Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 300 - 279 Mazao’s ’Return’ 2

Chapter 300: 279 Mazao’s ’Return’ 2

First, I looked at the mountain forest that had now become wide open to view, and then turned back to look at the path we had traveled.

The white thin mist had really disappeared without a trace, although the way it vanished was not quite like ordinary fog. It didn’t gradually vanish from the front onwards, but when we moved to a certain distance, the mist in all directions faded at the same time until it all disappeared. Therefore, even if I look back now, I no longer see the mist that should be enveloping the road behind us.

That mist probably didn’t physically exist, it was more like a fog that appeared directly within the mind. Hence, from the moment we witnessed the fog’s appearance, we had essentially been ensnared by it.

Under these circumstances, it’s rather extraordinary that Mazao was able to bring me out...

"How did you do it?" I couldn’t help but be astonished.

Mazao pondered for a moment then answered, "I think... it’s probably because I’m a Blessed Monk who has awakened the ’Power of Return,’ so I’m very good at retracing my steps."

"Is that so..."

At first, I was slightly puzzled, but then it dawned on me: "...No, that’s exactly right."

The special abilities possessed by demon hunters, or the spells they learn, can reflect the nature of their souls. In other words, if the soul does not have the corresponding qualities, it is impossible to acquire corresponding special abilities or to learn the corresponding spells.

Even if special abilities or spells have been acquired or learned, they might become unusable due to changes in the soul. A case in point is the past Lu Youxun, who, because he became distrustful of himself and the possibilities of the outside world, could no longer use the "Possibility Clone" spell he once knew so well.

However, I believe that not all special abilities and spells are closely related to the user’s personality. For example, I don’t feel my personality has a fiery side, nor do I think Zhu Shi’s "Buzhou Mountain" reflects that she particularly enjoys pointing out people’s flaws; similarly, Mazao doesn’t seem to possess character traits associated with the concept of "returning."

According to Mazao herself, her powers seem to have awakened just like mine; although Zhu Shi never said it directly, considering her past comments, she most likely named her ability "Buzhou Mountain" after already having it, which suggests it also likely awakened in her.

Such powers, closer to the realm of the innate, seem to reflect not the personalities developed later in life, but parts closer to the innate endowments of the soul. And these endowments might not just be reflected in the rigidity of skill functionality but could also significantly affect all aspects, producing all kinds of profound and unpredictable effects in Mysticism.

Space Transfer based on the Power of Return may seem impressive, but it might be a more complex and advanced application; in contrast, the act of "walking back the way one came" using one’s own feet is very simple and fundamental.

Sometimes, the more complex and advanced a skill is, the easier it is to stray from the main point; whereas basic and simple acts are not necessarily superficial but suggest a closer proximity to the core source, to the foundational origin that supports everything.

The white thin mist that could block Mazao’s incredible Space Transfer couldn’t stop Mazao’s most ordinary way of moving, which serves as clear evidence of this.

Mazao looked at me with questioning eyes on what to do next.

"Can you take me into the mist again?" I asked.

"I’ll give it a try."

She spoke cautiously at first, then walked ahead, leading me to move once more.

This time she wasn’t retracing her steps; it definitely seemed as if she were moving along the route that had earlier taken us away from the white thin mist. I didn’t voice any doubts. Perhaps she didn’t know why she was walking this way now; most likely, she was just moving in the direction indicated by her nature’s mystic intuition.

Soon, the white thin mist appeared around us once again.

She had done it again. What I could not achieve with my Perception, she could. While this certainly had to do with my power being "unprofessional" in that direction, bear in mind that the white thin mist was a Super High Level power capable of severing the link between me and the "fireflies" and clearly possessed disorienting qualities. Yet, she found the correct path while being only able to exert weak, achieved level strength at most, which speaks volumes about the depth of her power’s essence.

If there were a third party present, I would have to boast on Mazao’s behalf in front of them.

"Since it’s possible to find the way back... then, can you also find the way ’towards approaching the core’?" I asked.

"The core?" she inquired.

"I think this strange phenomenon of white thin mist must have a source," I said. "Just trapping us inside it and doing nothing, this phenomenon is somewhat incomprehensible in its purpose. Of course, the emergence of strange phenomena does not necessarily mean they have significance, but for a strange phenomenon that appears on Moon Concealing Mountain... in a place with complex causality with Yinyue, it is hard to believe it would be so ’idle.’

"This mist can even interfere with my consciousness, which leads me to suspect its source is Yinyue. And the fact that no danger has occurred might just be because we are still in the edge zone of the mist."

In other words, the journey ahead might genuinely present dangers.

"Mazao, if you can’t use Space Transfer to get outside the mist, can you teleport within it?" I asked.

She tried it and succeeded. In an instant, she moved back about a meter away.

"Everything is normal. But..." she said uncertainly, "If you want me to find the way that approaches the core... it’s not that I cannot do it, but my accuracy will undoubtedly be much worse than when retracing my steps."

"It doesn’t matter; it’s far better than having no method at all," I say. "Next, let’s discuss what to do when we encounter Yinyue... As soon as you see Yinyue or perceive other mana fluctuations of Great Success rank or higher approaching, you must immediately transport yourself to the edge of the thin mist zone, then flee at full speed. And after escaping, you need to use Space Transfer again to hide in an even more distant place.

"I will buy you the time to escape, and I will handle all the formidable enemies—any problems with that?"

"No problem," she nods earnestly. "I definitely won’t overestimate myself and drag you down."

"That’s good to hear."

What I fear most is Mazao insisting on staying to fight alongside me. Although I know she wouldn’t foolishly do something so irrational, it’s often such presumptive attitudes that lead to failure without prior communication.

At this thought, I realize there’s another presumption—I haven’t informed Mazao of what Yinyue looks like.

And after I bring this up, Mazao says, "I know her physical features. As soon as I see someone similar, I will retreat immediately."

"Just to be safe, it’s better to let you know what she looks like first," I say. "I remember Lu Youxun once gave you some Mind-Written Photos when tracking the Human Bureau. Do you have any left?"

"Yes, I do."

Mazao spreads her left hand, and a blank Mind-Written Photo appears in her palm.

I wonder where she had kept it before. This ability to summon desired items at will is incredibly convenient.

I take the Mind-Written Photo and concentrate, recalling Yinyue’s appearance with effort. Having used Mind-Written Photos in the intervals of entering the independent virtual spaces before, I have the relevant experience. Therefore, this time, I quickly print Yinyue’s appearance onto the photo and hand it to Mazao.

Mazao looks down at the photo closely, seemingly frowning at the beauty transcending human limits, invoking the uncanny valley effect. She nods to show she has memorized it and pockets the photo.

We then proceed deeper into the white mist.

On the way, gazing at the mist-enshrouded forest, Mazao seems to recall something and says, "You’ve mentioned before, inside the Void Realm, it’s also engulfed in dense fog..."

"Yes. But the fog there is thicker, and the color darker," I reply. "And within, we can’t distinguish each other’s appearances clearly because we are like shadowy figures."

"Little Bowl must be very scared," she murmurs.

I remember Little Bowl’s silence and nervousness during our first communication, like a timid young creature, and I nod in agreement.

"But now with you around, perhaps she can feel somewhat at ease," Mazao says.

"Hopefully," I respond. "But she also mentioned that we don’t really know each other."

Mazao asks curiously, "Why?"

"Because we don’t know each other’s faces," I explain. "Just communicating within the Void Realm... It’s like chatting online; it seems we know each other very well, but if we don’t know the other’s name and face, doesn’t it feel like there’s a crucial element missing?

"Last time, I did tell her my name in the end, but since we haven’t met in person, we don’t really know each other..."

Towards the end, it’s as if a bolt of lightning flashes through my mind.

Wait, isn’t it possible for me to see Little Bowl’s true face right now?

The key isn’t whether I can see it, but whether I can let others know. If I can achieve this, our chances of finding the soul-loss patient who corresponds to Little Bowl in the real world will dramatically increase.

That is, if such a soul-loss patient indeed exists.

"Mazao, you should remember what Little Bowl looks like, right?" I begin to confirm.

"Of course, I remember. I spent a lot of time with her, living through day and night. Even until the last moments of the Doomsday Era, we were together," Mazao asserts with conviction.

"Then... could you print her appearance on a Mind-Written Photo now?" I ask.

Mazao’s eyes light up, as if she’s on the same page as me.

"Yes!" She nods.