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A heavy silence settled over the desolate battlefield.
The wavering uncertainty in Orphelia's crimson eyes had faded, replaced by something far deeper— an unfathomable sorrow.
Her snow-white hair billowed in the wind, accentuating the ethereal presence of a tragic spirit, as if she teetered on the brink of tears.
Then, at last, she spoke.
"This is my fate."
Her voice was soft, just as it had been moments before.
"No one can change it."
Even though Fang Li had severed the emblem upon her uniform, Orphelia's fate remained untouched.
"Once fate is set into motion, it cannot be stopped. Even if you defeat me, even if you are stronger than me, a new fate will inevitably take hold of me."
Her words carried a quiet resignation.
"Because I have worth."
The artificially engineered pinnacle of Strega. A creation of undeniable value. If one could mass-produce Strega like Orphelia, what kind of world would be born from it?
A world where everyone possessed abilities as destructive as hers, draining life itself from everything around them— what kind of nightmare would that be?
Yet, such concerns meant little to the Integrated Enterprise Foundation.
For them, profit reigned supreme.
If Orphelia's power could be replicated, the financial windfall would be immeasurable.
But the precise factors that had made her the strongest-ranked Strega remained unknown.
Even now, research on artificially induced Genestellar remains incomplete. Replicating her entirely was still beyond reach.
However, should that knowledge ever come to light, the consequences would shake the world.
Thus, Orphelia's existence alone held immense value.
Her existence as a test subject.
"My fate is to bring change to this world." She spoke with an air of inevitability.
"No matter what happens, my worth will always remain the same. That will never change."
From the moment she became a Genestellar, from the moment she was transformed into the strongest Strega— this had been decided.
It was fate.
"You can destroy my school emblem, but can you destroy Rewolf Black Academy? Can you destroy the Integrated Enterprise Foundation?"
Orphelia's sorrowful gaze lifted to Fang Li.
"If you can't, then how could someone weaker than you possibly resist?"
Perhaps, in the end, this outcome had always been inevitable.
Perhaps Orphelia had never had a choice but to surrender everything.
After all, this world belonged to the Integrated Enterprise Foundation. To stand against them was to stand against the entire world. And could any human truly stand against the world itself?
The answer was obvious.
"This is fate."
With that single sentence, Orphelia laid bare her sorrow, her resignation, her truth.
To the world, Orphelia was the strongest Strega— on the cusp of claiming her third consecutive victory in the 'Festa'.
Yet no one realized that even she had no control over her own destiny.
How could that not be a tragedy?
Thus, she had every right to grieve.
No.
Perhaps sadness was the only thing left to her, the only thing she could carry—an unshakable burden of guilt and sin.
But even that was being denied by the man before her.
"Why?"
Her crimson gaze locked onto Fang Li, just as it had when they first met.
"Why do you have those eyes?"
Perhaps Orphelia was the first to meet Fang Li's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception without succumbing to fear.
And it was not because she was unafraid of death. But because she had already discarded the concept entirely.
She had abandoned the meaning of life itself, surrendering to the flow of fate.
And so, as she peered into the chilling blue glow of Fang Li's eyes— eyes that denied the very essence of life— Orphelia asked just one question.
"Why, in a place where all life has been stripped away, do you remain so calm?"
"Does life truly mean nothing to you?"
For the first time, Fang Li did not respond immediately.
The cold brilliance of his Mystic Eyes did not fade, shimmering as if rejecting the world itself.
Orphelia watched him in silence, the pain in her gaze almost tangible.
Then, at last, he answered.
"I don't misunderstand the meaning of life."
It was a simple truth.
Fang Li understood life's meaning better than most.
Because in the end, all life inevitably leads to death.
For someone who comprehended death so intimately, its opposite— life— was something he had grasped long ago.
In a way, it was precisely because he understood life that he had sought to protect those he had encountered along the way.
Yet...
"Even if I understand its meaning, what does it matter?" Fang Li's voice was eerily calm. "Even knowing how precious it is, I cannot mourn its loss. Because I have long since become accustomed to death."
His words made Orphelia tremble ever so slightly. Then, she lowered her gaze.
"...I see."
Her voice was quiet, almost mournful.
"Then, is that your fate?"
Fang Li's reply was indifferent.
"Perhaps. If fate exists, then mine is to remain detached from death."
With that, he withdrew his Moonlight Dagger, turned on his heel, and began to walk away.
Orphelia could do nothing but watch his retreating figure in silence.
As Fang Li stepped through the ruins and approached the alley's exit, the quiet was finally broken.
"By the way."
He stopped, glancing back as if recalling something insignificant.
Then, he spoke.
"I forgot to tell you. Though the method was different, I, too, am an experimental Genestellar— just like you."
With those parting words, Fang Li turned and left.
Leaving Orphelia frozen in place, utterly stunned.
"He..."
Her thoughts went blank.
That single revelation shook her more than anything else. And by the time she came to her senses, she realized something.
Without thinking, she had begun to chase after him.
In the direction Fang Li had gone.
(End of Chapter)