Chapter 41 – The Mirror's Answer
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A Choice Sealed
Luo Fan's fingers hovered over the fractured mirror. The strange reflection of himself remained still, waiting.
His mind raced through the options.
Absorbing it directly might grant him power instantly, but at what cost? EchoStar's warning rang in his head—this wasn't just another artifact. It was a piece of something much larger.
Binding it slowly meant control, stability—but also uncertainty. How would it change EchoStar?
Leaving it behind? No. That was never an option.
> "Boss, last chance to back out before you do something insanely reckless—oh wait, never mind, you're already reaching for it."
Luo Fan smirked. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing."
> "Oh great, those are definitely famous last words."
Shen Mu muttered, "Just get on with it."
With a steady breath, Luo Fan chose—
Option 2: Bind It Slowly.
As soon as his palm pressed against the floating shards, a surge of cold ran through him. The fragments shivered, vibrating in the air, before flowing into his body like strands of liquid silver.
For a split second, his vision blurred.
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EchoStar's Awakening
A sharp pulse rang through his soul.
Luo Fan's mind was elsewhere—no longer in the temple, but somewhere deeper.
A vast starry void stretched endlessly before him.
And at the center—
A colossal version of EchoStar, its form fragmented, its light flickering.
> "This… This is me?"
Luo Fan turned. EchoStar's voice had changed. It wasn't just the usual sarcastic companion—it sounded deeper, more aware.
"You're remembering."
> "No, not remembering. Unlocking."
The stars pulsed. The fragments of the mirror within him shifted, aligning themselves like the pieces of a forgotten puzzle.
> "Boss. This… this is big. I don't think I was just a 'System.' I was something else before I was broken."
Luo Fan narrowed his eyes. "And now?"
> "Now I'm waking up."
With those words, the starry void shattered—
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Back to Reality
Luo Fan stumbled as the connection severed, his vision snapping back to the temple.
Shen Mu caught his arm. "What happened?"
He exhaled sharply. "EchoStar just—"
> "—got an upgrade, Boss. And damn, does it feel good."
A new interface flickered in the air before him.
[System Upgrade Initiated: EchoStar Fragments Detected]
[Current Integration: 5%]
> "Looks like I can slowly absorb more pieces. The more I integrate, the more of my original abilities—and memories—I get back."
Luo Fan's grip tightened. This changed everything.
"So, what did we just unlock?"
> "Good question. Let's find out."
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EchoStar's New Functions
As the interface settled, new features appeared.
➤ [Fragment Synchronization] – Luo Fan can now track EchoStar's missing pieces across the multiverse.
➤ [Echo of the Lost] – Accesses knowledge and techniques hidden within the fragments.
➤ [???] – Locked. Requires further integration.
Luo Fan's heart pounded. This wasn't just a power boost—this was the key to restoring EchoStar to its full form.
Shen Mu studied him. "You're smiling. That's either a good sign or a very bad one."
Luo Fan chuckled. "Let's just say this was worth the trip."
> "Boss, let me put it this way—" EchoStar's voice practically grinned. "We're so not done yet."
The temple around them groaned as if responding to their discovery.
The real journey had just begun.
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[Chapter End.]