Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 117 - 094.Jian.Neriya

Chapter 117: 094.Jian.Neriya

All carbon-based life originates from a single cell.

No one knows why such a cell appeared, especially in the primitive dark deep waters. Some mystically inclined superstitionists believe it was intentionally created by some unseen force, but in reality, the greater likelihood is that numerous purine bases were accidentally brought together.

As if from the very beginning, life was full of absurdity, ridicule, and uncertainty.

One day, this lonely cell decided to divide itself into another one of its own.

What was the meaning of this?

People nowadays can hardly imagine what reason could drive a cell, devoid of even a brain, to decide to "split" itself in half to become two.

However, from the moment it decided to divide itself, replicating another being like itself, the originally silent, dark and turbulent ocean would, billions of years later, become bustling and colorful.

Absorb energy, molding, division, replication, absorb energy, molding, division, replication, aggregation, combination, constructing tissues, cell differentiation...

"No... Nomi..."

Amino acids, calcification, bones, muscles, amnion, chorion, oviparity, mammalian, nerves, notochord, myelin, lower jaw, increase of cranial size, differentiation of teeth, binocular vision—

"Nomi!"

Her eyeballs moved, squeezing out the clear secretions, eardrums resonated, mobilized the information stored in the brain, synapses discharged, bioelectricity traveled through nerves, reflexes activated, seeking the brain’s opinion: request to open the eyes.

The brain responded: permission to open the eyes granted.

She slowly opened her eyes, eyelids sticky with tear moisture, and the piercing fluorescent lighting struck her pupils, causing them to contract to adapt.

Pigments sedimented in the iris, reflecting a deep purple color, as the optic nerve resumed normal function.

"Welcome back to consciousness."

Muttering to herself, she slowly lifted her head, the brain working rapidly, scanning mechanically left and right, and her vision immediately captured two humanoid figures.

The target to the left appeared to be a male Homo sapiens, armed, about 185 centimeters tall, with gray eyes, black hair, deathly pale skin almost devoid of wrinkles, and an outward appearance that possessed a strong attraction, noticeable increase in hormonal secretion levels within her own body after sighting.

Retrieve information—target matching the conditions: Li Aozi.

The target to the right appeared to be a female Homo sapiens, about 171 centimeters tall, with red hair and light-colored eyes, grasping her own palm, the target’s emotions high, with tears secreting from the eyes.

Retrieve information—target matching the conditions: Qiu Ran.

"Thank goodness, Nomi, you’re finally back!"

Qiu Ran hugged her, crying ceaselessly and thanking the heavens.

"Nomi?"

A strange, somewhat deep voice sounded, Li Aozi raised his head in bewilderment, eyes looking at her, filled with confusion.

She slowly turned her head, pushing Qiu Ran away with a hand, and in the other’s lighter colored eyes, she saw her own reflection:

Deep purple eyes, silver-gray long hair draping over her shoulders, sharpness inhabiting her brows and eyes, a well-proportioned face, not exactly beautiful, with slightly higher cheekbones than average, giving off a cold, indifferent feeling akin to steel.

"Nomi..."

Qiu Ran said, confused.

"I’m not Nomi, you’ve mistaken me for someone else, comrade."

She spoke and casually covered the undulating mountains of her chest, looking up at Li Aozi, her deep purple eyes conveying a friendly signal:

"Would you please help me find something to cover my body? After all, there are differences between men and women, Mr. Leoz."

Li Aozi frowned, the stranger’s tone, appearance, and voice all seemed bizarre to him.

Mobilizing gravity, he directly fetched a set of patient’s clothes, and while she was changing, something suddenly occurred to him, and he asked:

"Neriya?"

"That’s me, Mr. Leoz."

She threw on the patient’s garb and stood up, just a head shorter than himself, her purple eyes looked at them, her mouth curve upward into a warm and enthusiastic smile, saluted in a military fashion, and said:

"Scout Sergeant Jian Neriya of the ’Thorn’ Guerrilla Team under the Rose Army, thank you both for saving me."

Qiu Ran was stunned, her outstretched hand unsure what to do next, ending up resting on her chest, staring blankly at this unfamiliar, mature, and strikingly gallant Rose Army female warrior.

"You’re... not Nomi?"

"I’m sorry, I am not."

Jian Neriya shook her head.

"Then who are you—Nomi?" Qiu Ran asked anxiously.

Jian Neriya looked at the other with regret and said:

"Neriya is Neriya, Nomi is Nomi. Although we share one body, the same brain, the same set of interests, we are indeed different individuals."

"You mean, you have a split personality?"

Li Aozi glanced at the team information. Besides the original [Constitution] increasing by 11 points, skyrocketing to 30, and her age becoming 19—other than each other, there was nothing abnormal about her panel information. He thought for a moment and suddenly thought of something:

"Do you... know Flova?"

"Of course," Jian Neriya replied readily: "That is the god of Raiding, whom many of us worship."

Li Aozi nodded, but his expression became even stranger.

"What’s the situation, Li Aozi—Nomi, how did she turn into a different person? What happened?"

Biologically speaking, she is Nomi." Li Aozi weighed his words and explained: "Nomi took on the [Plunder] occupation, this group generally possesses the ability to plunder others’ specialties."

"But within the [Plunderers], there’s a particular group that’s exceptional. They worship Flova and commit to handing over half of whatever they plunder, no matter how much it is, to their fellow believers."

"This..." Qiu Ran was puzzled: "But what does this have to do with Nomi?"

Li Aozi didn’t answer directly but looked at Jian Neriya and asked:

"When was Nomi sent to you?"

A few months ago, when I was captured and awakened to Arcane Energy in the Mingji Humanity." Jian said indifferently: "She came along with my Arcane Energy."

"That’s not your Arcane Energy." Li Aozi realized: "That’s Nomi’s Arcane Energy."

Qiu Ran was utterly confused, only finding Jian’s snide tone uncomfortable, and subconsciously squeezed Li Aozi’s shoulder, saying:

"Li Aozi, this woman must be a monster or something, taking possession of Nomi’s body, she harbours evil intentions..."

"I’m sorry."

Jian said coldly:

"Nomi is the newcomer."

"What are you talking about!" Qiu Ran protested: "Nomi is our partner—"

"Enough, Qiu Ran."

Li Aozi pressed Qiu Ran’s shoulder, speaking with a complicated tone:

"What she said... is not wrong."

"Nomi Anderson Guesette, she may have been something taken by other [Plunderers] who are also Flova’s believers and then allocated to Miss Jian Neriya."

"—What does that mean?"

Qiu Ran stared at Li Aozi, raising a hand towards Jian Neriya:

"You mean, Nomi is just a soul residing in her body—a portion that was stolen by others and then distributed?"

"Yes."

Jian Neriya said straightforwardly:

"This body is mine; it just happened to be used by Nomi before."

"Then, where is Nomi?"

Qiu Ran’s lips quivered, her pupils shook violently, and she said incredulously:

"If you’re saying, I mean, Nomi, she—she was given to you as a soul, then, where is the real Nomi?"

Li Aozi opened his mouth and voiced the guess that lay in the depths of her heart:

"She’s long dead."