Introduction

Early 21st century, deep in the mountains.

On a steep cliff almost forgotten by civilization stands a stone fortress, entwined with withered vines and crumbling walls. The ancient building has long since lost its outline under the erosion of time, resembling a giant, ruined tombstone.

In the heart of the ruins, a young man stood motionless like a statue for an entire day. Several tits mistook him for a harmless stone statue and even dared to land on his shoulder—until they discovered that the "stone statue's" eyelashes would tremble every second, and they were startled to realize that there was still a trace of a living person in his deep, pool-like pupils, and their panic dissipated.

Suddenly, a sharp electronic shriek ripped through the deathly silence, and a blue-white arc of electricity erupted from the miniature terminal in Noah's right ear. The ringing continued like a death knell, startling the birds in the mountains. His brow furrowed, and with a swift movement, he silently disappeared into the swaying shadows of the trees.

The screen popped open, projecting a stern-looking face with gold-rimmed glasses.

"Knoa!" The man on the other end spoke harshly, his thin, sharp lips exuding an air of authority. "You're answering the phone less and less often. Have you forgotten who you are?"

"I haven't forgotten." Noah's voice was as dry as autumn leaves. "Where is this trivial matter this time? V1 or V2?"

Lin Sinuo—the Crystal Clan's chief researcher and a powerful figure who controlled one of the eight board seats—was unusually silent for a second. He stared at the screen, his eyes behind his glasses growing increasingly serious: "The black mist of your supernatural power is thicker than last time. Don't move, I'll do a remote monitoring..."

"Save your breath." Noah scoffed, his eyes filled with cold self-abandonment. "So what if it's detected? Do you have a way to remove it? Chief Snow, you're so busy, why waste your time giving a medical examination to someone on the fringes?"

Lin Sino wasn't angry. As the chief scientist, he understood better than anyone what the corrupting influence of the supernatural black mist on the Sentinels meant. The Noah before him was rapidly degenerating from a source of pride for his tribe into a ghost consumed by negative energy.

"Where are Da Bao and the Wolf King?" Snow tried to ease the tension by talking about everyday things.

"In the stone house. I am in the castle."

"That castle hasn't collapsed yet?" Snow was somewhat surprised. "It's an observation station from thousands of years ago; it should have been abandoned long ago."

“It didn’t collapse.” Noah’s pupils suddenly contracted, and his breathing became rapid. “Back then, she and I…”

His words abruptly stopped; the name was like a poisoned needle stuck in his throat, impossible to spit out or swallow. His face instantly turned deathly pale, almost transparent.

Snow awkwardly adjusted his glasses, realizing he had once again stepped into that taboo territory. He decided to stop beating around the bush and said earnestly, "Noah, if you feel you can't handle it, you can apply for permanent retirement."

"You've sent me to this desolate wilderness where there are almost no missions. What pressure could I possibly feel?"

“Even a V1-level mission is a drain on your current condition.” Snow’s voice lowered, almost coaxing, “Noah, you’ve done very well. You can rest now.”

"I won't retreat." Noah shook his head stubbornly, as if speaking to the other person, or perhaps to the lonely souls in the wilderness, "...I'd rather die here."

This is the destiny of the Crystal Clan. These ancient descendants, possessing extraordinary civilization and long lifespans, chose to fade into the background during the rise of humanity, becoming silent guardians of the planet. They divided the world into countless administrative zones, assigning superhumans from their clan to monitor them.

Sentinels and Guides, this innate symbiotic relationship should have made them perfect partners. But Noah was an anomaly—as a top-tier Sentinel, he was inherently resistant to all Guides. It wasn't until Linsnow waited twenty-three years for Claire's birth.

A 99% match rate is a miracle bestowed by the Creator.

They were once the most powerful and dazzling blade in the history of the Crystal Clan, managing three districts in unison—a record that remains unbroken to this day. But an accident fifteen years ago caused Claire to vanish completely. Without a biological sample, even the most advanced cloning technology cannot bring her back to life.

From then on, Noah refused any partners and stayed in the A7 area, which had the lowest difficulty, allowing the black mist of supernatural power within his body to accumulate and cause illness.

According to Snow's assessment, this once-superior body has less than twenty years left to live.

“Noah, perhaps you should know…” Snow coughed lightly, tentatively throwing out his last trump card, “We’ve found a new solution. We can match you with a new partner who’s 80% compatible, so you won’t have to bear it all alone anymore…”

"What did you say?" Noah's gaze instantly turned as cold as a blade, his tone full of sarcasm. "A new partner? You're planning to give me another replacement?"

In his heart, Claire was not only his only guide, but also his only lover. Having experienced 99% soul resonance, any 80% compromise would be a desecration of his love.

"He's not a new guide! Actually, he's from Claire—"

"Shut up!"

The moment Noah heard that name mentioned, his powers exploded out of control. He swung his hand violently, and a dilapidated stone wall five meters away collapsed with a deafening roar! The communication screen was bombarded by the intense energy wave, turning into a distorted, distorted display of static, and Snow's face looked particularly horrifying.

“If you still know what respect is,” Noah growled hoarsely, his eyes bloodshot, “then never mention that name again! No one can replace her, no one!”

The rage subsided, leaving only deathly silence. Noah lowered his eyes, his previous tyranny instantly transforming into a still, undisturbed ripple.

On the other end of the screen, Snow's forehead was beaded with cold sweat, and his throat tightened. He had originally intended to tell him the secret about "rebirth," but now it seemed more like a shock.

Time is running out. Since Noah refuses to cooperate, the management can only bury this "surprise" deep in the abyss and wait for the right opportunity.

"Chief Snow, is there anything else? If not, I'll hang up."

The call was forcibly cut off.

In the empty ruins, Noah transformed back into the stone statue.

On the other end, the chief sighed deeply.