Eldritch Horror Theatre

”She’s already...”

Though they hadn’t dared to look directly, the three who hadn’t fled too far had clearly been monitoring the commotion.

As a result, Fu Qian’s prompt was not only heard but deeply understood by everyone; they had no room left to choose for themselves.

Slowly turning back, Jill realized the departed was already gone; her immediate reaction was sheer disbelief.

A clash between two High-Tier Transcendents—one seemingly backed by an even more extraordinary power—had ended in a swift, efficient defeat that left no trace behind.

Just what... was this person here to do? And who exactly was La Nina?

”Yes, it has already returned. But that’s fine—its will is still sheltering us.”

Seeing Jill’s expression, Fu Qian offered a beaming nod, signaling for her not to be overly melancholic.

’Still sheltering?’

Clearly failing to grasp his meaning, Jill couldn’t help but scan their surroundings. The other two did the same.”What is this thing?!”

A few seconds later, an uncontrollable gasp rang out.

”Don’t be sad. This was the last thing it could do for us.”

Seeing that the group had finally noticed, Fu Qian let out a long sigh, his tone thick with emotion.

As if overlaid with a fluorescent filter, the massive ice wall—which just moments ago had exuded the suffocating oppression of the deep sea—now looked distinctly lush and verdant.

It closely resembled the final color tones of the Dragon of Pestilence. In fact, this transformation wasn’t limited to just the ice wall.

Suddenly realizing something, Jill was the first to cover her mouth and nose.

...

The instant-death bar didn’t seem to be receding.

Though he didn’t bother with such meaningless gestures, Fu Qian’s outlook on the situation wasn’t much better.

The ominous premonition he had experienced earlier when testing the aftermath of the Scarlet Angel’s death was now somewhat confirmed.

The scene before him could certainly be considered the residual pollution of the Pestilence Knight, but couldn’t it also be understood as the remnant of the Pestilence Knight itself?

The descended Apocalypse Knights couldn’t be killed. Even if smashed to pieces, they would still merge into this place and continue hastening the arrival of the final moment.

If this was true, then the strategy of searching for Virgo La Nina while killing off the descended Apocalypse Knights one by one to delay that progress would likely fail.

”A plague on the transcendent level?”

Looking at the completely unaffected Sinner Excellency, Jill’s mood, already at rock bottom, plunged into an even deeper trench. Fortunately, the Scholar standing nearby voiced the very question in her heart.

This recently recovered prisoner looked even more haggard now than before. Immediately after asking, he broke into a violent fit of coughing, appearing as frail as a leaf in the wind.

His posture was so contagious that, before the Sinner Excellency could even answer, Jill felt her own throat begin to itch.

”It’s useless.”

Just as she tried her best to suppress the urge, the Scholar turned toward her, shaking his head and forcing a smile.

”It doesn’t rely on breathing at all, cough, cough... it isn’t even transmitted through the skin. Unless you have a way to completely isolate yourself on a transcendent level, cough... your only option is to tough it out... cough...”

Though he spoke with great difficulty, he managed to express his point fully, even earning the approval of another professional.

”A very accurate description. Furthermore, it’s not just nearby; this plague appears to be omnipresent. So, just as the Scholar mentioned, if you have anything that restores your Health Bar, you’d better bring it out and use it right now.”

Fu Qian finally chimed in with his evaluation, even offering a piece of advice.

”Sir, cough, cough... aren’t you afraid?”

These words undoubtedly chilled their hearts. In his desperation, even Li had learned to use honorifics.

Despite being a sports student, even he couldn’t stop himself from coughing while he spoke.

”I’m not. Though its effects are obvious, its tier is still far too inferior compared to the Crimson Frenzy.”

Fu Qian shook his head, bluntly stating the heart-wrenching truth.

”But I don’t have any medical or purifying Items...”

Li’s expression twisted into a grimace upon hearing this, yet he still admitted his predicament.

”I understand. Young people are all like that.”

Fu Qian didn’t look surprised at all.

Eating popsicles and sleeping on cold beds purely relying on the sheer vigor of youth—who hadn’t been young once?

”They might have some. You can consider how to strike a deal.”

Amid his sighs, Fu Qian pointed at Jill and the Scholar.

”How could this happen...”

Li was dumbfounded for a moment, but as he muttered to himself, he instinctively glanced over at them.

”...I do still have some left, but it’s definitely not enough to last very long.”

Meeting his gaze, Jill hesitated for a moment before finally making a decision.

”Can you help us, sir? Cough...”

While generously admitting she had supplies—and simultaneously warning Li not to entertain any irrational thoughts—she decisively chose to seek help from the strongest expert on the scene.

”Sorry, I’m very busy.”

Unfortunately, Fu Qian shook his head almost instantly, showing off the bloodlines on his hand that had grown even more distinct.

...

”So, do you have any suggestions, sir?”

In the silence, it was the Scholar who proved to have the greatest thirst for knowledge, tentatively asking the question.

”I do. My suggestion is not to listen to its suggestion.”

To his pleasant surprise, he actually received an answer. The content of it, however...

Although the Sinner Excellency pointed at the massive ice wall as he spoke, his meaning was easy to grasp—he was not suggesting they abandon their resistance and embrace the Crimson Frenzy as Ann had advised.

”But we have no other choice. If we don’t do this, we’ll die very soon... So, can you confirm there’s genuine danger that will kill us even faster?”

Not only was he refusing to point out a way forward, but he had also casually shot down one of their remaining options. For a moment, even Jill couldn’t help but argue back.

”I’m certain, though not in the way you’re thinking.”

Regrettably, Fu Qian’s response was as despair-inducing as ever.

”I know you don’t believe me, treating it as a last-ditch hope when you have no other options. In truth, I don’t know exactly what you would turn into if you did that, either—but I will kill you, just like I killed it.”

Speaking in a gentle tone, Fu Qian gestured at the omnipresent grayish-green hue.

”Of course, you can flee, you can run, you can try to hide somewhere you think I won’t find you.”

...

”Or, if we help you find La Nina, can you save us?”

Fu Qian’s words provoked a heavy silence, but the human virtue of the will to survive—which he had always admired—once again displayed its brilliance at this moment.

While the group was at a complete loss, Madam Jill, clearly the most experienced in the ways of the jianghu, pondered briefly before tentatively floating an idea.

Although they couldn’t discern any emotion in the Sinner Excellency’s words, there was absolutely no way they could treat them as a joke.

Especially with the ironclad truth laid bare right in front of them: Ann, who had transformed into a High-Tier Transcendent, was executed outright in the blink of an eye.

But if they didn’t do that, did their group have any other options? Yes, they did.

Expecting someone to help for free was indeed impolite, but wasn’t the Sinner Excellency currently looking for someone?

”Theoretically speaking, that causal relationship really does exist.”

Pondering Jill’s suggestion, Fu Qian actually nodded. In the next moment, he activated the Blood Crusade and vanished from the spot.