Cheng Shi knew all too well what a Concentric Dagger was.
After all, he had once helped his teammate excise so unnecessary personalities. Whether they were primary or secondary personalities hardly mattered — the point was, they were excised...
So the mont Cheng Shi saw 0221 pull out that dagger, he froze, instantly grasping every facet of the man's plan. Then he promptly resud hiding behind Big Cat, hurling barbs from the safety of her shadow.
"What did I tell you, Zangier? When you covet what belongs to others, there's always soone even more unhinged coveting what's yours.
Did you ever imagine that one day, your so-called student would co for you?
Ha, how pathetic. Your mother denied you your rights, your student plots to take your life. Perhaps your madness was ant to bring you closer to Truth, but...
In their eyes, you've gotten a bit too close to Truth — and they'd rather be the one standing there instead."
The verbal blow landed like a sledgehamr, plunging Zangier into total fury. But 0221 had placed far too many restrictions on this body — so many that even Zangier couldn't break free of every shackle in ti. All he could do was thrash in impotent rage, pouring every ounce of his will into wrestling 0221 for final control.
Yet the Concentric Dagger in front of everyone's eyes crept closer and closer to the heart. The grin on 0221's face twisted into sothing increasingly deranged. The scales of victory seed to be tipping in his favor.
And just as 0221 was about to beco the first Player ever to slay a god, Cheng Shi furrowed his brow and spoke again.
"Seriously, Go Lis — what are you waiting for?
Even if the Sin Brood Mother can't speak, could Lady Eternal Sun perhaps shed so light on the situation?"
Hearing this, Big Cat raised an eyebrow and turned her gaze toward the enormous sun blazing within the rift in the Void.
"You know this 'Eternal Sun'?"
Cheng Shi nodded, about to explain, when the colossal sun slowly faded away, leaving only a vast solar phantom in its place. Then Hu Xuan descended with graceful steps, drifting down from the sky as though walking on air.
She was elegant as always — her lithe figure, her serene smile, her featherlight stride — utterly at odds with the blood-soaked carnage that littered the canopy platform.
Her gaze swept across everyone present before she stopped in front of Cheng Shi, looking up at the massive bear with curiosity.
"This Druid... is Bald Uses Rejoice?"
Cheng Shi blinked. "You two have never been matched together?"
"Unfortunately, not yet." Hu Xuan smiled and extended her hand toward Hong Lin. "Hu Xuan. Life Sage."
Her identity was obviously far more than just a Player. Hong Lin was no fool — after seeing Hu Xuan's attitude toward Cheng Shi, she imdiately realized this was likely another Player who had benefited from the Fate Weaver. The only question was why this Birth follower was dressed so much like... a Corruption devotee.
Big Cat frowned slightly. Sensing the situation was finally becoming "manageable," she instantly dropped her bear form, gave Hu Xuan a brief nod of acknowledgnt, and extended her hand for a shake.
But at that very mont, Cheng Shi's reflexes kicked in. He slapped a hand onto Big Cat's shoulder and yanked her stumbling backward.
'Are you insane, girl? You'll shake just anyone's hand? Do you even see who's standing in front of you? A handshake's one thing, but have you thought about whose last na the kid would take?'
Big Cat certainly hadn't thought about that. Startled by Cheng Shi's sudden defensive maneuver, she whipped around with a deadly serious expression toward Hu Xuan, suddenly suspecting the woman was an enemy rather than an ally.
Hu Xuan herself seed montarily taken aback, then fixed Cheng Shi with a peculiar look.
"Cheng Shi, you shouldn't deprive this lady of her right to freely reproduce."
Cheng Shi's face darkened. He eyed the still-extended hand, his eyelid twitching violently. "What — you're actually serious? I'm asking you what the situation is right now, and you co down here to give birth in public?
Can we maybe get our priorities straight?"
'Give birth? She wants to have a baby with who?'
Big Cat's brain short-circuited at the words. But then, seeing Hu Xuan's unfading smile, the Prosperity Agent's hackles imdiately rose.
This Eternal Sun woman actually wanted to have a baby with her?!
How dare she?!
Could she be Zhen Yi in disguise?!!
The thought sent Big Cat's blood rushing to her head. Her outstretched hand clenched into a fist and rocketed forward.
"..."
The swing nearly scared the life out of Cheng Shi. He had no idea why Big Cat had reacted so violently. Luckily the Pointer Warrior's reflexes were sharp enough to grab her in ti — otherwise Hu Xuan would've been punched straight into the abyss.
"Stop! Can you people please get a grip? And what's gotten into you, Hong Lin — what set you off?
Nothing's even happened yet!
And you, Hu Xuan — tell , what is Go Lis waiting for?"
Hu Xuan stared at the bristling Big Cat with a look of mild astonishnt, then seed to think of sothing and barely suppressed a laugh.
"Relax. She's rely waiting for an outco."
"What outco?"
"She's waiting to be born."
"???"
The words had barely landed when events took another unexpected turn nearby.
The Concentric Dagger, gripped in a single hand, had nearly broken through the skin over 0221's chest. Just three more milliters and it would kill Zangier. At that instant, Zangier abruptly abandoned all resistance, letting the blade plunge into his chest. But in the split second before the Concentric Dagger could erase his consciousness, the Grand Scholar of the Creation Alchemy Departnt let out a cold laugh and flung wide the one bloated arm he still controlled — then chose to embrace... Death!
No — more accurately, he chose to embrace Prosperity.
Because in that mont, he made the sa choice Prosperity had made.
Zangier self-destructed!
"No!!!" The distorted, warping voice of 0221 brimd with despair and terror. Watching certain victory crumble to ash right before his eyes — no one could accept such an ending.
Worse still, it was no longer a question of failure. 0221 was about to die. The handful of personalities he had left stood no chance of surviving a Pseudo God's self-detonation at point-blank range!
But at that very mont, Go Lis — who had remained motionless all this while — finally moved!
A barrage of tentacles shot downward from the sky, forming nooses that coiled around 0221's twisted neck, hoisting the enigmatic Truth follower into the air like a dead dog before swiftly dragging him into Go Lis's grudge.
0221 vanished from everyone's sight in an instant — and with him disappeared Hu Xuan, smile still serene, and Cheng Shi, wearing a look of utter bewildernt.
Hong Lin had already thrown her arms wide to shield Cheng Shi the mont she sensed the threat, but those dark, writhing tentacles simply bypassed her and snatched the Clown away. All that lingered was Hu Xuan's parting reassurance.
"Don't worry. It's a good thing."
Hearing the words "good thing" from a Birth follower's lips, Hong Lin couldn't help but feel this so-called good thing might not be all that good. Her expression in that mont was spectacular.
'Let's hope it really is a good thing...'
But regardless of whether Cheng Shi's abduction was good news or bad, at least the imdiate crisis was finally over.
Deprived of its architect, the Experint Ground ground to a complete halt. The grotesque anomalies withered away, desires receded like a tide, and the survivors stood on the only remaining foothold — the canopy platform — exchanging glances before turning their gazes toward the reality that had been twisted nearly beyond recognition around them.
Under the influence of Existence, reality began slowly nding itself. And the mont the original control center materialized, countless streaks of light soared from Mo Li's team, racing toward the ruins still teeming with experintal data.
Hong Lin retreated to Tao Yi's side, scooping up her exhausted best friend and watching the scene with a contemptuous scoff.
"So this is human desire. Truly... endless."
...
Reviews
All reviews (0)