Wang Yue and Chen Fan sat side by side, their fingers loosely interlaced in a comfortable silence. Chen Fan picked up a piece of cake and held it near Wang Yue's lips. She didn't move, her gaze fixed on the sweet treat with an unreadable expression. "It's quite delicious," he said gently. "Try it."
Wang Yue turned to look at him, and after a moment of stillness, she slowly parted her lips and allowed him to feed her. The taste wasn't anything particularly new—just another cake, really—yet for reasons she couldn't explain, it felt more delightful than usual.
Her eyes widened when she saw Chen Fan casually take a bite of the very same cake she had just tasted. The realization made a faint flush rise to her cheeks, a tinge of embarrassment blooming within her.
"You like it?" Chen Fan asked with a soft smile. She lowered her head slightly and gave a small nod in response. Without missing a beat, he moved to press another piece of cake to her lips, encouraging her to take another bite.
"I-I can eat it myself," she murmured, hesitant. But the thought of sharing the same piece again clouded her mind, rendering her momentarily speechless.
"Open your mouth," Chen Fan said, this time with a firmer tone, and gently pushed the cake toward her parted lips. As she took the bite, her lips brushed against his fingers, sending a small jolt through her body.
He repeated this playful gesture several times, and although her embarrassment remained, Wang Yue gradually found herself enjoying the moment. There was a quiet joy in the intimacy, and she slowly became accustomed to it.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Sir Chen," a voice broke the spell. A knight had approached them just as Chen Fan was once again offering her another bite. Startled, Wang Yue jerked slightly and quickly looked down, her posture turning stiff. She had almost forgotten—they were still outside.
Does that mean... they saw everything we did?
Her face turned a deep shade of red as the realization struck. She didn't dare meet the knight's gaze, especially when his tone betrayed the awkwardness of what he must have witnessed.
"What is it?" Chen Fan asked, unfazed, casually finishing the cake. One of his hands still held Wang Yue's gently, as if their shared moment hadn't been interrupted at all. Watching her puffed cheeks as she ate, her shy expressions, the way she tried to compose herself—it all amused him to no end, and he found himself oddly addicted to feeding her.
"The king has summoned you, Sir," the knight said respectfully.
Chen Fan fell silent. A summons from the king could only mean something of importance had arisen. Without another word, he decided to go and see what it was about.
"Then I'll see you later," he said, finally releasing her hand. He gave her a light pat on the head, finding it endearing that she still wouldn't meet his eyes.
Wang Yue remained in place, a strange sense of emptiness blooming the moment his hand left hers. She slowly clenched her fingers, trying to hold on to the warmth he'd left behind. Her thoughts raced, still tangled in the whirlwind of what had just transpired.
Are we… lovers now?
The idea filled her heart with a quiet joy and an inexplicable sense of peace. A smile tugged at her lips as she sat there, unmoving. Even long after Chen Fan had left, Wang Yue lingered in that moment, basking in the afterglow of a tenderness she never expected.
---
"There's nothing abnormal… she's merely asleep," Chen Fan said quietly, his magic eye glowing faintly as he examined Celestia's still form lying peacefully on the bed. He had been told she collapsed in her office earlier this morning, discovered by attendants who rushed her here in concern. Yet, looking at her now, there were no visible signs of fatigue, illness, or poisoning. Her complexion was serene, almost radiant, as if she were simply resting after a long day. The only irregularity Chen Fan could detect was the faint trace of an unfamiliar, mysterious energy gently coursing through her body—a presence that was subtle yet distinct. He reported this observation to the King and Queen.
The royal couple stood in quiet vigil at their daughter's bedside. The King remained stoic, his gaze inscrutable, while the Queen's worry was written plainly across her face—lips pressed into a thin line, hands clasped tightly, trembling ever so slightly.
"May I speak with you in private?" the King asked, turning toward Chen Fan without taking his eyes off Celestia.
Noting the calm yet weighty demeanor in the King's voice, Chen Fan nodded in agreement. They quietly exited the chamber, leaving the Queen behind, and made their way to the palace gardens—a tranquil place away from prying ears.
Amidst the soft rustling of leaves and the faint scent of blooming flowers, the King spoke again. "Have you ever heard of the World Ego?"
Chen Fan's expression shifted slightly, surprise flickering in his eyes. "I have some knowledge of it," he replied cautiously, his curiosity piqued. "But not in detail. Why do you ask?"
The King fell silent for a moment, his gaze lifting to the horizon as if he were recalling distant memories. Then he spoke. "Eighteen years ago, the world itself sensed a cataclysmic threat approaching—one capable of total annihilation. In response, it acted out of instinct… and gave birth to a consciousness. A World Ego."
"Eighteen years ago?" Chen Fan murmured, confused. He activated his enchanted earring, seeking records of any calamity from that time—but there were none. Nothing listed in the archives, no mention of disaster or conflict around that period.
"The Demon King," the King answered before Chen Fan could voice his confusion aloud, as though reading his mind.
"But… didn't the Demon King appear only five years ago?" Chen Fan asked, his brow furrowing deeper.
"Yes… and no," the King said gravely. "The entity that we now call the Demon King only began its active invasion five years ago, yes. But that is merely its vessel. The true body—its real form—has been moving behind the scenes for far longer. We don't know when it first set its gaze on this world. But the moment it did… the world reacted."
A silence settled between them, heavy and charged. Chen Fan felt the weight of the revelation settling over him like a shroud.
"So the World Ego was created to fight the Demon King," he said slowly. "But if that's the case… then it failed. The Demon King is still here."
The King's voice turned grim. "The Demon King is not just a tyrant. It is a devourer… a being capable of consuming the World Ego itself."
"World Eater…" a solemn voice echoed in Chen Fan's mind—Ao Xue's voice.
Chen Fan tensed. "You know of it?" he asked inwardly.
"It is a creature that grows stronger by feeding on entire worlds," Ao Xue explained, her voice quiet but firm. "Not just the land, but the very life and essence of the planet. Its inhabitants, its energy, its soul—it leaves nothing behind but ash and silence. If this is truly what you face, then we've underestimated this world's danger."
Chen Fan's heart tightened as he listened. Even among the monstrous threats he had encountered, this was on another level. Greater than the Blood King.
The King continued, his voice low and steady. "Right now, the Goddess is engaged in battle with its true form in a different plane. The vessel—the body that walks our world—is our only hope of severing its hold. If we can destroy it, the Goddess may have a chance to end the true Demon King. That is the message she sent us. Only a few high-ranking members of the kingdoms and the church know this truth."
He paused, then added, "And the World Ego that was being devoured… fled. It found refuge in the body of a newborn child—an infant born exactly eighteen years ago."
Chen Fan's breath caught, his mind racing as pieces fell into place. Celestia's collapse. The strange energy within her. The timeline. The King's guarded words.
"You've realized it, haven't you?" the King said, turning toward Chen Fan. "Yes. The World Ego's essence now resides within Celestia."
Chen Fan's eyes widened. The implications were staggering.
"We don't know whether it can fully awaken," the King admitted. "Whether the seed it left behind can bloom into a complete planetary consciousness… we simply have no precedent. We've scoured countless ancient documents, unearthed forgotten texts—but none mention anything like this. So all we can do is watch and wait. But now… it seems the seed has begun to stir. Which means the Demon King will feel it too. And he will come for her. More aggressively than ever before."
The silence that followed was deafening. Chen Fan's mind reeled, the truth almost too vast to fully grasp.
"There is a way to send you back to your world," the King said, his voice quieter now, gentler. "But it requires immense energy and precise alignment. It's not something we can do easily… only after the Demon King is defeated. However—if the World Seed matures within her… it might become possible to open the passage immediately. The instructions for such a method are contained within that earring you carry. You should be able to use it, should the time come."
Chen Fan stood still, his thoughts storming.
"Why… are you telling me this?" he finally asked, voice low.
The King turned to face him fully. His expression was composed, but the sorrow in his eyes could not be hidden.
"Because I'm entrusting her to you," he said, each word heavy with meaning. "I ask you to stay with her. Protect her. No matter what happens. And if… if the situation turns beyond salvation…"
He paused. A long silence.
Then, with a trembling breath, the King bowed his head deeply. His next words were barely above a whisper, but Chen Fan felt their weight echo in his bones.
"…If the worst should come… and the Demon King stands on the brink of devouring everything, including her… then please—please kill her."