In the void, the colossal Giant God sat cross-legged like an enormous mountain, one massive hand rubbing his belly, his face wearing a look of profound distress. His two small-sun-like eyes were fixed on the tiny figure before him, brimming with an expression of eager longing.
Zhang Ruoxi's scalp tingled under that unblinking gaze. Although she knew that the Giant God Race was innately gentle and averse to conflict, facing an existence capable of snuffing out her life at any given moment hardly inspired a sense of security.
She had come here to wait on Yang Kai's instructions, and the wait had stretched to fully half a year. Even now, Yang Kai had yet to make an appearance.
The Giant God had roused from his slumber at some point, wearing the expression of one who had been starved beyond endurance. She understood, of course, that the Giant God Race always looked this famished unless they were eating or sleeping—it was simply their nature, and nothing could be done about it.
But having such an enormous being radiate hunger, rub his belly, and stare directly at you was a kind of invisible pressure that made sitting still feel like perching on a bed of needles.
In the distance, a figure appeared to be hurtling toward them.
Zhang Ruoxi perked up, focusing her gaze in that direction. After a moment she called out in delight, "The Master is here!"
This was addressed to Adah, the Giant God. The creature hadn't yet parsed what this "Master" was supposed to be and continued staring at her.
But a short while later, Adah's expression suddenly brightened with happiness. He turned his head to look in the same direction Zhang Ruoxi had been gazing. He had clearly sensed something too.
Between flickers of movement, Yang Kai materialized out of thin air a short distance from the Giant God. He glanced at Zhang Ruoxi and gave her a slight nod before turning to face Adah with a grin. "Hungry?"
Adah nodded vigorously, over and over. "Hungry!"
Yang Kai said, "Open your mouth!"
Adah obediently complied, opening his maw wide with a bellow of "Ah!" Several refined chess pieces flew into his mouth, and only then did Adah contentedly clamp his jaws shut, crunching away with loud, grinding sounds.
Yang Kai called out, "Adah, I'm going on a long trip. No telling when I'll be back."
Adah squinted his eyes in pleasure as he ate, murmuring a vague, half-intelligible acknowledgment.
"We're friends, aren't we?" Yang Kai pressed.
Adah didn't respond, waiting until he had swallowed the food in his mouth and turned back to stare at Yang Kai expectantly. Only then did Yang Kai ask again, "We're friends!"
"Friends! Friends!" Adah nodded.
"Since we're friends, you'll have to look after my home while I'm away. You can't eat it—if you do, I'll be homeless."
Upon hearing this, Adah furrowed his brow, looking very much put upon.
Yang Kai chuckled. "If you really want to eat it, that's fine—but only after I get back. While I'm gone, you absolutely must not eat it."
Adah nodded happily. "Wait for you to come back, then eat!"
Yang Kai said no more on the matter and casually tossed a few more chess pieces over. The loud crunching sounds resumed.
He turned to gaze once more at the crescent-shaped world and drew a deep breath. Then he waved to Zhang Ruoxi. "Let's go."
Though her heart was heavy with reluctance, though every part of her yearned to go back one more time for a final look, she quelled the desire. If everything went well on this journey, she would naturally be able to return soon and save the Star Boundary. If it didn't, there would be time enough to think of alternatives later—there would always be another chance to see it again.
Although Adah the Giant God had his designs on the Star Boundary, he would not be in any hurry to make his move before the world truly perished, and that would take, at the very least, thousands of years.
Over such a span of time, Yang Kai refused to believe he could not find the World Tree.
And having Adah stationed here actually served another benefit. The might of a member of the Giant God Race was enough to keep lesser opportunists at bay. Even if some powerful expert happened to pass through the area, Adah's presence alone would likely discourage them from approaching. In other words, Yang Kai didn't need to worry too much about the Star Boundary's safety.
Two figures set off together, journeying onward through the void.