Chapter 80: Kanade Tachibana Awakens

The results achieved were undoubtedly outstanding. In just a brief moment, the number of zombies Nightstar had slain was already enough to satisfy the soul power required for the others to awaken. Yet, Nightstar frowned in dissatisfaction. As a wide-range attack that he deeply valued, Starfall’s current power was clearly not what it once was.

Each falling star possessed only this much force; even compared to the power of the sword aura unleashed by the Sword-drawing Technique, it was somewhat inferior. It was worlds apart from the strength Nightstar remembered Night Chen displaying. Perhaps part of it was due to his own injuries and the fact that his powers had yet to recover, but it should not have been to this extent.

“You should be content with what you can do now,” Ruoxing said with a cheerful grin, noticing the faint displeasure on Nightstar’s otherwise calm face. “Don’t forget, the strength you can muster now is at most a tenth of what Night Chen could, and you’re still injured. For a technique that demands so much energy, you should really be glad it’s this effective at all.”

“I know. I’m nowhere near what I used to be, in every way,” Nightstar replied coldly, fully aware of the vast gap between his current power and that of the past—both his and Night Chen’s. He nodded in agreement.

“Alright, cheer up. With us and the system, you’ll recover sooner or later. Didn’t you come out here for the girl below? Hurry and go to her!” Ruoxing gave him a gentle push from behind, her words laced with a smile, before returning to the sword.

Once Ruoxing was gone, Nightstar slowly descended to the ground, coming to rest at the girl’s side. Her father, having been stabbed in the chest, was losing too much blood and was barely conscious. Yet, unable to let go of his daughter, he clung to life. The people who’d attacked them—whose house had collapsed under Nightstar’s earlier assault—had suffered no casualties, but now, without shelter, it was only a matter of time before the approaching zombies descended upon them.

“Big brother, are you a god?” The little girl tilted her head innocently, gazing up at Nightstar. The scene she had just witnessed could only be explained as divine intervention to her still-immature mind.

But Nightstar didn’t hear her question. He was pondering why he had come to save her at all. Hadn’t he always opposed unnecessary acts of kindness, never interfering in matters unrelated to himself? Failing to find a reasonable answer, he could only draw upon his memories with C.C. as an explanation.

Returning from his thoughts, he looked at the pair. The girl’s father was deathly pale, his breathing weak. Coupled with the fatal wound in his chest, Nightstar judged that he was on the brink of death, clinging to life only for his daughter’s sake.

“Please... save... my daughter...” the man managed to gasp out, his words faltering. Seeing Nightstar nod, a final smile crossed his lips before he died.

“Daddy! Daddy! I want to be with Daddy forever! Waaa!” The girl, watching her father’s life slip away before her eyes, crouched helplessly on the ground, her wide eyes brimming with tears as bitter sobs broke forth.

“It’s useless; he’s gone now. If you want to live up to his wishes, follow me.” The girl's tears failed to stir any sympathy in Nightstar; he had always been cold to such things. Other than his own family, little could ever move him.

“I... I understand. I’ll do as you say, big brother.” Alice nodded obediently. The ordeal had forced her to grow strong, almost overnight.

Just as Nightstar was about to take her back to the house where Saya Takagi and the others were, a surge of violent killing intent swept over him. Nightstar cursed inwardly; the effects of the Berserk Curse manifesting at such a moment was hardly ideal. Once he lost all rationality, the danger he posed would far exceed that of any zombie.

Unlike Night Chen, Nightstar had no skill with instruments like the piano, so using music to suppress the curse was impossible. Using murderous intent as a countermeasure would only inflame his bloodlust further. He would have to find another way to keep it in check.

With what little sense he had left, Nightstar seized the girl by the collar and, in a flash, returned her to the house, handing her off to Saya Takagi and the others. The group, still in awe of Nightstar’s miraculous feats, seemed eager to ask questions, but he vanished again before anyone could speak.

Takashi Komuro, Rei Miyamoto, and the rest exchanged puzzled glances. Alice, confused, tugged at Saya Takagi’s sleeve and asked, “Big sister, where did big brother go?”

After losing her father, Nightstar was the only person Alice could trust. Now, thrust into a strange environment filled with unfamiliar faces, she turned to the gentle-looking Saya for reassurance.

“Don’t worry, big brother will come back. What’s your name, little one?” Knowing Nightstar had rescued the girl, Saya was more than willing to look after her. She crouched down and asked gently.

“Alice.” Reassured by Saya’s kind tone, Alice answered without hesitation.

“Then let’s wait together for big brother to return, and after that, we’ll go somewhere else, okay?” After such widespread destruction, Saya knew the commotion would attract more zombies from elsewhere. Even with Nightstar’s formidable might, who could say what side effects his powers might have? So, everyone agreed to pack up and leave as soon as Nightstar returned.

Lacking Night Chen’s peaceful way of dispelling the curse, Nightstar had no choice but to vent his murderous rage. His crimson star-pupils glinted with a bloody light as red energy circled the blade of his sword. He slashed straight ahead, and the distant river bridge, blocked by abandoned vehicles, was instantly cleaved, leaving a chasm dozens of meters wide.

Inside the Twin Fantasy Swords, Ruoxing and Ruocheng watched Nightstar’s rampage through the outside world with concern. After a brief discussion, they decided to use all the soul power they’d just gathered to restore Kanade Tachibana to her perfect state.

A refreshing, invigorating energy flowed into the slumbering Kanade, swiftly knitting her wounds and clearing her mind. Opening her eyes in confusion, she found herself in the starry expanse, facing Ruoxing and Ruocheng.

The system’s rules allowed both of them to appear before her in this place. Kanade stood atop her own star, bewildered by her surroundings and the two unfamiliar faces. Her eyes, full of questions, rested quietly upon Ruoxing and Ruocheng.

They did not waste time in silent staring. Taking turns, they explained the current situation to the slightly awkward Kanade, who soon understood what she needed to do: emerge and sing a song that had recently appeared in her mind.

It sounded simple enough. The kind-hearted Kanade did not know how to refuse a request, so she nodded sweetly and replied, “I understand.”