Despair washed over her like a tide, swallowing her whole as Seele watched the unbearable scene unfold.
Bronya's movements seemed infinitely magnified in her pupils. Every single one of Daziel's 'baseball bat' attacks felt like it struck Seele's own heart.
The silver curls that always made Seele think of purity and beauty, trembling with each motion, now became the very source that frayed her nerves.
Tears blurred her vision. Seele's world seemed covered by a grey film, twisted and indistinct, devoid of all color and light.
She couldn't make out Daziel's expression, nor could she discern Bronya's. She could only feel the suffocating atmosphere permeating the air, wrapping tightly around her, making it hard to breathe.
Why did it turn out like this?
Daziel was the benefactor who saved Belobog.
Bronya and she were comrades, best friends, the people they trusted most.
Two people who should be good, coming together, should have been something happy...
But why did it turn out like this...?
Throughout the entire process, neither Bronya nor that man had glanced at Seele even once.
This caused Seele an almost suffocating pain.
I was...
I was here first!
Seele couldn't help but scream inwardly.
The pain in her heart erupted like a volcano. Seele began to struggle frantically. The hemp ropes bound her tightly, preventing her from moving an inch. She could only let out desperate whimpers, kicking futilely against the desk, making dull thuds.
You two... stop it!
Don't continue...
Seele let out a piercing wail in her mind!
Something precious inside her shattered silently, the cracks spreading like a spiderweb, impossible to mend, forever remaining there, becoming an indelible scar on her life.
However, something even more terrifying was yet to come...
After Daziel and her best friend finished and took a brief rest, he let go of the exhausted Bronya and his gaze shifted to the desk where she was.
A playful smile touched the man's lips as he walked over, looking down at her from above.
Seele trembled violently, a chill penetrating deep into her bones instantly sweeping through her body, as if her soul had been torn from its shell, leaving only a numb husk trapped on the cold surface. She didn't even resist, simply allowing Daziel to do as he pleased.
The long torment finally ended. Daziel climbed off Seele.
Seele looked at Daziel numbly, her eyes empty and despairing. Her tears had long dried, leaving only intersecting tracks on her face, like a desolate land ravaged by a downpour, utterly devastated.
Daziel reached out, gently untying the hemp ropes binding Seele, then tore off the tape and cloth from her mouth.
Seele finally regained her freedom but felt no joy, only an all-encompassing coldness.
The desk was a mess—tears, sweat, and other fluids mixed together, emitting an odor that mirrored Seele's current state of mind: utterly defiled.
Daziel patted Seele's cheek, the force neither light nor heavy, but enough to make her body tremble slightly.
He looked at Seele's unresponsive state and thought grimly: Hopefully, this incident taught her a profound lesson.
Bronya walked to Seele's side and gently hugged her, her movements soft, her tone tender.
"It's okay, Seele. Isn't this what you intended from the beginning? It makes no difference..."
Seele stared blankly at Bronya, her eyes vacant and lost. Bronya's words pricked her numb nerves like needles.
Yes, she had initially come prepared to sacrifice everything, to apologize to Daziel for Belobog, to protect everything she cherished.
But now...
"I... I... don't... know."
Seele's voice was hoarse and trembling, like the worn-out bellows of an old bone marrow excavator, unable to form complete syllables.
She didn't know what she wanted, nor what she should do. She just felt completely blank inside, as if hollowed out.
Seele had never imagined things would turn out this way. She originally thought offering atonement would ease her conscience, but seeing Bronya's actions with Daziel, she couldn't control her temper again.
She never expected Daziel would use this method to discipline her...
Maybe she deserved to be disciplined. At least, deep down, Seele acknowledged this.
But...
Deep within her, something had completely shattered.
It was Seele's long-standing arrogance, her stubborn pride as a young girl. Now, it had been ruthlessly crushed by Daziel, ground into dust.
Regret and humiliation filled her heart once more.
Yes, I was the one who asked him to punish me...
Daziel... perhaps he really hadn't done anything wrong. She didn't know what right she had to blame him.
At this moment, Daziel, seemingly unaware of Seele's state, walked straight to the desk.
He straightened his clothes, picked up his hoodie, and spoke casually to Bronya:
"Alright, Miss Bronya, we should discuss business. How is the cleanup work in Belobog progressing?"
Bronya quickly adjusted her emotions, her face resuming the professional smile of the Supreme Guardian, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.
"Thanks to you, the matter is mostly resolved. Mr. Giovanni was very considerate and arranged for technical specialists to conduct sample surveys in Belobog. Although the Memetic Contamination isn't completely eradicated, that DLC has disappeared."
Bronya's voice was calm and steady, betraying no hint of anything unusual.
"That's for the best."
Daziel nodded with satisfaction, a hint of relief on his face. "No major crisis erupted, most citizens don't even know what happened, thinking it was just a simple, grand celebration. There couldn't be a better outcome."
"Also..."
Bronya paused, seeming to recall something, her tone becoming slightly more serious.
"Mr. Giovanni seems to have discovered something new. He said you should carefully consider the second sentence he left you. Perhaps you can find some clues about the source of the Memetic Contamination from it."
The second sentence...?
Daziel frowned slightly, trying hard to recall the words Giovanni had told him—
"The Luofu's anchor sinks in the deepest sea of stars, but was it an Abundance object that damaged the ship, or the sinful desires you indulged for eight hundred years?"
The Xianzhou Luofu...?
The meme outbreak happened in Belobog, how could it be related to the Xianzhou Luofu?
Daziel's confusion deepened. He had thought the Belobog incident was over, but now new leads had emerged.
Although he couldn't immediately grasp the meaning, investigating the Xianzhou Luofu seemed like the right course of action.
Daziel mused internally. He vaguely sensed that Mr. Giovanni's hint might point towards a larger, more dangerous conspiracy. And this trip might hold the key to the meme crisis.
Why am I still playing Aetherium Wars after becoming the champion?
Well, whatever. In Pokémon games, having post-champion content is pretty normal anyway...
"Thanks for relaying the message, Bronya."
Daziel gave Bronya a slight nod, his tone sincere and serious. "Mr. Giovanni must be trying to warn me about something. I probably need to investigate some things first."
"Be careful then, Daziel... If there's anything Belobog can help with, be sure to tell us."
Bronya nodded quickly, urging him with concern. "If it's... that kind of thing, both Seele and I are available."
Saying this, Bronya patted the dazed Seele beside her, signaling her to say something too.
"Seele, quickly thank Mr. Daziel."
Nudged by Bronya, Seele's unfocused gaze sharpened slightly. She looked up, meeting Daziel's eyes with a look full of regret, and forced out a few words through gritted teeth.
"Th... thank you! Daziel... thank you for everything you've done for Belobog...!"
He knew that everything done today would become an unforgettable scene for Seele, deeply branded into her soul.
Perhaps this little punk from the Underworld wouldn't be so driven by impulse anymore.
"In that case, I won't disturb you two any longer."
Daziel said lightly, turning towards the door. "Goodbye."
"Daziel, good... goodbye..."
Bronya waved at Daziel's retreating back, her voice carrying a mix of reluctance, anticipation, and other indescribable complex emotions.
"Take care."
Bronya murmured softly, watching Daziel's figure disappear through the entrance of Qliphoth Fort.
Xianzhou Luofu, shore of Scalegorge Waterscape.
The sea breeze carried the damp scent of salt as it hit his face.
According to Daziel's thinking, since the sentence mentioned the Xianzhou and Abundance, there was a high probability it was related to the Ambrosial Arbor?
However, what Daziel didn't expect was that a brand-new Victory Zone had been constructed sometime on this beach outside Scalegorge Waterscape.
Colorful billboards stood on the sand, and a huge electronic screen scrolled through promotional videos for Aetherium Wars, clashing sharply with the ancient surroundings.
Daziel raised an eyebrow slightly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
Although this area wasn't part of the Vidyadhara's core territory, the fact that the Interastral Peace Corporation could obtain the Xianzhou's approval to build a Victory Zone here, extending Aetherium Wars service coverage to a place like this...
Isn't the Interastral Peace Corporation's reach extending a bit too far?
Doubt sprouted in Daziel's mind as he stepped into the Victory Zone's perimeter.
Though called a park, it wasn't actually very large. A few simple buildings were scattered sparsely on the beach, and the facilities looked somewhat dated.
Compared to the Victory Zones in Belobog or Central Starskiff Haven, this place seemed deserted and desolate.
Only a handful of local Xianzhou players strolled around the sparse Aether Spirit spawn points, looking rather unenthusiastic.
Daziel wandered aimlessly through the park for a while, trying to find some clues. However, apart from the ubiquitous Aetherium Wars elements, it was no different from other Victory Zones.
The Aether Spirits available for capture were also common types, nothing special.
Did I think in the wrong direction?
The clue isn't here?
Disappointment began to spread in Daziel's heart, but he didn't want to give up so easily.
Perhaps the Victory Zone on the outskirts of Scalegorge Waterscape was just a hint, and the real clue was hidden deeper.
Clinging to a sliver of hope, Daziel continued walking deeper into the Victory Zone, unknowingly leaving its designated boundaries.
The surrounding scenery became increasingly desolate. The clamor of electronic music faded into the distance, replaced by the sound of distant waves crashing against the shore and the rustling whisper of wind through Banhu plants and Vidyadhara Eggs.
Just as Daziel was about to give up and turn back, he casually glanced at the Aether Coin in his hand.
On the coin's surface, the originally dull silver markings were now emitting a faint glow.
A signal?
There's still an Aetherium Wars server signal here?
A thought stirred in Daziel's mind, and his previously low spirits were instantly replaced by curiosity.
He held up the coin, observing it carefully. The silver light grew brighter, seemingly guiding him forward.
Further ahead lay the deeper reaches of Scalegorge Waterscape...
That was the forbidden ground of the Vidyadhara race, normally inaccessible to outsiders.
Although Daziel possessed special clearance allowing him free access to most areas of the Xianzhou, could Aether Spirits really exist deep within the Vidyadhara's forbidden territory?
Why on earth did Giovanni extend the server range to such a place?
Countless questions flooded his mind. Daziel stood still, hesitating briefly.
But he quickly made his decision.
If Giovanni, or rather, that fellow Aha, had pointed the clue here, then there must be a reason.
The puzzle was related to the Abundance Ambrosial Arbor; there was no reason not to investigate!
With this thought, Daziel hesitated no longer and strode forward, continuing deeper into Scalegorge Waterscape.
The further he went, the more profound and quiet the surroundings became. A faint, unsettling aura permeated the air.
Along the way, the anticipated Aether Spirits didn't appear. Instead, he encountered some genuine Abominations of Abundance.
These twisted, grotesque creatures roamed in the dark corners, emitting bloodcurdling low growls, causing Daziel to heighten his vigilance.
What exactly is going on with the Corporation's server range?
Extending the Aetherium Wars signal to areas frequented by Abominations of Abundance... isn't that just too strange?
Just as Daziel was puzzling over this, the Aether Coin in his hand suddenly vibrated violently.
A flash of silver light, as if warning him of something...
It's here!
Daziel's spirits lifted. Following the direction indicated by the Aether Coin, he cautiously moved forward.
Rounding a cluster of dilapidated stone carvings, the sight before him made Daziel freeze on the spot, his pupils instantly contracting.
A behemoth appeared in his field of vision.
It was a massive figure, easily tens of meters tall. Its pale skin gleamed with a cold luster in the dim environment. It wore magnificent robes woven in blue and gold and gently swayed an exquisite fan in its hand.
This is...
Phantylia the Undying Bloom!?
Daziel's breath seemed to stop for a moment. A chill shot up from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, causing him to break out in a cold sweat instantly.
Even if it's just an Aether Spirit form, it's still Phantylia!
The Annihilation Gang leader from the Antimatter Legion, who stole the power of the Ambrosial Arbor, possessing a dual Path form!
The appearance of Aether Spirits like the Doomsday Beast and the Mother of Deception could barely be explained as game data replicas.
But how could a being of Phantylia's caliber also appear in Aetherium Wars?
Moreover, judging by its aura, the Phantylia Aether Spirit before him was no ordinary elite or Overlord-level Aether Spirit.
The sense of oppression it radiated surpassed even all the Aether Spirits Daziel had encountered before, including the Mother of Deception! This indicated its stats were even higher than Cocolia's!
This wasn't just abstract anymore; it was utterly outrageous!
However, after the shock, a strange sense of excitement surged in Daziel's heart.
Such a powerful Overlord Aether Spirit, appearing right before him like this, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Besides, Phantylia's model was indeed exquisite, especially her third phase form—not only golden but also large and white.
Although Phantylia was too big, preventing him from 'doing anything' even with his special abilities, capturing her just for eye candy would be excellent.
I'm playing Aetherium Wars, so what's wrong with having a bit of a collector's urge?
With this thought, Daziel took a deep breath, suppressing the shock and faint excitement in his heart.
He decisively summoned Cocolia (Mother of Deception).
A huge shadow condensed in the air, letting out a deafening roar, facing Phantylia from afar.
Battle was imminent.
Cocolia's body was similarly massive, stretching tens of meters when unfurled, appearing roughly the same size as Phantylia's Aether Spirit.
But Daziel knew in his heart there was a fundamental difference between them.
Phantylia's Aether Spirit, like her Undying Bloom form, only revealed the upper half of her body above the surface, the lower half hidden in the void.
If it were Phantylia's complete form, it would likely be much larger than Cocolia, and the difference in their stats would be immeasurable.
This battle would likely be a tough one.
Cocolia attacked first. Frost condensed, and the air temperature plummeted abruptly.
Phantylia lightly waved her fan handle, fingertips brushing past it. A fierce gust of wind howled out, actually disintegrating all of Cocolia's icicles.
The cold wind and the gale collided, emitting a sharp hiss, like two invisible forces wrestling.
Daziel's brow furrowed slightly. Phantylia's stats far exceeded expectations. Just the aftershock was enough to make the ground tremble slightly.
"Bone-Shattering Glacial Torrent!"
Cocolia pointed, unleashing a torrent of cold air. Countless icicles rained down like a storm, covering Phantylia.
Phantylia's eyes lifted slightly. With a light chuckle, her enormous figure danced like a phantom, her folding fan waving, stirring up gusts of wind.
Daziel recognized it—it was a skill Phantylia's true form also possessed: Finger flick generating wind, sweeping away dust!
Wind blades and icicles intertwined in mid-air, erupting in a continuous series of crisp sounds, like countless pieces of glass shattering.
The icicles were cut apart by the wind blades, turning into powder, while the wind blades were weakened by the cold air, eventually dissipating into nothingness.
However, several icicles still broke through the wind barrier, heading towards Phantylia.
Phantylia remained unhurried. Tapping the ground lightly with her toes, her figure floated backward gracefully, easily dodging the icicle attacks.
She lightly waved her folding fan, her posture elegant, as if appreciating an unimportant performance.
"Call of the Indifferent Ruinator!"
Cocolia summoned a blizzard once more. Her silver hair flew up and down behind her, the ground trembled, and one giant lance of solid ice after another burst from the earth, aimed straight at Phantylia.
The ice lances radiated a chilling aura, seemingly capable of freezing space itself. The surrounding air condensed into visible frost.
Phantylia finally wiped the smile from her face, a hint of gravity flashing in her eyes. Facing these immensely powerful ice lances, she dared not be careless any longer.
"Entwining Roots."
Phantylia parted her lips, her eyes cold but carrying a heart-palpitating pressure.
She inserted her folding fan into the ground. Instantly, the earth seemed to come alive. Countless vines erupted from the soil, coiling towards the ice lances like giant pythons.
The vines shimmered with an eerie green light, emitting an unsettling aura.
Ice versus wood, cold versus life—two vastly different powers clashed fiercely in the depths of Scalegorge Waterscape.
The vines grew continuously, attempting to bind the ice lances, while the lances emitted intense cold, trying to freeze the life force of the vines.
The two forces reached a stalemate, emitting teeth-grinding frictional sounds as the energy fluctuations in the air grew stronger.
Seeing this, Daziel knew Cocolia had already given her all but was still unable to gain the upper hand against Phantylia.
Although Cocolia and Phantylia were both Overlord Aether Spirits, Phantylia, being an Emanator, reasonably had higher stats.
He took a deep breath, no longer hesitating, and inserted the Aether Coin into himself.
Instantly, silver light flashed. Daziel's body was consumed by the data stream, and in a flash, a completely new Aether Spirit appeared on the battlefield.
He wielded a baseball bat and a poker, his figure agile, his gaze sharp, fixed intently on Phantylia before him.
Phantylia sensed the new presence joining the battle. Her eyes shifted slightly, looking towards the Aether Spirit Daziel had become.
The corners of her lips turned up slightly into an interested smile, seeming quite expectant of Daziel's participation.
Daziel wasted no time. With a move, he shot towards Phantylia like an arrow released from a bowstring.
The baseball bat cut through the air, emitting a sharp whistle as it aimed straight for Phantylia's face.
Phantylia tilted her body slightly, easily dodging the bat's attack. With a light wave of her folding fan, a wind blade silently shot towards Daziel.
Daziel was prepared. He swung the poker fiercely, flames instantly engulfing the rod as it met the wind blade.
Fire and wind collided with a crackling explosion, sparks flying, air currents churning.
Using the cover of the flames, Daziel pressed forward, his baseball bat swinging like a torrential downpour, each strike containing astonishing power.
This was, after all, just Aetherium Wars. The stats were generated by the game itself. The stat difference between Daziel's Aether Spirit form and Phantylia's Aether Spirit wasn't so vast as to be insurmountable.
If the real Phantylia appeared before Daziel, with his current strength, he certainly couldn't even touch her. After all, this was an Annihilation Gang leader of the Antimatter Legion.
Phantylia's massive form moved erratically, her fan like a willow catkin in the wind, still wielded with ease under Daziel's fierce assault.
Her fan sometimes waved, releasing wind blades, sometimes stabbed like a viper striking, not forgetting to counter-attack while defending.
Daziel's attacks were fierce and deadly. The baseball bat and poker in his hands moved unpredictably, striking from tricky angles.
After all, the poker's anti-female special attack was effective against Phantylia, even in an Aetherium War battle.
This was one of the reasons Daziel dared to face both Cocolia and Phantylia.
Phantylia's form was enormous. Though not as agile as Daziel, she relied on her stats to neutralize all his attacks.
The two figures intertwined, weapons clashed, sparks flew, and the battle entered a white-hot stage.
The baseball bat, wrapped in fierce wind, smashed heavily towards Phantylia's waist.
Phantylia's figure flashed, narrowly avoiding the blow.
The bat missed, hitting the ground with a dull thud, cracking the earth and sending debris flying.
Phantylia seized the opportunity. Her fan swung abruptly, and countless lotuses bloomed on its surface like maggots clinging to bone, engulfing Daziel.
"Blooming Flower."
The rain of lotuses was beautiful yet deadly, each petal containing a powerful suction force capable of swallowing most living creatures.
Seeing this, Daziel advanced instead of retreating. The poker spun like a wheel, flames surging, forming a fire wall that blocked the lotus rain.
Flames and petals collided with sizzling sounds. The petals were burned away by the fire, while the fire was weakened by the rain of petals.
Daziel pushed through the flames, breaking through the lotus rain to reach Phantylia's front. The baseball bat swung again, aiming straight for her throat.
Phantylia's eyes narrowed slightly. Her figure retreated rapidly while simultaneously swinging her fan to block in front of her.
"Clang!"
The crisp sound of metal colliding was deafening. The baseball bat struck the fan hard, and Phantylia's massive body trembled.
Daziel pressed his advantage, relentlessly pursuing, the baseball bat swinging continuously, bearing down on Phantylia like a storm.
Under the combined assault of Daziel and Cocolia, Phantylia's HP steadily dropped. She could only barely parry, and the situation began to tilt in Daziel's favor.
However, just as Daziel was about to completely defeat Phantylia's first phase and trigger the second, a sudden change occurred.
Phantylia's previously elegant movements suddenly became stiff. Her body began to tremble violently, and a flash of pain crossed her previously cold eyes.
She clutched her head, letting out sharp screeches, her voice shrill, like a wounded beast.
Daziel paused, his assault involuntarily slowing. He looked at Phantylia in confusion, not understanding what was happening.
Phantylia's screeches grew sharper, more pained, as if she were enduring immense torture.
Suddenly, she stopped screaming. Her body stopped trembling too, freezing as if time had stopped.
A moment later, she slowly raised her head. Her closed eyes slowly opened.
The aura in her eyes had undergone a heaven-and-earth change. The previous cold elegance was gone, replaced by a sharpness, a danger, and... a hint of familiarity.
Daziel looked into Phantylia's eyes and felt a sudden jolt in his heart.
This gaze... he had seen it before, on the real Phantylia!
A meaningful smile touched Phantylia's lips. Her voice was no longer the previous cold tone but became soft and melodious.
"I didn't expect we'd meet again, Bene... factor..."
The voice seemed to carry a kind of magic, sweet like that of a Foxian girl.
But the moment the word "Benefactor" entered his ears, Daziel felt a chill instantly shoot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. His scalp tingled, and the hairs on his body stood on end.
______
🌟 WE DID IT, WANGSHENG FAMILY! We're +50 on Patreon! 🌟
The Director is OVERJOYED – thank you so much to each and every one of you for making this possible! 🥰 To celebrate this incredible achievement, a special gift: YOUR 10 BONUS CHAPTERS are now live! Go check them out!
And the journey continues! Our next big goal is to
Reach 75 amazing supporters! And yes, the reward will be epic again: 10 more brand-new chapters, all at once! 🤩
👻 Want more?
100 powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone! 5 reviews = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone!
Growing Wangsheng family and unlock even more exclusive content! ✨
Join us: 👻 patreon.com/Walnutchan 👻