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"Bang... bang..."
The sound of falling debris echoed across the dilapidated ground.
Moreover, the sound came from all directions.
This area, which had already turned into ruins, seemed to have been completely declared a wasteland under the astonishing offensive and defensive battle, becoming a desolate land.
The ground was charred, revealing the effects of corrosion.
Not a single building was left standing; they had turned into countless fragments and rubble, spread all around.
Even toxic smoke was rising from every inch of soil, gradually polluting the area.
It was likely that for decades to come, this place would not regain any vitality, and it would be impossible for even a blade of grass to appear again.
In such a place, in an open space that had been leveled, Fang Li and Orphelia faced each other from a distance.
"Ha... ha..."
Disordered breathing sounds came from Fang Li's body.
There was blood at the corner of his mouth.
His body was still in sharp pain. His internal organs were twitching continuously and his heart was beating incessantly.
Despite not knowing how many kinds of deadly poison he had been afflicted with, Fang Li's feet stood firmly.
His ice blue Mystic Eyes stared ahead.
Fang Li remained motionless with the dagger in his hand pointed at his opponent's throat while maintaining a slashing posture.
Only the sound of his breathing was intensifying.
Seeing Fang Li like this, Orphelia remained silent.
At first glance, compared to Fang Li, Orphelia seemed much more composed.
But if carefully observed, one could find that Orphelia's complexion was much paler than usual, and her body had a weak, swaying feeling, as if she could collapse at any moment.
That was a sign of her Prana about to be exhausted.
In such a situation, with her vital point in the throat directly pointed at by her opponent's weapon, the outcome was clear without needing to say more.
Fang Li and Orphelia stared at each other in the wasteland; even though their physical conditions were terrible, their gazes remained as calm as at the beginning, so calm that it felt exceptionally cold.
Only, in Orphelia's eyes, besides calmness, there was also a hint of heartache.
That look was just like a lost child unable to find their way home, making one feel a pang of sympathy.
Looking at Orphelia like this, Fang Li raised his empty hand and wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth.
Then, in that hand, the waning Moonlight Dagger was quietly gripped.
"Pū chī..."
With an extremely faint sound of piercing, the Moonlight Dagger was stabbed into Fang Li's chest.
In that instant, the sharp pain in Fang Li's body suddenly vanished, and his breathing began to calm down.
The deadly poison within his body was only killed at this moment.
Fang Li felt a lightness throughout his body; the Prana that had been exhausted began to flow again, gradually infusing strength into his battered body.
"Hū..."
Fang Li took a heavy breath and his breathing started to become calm.
The ice blue Mystic Eyes in Fang Li's gaze retracted.
However, the dagger pointing at Orphelia's throat was not retracted.
Fang Li stared directly at the Strega (Witch) whose throat he was pointing his dagger at.
In the next second, he spoke.
"With this, you should be satisfied, right?"
This statement, however, did not receive any response.
Orphelia only met Fang Li's gaze and looked back. On her exquisite charming face, there was a bitterness that had never been there before.
As a result, Orphelia turned all her feelings into a single statement.
"I still hate you."
That was something Fang Li had said during the daytime as well. Moreover, it was something that did not need further confirmation; both sides were very clear about it.
Only, the hatred of the two was completely different.
Fang Li hated Orphelia's heart that had given up everything and flowed with the tide.
Orphelia hated Fang Li's personality.
Just as had been said before.
Because Fang Li ignored life, Orphelia hated him.
Because she feared that one day she would also become like Fang Li, Orphelia rejected him.
However, upon learning that Fang Li was the same as her, both being postnatal Genestellars, even with her hatred, Orphelia could not help but follow Fang Li, trying to find something from his body.
Yet, Orphelia found nothing at all.
That was to be expected.
Originally, Fang Li's body did not possess what Orphelia sought.
Rather, Fang Li's indifference to life and his apathy towards death were precisely the things Orphelia found most repulsive.
In this way, how could Orphelia possibly hope to gain anything from Fang Li's body?
But if that were the case, why did Orphelia want to follow Fang Li?
Was it simply because Fang Li and Orphelia were both postnatal Genestellars?
Of course not.
It was only at this moment that Orphelia understood why she had acted this way.
"I... am just pursuing something..."
Yes.
Just pursuing something.
Those who dwell in darkness yearn for light.
Those who are on the ground long for the sky.
Limited things often hope for an infinite future.
Cold weather instinctively draws people closer to fire and warmth.
People often desire what they do not have.
Orphelia's desire to follow Fang Li was not because she wanted to find something from his body, but simply an instinctive urge to get closer to someone who could do what she could not.
In the face of harsh reality, Orphelia succumbed to fate.
Yet, Fang Li continued to fight, doing as he pleased.
Clearly both were postnatal Genestellars, but Fang Li possessed what Orphelia lacked.
Thus, Orphelia drew closer to Fang Li.
So, it was not to gain anything from Fang Li's body. Orphelia was merely trying to get closer to the existence she idealized. Even though Orphelia's heart had long since died, and the other was her most hated type.
And such an Orphelia was completely unaware...
"Only those who harbor hope will yearn for hope." Fang Li's voice, calm and cool, reached Orphelia's ears. "Your heart has already died, yet your body still craves redemption; that's all there is to it."
The undeniable truth left Orphelia's expression filled with bitterness.
Because this was also something Orphelia had discovered.
"I..."
A lost and confused voice escaped her lips.
"What should I do?"
This time, Orphelia's heart truly began to waver.
Gazing at Orphelia like this, Fang Li slightly narrowed his eyes.
"Haven't you already given up everything?"
Fang Li shrugged, speaking somewhat indifferently.
"Since that's the case, then stop worrying about what you should do."
Saying this, Fang Li lowered the hand holding the dagger, and in Orphelia's stunned expression, he spoke like this.
"If you like being a Doll so much, then being anyone's Doll is all the same, right?"
With this statement, Orphelia was left completely stunned.
(End Of This Chapter)