The Eldritch Files

Amidst the cheers of countless people, King Buddha was also beaming, his eyes narrowing into a thin line. With a slight pulse of his Spiritual Power, he helped Night Lamp, Red Windbreaker, and Green Hat to their feet and said with a smile,

”You three must be the Investigators who have developed the three current Sequences to the highest degree, correct? It’s just that qualifications for Independent Investigators are hard to come by these days. Otherwise, with your abilities, you would have been eligible for the assessment long ago.”

”As it happens, I also know a little about the three Sequences. Shall I take this opportunity to give you a few suggestions for adjustment?”

...

Hearing Mr. Buddha’s words, the three Investigators, despite being quite advanced in years, couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement typically reserved for the young.

The other Investigators and Executors were even more so. They all surged forward, quickly forming a solid defensive line along the edge of Qinggang.

With an Independent Investigator by their side, what problem couldn’t be solved?

Besides, if they performed well now, they might just be noticed by him and recruited into the Swastika Studio.

...

...

”The Four Heavenly Kings of Qinggang are an anomaly. Only they are qualified to stop the Abyssal Studio’s City Slaughter Sacrifice...”

Meanwhile, in Qinggang City Center, Han Su and Song Chushi walked side by side. Through the writhing shadows at their feet, they saw that the Four Heavenly Kings had all gone to confront the Abyssal Studio’s City Slaughter Priests, as well as the strange entities invading Qinggang from every direction.

Even Song Chushi remarked with some emotion, ”The Abyssal Studio’s four City Slaughter Priests are infamous out in the wilds. Their origins are mysterious, and they serve only the Abyssal Studio and the Twelfth Altar.”

”An ordinary city would be no match for them at all.”

”A single one of them can completely destroy a city. But Qinggang, with its Four Heavenly Kings, is different.”

”Although they were born of coincidence, it is precisely this coincidence that granted them the power of Crimson. Therefore, they are anomalies themselves—variables that can’t be measured by conventional strength. It won’t be easy for the Abyssal Studio to eliminate them.”

...

”I, on the other hand, find this a bit strange,”

Han Su said. ”Being protected inside the city by the Qinggang Disaster Management Bureau is a good thing, of course, but I’m still waiting for the Abyssal Studio to come...”

”Then it’s up to us.”

Song Chushi also found the situation interesting. He glanced up at the night sky and said, ”The Abyssal Studio wants to descend into reality, but Qinggang is rejecting their descent. So, these people will either have to capture you or enter the city and forcibly establish an anchor to reality.”

”I can also make it descend. But it will be in a place of our choosing.”

”This type of laboratory utilized knowledge from the ’Abyssal’ from the moment of its creation. It exists in a state between presence and absence, capable of traversing hidden spaces. And I intend to strip it of that ability.”

”We will surround it, and even use Qinggang to imprison it!”

”However, once I do this, you will be in extreme danger. Are you sure you’re prepared?”

...

Han Su followed his gaze. In Qinggang City Center stood an extremely tall building, with only its top floor lit.

Now, around that lit floor, the air was hazy, and shadows flickered past from time to time.

That was the Abyssal Studio’s former anchor point.

However, that was a dominant anchor point over all of Qinggang. If they were to descend there, they could advance or retreat as they pleased.

Song Chushi, however, wanted it to descend somewhere else in Qinggang, making it easier to trap the studio within the city.

He had once been involved in designing the Disaster Management Bureau’s reality observation points, so he knew which location was suitable.

The abandoned D7 Experimental Base that Li Moxi had chosen before was an excellent choice.

It was like a game of Go.

Both paths led to an entry into reality, but whether it was a move that led to life or to death, whether they surrounded Qinggang or were surrounded by it, all depended on where they landed.

”Then let’s begin!”

Han Su took a deep breath as well. ”I am certain of one thing—the Abyssal Studio’s operation tonight is doomed to fail!”

’The Abyssal Studio mistaking me for the Heir of copper was a misjudgment. And for her to believe she was the cause of the Seven Days of Divine Descent’s failure was an even more obvious error.’

’Therefore, the Abyssal Studio’s failure is a foregone conclusion,’ Han Su thought. ’But I must still gather as much intelligence as possible from this encounter.’

As he thought this, he slowly raised his head and silently recited the Copper Spell.

Copper-colored blood began to seep from the black briefcase, and a thick fog started to descend around him.

Within the thick fog, a tall Copper Armor Statue with serpentine eyes flashing red slowly walked toward him down the empty highway.

The silhouette of a massive Ghost Truck also loomed in and out of view within the fog.

Beside him, Song Chushi couldn’t hide his astonishment. He glanced at the bizarre truck in the fog, its massive trailer swaying and its headlights blinking like a pair of winking eyes.

’In his eyes, Han Su seemed even more mysterious. But this undoubtedly confirmed that he truly didn’t need to worry about him.’

”Good.”

Exhaling softly, Song Chushi walked toward the intersection ahead.

As his Spiritual Power activated, everything around him began to tremble. Ripples appeared in the very air, resonating with his power.

He had already laid down Ciphertext Arrays in various parts of the city while he was picking up Han Su and traveling to other locations to acquire mysterious samples related to the City Slaughter Sacrifice.

Now, as his Spiritual Power caused a resonance, the Ciphertext Arrays hidden in the city’s corners activated, vibrating in harmony with the depths of space.

”Mr. Song Chushi...”

Han Su said, watching Song Chushi’s retreating back as if he had just remembered something, ”Actually, I have a question for you...”

He paused slightly, then said with concentration, ”Someone gave me a Spell a while ago. It supposedly comes from a port that is deeply plagued by a Mysterious Power from the sea. The fishermen there often chant it for a safe voyage when they set out.”

”The Spell is, ’I am as the Gods, and I bestow this decree.’ You’ve traveled far and wide and have seen much. I was wondering if you’ve ever heard of it?”

...

”’The Gods bestow a decree?’”

Song Chushi stopped in his tracks. He spun around and looked at Han Su with a bizarre expression.

He didn’t answer for a long, long time. At first, his face showed extreme confusion and bewilderment.

But soon, that expression was replaced by one of deep contemplation.

Meeting Han Su’s earnest gaze, Song Chushi didn’t ask any questions. Instead, after a moment of silence, he answered directly, ”That comes from the historical records of a civilization discovered in a hidden ruin in the Red Water Jungle of the Southern Continent. It’s said to be related to the forgotten Emperor.”

Han Su silently committed this to memory and said, ”Thank you.”

Song Chushi said no more. He slowly walked out of the fog toward the intersection, his figure growing somewhat indistinct.

”My god...”

An excited voice resounded from inside his briefcase. ”Why would he know that Spell?”

”This kid isn’t being straight with us! Saying it’s some Fishing Song that fishermen chant when they go to sea... who the hell does he think he’s fooling?”

”What kind of fisherman would chant a Fishing Song like that?”

...

’That excuse was a bit careless...’

Song Chushi began to speak slowly, his expression filled with unconcealed doubt. ”But how could he possibly know that Spell?”

”Could it be that he...”

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. When he reached the middle of the chosen intersection, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

’He really has been trying to save my sister this whole time?’

...

Even the monster in the briefcase couldn’t fathom how Song Chushi had arrived at that conclusion through his own logic.

To it, the human way of thinking was sometimes truly bizarre.

But this inexplicable guess suddenly enveloped the two of them in a strange atmosphere, and they both fell silent for a long time.

’Things are getting interesting...’

It was unclear what decision Song Chushi had made, but while his face held a smile, his eyes turned cold and severe.

One hand slowly rose, palm up, toward the night sky.

All around them, the streetlights grew brighter, and countless parked cars began to blare their alarms as if of their own accord.

The countless Ciphertext Arrays he had just laid throughout the city, guided by his Spiritual Power, began to make space itself vibrate. Faintly, it seemed as if they were connecting to a structure somewhere in the void—a building that flickered in and out of sight, its very existence uncertain.

”A ten-year lie, submerged in a pleasant dream...”

Song Chushi made a grasping motion with his open palm, as if seizing something intangible. His gaze hardened as he spoke in a low voice, ”Today, it is time for your shamelessness and greed to be revealed to all...”