Chapter 36: The Resurgence

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to explain!"

"You..."

Holy Keisha had always suspected that Aiden was more than just an artificial intelligence. She was deeply interested in him and had tried to talk it out patiently. But before she could finish, an abrupt change occurred.

Ethan, cradled in Angel Yana's arms, suddenly began to glow. Alarmed, Yana pulled open his clothes to see countless handprints emitting a faint light, merging into Ethan's body one by one.

Holy Keisha quickly used her Holy Knowledge Treasury to analyze Ethan's condition.

"Target body detected, absorbing secondary life-form energy!"

"Target body detected, absorbing unknown energy!"

"Target body absorbing secondary life-form energy and unknown energy; cellular strength increasing exponentially. Cellular strength nearing quasi-third generation..."

A look of shock appeared on Keisha's face. This phenomenon defied understanding. No science, no modifications, just a self-detonation leading to enhancement? Not even a super gene!

"Secondary life-form?"

The shock quickly turned to visible killing intent. Raising her hand, her silver wings appeared, ready to strike at Ethan.

For Keisha, if Ethan was indeed a secondary life-form or a void creature, she had to eliminate him on the spot. His very existence would disrupt the order of justice, and she couldn't allow that to happen.

Yana noticed Keisha's movement. She couldn't alter Keisha's will, but she could act.

"Queen Keisha!"

Yana shielded Ethan with her body, her wings a hair's breadth from Keisha's silver wings.

"Yana, you..."

"Queen, why? He hasn't violated justice!"

"Yana, you don't understand!"

"Queen, maybe I don't! But forgive me, if you want to kill him, you'll have to kill me first!"

The air froze instantly.

It was only now that Mikhail and Nicholas reacted.

"Scoundrel, how dare you!"

They roared, rushing to Yana's side, assuming combat stances. Keisha, however, paid them no mind.

...

Aiden had anticipated the current situation, and this result was precisely what he desired. But now, he had no interest in dealing with them because they were coming.

From Aiden's perspective, it was a different scene. Countless figures surrounded Ethan. Invisible to others, Aiden could see them because he was a light quantum lifeform. These figures, mere human outlines flowing with golden light, touched Ethan, merging their remaining light into him. Each merge left a handprint on Ethan.

Watching this, Aiden felt like his eyes had caught dust, wiping away tears with his hands.

"Thank you."

Aiden silently expressed his gratitude. Nova had a legend about soldiers who survived the battlefield. They claimed to have shouldered immense fatigue, immobile and exhausted, only to be revitalized by an inexplicable surge of strength at critical moments, enabling them to fight on. Today, Aiden witnessed this firsthand.

What was a soul? Spirit? Consciousness? Aiden didn't know, but he felt these figures resembled something from Ethan's past life memories: quantum ghosts, or the quantum state of souls.

Initially, Aiden wasn't sure about the cause, but upon seeing the golden light in these figures and their actions, he drew a conclusion. The energy flowing within these figures resembled an unknown substance found in every living organism on Nova. This substance likely converted into energy under the extreme conditions of the planetary nuclear explosion, causing the souls of fallen Novans to intertwine with this energy.

Thus, Aiden saw the formation of quantum state souls. They couldn't remain for long. As they transmitted their light to Ethan, they began to fade away. They were invisible and intangible to others, seemingly affecting only those with the same unknown substance, the people of Nova.

Ethan wasn't the only one affected. Mikhail and Nicholas also had faint glows appearing on their bodies, as did many surviving Novans across shelters and military bases. These quantum ghosts were transmitting their remaining energy to the Novans, expressing their hopes through this act.

"Thank you. We will carry your hopes and live well."

The light lasted for an undetermined time before gradually fading, and the figures vanished.

"Target body energy absorption complete. Target cellular strength confirmed: third-generation super soldier!"

Keisha's Holy Knowledge Treasury ceased its alerts. She retracted her silver wings, her killing intent greatly diminished, replaced by increased wariness and disappointment towards Yana.

Suddenly, the alerts resumed.

"Warning! Target consciousness beginning to revive!"

"Warning! Target mental power surging!"

"Warning! Target brain domain development accelerating! Current development at 25%!"

"Hmm? Is this endless?"

Even Keisha felt mentally exhausted from the continuous alerts, but the Holy Knowledge Treasury persisted.

"Warning! Target brain domain development accelerating! Current development at 30%!"

"Warning! Target brain domain development accelerating! Current development at 35%!"

"Warning! Target consciousness reviving!"

...

Ethan faced the gate of light before him, taking a deep breath.

"I've received your message."

"Goodbye, my compatriots!"

"I will never make the same mistake for the same reason again..."

He stepped into the light.