Chapter 410: The Final "Wish"

Chapter 410: The Final "Wish"

The crimson light had yet to dissipate when the mark between Lu Ke's brows suddenly gleamed.

In the "Dragon Lock Well", the countless dark, twisted chains that bound the dual-bodied, three-headed Wraith Dragon were engulfed by the all-encompassing Chaos Gastric Fluid, silently melting into its body.

The "City of Catastrophe", already mostly contained with the help of the Western Continent's higher beings, offered no resistance and was fully absorbed in this moment of apotheosis, signifying that the "Source Substance" of all calamities had a new master.

The red and black hues on Lu Ke's body became even more vivid. Though his form remained unchanged, his aura surged boundlessly, causing all sorts of disasters to erupt around him.

Disasters triggered by the pure power of the Red Priest, calamities ignited from within by the Primordial Witch, chaos and strife, and the end of days and the final moments of existence.

This power caused the chaotic rules of the Astral Plane to clash, leading to deformities in the newborn Crimson Moon, transforming parts of the amorphous gray mist into black and white, and igniting the emotions of the great tree symbolizing desire.

With Adam, half of an Ancient One, as his ally, and now a true god as the Red Priest, having fully absorbed the City of Catastrophe and borrowed strength from his true form, Lu Ke at this moment was infinitely close to being a true Ancient One, surpassing the partial power transmitted by the Fallen Mother Goddess, the Amorphous Mist, and the Desire Mother Tree.

The great tree, symbolizing various desires, broke free from the ignited emotions and let out a thunderous roar that echoed across the Astral Plane, rousing the most primal instincts of all living beings.

The misty canvas of light, the bronze-colored eyes, the layered spheres of lightning, and the plump woman cradling an infant were all stirred by a deep desire to survive and a sense of terror.

They trembled, ceasing their efforts to uphold the barrier and retreated as streams of light back into their divine realms.

The massive, sun-like figure also uncontrollably rushed toward the divine realms but, seemingly prepared for certain death, halted mid-flight and radiated a sacred, scorching light to continue supporting the barrier.

Crack! Crack!

The barrier became unstable once more, emitting a fine, cracking sound.

The massive figure raised its head, lifting its hands to support the sky, its eyes reflecting the fractured barrier.

It slightly relaxed its resistance, allowing the chaotic influence to penetrate more fiercely and actively advancing one step toward the rebirth of the Primal God.

As it lost more of its self, it also drew closer to becoming the Lord of the Astral Plane, able to harness more power.

The chaotic rules of the entire Astral Plane unified at this moment, filling the additional cracks, reinforcing the barrier as a symbol of the Astral Pillar!

The Crimson Moon rose, showering the area with the power of "renewal", its momentum undiminished.

The Fallen Mother Goddess, the "Mother of All Things", is known as the "Undying One" and, as the "Sovereign of the Real World", cannot be truly destroyed as long as the world itself remains unobliterated.

Sensing the tenacity of the enemy before her and recognizing that she was not among the most powerful of the Ancient Ones, the Amorphous Mist did not confront Lu Ke directly.

Instead, it divided into six portions, rushing toward the four true gods who had retreated to their divine realms, as well as the massive figure and the sun beside it, which, due to the departure of all other gods except the Eternal Sun, could only support the barrier with all their might and were unable to counterattack.

Though somewhat weaker compared to the powerful, near-great beings, it remained unshakable when dealing with the true gods influenced by the roar and gripped by fear.

Lu Ke's face was expressionless, his pure iron-black eyes glowing, and a feeling of being "anchored" rose in the hearts of all his enemies.

His form became immensely majestic, as if capable of shattering the entire Astral Plane, radiating an indescribable majesty that compelled all who saw him to kneel in submission.

He extended his right hand toward the Crimson Moon, and the sea containing all colors, with its crimson tide, surged toward the full moon, pure "destruction" enveloping "renewal."

Even as it emitted a more brilliant crimson moonlight, the massive celestial body still uncontrollably retreated, the speed of destruction outpacing growth, with "renewal" being consumed by "destruction" before it could even reach its destination.

Lu Ke then turned his gaze toward the Eternal Roarer.

In the sea containing all colors, a blood-red "sun" more brilliant and terrifying than the Eternal Sun emerged, infused with the concepts of "destruction" and "conquest", utterly repelling all dark forces.

All shadows dispersed, all anomalies were torn apart, and blood-black flames ignited the great tree symbolizing desire, causing it to let out wave after wave of roars.

But Lu Ke remained indifferent, showing no desire and seemingly unaffected, allowing the blood-black flames of destruction to continue burning, relentlessly destroying the great tree.

He redirected his gaze to the six portions of the gray mist that had begun to invade the divine realms of the four gods, as well as the massive figure and the sun beside it.

With his left hand free, he pointed at one of the mist portions and clenched his fingers.

That portion of the mist suddenly burst with a force of self-aggregation, causing the other scattered portions to return to it, forcing it to once again become a whole.

Symbol of Unity!

The six portions of mist merged back into one, forming an amorphous cloud. The reckless manipulation finally infuriated the entity, spurring it to overcome its fear and rush toward Lu Ke.

It could sense that this "convergence" was far weaker than the previous one. Dealing with both the Crimson Moon and the Tree of Desire must have pushed Lu Ke to his limits.

With its addition, the balance could be broken!

Gray mist erupted, shrouding the entire Astral Plane in a dense fog, blurring everything within it.

Chaos Fog!

As the Gray Order among the Children of Chaos, the Amorphous Mist's grand title is "Bridge of Light and Darkness", "Gap Between Black and White", "Eternally Uncertain Mist", and "Truth that Oversees All Things"!

The Chaos Fog it triggered would make predetermined fates uncertain, strict rules vague, and the Orders lurking in the shadows gradually acknowledged.

Lu Ke's eyes narrowed as he felt the Crimson Moon, which had been suppressed, once again radiate light. The blood-black flames on the Tree of Desire gradually faded.

The forces of "Destruction" and "Rebirth" became hazy, no longer clashing or restraining each other. The repulsion of the Blood Sun also significantly decreased, allowing malevolent curses and shadows to return.

The three forces fell into a stalemate once more.

...

Huiwu Zhi Shang.

An invisible wind blew, parting the layers of grayish-white mist beneath the Gate of Light, revealing a series of cities.

Towering skyscrapers stood within them, various cars were parked, and pedestrians were frozen in their tracks.

These cities were stacked one atop another, covered in grayish-white dust. Many buildings had collapsed, their rebar protruding like broken bones. Cars were dented, shattered, or flattened into metal pancakes, and the people were lifeless, like wax figures...

Klein, enveloped by a ring of layered, indistinct substance, gazed at the scene before him with lifeless eyes, his trembling body overwhelmed by a mix of sorrow and confusion.

He had thought it was just an accidental crossing, a temporary departure from his homeland, a return he could make once he became strong enough. But he never imagined that everything was part of a distant history.

"Fool... not belonging to this era."

Klein clenched his teeth, never expecting the grand title he had whimsically chosen to be so fitting, so piercing.

"Your friend has been hiding the truth from you..."

"He is not to be trusted, and he cannot help you return to the past..."

"But I can, if you are willing to cooperate with me..."

A door composed of starlight opened before Klein, revealing a secluded town within, shrouded in deep darkness, with the faint sound of flowing water.

Klein's eyes remained downcast, motionless.

After a moment, he seemed to have composed himself, turning away from the starlit door, allowing his consciousness to return to his original body.

"Don't you want to return to your original world?"

The whisper in his ear paused.

Klein gradually detached from the misty space, his eyes lacking their usual luster, and responded coldly.

"I won't choose to distrust Lu Ke based on an unknown voice. He may know the truth and have kept it from me, but I believe it was for my own good."

Klein seemed weary, closing his eyes in fatigue.

While this judgment might not be rational, he could not doubt a friend who bought him sweet iced tea, Xaifill pies, and cakes, let him eat at his place, and guided him through advanced mysticism, helping him in countless ways, both openly and secretly.

Trust those you use, and use those you trust. That's what Lu Ke had taught him.

Klein's consciousness fully vanished from Huiwu Zhi Shang, and he opened his eyes to find himself lying on a bed in the Black Thorn Security Company's entertainment room.

A crowd surrounded him, including the newly appointed Captain Leonard, the cold-hearted yet warm-hearted Frye, the carefree Luo Yao, the worried Miss Roxana, and Mrs. O'Leanna.

Each of them looked at him with concern, visibly relieved to see him awake.

Klein was taken aback, offering a bitter, wistful smile.

...

The situation reversed once more, with the amorphous gray mist now the sole influence on the battle.

It rushed eagerly toward the Red Priest, who was restrained by the "Crimson" and the "Roar", having just ascended to godhood.

Lu Ke possessed a part of all the "Essences" from the Western Continent, excluding the Nest Mother, including the shattered "Realm of Chaos" of the Children of Chaos.

If it could consume that part, it could instantly use the Gray Order to swiftly pass through the barrier set by the Heavenly Venerable, reach the Western Continent, and reclaim the Realm of Chaos!

Sensing the gray mist's movement, the Crimson Moon erupted in an unprecedentedly eerie red light, and the Tree of Desire simultaneously emitted a continuous roar. With the help of the Chaos Fog, they fully restrained Lu Ke's actions.

Lu Ke raised an eyebrow, his gaze indifferent as he watched the gray mist rapidly descend before him. Suddenly, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

The unfortunate portion of the Amorphous Mist that had entered the barrier sensed a familiar presence.

This presence had previously been shrouded in secrecy and obscurity, and the connection to it had been severed by the symbol of Unity of All Things, preventing it from being noticed.

He suddenly recalled Ammun's smile on the primal island.

That smile had instilled a primal fear in him, and without much thought, he had been unwittingly deceived, overlooking the fact that Emperor of Rossel did not possess the item.

The shapeless gray mist trembled involuntarily, attempting to retreat, but it was too late. Approaching the symbol of Unity had been a grave mistake.

An object materialized in Lu Ke's hand. It was entirely golden, resembling a miniature water flask with a wick extending from its spout.

"0-05", the Wish Lamp.

The most crucial consciousness of the Child of Chaos!

Lu Ke smiled as he caressed the lamp, and a pale golden figure appeared in the chaotic Astral Plane, facing the portion of the Amorphous Mist's power that had entered Earth.

"Speak your wish..."

The Lamp Spirit paused mid-sentence, his body stiffening, unable to maintain his regal and layered majesty. He erupted in a fit of rage.

"You deceived me!"

"You despicable wretch!"

"You are more revolting than the Master of Secrets!"

Faced with the non-threatening insults, Lu Ke responded with a smile.

"That's quite hurtful."

"I was genuinely intending to fulfill my promise, to return you to the stars and reunite you with the Amorphous Mist, helping you regain control..."

"The current Amorphous Mist is just a part of your main body, and you can fully regain control. Of course, you still owe me a wish, don't you?"

Lu Ke released the Wish Lamp and clenched his fingers.

A powerful Unity reaction occurred within the two torn individuals of the Child of Chaos, and the Lamp Spirit fused perfectly with the shapeless gray mist without resistance.

At that moment, the Lamp Spirit was the Amorphous Mist, and the Amorphous Mist was the Lamp Spirit.

The wish the Lamp Spirit needed to fulfill became the wish the Amorphous Mist needed to fulfill.

Lu Ke looked at the crimson moon, which emitted an eerie glow, and the massive tree whose roars had suddenly weakened. He smiled and began to speak.

"My third wish is..."

Before he could finish, the crimson moonlight and the unceasing roars shifted their focus to the formless gray mist.

Before it could react, the Lamp Spirit was overwhelmed by the loss of all mental faculties, falling into a Mindless state. Then, the crimson moonlight illuminated it, granting new life to the mist, which in turn began to erode its body.

After struggling to break free from the Mindless state, the Lamp Spirit was immediately engulfed by a sea of destruction, a vast expanse that encompassed all colors and possibilities.

Lu Ke watched the Lamp Spirit struggle in the Chaos Sea, the shadow of the Realm of Chaos hovering above his head, and completed his wish.

"...to transfer this portion of the Amorphous Mist to me!"

The Lamp Spirit spat out even more intense insults and accusations, but he was already at his weakest and bound by a contract that could not be broken.

The shapeless gray mist floated toward the shadow of the Realm of Chaos above Lu Ke's head. During this process, the crimson moonlight and various curses fell upon the gray mist, attempting to either grant it new life or corrupt it.

However, the contract signed by the Child of Chaos was not so easily broken. Though it was shaken, the gray mist eventually made contact with the Realm of Chaos and fused perfectly with it.

Lu Ke's aura surged, transforming from merely approaching to truly rivaling the power of the Ancient Ones.

His body expanded, becoming colossal enough to block out the sky, and even the chaotic Astral Plane could not obstruct his presence or the terrifying aura he emitted.

Realizing the situation was hopeless, the massive tree, symbolizing all desires, no longer hesitated. Its enormous trunk rapidly faded, preparing to return to the stars.

But in the next instant, a powerful Unity reaction acted upon it through a portion of the Shadow World, preventing it from escaping.

Especially with two undigested entities still within it.

The tree's two heads displayed fierce determination, knowing that if they did not escape, this portion of their power would be seized. They forcefully charged toward the stars, allowing the Demon King Fubati and the Bound God Tolzna to be pulled out.

With a flick of his hand, Lu Ke secured these two unfortunate beings. Now appearing incomparably majestic, he toyed with a portion of the Great Existence and turned his attention to the crimson moon.

Thump!

The moon, emitting an eerie glow, suddenly trembled, and a voice resonated from deep within its body, echoing through the Astral Plane, the Spirit Realm, and the real world.

It was a disturbing heartbeat.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end