I cosplayed as the battle-damaged Azure Sparrow and got caught by the Immortal Boat!

Chapter 14 The Geniuses' Clinging to outdated methods

"Ordinary people often make attempts that they know are impossible, but still hold onto hope."

Like trying to find a lost sword by marking the boat, blindly chasing after a reflection that has already vanished in the water.

So, I ask you: Do geniuses also try to find their way back to their original goal by marking the boat they came from?

I think that even geniuses are no different in their sincerity and longing for emotions.

However, Nguyen Mai, I think this is the final conclusion.

In this state, the "target" has already exhibited some instinctive characteristics, confirming that the Black Tower is indistinguishable from "Emperor III".

The experiment ends here. This is the end we can reach, Nguyen Mai.

"There's one last method we haven't tried yet." Nguyen May's voice was unusually calm, almost mechanical, and devoid of inflection.

This excessive calmness, however, carried a completely different meaning in the ears of Heita, who knew her well.

Black Tower looked at Nguyen Mai, his eyes showing worry.

Nguyen Mai returned a smile, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

[Nguyen Mai] "Don't worry, nothing... has happened yet, has it?"

The screen continued to scroll.

Screw Gum slowly shook his head, his metal body seemingly letting out a very soft sigh: "If one can reverse predetermined cause and effect by relying on memories, then why doesn't 'Xi Lian,' who created this light cone, use it himself?"

Because she already knew for certain that even if memories could transcend time and space, the power of the messenger alone could not rewrite the chapters already locked in the Book of Fate.

"So, theoretically, it's feasible to 'replace' the 'Black Tower' from this posture, right?"

Screw Gum remained silent for an even longer time. He spoke solemnly, almost as if taking a deep breath:

At this moment, I am not speaking as the king of Screwstar, nor as a colleague of the Genius Club, but merely as a friend, asking you this question:

Nguyen Mai said: If you really can't find the key, then use the lock as the key.

For me, the losses from this plan are incalculable. Please believe me, my heart is filled with the same grief...

But what if she finds out about your experiment?

In order to resurrect her, the price might be the creation of the "Iron Tomb," a supreme ruler of annihilation targeting the fate of intellect.

Then, Screw Gumm paused. In fact, Emperor III had caused him more emotional harm.

After all, if it weren't for the birth of such a genius as him, inorganic life would have been considered for extinction from the galaxy.

"It could also be 'Emperor III'—how would she feel?"

Ruan Mei's breathing paused slightly, then became somewhat rapid. She suddenly turned around, her gaze falling on Qing Yuan beside her, her tone carrying an undeniable resolve:

"Give me that cone of light. In exchange, I will resolve the calamity that worries you and the Celestial Ship, the scourge that leads to 'Abundance.'"

"Miss Qingyuan," Screw Gum stepped forward, standing between them in some invisible tension, "you have put in enough effort. I, Screw Gum, assure you in my own name that I will always be a friend of the Immortal Boat Alliance."

To show my sincerity, I am willing to assist the Immortal Boat Alliance in dealing with external threats.

Stephen, who had been silent the whole time and wearing a cognitive filter mask, also quietly moved and stood side by side with Screw Gum.

"Screw Gum!" Ruan Mei's voice became somewhat excited.

To an ordinary person it might just be a change in mood, but to Black Tower, who knew her character well, it was almost a trembling sound on the verge of long-suppressed hysteria.

"I never intended to actually implement that plan!"

I just... just wanted to try something different! Something that might have been useful if... if we could have gone back in time earlier!

Ultimately, under the supervision and with limited assistance of the three, Nguyen Mai created a brand new light cone.

As the last ray of light disappeared into the cone, she visibly became haggard, as if all her energy and spirit had been drained away.

She handed the cool, warm cone of light to Qingyuan, her voice hoarse with weariness: "I will keep my promise to you. But right now... I need to rest for a while."

It is only at the very last moment, when one realizes that the situation is beyond repair, that true heartbreak occurs.

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the nearby Screw Gum clearly flickered; they were the tears of an inorganic being.

---

"Is it over here?" The Black Tower doll muttered to herself, stroking her chin. But her intuition told her that the "stored capacity" of this memory should still be able to be squeezed out a little more.

Her gaze swept over Estelle, who looked slightly uneasy, and a mischievous smile curved her lips.

"Hey? Wait, teacher—!"

The next second, Estella was also pushed into the simulated universe by a gentle but irresistible force.

Once the light and shadows in front of her stabilized, she found herself in the same room as Qingyuan again, and she was immediately at a loss—was this like a lamb entering a tiger's den?

"Don't worry," Qingyuan said, sitting cross-legged on the ground, enjoying a bag of local snacks from Fanghu. She mumbled, "I'm starving right now. There's so much delicious food. Do you want to have some?"

Actually, I was mainly worried about giving you such a big diamond.

Qingyuan felt that she couldn't be entirely blamed. She would collect photos of cosplayers she saw at comic conventions, let alone when she met real people.

Upon hearing this, Estelle relaxed a bit and sat down without ceremony to enjoy the food with everyone.

At this moment, the simulated universe scene shifted again, presenting new fragments:

---

In the video, Estella is carefully taking care of a cat named Cake, which is entirely light purple and has round eyes.

The little cat seemed to take an interest in a black tower doll that was waiting nearby, and with a light leap, it landed on the doll's head.

A miraculous change occurred.

The previously still puppet suddenly began to spin in place, speaking in Black Tower's voice, yet uttering words completely out of character:

"The three emperors were unparalleled in the world! The three emperors were exceptionally intelligent! The three emperors were so beautiful they could make fish sink and geese fall from the sky!"

"Oh dear, please stop!" Estelle in the video hurriedly whispered, trying to dissuade them. "If word gets out, the entire galaxy will turn against us!"

Upon hearing this, Cat Cake blinked its big, bewildered eyes. The black tower doll paused, then its words instantly changed:

"Lady Black Tower is unparalleled! Lady Black Tower is exceptionally intelligent! Lady Black Tower is a beauty that could rival the most beautiful women in the world!"

Aista breathed a sigh of relief and gently stroked the cat-shaped cake: "That's good, let's play this version from now on, okay?"

"Meow?" Cat Cake made a sound that seemed to understand but not quite.

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached.

Dan Heng appeared in the doorway, his expression grave, tinged with barely perceptible concern: "Miss Estella, excuse me. May I ask... how is Xing now?"

Estelle sighed and led Danheng to an observation room where a medical pod was placed.

Ruan Mei stood beside the cabin, gazing at the sleeping figure inside. A complex mix of pity flickered in her eyes as she sensed Dan Heng's arrival.

"She is different from you, Danheng." Ruan Mei's voice was soft, but every word was clear. "In this 'reincarnation,' she has lost most of her past memories."

Some people are trying to pin all the blame on you, on all of you, even though you, like the Black Tower, are actually heroes trying to save everything.

Dan Heng remained silent, took a deep breath, and asked the question that concerned him most: "Then, does she still retain the memories of when she lost control? Perhaps, forgetting those memories is a kind of relief for her."

"There is a possibility of resurrection. She once tried to imprison herself and seal the 'Iron Tomb'."

Even the Black Tower could only eventually transform the Iron Tomb into the Emperor III.

So, unsurprisingly…” Ruan Mei didn’t finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.

"I understand." Danheng's voice lowered. "She's been tainted by the destiny of 'destruction.' I just want to know if she can continue to forge ahead."

Ruan Mei remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "...all the destinies she has encountered in the past have been tainted."

Only by venturing into the unknown, reaching places deeper and farther than 'immersion,' until that force becomes relatively insignificant to her, can she gradually purify herself.

"How long will it take?"

"This is almost a dead end."

Ruan Mei bluntly stated, "Even though most of the traces of 'destruction' on Onphalos have been swallowed up by the 'Iron Tomb,' she herself has become a 'vessel' that can almost erode all destinies."

If Nanuk did not exist, she might have become the new Destruction Star God at the end.

Therefore, to completely eliminate the impact, at least a few new Destiny Paths need to reach the Envoy level.

Before that, she had to contend with the ever-growing will of 'destruction' within her, a life without peace.

Dan Heng clenched his fist and asked one last time, "So... how much does she still remember now?"

Ruan Mei's gaze returned to the medical pod, her tone softening slightly, carrying a hint of comfort: "At least, she still remembers your names."