The fog closed before Livia.

The pale green flame in her lantern gradually sank into the gray-white curtain, like a dead person’s eye slowly closing.

But in another place within the dead zone, the fog was pushed back by a different lantern.

It was an open expanse of land buried deep within the fog, belonging neither to the apartment complex nor resembling any side mission area an ordinary Survivor had ever seen. The ground here was dry and hard, gray-white, as if all life had been drained from it a very long time ago. No trees. No grass. No sound of insects. Even wind did not exist.

Only fog.

And lamplight.

Leng Yan sat on something that resembled a large boulder, one leg crossed over the other, her posture lazy as if this place wasn’t dead land, but a quiet balcony where she was enjoying the scenery.

The lantern was placed beside her.

The flame within wasn’t the pale yellow of John’s, nor the cold pale green of Livia’s. Its light was deep red, very soft, but caused the surrounding fog to automatically part into a wide open space.

Leng Yan propped her chin on one hand, her eyes looking toward the distance.

But there was nothing there except fog.

A moment later, heavy footsteps sounded from behind her.

The fog slowly parted.

A tall figure in armor stepped out from within. The armor was worn, its surface bearing many deep scratches, as if it had endured countless battles. The helmet covered the face completely, leaving only a dark slit where eyes should have been.

Otrix.

He stopped not far from Leng Yan and didn’t immediately speak.

Leng Yan also didn’t turn her head.

She only smiled, her voice lazy as usual.

"You arrived a bit late."

Otrix looked at her.

"I didn’t think you’d be sitting here waiting for me."

"I also didn’t think you’d come looking for me at this time."

"I have a question."

"Then ask."

Otrix was silent for a moment.

Then he said: "Do you have any regrets?"

Leng Yan finally turned her head.

The smile on her face was still soft, even carrying a very familiar hint of teasing. But her gaze was much calmer than when she stood before Rover.

In front of Rover, she resembled an alluring, dangerous woman who liked to use a few ambiguous words to make him uncomfortable.

But here, she resembled someone who had lived too long in the fog, seen too many things die, but had still not forgotten the reason she remained.

"You’re asking about the bet?"

Otrix answered: "Yes."

Leng Yan smiled softly.

"What is there to regret?"

"Lamp-Bearers bet to escape the dead zone." Otrix spoke slowly. "We’ve been trapped here for too long. Every bet is an opportunity to leave this place. But you used yourself as the stake. Once Rover accepts you, you’re no longer someone being pulled out of the dead zone. You become a part of his reward."

Leng Yan didn’t rebut.

Otrix continued: "That’s no different from throwing away your freedom with your own hands."

The fog quietly swirled around the ring of light.

Leng Yan looked into the distance. There was only gray-white there, but her gaze seemed to see something very far away, from a very long time ago.

"Freedom..."

She softly repeated those two words.

A long moment later, she continued: "I once had a chance to obtain it."

Otrix said nothing.

Leng Yan smiled, but this time the smile was no longer teasing as before.

"Back then, I was once a Survivor."

Her voice was very soft.

But in this dead-silent foggy place, each word fell as clearly as if dropping straight to the ground.

"Not an ordinary Survivor. I once had all five Lamp-Bearers bet on me."

Otrix still said nothing.

He knew about this.

But each time he heard it again, he still felt it was something nearly absurd.

A Survivor bet on by all five Lamp-Bearers was equivalent to her once having stood at the highest position among those with potential in the dead zone. If she had continued down that path, she could have left this place, stepped into the higher area, become an existence that countless Survivors would have looked up to.

But she had given it up.

Leng Yan lowered her head to look at the deep red lantern beside her.

"I gave up the identity of Survivor. Gave up the path to leave this place. After that, I turned myself into a Lamp-Bearer with my own hands."

She spoke very calmly. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

As if this had only been a simple choice.

But Otrix knew that choice was anything but simple.

A Survivor wanting to become a Lamp-Bearer wasn’t as easy as simply picking up a lantern. It was a kind of contract, also a kind of curse. Once stepping onto this path, that person would be remembered by the fog, bound by the dead zone, pulled by invisible rules into the role of guide, observer, waiter.

Could wander in the fog.

Could see things others couldn’t.

Could touch part of the secrets.

But also be imprisoned here.

Until finding someone worth betting on.

Or rotting away.

Otrix looked at Leng Yan.

"For Rover?"

Leng Yan didn’t immediately answer.

She stood up from that "boulder," her black hair falling down her back. Her soft figure was covered by the deep red lamplight in a layer of hazy color. She was still as beautiful as ever. Beautiful in a way that could make people forget how dangerous she was.

"I don’t believe in fate."

Leng Yan said.

Otrix slightly tilted his head.

Leng Yan looked into the fog, her voice slower.

"Many people like to use those two words to explain every stupid choice they’ve made. Meeting someone is fate. Losing something is fate. Being swallowed by the fog is also fate. Sounds very convenient."

She laughed.

"But I don’t believe it."

"Then what do you believe?"

"I believe in my own decisions."

Leng Yan turned her head to look at Otrix.

"I chose to stay. I chose to become a Lamp-Bearer. I chose to wait for him. Not because fate told me to, but because I wanted to."

Otrix fell silent.

This answer was very characteristic of Leng Yan.

She wasn’t the type to cry and say she was forced by fate. If she chose a crazy path, it was certainly because she wanted to step onto that path herself.

Leng Yan continued: "Rover will go to places he doesn’t yet understand. The dead zone is only the first cage. Beyond this cage, there are things dirtier, larger, and more ancient waiting for him."

She slightly raised her hand. The deep red lamplight illuminated her slender fingertips.

"He has Nanoe. That woman is very smart. Smart enough that even John was pressed by her into saying more truth than he intended. Rover also has Morie, Selina, Monica, women who are gradually becoming his strength. But it’s still not enough."

Otrix asked: "So you want to become his strength?"

Leng Yan smiled.

"I want to become his blade."

She paused for a moment, then added:

"And when needed, I can also be his shield."

Her voice wasn’t loud.

But in those words there was not a trace of hesitation.

Otrix looked at her.

"Do you truly think he’s worth you doing this much?"

"Worth it."

"Just because he’s Rover?"