Pretending To Be A Boss
Chapter 928 - 71: A Major Event is Imminent_2

Song Que marveled at Akasi's monstrous speed.

Akasi, in turn, was grateful for the opening Song Que had created by sacrificing himself.

The confrontation between Yuanwu and the Heavenly Punishment restrained the latter's divine radiance, preventing it from bombarding the battlefield with high frequency.

Akasi used his speed to suppress the Heavenly Punishment.

Finally, Song Que exposed the Heavenly Punishment's weakness by force, using the realm of "Shared Life and Death."

Throughout history, humanity has always been the most vulnerable side in battles against the myriad beasts.

The Heavenly Punishment could hardly believe that such a noble being, second only to the Divine King, would fall into the hands of mere humans.

When Akasi's dagger finally pierced its heart, the divine radiance barrier the Heavenly Punishment had established around the battlefield began to rapidly dissolve.

In Yuanwu's field of vision, the shadow of an enemy reappeared.

However, he didn't activate the Mirror Eye again, because the battle was already over.

Yuanwu began making his way toward the battlefield.

Akasi retrieved his dagger, the Heavenly Punishment's massive body toppled to the ground, and golden blood slowly oozed from its wounds.

Wiping the sticky blood off his dagger, Akasi turned to Song Que and said:

"This kind of ability where you harm the enemy and yourself equally—don't let it kill you."

Song Que's body had reversed 96% of its beast transformation, retreating back to just 22%.

That face now carried faint traces of the handsome youth he once was.

What surprised Akasi was Song Que's impressive regenerative capabilities; in a matter of moments, the exposed heart was once again covered by newly grown skin.

Song Que gasped for air, his entire chest stained red with blood. Leaning against a jagged rock, he spoke hoarsely and with some difficulty:

"It's fine. As long as I maintain 20%, these injuries will mostly heal in a few days."

Song Que paused, then added:

"Akasi... you've become stronger than before."

"Right back at you. I won't ask what you've been through, and we don't need to share what we've experienced."

Song Que nodded silently.

Becoming stronger always comes with a price.

This price could, of course, be shared to inspire and move others, but neither Akasi nor Song Que felt the need to do so.

Akasi helped Song Que up and said:

"Tang Jing sent word: the Master of Eden cannot leave the Sacred Mountain, but has created six Divine Envoys to oversee the Eden Court on his behalf. We've already dealt with three."

Song Que nodded faintly, not speaking.

"Tang Jing hopes you can return to Baichuan City."

"In my current... condition, I'll scare people."

"Being scary isn't really what you're worried about, is it? The people of Baichuan City have seen plenty of strange things—they can handle one more," Akasi said as Yuanwu arrived.

Song Que looked at Yuanwu, who was approaching from not far away, and guessed that Yuanwu was likely the one who took down the Divine Envoy of Life and Death.

Akasi and Yuanwu had left with the Orderbringer, but what they experienced remained unknown to Song Que.

Nonetheless, this shared tacit understanding, where everyone changed themselves for a collective purpose, filled him with gratitude.

Grateful that he wasn't walking this mortal world alone—that there were companions with him all along.

"Everyone's waiting for you. Tang Jing also has something very important to tell us," Yuanwu said.

Despite deeply loathing the idea of returning to the human world in his current state, Song Que nonetheless agreed:

"Let's go."

...

...

Baichuan City.

Song Que's return brought mixed feelings—joy tempered with sadness.

The pain Akasi and Yuanwu endured, the transformations Tang Feiji underwent—all this one could imagine, but none of it was as visually apparent as what had happened to Song Que.

Ju Mang had assumed that upon returning to Baichuan City and explaining everything to Li Xiaoyu and Qiao Shanshan, he'd face a barrage of scolding from Qiao Shanshan.

But Qiao Shanshan didn't lash out in the end.

She simply felt helpless for not being able to contribute.

Anyone who truly understood Song Que would realize that as long as there was still a method of salvation in this world, Song Que would not hesitate to risk everything to save it.

Ju Mang had indeed halted his experiments, persuaded by Song Que, and in the end, Song Que became the test subject. This process was something Qiao Shanshan could grasp with only a little pondering.

When Song Que returned, only his eyes were visible.

The red pupils were unnerving enough, and Akasi and Yuanwu accompanying him back almost gave the impression that they were escorting a prisoner.

Seeing this scene, Li Xiaoyu recalled what Tang Xian had said the first time seeing Song Que.

Song Que was, indeed, someone worthy of trust. She had truly misjudged him back then.

She suppressed her mixed feelings as Tang Jing's time was limited, and what was about to unfold was immensely significant for everyone.

Everyone closely connected to Tang Xian and familiar with the situation had gathered.

Not only the human mainstays like Song Que, Yuanwu, and Akasi.

Tang Feiji with his rugged beard, Qing Jiuyu, Bai Mansheng, Tang Suoye, Tang Xiaojiu, and even Dong Ran—all were assembled in Li Xiaoyu's "Command Center."

"Everyone's here. Tang Jing, you can begin," Li Xiaoyu said.

Tang Jing nodded, scanned the room briefly, and then dropped a bombshell—

"In three days, the Master of Eden will lift the restriction on the mining area. Once lifted, the mining area will no longer be a zone isolated from technology."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran didn't yet grasp the significance, but Li Xiaoyu, Akasi, and Yuanwu instantly understood.

Tang Jing continued:

"In other words, three days from now, if the Master of Eden really releases this restriction, Qi Yuan—the long-absent Orderbringer who nearly destroyed the mining area—will return to confront the Master of Eden."

The room fell into stunned silence.

Humans naturally understood the terror of the Orderbringer.

As for the beasts, like Qing Jiuyu and Bai Mansheng, although they didn't know the full extent of the Orderbringer's power, they'd heard fragments of the tale of the Twilight of the Gods from hundreds of years ago.

Song Que remarked:

"This battle's outcome is hard to predict. Should we help anyone?"

From everyone's perspective, Qi Yuan was overwhelmingly powerful.

Though bound so as to keep out of the mining area, Qi Yuan wouldn't even need to exert effort against humanity.

As for the Master of Eden, even six beast gods working in tandem weren't a match for Qi Yuan back in the day; the odds hardly favored a solo attempt.

Yet this battle was initiated by the Master of Eden, implying he possessed some hidden confidence.

"Regardless of who wins between Qi Yuan and the Master of Eden, neither outcome is beneficial for us. Qi Yuan may have helped us in recent times, but her motive was to turn us into bait that could restrain the Master of Eden," Tang Jing said, looking at Akasi and Yuanwu as he spoke.

Akasi added:

"Though she made Yuanwu and me stronger, Tang Jing's right—humanity's enslavement under the pyramid these last few centuries is thanks to her and the Judge. Yuanwu and I paid a steep price for this power, though it's not something we care to discuss. Anyway, we owe her nothing."

Yuanwu said nothing but nodded in agreement.

Bai Mansheng asked:

"Then, should we help the Master of Eden?"

There was neither opposition nor support. The group simply didn't know how to decide.

Song Que shook his head and said:

"What's the Master of Eden's true goal? We don't know. But during my time in the mining area, I've encountered beasts capable of transforming into human forms. They're becoming increasingly human-like. Something feels off about this. If the Master of Eden truly stands with humanity, why must we endure such devastating sacrifices just to return to our homeland?"

Tang Jing nodded and said:

"Qi Yuan is cunning; but compared to the Master of Eden, Qi Yuan is a threat we can see. The deadliest threat is always the one that lurks unseen."

Tang Jing turned his gaze to Li Xiaoyu.

He wanted to know what she thought.

Li Xiaoyu, after only a brief thought, decisively said:

"We help Qi Yuan."