Chapter 991: Chapter 777: Hell on Earth
As his laughter echoed, the phantoms before Huai Shi began their endless transformations.
From a youth, they morphed into a sinister and bizarre old man, a devil-like messenger of temptation, a seductive Oiran, a mature and elegant middle-aged adult, a teenage girl in white clothes, a dying woman, and a crying infant in swaddling.
Their postures and appearances varied, yet all had black hair, black eyes, pale skin, and smiles that were eternally distant.
Finally, the phantoms condensed, countless images merging into one.
Transforming into a youth with a face beautiful enough to resemble a girl, dressed in a black vest and breeches, a white shirt, holding a delicate riding crop, standing atop the remnants of ruin, looking up at Huai Shi with a smile.
"Let me introduce myself, Huai Shi."
He bent, placed a hand on his chest in a courteous bow: "According to the records left by my previous self, you may call me William Robert Woodman..."
The youth smiled, introducing himself: "From the Golden Dawn—Woodman!"
From the depths of his dark eyes, brilliant golden flames erupted, illuminating his fair face with a transcendent and dignified aura, as if a God, immune to violation.
He was the Element of Destructive · one of the three founders of Golden Dawn, the Creator · Woodman from Nowhere!
In the long silence, Huai Shi said nothing.
Watching him.
Imagining how he could smoothly draw out the enraged Fly King from his pocket and fire a shot at his forehead.
"Don’t be tense, what’s here is merely a phantom; even tasting things won’t allow sensory pleasure, nor can bathing in rain give the sensations of cold or warmth. Ultimately, it’s just a video call..."
He glanced at Huai Shi’s pocket with a knowing smile, shrugged slightly: "No need to bring out the Fly King to pollute your ears, right?"
In the silence, only the furious roar of the Fly King from Huai Shi’s backpack: "Woodman, I — you — bastard!!! How many damn years have you been dead, still putting on airs here?"
Woodman shrugged, unperturbed, the flickering phantom only studying Huai Shi’s face, excitedly exclaiming: I must admit, our meeting is indeed a pleasant surprise. Coming here to achieve another outcome, I didn’t expect to encounter you... Huai Shi, heaven knows how delighted I was when I met you at the General’s place, truly unfortunate you never came to play, I’ve prepared quite a few gifts for you!"
As he spoke, he slapped his forehead: "By the way, great job on the Town of Dusk affair, Matthes has been praising you constantly! Not only within the Golden Dawn, but you’re also quite the beloved idol in the Abyss now! The commotion started by the Sun Casters is as big as your fame, those Workshop Owners have been biting their handkerchiefs in envy lately haha..."
Laughing, his expression turned serious, asking solemnly: "Before we begin the formal discussion, shall we go through some formalities?"
He paused, cleared his throat, extended his hand, filled with enthusiasm and anticipation:
"——Both recognized by the All Spectrum Heaven Sphere as members of Utopia, Huai Shi, will you come to our side?"
Huai Shi silently watched him, his gaze piercing through the phantom, to the suffering world behind him.
"I am your enemy, Woodman."
He said, "Don’t joke about that, alright? This has never changed."
"Hahaha, indeed...not the time yet, huh?"
Woodman laughed nonchalantly, strolled to Huai Shi’s side, gazing together at the world shrouded in smoke and flame.
Filled with amusement.
"Firstly, congratulations, Huai Shi, your actions are heroic, commendable. Your struggle successfully saved some people, delaying this moment compared to plans, for roughly..."
He pondered: "About thirty minutes."
With everyone’s efforts, only thirty minutes of time were gained.
After thirty minutes, everything would still succumb to destruction.
"The pity is, whether surrendering or resisting, nothing changes the result—war, only hastens destruction."
Woodman said, "In some respects, your counterattack made this place’s destruction faster."
"Are you flaunting your power at me, Woodman?"
"You might be misunderstanding something, Huai Shi."
Woodman’s expression turned odd: "The siege of the Tanbo Inner Circle was Extreme Path’s doing, the orders to kill them came from the General, indifferently approved by the Former Emperor, neglected by the Astronomical Society...I’m only a phantom, even stepping out of Nowhere, my real body would die from poisoning, it wouldn’t make sense to blame me for meeting you once, would it?"
He paused, his smile grew warmer, less distant: "Ultimately, I only offered some insignificant suggestions. See, Huai Shi, there was no deception, no enticing, no lying, just offering what they wanted to hear, and they would become unnervingly rational..."
Bang!
A loud roar thundered.
Huai Shi pulled the trigger, aiming at his face, pulling the trigger repeatedly, until the entire magazine was emptied, transforming the youth before him into a mass of perforated sludge.
