Chapter Forty-Nine: Task Two Completed

Helping Miss Zhu was nothing more than a casual act. After all, they had once shared a teacher-student relationship. Remembering how she would be plagued by worries about marriage five years later, Su Mo naturally wanted to lend her a hand. Besides, though Miss Zhu was indeed attractive, she was, in the end, a lapsed loli—hardly his type. He considered this a way to repay the debt for teasing her last time.

After bidding farewell to Miss Zhu, Su Mo continued on his way toward the Itsuka household. However, halfway there, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

“Hehehe, hehehe!”

The familiar laughter rang out beside his ear, yet there was not a soul around him. Faced with such a bizarre situation, Su Mo’s expression remained unchanged. He slowed his pace and spoke calmly, “Kurumi, is that you?”

“Yes, hehehe. I didn’t expect you to remember me, Su Mo. I’m so happy,” Kurumi’s voice continued, carrying that peculiar intimacy. Though her figure was nowhere to be seen, her voice was clear, as if an invisible woman leaned close to whisper in his ear, or perhaps a tiny person had taken up residence within his mind.

“You’re probably still five years in the future and haven’t followed me here, have you?” Su Mo asked softly while he walked.

“As expected of Su Mo, so clever. Indeed, we are not in the same time,” Kurumi’s laughter persisted as she explained, “Right now, I’m only able to converse with you by relying on the power of Zafkiel’s Ninth Bullet, which allows consciousness to connect with someone on a different timeline. But due to constraints on its use, I’ve never tried it before. I apologize for not contacting you immediately; I was delayed.”

“I see,” Su Mo nodded in understanding. He had gained time-manipulation abilities from Kurumi; though he’d never used them, his theoretical knowledge was extensive. Simply put, Kurumi was still in the future, but through this connection, they could converse—and perhaps even more. It seemed she could share his sights and sounds as well. Truly a remarkable ability.

Before long, Su Mo finally caught sight of the Itsuka house from his memories. Yet, just as he felt a surge of joy, his gaze sharpened.

At that moment, he saw young Kotori Itsuka standing in front of the house, dressed in a white gown with an adorable white ribbon in her hair. But before Kotori stood an indescribable entity—one whose age, gender, or figure could not be discerned, as if her entire body was cloaked in a mosaic. The being simply stood before Kotori.

This must be the Phantom, Su Mo realized at once. It was one of Mio’s avatars and the very culprit responsible for Kotori becoming a spirit five years ago.

Unfortunately, Su Mo had arrived too late to hear what the Phantom and Kotori discussed. He saw the Phantom produce a crimson spirit crystal and slowly extend it toward Kotori.

As he saw the crystal, Su Mo’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t forgotten that one of his tasks was to collect spirit crystals, and now the opportunity was right before him.

Kotori had yet to become a spirit, so this crystal was still unclaimed. If Su Mo seized it, not only would Kotori remain unharmed, but he could also prevent her transformation into a spirit altogether. That would mean the Great Fire in Tenguu City five years ago would never occur, and Origami Tobiichi’s parents would escape their tragic fate.

All problems could be solved if he just took the crystal.

Once he realized this, Su Mo acted without hesitation. The Shax Eddi Sword materialized in his hand. Even knowing the opponent was the Primordial Spirit, Su Mo plunged ahead without pause. In a brilliant flash, the sword blazed with fierce light as he struck the Phantom with all his might.

At the same time, Su Mo unleashed the time-manipulation power gained from Kurumi.

Against Mio, he had to be absolutely cautious. Every detail could determine victory or defeat. Although using time control would shorten his lifespan, capturing the spirit crystal was worth the price.

Under the influence of his power, his own time accelerated; he felt himself moving faster, as if watching a movie in fast-forward. In the blink of an eye, he struck at the Phantom.

The Phantom sensed his attack instantly. Though Su Mo’s move was unexpected, how could it possibly elude Mio’s awareness? She was the Primordial Spirit, the source of all spirits’ powers, and possessed every spirit’s abilities, even Kurumi’s time manipulation.

But just as she prepared to counterattack, her gaze swept over Su Mo’s face.

In that instant, her retaliatory movement faltered. Su Mo clearly saw the mosaic-like figure tremble. He seized upon that tiny opening and sliced off the Phantom’s hand holding the spirit crystal.

As the Phantom’s arm was severed, the indescribable mass vanished swiftly. Su Mo, quick as lightning, snatched the spirit crystal and silently willed it to be absorbed.

In the nick of time, the crystal vanished from his grasp.

In his mind, the voice of the Lord God resounded once more.

“Congratulations, Host, on completing System Task Two: Collect a spirit crystal!”

Su Mo was delighted to have completed the task. But his expression soon changed. As the crystal disappeared, he felt a searing energy surge into his body, its heat so intense it seemed to roast him alive.

“Congratulations, Host, on absorbing the power within the spirit crystal. Ability acquired: Hyper Regeneration!”

This notification left Su Mo astonished. He had thought his job was done once he handed the crystal over to the Lord God, but the system was surprisingly generous. Not only did it not keep the crystal’s power for itself, but it channeled it directly into him—truly remarkable.

What amazed him even more was the ability he gained.

Hyper Regeneration—Su Mo couldn’t be more familiar with this power. In anime, it was the reason protagonists could survive even the most reckless predicaments. With this ability, no matter how severe one’s injuries, death was unlikely, and wounds healed in moments.

As long as the body remained intact, even death could be reversed. There were main characters who’d survived with their hearts shattered. That was just how overpowered this ability was.

Previously, Su Mo thought only contracted spirits could grant abilities. He hadn’t expected that collecting spirit crystals could also unlock them.

With this power, his life was now secure.

Though it was immortality, not eternal life.

Even so, Su Mo was overjoyed.

……

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