Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 678: Chapter 560 Variator_1

In the stillness of death, there was only the sound of bones grating against each other beneath the broken shell.

The moment the lamp was lit, frenzied flames flickered to life within the hollow eye sockets.

It was as if a Soul had once again returned from a nightmare.

”Ah, ah, Sun Caster... I beseech... I beseech your mercy...”

A sound like sobbing arose—intermittent, hoarse, and shrill. It was the delirious whispers of a Soul lost in the Abyss.

”I beseech you... to heed our prayers... I beseech... I beseech...”

The choked muttering suddenly ceased.

Accompanied by the grinding of joints, the figure crawling on the ground incredibly turned its head. The frenzied blaze illuminated Huai Shi and the others.

”No... not you...”

It stared fixedly at Huai Shi, as if in disbelief. ”Why... why is it not you...”

For a moment, Huai Shi thought it was going to sing and even hummed a starting note for himself.

But Huai Shi cared little whether it wanted to sing or eat people. He took a step back, hid the Sword of Virtue’s blade behind him, and signaled the Paradise Guard behind him to prepare for an ”Offensive”.

”Sorry, wrong place,” he said, forcing a benign smile as he slowly retreated. ”I’ll just leave now, Old Pal. You continue your sleep. I won’t disturb you. Bye, goodnight...”

BOOM!

Across the chasm of millennia, a torrential flood of rage and resentment swept over them.

”Liar!”

The sharp voice erupted again, resonating like thunder as it roared, ”Liar!!!!”

Above its head, the mass of writhing darkness suddenly convulsed like boiling tar. It expanded rapidly, and innumerable chaotic glints of iron and fragments rained down, striking the ground with piercing clangs.

The shrill sound of shattering steel could not suppress that desperate roar.

”You promised... You clearly promised us...”

What the hell did I promise you? Huai Shi wondered. That I’d come back and marry you after my name was listed on the imperial honor rolls?

Huai Shi stared in astonishment, wondering whether he had owed this big shot from Hell money tens of millions of years ago, or if he had promised to marry his daughter, who remained unwed to this day.

But now, that naked hatred surged towards him.

As if pulled by invisible ropes, the shattered figure slowly rose from the ground. Barely touching the earth with its broken toes, it lifted the ornate Wind Lamp in its hands towards Huai Shi.

A tangible light poured from within, rising and intertwining, forming a bizarre miracle akin to an Alchemy Matrix.

It seemed like some technique formed by combining methods of Alchemy and Source Substance... just like, just like it was... Forging?

Huai Shi began to doubt his own eyes.

That creature was creating something similar to a holy Stigma vessel right before his eyes.

Within that complex structure woven from countless lights above its head!

It was... forging!

Forging a Stigma!

As the countless lights intertwined, a hoarse, frenzied chant began to rise from within, muddled with a cacophony of noises and eerie sounds.

But within it, one title was repeatedly invoked in the rising chorus:

”Variator!”

”Forger, Variator!”

”Master of the Thirteen Hours, Variator!”

”Creator of All Beings Pervading the Earth, the Supreme King of All Change!”

When a strikingly familiar Crown slowly proliferated from its skull, wreathed in light, Huai Shi’s eyes nearly popped out in shock.

It was clearly the same model he had seen on that Skeleton’s head. Even if the details differed, the style was identical!

One could never forget such a distinctive Crown after seeing it just once.

An indescribable conjecture surfaced in Huai Shi’s mind.

—Wait, could it be that this thing is the ’Variator’ mentioned in the hymn?

In that moment of stunned realization, a muffled rumble, like something boiling over, emanated from the darkness above the Caster’s remains. Then, from the writhing, tar-like blackness, a ’familiar’ face slowly emerged.

With the screech of metal, a ferocious visage was forged from the darkness. Writhing with countless sharp, blade-like legs, its elongated body reappeared in Hell.

It was the Steel Centipede Huai Shi had seen before!

Although its size had shrunk considerably, its agility had become shockingly terrifying. In an instant, its massive body, hundreds of meters long, emerged from that writhing blackness and coiled around the Variator.

It was incredibly affectionate, as if greeting its master.

Alright, case closed! Huai Shi realized with a start. So, those monsters were all your doing!

Without needing any command, the Paradise Guard behind Huai Shi uniformly raised their shotguns and pulled the triggers at the monster ahead.

Strike first!

What else could they do?

Now that its minions were out, I certainly didn’t think it planned to introduce its pets to guests who had traveled so far... Besides, the Steel Monsters I’ve seen aren’t limited to just this centipede!

A scorching rain of metal erupted instantly, interrupting the high-pitched, eerie chant.

Then, the Sword Blade in Huai Shi’s hand dispersed, transforming into a heavy Axe.

Bending his knees, he lowered his body and took a step forward.

Like an arrow loosed from a bowstring!

Under the strain of his arches, fascia, and muscles, the primed Yu Step suddenly activated. His figure shot out like a bolt of lightning, charging towards the ’Variator’ who was encircled by the giant centipede!

Behind him, six members of the Guard Team were the first to discard their cumbersome shotguns, drawing heavy weapons and charging right after him.

”Holy!!!”

The giant Rat-men, clad in steel Armor, bellowed. Their Iron Boots pounded the earth, and sparks flew from the friction between their armor plates. They swung Chain Blades and Axe Guns too massive for ordinary men to wield, charging at the enraged Steel Centipede.

Faster than all of them was Huai Shi.

Double Yu Step, accelerate!

The instant he leaped, Huai Shi’s speed surged once more. Ignoring the dull ache in the soles of his feet, he grazed past the centipede’s sharp, blade-like legs, flew past the giant centipede’s mandibles, and then descended from the sky, his Axe of Anger blazing with crimson flames.

He aimed straight at the Variator’s forehead.

Jumping chop!

The Variator remained motionless, as if it hadn’t heard.

The light from the Wind Lamp in its hand shifted, and the tar-like dark substance above its head writhed again. A moth that commanded storm clouds began to emerge, revealing glimpses of scales and claws, but it struggled to fully break free from the tarry restraints.

It seemed to be having a difficult birth, lacking the grandeur of its prime.

It could only extend its enormous scaled wings in the nick of time, blocking the path of the Axe Blade. At the moment of collision, a grating noise erupted.

”Happy freakin’ New Year!” Huai Shi roared.

Triple-fold Drum Thunder!

Immense Power erupted a second time. The burning Axe Blade tore through the steel wings like paper, ripping open a gap. Then, as Huai Shi prepared to strike again, he saw through the opening in the shattered scales that the Variator had already turned, its eyes, burning with a sinister flame, fixed on him.

The Wind Lamp in its hands was raised.

The moth’s iron wings vanished abruptly, replaced by four sharp Spider limbs.

From the sticky tar, they pierced through, aiming to stab!

Huai Shi dodged awkwardly, forced to roll ungracefully within the enclosure formed by the centipede’s blade-like legs. Yet, a sense of relief suddenly washed over me... Although I don’t know why this thing was imprisoned here, there’s no doubt that after so many years under seal, its own Power has weakened to the absolute limit. I can only imagine how terrifying the being once known as the King of Variability must have been in its prime. The entire Town of Dusk was likely created by such beings working in concert. The terrifying monsters still lurking underground, even after tens of millions of years, are proof enough of its Abilities. After that brief exchange, a theory began to form in my mind: The entity itself isn’t overwhelmingly strong; its greatest threat comes from the viscous, tar-like darkness hovering above its head and that strange Wind Lamp in its hand. If I’m right, that huge mass of darkness overhead is some kind of unconventional forge, and the Wind Lamp in the Variator’s hand is the tool to operate and control it. It’s possible... the original Variator was dismantled and its essence preserved across an entire production line, its Power residing within those roaming monsters. With the re-emergence of some control center, its existence was pieced back together, and finally, through that tar-like forge, it was reborn into the world. Whether this thing before me is the former King of Variability... no one can say for sure anymore. Just looking at its crazed state, you can tell something went terribly wrong during its re-creation... Even the most robust data storage would corrupt after such an immense passage of time. The fact that it could be reborn into Hell through repeated forging is proof enough of its terrifying skill. But now, it’s probably weakened to its absolute limit, perhaps unable to even sustain two monsters here simultaneously... Otherwise, it could have summoned that whole horde of monsters. Even if they were all diminished versions, I’d be dead for sure today. Why would it go to all this trouble otherwise?

And just as Huai Shi was repeatedly testing its limits, skillfully dodging back and forth, the roar of an explosion echoed from the periphery—it was the sound of Huai Shi’s Alchemy Bomb detonating.

The scorching wave of air spread with the flames.

After enhancement and customization by the Iron Crystal Throne, the Alchemy Bomb and the Liquid Fuel Wrath of Ramses had been upgraded. They were at least several dozen times more powerful than the versions Huai Shi could casually whip up.

Under the fearless ”Offensive” of the Paradise Guard, the huge centipede’s attention was caught by the first few members leading the charge. Then, something stuck to its body...

Following the spreading, deafening boom, it was actually blasted into two pieces under the force of the impact!

But immediately after, the severed centipede turned from one... into two!

It was just like an earthworm.

The massive centipedes furiously assaulted these overconfident intruders. One of them had already wheeled around and was now hurtling towards the Variator.

Its crimson compound eyes locked onto Huai Shi’s position.

***

”Great Grandmaster, I have a question.”

Meanwhile, in the cab of the truck, Raymond scrutinized the footage transmitted back from the Armor of the Paradise Guard and could not help but ask.

By his side, the projection of the Great Grandmaster stood with arms crossed, closely examining the readings on an instrument. He said nonchalantly, ”Go ahead.”

”Why am I just watching from here?”