Eldritch Horror Theatre

When he chose the Divine Skin Coat back then, there hadn’t been a single hint.

He locked onto it as his final choice simply because of a faint, lingering sense of familiarity.

In truth, this was exactly what Fu Qian had been wondering about ever since the encounter began.

Whether it was the subsequent manifestation of authority or his current Mythical Form—completely transforming into an ancient Divine Entity—he still couldn’t trace the source of that familiarity.

But that title made everything suddenly click into place. Fu Qian instantly realized where the familiarity came from—the Tyrant’s Fist.

The defining trait of this weapon, which he acquired a long time ago, was that every strike stripped away the target’s mind.

Of course, given his personal approach to tasks, most of his subsequent targets never had the chance to lose their minds, so he hadn’t used it all that much.

And the familiarity stemmed exactly from that mind-stripping effect.

So it wasn’t an illusion. Had he physically torn apart the fundamental source of the Tyrant’s Fist?

Judging by that unique sensation just now, shouldn’t he be called the Mechanical Tyrant?Naturally, this raised a new question—where were his fists?

So far, he hadn’t detected any authority or abilities related to stripping minds.

Was there a reason for this?

”This is nothing. I have plenty more tricks up my sleeve!”

Amidst his doubts, facing the Indigo Witch’s undue praise, Fu Qian gave a cold snort and patted his clothes, analyzing her reaction.

The ”illusion” of facing an old acquaintance.

It seemed that despite her omniscient posture, she hadn’t actually detected his final act of dismembering the Divine Entity during the assimilation of traits.

On one hand, that change likely fell into an exceedingly unique category, transcending space and time.

On the other hand, her gaze had likely only grown stronger as her infiltration deepened.

Furthermore, the Yellow Robe Levin had draped over him wasn’t entirely detrimental.

While it was excessively conspicuous and maxed out its glaring authority, its ability to conceal his identity was genuinely astonishing.

As an ancient Divine Entity, the Blazing Rainbow’s reaction to his top-tier cosplay—while standing face-to-face and enduring the influence of the Calamity Authority—was merely to call it the ”illusion of facing an old acquaintance.”

Rather than assuming she had seen right through him, Fu Qian leaned toward the theory that the Yellow Robe’s shroud severely dampened the projection of his Mechanical Tyrant majesty.

...

”So why did you stop showing off?”

While he was thinking, the Indigo Witch smiled at his shameless boasting and brushed a hand through the air.

The colors suppressing Fu Qian instantly resumed their dynamic motion, turning the Fortune Teller’s Cabin back into a disco.

”Although I’m just a projection, using your Calamity to destroy me might actually delay the final moment a bit.”

After releasing his restraints, she actually offered this proactive suggestion.

”Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a terrible waste? Achieving this level of power surely came at no small cost to you.”

”I already told you, I was just extending my session.”

Unfortunately, Fu Qian shook his head, looking completely uninterested in her advice.

That was the truth.

Since the conversation hadn’t progressed quickly, the duration of his Pseudo-God Incarnation was already nearing its end.

And although he had enough SAN Value, it required a buffer, making consecutive activations impossible.

In response, Fu Qian opted to go all out and activate his Mythical Form.

He had realized this application the moment that flash of enlightenment hit him during his advancement.

Since fully unleashing his Mythical Form meant completely transforming into an ancient Divine Entity, it was obviously another method of forcibly elevating his Rank, much like Pseudo-God Incarnation.

No matter how sincere her demeanor seemed, Fu Qian wasn’t about to leave a gap with a drop in Rank.

”But you’re right. Doing nothing would be a bit of a waste.”

As he spoke, Fu Qian seemed to think of something else and glanced back up at the sky.

...

In that brief span of time, the Scorching Ring seemed to have drawn even closer.

The oppressive aura it radiated was growing increasingly suffocating.

If it felt this intense sitting here, the righteous Night Watchers out there were likely having an even worse time.

But they were an organization that had weathered great storms. So far, he hadn’t noticed them making any impulsive moves.

”Is that a real sun?”

Fu Qian asked curiously.

”Yes, and no.”

Just as he had expected, the Indigo Witch’s answer to his direct question was utterly lacking in sincerity.

”Have you changed your mind? Do you want to ask the Night Watchers for help again?”

”If so, I must say, I’d be a little disappointed.”

”Not at all. I just saw an injustice and thought I’d lend a hand.”

Fu Qian didn’t turn his head, his gaze fixed on the ring that lacked even a trace of true light.

In the night sky, an orange eye slowly and steadily widened.

That’s right. As the Mechanical Tyrant who could bring doom to all things, it seemed even the sun wasn’t immune.

Though the Calamity accumulated even slower on it than it had on the Indigo Witch.

Fortunately, Fu Qian didn’t mind.

Focusing his will, the moment the widening eye became slightly more distinct, he detonated the Calamity and waited in curious anticipation.

It was hard to imagine exactly how the Calamity would erupt against such a unique entity.

The next moment, the brightness in his field of vision surged.

In the already bustling sky, a bizarre Meteor suddenly appeared.

Wreathed in brilliant golden flames and trailing a long tail of the same color, the Meteor hurled itself relentlessly toward the Scorching Ring, looking much like a golden monkey diving through a hoop of fire.

This works too?

This miraculous development made even its initiator, Fu Qian, marvel inwardly.

For one, he once again felt the sheer brutality of the Calamity Authority.

For another, he actually sensed the very thing he hadn’t found earlier radiating from that Meteor—the mind-stripping power of the Tyrant’s Fist.

Sure enough, it always paid to stay curious, because inspiration always struck when least expected.

Moreover, it seemed he wasn’t going to escape this Mechanical Tyrant title.

Even as he marveled, the golden Meteor struck its target.

The existential state of the Scorching Ring was certainly unique, but this Calamity belonging to it still hunted it down with unerring precision.

In that instant, day and night seemed to alternate across the world.

The brightness of the Scorching Ring spiked drastically, and even its dark red interior looked as if it had been set ablaze.

Amidst the terrifying scorching heat that followed, the golden Meteor silently vanished, as if vaporized.

Sure enough, the gap in power was just too massive.

Unsurprised by the outcome, Fu Qian didn’t even have time to worry whether this would only further bewilder the Night Watchers before he noticed a peculiar anomaly.

Through that blazing celestial body, some entity seemed to cast a gaze upon him.

Although his status and standing were different from before, Fu Qian wasn’t one to forget his manners. Following the connection, he immediately returned the gaze.

Piercing through the layers of light, he seemed to genuinely catch sight of a pair of eyes...

The Ancient Sun God? Didn’t he perish long ago?

Even as surprise washed over him, he perceived another entirely different gaze in his senses.

Then another, and another...

And every single one of those gazes was brimming with endless struggle and distortion.

Like a horde of prisoners in Purgatory, peering out through the iron bars.