Chapter 128: Finina of the Black Hair

The little ice phoenix, Saya, suddenly flapped its wings with some difficulty. It bobbed up and down in the air, failing to settle onto Finina's shoulder.

It did not take the initiative to attack the monsters in this side hall either. Before the monsters in front could even get close, they were torn in two by a sharp flash of sword light.

Although the fighting here appeared calm, the entire inner hall had already become a river of blood. Finina stepped over the blood-soaked floor, walking forward with light, graceful strides.

The corpses of the monsters gradually piled up.

Her cheeks seemed to have grown a shade paler, and the speed of her attacks began to quicken as she ventured deeper into the dim side hall.

Wisps of dark red mist drifted over from the distance, as if driven by some eerie force; they transformed into swirling cyclones, wrapping around her and seeping, little by little, into her body.

Finina seemed oblivious, her lips parted slightly to emit a low, cold laugh.

The slaughter grew ever more rapid. Her long hair danced in the air, its original color slowly fading until it blended into the gloom of the hall.

Time passed, and the dark red mist was completely absorbed into her body. Finina suddenly ceased her movements; there were no more targets left to kill.

She turned around and looked at the little ice phoenix following closely behind. She beckoned with her hand, and though the phoenix chirped in apparent fear, it eventually flew down to land on her arm.

The master it beheld had completely transformed into a stranger with black hair and black eyes.

"Saya... so you are Saya!"

...

Zhao Nan had finished clearing the palace complex on the left, obtaining two Spirit-Calling Orbs, and was quickly retracing his steps. He had agreed to meet Finina at the entrance of the main hall, so he hurried off, riding Osiris.

However, upon reaching the entrance of the main hall, he did not see Finina.

Zhao Nan felt a sudden sense of unease, then shook his head and smiled. As a mage whose skills were mostly area-of-effect, he was naturally faster than Finina; it was normal for him to finish earlier.

With this thought, he patted Osiris on the head, preparing to fly toward the right wing of the palace. He figured he could locate her through the party channel, but a playful impulse struck him—he wanted to surprise her.

The special environment of the Palace of Chuchen was monotonous and dull, and Finina’s mood had already been dampened by the little girl's departure. Perhaps this would bring a smile to her face.

Just then, a scream drifted out from the main hall—a sound of agonizing despair. Zhao Nan was puzzled and couldn't help but push the door open to take a look. He saw the passageway of the main hall littered with monster corpses.

These bodies were dismembered, clearly slashed apart by a sharp weapon.

Zhao Nan muttered to himself, guessing this was Finina's handiwork. But since they had agreed to wait for each other, and given Finina's personality, she wouldn't normally take the initiative to push ahead. Had she encountered something unusual?

"Finina, where are you?"

"Nan, I’m upstairs. Come quickly! I’ve almost finished cleaning up the place!"

The voice sounded no different, yet it carried a palpable longing to see him.

Zhao Nan shook his head with a smile. "You certainly worked hard."

"Mmm... because these monsters were just too annoying, blocking your path. Watch me kill them all—hurry over here!"

The voice was soft and carried a cloying sweetness. Zhao Nan scratched his head, feeling that something was slightly off.

He patted Osiris’s head, and dragon and rider moved forward along the path of monster corpses.

Judging by the appearance of the corpses, these monsters were not weak. Assuming the number of monsters in the left and right halls was equal, for Finina to have cleared the right side and then come here to slaughter her way up—the speed was terrifying.

The screams grew louder as he climbed several floors, and Zhao Nan could feel Finina's presence... yet, this aura felt somewhat unfamiliar.

"Strange..."

The sensation grew stronger, as if she were right ahead. Osiris suddenly lowered its head and growled; Zhao Nan paid it no mind, preoccupied with the strange yet familiar sensation in his heart.

A flash of light erupted ahead. At the corner, Zhao Nan saw a slender figure flickering through the monster swarm like a ghost; whenever her long sword struck, a monster fell to the ground.

"So she used the Pandora Transformation. That explains it."

Zhao Nan shook his head. The Pandora Transformation tripled Finina’s attack and defense, so such speed was expected. However, this transformation consumed a massive amount of mana, and it seemed unnecessary for monsters of this caliber.

At this moment, Finina was completely encased in armor, including her head. Seeming to sense Zhao Nan's arrival, she tilted her head slightly, and her sword shone even more brilliantly.

She unleashed an area-of-effect skill, instantly finishing off the surrounding monsters.

She sheathed her sword and leapt forcefully toward Zhao Nan. Landing before him, she reached out and pulled him close. The Pandora Transformation faded, and she leaned in, kissing him.

Zhao Nan was stunned; Finina seemed overly passionate. But as he came to his senses, he found himself staring into a pair of eyes as black as the abyss.

"I finally get to see you..."

As he watched Finina, who had buried her head in his chest after the kiss and was clutching him tightly with both hands, Zhao Nan asked with a strange expression, "Your hair..."

Finina lifted her head, smiled suddenly, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and murmured, "Do you like it?"

Zhao Nan frowned. This was the face he was most familiar with.

At that moment, Finina reached out and gently stroked Zhao Nan’s brow. "Nan, please don't be troubled, okay? It makes me sad to see you like this."

"But you..."

Finina pressed her head against him again and whispered, "Don't worry, she is still here, and she will return to your side soon... So, for this time, don't ask me why. Just let me stay by your side."

...

Black hair, black eyes.

This was the current Finina.

Beyond that, Zhao Nan could find no reason to deny that the woman before him was not the person he loved. Faced with her strange request, Zhao Nan remained silent for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Perhaps some change had occurred within Finina, or perhaps there were other things he didn't know.

But the bond between them remained, and while that connection now held a trace of unfamiliarity, it was still clear.

"You're so good to me."

Finina kissed him passionately again, her tongue exploring his mouth with unprecedented intensity and fervor.

After a long while, they separated. Zhao Nan let out a breath; despite his misgivings, he kept his face calm and asked, "How many Spirit-Calling Orbs have you found?"

Finina hid her hands behind her back and laughed softly. "Guess."

Zhao Nan feigned distress. "I could never guess what’s on your mind."

Finina pouted playfully. "Kiss me, and I’ll tell you."

...

"All right."

Zhao Nan did not hesitate. The feeling in his heart couldn't be wrong; this was definitely Finina.

After he kissed her cheek, Finina revealed a satisfied smile. She brought her hands out from behind her back and, like a child showing off a treasure, said, "Look, I found four!"

Zhao Nan exclaimed in surprise, "I have three... it seems we don't need to waste any more time on these monsters. The master of the Palace of Chuchen must be on the top floor of the main hall. Let's go."

Finina gave a sweet smile, reached out to take Zhao Nan’s arm, and led the way. "Let's head out then."

Zhao Nan thought to himself that Finina's change might be related to entering the Palace of Chuchen. Perhaps once they left this place, things would become clearer.

The two walked closely side-by-side toward the top floor. Strangely, they did not encounter a single monster along the way.

Zhao Nan activated "Listening Wind," and he could hear the breathing of many monsters nearby. Yet, these breaths seemed to be forcefully suppressed, as if the creatures didn't dare to even breathe loudly.

They seemed to be afraid of something.

What could it be?

Even Osiris and the little ice phoenix following behind were keeping their distance. Zhao Nan could sense the unease emanating from Osiris.

All of this was because of the person beside him.

Because of this black-haired Finina?

The path ahead felt dark as an abyss, unsettling.

...

"By the way, after we get out, how about we look around here for that little girl?" Zhao Nan suddenly suggested.

"Ye Anya?" Finina lowered her head and bit her lip before whispering, "Mmm, wherever you go, I go."

Zhao Nan felt even more confused. This was something that had happened before Finina changed. This meant her memories were still intact; it was only her personality that had shifted slightly.

She used to be gentle and quiet, like a white lotus.

Now, she was as passionate as fire and much more lively.

"As long as you're happy," Zhao Nan said noncommittally, then pointed ahead. "We're here."

A unique vermilion door stood at the end of the corridor. Along the corridor were massive windows every few meters, from which the entire Palace of Chuchen could be seen.

Zhao Nan glanced out the window; the palace remained unchanged, everything as it was.

However, in the corner of his eye, a snow-white figure seemed to flicker past below. When he looked again, he realized it was just a piece of white silk fluttering in the wind within the palace complex.

"Nan, what’s wrong?" Finina asked curiously.

Zhao Nan shook his head. "My eyes were playing tricks on me... let's go in."

Finina smiled lightly, let go of the arm she hadn't released the entire way, trotted forward, and pushed the door open. She turned back playfully, her white teeth gleaming like pearls, and laughed, "Welcome!"