Chapter 102: A Human-like Grotesquery
This long day would undoubtedly be remembered as Victoria’s darkest hour.
First, Educator of the Harbingers, to establish the Blood Refining Barrier and protect Philosopher’s ascension ritual, had slaughtered all the residents of two districts, burying their bodies within the barrier, a death toll of 200,000.
Then came the Fate disaster, enveloping Victoria and the surrounding areas, everyone’s mind subjected to the judgment of the Hour of Death, only those powerful enough to contend with Authority-level beings spared.
The Old Man’s death further escalated the disaster. With the collapse of the headquarters’ board of directors, the disintegration of the Company’s branches was inevitable.
At this critical juncture, the Boundary collapse restarted.
—In fact, this was expected, not surprising.
Previously, Philosopher had locked the Boundary, maintaining its stability despite the chaos. Then, the Old Man, using Philosopher’s methods, had further reinforced it, delaying the collapse until now.
But…
The Boundary collapse was anticipated. The surviving high-ranking members of the Order-side Awakened One organizations were prepared. This wasn’t their first time dealing with such an event; they were already well-versed in the procedures.
First, they put the low-level Awakened Ones who hadn’t been taken to the Kingdom hotel into a dormant state, to prevent them from witnessing the Boundary collapse.
If they did witness it, their memories had to be erased, like Eve’s, to prevent them from going insane.
Then, they recalled all personnel scattered outside, bringing them within the protective barriers of the various branches, preventing them from being caught in the randomly appearing voids of the Realm of Nothingness and forced into that terrifying, lifeless zone.
Only one person in recorded history had returned from the Realm of Nothingness alive.
As they expected, the Fate disaster soon ended, the Hour of Death lifted from everyone before it became irreversible.
The locked Boundary became unstable, the surrounding scenery flickering and shifting, various versions of Victoria overlapping like illusions.
But they weren’t illusions.
Even if they only appeared for a moment, these “Victorias” truly existed, which was why Kingdoms could be formed.
This was what happened during a Boundary collapse: the constant regression of time, the repetition of the past, all converging in this moment.
Anyone, no matter how many times they witnessed it, would feel a sense of awe and chilling fear.
This was the mysterious power of this bizarre, chaotic world, far beyond humanity’s current understanding, a terrifying existence.
This was why some Awakened Ones attributed the chaos to the ten dormant Taboos.
However, this Boundary collapse was longer than usual.
Although different versions of Victoria would overlap during a collapse, this process usually only lasted for a few breaths, sometimes even less than the blink of an eye, before they were transported to another era.
But this time…
In Victoria, outside the protective barriers, this continuous regression to the past lasted for a full five minutes, showing no signs of stopping.
It was as if…
The Boundary wasn’t collapsing, but… falling.
What awaited them at the bottom of this fall?
Witnessing this unprecedented, uncontrolled situation, panic spread among the high-ranking officials. The continuous disasters in a single day had weakened their mental fortitude.
And the unknown… was the true source of fear.
No one knew where this endlessly collapsing Victoria was heading.
Was it towards the origin of this perpetual chaos, or… an irreversible abyss?
…No one knew.
—-
“……”
The newly appointed acting chief secretary nervously delivered a detailed report of today’s events. The Boy waved his hand dismissively, letting her leave.
The Boy had been transferred out of the intensive care unit, but his injuries still hindered his movements, confining him to his bed.
It had to be said that after being decapitated, he had more time for contemplation.
Regarding the Old Man’s death and the Woman’s disappearance, the Boy remained calm, his speaker-mouth and camera-eyes showing no reaction.
If not for his wave just now, the new secretary would have almost mistaken the headless Boy, half-reclining on his bed, for a long-dead corpse.
“Melissa died inexplicably at the Company’s entrance, the Woman has been missing without a trace, and the Old Man died mysteriously.”
The Boy touched his chest, his heart heavy. “Even my Xing Tian heart was stolen. Just what…”
Confined to his bed, the Boy could only rely on speculation to deduce the truth of the outside world.
But one thing was certain: the Woman had betrayed them. But her true intentions… were unknown to the Boy.
He wasn’t a strategist, and now, learning all this, he felt a deep sense of helplessness and exhaustion.
In the past, the Boy’s only duty was to kill, following the board’s orders without question.
But now, both his injured body and his status as the sole remaining director prevented him from acting so recklessly.
In the past, with a head, he could charge blindly. Now, headless, he had to think carefully. It was… ironic.
“Sigh…”
A long sigh echoed from the speaker, his mechanical voice calm and indifferent.
“Come in, the door’s unlocked. At least I’m still at Company headquarters. I’m not so oblivious that someone can sneak up on me without my knowledge.”
A small, pale figure stood silently at the doorway, the unconscious secretary beside her.
Luo Ling hadn’t brought anyone else, choosing to infiltrate Company headquarters alone.
Infiltrate wasn’t quite the right word, she had simply opened a portal from the corresponding location in the Kingdom and walked through.
With the Old Man, who had attempted to control a Taboo Authority, dead, the entire Company, or rather, all of humanity… no longer posed a threat to Luo Ling.
She had practically strolled into the Company’s inner sanctum.
Coincidentally, the moment Luo Ling stepped out of the Kingdom, she encountered the newly appointed secretary.
Seeing the White Witch, who had recently wreaked havoc, the secretary’s face turned pale, unable to even scream, collapsing in the corner in despair.
For the sake of this innocent woman, Luo Ling could only use her ultimate hypnosis technique (physical) and erase her related memories.
Luo Ling wasn’t worried about the consequences of her actions being discovered, only concerned for the secretary’s mental well-being…
“But… am I really that terrifying?”
Luo Ling’s only dissatisfaction was the secretary’s reaction.
Why hadn’t she even struggled, instead giving up all resistance?
Even a single scream would have alerted the Boy, who was nearby.
Just then, the Boy’s mechanical voice echoed from the room. Luo Ling looked towards the source, her expression complex.
How should she start this conversation…
Forget it.
Luo Ling composed herself, opened the door, and entered.
Even though she had anticipated this, seeing the Boy’s current state still surprised her.
A headless man lying on a bed, a camera and a speaker connected to his smooth neck, the sight was… indescribable.
As the culprit, Luo Ling felt a twinge of awkwardness.
“Please have a seat, Miss White Witch,” the Boy said, his mechanical voice emotionless. “Or would you prefer me to call you Miss Luo Ling?”
“……”
Since Luo Ling’s direct involvement in the ascension ritual battle, it seemed everyone knew her true identity.
It was simply too obvious.
So obvious that even the not-so-bright Boy could figure it out.
Elsa’s appearance, followed by Fiona and Linna, and the information obtained during Cheng Jianming’s death, all the clues pointed to her.
However, the Boy’s almost indifferent reaction surprised Luo Ling.
She had, after all, decapitated him and turned his head into a wine gourd…
Seemingly sensing Luo Ling’s awkwardness, the Boy said slowly,
“At least for now… we’re not enemies, are we?”
“Mmm.”
Luo Ling nodded slightly, pulling a chair over and sitting down.
Although called the “Boy,” he was actually from the same era as the Old Man, their ages similar. It was only due to the Xing Tian Authority that he had maintained his peak physical condition.
However, after the previous battle, and having his Xing Tian heart stolen, the Boy looked much older now, almost elderly.
“Tell me, what did the Old Man say to you?” the Boy asked directly. “Or would you prefer to ask me questions first?”
Such a direct approach, without any pleasantries, was typical of the Boy.
Luo Ling thought for a moment, then sent him a memory package.
The Boy, seemingly encountering this for the first time, paused for a moment, then commented,
“A very convenient ability.”
He briefly reviewed the memory of the Old Man’s final conversation with Luo Ling, then, after a moment of silence, said,
“What do you want to ask?”
The Boy’s concise words saved Luo Ling the trouble of explaining.
In fact, Luo Ling had expected the Boy, like Cheng Jianming and Frick, to be disgusted by Grotesqueries, refusing any cooperation.
If that happened, she would have to resort to more forceful methods.
The current situation, however, was favorable.
“Where is the Taboo slate?” Luo Ling asked directly.
“In the Burial Ground, a special spatial Boundary,” the Boy replied. “Actually, the cabin you visited… is located within the Burial Ground.
“The five of us once stumbled into the Burial Ground and barely survived there for a while. It was during that time that we discovered the Taboo slate. Educator, Philosopher, and the Old Man deciphered its contents, revealing the Grotesquery Sequence.
“The reason you didn’t find this memory in the Old Man’s memories is because the five of us erased all memories related to the Burial Ground and then imprinted them in our consciousness in a different way, mainly to prevent this secret from being discovered through soul searching after our deaths.”
Long ago, when the Company’s five-member group wasn’t powerful enough to control Victoria, they also faced the risk of being killed and having their souls searched. Taking such precautions… was normal.
If the secret of the Burial Ground and the Taboo slate was exposed, the then still weak five-member group would have faced certain destruction.
“Can I know how to enter it?” Luo Ling asked.
“Check the Old Man’s memories from November 13th of last year, you’ll find the answer,” the Boy replied.
“…Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“……”
Such a curt conversation was a first for Luo Ling.
She couldn’t help but ask,
“Mr. Boy, don’t you… hate me?”
“Why would I hate you?” the Boy asked, puzzled.
“I decapitated you, and even turned your head into a wine gourd,” Luo Ling said, feeling embarrassed.
“We were enemies then. Decapitating an enemy commander and returning their head as a provocation is normal in war. If I had killed you, I would have also sent your Sacred Relic to the vault. It’s the same.”
The Boy said calmly, “Honestly, if I could still drink, I would have considered using my own skull as a goblet.”
“Cough, cough…”
Luo Ling coughed, unable to describe his attitude as simply “magnanimous.” It was hard to imagine how his mind worked.
Oh, he didn’t have a head now.
“I’ll remove your bounty, but unfortunately, I can’t erase your infamy. The Company… doesn’t have the resources to explain things for you,” the Boy continued. “However, I believe the low-level Awakened Ones ‘killed’ by your Apostle… are still alive, aren’t they?”
“Yes,” Luo Ling nodded. “How did you know?”
“You didn’t even kill the secretary at the entrance, how could you kill your own friends?” The Boy’s voice finally held a hint of amusement. “The White Witch, a human-like Grotesquery, yet also an unprecedented Grotesquery.
“If the White Witch is Miss Luo Ling, then I believe… even the 400,000 deaths in Jiangcheng County… must have a reason. This is my belief, and also the Old Man’s. He believed in you the moment he recognized you before his death.”
If not for this belief, why would the Old Man have given everything he had left to Luo Ling?
He would never assist a Grotesquery that wanted to destroy the world.
“Actually, I’ve always been curious, why are human-like Grotesqueries considered comparable to Taboos?” Luo Ling asked. “Is it because they think like humans? Or…”
“That’s one reason. Thinking like a human… or rather, a living being, not limited by the Path’s restrictions, allows them to wield greater power,” the Boy said gravely. “But more importantly, for a ‘human-like Grotesquery,’ which is more important, ‘human-like’ or ‘Grotesquery’?
“The former, like you, although a Grotesquery, your actions and personality… although essentially a Grotesquery, you’re more like a human wielding Grotesquery abilities. But… I’ve only encountered one like you.
“Other ‘human-like Grotesqueries’ are more like ‘Grotesqueries that have mastered human thought processes.’ Although they think like humans, learn and imitate them, they can’t understand human emotions. These are the truly dangerous ones.
“Many Awakened Ones mistakenly believe they can communicate with them, leading to their deaths. We’ve lost many comrades this way, which is why we established this absolute rule.”
Encountering a human-like Grotesquery, under any circumstances, even abandoning their comrades, they must flee immediately.
“I see.”
Luo Ling nodded slightly, a hint of unease in her expression.
If that was the case…
Then her sister should be the former, right?
But after her awakening, she… couldn’t control her urge to harm her.
Whenever it concerned her sister, Luo Ling’s mind was filled with chaotic thoughts.
“By the way, have you encountered Philosopher?” the Boy suddenly asked.
Luo Ling thought for a moment, then sent another memory package.
Memory packages were truly convenient, she could avoid explaining verbally.
After reviewing the memory, the Boy sat up slightly, his voice grave.
“Miss White Witch, if you intend to stop Philosopher’s madness, you should act quickly.
“His destination is the Burial Ground, where the Taboo slate is located.
“Previously, with the Old Man alive, Philosopher couldn’t breach the secret barrier he created using the Company’s resources, but now… with the Old Man dead, he should have already entered.
“The Taboo slate itself isn’t anything special, but the Burial Ground is different.
“What’s buried in the Burial Ground… might be… a true deity.”
