Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 47 - 44 Fallen Demon Hunter VS Supernatural Power User 7

Chapter 47: 44 Fallen Demon Hunter VS Supernatural Power User 7

"I am truly terrified of Zhuang Cheng now, terrified of that inexplicable ’Flame Ability User.’"

"I had never encountered a Flame Ability User who could ignite their opponent with just a look—it was already foul play, but to directly summon flames inside the opponent’s body, what kind of absurd skill is that? Ignoring both my physical and soul attacks, what was the reason behind that? I no longer wanted to face him again."

"Now, parts of my flesh had turned to charcoal and continued to emit scorching heat, tormenting me to near madness. Mentally, I had become like a startled bird, where any slight noise would terrify me."

"The moment that mana fluctuation appeared nearby, I was truly scared out of my wits. However, upon closer inspection, the arrival was not Zhuang Cheng."

"It was a man with half of his head missing, his form twisted, drenched in blood, wearing an orange construction jacket. He stood in the distance, his body semi-transparent, allowing me to faintly see the scene behind him through his body. At that moment, his expression was numb and his eyes lacked any spark of rational intelligence; he approached me slowly, lured by the scent of blood like an animal."

"This was a ghost... no, it should be said, an evil spirit."

"It seemed this was the evil spirit rumored to haunt this abandoned construction site, probably attracted by the scent of the soul-attracting charm on me. Though I had put away the charm, I hadn’t resealed the paper, and it was only natural for such an instinct-driven evil spirit to find its way to me."

"I had almost thought it never existed last time. Why hadn’t it appeared when I was here with Zhuang Cheng before?"

"Never mind that for now; it was best to deal with this troublesome evil spirit first."

"As I walked over, I raised my sharp blade. It seemed to be frightened by me too, suddenly stopping in its tracks, showing a look of terror. What’s the use of fear now? It should blame itself for foolishly approaching."

"Just as I was about to kill it, I saw its lips quiver, and in a panicked, mentally disturbed manner, it muttered, ’It’s coming... it’s coming...’"

"Hearing this, I halted my steps, a bad feeling casting a shadow in my heart, ’...What’s coming? Be clear, what is coming?’"

"Just like some instinct-driven insects and wild beasts can sometimes acutely predict changes in weather, or even sense the signs of earthquakes, tsunamis, or storms, such instinct-driven evil spirits, due to their weakness, are in fact more spiritually sensitive than many demon hunters."

"At this moment, it trembled, clutching its head, crouching on the ground, its bloody face showing despair."

"’He... he’s coming...’ it screamed in terror, ’He’s already looking this way... he is watching here! He sees! Ahhhh!!!’"

"No sooner had it spoken than the scene before me suddenly changed."

"Flames erupted from all directions, instantly turning this floor into a sea of flames."

"Caught in the magnificent Fire Sea, I quickly shielded my body with Shadow Power. However, such a level of shadow was instantly destroyed by the surging heat, and the distant evil spirit, like a water droplet in boiling oil, was instantly vaporized."

"In the center of the Fire Sea, a large amount of flames gathered and condensed, eventually forming a huge flaming eyeball suspended in mid-air, resembling the eye of a deity."

"And although the flames destroyed both the protective shadow and the evil spirit, they did no harm to me."

"My mind was dominated by shock. The giant flaming eyeball subtly rotated in the air and then directed itself towards me."

"I immediately turned and ran, simultaneously manipulating nearby shadows, attempting to activate Space Transfer again. But just as I started to run, the shadows forming my legs instantly exploded out of nowhere, causing me to fall to the ground. Shadows approaching me were similarly scorched by the flames, evaporating without a trace."

"The gigantic flaming eyeball contracted inward, transforming into a human-shaped flame, and the person suspended in mid-air quickly changed into a normally dressed human figure, landing on the ground."

"That person was Zhuang Cheng."

"I never expected you to come back here. What is here that made you return specially?" he curiously looked around, seemingly completely unaware of the evil spirit that had just been burned to death by his own spreading flames."

"With the surroundings ablaze, I barely supported myself up, watching him with emotions I couldn’t describe, unsure if my raspy voice could be heard by him."

"You... how did you know I was here?"

"Also, having seen his form amidst the sea of flames, I finally understood the principle behind his immortality."

"Manipulators of natural elements might only excel in their area, but when such abilities reach a transcendental level beyond mortal understanding, the common knowledge of demon hunters can no longer bind them."

"In the ancient world of demon hunters, there was a legendary state called ’Manifestation.’"

"Since ancient times, those who embarked on the path of cultivation often pursued integrating with the Heavenly Dao and nature, also known as ’Unity of Heaven and Man.’ Those who manipulate Water Spirit Energy emulate water’s benevolent, non-contentious nature; those who manipulate Earth Spirit bring forth the generous nature of the earth. The endpoint of emulation is to become one with or become the object of emulation."

"Those who reached the legendary state of ’Manifestation’ in their cultivation could discard their physical body, freely transform their soul, merge with the natural elements, and appear in the mortal world like a deity when needed."

That realm was no longer that of a mortal, but of a land Immortal.

I could not believe that Zhuang Cheng was a land Immortal, but his action of transforming himself into natural elements as if it were the most natural thing to do clearly had some characteristics of a manifestation realm.

The skills he displayed were undoubtedly those only found in myths and legends. Even the Impermanence, reigning supreme at the pinnacle of Luo Mountain and capable of destroying the nation single-handedly like a God descending to earth, might not be able to accomplish the same feat.

I did not expect my question to be answered, but Zhuang Cheng really did respond to me.

"Why? I should have told you, I have a spiritual connection with the flames I release, so of course I can lock onto your location."

"But the flames on me have already disappeared..."

"It seems I didn’t explain clearly to you. The flames I release, as well as the light and heat they produce, are essentially my spirit." For some reason, he answered every question, very patiently, "Although the flame has gone out, the heat is still there, and that’s obviously not acceptable."

"What... no, that’s wrong!" I said, unable to accept it, "Shadow World is an other dimension distinct from the real world, the connection with the heat should have been severed already!"

"You mean that..." he nodded, "Though the connection became unstable for a moment, it wasn’t completely severed, just temporarily unclear of the situation on your end. It’s possible for me to reignite the flames or move to your Shadow World.

"I had already made up my mind to go there, but you left before I did... That’s fine, you can open the channel for me again later."

This didn’t make sense, the Shadow World belonged to a Different Space, just like the cave on the fifteenth floor. If the latter could sever Zhuang Cheng’s connection, the former should be able to do the same.

Could it be that the cave on the fifteenth floor was indeed exceptionally unique?

Or perhaps...

Suddenly, a more plausible possibility dawned on me.

"Does that mean... you lied?"

"Lied?" Zhuang Cheng was taken aback.

Yes, he must have lied.

No wonder he was able to discuss his experiences beneath the cave so calmly with Zhu Shi and me. He had the power to traverse different times and spaces freely with his flames, hence he had nothing to fear.

I had seen it clearly a while ago; he could summon flames using the heat on my body and travel here through those flames. Since the spiritual connection between him and the flames was strong enough to penetrate the barriers between the real world and Different Space, there was no way he should have been trapped in the cave, compelled to find the missing symbols of the ritual array to escape.

Thinking back, he shouldn’t have been able to open up the cave with the so-called "missing symbols of the ritual array." I had tried the same method myself and failed, which means that approach was a lie from the start.

Zhuang Cheng shook his head in confusion.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about, but this is not the place to talk. I have many more questions for you, let’s change the location. Once I have the answers I need, I will hand you over to Zhu Shi for processing."

"Is that so? Sorry... then you’ll be disappointed!"

I was not going to sit idly by and wait for my doom. Even if he didn’t plan to kill me immediately, I had no intention of letting him dispose of my life at will. I had to fight with all my might.

I was no longer the person I was twenty years ago; now, I had strength, and with that strength came genuine courage.

—Courage without power is merely a fool’s self-satisfaction; true courage is born from power.

With that thought, I promptly launched my proxy puppet superpower at Zhuang Cheng.

Given the mana he had exhibited, my superpower wouldn’t likely turn him into a proxy puppet. But if I could delay him for even a second, no, even the blink of an eye, I would find the opportunity to escape.

Then I would do as he had said, wait in the Shadow Space for the heat to dissipate, so he could no longer trace me. Even if he pursued me into the Shadow World, without the relevant abilities, he wouldn’t be able to survive there, let alone harm me.

I was determined to escape from here!

Without any gestures, without any light, merely with a thought, my superpower instantly exerted its force, eroding towards Zhuang Cheng standing before me.

However, at the moment my superpower’s force touched his spirit,

A sun filled with destructive fluctuations also appeared in my consciousness.

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