Chapter 9
2070words
I looked at Sean Shaw, my eyes full of struggle. I couldn't complete this task! I couldn't let him know that I had truly fallen in love with him! I couldn't let him have his way!
I pushed him away forcefully, breaking free from his embrace. I jumped off the bed, putting distance between us.
"I haven't!" I feigned composure, "I haven't fallen in love with you! I was just... I was just deceived by you!"
He looked at me, the light in his eyes gradually extinguishing.
"Deceived?"
"Sophia Winters, do you think everything I did was just to deceive you?"
"Everything I did," he endured the pain in his heart, "was only to... keep you by my side."
I looked at him, a complex emotion welling up in my heart. I didn't know if what he said was true or false. I didn't know whether I should believe him or not. I felt my heart being torn apart by an enormous contradiction.
I felt my heart being torn apart by an enormous contradiction. I didn't know who to believe, whether to trust the system or to trust him.
【Task Prompt: True Love's Kiss Task Progress: 100%】
【Task completed! Reward: Eternal Life!】
The cold system prompt suddenly rang in my mind. I was stunned. 100%? I actually completed the task in this situation? I looked at Sean Shaw, his eyes filled with joy. He reached out his hand, gently caressing my cheek, his fingertips ice-cold.
"Sophia Winters," his fingers trembled slightly, seemingly in disbelief, "you... you really love me now?"
I looked at him, a complex emotion welling up in my heart. I didn't know.
I truly didn't know. I only knew that my life value had reached permanence.
I no longer needed the system, no longer needed tasks. I was free.
I suddenly pushed him away and jumped off the bed. I felt my body as light as a feather, as if all shackles had vanished in this moment.
"I'm free!" I couldn't contain my joy, that was the longing for rebirth.
Sean Shaw looked at me, the joy on his face gradually disappearing, replaced by a cold despair.
"Freedom?" He laughed softly, as if mocking himself, "Sophia Winters, do you really think you are free now?"
I froze. What did he mean by that? My heart suddenly skipped a beat, and an ominous feeling washed over me.
【Warning: Host attempting to break free from control detected, system will initiate ultimate elimination program!】
The system's cold prompt suddenly rang in my mind. My pupils contracted sharply.
Elimination program? Hadn't I already completed the mission? I felt an unprecedented fear instantly engulfing me.
I quickly looked at Sean Shaw, his face ashen, with terrifying anger surging in his eyes.
"Sean, save me!" I cried out hoarsely.
He didn't speak, just rushed over and held me tightly in his arms. His embrace was cold, yet carried a powerful strength that firmly imprisoned me.
I felt my body being pulled by an invisible force, as if it were about to be torn apart. My bones made creaking sounds, and excruciating pain instantly swept through my entire body.
In my mind, the system's cold prompt tone intertwined with Sean Shaw's deep voice, chaotic and noisy.
【Elimination Program Countdown: 10, 9, 8...】
"Don't be afraid." His voice was low and trembling, yet filled with determination, "I'm here."
【7，6，5……】
"Trust me, Sophia Winters!" He held me tighter, as if trying to fold me into his body.
【4，3，2……】
"I will protect you!" Beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, and his face turned pale.
【1……】
The countdown ended. The anticipated elimination did not come. I felt my body lighten as the pulling force instantly disappeared.
I abruptly opened my eyes to find myself still in Sean Shaw's arms. He was holding me tightly, his face somewhat pale, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead, and his breathing somewhat rapid.
"Sean Shaw……" I couldn't stop myself from trembling.
He let go of me, cupped my face in his hands, his eyes filled with concern. Those deep eyes carried the relief of someone who had survived a catastrophe.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
I shook my head, still in shock. I could feel my body still trembling, but a warmth I had never felt before welled up from deep within me.
"System..." I was about to ask, but discovered complete silence in my mind. The System was gone. I was stunned. Had Sean... eliminated it? Could he actually accomplish something like that?
I looked at Sean Shaw, my eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
He could actually eliminate the System? That System which once controlled my life and death was so easily defeated before him. I felt my entire worldview collapse in that moment.
"It won't bother you anymore," Sean Shaw said softly, his voice carrying fatigue—a fatigue filled with traces of what he had sacrificed for me.
I felt a wave of dizziness. I had always believed that the system was omnipotent. I had always thought I could only survive by relying on it. But as it turned out, Sean Shaw could easily destroy it. Just how powerful was he?
"Who... who are you really?" I asked with a trembling voice, filled with awe.
He looked at me, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, something like resignation, yet also like... pride.
"I'm just... someone who wants to protect you," he said softly, his voice full of tenderness and sincerity.
I felt my heart being filled with an immense warmth. Everything he had done was for me.
He had endured so many misunderstandings, so much pain, yet still chose to protect me. He even dared to fight against the system that controlled my life and death, all to give me true freedom.
I hugged him, burying my head against his chest, no longer able to hold back my tears as they streamed down my face. Those tears contained guilt, they contained gratitude, and they also contained... love.
「Sean Shaw……」I choked as I spoke, 「I love you.」
His body stiffened, then he embraced me tightly in return. His embrace was cold, yet carried a powerful strength that held me firmly in place.
「I love you too.」 he said softly, his voice filled with tenderness and joy, a joy that contained the preciousness of something lost and then found.
In that moment, I felt my heart completely filled by him. I no longer needed freedom, no longer needed missions. I only needed him. I only needed this man who would stop at nothing for me.
From that day on, I truly merged into Sean Shaw's world. I was no longer a puppet controlled by the system, nor a golden canary imprisoned by the Ghost King.
I was his lover, his companion. I stood beside him, facing together the darkness and light of this world.
Sean Shaw also became increasingly gentle. He would patiently teach me how to use my special qualities, how to communicate with spirits, and even how to purify those corrupted vengeful spirits.
I discovered that the qualities I possessed were not a curse, but a gift. I could feel the suffering of those vengeful spirits, and even help them find release, allowing them to rest in peace.
Together with Sean Shaw, I traveled to every corner of this world, purifying places that had been corrupted by evil forces.
We encountered many dangers and faced many challenges. Each time, Sean Shaw would be by my side, protecting me closely. He was no longer that domineering and obsessive Ghost King; he had become a gentle guardian, an all-powerful lover.
He would hold my hand, guiding me through various mysterious realms, his palm cold yet strong, giving me a sense of security.
He would create a protective barrier around me, making me feel safe even in the most dangerous places.
When I feel tired, he would hold me in his arms, gently kissing my forehead, a kiss that is cool and tender, bringing me peace.
I've discovered that I'm becoming increasingly dependent on him. My life, my soul, are tightly connected with his.
I am no longer that horror game streamer who relies on a system to sustain my life, but rather someone who can fight alongside Sean Shaw... a medium.
And he is my Ghost King, also my only home. We support each other, grow together, and have become indispensable parts of each other's lives.
My life has been completely transformed by Sean Shaw. I no longer pursue worldly fame and fortune, nor do I obsess over illusory freedom.
I have found true belonging, found true love. Together with him, I protect this world, safeguarding innocent lives.
We have experienced much together, and grown much together. I've discovered that he is not omnipotent. He can be wounded too, he can feel exhausted too.
But he never showed it in front of me, always silently bearing everything until I noticed something was wrong with him.
Until one day, we encountered an unprecedentedly powerful evil force.
That force was stronger than ever before, even Sean Shaw found it challenging, his expression becoming unusually grave.
We were trapped in an ancient ruin, surrounded by countless contaminated vengeful spirits that let out piercing howls as they lunged at us.
Sean Shaw was seriously injured protecting me. His body was swaying, his face pale as paper, with blood seeping from the corner of his lips.
Looking at his pale face, my heart felt like it was being stabbed. The pain was like a knife, piercing deep into my heart.
"Sean Shaw!" I cried out in desperate anguish.
He forced himself to stand, shielding me behind him. That broad back was still my support.
"Don't be afraid," he said with a trembling voice, weak yet full of protection for me. "I won't let anything happen to you."
I felt a powerful force exploding from within my body. It was my spiritual energy which, after Sean Shaw's guidance, had become unprecedentedly powerful. I stretched out my hand, with intense spiritual light concentrating at my fingertips. That light was dazzling and brilliant, illuminating the surrounding darkness.
"I'll help you!" I shouted, my eyes filled with determination.
Sean Shaw looked at me, his eyes full of shock and gratification. He knew that I was no longer the fragile girl who needed his protection. I was someone who could fight alongside him, a true spirit medium.
I stood shoulder to shoulder with Sean Shaw, facing that powerful evil force.
My spiritual energy intertwined with his ghostly aura, forming an impenetrable barrier that firmly protected us within. I could clearly feel my spiritual energy continuously surging forth, purifying the vengeful spirits around us. That powerful force gave me unprecedented confidence.
Those contaminated beings gradually regained clarity under my spiritual power.
They no longer howled, no longer struggled, but with a sense of liberation, transformed into specks of light and dispersed into the air, as if finding peace at last.
Sean Shaw looked at me, his eyes filled with pride and love. He reached out and gently held my hand, his palm cool yet strong, giving me endless strength. He knew I had succeeded. I was not just his lover, but also his... partner. We were each other's most solid support.
Together, we fought against that evil force for three days and three nights. That battle shook heaven and earth, and we exhausted all our power.
Finally, we successfully sealed that force, restoring peace to the world.
We collapsed on the ground, exhausted, and smiled at each other. That smile was filled with the relief of surviving a catastrophe, the joy of victory, and love for each other.
"We did it."
He reached out his hand, gently caressing my cheek, and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Yes."
"We did it."
I leaned against his chest, feeling the cold yet comforting temperature radiating from his body. That temperature was like an invisible barrier, dispelling all my fatigue.
My life became complete because of him. I was no longer that lonely soul; I had a lover, a mission.
Together, we would protect this world, forever.
My story with Sean Shaw continues. We face future challenges together, guarding this hard-won love.
I love him, my Ghost King. And he loves me, his Medium. We will never be apart.
