Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 744: Chapter 603 Helios_2

Huai Shi stared blankly for quite a while before finally reacting.

”Right, so after the fall of the gods, it was able to continue existing. From its very nature, you can consider it to be a cosmic Space Station operating in the orbits of the Solar System, soaring through the cold universe. Every seventy-one years, it intersects with Earth’s orbit, allowing Alchemists to pay a visit.

Although this vast spatial scale isn’t meaningful, it indeed gained tremendous Power by imitating the orbit of the sun, and it wouldn’t be too much to call it the incarnation of the sun.

It was a war weapon created by the Olympus Gods to counter the threat of Hell, said to be a superweapon that could destroy an entire continental plate with a single strike! Impressive, huh?”

”It sounds... unreal. Would the Astronomical Society even allow something like that to exist?”

”Of course not. But well, it was damaged by some mischievous passerby long before the Astronomical Society was established—no, even before the gods met their demise. Therefore, outsiders are never up to any good, no matter how enthusiastic they appear. If those fellows had kept their guard up a bit, it wouldn’t have ended up in this state...”

Huai Shi couldn’t make heads or tails of the last part of the sentence, but it wasn’t the first time Tong Ji had spoken to herself like this. Huai Shi just treated it as part of Olympus’s dark history.

”So you’re saying that Helios is currently in a damaged state?”

”More than ninety percent of its functions are gone.”

Tong Ji shrugged. ”Therefore, Helios’s innate instinct chose to self-repair. But unfortunately, Hephaestus no longer exists, so it had to resort to involving others... which is why the invitations exist.

Using its own orbit, during each approach to the sun, it mass-produces a huge number of semi-finished products and scatters them towards the Current Circumstances and Hell, generating a large number of invitations.”

”Any Alchemist with the ambition to set foot on Helios can work on the invitation, infusing their own smelted marvel into the blank artifact—just like continuing one’s creation on a half-finished painting. As long as one can reach a perfect rating, Helios will deem them a guest worthy of invitation, granting them the credentials to board Helios.”

”And then what?”

”Then they take on repair work,” Tong Ji said with indifference. ”They’re just looking for someone to come fix the plumbing. Were you expecting to be invited for tea? However, for any Alchemist, having the opportunity to directly interact with the creations of the gods is already an exceptional chance, let alone being able to participate in it. If you can finish the work within the month when the orbits intersect, then you can leave with a gift.

If not, ha, you just have to keep at it until your portion is complete... But, once the vehicle overshoots the stop, it’s not that easy to get off, you understand?”

Huai Shi swallowed hard.

Just think about it: an Alchemist carried by a merciless chariot, traveling through the cold universe. The vast darkness and despair cut off everything. And the Current Circumstances, beyond the distant astronomical scales... Waiting for a reunion after seventy years.

”In my opinion, some Alchemists probably hope to stay a bit longer.”

Tong Ji shrugged. ”Some reach their station but don’t want to get off, deliberately staying there. Over time, due to their research on Helios, they formed a group within, known as the Helios Workshop. However, only Helios itself can truly represent the Helios Workshop.”

”So... after all these years, has there been any progress with the repairs?”

”Maybe around thirty percent?”

Tong Ji said nonchalantly, ”Materials are rare. Sometimes Helios’s own projections are like taxis working all over Hell, so it’s not strange to come across them.”

”Now that you’ve mentioned it, the grandiosity seems to have deflated a lot...”

”Anyway, this is your opportunity.”

Tong Ji’s words made Huai Shi’s heart skip a beat. ”You’ve been accepting their gifts for such a long time, you’re probably on the list already, right?”

”I’m going up there to fix plumbing?” Huai Shi’s eyes widened.

”What’s there to fear? With the skills of a Forger, a year from now at the orbital convergence of Helios, are you still worried you can’t handle it?” Tong Ji glanced at him. ”Besides, there’s a whole year left. Who knows, maybe you’ll reach the Fifth Stage by then!”

”Don’t talk as if reaching the Fifth Stage is as easy as eating or drinking! I’m only at the Third Stage!” Huai Shi’s eyes widened. ”And you even forcefully pushed me up a stage before, burdening me with an entire extra level’s worth of experience requirements compared to others!”

”Relax. Once the Great Priestess experiences a breakthrough, the Soloist’s Sky’s Command grows swiftly. As for the Great Priestess... you’ve killed countless in Hell, exterminated an entire Hell’s worth of lifeforms—how much Correction Value have you received? Just convert it through the Mystic Ritual, and you can skip straight from the early or middle phase to the later phase. Once the materials for advancement are almost ready, you can consider advancing to the Fourth Stage.”

After counting on her fingers, Tong Ji patted Huai Shi’s shoulder with pride. ”Look how thoroughly your big sister has planned for you!”

”Yes, thoroughly indeed. From initiation to burial, all arranged clear and distinct.”

Huai Shi rolled his eyes.

Tong Ji leaned in, smiling, ”Are you angry?”

Huai Shi looked away and leaned back.

”Lean any further and you’ll fall over.”

”I’m in a horse stance.”

Huai Shi, annoyed, held his breath and squeezed out words through clenched teeth.

Tong Ji’s laughter became even more delighted.

”Alright, it’s about time for me... I’ll go back first.” She reached out, pulling Huai Shi up from the ground, ”You’re a teacher now, no need to be so childish.”

Huai Shi sighed, waved his hand, signaling her to leave quickly.

But Tong Ji remained, observing his expression, then suddenly said, ”There’s one more thing I haven’t told you...”

”Hmm?” Huai Shi didn’t understand.

Then he saw her reach out her hand, and with lightning speed, before Huai Shi could react, she vigorously ruffled his hair, her smile bright and dazzling.

”You’ve grown, Huai Shi,” she said. ”Congratulations.”

Huai Shi stood there, dumbfounded.

”Well then, goodbye.”

Winking at the Contractor before her, she turned and left, her figure disappearing into the air.

Soon, the frozen time resumed its flow.

It seemed as if everyone had forgotten the Phantom that had disappeared, nor did they notice the ten minutes they had lost, only seeing Huai Shi standing there thoughtfully, his gaze fixed in another direction, silent and without a word.

”Teacher?”

Lin Nineteen looked at the contemplative Huai Shi with confusion, reminding him gently, ”Are you okay?”

”Ah, sorry, just spaced out for a moment.”

Huai Shi came back to his senses, smiling at them, ”Just remembered something happy.”

In silence, Yuan Yuan watched such a smile and felt an unreasonable heartache.

Meanwhile, Usually Degree still stood quietly in the corner, his hunched body stiff, already drenched in sweat, completely unaware of what had just happened...

But he felt sharp pains shooting through his eyes.

As if, for a moment, the cruel sun had descended upon this place, ruthlessly tormenting those eyes that had peeked at too many wonders.

Leaving deep, sun-like scars in his pupils.

Without even providing a reason for fear, it just coldly delivered punishment.

Telling him.

”You shall bow your head.”