Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 1175: Chapter 898: Chasing the Sun

With Rachelle’s death, Garland’s breath ceased simultaneously.

Yet amidst the blockade, uncontrollable heat surged forth. As Garland’s heart stopped beating, a thunderous roar erupted from the decaying shell.

Blood silently flowed from the mouth and nose, but instead of being cold, it was hotter than ever before. Just one drop scorched the earth, igniting steel, rock, and even the source substance flowing within the seal!

The chains binding Garland transformed into fuel, swallowed by the terrible heat, pulled into that emaciated body.

The pseudo spirits rapidly disintegrated, merging into the flames and intense heat, making the lava-like blood even hotter.

Even a slight blood spill caused a huge heat source to appear suddenly on the ruins.

This is... the Great Grandmaster’s blood heat syndrome!

No, even if it’s the blood heat syndrome, it’s just a facade.

At this moment, countless alchemy matrices appeared on Garland’s body like complex circuits, intertwining, overlapping, converging into a mysterious structure as vast and deep as the stars.

This is definitely not a normal phenomenon.

No, even for a Great Grandmaster, this is impossible!

The transformation of the blood is secondary; before that, it requires visceral transformation; nerve system extraction, alienation, and reinsertion; no matter the efficiency, even skeletal surgery must be divided into five stages, each one causing hellish torture, ultimately resulting in such a tragic scene.

Now, following the pre-established steps, the final process begins.

——He turned his body into a genuine alchemy furnace!

”Garland!!!”

He Di angrily questioned, ”What exactly —— are you doing!!”

[Doing what I should do.]

The hoarse voice emerged from He Di’s consciousness amidst the source substance’s flow.

Doing what an Alchemist should do.

This was Garland’s last alchemy in his life——to finally perform the ultimate refinement of the miracles accumulated over countless alchemies within his body.

At this moment, Garland’s head finally fell helplessly, the last light faded from his dim eyes.

[Perhaps, this is my price...]

Offering his soul and everything.

A hundred years later, returning this gift of fate, repaying it with life!

In that instant, the furnace’s cracking sound erupted.

The glow of burning souls emerged from the broken face, emitting dazzling radiance.

It was the miracle crystal forged by offering one’s soul to fate after a lifetime of accumulation!

Not a bizarre Miracle Imprint, nor something fearsome, just pure Stigmata.

The result exchanged by Garland for his soul, the unique Stigmata belonging just to him,!

Even if it could only exist for a brief moment, in that instant, he became the embodiment of miracles, an activated Stigmata!

At this moment, as the furnace shattered, countless boiling blood spread, and that Stigmata radiating dazzling radiance rose from Garland’s body, unfurling huge wings!

Instantly, it pierced through all obstructions.

Whether it was the seal on Helios, the scheming shackles forged by He Di, or even the suppression of a God, before it all were like gentle breezes, insignificant.

It was the power to defy the divine, rebel against fate, break free from the earth.

This was the result of Garland’s life’s pursuit and symbol, created as the ultimate killing hand against Publius!

”I am the Light Chaser!”

”I am Icarus!”

When Garland soared into the sky, a vast voice echoed across the sky dome, resonating in everyone’s ears.

”O God, here I return this humble life——”

Along with that solemn declaration, ’Icarus’ flew gracefully, spreading his arms, heading towards the divine domain:

”——Today, I shall embrace the sun’s brilliance!”

This was an unstoppable determination, a soul-burning radiance even the divine couldn’t halt.

At this moment, Icarus smiled.

After so many years of rebellion, as ’Garland’ he finally returned to the ’Publius’ track——adhering to the destiny decreed at his birth, spreading his arms, launching an irretrievable climb towards the divine’s domain.

Even if the divine’s brilliance would burn him to ashes, it was worth it!

”It’s just approaching, what could it do!”

On the divine seat, Publius roared, reaching out, tightly grasping that Stigmata so close at hand, unable to contain his anger.

This anger encountering betrayal from a close friend!

”Can’t you share this joy with me!” he rebuked, ”Aren’t you the one who understands me best in this entire world?

——Must you stop me, [Publius]!!!”

”Saying such things at this point...”

Icarus couldn’t help but want to laugh.

For so many years, everyone played each other’s roles, ultimately discovering they couldn’t even distinguish which soul belonged to them.

Who exactly was Publius, and who was Garland?

There’s already no distinction, my friend.

But, there will definitely be a result, this final confrontation will undoubtedly leave a mark in history, with its verdict passed down through generations.

Righteous is ’Garland.’

Defeated in conspiracy is ’Publius.’

Whether glory or sin, we’ll share together.

Perhaps, from the long-ago day when they exchanged destinies, this future, this result were destined.

”Because I am your price.”

Icarus struggled to extend his hand, attempting to touch the face of the God, telling him: ”Just like you are my price.”

Yet this thin line of distance could ultimately not be crossed.

His arm was already burned away under the divine radiance.

Uncontrollable collapse spread from the innermost part of the miracle.

After exhausting all his efforts, he finally came to the presence of the God, yet he was unable to even launch the most basic counterattack.

The final annihilation was imminent.

But unexpectedly, he did not feel fear, nor was there any anxiety.

Sincerely, he offered gratefulness to this fate.

”Everything is a part of destiny, isn’t it? My friend...”

He closed his eyes:

”—Please, mourn for me!”

In that instant, Icarus completely vanished without a trace.

Publius was dumbfounded on the spot.

Staring blankly at the last remaining glow in his hands, that solemn and beautiful face showed either mockery or sorrow, as if in disbelief.

But immediately, a cracking sound arose from his body.

It left him stupified.

The noble Godly form had welcomed an injury!

No, it seemed as if the very foundation was shattered, he stared bewilderedly at his hands, only to see the cracks continuously spreading, engulfing his entire body.

Beneath that shell, the radiance of the Sun wheel emerged, rapidly overflowing!

His divinity was rapidly dissipating!

”Garland!!!!”

Publius finally realized, emitting a roar of fury.

This was the final counterattack launched by Grandmaster Garland against his former close friend!

He did not need to wound Publius’s shell, nor interfere with his soul, all he needed was to come face to face.

When Publius’s great work was complete, finally ascending to the position of a God——

When he was at his strongest, Garland came before him.

Then, to the already departed God, the existence guiding their mutual destiny, the witchcraft, the goddess of the crossroads and moonlight ’Hecate’, he sincerely offered a prayer.

Fully expressing his penance.

Praying for the forgiveness of the non-existent God, and moreover...activating his authority as a participant.

From the [Elusis Mystery] of two past destiny exchanges, he removed the ritual where he was the recipient!

Thus, in that instant, the gains and losses were once more reversed.

The destinies of both were once again exchanged——half of Garland’s fate had returned to Publius, and half of Publius’s fate had returned to Garland!

But now, their destinies were entirely different.

Even if half of it was death, still half of God’s fate remained with God!

When Garland completely passed, the half of God’s power he possessed complied with his prior preparation and was transferred to his designated ’successor’.

Thus, amidst Publius’s anguished roar, the dazzling light appeared within the cracked divine body, a half-shattered Sun wheel flew out, heading towards the distance.

Toward the young man who had just risen from the ground, still oblivious to what happened, with a bewildered expression.

Above his head, a projection of a contract emerged!

This was Huai Shi, who had once signed a contract with Garland and inherited all his authority over Helios...

In a daze, Huai Shi seemed to see the departed Grandmaster once again.

From the surging illusionary light, the elder supporting a cane appeared once more, nodding slightly to Huai Shi, turning away.

Leave the rest to you.

Huai Shi was momentarily stunned, and then slowly nodded.

”Ah, leave it to me then!”

He spread his arms, ready to welcome the Sun wheel formed by the surging flames to engulf him.

But immediately, that stream of light flying towards Huai Shi divided exquisitely into two midway, just like an undercurrent hitting a reef in the sea, bypassing his presence and then merging behind him, flying towards the distance.

Huai Shi was stunned for a long time, bewildered.

What’s going on?

What on earth?

Wasn’t this the CG scene inheriting grandpa’s power then fighting the boss?

Why is it different from what I imagined!

At this moment, the power of God was surging mightily, passing through Huai Shi, ignoring his obstruction and retention, circumventing the Ruins without entry, heading straight for the Town of Dusk’s location!

When Huai Shi turned his head, he saw that young man standing at the pinnacle of the Eternal Frozen Heart.

So familiar.

His expression was calm and faint, smoking a cigar, smiling like he was talking to someone.

That was the Noble Blood Descendant from America who had disappeared since boarding the ship.

—Iz Hector!

At this moment, just as the incomplete Sun wheel approached.

He smiled, half-kneeling on the ground, welcoming the imminent divine power.

And then, the gate of the Eternal Frozen Heart thunderously opened!