The last stream of data silently dissipated in the air.
The golden afterglow flowing from Invasion Dawn in Phainon's hand carved sharp, distinct angles on his stern profile.
Mydei shook his fists, and the golden flames between his fingers slowly receded.
The street returned to deathly silence.
Aside from the three of them, not a single active "person" could be seen.
But the quiet was far more unsettling than the clamor of the battlefield.
"It's not over yet."
Mydei's voice was low, his gaze piercing towards the end of the street.
At the horizon where the earth met the sky, darkness was writhing and expanding.
That wasn't darkness on the level of light.
It was the immune system of the entire simulated universe, which had completely identified them as cancerous tissue that must be excised.
Rumble—
The ground trembled slightly.
More "false humans" emerged from all directions.
This time, they were no longer the loose and chaotic civilians from before.
They formed a silent army.
Dense and countless, they converged into a black tide of death, devouring everything, pressing in silently from every street exit, from the shadows of every building.
Their numbers were thousands of times greater than before, endless.
Mydei nudged Elio, who was on his back, further up, ensuring the straps were secure.
He turned his head to look at Phainon, a wild and untamed smile spreading across his lips.
"You go first, I'll cover the rear."
His tone was calm, but every word carried an undeniable resoluteness.
This was the story he was most familiar with, and the choice he believed he should make.
Phainon stood still, not looking back.
The sense of predestination that had entangled him through thirty million cycles of reincarnation once again gripped his heart.
Different scenes, the same choice.
In countless pasts that had long turned to dust, he had watched Mydei use this body countless times to block endless enemies for him, and then… there was no 'then' after that.
Everything Mydei did was only to allow himself to take one more step forward.
But that step could never reach tomorrow.
"No."
Phainon suddenly turned, his fingers clutching Mydei's shoulder, "This time, at least this time…"
Phainon's voice, for the first time, was not calm, "Don't do this again!"
Mydei was completely stunned.
He looked into Phainon's eyes, seeing no composure of strategic planning, no indifference of looking down on all beings.
Only an endless, boundless pain that had settled for too long.
"Indecisive, that's not like you, Deliverer."
Mydei instinctively used his usual arrogant tone to mask the shock in his heart.
"I beg you." Phainon said, word by word, "Trust me, ahead… there aren't many enemies left."
He didn't want to see the same ending again.
Even in this false world, he didn't want to experience that real loss again.
At least here, there was no Black Tide, no eternal reincarnation, no Iron Tomb.
Mydei's heart was violently struck.
A request?
The Deliverer, who bore the dawn, was "requesting" something from him?
His fragmented memories of "Strife" and "Chasing Fire" became clearer than ever at this moment.
He seemed to… understand something.
"…Hmph."
Mydei abruptly turned his head, avoiding Phainon's heavy gaze, his tone still having that irritating quality.
"I really can't do anything with you. I thought about it, and I wouldn't feel at ease letting you go alone."
He no longer insisted.
He simply stood silently, side by side with Phainon, both looking at the tide of death that was almost upon them.
"Good, then let's go!"
Phainon released his hand, his voice regaining their calm.
He turned, no longer entangled with the endless small fry, transforming into a golden stream of light, rushing directly towards the Creator's Vortex Studio!
Mydei followed closely.
His tall body carried a person, yet his speed did not diminish in the slightest, like an unstoppable war chariot, emitting a dull roar.
The two, one after another, forcibly tore a gap in the closing encirclement and galloped towards the only path to survival.
The massive spherical outline of the Creator's Vortex Studio was already in sight.
Just then.
Several figures slowly emerged from the shadows beside the studio's main entrance, blocking their path.
They were completely different from the stiff "false humans" around them.
They exuded a living, violent, and insane malice.
Leading them was a burly middle-aged man with a tangled beard, his eyes like a desert wolf that had starved for days, fixed intently on Phainon.
Beside him stood a sinister-looking man, a hideous scar running from his temple across the corner of his eye.
Phainon's steps halted.
His gaze swept over those two faces.
Hoolay, Qingning.
In the original "script," they were "actors" in the Xianzhou storyline, having already completed their filming.
But now, their data had been recalled by the runaway simulated universe.
And they were given their most primitive identities.
That sickening aura of abundance, mixed with blood and decay, assaulted them.
"Abundance's Desciples."
"Abundance's Desciples?" Mydei frowned; in the story, these were a group of fierce Abundance followers.
He could feel that these guys in front of him were on a completely different dimension from the puppets that shattered with a touch earlier.
The oppressive feeling, the undisguised killing intent, was incredibly real.
"I'll deal with the bearded one."
Phainon's voice was devoid of emotion, the golden Invasion Dawn greatsword humming in his hand, their blade pointing directly at Hoolay, who was at the forefront, "The rest are up to you."
Mydei grinned, twisting his neck with a crisp "crack."
Golden flames once again ignited on his fists, more scorching than ever before.
"Finally, some decent opponents!"
His fighting spirit was instantly ignited.
Before his words finished, both moved simultaneously!
Phainon's figure transformed into a straight golden lightning bolt, his sword light tearing through the air, heading straight for Hoolay's throat!
Meanwhile, Mydei, like a tiger unleashed from their cage, charged furiously towards Qingning and the other Abundance's Desciples!
Clang—!
The colossal clang of metal on metal exploded.
The blade of Invasion Dawn, capable of cleaving steel, was blocked by Hoolay's bare hand.
Relying on pure brute force!
"Good strength."
Hoolay let out a low roar, grinning savagely, his other hand transforming into a sharp claw, aiming for Phainon's heart!
Phainon's eyes narrowed, his wrist twisting, the sword body striking horizontally.
Bang!
Hoolay was jolted back a step by the immense force, while Phainon used the momentum to gracefully retreat, creating distance.
On the other side, Mydei's battle was even more pure, more savage!
Qingning's hands grew sharp claws, fiercely attacking Mydei.
Mydei protected Elio on his back, but his movements showed no sluggishness.
His left arm blocked like an iron shield, while his right fist had already punched out.
With just one punch, he sent Qingning flying several meters, his data even showing unstable dissipation in mid-air!
"Too weak!"
Mydei roared, his fists like a raging storm, engulfing the other Abundance's Desciples who rushed forward!
Fist winds surged, golden flames boiled.
The other Abundance's Desciples couldn't even get close to him before they were torn to shreds by his fist force.
"Roar—!"
Qingning, who had been sent flying by a single punch, let out a non-human shriek.
The skin on his body began to tear, his muscle tissue writhed and proliferated wildly, and gray-black fur pierced through his skin.
In an instant, a once handsome man transformed into a ferocious werewolf nearly three meters tall, covered in gray-black fur!
And not just him.
The data streams shattered by Mydei did not dissipate but re-converged and twisted in mid-air.
One, two, three… all the fallen Abundance's Desciples completed this terrifying bestial transformation at the same time!
"Hahahahaha…"
Hoolay looked at Phainon and let out a loud laugh.
His body was undergoing the same change.
His clothes ripped, his flesh tore, his knotted muscles bulged like mountains, and a larger, more ferocious giant wolf replaced the original middle-aged man.
their eyes were two burning, blood-red flames filled with hunger and brutality.
"You are very strong."
Hoolay, in his giant wolf form, spoke in a hoarse voice, "You are the most qualified warrior I've ever seen to become my meal. Your flesh and blood will surely be delicious."
However, facing the terrifying scene, there was no fear on Phainon's face.
He quietly looked at these monsters, and in his eyes, a hint of understanding emerged.
So that's it.
He finally understood.
Why, in this simulated universe, the path he first awakened was The Hunt.
Abundance's Desciples, Abundance's abominations.
And The Hunt was born to slay Abundance.
This was no coincidence.
It was a pre-written inevitability.
It was to allow him, with The Hunt's arrowhead, to completely exterminate them!
An indescribable emotion erupted from the deepest part of his heart.
Not anger.
Not fear.
But the purest, most primal… hatred!
Hatred for this distorted life!
Hatred for this existence that spreads disaster!
[Emotion Threshold: 700%]
[Current Emotion: Hatred]
Boom—!
Golden flames shot up from Phainon's right arm!
His white hair, illuminated by the flames, moved without wind, and the tips of his hair also ignited with golden light, like a divine crown!
Invasion Dawn in his hand burst forth with unprecedented dazzling light; on their blade, the fiery sun emblem came alive, hot enough to melt everything!
Phainon slowly raised his head.
His eyes had already transformed into a burning gold.
"I will teach you wretches a lesson on behalf of Feixiao."