Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 227 - 214 Dream of the Final Chen Long

Chapter 227: 214 Dream of the Final Chen Long

The changes occurring at the old base of the Human Bureau could be detected by anyone who was sensitive to mana fluctuations, even from dozens of kilometers away. The mana fluctuations from the Dream Star Dragon and the Divine Spear, which had been in relentless battle just moments before, now one of them had disappeared.

Has the battle over there already ended? Out of curiosity, I briefly sensed and looked into the "historical records" of that area.

Don’t get me wrong, even though I said I’ve awakened, I didn’t develop Mazao’s ability to investigate the historical records of the land. A lot of my heat and "fireflies" still lingered around the old base of the Human Bureau. Even now, just like "fireflies," the heat I released can preserve and record the scenes I observed, allowing me to flip through them at will. In just an instant, I understood what had transpired there.

In fact, the Dream Star Dragon and the Divine Spear had not yet determined a victor; the Divine Spear had merely fallen into a trap temporarily.

Both of them had been fighting recklessly inside the old base building. Reckless mostly describes the Divine Spear; the Dream Star Dragon had been inhibited. Many researchers who had not managed to evacuate were caught up in their fight, suffering casualties. Although the Dream Star Dragon had previously managed to block Yinyue’s nuclear explosion and saved the old base of the Human Bureau from disaster, the back-and-forth tussle had left the buildings at the base mostly destroyed.

It was clear that the Dream Star Dragon intended to move the battlefield outside the old base of the Human Bureau, but the Divine Spear, seeing its weakness, deliberately kept the battlefield there. At the same time, he was continuously accumulating power at the tip of his spear, seemingly ready to release a strike strong enough to tear through the "Teleportation Armor".

Just now, the Dream Star Dragon could no longer bear it and purposely took the piercing stab while manipulating the "Teleportation Armor" to suddenly expand and engulf the Divine Spear. As a result, the Divine Spear was teleported to the Shadow World, and the mana fluctuations naturally disappeared.

I don’t believe that exile to the Shadow World spells defeat for the Divine Spear. Such a measure is nothing more than a delaying tactic. Evidence of this is that the Dream Star Dragon is still maintaining a vigilant stance, watching the surrounding space as if expecting the Divine Spear to shatter the void and return at any moment. As a former teammate of the Divine Spear, this attitude can be taken as proof that the Divine Spear will soon return to the real world.

His condition is now abysmal, his body flickering between solid and ethereal, and while he can still tap into the peak of his combat potential with the superpower of "All-round Enhancement," his existence is on the verge of disappearing.

While he caught his breath and tried to stabilize his condition, he cast his gaze towards the distant areas. The demon hunter forces were still in battle with the Monster Guard forces. However, both sides noticed the disappearance of the Divine Spear, unaware that the Divine Spear could return. The Monster Guards let out triumphant cries, while the demon hunters revealed looks of despair.

The irony of it all was stark; so many people were fighting fiercely, yet only the outcome between those of the Great Success Rank would determine the direction of the battle. Once one side’s Great Success Rank claimed victory, they could easily wipe out the remaining enemies.

The Dream Star Dragon moved as if intending to kill those demon hunters.

Zhu Shi might become one of his targets, so naturally I couldn’t just stand by and watch. I left the Fire Sea in its place to watch over Changan while I teleported myself in front of him. Seeing this, his attitude changed drastically, showing even more tense emotions than during his battle with the Divine Spear.

He couldn’t have missed the mana fluctuations from my earlier battle with Yinyue, and must have been keenly aware that he wouldn’t stand even one percent of a chance in a fight with me now. However, he didn’t seem to have any intention of giving up. His eyes showed a determination to fight to the end, even though he knew he would be defeated – it was a logical outcome considering the "cause" of this "phenomenon".

The girl Lu Chan also appeared beside me. Rather than saying she moved here by some method, it was more like she was clinging to the edge of my vision. Even her very existence felt like an illusion. It seemed that with a few more blinks, she would become invisible to the eye.

I said to the Dream Star Dragon, "First off, thank you. If you hadn’t stopped the explosion just now, my friend’s fate would be uncertain."

"I only protected my own people, what happens to your friends is none of my concern," he said coldly. "Or are you suggesting you’ll let me pass now?"

That was impossible. And it would be hypocritical to say I intend to spare his life, for he is close to death. Pretending otherwise would be an insult to him. It would be better to just be straightforward, and before he disappears, I will eliminate him personally.

"Tell me your final wish, see if I can fulfil it before you die," I said.

"You must be joking, offering to help your enemy on the battlefield; what absurdity!" he scoffed. "If I asked you to kill the Divine Spear for me, would you really do it?"

"I can," I said without hesitation.

"...What?"

He was flabbergasted.

"But, I was going to kill the Divine Spear anyway, so that doesn’t count," I said. "Anything else?"

I don’t know how much he actually believed in me, but he first looked at me with disbelief for a while, then returned to his normal demeanor.

"... My only true wish is to save the majority of people who will suffer in the future," he said, "For this, whether they are friends or colleagues, I can sacrifice them without hesitation. Someone like you, who wastes time saying thanks on the battlefield just because the enemy unintentionally helped your friend, shouldn’t talk about fulfilling my wish. Just hearing it makes me want to vomit."

"Is that your true feeling, Chen Long?" the girl Lu Chan suddenly spoke up, "To you, what exactly are friends, colleagues...?"

"..." Dream Chen Long didn’t even glance at the girl Lu Chan.

"Don’t pretend you can’t see me," said the girl Lu Chan, "The one who summoned me here is you, isn’t it?"

Her words coincided with the answer that was taking form in my mind.

An embodiment of dreams like the girl Lu Chan should not be able to appear in an independent real space. Only those who can treat independent real spaces as dreams can summon a dream embodiment. There are three known individuals who have the condition to achieve this, they are me, Dr. Silver Mask, and the once-alive Chen Long.

Regardless of me as a newcomer, Dr. Silver Mask, even if he could summon his own dream embodiment, could not possibly summon Lu Chan. However, Chen Long was different. In his hands was the national first-class demon hunter medal once held by the former Lu Chan, and the medal contained the dreams once held by the former Lu Chan.

In the past, for the sake of his ideals, Chen Long personally betrayed his good friend, sending him into an experimental facility akin to hell, watching as his friend walked step by step towards corruption amongst despair and tears. In the end, his friend abandoned his old dreams and medals and fled from the living hell without looking back, while Chen Long, the instigator, surreptitiously picked up the medal that harbored his friend’s former dreams from the ground and carried it on his person until the last moment of his life.

What was he thinking during those days? I truly can’t guess, nor do I intend to pass judgment. Perhaps, he would occasionally take out the medal carrying Lu Chan’s sentiments, reminisce about the good friend who once fought side by side with him, expounding naive dreams; it’s even possible that he dreamt of him in that dreamlike space.

Afterward, the girl Lu Chan appeared.

These are all but my fantasies, perhaps the truth is somewhat different from what I imagine. And now, there is no one to step forward like a judge to tell me whether this idea is right or wrong.

However, one thing is very clear, even though the current girl Lu Chan is as illusory as my hallucinations, if Chen Long truly is the one who summoned the girl Lu Chan, then Dream Chen Long would have no reason not to see her. Let alone the fact that he is now a dream embodiment just like the girl Lu Chan.

Yet he still never once cast a glance at the girl Lu Chan, as if he were refuting my thoughts with his actions. Why is he unwilling to look at the girl Lu Chan, or is it that he truly cannot see her?

His body grew increasingly ethereal, looking as if he couldn’t hold on even for half a minute more. He looked down at himself, then lifted his head and spoke to me.

"... You just said that you’re going to kill Divine Spear, right. You don’t look like someone who’d lie to me at a time like this. Even Lu Chan has helped you... I’ll take it that you’re serious," he said, "But just like you were meant to kill Divine Spear, I was meant to protect the researchers at the Human Bureau. We’re just walking our separate paths, which happen to align with each other’s interests. So let’s call it even."

"Alright." I accepted this reasoning.

"—Then, I’m making my move."

In his final cry, he turned into a black cannonball and rushed at me with speed, accompanied by a myriad of cracks that immediately burst forth with blinding white light, ready to unleash his Self-Destruction Skill in the last moment. Shadows also emerged from below as if to protect the old base building, so that the researchers who hadn’t managed to escape would not be affected by his explosion.

And this was the only skill he could possibly have at this moment to pose a threat to me. Purely in terms of power, this Self-Destruction Skill used at the Great Success Rank at the cost of life could possibly exceed the final move unleashed by Yinyue. But for me now, dealing with this move was far too simple.

A gigantic Flame Spear shot out from my right palm, effortlessly piercing through the target. The high-density Flame Power violently destroyed the "Teleportation Door Armor" supposed to transfer any force, and before Dream Chen Long could self-destruct, he was incinerated along with his armor in the flames.

Dream Chen Long, eliminated.

Seeing the last trace of her former friend in this world disappear, the girl Lu Chan said nothing. She looked towards where he vanished for a good while, and then sighing with relief.

It seemed that time had also reached its limit here, and her body gradually faded away. At last, she turned her face to me, nodded, and vanished.

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