Chapter 51.15 Lanhua and Desperation
When a person offends fate, they are isolated by the world, lose themselves in nothingness, and then lose everything. They become non-existent.
I am also one of them, having lost my existence and become unobservable. However, unlike these black shadows, I haven’t lost my will to speak. It’s as if a physical object has been compressed into a photograph, a dimensional change.
Non-existent beings have lost everything they could lose, and after losing their existence, only ‘traces’ remain. Traces, as the name suggests, refer to the lingering form or mark of something. Traces themselves do not move, like a stain left behind, waiting to be wiped away.
“…Why?”
Does it still have self-will? No, was it commanded by someone?
More questions arise, but now is not the time to delve into them. I need to save Younger Sister Xinran and the others first.
Theoretically speaking, since non-existent beings have ‘no connection to anything,’ any attack thrown at them will miss. But in this world, without fate’s control, non-existent beings can be observed, even touched. In other words, attacks can have an effect. Knowing this is enough.
Extracting water from the atmosphere, condensing it into a water ball, and then firing it, the water projectile didn’t directly hit the black shadow but passed through its head. I laid a water path on the ground and then propelled myself forward, sliding along the water.
The black shadow saw my actions but ignored me, continuing to entangle the younger sisters with its tentacles. How could I stand for that? So I went over and slapped it. I succeeded in slapping it. As a non-existent being myself, I could touch the black shadow directly.
“Who allowed you to lay hands on Juncheng’s younger sisters? Leave them immediately, or I’ll slap you a few more times.”
I grabbed the black shadow’s hair and pulled it away from the younger sisters. “Did you think I wasn’t here? Has Lan Hua become weak, or can these inexplicable things now bully us?”
The black shadow spoke in an utterly cold tone. Its hand instantly thinned and slashed like a blade, moving with incredible speed. I dodged the dark blade at my fastest speed, but it still grazed my cheek, cutting my skin.
Having been injured after a long time, my guard against this non-existent being was raised. I had previously tried to communicate with these dark entities, thinking I could turn them into informants to gather intelligence. If successful, there would be a huge leap in my information-gathering capabilities. After all, no one could detect these black non-existent beings; they would just stare blankly at a certain spot, emitting unnatural sounds. But the one before me was different; it could speak, transform, and even sense my hostility to retaliate. It was special.
Just as I reached this conclusion, I heard a voice from behind. I turned around in surprise and saw a black shadow identical to the one in front of me. Another black shadow appeared without any warning. It was holding a red broken horn in its hand. That horn… could it be the horn of that War Oni? What exactly are these non-existent beings? Who are they obeying? And why can they regain self-awareness? I don’t know, and clearly, these non-existent beings have no intention of answering our questions. They even ignored our presence and started talking amongst themselves.
“Target captured: Wind Calamity Witch, An Xinran.”
“Others are obstructors.”
“You’re late.”
“It took some time.”
“Captured.”
“Alright.”
An extremely simple conversation, as if reporting their work processes, very formulaic. Like robots. This suggests that these non-existent beings are indeed acting entirely according to a set program, meaning there must be someone who ‘set these programs for them.’
“Water Calamity Witch, Lan Hua, commencing capture of designated target.”
“Hmph, do you think just the two of you non-existent beings can capture me? Even if other abilities can’t deal with you, I won’t lose to you in a physical fight.”
“F, you’re too weak.”
“In order to extract from Juncheng anytime, anywhere, and to prevent Little Bingbing from forcefully taking my place with her brute strength using wrestling moves, I’ve trained my stamina well! I, Lan Hua, am not afraid of you!”
But my confident expression was mercilessly shattered the next second. The first non-existent being to appear offered a chilling suggestion: “Lan Hua, danger level: extremely high. Recommending deployment of other Fate Witches for combat.”
The second non-existent being to appear nodded and said, “Understood. Deploying Saint Calamity Witch, Angel Mode, to neutralize the target ‘Lan Hua.'”
Then, I saw the black shadow’s belly become distended, as if it were about to ‘give birth’ to something. The black shadow then ruptured, revealing a glimpse of a white nun’s habit… Is it really a Saint? This is too much! Foul play! Referee! This person is cheating! How can you release a Saint? No, putting that aside, how did they capture a Saint! How am I supposed to play this game!
Just kidding. Of course, I wouldn’t let them succeed in releasing the Saint. “Dissolving Love!” Once captured, it can be captured again; Dissolving Love is adaptive. Did you think I wasn’t prepared? I once used Dissolving Love on myself, so even non-existent beings can be captured by Dissolving Love! Including the Saint not yet released, I enveloped her completely with Dissolving Love, leaving you no chance. The moment I captured her, I initiated dissolution! I will erase even the trace of your existence, making you disappear from this world entirely!
But it was cut down. Dissolving Love was sliced open from the inside, turning into pink water and flowing onto the ground. It lost its dissolving properties, or rather, the Water Soul Art I infused into it was severed. The one who swung this blade was a hand that emerged from the black shadow, holding a red short sword. Then, both monsters were released. A nun with twelve light wings behind her, and a slaughterning loli with white hair and patterns on her face. “Deploying Slaughter Calamity Witch, Demon God Mode.”
Both of them were staring intently at me, expressionless. Their appearance… are they controlled… Phew, this is bad. Both of them are monstrous. It’s difficult for me to fight them both at my current strength. What’s more, those two black shadows are there to add insult to injury. What should I do? Should I drop the protective barrier, exposing all of us to the attacks of Demon Lily and Little Bingbing…?
There’s no time to think; I must make a decision quickly… Fine, fine, fine—I surrender!
After a moment of hesitation, I decided to feign surrender. For now, I’ll raise my hands as if surrendering. If these shadows can only act according to their set patterns, they definitely won’t suspect my scheme.
“Senior Lan Hua!”
I exchanged a glance with Younger Sister Xinran, signaling her not to act rashly. This situation is no joke; I might make things even more chaotic to escape.
Pat, pat, pat. Someone is approaching. Who is it now? Zi’ai? But these footsteps are only one person’s. The sound is coming from behind me, so I can’t see. But Younger Sister Xinran, facing me, can see. Upon seeing the approaching person, she called out their name. I was stunned for a moment before realizing it was Yu Hui. Then, upon realizing it was Yu Hui, I was stunned again, thinking, why is she back alone? Where are Yang Shifan and Zi’ai? Why did she come back? To deliver a message? But no matter what, this is the worst possible timing. Yu Hui’s return is too ill-timed.
“Xiao Bai?”
Younger Sister Xinran’s expression is wrong. That’s not the expression of someone seeing reinforcements. Through Younger Sister Xinran’s eyes, I saw Yu Hui’s appearance. Her eyes were wide open, and the edge of her left cheek was cracked, as if its outer layer had peeled off. She was walking unsteadily, her gaze unfocused, emitting unnatural sounds. It sounded like a mixture of creaking bones and grinding teeth. Saliva mixed with blood dripped from the corner of her mouth, her exposed skin bore strange patterns, and an ominous purple aura emanated from her body. That— she added a curse to herself! And with this concentration, how many did she add… Is she trying to die, Yu Hui! Although it can grant several times the current power, using a curse shortens one’s lifespan, and self-cursing is even more severe, potentially leading to bodily necrosis!
Her crimson eyes were like a red moon, madness having taken over Yu Hui’s body. She had gone berserk. “Lord Juncheng! Lord Juncheng! Lord Juncheng! Lord Juncheng! !!!” By the end, her voice was distorted and unrecognizable. The frenzied Yu Hui charged towards us, the aura of her curse transforming into a giant skull that floated above her head.
“Bai Yuhui, Curse & Berserk, danger level: extremely high. Direct kill.”
Jiang Xueqing and Saint, having received the order, proactively moved forward to attack. Neither side would show mercy, and their actions would not cease until the opponent was completely annihilated. A merciless slaughter was about to unfold.
“Stop it!”
The one who shouted was not me, nor Younger Sister Xinran, and certainly not Younger Sister Keling. Her voice was loud enough to resound through the entire venue, and it actually made the three girls, who had completely lost their minds, stop. She stood with her hands on her hips, capable of radiating sunshine even in such a situation. Like an idiot. But she was also reliably reassuring. Her smile was infectious, and even I couldn’t help but smile knowingly.
“Class Monitor, you’re late.”
“Huh? Is that so? I’m not too late, am I? Oopsie, my bad, my bad. I had to wrestle with myself for a bit before finally making up my mind~ Hahahaha~” Li Nai rubbed her nose and said proudly with her arms crossed. “Ta-da! Li Nai is here to save all her sisters!”
