Purgatory Artist
Chapter 563: The Power of Joining Forces

Chapter 563: The Power of Joining Forces

[When you wield divine power, it will inevitably merge with your nature, manifesting as miraculous, elusive, and deceptive holy abilities.]

[All such power coalesces into a single card that belongs to you.]

So God’s power had been by his side all along.

That "Jester" card from ages past had harbored terrifying might!

Liu Ping felt no particular emotion—only a quiet relief.

Suddenly, a voice whispered in his ear:

"Since you’ve deployed ’Deception’ to conceal its power completely, I shall return it to the annals of history—to the Era of Divine Gifts, a corner of the Eternal Night."

—God’s voice!

"Thanks for the trouble," Liu Ping said.

Indeed.

This moment marked the original timeline of Delia’s impending death.

The Jester card had existed since ancient times.

Only by placing it deep in the past could this temporal loop be perfected.

—And the card’s power would take effect immediately in the future.

"Once you save my Kingdom, return to the future to reclaim it—it awaits you on the timeline after you fulfill my request."

God’s voice echoed again.

"Fine, I’ll try."

"Oh, one more thing."

"What?"

"Do you remember who you are?"

"..."

"Ah, you’ve forgotten. To ensure our mission isn’t compromised, let me remind you of something."

"Go on."

"You’ve been lying to yourself."

"About what?"

"You never actually died in battle."

"But I remember countless deaths... Why would I lie?"

"Because you didn’t know how to win, so you convinced yourself you’d already lost."

"Thanks for that heartwarming revelation."

"Don’t mention it. We’re all suffering—as you said, the trouble has only just begun."

"Any other advice?"

"No."

"Then... who am I?"

"You forbade me from telling you."

"Tch. Hey—since you’re chatting so much, are you really dead?"

"Ah, yes. Quite dead."

The voice vanished abruptly.

Liu Ping clapped his hands and sighed.

That old bastard.

He gazed into the void as fiery text materialized:

[Your self-deception has persisted too long; its efficacy wanes.]

[This lie targeted only yourself.]

[Thus, the ’Omniscient Lord’ shattered it.]

[Now you know:]

[You never died countless times.]

[You evaded the Nightmare’s killings every time.]

[You merely grew frustrated, unable to find victory.]

Liu Ping held his breath, absorbing the words. Something shifted in his chest.

How pathetic.

Losing was losing—why fabricate deaths? Was pride that fragile?

What the hell am I?

Dazed, he scanned his surroundings. Everyone stared at him.

"0880, are you unwell?" the teacher asked solicitously.

"Fine. Just... uncertain about these changes," Liu Ping said.

He snapped his fingers.

The mountain of bizarre items vanished.

"Confusion is natural. Your manifestation is unprecedented—you’ll need training to master it," the teacher assured.

"Then—"

"Come with me."

They exited the "skyscraper." A carriage awaited.

His "parents" stood beside it, eyes complex.

"You’re destined for greater things, son," said the ’father’.

"Study hard. Your future is bright," the’ mother’ added.

Liu Ping nodded. "I’ll strive to meet your expectations—but first, I have news."

"What?"

"You’re all doomed," he said cheerfully.

The couple blinked, then looked to the teacher.

"Manifestation can... alter personalities temporarily. It’ll pass," the teacher explained.

"Ah." Relief washed over their faces.

Just then, a man sprinted from the building clutching a doll.

"What’s this?" the teacher frowned.

"One of his manifested items—it was hidden behind a pillar," the man panted.

The teacher examined it—a porcelain doll in a white dress, adorned with flowers.

He handed it to Liu Ping. "This seems... volatile. Why leave it behind?"

Liu Ping studied the doll.

—A creation from God’s sacred power during the card’s manifestation.

Not in the monsters’ playbook.

"First-time jitters. You understand, right?" he said earnestly.

"Of course."

"Hear that? They forgive us," Liu Ping told the doll.

It opened its mouth and declared:

"In gratitude, I shall send everyone to heaven."

Light erupted from the building, flooding the world in brilliance.

Liu Ping mused, "And this is?"

"Perfume Detonation—88 holy nuclear warheads. Evil shall be purged," the doll proclaimed proudly.

The next instant—

Screams tore through the air as the "parents" and teacher leaped skyward, only to crash against light-solidified space.

Their forms twisted into grotesque monsters, dissolving in the radiance.

The explosion roared for minutes before fading.

Only ruins remained.

Liu Ping surveyed the devastation and sighed.

"Our collaboration was effective. Why sigh?" The doll’s voice had morphed—aged, wise.

—God?!

Back from the dead? Temporarily?

"Knowing such power is locked behind saving your Divine Kingdom... pains me," Liu Ping admitted.

"No Divine Kingdom, no divine power. You’re saving yourself," the doll retorted.

"Fine, I’ll go."

"Advice: After eons observing them, I’ve learned they only respect the unpredictable."

"Act insane?"

"You don’t need to act."

"Got it. How do I claim your kingdom?"

"Ever played card-collecting games?"

"That’s the mechanic? Collect cards for a Divine Kingdom? Seems... juvenile."

"Life is a game—you’ll enjoy it."

"Any catches?"

"Each card demands a price... but trivial compared to the power you’ll gain."

The doll vanished mid-sentence.

...

One day later.

The carriage rolled through countryside lanes, arriving at a legendary manor.

Its iron gates creaked open.

As they halted before a castle, a silver-haired man in a crimson coat emerged.

"Welcome, exceptional student."

His silver eyes held no warmth.

"And you are?" Liu Ping asked—still in his blond 0880 persona.

"Master of this estate. Address me as such."

The man beckoned. Liu Ping approached.

"I heard you annihilated Milgrain World."

"My apologies."

"Your parents perished too."

"Indeed."

"Yet I sense no grief."

"I refuse false sorrow—though I pitied them all."

"Pity?"

"Life is suffering. I ended theirs."

The Manor Lord studied him, then chuckled when Liu Ping suddenly reached into the void.

"Wait." He gripped Liu Ping’s wrist.

A muffled boom resonated through dimensions.

Liu Ping shrugged. "Not in my hand, so... underwhelming."

Whispers erupted in the sky—invisible entities conversing eagerly.

"Who’s up there?" Liu Ping feigned curiosity.

"The Patrons," the Manor Lord said, smiling. "They’re thrilled by your potential."

Liu Ping paused.

Such willingness to explain... unusual.

God said they respect the inscrutable.

Is it working?

"So many Patrons... Wonderful. Perhaps I’ll slaughter them all someday."

The Manor Lord’s smile deepened—his first genuine expression.

Gazing skyward, he murmured:

"The greater the danger... the higher the value. You’re already worth a Milgrain World. Now—let’s see how much more you’re worth."

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