Chapter 46
The air in the quarantine zone had solidified. For several days, the guards could hear low growls coming from the cells, and the black lines on the walls gradually expanded, seeping into every inch of the stone like venom.
That day, Sprout 12 stepped inside again, her heart heavy with sorrow. She knew this might be the last visit.
The moment the iron gate opened, a piercing shriek that tore through eardrums burst forth.
237 was no longer sitting upright, but curled up on the ground, his hands gripping his head tightly. Black tentacles surged wildly, growing from his spine and slamming against the cell's barrier, sending sparks flying.
His eyes were now completely asymmetrical:
A faint glimmer of humanity flickered in his left eye;
His right eye, however, had completely turned into a pitch-black abyss, with even the pupil disappearing.
Seed 237 (screaming as if tearing its own skin): "Sprout...quick...run!!!"
Shadow Parasite (laughing maniacally, taking over the voice): "Leave? No, she must stay! I'll make her see with her own eyes how I devour you!"
The next second, 237 suddenly looked up, and the barrier of the entire cell cracked under the impact of the darkness.
A jet-black shadow claw extended from his arm and shattered the rune array of the cage.
The guards immediately panicked and retreated far away, not daring to approach.
Sprout 12 stood frozen in place, her heart almost bursting.
What she saw was not a "friend," but a being on the verge of becoming a monster.
Shadow Parasite (Raging Whisper): "Look now, Sprout 12. The 'partner' you once trusted is now nothing but my shell!"
237 lunged at her, and darkness surged forth like a tide.
Yet, in the darkness, she saw a struggle: his left eye was still flickering, he shook his head weakly, and his lips silently uttered two words—
"Kill me."
Sprout 12 burst into tears.
Her hand hovered over the sword hilt, her fingertips trembling.
Drawing the sword means personally severing all ties between them.
If she doesn't draw her sword, she will die in the darkness before her eyes.
A roar echoed in her heart. Finally, she bit her lip until it bled, and drew her sword.
Sprout 12 (crying and roaring): "Then let me bet! What I want to kill is not you—but the thing parasitizing your body!"
The sword flashed through the darkness, and the quarantine zone burst into a dazzling light in an instant.
237's body jolted violently, and a piece of his black tentacles was cleaved open, but then they surged out again and completely enveloped him.
Darkness and light clashed head-on, and the entire cell collapsed from the shock.
In the brief respite of the impact, 237's left eye reappeared. He looked at her, a relieved smile curving his lips:
Seed 237: "Thank you... at least you're still willing to believe me."
Immediately, he was dragged into the abyss by the shadows, his figure falling into a pitch-black rift.
After the light faded, only cracks and black stains remained on the floor of the cell.
Sprout 12 knelt on one knee, the longsword in her hand still trembling, tears blurring her vision.
She knew that she had not "killed" him.
But at the same time, she also understood—
This is no longer a choice between saving or not saving; it's a life-or-death battle.
The shadow parasite's low laughter still echoed in the air:
Shadow Parasite: "The next time we meet, he will end you with his own hands."
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In the days following the collapse of the cell, the base fell into silence.
Everyone is discussing the conclusion that "Seed 237 has been completely compromised," and some high-ranking officials have even suggested that it should be listed as a "shadow entity" that must be eliminated.
Sprout12 remained silent.
The scent of that battle still lingered on her sword, and every time she gripped the hilt, she would recall 237's smile before he fell into the abyss.
That wasn't the laughter of a monster, but the laughter of a human being, a friend, seeking liberation.
She knew perfectly well in her heart:
He's still inside.
It was simply suppressed by "Shadow Parasite".
Late at night, she walked alone to the edge of the ruins and gazed at the dark crack.
In the sound of the wind, she seemed to hear 237 calling out.
Sprout 12 (whispering): "If you're still listening, wait for me..."
I will definitely get you back.
Tears streamed down her face as she finally made up her mind.
The next day, in the council chamber, the higher-ups officially announced:
237 has been classified as a Level A threat.
Once a trace is found, immediately carry out the "annihilation".
Ya Dou stood up at 12, her voice choked with emotion but firm:
Sprout12: "He's not a threat! He's... one of us!"
But no one believed her.
In everyone's eyes, her stubbornness was simply "emotion blinding her reason."
Ultimately, she was deemed to have "unstable mental state" and was forced to rest, with the possibility of even being grounded.
However, at night, she quietly packed her bags, took her longsword and the remaining clues, and embarked on a journey alone to find the answers.
Just as I stepped out of the base, it started to drizzle.
The rain pattered against her armor, like a cold baptism.
She looked back and saw the lights of the base gradually fading into the distance.
The voice in my heart grew clearer and clearer:
She wasn't just trying to save one person; she wanted to prove that "bonds can overcome darkness."
She must find a way to separate the "shadow parasite," even if the road ahead is fraught with peril.
On the distant, dark land, the cracks continue to widen.
Deep within, Seed 237 stands alone, its eyes veiled by shadows, yet its heart still struggles to call out:
Seed 237 (murmurs): "Sprout...don't give up..."
Sprout 12 gripped his longsword and stepped into the endless wind and rain.
That concludes the discussion.
—The bonds have been broken, the journey begins.
—The real battle for redemption is about to begin.
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