Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 79 – Stepped Right on My Face
This was an unavoidable conspiracy.
Even with Luo Yan’s sensitivity to demonic auras, she couldn’t have detected the anomaly on the Ember Furnace’s outer wall in that situation.
Only after the crimson monster, Frick’s transformed form, was defeated, could she sense the presence of another Devil’s minion.
Luo Yan recalled the crimson figure’s mocking words before its death:
“…It’s not… over…”
So that’s what it meant…
Twisted by the “Witch of Envy,” these Devil’s minions lost all traces of their humanity.
They would do anything for the Witch, even sacrifice their own lives.
This went beyond fanaticism; it was an instinctual devotion. Sacrificing themselves to serve, or even just to please, their Lord wasn’t uncommon.
Judging from the corroded piece of the Furnace wall, the other Devil’s minion, under the cover of the crimson figure, had likely already infiltrated the Ember Furnace.
Even worse, it might have already begun to corrupt the “Ember.”
Once the corruption was complete… Yan City would be doomed, and the “Witch of Envy” would have enough energy to fully descend, not just a mere fragment of her will.
This had to be stopped.
However, against a Devil’s minion, numbers weren’t an advantage, but a liability.
Especially inside the Ember Furnace… space was limited; they needed a small, specialized team.
Luo Yan pondered for a moment, then pointed at Lin Cheng and Li Ping.
“You, and you, come with me.”
Before they could respond, she turned and pointed at Rhine.
“You too.”
“…As you command, Eldest Mister,” Rhine bowed slightly, his expression serious.
He also sensed the danger. This wasn’t just Yan City’s problem anymore.
Once this demonic breeding ground was complete, all of humanity, even Dawn, would be threatened.
“Forgive my bluntness, Eldest Mister,” Lin Cheng stepped forward, frowning. “I’m willing to trust you, but the other one…”
He looked at Rhine warily, who remained expressionless.
“You understand the importance of the Ember Furnace to Yan City,” Li Ping added. “Allowing outsiders to enter is already a risk, let alone… a Dawn Cadre, especially now, during a war.”
“I’m here,” Luo Yan glanced at Li Ping indifferently, then quickly looked away.
“Besides, can Yan City handle a Devil’s minion who might have already partially corrupted the ‘Ember’ on its own?”
…It was still awkward to make eye contact with acquaintances, even in this situation.
Fortunately, Luo Yan’s face was covered in bandages, hiding her embarrassment.
Li Ping paused, then nodded.
“…I have no objections.”
“I… am also willing to trust Mister’s judgment.”
Lin Cheng also agreed, emphasizing “Mister.”
He trusted Mister, not Dawn.
With Luo Yan’s intervention, a temporary truce was established between Yan City and Dawn.
And Yan City now needed Dawn’s help to protect their city’s heart.
Reinforcements from other mega-cities were arriving, but they wouldn’t be able to participate in this sudden crisis, only assisting with evacuations.
Tension filled Yan City as the core district’s residents were evacuated to other districts.
With the threat of the “Witch of Envy’s” descent and the potential corruption of the Ember Furnace, Yan City was even considering deploying the “Ice Coffin Weapon.”
Of course, they didn’t know that their “Ice Coffin Weapon” was standing right before them…
Due to strict secrecy and to avoid panic, only those involved in the retrieval process had ever seen the “Ice Coffin Weapon’s” true form.
Unfortunately, besides Hua Qiling, all those involved had died over the years.
Not because of a curse…
Yan City, being on the edge of civilization, closer to the depths of the Endless Wasteland, frequently faced disasters.
Therefore, their ability user casualty rate was unusually high, constantly over five percent.
Meaning, on average, every year, five out of every hundred ability users were either killed or permanently incapacitated, a shocking statistic to other mega-cities.
Yan City was now in its most critical state ever, even worse than during the war.
The preparations before entering the Furnace didn’t take long. Just a minute after Luo Yan decided to confront the Devil’s minion, Yan City adjusted its strategy.
Li Ping remained outside to oversee the overall situation, only Lin Cheng accompanying Luo Yan and Rhine into the Ember Furnace.
Luo Yan hadn’t considered this carefully. Yan City couldn’t afford to send both its top leaders into such a dangerous situation; someone had to remain in command.
Li Ping had wanted to enter, as Director-General of the Anomaly Management Bureau, disaster events fell under his jurisdiction.
However, his injuries were more severe than Lin Cheng’s, and this mission could involve a dangerous battle. In his weakened state, he would be a liability.
Therefore, City Lord Lin Cheng went in his place.
Time was of the essence, and with no further preparations needed, Rhine and Lin Cheng quickly joined Luo Yan, ready to enter the Ember Furnace.
They maintained a distance from each other, wary, Luo Yan standing between them, feeling their gazes like daggers on her back.
“…”
The pressure was immense.
Luo Yan shifted uncomfortably, grateful for the bandages… otherwise, her blushing face would have betrayed her.
After all, how could the Eldest Mister, who had weathered countless storms, show such shyness?
However, thinking of the situation inside, Luo Yan calmed herself.
This disaster… had to be stopped.
And perhaps… she was the only one who could do it.
Luo Yan believed that One’s actions before her consciousness faded had a purpose.
“Let’s go.”
Luo Yan exhaled, casually forming a spear of spatial energy in her hand, then walked towards the Ember Furnace.
Lin Cheng and Rhine followed immediately, but as Rhine saw the spear in Luo Yan’s hand, a sense of familiarity washed over him.
That spear… looked familiar…
…
Just as Luo Yan had predicted, the other Devil’s minion, “Qin Wen,” had successfully breached the outer wall and infiltrated the Ember Furnace.
Although her earlier outburst, triggered by touching upon a forbidden memory, had almost caused her to lose control, along with the crimson figure outside…
It wasn’t all bad news.
“Qin Wen” and Qin Wen were one and the same; the pain she felt, Qin Wen also felt.
Qin Wen’s consciousness had been struggling against “Qin Wen,” but overwhelmed by the frenzy, she could no longer restrain the crimson tentacles.
Human materials were no match for this demonic power, and the outer wall had been quickly corroded, a large hole appearing.
The entire outer wall of the Ember Furnace, including the buried portion, was a single, continuous structure.
The only entrance was at the top, highly visible and heavily guarded.
“Qin Wen’s” chosen path was the fastest way to reach the Ember’s core.
But it was also incredibly risky. The outer wall was just the first layer of defense.
The true danger lay within the “Ember” itself. “Qin Wen” was essentially throwing herself into a volcano.
Just as demonic power eroded living beings, the “Ember’s” energy eroded demons. The sanctuary Noah used to seal the “Witch of Absolute Death” was powered by multiple “Embers.”
Unless the “Ember” was completely corrupted by demonic power, and before that happened, this body might not be able to withstand the burning energy.
But what did it matter?
As long as it allowed the Lord to descend…
What was death?
A strange smile appeared on “Qin Wen’s” face as she moved through the Ember Furnace, approaching the core.
Almost all the crimson tentacles were incinerated by the “Ember’s” aura the moment they entered.
Qin Wen, using her remaining consciousness to control half of the tentacles and try to prevent this disaster, had vanished along with them.
The “Witch of Envy’s” influence now completely dominated this body, twisting Qin Wen’s heroic features, adding a touch of seductive charm.
“Almost… almost there…”
“The great Lord… will return through the ‘Eye of Malice’!”
Although her pace slowed as she approached the “Ember,” her fanaticism didn’t waver.
A rhythmic pulse, like a heartbeat, echoed in the air, intricate machinery surrounding a crystal-clear gem.
This small gem pulsed with a faint heartbeat, traces of the “Ember’s” aura leaking through the gaps in the machinery.
The “Ember’s” aura washed over “Qin Wen,” causing blood to trickle from her orifices, but she didn’t stop.
This wasn’t her target; her target was… the space within the “Ember.”
This gem was merely the entrance, a small gem couldn’t possibly contain such endless energy.
Only by entering this gateway could one reach the “Ember’s” inner space, to directly access its power.
Whether to trigger the “Ember’s” eruption or suppress its energy, it had to be done from within.
With sufficient preparation and protection, even a Devil’s minion could safely approach and enter the “Ember.” Although risky, it was manageable.
But “Qin Wen” didn’t have time for preparations. This war was an opportunity, and currently, there was no one within the Ember Furnace who could enter the “Ember’s” space.
“Qin Wen” didn’t know what was happening outside. She couldn’t communicate with the crimson figure, Frick’s transformed form; their cooperation was based on their shared fanaticism for the “Witch of Envy.”
Therefore, she didn’t know about the “Eldest Mister” or the ceasefire. She only knew that Sun Biwu had attempted to trigger the “Ember’s” eruption (although he had failed), and the Ember Furnace should be at its weakest now.
“It’s terrifying… even at its weakest, being this close… I can feel my consciousness being eroded…”
“Qin Wen” shuddered, feeling the burning pain in her soul.
If the “Ember” hadn’t just attempted to erupt, she would have been annihilated the moment she entered.
But thankfully, she had succeeded.
Having reached this point, no one could stop her…
The entrance to the “Ember” was right before her. “Qin Wen” forced her weakened body forward, smashing the surrounding machinery.
With her consciousness half-gone, she reached out and touched the “Ember” crystal.
A blinding white light flashed, and a wave of dizziness, like being tossed around in a chaotic spatial current, washed over her.
As her consciousness was about to be consumed by the white light, “Qin Wen” felt her feet touch solid ground.
“I did it!”
She almost cheered, but quickly suppressed her excitement. She didn’t have much time left.
She had to hurry and retrieve the “Eye of Malice”…
She could die, but only after the “Lord” descended!
“Qin Wen” waved her hand, and a coffin, seemingly made of ancient ice, appeared, radiating a chilling aura.
Within the transparent coffin, a beautiful, silver-haired girl lay peacefully, as if asleep.
“Lord…”
“Qin Wen” murmured, about to begin her prayer.
But just then, a spatial rift opened beside her, and a small, bandaged foot stepped out, landing directly on the coffin.
“Qin Wen” gasped in shock.
Luo Yan looked down and almost retracted her foot.
“…Did I just step on my own face…?”
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