Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 561 - 527 Little Bowl’s Awareness

Chapter 561: 527 Little Bowl’s Awareness

"Sorry, I don’t quite understand... What do you mean ’teleportation’ doesn’t work but walking does?" I asked. "Can we walk directly across the void to the fifteenth-floor basement?"

"Yes... provided we first find the direction of the basement." Little Bowl actually nodded.

Then, she added, "To be precise, we actually don’t need to truly cross this void... The obstacle itself doesn’t exist."

"Non-existence..." I felt like I understood.

Little Bowl continued to explain: "The first thing we can confirm is that the essence of the void is non-existence; there is no space, no time, no matter, and no energy; it cannot be entered or block others, thus it cannot become an obstacle to anything.

"On the other hand, the fifteenth-floor basement is a space adjacent to the time and space of the Doomsday Era. If we combine these two clues, we can come to this conclusion—"

Hearing this, I followed up naturally: "The fifteenth-floor basement... borders the land of the Doomsday Era?"

"Exactly." Little Bowl nodded.

"But I’ve pierced through the walls of the fifteenth-floor basement and peeked outside. There, I can’t see the land of the Doomsday Era, only boundless darkness." I said.

"The fifteenth-floor basement is a space within the void, that’s a fact; and bordering the land of the Doomsday Era, that could also be a fact. Perhaps it’s in a mysterious superimposed state." Little Bowl said, "I’m speculating that, generally, the fifteenth-floor basement is an isolated island lost in the void, with no connection to the real world. Only in certain special circumstances will the ’bordering the real world’ attribute manifest."

"Certain special circumstances..." I pondered, "I’m still somewhat incredulous. Little Bowl, are your speculations merely flimsy conjectures, or are they predictions based on your extraordinary intuition? Or is there factual support for these speculations?"

"Of course not conjecture. As for intuition... my Right Positioning Heavenly Phenomena is based on the real world’s power and cannot be used to predict matters concerning void."

Little Bowl first showed a regretful expression, then seriously said: "What I said is backed by facts. The ’special circumstances’ mentioned earlier are also related to your past experiences, Brother Zhuang Cheng.

"The fifteenth-floor basement, lost in the void, only borders the real world under one condition, which is the moment when it establishes a connection with individuals from the real world."

Her analysis suddenly enlightened me. Yes, her speculations are factually supported. In the modern world, only when Changan and I approach the fifteenth-floor rental house does the entrance to the basement appear. In my past reasoning, this was because I have a connection with the Divine Seal Fragment once hidden in the basement, and Changan likely shares the same situation.

Returning lost items to reality requires the power of connection... This theory seems to relate to the idea that losing connection leads to being lost, linked to Impermanence.

Regardless of whether my past reasoning was correct, the fact that the entrance appears with my or Changan’s proximity is indisputable. This also means that as long as I physically move to the junction point between the Doomsday Era and fifteenth-floor basement, the entrance into it is also likely to appear. That’s why Little Bowl said walking could work.

Upon careful reflection, the vast dark space where the fifteenth-floor basement is situated seems off as well. My flames cannot exist in the void; even the space itself does not hold, yet in the past my fireballs roamed that darkness. This presentation of a non-void nature seems to also corroborate the superimposed state of the fifteenth-floor basement being both void and real.

"However... why can that basement exist in the void?" I wondered.

Even Impermanence cannot maintain existence in the void, and though I can do so due to my special nature, it’s hard to say it can last long.

I hadn’t intended to voice this question to Little Bowl, but since we were in a state of spiritual synchronization, Little Bowl seemed to sense this strong question as well.

Then, she actually offered her analysis: "The only special thing about the fifteenth-floor basement is that it once housed the ’container’ for the Divine Seal Fragment.

"Regardless of why the Divine Seal Fragment initially bound to you, Brother Zhuang Cheng, appeared there, since you can exist in the void to some extent, the Divine Seal Fragment shouldn’t easily be eradicated in the void. And maybe, the basement space itself received some kind of benefit, allowing it to continue existing."

I naturally raised a doubt: "But the Divine Seal Fragment there has been taken by me, yet how do you explain the continued existence of that space?"

"Although the Divine Seal Fragment there has been taken, the Void Envoy bound to the Divine Seal Fragment has remained inside the basement, never leaving," Little Bowl said.

I took a moment to unravel the logic in it.

My body is my flame, my flame is my spirit, and where the flame is, I am. In other words, since the white candle in the fifteenth-floor basement hasn’t extinguished, it means my existence is, in fact, always dwelling in that space.

Is this even possible? Although I have always advocated this notion, can it really be justified?

"Brother Zhuang Cheng, let’s stop observing the basement of the fifteenth floor for now." Little Bowl suggested first.

Following her suggestion, I ended the observation and exited the state of spiritual synchronization.

Little Bowl then opened her eyes, and the color of her eyes reverted from an unusual lake blue to a normal jet black.

She didn’t immediately let go of my palm; rather, she continued to hold it gently with her hands as if seeking comfort, while explaining her proposal: "Although we don’t know exactly how the time flows in that basement space, at least while we were observing there, the white candle was in a state of normal burning and consumption. At a glance, it can only burn for another hour at most.

"I also noticed the complete candles stored in other places, even if they were burned from the start, they would only last for two or three hours at most. And Brother Zhuang Cheng, you’ve been in the Doomsday Era for far more than just this time.

"This might suggest that when we’re not observing, even though your connection with that place remains, the time flow there is stagnant or extremely slow. Once the candle there burns out completely, your hope of returning to the modern world will also vanish.

"Furthermore, the reason why the basement we analyzed previously could exist in the void was merely my speculation under a lack of clues and cannot be directly used as truth. Even though the candle remains burning, the place might still be akin to a bubble in the ocean, ready to vanish at any moment.

"Therefore, before reaching the junction between the basement and the real world, it’s best we avoid any form of observation on that place... preferably not even maintaining any sensory link to the candle there."

Her level of meticulous thinking is quite high, and her reasoning ability clearly surpasses mine... While evaluating her intellect, I raised a question: "So... do you have a way to find that junction?"

"Not for the time being." Little Bowl shook her head. "At this stage, either we try to further strengthen your connection with the candle, or rely on the bond between you and the candle, and hope luck might bring us closer.

"I’ll continue to consider ways for the former, while the latter..."

"If luck can help, perhaps the broomstar power might assist us." I said, "Little Bowl, can you use your perception to see if I still possess Mazao’s broomstar power?"

"You’re worried that your experiences in the void might have washed away Sister Mazao’s power of misfortune? Rest assured, that strength still temporarily remains with you." Little Bowl nodded, "It might be because our relational ties with Sister Mazao are mixed with my prayers, which have strong divine seal fragment power... Based on this relational power, the misfortune power has been considerably preserved.

"However, since you’re quite far from Sister Mazao, this misfortune power has become like water without a source, and is declining."

"Declining..." I subconsciously felt a sense of panic.

Little Bowl seemed to perceptively sense my emotion, gently gripping my palms tighter, and soothing me with a gentle tone: "Don’t worry, Brother Zhuang Cheng. As long as you return to the modern world and reunite with Sister Mazao swiftly, this problem will naturally resolve. I’ll definitely stand by your side and spare no effort to help you."

Returning to the modern world... I remained noncommittal.

Little Bowl seemed to perceive something again, paused slightly, and said hesitantly: "Brother Zhuang Cheng, could it be that you..."

I immediately pondered how to respond to Little Bowl, and after a moment of silence, Little Bowl sighed gently and said: "...Brother Zhuang Cheng, I really need to talk to you afterwards..."

"...You may carry on as you see fit."

Sometimes when adults do bad things and are criticized by other adults, they remain indifferent, sometimes even holding onto many ’worldly philosophy’ thoughts in their hearts, believing themselves to be correct.

But if they are confronted sternly by innocent children, they inexplicably start to feel a sense of shame.

In my inner world, there might be such common factors. Traces of selfish thoughts were caught by this young girl holding my palm softly and staying in close contact with me, similar to someone who hasn’t been in the sun for a long time stepping into sunlight, involuntarily giving rise to feelings of guilt.

Little Bowl didn’t immediately criticize me but gently let me go and changed the topic: "By the way, Brother Zhuang Cheng, I have something I need to report to you..."

"What is it?" I followed along smoothly.

"It’s about the issue of Human God Huangquan." Little Bowl said, "You mentioned at the beginning that the reason you came to the Doomsday Era was because Huang Quan exiled you into the void by, in a sense, sacrificing themselves... Is that right?"

"Yes. I feel there might be something fishy about this, considering Huang Quan is one of the most supreme figures from the Evangelical Institute. I can’t fathom what kind of reason such a character would have to make such a sacrifice in a conflict with me." I said, "Do you have any thoughts on this?"

"Hmm... initially, I think Huang Quan hasn’t truly died." Little Bowl said.

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