Legend of the Embroiderer

Chapter 481 The Choice in the Labyrinth of Memories

The guardian finds himself in a memory space filled with mist, where floating fragments of memory refract light and shadow like shattered mirrors.

Each fragment tells a different story of the past. Some depict the first observers solemnly swearing an oath to protect the universe under the starry sky, while others show the cruel scene of the Chaos Infant wantonly destroying planets.

An old and mysterious aura permeated the air, as if it were a secret sealed away for countless years.

He reached out to touch a fragment, but the moment his fingertips touched it, the fragment vanished into starlight, and at the same time, an image flashed through his mind:

The fusion entity knelt on the cracked altar, tears streaming down its face, clutching half a stone slab tightly in its hand.

Just as he was immersed in this sudden scene, the space suddenly trembled violently, and the mist surged wildly as if stirred by an invisible hand.

The runes of the "Eye of Destiny" within the enormous pupil spun faster and faster, emitting a red light that danced like flames, illuminating the surroundings in a crimson glow.

Dark purple mist seeped from the spatial rift, and wherever it went, fragments of memory began to twist and turn black, emitting a sizzling corrosive sound.

The guardian gripped the Chaos Lightsaber tightly. The moment the black mist swirling around the blade came into contact with the dark purple mist, it erupted with blinding sparks, and a pungent, burnt smell filled the air.

"So you've been involved all along."

The voice of the black-robed fusion entity came from the depths of the fragments, as cold as ancient ice, carrying a chilling pressure.

As the sound rang out, the mist slowly dissipated, and she stepped out, surrounded by a faint purple halo. The light emanating from the stone slab in her hand illuminated the surroundings, creating a flickering effect. Her face was cold and unfamiliar, and her eyes revealed a hint of madness and determination.

"The First Observer used our bloodline to set a trap, and the Chaos Infant was merely the bait he released."

Before the words were even finished, the black-robed fusion entity swung its arm, and countless fragments of memory transformed into sharp blades, flying towards the guardian.

The surface of these fragments was filled with chaotic energy, and they emitted a sharp whistling sound when they cut through the air, as if countless vengeful ghosts were howling in one's ears.

The guardian rolled to the side to dodge, the shards flying past his armor and leaving charred marks on the metal surface. Wisps of smoke were still rising from the punctured parts of the armor.

He tried to cleave the fragments with the Chaos Lightsaber, but found that the lightsaber absorbed some of its power the moment it touched the fragments, and the light on the blade dimmed a bit.

At the critical moment, the Guardian suddenly remembered the figure of the black-robed fusion body that flashed by when the first Observer split the bloodline in his memory.

A thought struck him, and he channeled the remaining runic light from his armor into the Chaos Light Sword, shouting, "We share the same bloodline, what is there to be our enemy!"

With a roar, he unleashed a light sword strike, and within a beam of silver, black, and azure light, the ancient totem of the Observer's bloodline faintly emerged, radiating a sacred and majestic aura.

The light collided with the fragments of memory, creating a violent explosion. The deafening roar and shockwave, like a surging sea, forced the black-robed fusion body back several steps. She staggered to regain her balance, her hair disheveled, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

After regaining his footing, the black-robed fusion entity curled a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, his eyes full of disdain: "You think you can break fate with this little bit of power?"

She placed her hands on the stone slab, and the light emanating from it instantly dyed the entire space purple, with black lightning crackling and flashing within the purple light.

The guardian felt the power of his bloodline begin to stir uncontrollably. Black lines spread rapidly from his palms to his neck, each step accompanied by a pain like ants gnawing at him.

Even more terrifying, in the real world, the Chaos Infant, holding aloft the dark purple core of the fused entity and half a stone slab, is accelerating the collapse of the castle. A vortex composed of countless planets infected by chaos has begun to devour the surrounding star systems. Stars in the star systems are twisting and exploding in the vortex, emitting dazzling light.

Just as the guardian was about to be devoured by the power of the memory space, the crystal ball fragment in his arms suddenly became hot, burning his skin.

The fused being's faint consciousness traveled through the fragments: "Don't believe her... There's still something hidden inside my body..."

The sound stopped abruptly, but the guardian felt a warm current flow into his body, and the restlessness in his bloodline miraculously calmed down for a moment.

Taking advantage of the moment, he channeled his power, plunging the Chaos Light Sword into the ground beneath his feet. Silver-black light spread like a spiderweb, resonating with the "Eye of Destiny" rune. The rune shone brightly, the entire space began to shake violently, and the enormous pupils suddenly contracted. The black-robed fusion's expression changed drastically: "You dare..."

Before she could finish speaking, the guardian had already rushed forward following the light, his lightsaber aimed straight for the stone slab in her hand.

His eyes were firm and resolute, and every step he took carried the air of someone who was determined to burn his bridges.

Just as the sword blade was about to touch the stone slab, the black-robed fusion suddenly vanished, replaced by the figure of the Chaos Infant. The Chaos Infant laughed loudly:

"The curse of the Observer's bloodline is a knot you can never untie!"

He waved his arm, and the spaces of reality and memory began to overlap. The guardian saw the fused body being completely eroded by the dark purple core. The last bit of clarity in her eyes was about to disappear, and tears mixed with blood slid down her cheeks, with a helpless smile still on her lips.

At the critical moment, the golden butterfly, transformed from the sister of the first observer, suddenly flew out from the gaps in the Guardian's armor. The butterfly's wings shimmered with golden light, like flowing sunlight.

They formed a golden barrier, blocking the attack of the Chaos Infant.

The phantom of the first observer appeared above the Golden Butterfly Barrier, his face weary yet resolute:

"The key to the bloodline curse... lies in the deepest part of the spacetime rift..."

As the phantoms dissipated, the golden butterflies shattered, turning into specks of starlight that drifted slowly through the air.

The guardian knew this was his last chance. He gritted his teeth, mustered all his strength, and rushed toward the rift in the memory space. The rift echoed with howling winds, as if beckoning him, or perhaps warning him of the dangers ahead.

The moment he burst through the crack, he found himself back in the castle hall.

The hall was now completely unrecognizable. The star map on the ground was spinning wildly, making a buzzing sound, and a chain made of twelve silver keys tightly bound the fused entity.

The fused body struggled helplessly within the chains, each struggle causing the chains to tighten even further, and blood dripped down the chains.

The Chaos Infant stood in the center of the star map, the half stone tablet in its hand slowly approaching the stone tablet in the hand of the black-robed fusion body. As the stone tablet approached, the surrounding space began to distort and deform, producing black cracks.

The guardian roared and swung his sword at the chains. The blade collided with the chains, unleashing a dazzling light and a piercing metallic clang.

But every time a chain is severed, a new dark purple chain grows from the ground, its surface covered with spikes and emitting an eerie purple light.

Worse still, the Guardian felt the bloodline curse within him begin to backfire. Black lines had already crept onto his face, his power was rapidly draining away, his steps became unsteady, and his breathing became increasingly rapid.

But the laughter of the Chaos Infant grew increasingly maniacal: "The end of the observer has come! When the two slabs are joined together, the entire universe will become a prison of chaos!"

Suddenly, the fused being opened her eyes, a glimmer of clarity flashing within them. With her last ounce of strength, she shouted a single word to the guardian: "Run!"

Her voice was weak but firm, filled with endless reluctance and longing.

Before the words were finished, the two stone slabs finally merged into one, and the light that burst forth illuminated the entire universe. The light contained a powerful chaotic force, and wherever it went, everything was being devoured and destroyed.

In the instant the guardian was swallowed by the light, he saw the scene at the deepest part of the space-time rift.

There stood a massive altar, covered in ancient and mysterious runes. In the center lay another portion of the First Observer's bloodline, and upon it, a sword inscribed with mysterious runes was inserted. At the hilt of the sword was a gem identical to the mark on his palm, radiating a mysterious and powerful light, as if awaiting his arrival.