Chapter 62: Starry Sky p2
On the other hand…
Luo Ling was also waiting for his backup plan.
Even a lion uses its full strength against a rabbit.
If Cheng Jianming had no backup plan, after being completely controlled, he would have lost any chance of turning the tables.
But now…
“Why does Cheng Jianming’s backup plan look so familiar?”
Looking at the complex ritual in Cheng Jianming’s eyes, Luo Ling felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if she had seen it somewhere before.
She thought carefully, and a strange expression appeared on her face.
“It seems like… the ritual used by Performer and Artist? Wait, isn’t this a secret technique of the Harbingers?”
Indeed, it was the secret technique used by the Harbingers to steal Grotesquery Authorities. This technique required a certain price to usurp the power that rightfully belonged to Grotesqueries.
However, it seemed that the secret technique Cheng Jianming used was more complete than the Harbingers’, and his target was the Sacred Tool Time in his hand, attempting to briefly possess the Authority in this way.
“Branches of the same root?”
Luo Ling’s gaze lowered slightly, recalling the half-sentence left by Aunt Fiona.
The connection between the Company and the Harbingers seemed even deeper than she had imagined, even their secret techniques were more complete, just not abused.
At the same time, Cheng Jianming’s secret technique was finally complete. His expression turned completely cold, just like the Time sword in his hand, their auras almost merging into one.
All the fungal threads were severed by the sharp sword glint, the Puppet Ballad’s Complete Control completely interrupted, unable to continue.
The dark sky spread once more, launching a final assault against the crimson crescent moon before its demise.
“Is this… merging with the Sacred Tool?”
Luo Ling’s expression turned serious. She hadn’t expected a Sacred Tool could be used in this way, although this ingenious method came at a price: merging with the Sacred Tool, which was originally a Grotesquery Sacred Relic.
Even if he could separate later, the lingering effects wouldn’t be small, the aftereffects possibly lasting a lifetime.
But… the resulting power was obvious. The most significant point was that Cheng Jianming now briefly possessed Sui’s Authority, Time, an unprecedented level of power.
“Not bad.”
Luo Ling’s expression became more serious. She wasn’t taking this battle lightly, even though her opponent was far weaker than her.
But the next moment, something completely unexpected happened. Luo Ling’s mouth opened slightly in shock, the first significant change in her expression since the battle began.
After breaking free from the Puppet Ballad’s control, Cheng Jianming didn’t hesitate.
The sharp sword glint was like a terrifying nightmare. With Time back under his control, Cheng Jianming no longer feared the White Witch’s domination and could use his abilities freely.
So, Cheng Jianming used Time on himself, then decisively launched an attack… backwards.
He fled.
A clean and decisive retreat.
Luo Ling hadn’t expected this. Even after building up the atmosphere to this point, even using a secret technique with lasting side effects, Cheng Jianming, seemingly ready to fight to the death…
Just ran away.
In Lu Manqing’s words, it was “popping your ultimate and running.”
…A somewhat comical outcome.
Elsa was instantly anxious. She knew the consequences of Cheng Jianming’s escape. The sisters in her team would surely die, and Sister White would face a lot of trouble.
She sent several “Proverbs” after him, but they had no effect on Cheng Jianming, who had merged with the Sacred Tool. He forcibly resisted the soul torture.
At the same time, Luo Ling’s fungal threads tried to control Cheng Jianming again, but they were all severed and shaken off by his sword glint in the blink of an eye. She couldn’t hold him.
“What do we do, Sister White? Use your invincible Puppet Ballad to think of something!” Elsa was almost crying. She wanted to chase after Cheng Jianming, but Luo Ling held her back.
“You can’t catch him,” Luo Ling said calmly.
Cheng Jianming had used Fleeting Dream on himself and, because he was merged with the Sacred Tool, was immune to most abilities. If she couldn’t defeat him instantly, there was no chance of stopping him.
Even the White Witch couldn’t fulfill these conditions.
However…
Just because the White Witch couldn’t, didn’t mean Amethyst couldn’t.
“Sometimes, a mischievous ‘rewriting of reality’ can have quite a nice effect.”
A faint smile appeared on Luo Ling’s lips, but she quickly sensed something and looked up.
Stars appeared in the dark sky, carrying a familiar yet strange aura.
And a long-lost sensation.
“Forget it,” Luo Ling whispered, releasing her hand, not even maintaining her Kingdom.
“Huh? But…”
Elsa was stunned, her cute face full of confusion.
If Cheng Jianming escaped like this, wouldn’t everyone be in danger?
“Don’t worry, Elsa. Everything will be fine.”
Luo Ling stroked Elsa’s hair, then, after a moment’s thought, pinched her cheek. “Leave the rest to another sister.”
She looked in the direction Cheng Jianming had fled, a complex look in her eyes.
“This sister has been waiting for this moment for a very, very long time.”
Elsa looked surprised, then confused.
“What? Sister White, you have… other sisters?”
How did Miss Luo Ling know so many sisters? Did she meet them at a time Elsa didn’t know about?
Ugh, Miss Luo Ling was so popular…
…….
“Run, run, as long as I can escape…”
“As long as I can escape her Kingdom, there’s still a chance!”
“The Old Man is monitoring all of Victoria. He’ll arrive immediately. Even the Harbingers won’t let the White Witch get away with this. They’ll definitely make a move!”
“Six beings acting together, even the White Witch won’t be able to escape!”
“I must… escape!”
The dark sky continued to spread, but the crimson moonlight was gradually receding. Cheng Jianming knew he was close to the light of victory.
As long as he could step out of the crimson moonlight’s range…
As long as he could reach that place…
All of Victoria would stand by his side, fighting alongside him against the enemy of humanity.
The surrounding scenery rapidly changed, blurs flashing past too fast for the naked eye to see. In just a few breaths, it felt like a century to Cheng Jianming.
The terrifying demon didn’t follow. The nightmarish crimson moonlight gradually dimmed until it retreated, the dark sky returning.
“Finally, finally…”
Cheng Jianming could no longer hold on, separating from his merged state with the Sacred Tool, collapsing to his knees, panting. The severe aftereffects clouded his consciousness.
But Cheng Jianming gritted his teeth and persevered. He took a shaky step, shouting with all his might,
“Old Man! Woman! Boy! Can you hear me? The White Witch has appeared! The White Witch is Luo Ling! Luo Ling is the White Witch! Come out and kill her!”
His roars echoed around him, but there was no response.
One breath.
Two breaths.
Three breaths.
No matter how long he waited, there was no movement.
Cheng Jianming’s consciousness had recovered somewhat, but his heart was filled with an uncontrollable chill.
Why… hadn’t they appeared yet?
Wait, where was this?
Cheng Jianming looked around. It was the Victoria he knew so well.
But…
It was deserted.
The desolate surroundings were like a lonely city filled only with deathly silence.
“Is this Victoria? This isn’t Victoria? Where… is this?”
Cheng Jianming walked through the streets, but no matter where he went, there was no sign of anyone.
And…
“Shouldn’t it be midday? Why is it night? Did Time malfunction again?”
Although the sky was still dark, it was now filled with brilliant stars.
But standing under such a beautiful starry sky, Cheng Jianming felt an inexplicable terror.
He didn’t dare look at his once trusted comrade, even feeling the urge to throw Time away.
The shadow and nightmare brought by the White Witch still lingered in his mind, fearing that fungal threads would appear again and steal Time once more.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, Cheng Jianming finally confirmed that this was a deserted Victoria.
Just as he reached this conclusion, he heard the clang of armor, particularly loud in the silent city.
Looking up, he saw a familiar yet long-lost suit of armor, covered in blood and scars, but the person wearing it wasn’t the one he knew.
“Is this… Frick’s armor?”
Cheng Jianming’s expression was shocked. He slowly raised his head and saw the current owner of the armor, a blonde woman wearing a mask. “Who are you? Where is this?”
“Who… am I?”
Hearing this question, the blonde woman seemed to fall into a trance. She chuckled and replied, “Mr. Cheng Jianming, why… do you not seem to recognize me?”
Cheng Jianming vaguely felt that the armored knight was familiar, but there was no trace of her in his memory. He frowned slightly. “Have we met?”
“No, but I’m surprised you don’t recognize me.” The blonde woman shook her head, then said softly, “As for where this is…”
She looked up, as if recalling something. “This is where they died.”
“Who are ‘they’? What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
Cheng Jianming’s face instantly turned cold. He didn’t have time to talk to a rambling madwoman. He needed to contact the Company directors quickly.
“To not even know who I and they are…”
The blonde woman smiled, a hint of sorrow in her expression. She said slowly,
“Wilson, Helen, Lucia, Old Victor… joined the third branch of the Fate Society, the Hunt team, fifteen years ago. Completed three A-rank missions, seventy-six B-rank missions, three hundred and forty-five C-rank missions… sacrificed during the ‘Rescue of the Dawn Wind Theatre Troupe’ mission. I am their captain, Linna.”
Linna removed her mask, revealing a face covered in fungal threads, grotesque yet still beautiful. She said, “Now, do you understand?”
He hadn’t even remembered those who were “sacrificed,” yet he had set this trap.
“Linna… you’re Fiona’s daughter! You’re still alive! And you… became a Grotesquery!” Cheng Jianming was shocked and furious, his expression mirroring the traitor’s from back then, his words echoing those spoken to the traitor. “You actually chose to betray humanity! You will be hunted by all of mankind, your name forever etched in infamy! Even your mother will be disgraced! Your teammates will be ashamed of you!”
“Is that so?” Linna smiled faintly. “But they can’t hear you anymore.”
She took out a long-barreled firearm, the Sacred Tool that Luo Ling had taken, now back in her hands.
Cheng Jianming realized what Linna was about to do, but he was completely exhausted, struggling to even use his power once more, let alone…
The nightmarish fungal threads appeared again, completely extinguishing his hope of escape.
“Go apologize to them.”
A booming gunshot echoed.
All life drained from Cheng Jianming’s face. He slowly knelt down, his upturned head revealing eyes filled with terror.
Then, he fell into eternal Silent Demise.
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