Heart of the Dark Layer
Yun Shuo was left alone in the real world, while Yu Heng fell into the "dark layer".
Without wasting a second, he immediately began to study the fragments of all the copies, and finally found the only way to enter the dark layer on the back of the contract of the "Memory Pawn Shop" - "Heart for Heart".
He returned to the "Memory Pawn Shop" without hesitation, using his "emotions" as collateral, just for a chance to enter the dark layer.
The pawnshop owner reminded him: "Once your emotions are mortgaged, they will become the sharpest knife, which can hurt others as well as yourself."
Yun Shuo just replied calmly: "He is the only one I have."
He successfully entered the dark layer, which was the final destination of all those who failed in the dungeon and was filled with echoes of despair.
He walked while calling Yuheng's name, but he could only hear his own echo shattered in the darkness.
Suddenly, he heard the familiar sound of the "three-second rule." Following the sound, he finally found Yu Heng in a dilapidated lighthouse.
But Yuheng had been eroded by the dark layer, his eyes were hollow, and he had become a "guide". His voice became mechanical: "Please show me the 'Heart Fire'."
Yun Shuo turned the only warmth he had left after mortgaging his emotions into a glimmer of light and passed it to Yu Heng.
A trace of struggle flashed in Yuheng's eyes. He recognized Yunshuo, but was quickly suppressed by the rules of the "Guide": "If you refuse the 'Heart Fire', you will be eliminated."
Yun Shuo did not give up. He began to tell every detail of their shared experience, trying to awaken Yu Heng's memory.
"The mirror of the paper city, the bell of the wind chime pavilion, the announcement of the midnight train..."
When he talked about the "City Without Lights", Yuheng's hands trembled slightly and a transparent tear slid down.
"Yuheng, come back." Yun Shuo was almost begging.
At this moment, the "administrator" of the dark layer appeared and asked Yun Shuo to leave, otherwise the "resonance" with Heng would be cleared.
Yun Shuo made the final decision. He transformed his last life point into "heart fire", gave half to Yu Heng, and used the other half to light the lighthouse.
"You must remember me." He said to Yu Heng.
The lighthouse lit up, and Yuheng's eyes regained their spirit, but he also saw Yunshuo's body gradually becoming transparent.
"No——" Yu Heng screamed and rushed forward, but only hugged a ball of air.
[Warning: Yun Shuo, life points are zero.]
【Judgment: Yu Heng, recovery.】
[Reward: Fragment +1.]
【Tip: 'Return application' has been opened. 】
The light from the lighthouse illuminated a corner of the dark layer. Yu Heng held the silver ring engraved with their names, his eyes burning with a flame of determination.
"I'll come find you." He murmured to the air.
The countdown began, and he knew that the next copy would be his only chance.
Retracement price
In order to save Yunshuo, Yuheng opened the "rollback application" without hesitation.
But the price the system imposes is extremely cruel:
Sacrifice: Sacrifice his most precious identity as a "guide".
Price: The difficulty of the next dungeon will be increased to SS level, and "zero life points means complete death."
Punishment: After rewinding, he will lose some of his memories since meeting Yun Shuo.
Without any hesitation, he signed the contract with Heng.
He was sent back to the first copy of "Paper City" where they met. However, when he looked for Yun Shuo with great expectations, he found that Yun Shuo didn't recognize him at all.
Because what Yuheng lost were all his memories of "Yun Shuo".
He just felt that the person in front of him inexplicably made him care. With Yun Shuo's help, he once again solved the puzzle of "Paper City".
When he finished the game, countless fragments related to Yun Shuo flashed through Yu Heng's mind - Wind Chime Pavilion, Midnight Train, City Without Lights... His memories returned, but he also received a cruel reminder: "Rewind failed, Yun Shuo has not returned."
The system tells Yuheng that if he wants to truly bring Yunshuo back, he must pay the "final price" as an "administrator" in the "final copy".
And the first price of the "final price" is to forget him.
Standing at the crossroads of fate, Yuheng made his choice: "I'll go."
He embarked on the journey to the "Final Copy" with only one belief in his heart: even if he had to give up everything, even if he eventually forgot him, he had to bring Yun Shuo home.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
