Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 1152: Chapter 880: Immortality

Two hundred and ten years ago, Publius, born in Helios, met Garand from the Current Circumstances.

Perhaps this was the intersection of their destinies.

Unfortunately, there were no stirrings of the wind and clouds, nor did they know at first glance that the other was their mortal enemy. It was just a simple meeting.

The Alchemist from the Current Circumstances arrived in Helios, and the Alchemists of Helios warmly entertained them, seeing off the previous group of visitors.

This began their long seventy years of companionship from then on.

For Publius, the Alchemist Garand from the Current Circumstances was inevitably too dull, unsmiling, and uninteresting.

For Garand, Publius was the real alien species in the sacred ground of Alchemy, overly restless, endlessly chattering, and annoyingly troublesome.

One could say they both found each other disagreeable.

But for the sake of research cooperation and each other’s areas of expertise, they had to maintain a facade of peace and close relations, even engaging in some borderline cooperation in secret.

As the inheritor of the Blessed One’s Family’s sacred name, Garand violated the former leader’s prohibition by secretly sharing the Current Circumstances’ books with Publius.

And Publius, in return, offered the secrets of Helios.

Each got what they needed.

A good deal.

But at the same time, it increasingly felt like a taunt from fate.

Despite being born in a sacred place like Helios, inheriting the blood of the Olympus Gods, and possessing extraordinary talent, Publius didn’t want to stay in such a dry and monotonous place like Helios; he dreamed of the prosperity of the Current Circumstances.

And the Alchemist from the Current Circumstances, constrained by limited time, his identity, and strict prohibitions, could not glimpse the true heritage of Helios...

It was as if two frogs met in the dark: the frog at the bottom of the well wanted to see the outside world, but the frog from the outside world dreamed of staying in the well.

They both lived simultaneously in their own Hell and the other’s Heaven.

Therefore, they made an agreement.

They completed one final transaction...

”——We conducted the [Elusis Initiation].”

Garand calmly explained: ”Although it was stolen from the authority of Hecate, it pointed to the Domain of Demeter, the Mother of Four Seasons... ’gain and loss reversal,’ in a word.”

Under the witness and hosting of their mutual friend He Di, they exchanged the costs of their destinies.

And unlike others...

They exchanged twice!

”Once, they exchanged what they ’lost,’ and once, they exchanged what they ’gained’——”

Garand calmly told Huai Shi, ”It wasn’t simply an exchange of identities, but a complete exchange of destiny, talents, and even soul.”

Using the Mystic Ritual as a transit, they achieved a comprehensive exchange of consciousness, soul, body, and even fate from both forward and reverse directions.

From then on, Publius became Garand, and Garand... became Publius!

”Wait!”

In contemplation, Huai Shi suddenly noticed something wrong: if it was just an exchange of bodies, the soul could not escape the decree of Helios. But if even the soul and consciousness were exchanged...

How do you know who you are?

Just based on a memory?

If an apple has the appearance of an orange, the structure of an orange, the taste of an orange, even the shelf life and texture are exactly the same as that of an orange, then it should be considered an orange!

Just like the Ship of Theseus.

After two ships exchanged their decks, masts, sails, equipment, and even crew, aside from the exchange records and a vague memory, what’s the difference from not having exchanged at all!

”If that’s the case, how can you say that you were once Publius? Perhaps you’re just Garand with Publius’s memory!”

”That’s what Alchemy is, isn’t it, Huai Shi?”

For the first time, a smile appeared on Garand’s stern face, so calm yet chilling to the core: ”With gain must come loss, but sometimes it’s not about what was gained, but what was lost.”

Is the Common Iron that becomes Gold still the same Common Iron?

Common Iron doesn’t care!

As long as it can become Gold, that’s enough!

In Alchemy, philosophical speculation is never important; the so-called replacement is just a process. The most important thing is the result.

For Publius, this was the greatest creation and escape of his life.

Long before escaping from the Lunar Prison.

He had already escaped the fated cage of Helios!

From that moment on, their destinies became misaligned, like two intersecting lines entwining and knotting with each other, then continuing in their original directions.

What kind of entanglement happened in that tiny intersection? It’s not important; what’s important is that they got the results they wanted.

Ironically, the Elusis Initiation, originally a Mystic Ritual used by demons and charlatans to steal others’ wealth and lives, erroneously led to the birth of two Great Grandmasters.

Garand, who yearned for Alchemy, did not have the heritage, and Publius, who had the heritage, had no freedom. If they hadn’t exchanged destinies, they might not have achieved anything...

It’s almost like hitting the jackpot twice, absurd in its perfection.

To exchange the future of one Great Grandmaster for the future of another Great Grandmaster...

This wave, it’s like teleporting in place!

But immediately, Huai Shi couldn’t help but feel a chill: he finally noticed the truly grave part of this issue!

Interfering with fate through Alchemy inevitably must follow the rules of Alchemy.

Where there is gain, there must be loss, disaster, and miracles are two sides of the same coin.

Given that the exchange of destinies led to the emergence of two Great Grandmasters, it must be accompanied by a cost!

”But what is the price?”

”Fate itself is the price, Huai Shi, isn’t it?”

Garand seemed to smile, so mocking, ”I am ’Garand’. What I have obtained are all that Garand originally enjoyed - honor, abilities, expertise, experience, bloodline...

And ’Publius’, what he obtained, is the future that belonged to Publius.

Predestined from hundreds of years ago, the future — which is what you now see, the present.”

With his words, in the distance, the bloody flames soared into the sky.

Finally, they reached the edge of the sun wheel.

Touched the limits of the God Spirit.

Grasp tightly!

The hurricane swept over Helios, and amidst the roaring winds, came the wildly ecstatic laughter.

He finally touched the edge of the ’dream’!

Held onto the fate that belonged to ’himself’!

Even if this fate, this dream, this self... are all but counterfeit exchanged from others!

From the beginning, the existence called Publius was an ingenious creation concocted by the Alchemists of Helios.

A ’miracle’ created through genetics, source studies, the Hell bloodline, and the fate mystic ritual!

You could say he himself is an existence born specifically for Alchemy!

Specifically to fulfill the forbidden wishes and goals in the hearts of generations of Helios’ Alchemists, the ultimate result completed...

This was originally a secret to be hidden before the exchange.

Just like the signs of Garand’s own blood fever and the many dark heritages of the Blessing Giver’s family.

But after both sides knew, there was no hesitation.

Just as if Publius didn’t care.

For this, the former Garand, relished it!

”The so-called life, no matter how rich and colorful, no matter how powerful, is just a brief hundred years, gone in a snap... coming with nothing and leaving silently, in the end, even a handful of ashes can’t be kept.

Too humiliating, compared to their own creation, Alchemists are too pitiful, too humble.”

The former Garand thus asked, ”Don’t you feel unwilling?”

He said, ”I want to become something eternal!”

”But there is nothing in this world that is long-lasting and unbreakable. That’s what life is; as long as it’s exciting enough, I don’t see what is wrong with having an end.”

Publius shook his head, ”You should know even the God Spirit can’t be eternal.”

”Then become a God Spirit first!”

Garand resolutely said, ”Someday, it will reach immortality...”

”So, make a trade, Publius.”

The Alchemist clasped his hand, his eyes bright with fanaticism, ”This way, I can gain immortality, and you can gain freedom!”

At that moment, Publius realized that perhaps he deserved all that the name Publius represented more than himself.

No, perhaps, that was why he came!

This is his fate...

Simultaneously, this is the price he must bear.

And so, Publius became Garand, and Garand became Publius.

Since then, it was a long, long time.

They walked on paths that once belonged to others, pursuing the results they dreamed of, regardless of hardship, torment, and anxiety, even when trapped in cages or mired unable to extricate themselves, they paid the price for their choice with their lives but never regretted the trade of that day.

Until now.

”But what about you?” Huai Shi retorted, ”What is your price?”

”Mine has long been paid off, Huai Shi. My billing period came even earlier than his, though not much lighter...” Garand said meaningfully as he looked at him, ”Now, it’s your turn.”

Huai Shi coolly shook his head: ”I owe you nothing, nor have I ever prayed to fate for something I shouldn’t have.”

”Perhaps? But is it really so?”

Garand said carelessly, ”In Helios, the connection between cause and effect far surpasses other places.

The fate here is a vector in a sealed flask; when one vector occurs, another reverse vector must appear to balance it.

This is the essence of Alchemy, where there is gain, there must be a loss.

You came to Helios for your desire, ultimately standing in opposition to Publius, isn’t this also a price for both of you?”

”You will gain much, but also lose much—”

Thus, profoundly repeating the prophecy from the old priestess Emara, ”But if you want to gain more, or wish to lose less, the solution is right in front of you.”

With his words, amidst the howling whirlwind, rumbling continued to emerge.

Rachelle’s face suddenly turned deathly pale.

Because the terrifying shadows had already emerged from the White Bone Tower. Under He Di’s command, in the darkness that light couldn’t illuminate, countless aberrant spirits and the Hell Swarm born from the Abyss’ sediment, were spreading indiscriminately in all directions.

The first to bear the brunt was Huai Shi, who had long been on the must-kill list!

At the forefront of the surging Hell Army, Gala rode the Horse of White Bone, raising his head to gaze at the core of the distant surge. When the sickle blade in his hand was raised, countless ferocious shadows behind him roared and turned into a torrent, roaring towards this place.

And on the seat of the Sun Caster, Huai Shi raised his eyes.