Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 1035: Chapter 801: Long Time No See

One week later, outside the observation room of the newly constructed technology laboratory at the edge of the mountains in Tanbo District.

Scholars and alchemists from various places sat in front of screens, staring wide-eyed at the scene inside the observation room. Professor Anton, specially sent as technical guidance, picked up the walkie-talkie in his hand: "You may begin, Mr. Huai Shi."

In the empty space of the observation room, Huai Shi raised his hand and temporarily removed the monitoring of the Existence Institute. The flesh on his right arm rapidly displayed a steel texture, complex mechanisms unfolded, revealing a flame light entwined with a blood-red glow.

— Forge Furnace, activate.

In his hand, the heavy iron ore quickly revealed streaks of crimson, and under monitoring, the temperature inside the observation room began to rise rapidly.

It seemed as if an invisible fire was fiercely burning within.

Amidst the cover of his five fingers, the fist-sized iron ore made a fine sound, the reddened color faded instantly, and the surface of the complete ore was already riddled with cracks.

Huai Shi withdrew his hand and reattached the monitoring bracelet.

Forging completed.

To be precise, the demonstration of the ’extraction’ part was over.

When he picked up a hammer nearby and struck the cracked ore, countless stone powder fell down, and particles mixed with impurities scattered all over the ground.

On the original podium, the iron ore had turned into a finger-thick iron bar, with beautiful snowflake-like patterns.

"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Huai Shi." The lab personnel hurried to greet him, offering water and a handkerchief.

Sweat was visible on Huai Shi’s forehead.

After gesturing that he didn’t need rest, he turned and went outside the monitoring room to join in the discussion.

This was a demonstration and teaching of the forger’s craft.

Under dozens of observation and recording equipment, all mysteries were revealed, exposing everything in front of everyone for discussion and summarization.

"Indeed, it’s a completely different refining method compared to current circumstances."

Anton examined the information on the screen, pondering for a moment: "It does have an alchemy feel, but rather than sublimating through a matrix, it reconstructs from the old basics... Is this the origin of the name ’forger’?"

The alchemist beside nodded: "It has a bit of ’material attraction’ feel."

This is just a demonstration of a basic craft, honestly not surprising, the same effect can be achieved by alchemy, but the approach between the two holds subtle differences.

Everyone here is an expert and elite, naturally perceiving the difference.

Alchemy emphasizes the transformation and sublimation of miracles, extracting gold from ordinary matter, making decay splendid.

While the forger’s craft is more akin to scholars’ approach, focusing more on enhancing the forging object’s essence, rather than turning iron into a superior substance, it’s better to make the iron stronger, achieving the most ideal state theoretically.

It’s not high-temperature smelting, but extraction and assembly.

High temperature is only an auxiliary state applied to make the change more intuitive and rapid, but the real critical point is—Huai Shi temporarily endowed the forging object with a trace of source substance through the forge furnace.

It’s like letting it gain a fragmentary and false soul, issuing orders, then letting the iron contained within naturally aggregate towards the inner layer, forming the final iron ingot.

Unlike alchemy, it doesn’t change the object’s essence, but unlike scholars, it doesn’t rely on laws. It possesses some advantages of both, while slightly filling in the shortcomings between the two.

In application, it may have strengths and weaknesses depending on the actual circumstances, but for the current circumstances, it remains a technology lacking cost-effectiveness.

The technology that once rebuilt the Town of Dusk has reached its peak, but for the current circumstances, it is not necessary.

Having the traits of scholars and alchemists means simultaneously demanding rigorous qualifications for both.

Huai Shi can take a shortcut with the Hand of Confinement, but it’s impossible for others. Just the existence of the forge furnace cuts off the path for forgers to flourish.

The forge furnace can only be made by the previous generation of forgers for their students, and currently, the only living forger in the world is Huai Shi.

Still in a paralyzed state...

Even forging iron leaves him panting.

Moreover, not everyone has the excellent adaptability that he has with forging as a forger.

A technology tree that’s too broad isn’t always better; the best is often the most suitable for oneself.

What Huai Shi needs to do is not expand widely and recruit disciples, but through the innate specialties and advantages of forgers in forging, provide as much data and practical cases as possible for research centers to analyze, shortening the initial research process.

As for how to deconstruct, imitate, and absorb the advantages and strengths of forger technology, how much can be achieved, that’s the matter for these experts.

"Is your body okay?"

During the lunch break, Professor Anton sat across from Huai Shi with a food tray, glanced at the bracelet on Huai Shi’s hand which was still glowing red: "There’s no need to push yourself, it’s not something that can bear results overnight, you should focus on recuperating now."

"Stay at home and I’ll grow fur." Huai Shi shook his head: "At least let me come out and show some presence."

"As long as you know your limits."

Professor Anton didn’t persuade him more, not out of indifference or anything, but believing more in Huai Shi’s own judgment, therefore, he turned to talk about matters of the school.

But before the end, when the meal was over, he couldn’t help but inquire about Huai Shi’s own condition.

"Actually, I’ve mostly healed, but the tenant won’t leave, won’t pay rent, always consuming a bit of energy."

Huai Shi raised his right hand, moved his five fingers, revealing a slight metallic sheen.

This is the state he deliberately maintains.

Thanks to the recent progress, Tanbo Inner Circle is changing at an eye-visible speed, everyone can tangibly feel the future’s light inching closer bit by bit.

The divine essence of the Great Priestess has also recovered very rapidly, almost like adding fuel to the fire.

The originally more than two years’ time was shortened by more than a month out of thin air.

This isn’t the final result, but is still in the stage of slowly accelerating—it can be forecasted that the shortening speed will get faster in future times.

Now, he can say he has already moved out of the most dangerous phase, ebb and flow, the situation will only become clearer and clearer.

Currently, his body has fully recovered to health, and his soul has shed the erosion of the abyss sediment, no longer worrying about the risk of solidification at any moment, except the trauma is hard to heal.

His soul has already merged with the forge furnace, and the Stigma has also fused with the two.

The three are indistinguishable.

Now he is a true negative energy furnace.

But the problem is that there’s always a pesky log in the furnace that won’t burn out. Not only does it refuse to burn out, but it keeps trying to corrode him, to assimilate him, turning the forge back into flesh.

Ironically, Huai Shi once wanted his steel arm to return to its original state, but now, it’s the other way around—he’s striving to prevent the forging furnace from turning into flesh.

After all, it’s an Element of Destruction; even the cellular organization of its derivatives possesses such a powerful threat.

Thinking of this, he suddenly felt a bit worried about that bald guy who had disappeared.

It’s not that he was concerned about losing his hair but worried if his condition would have problems—that’s what Huai Shi kept from everyone.

Liu DongLi should be aware himself that even after changing his body and splitting his soul, he hasn’t escaped the abyss’s corrosion, merely sealing the mutated part of his soul.

The metamorphosis process was interrupted.

The progress bar is frozen.

He’s still walking the tightrope above the abyss.

But worrying is useless; with Green Day’s wealth, it naturally ensures his well-being without needing Huai Shi’s meddling.

After completing the basic data collection with the research center, arranging the time for the next demonstration, Huai Shi found himself with nothing to do.

There were a few hours until dinner, and no other duties elsewhere.

He discovered that he was surprisingly idle.

So he leisurely strolled around.

Shopping.

With a bodyguard...

Wearing a floral shirt and baggy shorts from who knows where, Raymond sported big sunglasses and a swordsman-like straw hat. One hand held a crepe, the other an ice cream. His backpack was filled with souvenirs and vehicle models, and an entire spray-painting equipment set was tucked under his arm.

"Wow, Kyoto sure is nice."

He gobbled in a few mouthfuls, scratching the hair on his legs, looking like a gorilla not fully evolved. "Boss, pancake fruit... give me another set of those crepes."

Huai Shi was dumbstruck: "What exactly are you here for?"

"Tourism!"

Raymond replied in a booming voice, leaving Huai Shi speechless.

This guy was having such a time of his life that he wasn’t even driving anymore, strolling from morning till night, only returning at night because Uncle Fang fed him.

Unless Huai Shi went out, he was impossible to find.

Having fun like never before, he even forgot the pledge of the Tomb of the Homeless.

Anyway, he’s on a mission now.

No thoughts of returning home whatsoever!

It’s just a mission from the Ivory Tower.

Apart from driving, the most important task... is bodyguarding, protecting Huai Shi from unexpected assassination and attacks during his vulnerable period.

Yet Huai Shi’s weak phase was almost over, everything remained calm, without any major incidents, he was there enjoying himself even more.

Seeing him so carefree, Huai Shi couldn’t help but sigh: "Are you protecting me or am I protecting you?"

"It’s all the same, all the same."

Raymond grinned innocently, about to say something, when his smile froze, fingers subconsciously clenched, crushing the crepe into mush.

Sauce splattered.

Huai Shi frowned, baffled by Raymond’s odd behavior, yet Raymond’s expression became serious.

"Time to go home, boss."

He said, "Or we’ll miss the six o’clock cartoon."

At the end of the long street, the abrasive sound of tires against the road echoed, a giant truck audaciously entered the bustling market, automatically moving forward, then the Huaizhi Corporation logo’s paint shook, and the heavy cannon behind the truck began warming up.

All while, the core radar alarm sounded sharply.

High-risk target rapidly approaching!

Under the radar’s signal, Raymond could only feel a spine-chilling dread swallow him whole.

Such an alarm was truly preposterous; the danger level broke the chart the moment it was detected.

Almost speaks what one anticipates!

Who did Huai Shi piss off?!

Fifth Stage? But who in the Fifth Stage would boldly come after him in the bustling city?

Just sensing the rapid approach of that signal, his calf’s gastrocnemius began to twitch and quiver, almost choking for air.

He wanted to turn around.

But the terrifying dread froze his movements in place, an intangible aura descending from above, remotely suppressing Götterdämmerung’s body!

The imaginary killing intent brought real, palpable pain.

Then, a rough hand clapped onto Raymond’s shoulder.

"Little Brag—"

A face covered entirely in muscles poked from his side, looked back at him, puzzled: "I’m just out for a trip, why do you want to use a cannon on me?"

"..."

In the momentary silence, Huai Shi stared in disbelief, at that old, proud face, finally exhaled relief: "Stop bullying the juniors for nothing, Teacher Luo?"

"Because it’s fun, of course!"

The sinister grin of Coach Luo, chief trainer to forty thousand muscle-heads at Orchard Gym, Huai Shi’s discount teacher, and father to his senior, revealed none of the amiable demeanor.

Long time, no see.