: Well, everyone's asleep, so it's not good to continue...
As Rin said this, a certain ruby beneath her feet suddenly let out a mournful cry of unbearable weight, and with a "crack," it shattered.