Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 375 - 349 VS time stop 2

Chapter 375: 349 VS time stop 2

This Great Success Rank Time Manipulator’s "Time Stop" does not halt the universe’s time with his mana, but enters a universe where time has stopped.

For example, the movie we watch appears as a continuous dynamic sequence, but in reality, it is a series of still frames linked together. By flipping through the frames quickly, the discontinuous images look continuous.

Although we cannot entirely equate the time in the real world with movie time, some scientists believe that time in the real world is not continuous and has a minimal unit, referred to as "Planck time." In quantum theory, it is generally believed that there is no shorter duration than this; if our world were a movie, then "one Planck time" would be "one frame."

His special ability, if explained scientifically, is to dive into a Planck time and perform multiple actions within it. Of course, being able to act multiple times within a Planck time means "to time activities within the smallest time unit," a definitionally contradictory action. If there is movement in a world supposed to be still, then it implies the world is not still.

However, the incredible aspect of mana is that it can fundamentally destroy logic. And since he has entered a world where time has stopped, relatively speaking, it is equivalent to "he stopped the time of the whole world" and even surpasses it in some aspects.

Because this skill does not interfere with others, but merely moves himself to another domain, there is no premise of "allowing the opponent to escape." Even Impermanence, with its perception speed, cannot sense every single Planck time. In the world where time has stopped, he is almost free to move, and combining with the basic ability of Great Success Rank, he could annihilate a city or even a country’s population in an instant.

Considering the likely minimal energy consumption of this ability, even annihilating the whole world’s population in an instant might not be impossible... However, I am also not very clear whether this ability has other conditions and costs, and can only ponder about it now.

He indeed has a weakness, which is Impermanence.

Although Impermanence is unable to perceive the world where time has stopped, due to its perception being somewhat detached from time and space, when he harbors a murderous intent towards Impermanence—towards me, in the stopped world, I can sense his actions in reverse. This is why I can think normally in this still world.

Furthermore, because my body is composed of flames and my flames are my spirit, as long as my consciousness can operate normally, it implies that my body can also move here. Previously, I misunderstood my circumstance by habitually emphasizing the physicality of this mimetic body and wanting to escape a non-existent force, thus I couldn’t move; once I found the right perspective to interact with this world, moving freely becomes natural.

"Can you keep moving in this still world?" I asked.

"I can move here for up to three months..."

He reflexively answered, then immediately covered his mouth in shock. My question was infused with the Power of Word Spirit, so as long as I asked, he couldn’t help but respond.

I then asked, "So, if you bring Ming Zhuo into this halted world, will his lifespan also stop ticking down?"

"..."

He didn’t respond this time. The Power of Word Spirit doesn’t really work on Great Success Rank, and it was a surprise attack that made him answer earlier. He’s now on guard, similar to how normal psychological hypnotism doesn’t work on those with a strong mental defense.

Even if he doesn’t answer, I can imagine that if stopping Ming Zhuo’s lifespan countdown were that simple, I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet this Time Manipulator here.

His expression grew more terrified, probably realizing that I am not just any Great Success Rank.

"After becoming Impermanence, I might have become arrogant. Thinking that with great power, no enemy can stand against me, and the only threats are from other Impermanences... you have taught me a lesson," I said.

If he hadn’t engaged me openly and instead used this ability to flee or kill those I care about from the start, I truly would have no way to stop him. There are always bigger fishes, even becoming Impermanence doesn’t mean I should underestimate Great Success Rank. With this in mind, I resolved in my heart—I must not let this enemy return alive.

Flames burst from midair, transforming into a gigantic hand reaching towards the Time Manipulator. Meanwhile, true to his abilities, he exploded with a speed more than ten times faster than a full-force strike from Divine Spear in the past, hitting the wall as he frantically fled.

Perhaps because he concentrated all his attention on escaping, he didn’t keep up the otherwise pointless time stop, and the grey filter in my vision lifted, allowing time to flow again. The wall offered no resistance to him, it shattered like air as he broke through, even smashing two unprepared guards in his path.

But he was destined not to escape from my grasp. The flame hand ignored the concept of spatial distance, grabbing him from afar as if he were within arm’s reach.

Strangely, although the gray filter of time stop had faded from all scenery, his body still displayed a grey hue. Only upon touching him did I realize that he had stopped the time of his own body. In this state, the outside world could not alter his body, meaning no harm could come to him.

Also, in this unchanging state, his motion could not be stopped. My flaming hand felt as though it would be pierced through by his body just like air.

It seems paradoxical, but even though he stopped time for his body, he could still move freely, as if enjoying the benefits of time stopping without having to bear the side effects. Could Time Ability really be used this way? In that case, his body is not just an invincible shield, but also an invincible spear.

Although Yinyue’s superpower of "turning fantasy into reality" was already outrageous enough, compared to his power, it’s hard to tell which one is more like cheating. I wonder, if we use the Divine Spear with Guaranteed Hit and Penetration on him, whether it can penetrate his defenses?

But I am not out of options just yet. Now, even metaphysical concepts like ’causality’ can be burned by me, let alone abstract things like ’time.’ Since he has frozen his own time, I will burn him along with that frozen time.

At this moment, next to this Time Manipulator, in a space that appeared empty, a large mass of murky dark red smoke burst forth.

As soon as the smoke appeared, it violently tore through the Flame Palm that was grasping the Time Manipulator, and a portion of it enveloped him, protecting him inside. Then, a figure emerged from the dark red smoke.

It was a grim man in his thirties or forties, wearing a black and red shroud, with long black hair, who stared intently at me and spoke in a solemn voice, as if he had just crawled out of a grave: "Zhuang Cheng..."

This was my first time seeing this face. Although it was our "first encounter," I recognized his true identity immediately. That familiar mana fluctuation and the imposing aura told me that this man was Evil, Impermanence Ming Zhuo, who had once invaded Mazao’s dreams and nearly killed both me and Mazao.

I’m not sure if he was just in a heavily soundproofed laboratory, or busy with other matters, but it seems he finally realized the anomaly occurring here and rushed to the scene.

The nearby guards, witnessing this scene, fell silent as cold cicadas, none daring to step forward, and it seemed that some were even stealthily backing away, as if fearful of being engulfed in the dark fury about to be unleashed by Ming Zhuo.

"I didn’t come after you; you should be grateful for that. Yet, you still had the audacity to come here yourself; are you tired of living?" Ming Zhuo said chillingly.

"’I, Zhuang Cheng, will come after you’—I am here to fulfill that promise," I said.

"Now that you’ve found me, what more can you do?" Ming Zhuo’s voice was cold, "Becoming Impermanence in such a short period of time, I admit your achievements far surpassed all my expectations. But what of it?

"After becoming Impermanence, instead of honing your skills, lacking the patience to grow gradually, not understanding the value of life, unaware of the gap between us... you dare to wreak havoc on my turf. Even your level of superficiality exceeds my imagination. Such immense talent wasted on someone like you, it’s truly like casting precious pearls to pigs—a massive waste."

"It sounds as if you would spare us if I were just to lie low," I said, "Your life is now less than ten years long; the one who is truly in a hurry isn’t me, it’s you, isn’t it?"

"This news is more or less public by now; so what if I admit it? Indeed, I am desperate."

Ming Zhuo unexpectedly admitted his predicament, then continued, "So I’m giving you an opportunity now. Although you say I won’t let you go, that notion is incorrect. At least there are no irreconcilable conflicts between us. My target isn’t you, but that little girl on your side.

"Hand over that little girl, and all past grievances between us, including you killing my subordinate with the Divine Spear, and your impolite invasion of my laboratory this time, can all be forgiven.

"Not only that, but you can also earn my friendship. Whatever you want, I can find it for you. What do you want? A beauty to replace that little girl, or a powerful magical artifact? Anything I have, you can ask of me."

His attitude, utterly different from his previous all-disregarding demeanor when invading Mazao’s dreams, showed how significant my becoming Impermanence was in his eyes.

"There are indeed some things I want from you, but I don’t need you to give them to me. I will take them myself."

I extended my right hand towards the Time Manipulator he was protecting.

"First, his life."

In full view of everyone, flames violently burst from inside the body of the Time Manipulator, incinerating both his body and spirit into ashes.

"——Zhuang Cheng!!!" Ming Zhuo roared furiously.

"Next, it’s your turn, Ming Zhuo," I said.