CHAPTER 200: CHAPTER 156: LET’S CALL YOU STAR (END OF VOLUME 2)_1

He dug the grave with his own hands, personally laid Sun Ruixing’s body within it, then felled a large tree and carved a massive tombstone, all with his own hands.

On the tombstone was inscribed:

"Here lies a man of integrity and principle."

"His life was once ordinary: raising children, providing for his family, experiencing life’s joys and sorrows, its love and hatred."

"Yet, in the final Chapter of his life, he was destined to become extraordinary."

"The apocalypse descended, destroying his family—his wife, and possibly his daughter—but it did not extinguish his conscience, his kindness, or the softest part of his heart."

"Because of him, countless people managed to cling to life in this apocalyptic world. The outcome may not have been ideal, but at least he acted, he strived, he made sacrifices."

"This is something I might not do, nor am I capable of. His power may have been meager, but his soul was noble."

"I often ask myself: What is my greatest aspiration?"

"Before the apocalypse, my aspiration was to earn vast sums of money and live a life superior to others."

"After the apocalypse began, my aspiration became to survive."

"But this man taught me that some things are worth defending with one’s life, worth giving everything for."

"Perhaps I have not yet found such a thing, but I will strive to seek it."

"This man, with his life, showed me that even in hell, sunlight can exist; even in despair, humanity can glimmer. Even in the apocalypse, one must not forget they are human, not a cold-blooded animal."

"Some live, yet no one remembers their names."

"Like me."

"Some die, yet they live forever in the hearts of others."

"Like you."

"With this, I commemorate my first teammate, my first comrade-in-arms, my first friend—Sun Ruixing."

"A tribute from Wen Yu."

As Wen Yu withdrew the Touch of Greed, he couldn’t help but let out a long, heavy sigh.

Writing an epitaph is no simple task. But as Wen Yu recalled every detail of his time with Sun Ruixing, the words flowed forth naturally.

He remembered when they were in Hualin Town, and a devastated Sun Ruixing had told him, "They’re all dead."

He remembered their first night in Chaihe Town, when Sun Ruixing had said, "He reminds me so much of my daughter!"

He remembered being in the treasure land, how Sun Ruixing had carried him on his back, the Fourth Prince cradled in his arms, stumbling through the final stretch of their journey.

He remembered the night on the rooftop of their small, three-person outpost, where he and Sun Ruixing had drunk and talked about everyday matters all night long.

He remembered how, just moments ago, he had pierced Sun Ruixing’s heart with his own hands.

So many memories...

So many that Wen Yu didn’t even notice Little Dragon slowly awakening nearby.

"What are you... doing?"

It was only when a familiar, yet childlike, Spiritual Fluctuation entered Wen Yu’s mind that he snapped back to the present.

Putting down the cigarette in his hand, Wen Yu stood up and looked in Little Dragon’s direction.

The scales that had been torn had already regrown. After sending the Spiritual Fluctuation to Wen Yu, Little Dragon was now looking left and right, as if searching for something.

"You’re awake!" Wen Yu greeted Little Dragon with a faint smile.

"Mm!" The massive dragon head nodded gently twice, answering Wen Yu.

"You still haven’t... told me... what were you... doing just now? I... saw you... writing many, many things. But... I can’t understand them..."

"Oh, you mean this." Wen Yu gently patted the tombstone planted at the head of Sun Ruixing’s grave and said earnestly to Little Dragon, "This is a record of the story that just unfolded. Would you like me to read it to you?"

"Mm."

Little Dragon slowly shrank, returning to the size he was when he first met Wen Yu. He then climbed up Wen Yu’s trouser leg to his shoulder, his vertical pupils staring intently into Wen Yu’s eyes.

Wen Yu saw that in those eyes, there was only pure innocence.

Then, Wen Yu’s low, slow voice began to recount the tale.

"Just now, a flash of white light shot past, and Little Dragon instantly fell into a deep slumber!

Then, the Dominator’s voice rang out once more.

He said, ’The previous rules were just a little joke I played on you. You all performed very well in the recent battle between the two realms. However, the main reason was that invincible Little Dragon. Now, I’ve used a skill to put Little Dragon into a deep sleep. I am going to restart the battle between the two realms.’

After the Dominator spoke, the Demon Realm’s Gate opened once more.

However, the power of the Demon Realm’s Gate had been mostly depleted during its last activation.

Therefore, this time, only a very, very small number of Demon Fiends poured onto the battlefield.

Thanks to the heroic efforts of the humans and mutant beasts, we once again achieved victory in battle.

Then the Dominator said: ’As a reward, I will send you all to a place with no conflict, no fighting, and countless delicacies. But Little Dragon cannot go, because he did not contribute to the second battle between the two realms!’

Following another flash of white light, everyone, myself included, was transported to that place.

The air there was very fresh, without the rotten smell we have here. There was so, so much food; every large tree was laden with all kinds of food, both meat and vegetarian. There were no enemies there, and the space was vast. All life could live wonderfully there!"

Little Dragon listened intently to Wen Yu’s words. Seeing a somewhat vacant look in Wen Yu’s eyes, he couldn’t help but ask, "What you said... I understand... a little. But... why didn’t you... stay... there?"

"Because... all the mutant beasts came looking for me. They asked me to come down and stay with you, saying they were afraid you’d be lonely..."

Little Dragon nodded, only half-understanding.

"That place... is it really... that good?"

"Yes, it’s incredibly wonderful!"

"They’re so unfair! Such a good place, and they didn’t even call me." Little Dragon puffed hot air onto Wen Yu’s neck. Judging by the way he was stomping his feet, he was genuinely quite upset.

After a long while, Little Dragon finally calmed down and said to Wen Yu, "They... will be very... happy, right?"

Wen Yu nodded affirmatively. "They certainly will!"

"Whew! Then I’m... relieved!"

Wen Yu gazed once more at Chaihe Town, now completely restored by the Dominator. After a long moment, he turned and walked into the distance.

Little Dragon, perched on his shoulder, was still muttering nonstop.

The gist of it was that he had protected those mutant beasts for so long, all for nothing, and for such a wonderful thing, they hadn’t even called him. He also kept muttering that when they returned, they absolutely had to bring him some delicious treats!

"By the way, there are no living creatures left in Chaihe Town now. What are you planning to do?"

"Me? I... don’t know. I want... to stay here. But... I’m hungry!"

Wen Yu looked at Little Dragon’s pitiful little gaze and, after a moment, chuckled.

"Come with me. If you follow me, you’ll have friends—many, many friends. And you’ll have food—lots and lots of food!"

"Friends... like that big dog... and you?" Little Dragon blinked his eyes and asked Wen Yu.

Wen Yu nodded.

"And the food..."

Seeing Little Dragon’s somewhat shifty gaze, Wen Yu immediately burst out laughing.

"Plenty!"

"Then I’ll... go with you! You promised... plenty! Pinky swear!"

Wen Yu gently hooked the claw Little Dragon extended and affirmed, "Plenty!"

The power of the contract slowly enveloped Little Dragon’s entire body. Then, a mysterious Soul Connection directly linked the deepest parts of Little Dragon’s and Wen Yu’s souls.

"By the way, you don’t have a name yet, do you?"

"Name? What’s... a name?"

"Hmm, how to put it... It’s just what friends call each other."

"Not yet..."

As Wen Yu and Little Dragon’s figures receded further and further into the distance, a voice originating from Wen Yu slowly drifted back through the air.

"From now on, your name will be Star!"