Resurrection Empire-Chapter 1077 - 419: 001 Killing Machine (2)

Then, Ren Zhong had no choice but to see everyone, including Ma Xiaoling, as mere passersby in his life.

Silently, Ren Zhong pondered in his heart whether he should at least respond to her once?

Fulfill her last wish?

In the previous six hundred and twenty-two confessions, Ren Zhong chose to remain silent to avoid distracting Ma Xiaoling in battle.

Since it was already destined to move forward, he shouldn't let her disappear with regret.

But do I really like her? Does it really matter?

Ren Zhong's mind was filled with such chaotic thoughts.

From the perspective of ordinary thinking, Ren Zhong's hesitation and struggle seemed irrational.

After all, he had been through so much, witnessed too many separations and tragedies. He should have long transformed into a mature and stable, extraordinarily composed monster.

At least that's how Xiao Xingyue saw him now.

But Ren Zhong was intentionally allowing his mind to remain open.

Because in the initial three thousand three hundred and seventy-five attempts before reaching this point, Ma Xiaoling hadn't confessed to him. He had indeed gradually become more cold-blooded, his emotions more unreadable, drawing further from humanity and closer to the god-like indifference that viewed all life as insignificant. It was only when Ma Xiaoling broke his defenses with a confession for the first time and then pulled him back to the human world with six hundred and twenty-two confessions.

It was through this continuous introspection and self-examination that he rediscovered his humanity.

After a long time, a divine light suddenly burst forth in Ren Zhong's eyes.

He quietly sent a message to Ma Xiaoling.

"Ma Xiaoling, if... I mean if... you can continue to live, let's be together."

Ren Zhong immediately received Ma Xiaoling's reply.

"Even though I know you're just comforting me, I'm already satisfied."

...

Eight more minutes passed.

Everyone else was dead.

Only Ren Zhong stood alone on the now still and empty platform.

The platform, coated with neutron material, was also full of pits.

The absolute Wall of Sighs neutron coating hadn't been shattered. Instead, the alloy support beneath had collapsed due to the unendurable impact.

In front of the platform was another spacious hall.

The hall was already riddled with holes from the impact of the battle.

The originally gilded and beautiful self-luminous walls were shattered and mottled, only occasionally emitting a faint glow.

In the dim light, Ren Zhong closed his eyes tightly, recalling a long string of numbers and reviewing his past hundreds of failed operations.

A moment later, he clenched his fist and stepped forward heavily.

Clack, clack, clack...

The crisp sound of his Red Blade Armor boots on the floor gradually faded into the distance.

As he was about to leave the platform, Ren Zhong paused slightly.

On the ground three meters from him lay a piece of flesh.

This flesh came from Xiao Xingyue, probably from a part of her thigh.

About fifty seconds ago, Xiao Xingyue, who had walked with him the longest, had to close the distance between herself and a Level Nine Ruined Beast to use her Telekinesis Master ability to restrain it.

Before Ren Zhong could arrive, Xiao Xingyue had just exhausted her strength. The Ruined Beast lost control and then brutally shattered her. Xiao Xingyue didn't even have the chance to utter a last word.

Ren Zhong silently turned his face away, continuing to gaze into the deep distance.

Finally reaching this point, it was time to push the wheels of time forward.

Ren Zhong didn't know what lay ahead.

He wasn't sure if he could ever bring back the comrades lost today.

He could only carry this confusion forward, and then... wait for the flowers to bloom.

For the first time in his life, he felt the uncertainty of the future.

After walking nearly two hundred meters forward, a blinding light suddenly shone overhead.

A humanoid light-shadow descended slowly.

This was Ren Zhong's three hundred and sixty-fifth confrontation with it, his final obstacle on the path forward, the High Rank weapon from the Empire—the Empire's Special War Power, the AI Killing Robot, codenamed 001, also the prototype of all faceless human machines on Source Star.

Without any pleasantries or challenges, the humanoid light-shadow suddenly dived towards Ren Zhong at great speed. Before getting close, it disassembled, turning into a meteor shower that fell straight down, tearing Ren Zhong and his armor into pieces.

Then, the humanoid light-shadow landed directly on the ground, turning into a pool of golden dust.

Suddenly, there was a popping sound beside the dust.

It was a water ball bursting.