The tranquility of the early morning was shattered by the roar of engines, as the azure car shot down the street like an arrow, blasting through one red light after another, honking merrily along the way.
Bologue, as usual, gripped the steering wheel, transforming into a highway killer, while Palmer, still a bit drowsy, sat in the passenger seat, cheeks a little flushed, emanating the scent of alcohol, and gazed dazedly around, struggling to accept the harsh reality.
"So, what you’re saying is, we’re going through time reversal, and the trigger for this time reversal is Aimou, who somehow got her hands on a Fantasy Species, and there’s the King’s Shield Guard, the Immortal Heart going out of control... Damn! Has this time reversal happened six times already?"
Palmer muttered from the passenger seat, as he recounted, his consciousness gradually cleared up, eventually turning into a scream.
Palmer realized what was going on, he widened his eyes, looking at Bologue driving.
"You crazy bastard! Bologue, what the hell is wrong with you!"
Palmer screamed repeatedly, reaching out to punch Bologue, "I didn’t wrong you, right!"
Bologue ducked his head to avoid Palmer’s fist, the car roared past, "Probably... not."
"Isn’t it! So why do you only remember me when it’s something life-threatening!"
Palmer grabbed Bologue’s shoulder, shaking it vigorously, "You didn’t think of me in the first five time reversals! Why drag me into this one!"
Palmer was about to lose his mind.
From Palmer’s perspective, he’d just been discharged from the Border Sanatorium yesterday, went to the Undying Club to have a drink with Serey, only to find the undead celebrating Aimou’s arrival, ignoring him completely.
He drank alone all night, passed out on the bed, hadn’t slept enough when he was called up.
Palmer’s expression was numb, mimicking Bologue’s earlier words, "Wake up! Palmer! Save the world with me!"
This was just too delightful.
"Why? Is there even a need to ask why?"
Palmer seemed to ask a dumb question, Bologue spared a hand to slap Palmer’s shoulder hard, "We’re partners, after all!"
In the previous five time reversals, Bologue always felt something was missing in their frantic escapes, until Palmer woke up, he felt that emptiness was filled.
Indeed, in times like these, Palmer is needed to lighten the mood, though Palmer himself was quite unwilling.
Palmer couldn’t take it anymore, he was just about to push the car door open when a green light flashed, and Bologue welded the whole door shut.
Palmer was ready to go after Bologue when Bologue pointed to the rearview mirror.
Palmer suspiciously looked into the mirror, and then he saw a familiar figure.
Lebius sat in the back seat, arms crossed, whenever Lebius was silent, a strong oppressive force always surrounded him, solid as a rock.
Next to Lebius was an iron box taken from the warehouse, noticing Palmer’s gaze, Lebius met his eyes expressionlessly.
Palmer started to babble, "Good... Good morning, boss!"
"Now, it’s Supervisor, Lebius will be acting with us."
In actuality, Bologue wanted to say, Palmer, your expression is priceless now, like you just swallowed a lemon whole.
"Based on my last time reversal experience, the Immortal Heart will eventually go out of control... We cannot allow that to happen."
Lebius coldly issued his command.
Palmer was numb, under the gaze of the Supervisor, he felt if he ran away, he’d likely die at Lebius’s hands.
So, he could only grit his teeth and push forward.
Palmer asked, "Just us for such a serious incident?"
Two First Stage Condensers, one Third Stage Negative Power User, even though they’re from the Special Operations Group, elites among elites, Palmer felt they were still overestimating their capability in handling the time axis disorder incident.
Bologue replied, "Pretty much, at least over these time reversals, it’s just us."
Palmer almost choked, completely deflated, he slumped in his seat, eyes a bit dazed.
"Next, you and Palmer will go retrieve Aimou, ensure the Fantasy Species isn’t destroyed, and stop the recurrence of time reversal."
Lebius arranged the next action, "While you act, I’ll head to the Alchemy Workshop to try to hinder the King’s Shield Guards’ assault."
"Keep the whistle signals clear, after handling Aimou, come to merge with me."
Bologue nodded at the rearview mirror, agreeing with Lebius’s plan, with intelligence gained in the prior five time reversals, their actions within the Great Rift would proceed unhindered.
Palmer didn’t react at all, letting them arrange what comes next, laying his head beside the car window, muttering.
"Finished, it’s all finished, am I going to be sent back to the sanatorium after just getting discharged?"
Given the current risk level of this time axis disorder, Palmer felt it’s lucky enough if he survives to be sent to the Border Sanatorium.
Lebius was a bona fide workaholic, no matter how dangerous the task, as long as it’s within his work scope, he’s eager to go, while Bologue is a hardcore undead, even if there’s a sea of blades and flames ahead, he’ll give it a go.
Compared to them, Palmer seemed so out of place, he just wanted to earn some money to live in Opus, Palmer didn’t even consider going back to Wind Source Highlands to take over the family business.
Even such a simple wish couldn’t be granted, Palmer couldn’t figure out if his Blessing was somehow pulling him into this whirlpool of misfortune.
"Snap out of it!" Bologue reached out to shake Palmer, "Act now!"
Palmer just wanted to enjoy the last peace in his life, but Bologue wasn’t giving him even that.
"We’ve delayed awhile at the start, now we need to make up for it on the road, you understand?"
Bologue felt like he was about to crush the gas pedal, the car sped down the street like a phantom.
Palmer’s expression was complex, after thinking it over, his voice turned helpless.
Lebius couldn’t quite grasp their conversation; it sounded like their partner’s secret code.
Ether’s glow appeared in Palmer’s eyes, a light breeze wound around the car, and soon gusts became powerful, like a blurry air dome facing forward, breaking through all barriers.
In his downhearted mood, Palmer found some excitement now, one of his hobbies was racing, reflecting on this, he was relieved that his beloved Leica wasn’t brought along for this deadly mission.
The car’s speed surged, under the rapid speed Lebius was thrown against the seat back by his own inertia, the car let out a jubilant roar, heading straight to the Great Rift.
Lebius steadied his posture, well aware of what would happen next.
Bologue kicked open the car door, Palmer was stunned for a second, couldn’t fathom what Bologue was doing, then Bologue leaned out, touched the ground.
The ground writhed intensely, a jumping ramp rose up. Newest update provided by novelFirｅ.net
Palmer’s face turned pale, he hurriedly searched for the seatbelt under the seat, regretfully it was too late now to find.
The azure arrow shot off the runway, accompanied by gusts of wind and Palmer’s screams, leaping into the Sea of Mist.