The Grotesque Miss’s End Story v3c79

Chapter 79: Death of the Original Messenger

It had to be said that, in Luo Ling’s opinion, this was a novel experience.

Currently, almost all the highest-ranking members of the Doomsday Messengers were sitting beside her.

Judging from Zi Ke’s serious expression, the matter being discussed was definitely of great importance.

This was also evident from the meeting location.

The location of this so-called “Mysterious Tomb” was incredibly secretive. Even though Luo Ling arrived here through Yin Ke’s consciousness projection, she couldn’t pinpoint its location, not even obtaining any specific information.

Moreover, everyone present was here as a consciousness projection, and consciousness was difficult to interfere with. Only the Doomsday and Transcendence paths could slightly influence it, but even then, only a few could do so.

For example, although Luo Ling could control consciousness, this control was far inferior to her complete control over bodies and souls. Anyone slightly perceptive could see through it upon meeting her.

The reason Luo Ling could currently drastically interfere with Yin Ke’s consciousness was because it had been eroded by Doomsday to an irreparable degree, almost as dilapidated as her physical body, let alone detecting traces of interference.

If it were any other Messenger, this control would be easily discovered.

Because of this, the meeting in the Mysterious Tomb achieved the highest level of secrecy and security humanly possible.

Only through this coincidence could Luo Ling openly sit here and listen.

—Because she had already surpassed the limits of what humans could achieve.

Luo Ling couldn’t help but glance at Mao Ke beside her. Here, she could clearly sense the traces of Puppet Ballad on her. Perhaps the other Messengers had become accustomed to it, after all, Mao Ke’s consciousness already carried these traces when she joined the Doomsday Messengers, so no one found it strange.

Mao Ke subconsciously glanced at Yin Ke’s position. She instinctively sensed a gaze, but seeing it was Yin Ke, a puzzled look appeared on her face.

Sister Yin… shouldn’t have any vision, right?

Could it be that her usually sharp sixth sense was wrong?

“It seems… I’m just too tired recently, even experiencing hallucinations.”

Mao Ke sighed inwardly and discreetly retracted her gaze.

However, she didn’t know that her sixth sense was incredibly accurate.

Because in all the battles of the distant past, Mao Ke always faced the omnipresent Puppet Ballad. Moreover, her consciousness was also currently infiltrated by Puppet Ballad, so she had an almost instinctive alertness towards such hidden gazes.

This small interlude during the meeting ended when Zi Ke spoke. Zi Ke was indeed a qualified leader. Even with his current appearance, which Luo Ling described as “one of a kind,” his calm and dignified demeanor made him seem convincing.

“Zi Ke, you rarely directly mention the so-called ‘grave keepers’ future,” Chou Ke looked at Zi Ke seriously and said in a deep voice, “What happened?”

At the same time, Chou Ke relayed everything in the meeting to Yin Ke’s consciousness.

Luo Ling didn’t intercept this information. Upon hearing this topic, a hint of bitterness appeared in Yin Ke’s consciousness.

“This is a very serious matter.” Zi Ke looked around, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, as if trying to imprint their current appearances in his mind. Then he continued in a deep voice, “Doomsday’s arrival… has been brought forward.”

Silence fell, and almost all the Messengers’ expressions changed uncontrollably. Even the calmest Chou Ke couldn’t help but have his pupils constrict.

“Zi Ke, do you mean… it’s imminent?” Chou Ke composed himself and asked slowly.

“It’s not that bad, but… almost.” Zi Ke shook his head and continued, “We don’t have much time left, everyone.

Unfortunately, not everyone present… can become a ‘grave keeper’.”

According to the original plan, in the most optimistic scenario, where all the Doomsday Messengers’ major plans succeeded, as long as one became a Messenger, they would qualify as a grave keeper.

The ultimate goal of all Doomsday Messengers was to become grave keepers, continuing the legacy of star civilizations after Doomsday’s arrival.

Whether they were driven by selfish desires for survival or this noble mission, they had to first obtain the qualifications of a “grave keeper.”

For this purpose, the Doomsday Messengers initiated a series of events, using everything that would eventually be annihilated by Doomsday to gain Its favor before its arrival.

However, reality never matched their plans. After several failures and the tragic deaths of several Messengers, the Doomsday Messengers were now in a precarious situation.

And now, Zi Ke brought even worse news. The accelerated arrival of Doomsday meant that even ensuring the emergence of “grave keepers” was difficult.

If this truly was the outcome, what was the point of the Doomsday Messengers’ long-standing efforts?

“Therefore… we’ve reached a point of no return.” Zi Ke took a deep breath and continued, “This is a difficult decision, but it’s the only option.

We can only… fight with all our might.”

Zi Ke’s words made all the Doomsday Messengers, except Chou Ke, frown. Mao Ke asked directly, “Boss Zi Ke, what do you mean?”

Chou Ke seemed to have realized something and remained silent, his expression gloomy.

He met the other Messengers’ puzzled gazes and sighed softly.

Zi Ke’s voice echoed again, a hint of coldness in his tone.

“Bring destruction to all existences in the present world, regardless of the cost, until even our own selves are consumed by this destruction. This is adding fuel to the fire of Doomsday’s arrival, and also opening the gate to ‘grave keeper’ for our comrades.

No matter your motives, no matter the responsibility you wish to bear to become a ‘grave keeper’, you must give your all, because our only chance… is this.”

Previously, since Doomsday’s arrival was still relatively distant, and the Doomsday Messengers’ mission couldn’t be accomplished by just a few people, the original twelve Messengers established the Doomsday Messengers organization.

As time passed, only three original Messengers remained, yet they still hadn’t reached the “grave keeper” level.

This was because Doomsday’s arrival was still far off in the past. Doomsday wasn’t as active then, and its existence could even be considered a top secret, known only to the Doomsday Messengers.

Therefore, progressing further on the path of Doomsday was much more difficult.

As Doomsday approached, the Messengers’ breakthroughs would also accelerate, but at the same time, they were more likely to face this irreversible disaster before reaching the “grave keeper” level.

Especially now, with their past plans completely destroyed, they only had one last resort.

The simplest explanation was “gu raising.”

Using any means necessary, even their lives, to bring about destruction from Doomsday, to progress further on Its path.

If they perished in this process, all their achievements on the path of Doomsday would be passed on to other Messengers.

Until… the birth of a “grave keeper.”

Perhaps only one, perhaps two…

No matter how few, at least there would be the hope the Doomsday Messengers ultimately sought.

Upon understanding Zi Ke’s thoughts, the Messengers exchanged glances, vigilance in their eyes.

“…We’ve finally… taken this path.”

Luo Ling heard a long sigh from Yin Ke’s consciousness, as if she had anticipated this.

“Hmm?” Luo Ling immediately sensed some gossip and asked, “Tell me more, Yin… uh, or should I say, Miss Xuanyuan E.”

Xuanyuan E didn’t mind how she was addressed. After a moment of silence, she said slowly, “Because… it’s not the first time this has happened.”

“Oh?”

Luo Ling was instantly intrigued and continued, “Please continue.”

Another silence, perhaps because she wasn’t used to Luo Ling’s enthusiastic questioning, or perhaps due to the complex emotions she held towards this unpleasant past. After a pause, she continued, “Because… this is how the three of us, the ‘original’ Messengers, remained.”

This was actually quite counterintuitive. The original twelve Messengers weren’t particularly powerful.

They just happened to encounter the Mysterious Tomb together, even just a temporary exploration team.

Perhaps it was a beginner’s benefit. The original Twelve Messengers, after encountering Doomsday at the end of the “Pilgrimage Path,” miraculously survived, thus discovering the path of Doomsday, and under the leadership of a deceased original Messenger, officially established the Doomsday Messengers, proposing the grave keeper plan.

The appeal of this plan for those who knew the despair of Doomsday’s arrival was imaginable. They all agreed to it, whether for noble or selfish reasons.

But soon, after the Doomsday Messengers grew to a certain extent, and after a few original Messengers perished, dissenting opinions emerged within the organization.

At that time, the Doomsday Messengers weren’t like now, with a clear leadership under the three original Messengers, or even Zi Ke alone. Power was relatively evenly distributed among the Messengers.

An unprecedented internal conflict thus erupted.

The original Messenger who advocated for the establishment of the Doomsday Messengers proposed a plan almost identical to Zi Ke’s current one, but his true purpose was to seize the Doomsday power held by the other Messengers.

After several successes, his power became undeniable, the first in history to be on the verge of becoming a “grave keeper.”

The reason it was only “on the verge” was because, at the last moment of his success, he was defeated by the combined forces of the current Zi Ke, Chou Ke, and Yin Ke, triggering a collective siege from countless factions who suffered from his plan.

For this, Yin Ke, with insufficient qualifications and an incomplete Doomsday path, forcibly intruded into this deceased original Messenger’s ascension barrier, paying the price of countless years of darkness and suffering, replacing his ascension and resulting in her current tragic state.

After this battle, the original Messenger closest to the grave keeper level perished, but only three of the original Messengers remained.

It was after restarting the ascension system, gradually promoting high-level Relay Horses to Messengers, that the Doomsday Messengers reached their current scale.

This was the Doomsday Messengers’ most hidden past. Even the Xuanyuan clan, who had been hunting them for who knows how long, knew nothing about it.

It could be said that only the current three original Messengers truly knew the details of this internal conflict.

“If, according to your original plan, since this Messenger had already reached the ‘grave keeper’ level, capable of bearing the responsibility of star civilizations, why did you kill him?” Luo Ling asked curiously.

“…People are always selfish, and I’m no exception,” Xuanyuan E replied calmly. “He personally killed my friend, so he should pay with his life.

Chou Ke felt that such a cold-blooded and selfish person wasn’t qualified to bear such a great responsibility alone. Zi Ke… now it seems, perhaps he thought the grave keeper should be himself.”

Not all the original Messengers were strangers. Xuanyuan E entered this exploration team with a close friend, who was killed by this schemer.

Furthermore, to Luo Ling’s surprise, Xuanyuan E also briefly explained her past conflict with the Speakers.

It was because this deceased original Messenger collaborated with the Speakers that indirectly led to her friend’s death.

These words from Xuanyuan E did carry the Xuanyuan clan’s bloodline characteristic: seeking revenge for a friend regardless of the cost, a ferocity that sent chills down one’s spine. If she hadn’t intruded into the ascension ritual and faced a newly ascended “grave keeper” alone, Zi Ke and Chou Ke wouldn’t have stood a chance.

However…

“If I remember correctly, you personally destroyed a void battleship fleet of the Xuanyuan clan,” Luo Ling said suddenly.

“…You know quite a bit. But you’re right.” Xuanyuan E said softly. “I’m the most unforgivable traitor of the Xuanyuan clan, so they also want me to pay with my life.

I killed six hundred and thirty-two clansmen. Every single name is etched in my mind; I’ve never forgotten.

I’m not seeking anyone’s forgiveness or understanding. I just know… this is the sin I must bear.”

For some reason, Xuanyuan E seemed more talkative with Luo Ling, although her tone was still calm and stiff.

“…Do you really think these are sins?” Luo Ling asked again.

“You can hand me over to the Xuanyuan clan for judgment. Then it won’t matter whether I think it’s a sin or not,” Xuanyuan E said calmly. “Trust me, they’ll give you a very generous reward.”

Luo Ling hesitated slightly and said, “If that’s the case, why didn’t you go to them before?”

“Because…” Xuanyuan E hesitated slightly, then continued, “Because I hadn’t met you before.”

“…Huh?”

Luo Ling was stunned, but before she could ask further, the stalemate outside eased slightly.

Regarding Zi Ke’s revived plan, besides Chou Ke and Yin Ke, the two original Messengers who had similar experiences before, the other Messengers were somewhat eager.

“Boss Zi Ke, your words carry a lot of weight.”

Mao Ke sneered and glanced at Chen Ke.

Wherever there were people, there were conflicts, even within the Twelve Hours of Doomsday, there were small factions.

…Clearly, Mao Ke and Chen Ke never got along.

“Let me make this clear first. No harming our comrades, not even indirectly,” Zi Ke looked at Mao Ke and Chen Ke with a warning gaze and said in a deep voice, “Our ultimate goal is to become ‘grave keepers,’ the last guardians of the destined-to-perish star civilizations.

The Doomsday Messengers are currently facing an imminent crisis. If we still waste our time and energy fighting amongst ourselves, we might not even be able to produce a single ‘grave keeper’.”

After these words, Zi Ke’s gaze focused on Mao Ke and Chen Ke.

Mao Ke snorted coldly and turned her head away. Chen Ke still had his arms crossed, but his expression softened considerably, and he said, “I know.”

Zi Ke’s words seemed to have moved Chou Ke, who had been hesitant due to his past experiences. He said slowly, “I agree with Zi Ke’s decision. If anyone needs assistance on the path of spreading Doomsday, I’m willing to help in any way I can.”

Although the plan Zi Ke wanted to revive was a tragedy that had occurred in the past, in this critical moment, Chou Ke couldn’t think of a better solution.

At the same time, Luo Ling, acting as Yin Ke, also agreed to this plan.

“With Elder Chou’s words, we can’t slack off. We’re all working towards the future of star civilizations. Let’s make peace and profit together.”

Xu Ke, the peacemaker, immediately stood up and said with a smile.

This always-smiling, middle-aged man seemed quite amicable, rarely offending anyone within the organization, his dealings always smooth and tactful.

“I’m fine with whatever, haha…”

Wei Ke, who looked like a child, touched his sparsely haired head and laughed.

“Very good. Since no one objects,” Zi Ke said in a deep voice, “we must expedite our plan.

The first step is to abandon certain branch stations, gather the Carrier Pigeons and Relay Horses, and prepare for a focused attack on the origin points.”