Amphoreus.
A place unknown to the outside world, yet destined in the near future to decide the fate of the entire universe.
And now, this land that had always been trapped in cycles was about to begin one more cycle.
…
Upon the shattered earth, endless smoke of war spread everywhere. As far as the eye could see, there were countless pitch-black monsters.
Standing against these monsters was a young man.
The young man was named Bai'e. Among Amphoreus's countless Golden Scions and demigods, he was the savior whose true name was Khaoslana.
Not long ago, he had failed.
And that fact was something he had already accepted.
Even after waiting for that Lady Herta from beyond the stars, Amphoreus had still been unable to prevent Iron Tomb's birth.
Looking at the god standing high above the sky, Bai'e's face held only tragic resolve.
Perhaps he should give up.
No matter how much he struggled, it would only be futile. Nothing could be changed.
Yet Bai'e's heart remained unwilling.
He hated.
He hated Destruction.
He yearned to burn Destruction to ashes.
"For Amphoreus! For… the tomorrow that may still exist!"
"Nanook—!"
Bai'e let out a roar that tore through the sky.
Contained within that roar was no longer merely his hatred toward Destruction, but also a madness and exhilaration born from breaking free of fate's shackles and burning away everything he had left.
"I bring Destruction to You!"
Buzz!
With that roar, Bai'e completely set himself ablaze.
He burned every shred of his strength, every inch of his flesh and blood, and even every wisp of his soul.
This was not for victory.
It was not even for survival.
It was only to prove something.
To prove that Amphoreus's existence was not meaningless.
To prove that even before a destined destruction, life would still choose to raise its head and resist until the final moment.
He wanted to engrave this mark of resistance fiercely upon the Aeon seated at the very peak of Destruction.
"The proud sun that never had the chance to rise has already walked the path of ascension bestowed by the Scarred God, yet still resists the future granted to him."
Outside Amphoreus, Lord Ravager Phantylia offered this evaluation.
"What blazing hatred. What resolute combustion…"
Beside her, Phantylia chuckled softly, toying with a strand of scattered ember between her fingers.
"Though it is useless effort, I rather like this rage and hatred."
"Futile struggle. Nothing more."
This time, it was Lord Ravager Guiji who spoke.
Guiji had always had no interest in such emotional displays. He only cared about the final result.
"Hehe. You really are always so boring."
"Speaking even half a sentence more with you is a waste of my time."
Phantylia seemed somewhat dissatisfied with Guiji.
And Guiji seemed to feel the same toward her.
"The Path does not require meaningless sentimentality, Phantylia. There is a reason you are the weakest of the Lord Ravagers."
"Iron Tomb is about to be born. That is the only result worth paying attention to."
Phantylia glanced at him with disdain and was just about to retort when she suddenly sensed an abnormal spatial fluctuation.
"Starhowl? You finally arrived."
Phantylia instantly recognized the newcomer. It was Starhowl, the Lord Ravager she was most familiar with among them.
"You nearly missed the most exciting part of this show. That little flame's final dance was quite magnificent."
Hearing this, Starhowl, who had stepped out from the void, swept her gaze over the collapsing world below before looking toward Phantylia.
"I dealt with a little trouble on the way."
"A group of overconfident small fry tried to keep me there."
Phantylia raised a brow, interested.
"Looks like they have already paid the price for that."
"The struggles of ants are insignificant."
Starhowl's gaze returned to Amphoreus.
At this moment, within Amphoreus, an aura that even made her heart palpitate was frantically gathering, like an enormous black hole on the verge of birth.
"Iron Tomb… It seems the ritual is nearly complete."
"Exactly."
Phantylia immediately picked up the conversation. As the earliest of the four to arrive, she knew some information the other Lord Ravagers did not.
"Only, the new colleague born this time may not necessarily be the Iron Tomb we are familiar with."
"Oh?"
Starhowl's curiosity was instantly stirred.
Phantylia answered unhurriedly.
"That Herta from the Genius Society arrived at Amphoreus before any of us and attempted to stop Iron Tomb's birth."
"Unfortunately, not only did she fail, she may even become Iron Tomb's nourishment because of it."
As though thinking of something, Phantylia added,
"Though perhaps saying it that way is a little too decisive. That genius does have some skill. Perhaps she really can stop Iron Tomb's birth."
"Hehe. Only, the price will be being devoured by Destruction and becoming a new Lord Ravager herself."
From the side, Guiji let out a dull sound.
"Foolish. Those who attempt to control Destruction will ultimately be devoured by Destruction."
But neither Phantylia nor Starhowl had any intention of paying attention to him.
Starhowl raised another question.
"You mean Iron Tomb may be affected by Herta?"
"Influence is mutual, dear Starhowl," Phantylia replied lightly.
"Perhaps it will be an Iron Tomb possessing part of Herta's memories and obsessions. Or perhaps it will be Herta, thoroughly corrupted by Iron Tomb's essence of Destruction."
"But whichever it is, isn't that more interesting than a pure Iron Tomb?"
A trace of understanding flashed through Starhowl's eyes.
"I see."
After saying that, she tilted her head slightly and asked,
"Speaking of which, where is Qingzhou? Is he really going to miss an occasion like this?"
The moment these words were spoken, the scene quickly fell silent.
Because Nanook had personally descended, in order to welcome Iron Tomb, aside from the two relatively special Lord Ravagers, the Shaper of Kings and the Fading Light, all the others had arrived.
Yet Qingzhou still had not appeared.
One had to know that Qingzhou had already vanished for a full eight hundred years.
Ever since Qingzhou betrayed the Luofu back then, and after the Luofu publicly announced that Qingzhou and Assam were the same person, Qingzhou had completely severed his connection with the galaxy.
During these eight hundred years, there had been many speculations about him across the universe.
Some said Qingzhou had secretly infiltrated some major power again, waiting until he climbed to the top before betraying them once more.
Others said Qingzhou had long since fallen to the Galaxy Rangers, just like Zulo had in the past.
Regarding the latter guess, Starhowl, who had dealt with Qingzhou before, was utterly dismissive.
Leaving aside whether the current Galaxy Rangers still possessed the strength to kill an Emanator, quietly eliminating Qingzhou was even more impossible.
"Qingzhou… Who knows? Perhaps he is in some corner somewhere, carrying out that unique aesthetic of Destruction of his?"
Phantylia was the first to respond, not forgetting to jab at Guiji while doing so.
"Or perhaps he has been delayed by something interesting? After all, this colleague of ours is not as boring as Guiji."
Guiji merely chuckled from the side, declining to comment on Phantylia's mockery.
In truth, although Phantylia said that aloud, among the Lord Ravagers, she was probably the one who understood Qingzhou's current whereabouts the best.
After all, not long ago, she had been threatened by him within Xianzhou territory.
And based on the appearance he had shown at the time, Phantylia had finally figured out what this colleague had been doing recently.
This colleague was no simple figure.
He was actually the recently famous successor of Trailblaze, Yiqing, whom Qlipoth had personally invited.
As for such an interesting matter, Phantylia truly did want to share it with the other colleagues face to face.
But after thinking of Qingzhou's strength, the still-frightened Phantylia could only hide that thought in her heart.
Just as the Lord Ravagers were conversing, the battlefield below in Amphoreus finally reached its conclusion.
The earth shattered completely. The sky was dyed an ominous dark red, and countless pitch-black Voidrangers turned into ash amid their wails.
At this moment, Bai'e's combat strength had reached its peak.
Carrying the despair and unwillingness condensed from Amphoreus's thirty million cycles, he charged fearlessly toward Nanook, the indifferent Aeon of Destruction high above the sky.
This was no longer a pursuit of life.
It was a pursuit of death.
It was an ant launching an attack against an elephant, an impact destined to be futile yet still necessary.
At this moment, time seemed to freeze.
Outside Amphoreus, the four Lord Ravagers held their breath and focused, watching this final scene of a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
"What? None of you are going to stop him? You're really just letting this guy offend the Scarred God?"
Phantylia was the first to react.
In her view, Bai'e's current strength had definitely reached the level of an Emanator. Even if she wanted to descend and stop him, the effect would probably not compare to the other three.
Guiji immediately mocked her.
"Isn't such resolve precisely what the Scarred God admires?"
"To burn everything and launch rebellion against the supreme existence—this is the most splendid chapter of Destruction."
His gaze pierced through the void, firmly locking onto that flame charging toward Nanook without hesitation.
Starhowl did not speak. Instead, she looked toward Phantylia.
Clearly, Starhowl did not agree with Guiji's words, but she likewise would not act.
Because based on her understanding of Phantylia, she believed Phantylia would definitely choose to enter the battlefield.
However, Phantylia remained silent from beginning to end.
At this moment, Phantylia was appreciating Bai'e's resolute combustion. She merely said lightly,
"I will not act."
The moment she said this, the other three Lord Ravagers were all stunned. Clearly, none of them thought these were words Phantylia would say.
Seeming to notice the questions from her colleagues, Phantylia began to explain.
"Because Qingzhou has arrived."
Buzz!
A streak of azure light, even faster than Bai'e, arrived after him but reached the destination first, cutting into the space between him and Nanook.
The light dispersed, revealing a figure.
It was Wei Qing.
The flames Bai'e had transformed into suddenly stopped before Wei Qing. That will capable of burning everything seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall and could not advance another inch.
"Who are you?! Why are you stopping me?!"
A roar mixed with pain and fury came from within the flames.
Only then did Wei Qing slowly turn his head and glance at that cluster of flame.
"Your hatred and sacrifice are admirable. But a moth flying into the fire can only prove its courage. It cannot change any outcome."
His voice was not loud, yet it clearly entered Bai'e's ears.
Unfortunately, Bai'e's will had already become pure through burning.
It was the ultimate hatred and unwillingness toward Destruction. Any existence standing between him and Nanook would be regarded as an obstacle that had to be removed.
Within the flames, Bai'e raised the sword in his hand and charged toward Wei Qing.
Facing Bai'e's all-out sword strike, Wei Qing immediately stepped forward as well.
Clang!!!
The two swiftly began fighting.
After only a few exchanges, Bai'e's eyes widened in disbelief.
Although his understanding of the universe was shallow, at this moment, he roughly understood that the person before him should also merely be one of Nanook's Emanators.
Yet even such an Emanator was already so powerful that he could not see any hope of victory.
Then what about a true god?
Could Amphoreus truly never reach tomorrow?
Before Bai'e's mind could even react, in the next instant, Wei Qing struck him back down to the ground.
"…Cough, cough!"
Bai'e slammed heavily onto the scorched and shattered earth. The flames burning around him dimmed somewhat.
He struggled to rise, only to discover that an irresistible force had firmly bound him in place.
Wei Qing's figure slowly descended and landed not far from him.
"Why…"
Bai'e's voice became hoarse.
"Why are you stopping me? Am I not even allowed the right to swing my sword at Him one final time?!"
Boom!
However, before Wei Qing could answer, Bai'e's body ignited again.
As the restraint was broken, the flames around Bai'e became even more vivid red. This was a sign that even the essence of his soul had begun to be sacrificed.
"Nanook—!!!"
Bai'e roared once more.
But this time, his target locked onto Wei Qing first.
He understood now.
If he did not cross this obstacle, he could not even touch the hem of the Aeon of Destruction's robe.
Burn.
Burn to the utmost limit.
Bai'e's figure became blurry within the flames as he charged once more toward the enemy before him.
Facing this attack, even Wei Qing's expression became solemn.
This strike surpassed every power Bai'e had displayed before and even faintly touched a certain boundary.
"What a pity."
Wei Qing said softly.
Facing Bai'e's final strike, one that burned away everything, he did not choose to dodge. Nor did he use the power of any other Path.
He slowly raised his right hand and clenched his fingers into a fist.
A pure aura gathered upon his fist. It was the authority of Destruction, the mighty power Nanook had granted to His Emanator.
"In that case, I shall respond to your Destruction with Destruction."
Wei Qing spoke calmly, then threw a punch.
Bai'e's flames went out.
Before Wei Qing's obstruction, his final struggle ended here.
As his body fell out from the flames, Bai'e half-knelt on the ground, staring at his empty hands in disbelief. Then he raised his head to look at Wei Qing, his eyes filled with confusion.
He still wanted to say something more at the end.
But the backlash and weakness caused by burning his soul made it difficult for him to even remain conscious.
He did not understand why his final strike, into which he had poured everything, had failed to defeat even an Emanator of the god.
"Hatred and sacrifice are certainly precious. But if that is all you have, then before true power, they are still unable to withstand a single blow."
Wei Qing quietly looked at Bai'e as he spoke, his gaze carrying a trace of regret.
Bai'e's strike just now had indeed been extremely powerful. It had even reached the level of a top-tier Emanator.
No wonder, in the original story, Bai'e had been able to cut out one drop of Nanook's divine blood.
Unfortunately, Bai'e could no longer respond to Wei Qing's evaluation.
His body began to dissipate like spent embers, and his consciousness was irresistibly dragged into boundless darkness.
In his final field of vision were that azure figure and, high above the sky, the golden deity who had never once cast the slightest attention down from beginning to end.
Nanook's indifference was more despairing than any attack.
"Khaoslana, I will stop Iron Tomb's birth."
At the last moment before his consciousness vanished, Bai'e heard this promise.
Then, the savior named Bai'e disappeared.
Khaoslana, too, stepped into the final cycle.
Wei Qing looked at the place where Bai'e had completely dissipated. Only a scorched mark remained there.
Then he gently sighed and raised his head toward the sky covered by the gazes of four Lord Ravagers.
"You've watched long enough. Time to come out, isn't it?"
The next moment, four figures of different forms, yet all radiating terrifying auras of Destruction, slowly appeared from the sky.
"Hehe. What an unexpected yet entirely expected reunion, Lord Qingzhou."
Phantylia chuckled and was the first to speak.
"It has been so long, yet your elegance surpasses even the past. That punch just now was such pure power of Destruction. If it had landed on me… I truly dare not imagine how that would feel."
Starhowl and Phantylia merely stepped forward. After calmly nodding, neither said much else.
On the other hand, Guiji, who was meeting Wei Qing for the first time, was surprisingly talkative.
"First time meeting you, Lord Qingzhou. My name is Guiji."
"As fellow Lord Ravagers, I am very pleased to have such a powerful colleague as you."
"However, just now, you stopped that moth from flying toward the Scarred God's flame, yet also promised to stop Iron Tomb's birth… I am very curious. What form does your Destruction take?"
"Do I need to explain my Destruction to you, Guiji?"
Facing the gazes of his four colleagues, Wei Qing's expression remained calm.
"As for all of you, are you gathered here to welcome a new colleague, or to watch a tragedy destined to unfold?"
"Tragedy? No, no, no."
Phantylia covered her lips and chuckled, her eyes gleaming with enchanting light.
"What we look forward to is a transformation. Whether Iron Tomb devours Herta, or Herta twists Iron Tomb, either will be an interesting variation upon the Path of Destruction."
"But you, Qingzhou. You have appeared here now and taken a position of obstruction. Are you perhaps trying to play savior? That does not sound like the you I know."
Perhaps because she had three colleagues beside her, and because Nanook still remained here, Phantylia's attitude had become much more forceful.
Even Starhowl spoke in a low voice.
"Qingzhou, your stance has always been unclear. It was so eight hundred years ago, and it is even more so now."
"The Scarred God tolerates your individuality, but that does not mean you may recklessly interfere with the process of Destruction. Iron Tomb's birth is a manifestation of the Scarred God's will."
Phantylia alone remained silent.
Because of what Wei Qing had done to Nihility eight hundred years ago, she still admired Wei Qing quite a bit.
However, facing the doubts or probing from his three colleagues, Wei Qing not only did not respond, but instead issued a threat.
"Leave Amphoreus now, and no one will be hurt."
"Otherwise, all of you will die."
The auras of all four Lord Ravagers froze at the same time.
They truly had not expected Qingzhou to say something like this.
"Die?"
The smile on Phantylia's face became dangerous.
"Qingzhou, even if your strength is extraordinary, saying such words while facing the four of us at once, with the Scarred God also present, is that not a little too arrogant?"
A suffocating wave of deathly stillness also spread around Guiji.
"An Emanator of Destruction should embrace Destruction, not fear it. Qingzhou, your threat is meaningless."
By contrast, Starhowl and Phantylia fell silent together.
Wei Qing's gaze swept across his four colleagues before finally landing high in the sky.
At this moment, Nanook's gaze remained indifferent. It did not fall upon the conflict below, as though everything had long since been destined, or perhaps simply was not worth His attention.
"It seems negotiations have broken down."
Wei Qing sighed lightly, sounding somewhat regretful.
But the aura around him suddenly became incomparably heavy at this moment.
The authority of a candidate of Destruction activated.
The other four Lord Ravagers instantly felt their Destruction being comprehensively suppressed.
"What… what is this?!"
Guiji cried out involuntarily, his voice carrying a tremor even he himself failed to notice.
"Your Destruction… Why does it stand above ours?!"
Guiji forced out the question with difficulty.
This violated his understanding of the Path of Destruction.
Although the authority granted by the Scarred God to the Emanators had differences in strength, its essence came from the same source. How could there be hierarchy among them?
"I said it already."
Wei Qing spoke again.
"Leave, or die."
This time, no one thought those words were arrogant.
Phantylia's expression shifted uncertainly, but she quickly made her decision.
She raised her head toward Nanook and spoke devoutly.
"Great Scarred God, Qingzhou's actions are undoubtedly a blatant defiance of Your will!"
"Iron Tomb's birth is Destruction that You have acknowledged. Yet he seeks to alter the ending. How can such conduct be tolerated?"
That was right.
Phantylia intended to ask Nanook to slap Wei Qing to death.
No matter how strong Qingzhou was, could he be stronger than the Scarred God?
If you have the ability, try killing us in front of the Scarred God!
Hmph, watch closely. I, Phantylia, am the Scarred God's most devout believer.
Once Qingzhou is killed, the Scarred God will surely reward me with his inheritance!
Unfortunately, Phantylia's little scheme was destined to fail.
Leave.
Nanook's will sounded at this moment.
The devotion and expectation on Phantylia's face instantly froze, turning into disbelief and shock.
She could hardly understand why Nanook would allow Qingzhou to act in such a rebellious manner.
Just as Phantylia was about to say something else—
Nanook left.
This place shall be handled by Qingzhou.
He had tacitly approved Wei Qing's overreach.
Join here to read ahead.
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