Eldritch Horror Theatre

Fu Qian was never one for blind optimism.

If things went entirely south, he stood a high chance of confronting an ancient Divine Entity.

And its goal would undoubtedly be to control him and bleed his SAN Value dry.

For a situation like this, the Pseudo-God Incarnation was undoubtedly an extremely effective item.

The only problem was its limited duration, which turned deciding when to use it into a difficult puzzle.

Fortunately, Fu Qian excelled at difficult puzzles and had settled on the answer early on: the exact moment of contact.

While the Indigo Witch’s words sounded reasonable, this was absolutely not a matter of saving a trump card for the critical moment.

Even though he had successfully advanced to Tier 2 after fusing the traits, a massive gap still existed between him and an unscathed ancient Divine Entity.

Fu Qian naturally knew the figure before him was merely a projection, but the problem was that there was simply no way to predict when she would become real.

In a close-quarters confrontation, if he didn’t use it immediately, he would likely never get another chance.”Heh, are you trying to anger me by deliberately using such words?”

Despite his remark about adding time, the Indigo Witch didn’t look angry in the slightest.

Of course, the chuckle she started with held absolutely no joy, either.

”I never expected a higher entity who has lived for god knows how many years to be so lively.”

She repeated Fu Qian’s earlier words.

”Your words and actions are contradictory once again. You know full well that emotions are mostly an act for me, yet you still think my judgment will be clouded by mockery like those who perished at your hands?”

”Though you are indeed very good at it.”

...

”You flatter me. I’ve just been visiting some messy places recently and picked up a little contamination, that’s all.”

Faced with the Indigo Witch’s critique, Fu Qian made no effort to hide how honored he felt.

This was the recognition of a Deity, after all, and she had no motive to flatter him. It carried genuine weight.

To show his gratitude, he deliberately embraced that same contradictory logic during his acceptance speech—treating his phenomenal mockery skills as a supreme honor while simultaneously writing them off as contamination.

”You don’t seem to cherish this precious remaining time. I am sure you have many questions, yet you haven’t asked a single one.”

The Indigo Witch fell silent for a moment, making no comment on Fu Qian’s remark as she directly changed the subject.

”This is unlike your usual style.”

It seemed she had caught on after all.

A moment ago, Fu Qian hadn’t been entirely sure if his veiled thanks had gotten through, but this sudden change of topic made him realize she was hearing the melody and grasping the intent. She clearly felt their exchange on that front was complete, making further discussion unnecessary.

”I didn’t ask because you’re going to tell me.”

Thoroughly satisfied, Fu Qian didn’t beat around the bush when answering her.

”So I can answer your question right now.”

”I know exactly why you’re here.”

”Theoretically, we aren’t exactly friends, so there’s no need to catch up. With the situation completely under your control, you could have simply waited until the moment of your Descent to appear before me and strike immediately.”

”But you couldn’t wait and showed up early.”

”One of your goals was likely to stop me from continuing my earlier attempts, easing the pressure of keeping the situation under control, right?”

”Yes, though the pressure wasn’t actually that high.”

The Indigo Witch listened attentively, then slowly shook her head.

”However, in my original estimates, I truly thought you would do everything in your power to drag them all into this.”

”From your perspective, this would undoubtedly be advantageous, as it would maximize your chances of avoiding this conversation entirely.”

”Yet it seems you only wanted to test my reaction to confirm your own predicament, and after that, you practically abandoned the attempt.”

”Is there a specific reason for that?”

”That’s simple. Because I’m looking forward to this conversation too.”

Fu Qian magnanimously answered the question within her question, though his response was clearly a bit shocking.

”You were right. I am a very curious person.”

The next moment, he pointed at his own head.

”And just as I said, I have a very clear understanding of the nature of this conversation.”

”Aside from restricting my movements, your other reason for appearing here is to satisfy my curiosity.”

”Because you calculated that this would minimize my will to resist, cutting the time needed for your upcoming operation to the absolute minimum.”

Fu Qian stared directly into those eyes without avoiding her gaze.

”Unemotional characters often have much more predictable behavioral logic because they don’t do pointless things.”

”In short, you will definitely tell me everything you can to make me realize how hopeless the situation is.”

Fu Qian smiled, looking for all the world like he was courting death.

”Therefore, I have absolutely no need to ask.”

...

”I must admit, even after witnessing the many Miracles you created earlier, your performance right now remains astonishing.”

The Indigo Witch even applauded as she spoke.

”You truly are one of a kind.”

”Unfortunately, the more you act like this, the more it proves the necessity of doing things this way today. You have absolutely no idea what you’re doing.”

”I’m flattered.”

Fu Qian replied modestly, firmly adopting the posture of a listener.

”First, your concerns are completely justified. Everything before your eyes right now has already slipped far beyond the control of the entity behind you.”

Living up to her title as a higher entity, the Indigo Witch cut straight to the point.

”The Red Moon is no different.”

She then pointed at the sky outside.

”The Red Moon has been frantically searching for you since just now. It is obvious it placed high hopes on you.”

”What a pity that the stage you so cleverly selected for yourself is a bit too complicated for it.”

”Even with the item in your possession, it isn’t enough for it to lock onto this place.”

She was, of course, referring to the Favor in Fu Qian’s hand.

”Of course, there is one thing that might make you feel a bit better—even if it located this place, it would already be meaningless.”

”Not everything can be solved through frantic destruction.”

”In short, there is no method left for you to claim that reward.”

”Including the Sublimation currently on you, which is destined not to be retained, regardless of how much you did for it.”

As she uttered the word ’Sublimation,’ the Indigo Witch’s face showed obvious disgust.

”The final outcome is set. The only variable is how much of a price I will have to pay for it.”

”Sublimation, huh? That is a very accurate description.”

Fu Qian listened attentively before lowering his head in deep thought.

Two seconds later, the brilliant colors swirling throughout the room froze without warning, instantly converging onto Fu Qian.

Despite being formless and immaterial, they seemed to carry the crushing gravity of a planet, firmly suppressing the one they surrounded.

”Don’t be nervous. I’m just adding some time.”

Yet even so, it couldn’t stop the swelling expansion beneath that Yellow Robe.

Nor the victim’s words.