Apocalypse Forecast

”Speaking of which, do they have a habit of vaccinating in the Border?” Huai Shi said with a smile, snapping his fingers.

At that moment, the dormant virus erupted instantaneously.

Within the pure malice, countless strains burst forth from the lungs, blood, spinal cord, and brain at once, bringing fatal fevers and delirium.

The three faltered.

And the Evil Ghost, shrouded in the Apocalypse Fog, was already lunging at them.

.

The comments section of the live broadcast was now in an uproar.

”Shocked! What’s happening?”

”They got counter-killed? Green Day is such trash...”

”Trash, they only know how to act!”

”What went wrong?”

”It’s all staged, right? These days everyone’s an actor!”

In the midst of the chaotic comments, the live broadcast feed abruptly froze.

All the abusive comments disappeared in an instant. As all the viewers stared in astonishment, numerous animations of rockets rose from the edge of the screen, flying toward the center of the live broadcast window, where they burst into dazzling virtual fireworks.

The roaring sound of an electric guitar blared out of nowhere.

It was like a celebratory special effect.

A line of unbelievable dark golden text appeared on the clients of all Darknet viewers.

[A Legendary Investigator has graced the live broadcast. Please pay your highest respects and honor to our eternal friend of the Darknet Border.]

”Wait, what?”

”What the hell is this?!”

”Holy shit, a Legendary Investigator?!”

At this moment, not only the anxiously watching Inspectors of the Astronomical Society, or the leaders of Green Day, but also the countless viewers watching through the Frontier Darknet were astonished.

Even Yao Queer at the Social Security Bureau’s Command Center couldn’t help but spit water onto her keyboard, screaming, no longer caring about her ladylike image.

Older Cousin was startled by her scream, gaping. ”What’s a Legendary Investigator? Some kind of detective?”

”Older Cousin, don’t you watch game live streams? The Legendary Investigator from the Darknet! A legend!”

Yao Queer felt like she must be seeing things. But as she clearly saw the text gradually fading from the screen, a suffocating feeling welled up in her heart.

This was the champion of a death game. This individual had earned one of the Frontier Darknet’s three supreme authorities only by flawlessly completing the most brutal, difficult, and inconceivable modules across its countless games.

They were one of only sixteen such legends among countless Sublimators and virtual game players worldwide!

This was no cheap honor obtainable through mere strength. It was a prestigious reward bestowed only after completing trials as arduous as those of Odysseus, demanding wisdom, determination, and even incredible luck.

Each of their names was recorded on the title page of ”The Odyssey”.

If it weren’t for the Darknet’s notification, no one would have imagined that one of the sixteen legends was hiding as a mere Action Officer in an obscure division of the Astronomical Society!

A goddamn Action Officer!

Such a precious talent, not out exploring the Border, not delving into Hell, but ended up as some peacekeeping beat cop?!

Green Day had truly picked a fight with the devil this time!

Not just all the viewers, but even the observers from the Astronomical Society were struck with profound incredulity.

In the dead silence, Yao Queer swallowed hard.

”I think... the rescue team can withdraw,” she said stiffly, turning her head with a bitter smile. ”They don’t need us to save them; they might just mow everyone down like cutting grass...”

”Let’s watch and see.”

Older Cousin, dumbfounded, stood before the screen, watching Huai Shi’s silhouette. His expression gradually grew solemn. ”Let’s see what happens.”

.

As countless viruses spread and stirring music suddenly rang out, Huai Shi roared.

In a moment of stupor, the leader instinctively braced for defense. He only saw Huai Shi brush past him and pounce on someone behind, his heart going cold. ”Jin Xi!!!”

Fever and drowsiness flooded Jin Xi’s consciousness. He was stunned. By the time he reacted, the bloodied face was already inches away.

Underfoot, the concrete floor cracked.

Boundless fear, amplified by the Apocalypse Fog, filled his mind, making him scream in terror. He wanted to back away, but the Evil Ghost advanced, pressing closer with every step.

The Cross Spear in his hand thundered.

Thrust!

Jin Xi roared. The power of the Mountain Monarch Stigma emerged, his physical form swelling with limitless power, transforming into a fierce, half-human, half-tiger figure. Then, dozens of shadows emerged from his departed spirit.

Then, they were swallowed by the Apocalypse Fog, vanishing without a trace.

It was as if they were dropped into high-concentration acid, dissolving without stirring even a ripple. Only tangible agony and terror emerged from his body, along with smallpox pustules.

And the silver light had already torn through his defenses, arriving like thunder.

In an instant, his body was pierced.

As effortlessly as crumbling dry weeds...

He was flung backward, pinned against a wall. A Third Stage who towered above the Mountain Ghost, yet his Stigma crumbled apart under this full-force stab.

Death!

A brief lull passed in an instant.

After Jin Xi was killed by Huai Shi in a single exchange, the leading Sublimator finally reacted. Roaring, he lifted the ancient sword-like Border Relic in his hands and slashed down at Huai Shi’s back.

But then, it was blocked by a Sacrificial Knife that materialized out of thin air.

In that instant, the Evil Ghost, his back still to the attacker, turned around, grinning, revealing a brilliantly bright smile.

Subsequently, an Axe Blade emerged from his left hand. As he turned, it slashed toward the leader’s neck.

The longsword rose, blocking Huai Shi’s ”Offensive.” But after retreating a step, the Sublimator named Lin Pu actually snapped out of the stupor caused by the murderous Source Impact.

Even as pustules continuously erupted on his face, the high fever muddled his consciousness.

Having trained for who knows how long, in that instant, he almost instinctively evaded Huai Shi’s subsequent ”Offensive.” He readjusted his stance, raised his sword blade high, and slashed down.

Huai Shi stepped back.

Then, the roar of the entire building erupting was heard.

For a moment, the whole room... seemed to start spinning.

As Source Fluctuation enveloped the room, new laws were imposed, and it began spinning wildly like the drum of a washing machine.

When Huai Shi turned his head in astonishment, he saw Uncle Bian sprawled on a blueprint, his severed arm pressed into its bloodstains. This Scholar, an expert in architecture, had established new laws, causing the ground to flip and the ceiling to invert.

Everything about the building was redefined.

Countless flip-panels sprang unexpectedly from the concrete; rebar rewove itself, forming cages that closed in on Huai Shi.

Then, they shattered under the Axe Blade’s cleave.

Uncle Bian’s expression twitched. Enduring the intense pain, he prepared to establish new laws and Transformations. However, he then saw Huai Shi, a Long Spear now in hand, swing it towards him without looking back.

A streak of Dragon Blood tore through the air with Space Break.

A terrible aging descended upon him.

Amidst the ever-growing Iris flowers, Uncle Bian’s vision darkened, and he lost consciousness in the intense fever from the smallpox.

The frantic spinning of the world came to an abrupt halt.

But no sooner had Huai Shi turned back around than he saw Lin Pu, now just inches away.

He seemed to have already grown accustomed to Uncle Bian’s alterations, lunging forward instantly, seizing the precious opportunity the old man had created, and thrust his sword blade!

Flames erupted from the sword blade, searing the air and stirring a thunderous gale.

As stripes materialized on his body, his speed increased by another third.

It was a seemingly suicidal attack, a killing blow aimed straight at Huai Shi’s face, leaving him no room to dodge.

Regrettably, that was only what he thought...

In his rage-filled eyes, Huai Shi, seemingly trapped, glided as if on ice. His feet magically shifted three inches, narrowly dodging the lethal sword thrust.

This was a technique learned from Luo Xian. Huai Shi had meticulously studied dozens of recorded replays and reenactments, ”dying” countless times in simulations, just to grasp the rudiments of this skill.

Even so, his feet felt numb, barely able to support him.

Lin Pu was shocked.

But his shock was nothing compared to Older Cousin’s, who, in disbelief, leaned closer to the screen, gaping, ”Is that Teacher Luo’s Short Step?”

Without a doubt, even though he had only caught a momentary glimpse, he recognized it. The rhythm and muscle control, though a bit unrefined, were exactly like the old man’s...

The precious opportunity vanished thanks to that uncanny sliding step.

Terrible heat burst from the sword blade, missing its target. The straight line of fire crossed tens of meters before striking the solid wall and exploding, blasting a huge hole in it.

”Not bad power, but too slow...”

Huai Shi had already swept past Lin Pu. The Sacrificial Knife in his hand was embedded deeply in Lin Pu’s chest, its tip protruding from his back.

Lin Pu instinctively wanted to turn around, to grab the damned man and die together. However, he saw Huai Shi, without turning his head, raise his hand. The silhouette of an axe appeared. Huai Shi rested it on his own shoulder and then, with a final movement, hooked it around Lin Pu’s neck.

The next instant, Huai Shi stepped forward and tugged. A head soared into the sky, followed by a fountain of blood.

Settled.

Soon, the round object hit the ground, rolled, and came to a stop at the feet of the last remaining person.

”That’s it?”

Huai Shi looked at the panic-stricken Sublimator, whose face was covered in smallpox pustules. He seemed even more incredulous than the man himself. ”Nothing more?”

The last Sublimator stood frozen, his lips trembling, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he suddenly roared, shouting towards the basement exit,

”What are you waiting for, open fire!”

At the doorway, a few surviving Green Day members staggered to their feet, raising their weapons.

For some reason, Huai Shi felt an indescribable... disappointment.

He lowered his eyes and sighed in dejection.

”I overestimated you...”

The blood-outlined Axe Blade was slowly raised.

Under the dim lights, this gruesome slaughter reached its mundane conclusion amidst the roar of gunfire and the sickening cracks of tearing flesh and breaking bone.

Soon, everything fell silent again.

In the deathly stillness, the only sound was a chair dragging across the concrete floor. It slowly approached, and then the grating noise was muffled as the chair legs slid into the pool of blood.

It was a low, somber sound, like the lingering resonance of a cello.

And so, under the tilted camera’s gaze, the gaunt figure dragged over a chair and sat down, facing the countless screens and the audience beyond. He lowered his head.

Through the camera, he quietly met the gaze of the viewers on the other side.

His eyes became focused and curious.

”The guy from Green Day... I remember he was called... Feng Sheng or was it Feng Ping? I can’t quite recall...” Huai Shi calmly asked, ”You should be watching me, right?”

As if receiving a silent answer, the grim Mountain Ghost revealed a cold smile.

”This is for you.”

The final image that emerged from the flickering, static-filled screen was a blood-stained middle finger.

And just like that, in sudden darkness, the live broadcast ended.