Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

”This is the scene of Almighty Immortal Emperor just before his death. Hmm, I made it especially for him. What do you think?”

Wen Yu forced a smile despite the dizziness in his mind, managing to say, ”Made it, with great precision...”

”Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

The Dominator shook his head and strolled up to the mural, admiring it as if it were a rare treasure.

”That fellow, the Almighty Immortal Emperor, was quite strong. Through all the worlds I’ve traversed, Tongtian is among the strongest life forms. That battle truly left a lasting impression on me.”

The Dominator sighed while adding another layer of seal to the mural.

”In that battle, the Almighty Immortal Emperor burned his soul, burned his blood essence, exhausted the Origin Energy of the Universe of Immortals and Heroes, and shattered his three invaluable artifacts. Sigh, the price was indeed high!”

The Dominator let out a sigh, then raised a finger and smiled at Wen Yu.

”His efforts weren’t in vain; the Almighty Immortal Emperor managed to break off the nails I’ve grown over more than ten years...”

...

Wen Yu harbored no doubts about the Dominator’s words — the Dominator had no need to showcase his power in front of Wen Yu!

Subsequently, the Dominator turned around and beckoned Wen Yu to follow.

As they walked, the Dominator spoke.

”That little guy, Tongtian, I think highly of him. You may not be aware, but as the Sequence Number 1 of the Universe of Immortals and Heroes, his significance to me is different. Actually, every world’s Sequence Number 1 — no, the entire sequence of every world has extraordinary significance. I certainly didn’t establish such an inexplicable sequence standard just for fun!”

”Slightly digressing, the situation in the Universe of Immortals and Heroes then was not quite the same as today’s Earth. The Almighty Immortal Emperor was unrivaled in his era, unlike today’s Tang Haofei, and you, a fellow capable of posing a threat to him.”

”Initially, my attention on him was incredibly intense; for those who are powerful, my tolerance level has always been high — beyond what you can imagine! But later, some incidents happened, leading to the scene you’ve just seen.”

”I revealed the truth to him and gave him a choice. Of course, this truth was not friendly to me, compounded by mistakes in his choices... Thus, the conflict escalated, and ultimately, he even contemplated confronting me directly, hoping to save the Universe of Immortals and Heroes by killing me...”

”Heh heh...”

The Dominator let out a peculiar sound that should count as a sneer, then stopped walking.

”So, my truth, the truth of the apocalypse, do you want to know?”

Wen Yu pondered his words carefully while looking at the Dominator’s silhouette, eventually sneaking out a word: ”Yes...”

Then, the Dominator turned around, beaming at Wen Yu.

”Good choice! Good boy!”

”But...”

The Dominator’s smile slowly faded, replaced by an emerging coldness.

”I’ve shown you so much; shouldn’t you give me something in return? Just like the professionist system, there must be input for results, right?”

Despite it seeming like a question, it wasn’t really one, so Wen Yu nodded.

”Alright, my inquiry is this: can you explain how a Level 5 could reach the Eleventh Floor of the Heavenly Palace?”

...

Silence.

After a while, Wen Yu slowly raised his right hand, pointing at the Almighty Demon Vine within him.

”He brought me here.”

That was all Wen Yu could say...

Yet, the Dominator nodded.

”That’s somewhat of an explanation.”

”Well, for fairness, I’ll disclose something to you as well.”

”Let me tell you a little secret: my system for categorizing artifacts and creatures is based on the soul!”

”For those I’ve categorized under creatures, even if they currently lack a soul, they might acquire one later, like the Faceless... But those categorized under artifacts...”

At this point, the Dominator waved his right hand gently, and Wen Yu felt a powerful force emanating from his hand. In the next moment, the Almighty Demon Vine automatically detached and appeared in the Dominator’s hand!

The Almighty Demon Vine twisted like a snake in the Dominator’s hand but was utterly unable to escape his grasp.

”An artifact can never gather a soul and become a living being!”

”So...”

The Dominator’s right hand held the Almighty Demon Vine, while his left slowly clasped the top of the vine, then forcefully stroked it!

A crackling sound rang out. Wen Yu vaguely heard the wrathful curses of the Almighty Immortal Emperor’s wraith within the vine, and then those sounds slowly faded until they finally fell silent.

He died, again at the hands of the Dominator.

”What’s inside here is merely the wraith left by the Almighty Immortal Emperor. Just like I said earlier, that little guy, the Almighty Immortal Emperor was strong; what he did with this wraith was indeed beyond my expectations. But now, I’ve resolved the hidden danger, no need to thank me.”

Chucking the lifeless Almighty Demon Vine back into Wen Yu’s hands with a grin, the Dominator watched as the vine lay inert like a dead thing.

The spirit-connected Almighty Demon Vine finally responded -- slowly burrowing back into Wen Yu’s hand under his command.

Then the Dominator spoke once more.

”It’s my turn again... This time, I want you to explain the scent of the Universe of Immortals and Heroes indigenous on you, and the aura of the Origin Energy from the Universe of Immortals and Heroes, where did it come from?”

...

”He gave it to me.”

Wen Yu pointed once again at the Almighty Demon Vine on his right hand, then fell silent.

The Dominator smiled, nodding his head, remaining wordless, only gazing into Wen Yu’s eyes.

Until about a minute passed.

”This isn’t good...”

”Casting responsibility onto a dead person, this isn’t good.”

”You know, though I haven’t been on Earth long, from my observation of your species, I’ve gained some insight into human behavior.”

”Like all intelligent species, you humans imprint lies deeply into your bone, with more lies comes less responsibility, this isn’t a good thing.”

”I wager that if I inquire further, you’ll use the wraith of the Almighty Immortal Emperor to stall me, right?”

The Dominator looked at Wen Yu, who remained silent.

”So, your words, I don’t believe a single one!”

At this, the Dominator slowly walked beside Wen Yu.

”Your words might deceive me, but your memory definitely won’t, right?”

”Hence, the Q&A game ends now.”

The Dominator reached out, and Wen Yu felt a colossal force encase his surrounding space, rendering him completely immobile!

The dominating hand moved closer until the Dominator’s right hand gently pressed onto Wen Yu’s head.

”Soul Search!”