Ark, after I died, the operators started to love me.

As one of the company's veterans, it's hard for Muirsey not to recall the difficult times she, Christensen, and Seria spent together during the early days of Rhine Life.

Even the toughest days can become beautiful memories, especially when viewed through the lens of the past.

But that was a long time ago; now she's just an outsider.

Previously, Mike had been asking the questions, but Muirsey realized that the initiative had been taken over by the other party, which did not align with her purpose for coming today.

They rushed here in a hurry to launch a surprise attack. If they can't even take the initiative, wouldn't they be incredibly humiliated?

She didn't forget to confront him.

“Dear Mr. Mike, I can hardly imagine that you would bring your team to Sami after what you have been through these past few months.”

"It's hard to describe in words."

Mike got up and walked around the desk, pretending not to see that Muirsey seemed wary, and pulled over a chair for her to sit down, then leaned back on the desk.

"You've traveled a long way, you must be exhausted. Shouldn't you rest for a few more days?"

“I’ve heard about what happened at headquarters. I’m the closest person to Rhine Labs. Who else could get here in such a short time?”

Muirsey spoke these words with a hint of melancholy, because she hadn't expected the Doctor to be at headquarters.

Mike looked at the water sprite, and the water sprite looked at him. They both turned their heads away at the same time, not daring to look into each other's eyes.

“Müllseth…”

Mike only said one sentence before the water sprite interrupted him.

"There's no need to say anything more. I know what you mean. There are some things I don't want to know."

No, I have to let you know.

Mike jumped off the table, rushed forward, and caught the water sprite before she could escape.

When Muirsey was embraced by Mike's strong arms, she had only one thought in her mind.

She particularly hated herself for giving advice yesterday; now the boomerang had hit her right in the face.

Clearly sensing the girl's slightly stiff body, Mike gently hugged her arms and made a movement. A flash of azure light appeared, and he shrunk from the strong Mike into Dr. Ann.

This amazing scene made Muirsay's eyes widen even more.

She had only heard about this amazing ability in words, and she was still shocked when she saw it with her own eyes.

"I thought……"

"What do you think?"

In Dr. An's state, the doctor is slightly shorter than Muirsey.

“I never expected you to turn out like this. I’ve never heard of this before. This is definitely not Rhine Life or Columbia’s technology.”

"I can't explain to you exactly how this technology works, because I know a little bit more than what you see."

Ann raised his hands. He was familiar with everything about this body, and he was also familiar with himself in Mike form.

He said softly, "When I used to change forms, it wasn't something I could do with just a few simple movements."

That seemed to be a very painful memory, and Ann was unwilling to talk about it. Even though the water sprite was very curious, she was too embarrassed to ask any further.

The man sighed: "Alright, I can tell you, but you have to keep it a secret."

"Good good."

Ann's lips twitched twice, and she whispered in Muirsey's ear, "If I want to transform from Mike into Ann, the only way is to stab myself in the stomach with a knife."

"what?"

What kind of ability is this?

Even the Sarkaz's Originium Arts seemed a bit too exaggerated to Muirsays.

Wouldn't someone stab themselves and die?

However, An asked with a serious expression, "Are you willing to believe it?"

This question wasn't asking Muirsey whether she believed in this bizarre transformation method, but rather whether she was willing to believe all the descriptions just given.

Muirsay remained silent.

Her silence made Ann very uneasy.

Because he took a risk by contacting the water spirit today, and Muirsey is not someone who can be easily persuaded by him.

When Christen left the land of Ketera, the water sprite was depressed for a long time and wanted to hide somewhere and never come out again.

Ann could imagine the devastating impact his death had on Muirsay.

But behind this incident, he was unable to reveal the true story.

Some secrets require someone to bear the consequences.

"Today I can turn around and leave without believing what you say, just to deal with you, the one who deceived me."

Muirsey pursed her lips, turned her gaze to the other side, and spoke in an almost indifferent tone what she had kept hidden in her heart for a long time.

"No matter what excuse you have, no matter what you plan to do, you are using death to escape everything from the past, and this is the consequence you must bear."

Mike responded with silence, like a prisoner on trial, any explanation he gave sounding like sophistry.

“I don’t know what happened to you, and you never intended to tell me, so you can’t get my forgiveness.”

Mike remained silent.

When Muirsey looked up at the man again, she found that he was still the same as before.

Sometimes she is very clever and wise, and sometimes she is as hard as a rock, like Saria.

"I will never forgive you," she told herself.

“This is the ending I deserve,” Mike said as well.

Muirsey's face was deathly pale.

72. I still love you.

Why did things turn out this way?

The light in Muirsey's eyes gradually faded.

She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Is this the person she likes?

Suppressing her grief, the water sprite lowered her head and whispered, "I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well."

"I can understand."

Mike seemed resigned to his fate, offering no resistance or struggle; the air was so cold it felt like it could freeze.

Muirsey took a deep breath; it was cold, a chill that came from the depths of her heart.

When was the last time I was in so much pain?

She remembered now. It was Christen who locked her outside the launch pod, and Saria who ignored her completely. No matter how lively this land was, she was still all alone.

Later, a man quietly entered her ecological park and took her hand as they danced among a patch of aquatic plants.

Now even he's leaving.

Perhaps this is her fate.

……

Mike kept his eyes fixed on Muirsey; to be precise, he never looked away from the water sprite from the very beginning, taking in her every move and every expression.

Although he said he wouldn't forgive, and although the road had come to an end, Mike decided to give it his all. He had liked many people in the past, and many people liked him, but none of them were truly willing to give him a chance.

In his human form, he is so vulnerable that he suffers from rejection.

You mortal, you have your limits.

He recalled many things, past events buried deep in his memory.

Countless scenes from the past flashed before his eyes until a figure appeared.

Because they possess great power, they need their loved ones to anchor them.

Because they had to fight against enemies from beyond the world, they had to venture into the darkness alone, like stars in the cold, deep universe.

By injecting demon blood into the human heart, and with the pulsation of the organs, the blood plasma travels through the fragile blood vessels throughout the body, the excessive humanity is neutralized, and half-human, half-demon warriors are born.

If you haven't forgotten everything from the past, if there's still a trace of longing in your heart, if...

“Ann, I’m glad you’ve taken this step, but it’s still too early for you. Injecting demon blood doesn’t mean you’ll become a demon, nor does it change the fact that you consider yourself human.”

The person who said this placed his right hand on his chest, where his heart was.

"Perhaps one day I will walk this path again. Now I must make you return to your original state. Blindly pursuing power will only lead to your destruction. Remember this: after I die, all traces of my life will be completely erased. You can reclaim the power that originally belonged to you. Hopefully, by then, you will be able to recognize yourself."

The last bit of strength attached to Mike's heart disappeared, but Mike felt no joy.

The seal from that person has been broken; he now needs the restraint from his loved ones.

Does he have someone he loves, and someone who loves him?

Have it?

……

He remembered something.

The dance they performed in Tremont that last opened Muirsay's heart.

"Miao Miao."

Muirsey looked up, and Mike saw the emptiness in her eyes. He had seen a similar look in the mirror before, a look of despair and collapse.

Do you remember the dance we did at the ecological park in Tremont?

The water sprite's eyes were unfocused, as if the image of them holding hands and embracing each other was reappearing before her eyes.

Yes, their story began with a dance, and it should end with a dance as well.

Mike naturally extended his hand, and Muirsey gently tidied her hair, her fingers inadvertently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, as she walked step by step to him.