Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength
Chapter 53, 4 minutes 48 seconds

Chapter 53: Chapter 53, 4 minutes 48 seconds

"Its name is Styx,"

"The black water flows downward, reaching the dim and perilous cliff base.

I halted, gazing intently,

seeing the swamp full of people drenched in mud,

all naked, as if their anger hadn’t subsided.

They were striking each other fiercely, not only with hands,

but also with heads, feet, chests colliding.

And they tore at each other’s flesh with their teeth, biting until they were covered in wounds.

The sage said:

"Child, now you can see the souls of those overcome by rage,

all unable to control themselves."

..."

Ronald recited this verse with a calm tone, just as an office worker might complain about their boss on the way to work.

His low voice blended with the steaming hiss of the East Wind train, nearly imperceptible.

And as Ronald’s words ended, the "Divine Comedy - Hell" in his sleeve once again vanished.

Almost unnoticed.

A pair of special ’black gloves’ wound around his right hand.

But unlike the sin of ’assault’ before, this time the essence in the black mist was not the blood river of Hell.

——It was the muddy swamp known as Styx.

Those who commit the sin of ’Fury’ are drowned by the swampy waters of Hell, gradually losing their memory from the past.

As reflected in the abilities granted by "Divine Comedy - Hell."

After summoning this original sin, Ronald gained the power to sense ’anger’ around him, and when the black mist transformed into physical contact with an enemy, it would render them unconscious.

As for how long this effect of losing consciousness lasts...

Like the sin of ’assault’, it depends on the enemy’s constitution and degree of anger.

In extreme cases, the unconscious would never awaken.

"Spirit Limbo’s" ability to absorb anomalies was still cooling down, so Ronald couldn’t rely on it now. His primary reason for summoning this original sin was to protect himself and expand his investigative range.

Anger is a frequently occurring component in the hearts of perpetrators.

Sensing range gradually unfolding—

On the train, on the platform, behind at the station...

After Ronald activated his abilities, a large circular area centered around the main building of the station, began to detect burgeoning anger.

Experiencing the feedback from the ’original sin’ power.

Yet Ronald’s pace didn’t slow, and his expression remained serious.

"Nothing at all..."

In actuality, his current sensing range was too small.

Over the past month, Ronald had been rigorously testing and familiarizing himself with the abilities of the two classics while abiding by the laws of his homeland on Earth.

Normally, the sensing capability brought by the sin of ’Fury’ could cover an entire city district.

That’s significantly more extensive than the train station area!

Not to mention, among the angry emotions, Ronald hadn’t noticed any abrupt emotional shifts.

Even street thugs fighting might exhibit some intensified anger when they strike.

Could it be that the culprit is hiding very deeply?

Thinking thus, Ronald reached the end of the platform.

He jumped down from the track decisively and walked along the railway towards the outside of the station.

Due to the perpetual time loop inside the station, he didn’t have to worry about any emergencies.

After all, this railroad...

No, that’s not right!

Having taken a few steps, Ronald abruptly stopped.

It was too quiet!

Everything around was too silent!

The usual roar of the trains that should be by his side.

This time, it didn’t appear again?

The East Wind train forcefully left the station and gradually disappeared from view, showing no signs of returning!

"..."

Watching this scene, Ronald silently stepped back.

Whoo-whoo-whoo——

Clang-clang——

Just as abruptly, the Dongfeng Express appeared at the train station.

White steam burst forth from the locomotive as the train was about to depart from Blenheim City Station.

Seeing this scene, even the slowest observer would now understand.

And remained still, standing in the same spot.

Ronald watched the station in front of him, silently calculating the time.

One minute...

Two minutes...

Three minutes...

Until, after a full fifteen minutes, Time Retrospection occurred precisely three times, and the Dongfeng Express in front of him left and returned three times.

"Phew——"

"4 minutes and 48 seconds."

"I’ve summed up the pattern."

Ronald exhaled softly and confirmed with a nod.

Within the span of those fifteen minutes, time in this area reset to its starting point every 4 minutes and 48 seconds, replaying everything anew.

"4 minutes and 48 seconds....."

After all, it involved time.

After firmly memorizing this number, Ronald stepped back.

He returned to the spot where the Dongfeng Express hadn’t come back, and stood still again. This time, the Dongfeng Express didn’t instantly return to the station but disappeared beyond his sight, moving straight ahead.

One minute, two minutes, three minutes...

Silently counting the time in his mind, the moment the fourth minute and forty-eighth second arrived!

Whoo-whoo-whoo——

Clang-clang——

The familiar Dongfeng Express returned to the station and again pulled out of Blenheim City Station with steam trailing behind.

Under the slightly warm winter sun, it gradually left Ronald’s view and ultimately disappeared.

"4 minutes and 48 seconds..."

Muttering this number, Ronald was sure it was key to the problem.

But what exactly did "4 minutes and 48 seconds" mean?

To be safe, Ronald stood in place and waited another 9 minutes and 36 seconds, twice the duration of 4 minutes and 48 seconds.

Whoo-whoo-whoo——

Clang-clang——

Sure enough, the Dongfeng Express was precisely replaced back on time!

"..."

"Let’s try this."

As he finished speaking, Ronald immediately broke into a run!

—Heading for the vast space outside the station.

What would happen if he ran towards the Blenheim City area from here?

Would time keep increasing by 4 minutes and 48 seconds, or would other special circumstances arise?

The station gradually receded behind him.

The moment Ronald ran beyond the emotional perception range of "Fury."

Everything in front of him began to distort.

The light in the air, or rather the space itself, bent midway; every part underwent the same changes simultaneously, blending together more brilliantly than any kaleidoscope, rendering time and space meaningless.

Ronald, caught in the middle, lost sight of everything in an instant without any capacity to react and plummeted.

But this sensation lasted only a moment.

Almost instantly, light suddenly appeared before Ronald’s eyes.

Snap——

Whoo-whoo-whoo——

Clang-clang——

Once again, his feet touched the familiar ground, and his eyes regained the ability to see.

And following that, the familiar Dongfeng Express was again in front of him.

It was about to leave the station.

Ronald had returned to the platform!