127: Chapter 127 The Road to the Holy Land

Every second spent charging out from the puppet encirclement outside the Core Temple on the Light Orb Clan Home Planet felt like dancing on the edge of a blade; every breath was laced with the suffocation of a life-or-death crisis.

Kate tightly gripped the holy land key in her palm. The simple stone pendant emitted a steady, soft white light, acting like an eternal lighthouse in the darkness. Amidst this world polluted by Shadow's dark energy, it forcibly tore open a narrow gap that was barely passable. Light Sphere Race warriors controlled by Shadow surged from all directions like a tide, their crimson eyes forming a terrifying sea of light under the dim sky. The light blades condensed in their hands were as dense as a rainstorm, each carrying a lethal power enhanced by dark energy. They whistled past everyone's heads, shoulders, and backs. Every collision with the ground or ruins exploded into a blinding cloud of light dust, and the air was thick with the scorched smell of burnt energy, making people choke and cough.

“Left side! Three puppets are circling around from behind the ruins!” Young Kate ducked, nimbly dodging an incoming light blade. The short blade AKai had left her spun rapidly in her palm, tracing a cold silver arc that precisely deflected the following energy bolts. Her small frame darted through the ruins of collapsed light towers. Her clothes were shredded by light blades and a shallow wound appeared on her arm, blood seeping out instantly, but she didn't even flinch. She just looked back at Kate, who was being protected in the middle by Lin Fan. Her eyes were slightly red, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to show weakness: “Sister Kate, hang in there! We’re almost at the landing pad. Once we board the ship, we can leave this place and go to the Memory Desert!”

Kate's face remained pale to the point of being translucent. The crystallization patterns had already spread to her forearms, and her fingertips trembled slightly. The white light of the holy land key flowed slowly along her fingers, gradually soothing her turbulent Light Orb Energy. However, as soon as the Shadow frequency signal strengthened even slightly, her consciousness would lapse again, with images of her controlled clansmen flashing before her eyes and Shadow’s cold mockery ringing in her ears. She tightly gripped Lin Fan’s wrist, her palm's warmth so faint it was almost imperceptible. Her voice was soft yet exceptionally firm, each word spoken with all her strength: “The holy land... is not inside the Core Temple. It’s on the far side of the home planet, in a region forgotten by the Light Sphere Race for a thousand years.” “It’s called the Memory Desert. It is an ancient forbidden land of our Light Sphere Race, and... the only place where the holy land key can be fully activated.”

Lin Fan's heart tightened, and he instinctively gripped Kate's hand even harder. He had seen the name 'Memory Desert' once in a brief annotation within the Light Sphere Race ancient text fragments Franklin had previously unearthed. There were only a few words, yet every character exuded strangeness and danger—no signal, no energy, no data. The world was filled with an unknown power capable of twisting the spirit. All electronic equipment would fail the moment it entered the desert, and even powerful mental strength would be pulled into the deepest memory fragments by this desert, never to escape again.

That was not a sanctuary for seeking salvation at all, but a graveyard that would devour consciousness and bury the past.

“Franklin, immediately locate the exact coordinates of the Memory Desert and plan a route at maximum speed!” Lin Fan lowered his voice, his tone carrying an unquestionable decisiveness. Dark Matter Energy surged in his palm, transforming into a black energy barrier. With a casual wave, he sent three lunging Puppet Warriors flying, crashing them into the broken walls behind them with a dull thud.

“Analyzing Light Orb Clan Home Planet topographical data... Memory Desert coordinates locked. Distance from current location: 1.478 million kilometers. If traveling in a straight line by starship, it will take only 7 minutes and 23 seconds.” Franklin's electronic eyes flashed blue rapidly as his mechanical arm deployed a holographic map. The location of the Memory Desert was clearly marked, but a second later, the holographic screen shook violently. Large patches of red garbled code flooded the screen, and the originally clear coordinates were instantly obscured. “Warning—Shadow frequency interference intensity has exceeded the threshold. System command execution is obstructed. Core programs are being eroded... Unknown failure... imminent!”

Zzzzt— Zzzzt—

After the ear-piercing static noise, the holographic map went completely black. Franklin's electronic eyes flashed red, and his chassis vibrated slightly as if enduring a massive energy impact.

From above the sky, Shadow's cold laughter crashed down like thunder, filled with thick playfulness and cruelty. It reached everyone's ears clearly, as if he were standing nearby, watching them struggle like trapped beasts: “You want to flee to the Memory Desert? Lin Fan, do you really think I remember nothing?” “That desert is the place you least want to face, the most fragile corner of your soul, and also... the place where you personally gave birth to me.”

Lin Fan's pupils constricted suddenly, and the blood in his body seemed to freeze at that moment.

Shadow actually knew even this.

He thought that the past he didn't want to look back on, the memories he desperately tried to forget, were known only to him. But he hadn't expected that Shadow, as an existence split from the depths of his soul, would also remember all the details—remembering the moment he completely lost control and personally created the monster that destroyed everything.

“There's no time to hesitate!” Kate suddenly looked up, a flash of decisiveness in her eyes. She could clearly feel the Shadow frequency signals getting stronger. More and more Puppet Warriors were being drawn in. If they delayed any longer, they would all be surrounded and have no chance of leaving. “If we wait any longer, the puppets from the entire home planet will be drawn here, and none of us will escape! Moreover, the holy land key can only be fully activated within the range of the Memory Desert to open the gates of the holy land!”

Lin Fan no longer hesitated. He knew Kate was right. They had no way back now. Either they broke out, headed to the Memory Desert to find a way to open the holy land and save the clansmen, or they stayed here to be devoured by the puppet legion and become Shadow's tools.

He bent down and scooped Kate up in his arms. Her body was very light, like a feather, but the crystallization patterns on her arm pressed painfully into his palm. Lin Fan condensed Dark Matter Energy beneath his feet and charged toward the landing pad like an arrow from a bow. As he ran, he growled at Franklin behind him: “Franklin, get Young Kate and that child onto the ship immediately! Start the engines and head for the Memory Desert at full power! Even if the ship is shot down, even if it crashes, it must crash within the range of the Memory Desert. We absolutely cannot let it fall into Shadow's hands!”

“Understood! Executing command!” Franklin responded immediately. One mechanical arm scooped up Young Kate while the other hand gently protected the Light Sphere Race Young Child who was clutching the holy land key backup (the pendant fragment the child had been holding tightly). The engines roared, and the silver-white mecha forcibly smashed a path through the dense light blades. The mecha's outer shell was scored with deep gashes and emitted faint black smoke, but it didn't pause for a second, racing toward the landing pad.

On the landing pad, the starship they had arrived in was still burning. Its hull was riddled with bullet holes, and the energy shields were on the verge of collapse from the previous battle. The fuselage tilted slightly, looking like it could be completely scrapped at any moment. Yet right now, this scarred ship was their only hope, the only vessel to escape this place and reach the Memory Desert.

Carrying Kate, Lin Fan broke through the Puppet Warriors' obstruction. The Dark Matter Energy beneath his feet constantly erupted, parrying the incoming light blades one by one. Several more wounds appeared on his body, and blood soaked his clothes, but he was oblivious to it, focusing solely on charging toward the ship with all his might.

“Quick! Get on the ship!” Lin Fan kicked open the deformed hatch and carefully placed Kate into a seat in the cockpit. He turned to fasten the seatbelt and quickly checked her condition. After confirming she was alright, he turned back toward the hatch to meet Franklin and the others.

Franklin rushed in with Young Kate and the child. As soon as the hatch closed, the entire ship shuddered violently, as if struck by a massive invisible hand. The fuselage shook intensely, the needles on the instrument panel jumped wildly, and red warning lights flashed inside the cabin, casting a pale glow on everyone's faces.

“Set engine power to 100%! Lock course to the Memory Desert, full sprint!” Franklin rapidly operated the console, his electronic voice stuttering due to system interference. “Warning—Rear shield heavily damaged, unable to withstand high-intensity attacks!”

The ship suddenly burst through the atmosphere of the Light Orb Clan Home Planet, and the darkness of space instantly enveloped it. Outside the portholes, dense swarms of Light Sphere Race puppets chased from behind like locusts. Crimson energy beams constantly bombarded the hull. With every impact, the cabin emitted the tooth-grinding sound of twisting metal. The ship's outer shell kept peeling off, the fires grew stronger, and thick smoke billowed, nearly swallowing the entire vessel.

“Shield remaining: 12%... 7%... 3%—Shield completely failed!”

“Warning! Left-wing engine hit, severe damage, power decreased by 50%!”

“Warning! Rear cabin ruptured, oxygen leaking, system about to lose all control!”

Franklin's voice grew increasingly urgent, his electronic eyes flashing red as he issued constant emergency alerts. Lin Fan gripped the control stick so hard his knuckles turned white. His eyes were as sharp as knives as he forcibly pulled the out-of-control ship back onto the set course. Cold sweat covered his forehead, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto the control stick: “How much further? How long until we reach the Memory Desert's atmosphere?”

“Distance to Memory Desert atmosphere... 52.6 kilometers! Estimated arrival in 3 minutes and 17 seconds!” Franklin calculated rapidly, his mechanical arms flying across the console in an attempt to repair the damaged engines, but the system interference was growing stronger, making the repairs impossible. “However, ship power is continuing to decline, and the rear cabin rupture is severe. A smooth landing cannot be completed. There is a high probability of a forced crash!”

“I don't care! As long as we can break into the Memory Desert, it doesn't matter if we crash!” Lin Fan roared, increasing the engine power again. The ship, like a burning meteor, streaked through the dark universe. The Puppet Warriors behind were still in hot pursuit, their crimson beams like life-claiming shackles, striking the ship repeatedly and making the damage even more severe.

Just then—

Boom—!

A terrifyingly thick crimson beam suddenly shot from the direction of the Light Orb Clan Home Planet's orbit. Carrying world-destroying power, it instantly blasted through the ship's rear cabin.

In that instant, the ship's engine exploded into a massive fireball.

Inside the cabin, all the lights extinguished simultaneously, and the gravity system failed completely. Objects within the cabin flew about wildly—tables, chairs, instruments, and backpacks all floated in mid-air. The ear-piercing alarm stopped abruptly, leaving only the sizzling noise of electrical currents and the crackling of burning flames.

"The ship is out of control—!"

"Entering forced descent mode! It's irreversible!"

Franklin's voice was torn apart by the violent vibrations as the fuselage shook intensely. A flash of red light flickered across his electronic eye before it went completely black; the mecha slammed heavily against the console and fell into a brief dormancy.

Lin Fan immediately reached out, pulling Kate tightly into his protective embrace, using his own body to shield her from flying debris. Young Kate instinctively hugged the Light Sphere Race Young Child, shielding him in her own arms; her small body trembled slightly from fear, yet she gritted her teeth and refused to let go.

The entire spaceship was like an out-of-control meteorite, wobbling as it hurtled toward the grayish-yellow earth of the Memory Desert. The wind howled shrilly, as if playing an elegy for them. The ground approached rapidly in their field of vision, growing clearer and clearer, and the oppressive feeling of impending death instantly enveloped everyone.

"Hold on to me! No matter what happens, don't let go!" Lin Fan let out a low growl, and his Dark Matter Energy erupted instantly. He propped up a thin black barrier around the four of them—himself, Kate, Young Kate, and the young child—attempting to secure a slim chance of survival during the crash.

Bang—Boom—!

With a deafening roar, the spaceship slammed heavily onto the ground of the Memory Desert. The massive impact caused the entire earth to vibrate slightly. The ship plowed a fiery trench several hundred meters long through the yellow sand, continuously rolling, colliding, and breaking apart. Finally, half of the fuselage was buried deep in the soft sand; thick smoke billowed and flames blazed as it turned completely into a pile of twisted scrap metal.

Dead silence.

A long period of dead silence enveloped the entire Memory Desert.

The dust slowly dispersed, and the smell of char in the air intertwined with the dry scent of yellow sand, making one choke and cough. The Memory Desert finally revealed its true form.

There was no sky here, no clouds; the entire world was a vast, boundless expanse of hazy yellow. The wind and sand flowed slowly like a stagnant tide. The ground was covered with fine crystalline shards that emitted a faint reflection in the dim light, crunching underfoot. It was terrifyingly quiet—no sound of wind, no chirping of insects, no breath of life whatsoever. Even time seemed to have slowed its pace; every second felt incredibly long.

There were no signals here, no energy fluctuations. Franklin's mecha had failed completely, the ship's wreckage showed no reaction, and even the Dark Matter Energy within Lin Fan's body became exceptionally weak, as if part of it had been absorbed by this desert.

Lin Fan was the first to crawl out of the deformed cabin. His body was covered in scrapes and burns, his clothes were tattered, and a trace of blood remained at the corner of his mouth. He was sore all over and could barely hold himself up. But he couldn't care about his own injuries; he immediately turned back, reaching into the cabin and shouting, "Kate! Young Kate! Are you okay? Get out, quickly!"

Kate was pulled out by him. Her face was still pale, and there was a shallow wound on her forehead where the blood had already clotted. Due to the impact just now, the crystallization patterns on her arm had spread a bit further. However, her consciousness had cleared significantly, and the holy land key in her palm continued to emit a soft white light. It seemed to be gently resonating with the power of the Memory Desert, causing her turbulent energy to gradually stabilize.

Clutching the Light Sphere Race Young Child, Young Kate crawled out of the cabin looking bedraggled. Her small face was covered in dust and tear streaks, her hair was a mess, and the wound on her arm was still bleeding. Yet she stubbornly kept her eyes wide, alertly scanning the surroundings. Only after confirming there was no danger did she breathe a sigh of relief and pull the young child closer.

Franklin knelt on one knee on the ground. His chassis was dented and deformed in many places, and his outer shell was scorched black, constantly emitting faint black smoke. His indicator lights flickered, looking as if he might shut down completely at any moment and never restart.

"Franklin?" Lin Fan stumbled forward and gently patted the mecha's shell, his tone laced with worry. "Can you hear me? Wake up!"

The AI slowly raised its head, its electronic eye flickering a few times and emitting a strange static noise, as if it were struggling to repair its own system. After a good while, he finally spoke, his electronic voice becoming exceptionally stuttered and carrying a strange distortion: "System... restarting... core program... repairing... language module... encountered unknown fault..."

"External environment scan... complete..."

"Forward area... contains high-risk hazards..."

"Warning... forward area... vanilla ice cream."

Lin Fan: "..."

Kate: "..."

Young Kate froze for a moment, blinking her eyes, her face full of confusion. "Huh? Vanilla ice cream? Franklin, what are you talking about? Where is there vanilla ice cream around here?"

Franklin's electronic eye flickered as he repeated solemnly, his electronic voice steady and without a hint of abnormality: "Warning, a large amount of vanilla ice cream exists ahead. Suggest immediate avoidance of vanilla ice cream. Energy levels too low, may turn into vanilla ice cream at any time."

Young Kate was stunned at first, then she couldn't help but burst out laughing with a "pfft." As she laughed, her eyes reddened again. Just now, they had been racing on the edge of life and death, hunted by Puppet Warriors, and survived a crash where everyone nearly died. Their nerves had been stretched to the breaking point. Now, hit by Franklin's nonsensical "vanilla ice cream," her tightly wound emotions instantly gave way. All her fear and grievance turned into a mixture of laughter and tears.

"Is he... is he broken..." Young Kate sniffled, laughing while wiping away tears, her tone a mix of amusement and heartache. "How did he end up calling danger 'vanilla ice cream'?"

Lin Fan also breathed a sigh of relief and shook his head helplessly. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his tone carrying a hint of gratification. "It's okay, his language system is just scrambled. The system must have taken a strong impact during the crash, replacing every instance of the word 'danger' with 'vanilla ice cream.' At least he can still start up; he's still alive."

Kate smiled softly, her voice gentle and warm. "Yes, at least he's still here. As long as we're all alive, there's still hope."

But this brief moment of ease lasted for less than ten seconds.

The anomaly arrived suddenly and without warning.

The grains of sand beneath their feet began to glow faintly. A dim white light seeped out from the sand like tiny specks of fireflies, gradually gathering together. Countless translucent shards appeared in the air, floating like pieces of a broken mirror. Each shard reflected a vivid scene—not of others, but of each of their most painful, regretful, and haunting memories.

In front of Young Kate, a scene appeared of AKai smiling and waving at her. It was the last time he had smiled at her before his sacrifice; the image was so clear it felt like yesterday. But in the next second, the scene changed to the moment AKai was swallowed by Shadow's dark energy. Young Kate's face instantly turned deathly pale, and her body trembled violently. She reached out to grab the AKai in the image, but her hand only passed through a void.

In front of Kate, scenes of the Light Sphere Race's past prosperity appeared. The home planet was covered in soft-glow plants, and her clanspeople all wore gentle smiles. Her parents were tenderly holding her hands, teaching her how to control Light Orb Energy. But in an instant, the scene was swallowed by Shadow's dark energy. Her clanspeople screamed as they fell, and her parents were killed by Puppet Warriors while protecting her. Blood stained her clothes, and that bone-deep pain swept through her entire body once again.

And in front of Lin Fan—

The entire world suddenly darkened. All light was swallowed, leaving only an endless, boundless darkness. That familiar, suffocating darkness instantly enveloped him, making him feel as if he had returned to that desperate night years ago.

He saw himself losing control.

He saw the Dark Matter Energy within him going on a wild rampage, his consciousness collapsing completely, and his body being wrapped in black energy like a demon from hell.

He saw the darkness tearing from the depths of his soul, overflowing and condensing into shape, gradually turning into a figure identical to himself. That figure slowly opened its eyes, the depths of its pupils an endless abyss, and gave him a smile that was both gentle and cruel.

That was—the moment he split off Shadow.

"No... don't..."

Lin Fan stumbled back a few steps, his face turning as white as paper. His pupils contracted violently, his whole body shook uncontrollably, and his teeth chattered. That bone-deep fear and self-reproach submerged him like a tide.

The power of the Memory Desert was unreasonable. Effortlessly, it dragged the nightmares from the deepest parts of his soul and his most unbearable past right before his eyes, forcing him to experience that despair and pain once again.

It was him.

He was the one who personally created Shadow.

He was the one who personally released this monster that destroyed everything.

The Light Sphere Race being enslaved, Kate's crystallization, AKai's sacrifice, Franklin being invaded, Starfall Academy being destroyed... everything, all the pain and disaster, originated from him.

If he hadn't lost control back then, if he could have properly controlled his Dark Matter Energy, if he hadn't split off Shadow, then none of this would have happened. Everyone would still be living well, the Light Sphere Race would still be prosperous, Starfall Academy would still be lively, AKai wouldn't have sacrificed himself, and Kate wouldn't be suffering the pain of crystallization.

"It's me... it's all me..."

Lin Fan's legs gave way and he knelt heavily on the yellow sand, his hands digging into the scorching grains. His shoulders shook violently, and his voice was hoarse and broken, filled with despair and self-reproach. Tears fell without warning, hitting the yellow sand and being instantly absorbed, leaving only a small dark mark. "If I hadn't lost control back then... if I hadn't split him off... everyone... wouldn't have ended up like this..."

"I'm a sinner... I shouldn't be alive..."

The Shadow in the illusion slowly reached out a hand toward him, his smile gentle yet cruel, his voice identical to Lin Fan's but laced with thick malice: "Come, Lin Fan, let us become one. You were never meant to possess light. You and I are one and the same. Only by merging with me can you escape this guilt and pain, and only then can you master true power."

Lin Fan's consciousness was falling rapidly, sinking deeper and deeper into the quagmire of despair and self-reproach, unable to extricate himself. He kept his head down, his long hair falling to hide his face. He was plunged into the deepest self-negation, as if his soul had been sucked away, leaving behind only an empty shell.

Kate's heart tightened, and she immediately reached out to support him, her voice tinged with urgency and worry: "Lin Fan! It's not your fault! Wake up! The birth of Shadow wasn't your fault; you're a victim too! Wake up!"

But the power of the Memory Desert's mental interference was simply too strong, and her own energy was already unstable. As soon as she approached Lin Fan, she was struck by that powerful sense of mental oppression. Dizzy and with a sharp pain in her chest, she nearly collapsed to the ground.

Young Kate watched Lin Fan kneeling on the ground, completely broken; she saw the terrifying illusions constantly emerging around them, the scene of AKai's sacrifice, her clansmen being enslaved, and Kate's pained expression. All the grievances, fear, anger, and anxiety erupted completely at this moment.

She suddenly rushed forward, her small body bursting with surprising strength. She walked up to Lin Fan, raised her hand, and used all her might to deliver a harsh slap to his face.

Slap—!

The crisp, loud slap was exceptionally piercing in this deathly silent Memory Desert, instantly shattering the surrounding gloom.

The entire area instantly fell into a dead silence.

Franklin stood frozen in place, his electronic eyes flickering a few times as he broadcasted with deadpan seriousness: "Detected... intense vanilla ice cream. Immediate evasion is recommended."

Young Kate's chest heaved violently, her eyes were bloodshot, and large tears rolled down, splashing onto the yellow sand. Yet she remained upright, her head held high, screaming at Lin Fan with all her strength. Her voice was a mix of crying and shouting, hoarse yet deafening, every word like a sharp knife stabbing deep into Lin Fan's heart:

"Lin Fan! Enough! Wake up!"

"If self-reproach were useful, AKai would have been back long ago! If self-reproach were useful, could my clansmen come back to life?! If self-reproach were useful, could Sister Kate be free from the pain of crystallization?!"

"You're kneeling here wallowing in self-pity, hiding in your own pain and refusing to come out—who's going to save Sister Kate? Who's going to open the holy land key? Who's going to defeat Shadow? Who's going to rescue our controlled clansmen?!"

Her voice carried thick resentment and anger, along with a faint, imperceptible fear: "It's true that Shadow came out of your body! But you've been desperately trying to make up for it! You've been protecting us, fighting Shadow, and working hard to save everyone! Do you think we followed you just so you could sit here every day blaming yourself and wallowing in despair?!"

"What we want isn't for you to kneel here and admit defeat, or to be so immersed in past pain that you can't pull yourself out! What we want is for you to stand up! For you to lead us to open the holy land, defeat Shadow, rescue our clansmen, and protect everything we cherish!"

"If you fall... then we're truly finished... I... I don't want to lose anyone else..."

Lin Fan's head was knocked to the side by the slap, his face stinging with pain. But this pain was like a thunderclap, forcibly dragging him out of the sinking illusions and pulling him back from the quagmire of self-reproach and despair.

He slowly raised his head, a clear handprint still on his face. His eyes were red, still filled with pain and confusion, but that bone-deep despair gradually began to dissipate.

Under the impact of that slap, the illusion of Shadow in front of him gradually faded, became transparent, and finally vanished completely into the air.

The pressure of the Memory Desert still existed, and the memory fragments around them were still floating, but the suffocating darkness in his heart was forcibly torn open by a ray of light from that slap and Young Kate's heart-wrenching cry.

He looked at Young Kate's tear-streaked face, her stubborn eyes despite her obvious fear, and her small body trembling slightly from anger and fright. He then looked not far away at Kate, who was pale yet still gazing at him with worry, her eyes full of heartache and hope. He also saw Franklin, who despite his malfunctioning language system, still stood there firmly as if guarding them, and the Light Sphere Race Young Child protected behind Young Kate, whose pure eyes were full of reliance.

He suddenly realized that he wasn't alone.

He wasn't fighting alone, nor was he bearing this pain and guilt alone.

By his side were people he wanted to protect with all his might, partners willing to fight alongside him, and people who believed in and relied on him.

He couldn't fall, and he couldn't admit defeat.

If he fell, Kate would be completely consumed by crystallization, Young Kate would lose her support, Franklin would become completely useless, that young child would lose protection, and there would be no more hope of saving all the controlled clansmen.

He was Lin Fan.

He wasn't Shadow's puppet, much less a slave to his own guilt.

He was the Lin Fan who once fought Shadow, protected his partners, and saved Starfall Academy—the Lin Fan trusted and relied upon by his friends.

He slowly pushed against the scorching yellow sand and stood up bit by bit.

His knees were numb and shaking from kneeling for so long, and the wounds on his body throbbed with sharp pain, but his gaze became sharp, firm, and bright once more. That former determination and courage returned to his eyes.

"...I understand."

His voice was still hoarse but exceptionally clear, every word carrying an unquestionable firmness.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry for making you all worry."

"I won't fall again, and I won't wallow in despair anymore."

He raised his hand and gently wiped the tears and blood from his face, his gaze sweeping over his partners with a calm and steady look: "I created Shadow, so I will definitely destroy him with my own hands. We will walk the path to the holy land together. No matter what dangers we encounter or what pain we experience, I will lead you all to the very end and save everyone."

Kate breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes slightly red. She slowly walked forward and gently took his hand, the warmth of her palm transmitting endless strength to him: "I knew you wouldn't let us down."

Young Kate turned her head away, quickly wiped the tears from her face, and sniffled, letting out a pretend-tough huff, though her tone carried a hint of relief: "As long as you know! Let's go! If we dawdle any longer, the vanilla ice cream will catch up! We still have to open the Gate of the Sacred Land and save our people!"

Franklin immediately nodded and broadcasted with deadpan seriousness: "Correct. Vanilla ice cream is extremely dangerous. Please proceed quickly to evade vanilla ice cream and head to the target location."

Hearing Franklin still referring to 'danger' as 'vanilla ice cream,' everyone couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. The previous heaviness and oppression dissipated quite a bit in that laughter.

The wind and sand still flowed slowly, and memory fragments still drifted gently around them. Those painful, desperate memories were still clearly visible, but this time, no one was misled by these illusions, and no one fell back into self-negation.

Having seen their most painful memories, they were no longer afraid to remember.

Having experienced the deepest despair, they would not easily yield again.

Kate gripped the holy land key in her hand and looked up into the depths of the Memory Desert. There, a soft white light faintly appeared, and an ancient, sacred aura slowly drifted toward them on the wind. That was the direction of the holy land.

"The holy land... is just ahead, not far now."

"As long as we cross this Memory Desert, we can reach the holy land, activate the holy land key, and open the Gate of the Sacred Land."

"Once we're there, we can find a way to save our clansmen, cure my crystallization, and completely defeat Shadow."

Lin Fan stood beside her, Dark Matter Energy flowing slowly in his palm. Though still weak, it was exceptionally stable. His gaze was calm and firm as he tightly held Kate's hand: "Let's go."

"This time, I won't let anyone down again, and I won't let anyone get hurt."

Young Kate held the hand of the Light Sphere Race Young Child, her steps light and steady. As she walked, she vigilantly scanned the surroundings, occasionally offering a reminder: "Everyone be careful, there's vanilla ice cream everywhere, we can't be careless!"

Franklin followed at the back, still broadcasting the surrounding environment with deadpan seriousness: "Vanilla ice cream detected on the left. Detour suggested."

"Vanilla ice cream detected on the right. Danger level: medium."

"Directly ahead... large amount of vanilla ice cream. Danger level: extremely high. Please proceed with caution."

The group was caught between laughter and tears, yet their hearts were warm.

This AI with a malfunctioning language system was using the clumsiest, most adorable way to warn them of the dangers around them, adding a rare touch of warmth to this heavy and desperate path to the holy land.

The wind and sand swept over their ankles, and memory fragments drifted gently around them like a long, heavy farewell—a farewell to past pain, to former despair, and to those unbearable memories.

They had walked through regret, pain, collapse, and self-reproach.

Ultimately, in this desert that buried memories, they stood up once more, rediscovering the courage and hope to move forward.

The road to the holy land was never a smooth highway.

It had always been thus—paving the return to hope with the most painful past; nurturing the firmest courage within the deepest despair.

Ahead, the faint light grew brighter, and the ancient, sacred aura became increasingly dense.

At the end of the Memory Desert, the gate of the holy land stood quietly, waiting for their arrival, waiting to be awakened, and waiting to bring them redemption.

Meanwhile, the shadow of Shadow still lurked in the depths of the universe, watching them and still plotting even more terrifying schemes.

A true ultimate trial, a battle concerning life and death, redemption, and the future of the entire universe, was about to begin.

They knew the road ahead was still full of danger and the unknown, still covered in thorns and traps.

But they were no longer afraid and would no longer retreat.

Because they were partners fighting side by side, each other's most solid support.

Because within their hearts, there was an unquenchable hope and a determination to protect everything with all their might.

The wind and sand remained, and the road ahead was long.

But their steps were exceptionally steady as they walked firmly, step by step, toward the holy land and toward hope.

The road to the holy land, though difficult, would eventually reach its end.

The light of redemption, though distant, would eventually descend.