Eldritch Horror Theatre

In an instant, Kelsen had made his choice.

A Long’s final attack had clearly been a desperate struggle for survival. He had hoped that when his opponent dodged the actual threat, a gap would open in the cage surrounding him.

But Kelsen, a demigod with vast combat experience, took the blow head-on without batting an eye. He offered no openings, crushing his opponent to death on the spot.

With Kelsen’s declaration of slaughter, A Long’s body fell apart, bursting and dissolving into the void.

As the lightning subsided, all that remained in his place was a scattering of shattered ice crystals, the largest no bigger than a fingernail.

At a glance, they looked just like the shattered remains of a Soul Butterfly, but Fu Qian could sense that their Rank was far higher.

Their purity was even comparable to the traits he had acquired previously.

It was a pity Kelsen’s hunting methods were so brutal, leaving the spoils so heavily fragmented.

The finest pieces dissipated into nothingness in the blink of an eye.

”I only need this piece as proof for my return.”The dark glow around old Kelsen receded. He stepped forward, picked up the only fingernail-sized fragment, and spoke.

”Mister Lu truly kept his promise. You may dispose of the rest as you please.”

It was clear that Kelsen had never viewed A Long as a threat. His only wariness had been directed at Fu Qian.

To his relief, the other man had simply sat there and watched the show. This warranted at least a small gesture of courtesy.

Only a small gesture, of course. He had no intention of turning this enemy into a friend.

He knew enough about the Night Watchers’ stance on the Origin Council.

Furthermore, despite the man’s unhinged demeanor throughout the journey, he undeniably harbored some scheme regarding the Wasteland—and Kelsen had clearly impacted that scheme.

”Everyone has the right to choose and bear their destiny.”

Fu Qian finally spoke. His tone held no disappointment; in fact, he sounded as if he were smiling.

”And there is no greater joy than sitting back and watching that unfold. There is no need for such politeness, Excellency Kelsen.”

’This guy’s scheme couldn’t possibly involve looking for a cure for his own insanity, could it?’

Hearing the man’s seemingly genuine amusement, even Kelsen, having just secured a major victory, struggled to keep his composure. Grumbling inwardly, he gave a curt nod and left.

...

”A fascinating entity. It is a pity that for me, this thing seems far harder to utilize.”

After watching the demigod Kelsen return in triumph, Fu Qian retracted his gaze, looked at the scattered fragments on the ground, and muttered to himself.

The next moment, his Left Hand slowly stretched out, extending all the way until it hovered over the fragments. His slender fingers moved nimbly.

He did not pick the fragments up, but instead quickly nudged them around.

In mere seconds, he had pieced together all the slightly larger fragments.

There was no fusion effect, nor did their rate of dissipation decrease at all. They even began to emit a bizarre chill, but that did not matter.

Fu Qian studied the pattern formed by the pieced-together shards. It was a regular geometric shape—exactly like the one on the Soul Butterfly.

’Is this the essence of the covenant?’

Fu Qian felt that this trip had already yielded tremendous rewards.

”How does it feel?”

The next moment, he ignored the fragments and turned to look at Sunny.

Ever since she cried out alongside A Long, she had not made another sound.

The same was true now.

Clearly, she showed no reaction to Fu Qian’s words.

”Contestant Sunny, so is this your final choice? Are you sure you won’t change it?”

Clicking his tongue, Fu Qian offered a highly professional follow-up question.

”Want to think it over a bit more?”

...

Facts proved that the dread of weighing gains against losses was something even a suspected flesh puppet could not withstand.

After about five seconds of quiet staring, Ms. Sunny’s breathing shifted, taking on an unusual rhythm.

Her dull eyes subsequently swiveled to look at him.

”Congratulations!”

Fu Qian sounded as if he could hardly resist breaking into applause.

”Making it this far was certainly not easy!”

”How did you know...”

Ms. Sunny forced the words out with great difficulty.

’How could I not know? The mission hasn’t failed yet.’

Snorting inwardly, Fu Qian pointed outside.

”Compared to that question, I think you should be much more concerned with how to make it to the end. The blessing isn’t over yet.”

”Are you truly willing to help me—so how do I make it to the end?”

Ms. Sunny was incredibly fast when it came to readily accepting good advice, abandoning her curiosity right then and there.

”Don’t be nervous. You are only one step away from final success. Why don’t we first talk about your mental journey this time?”

Fu Qian used a gentle tone, signaling for her not to rush.

”If there is anything you wish to know, please ask...”

Clearly having realized her own predicament, Sunny behaved in a very straightforward manner.

A few seconds later, however, when no question came, her breathing grew somewhat rapid as she replayed their recent exchange.

”Yes. This body in front of you is indeed a puppet, but the one controlling that puppet is also me.”

Taking a deep breath the next moment, she finally spoke at a slow pace.

”Excellent. I believe we’ve finally reached the start of a truly honest conversation.”

Fu Qian finally looked slightly satisfied.

”I imagine this has something to do with your forgotten first experience entering the blessing?”

”I apologize for lying about that. I have always remembered that experience vividly.”

Sunny nodded.

”But please believe me, I didn’t hide it intentionally. I just thought it was better the fewer people who knew.”

”I will help keep it a secret.”

Fu Qian tossed out the promise as easily as eating beans. Unfortunately, Sunny clearly lacked the courage to question its authenticity. Lowering her head, she spoke quietly.

”It is actually very simple. Back then, I was the only one who entered the blessing. I saw the Soul Butterfly and stared directly at its wings... And because I was completely alone, there was no one to help stop me...”

”In the end, I grabbed all three Umbilical Cords in my hands. And then, the entity you called A Long appeared.”

”I completely remember how it felt at the time. I watched with my own eyes as I turned into a walking corpse. I could command it to do anything with my will, but no matter what, I could not go back...”

”But you also gained a lot.”

”Indeed.”

Sunny gave a bitter smile.

”A lot of things appeared in my mind—methods of slaughter, bizarre abilities. My favorite among them was the ability to walk in front of others and still remain difficult to detect. By using it, I could even make myself look exactly the same as before.”

”And the ways to strengthen them.”

Fu Qian added at just the right moment.

”You are right... and the ways to grow stronger.”

Staring at Fu Qian in disbelief, Sunny nodded after a long while.

”It is even very simple. I just have to continue harvesting the fundamental self of others.”

”Perhaps for many people, this is something they dream of. But I could not do it.”

”Not only could you not do it, but you even stopped others from having the chance to do so.”

Fu Qian smiled, his tone gentle.

”This was your true goal all along. You did everything in your power to prevent anyone else from ending up like you, grabbing all three of their own Umbilical Cords.”