Eldritch Horror Theatre

For Fu Qian, the Resplendent Tyrant was a solution he had decided on long ago.

His strategy of using this new position for personal gain had been executed flawlessly; as of now, he had already reaped quite a haul.

The side effect, of course, was that the trouble plaguing Jane had visibly worsened.

But that was only on the surface. For the person involved, it wasn’t exactly a bad thing.

After three rounds of consultation under his direction, her condition had somewhat clarified.

Aside from his ultimate backup plan, there was finally a chance to treat the root of the problem.

And in Fu Qian’s eyes, the Resplendent Tyrant was undoubtedly the most suitable choice for that.

Though he couldn’t be absolutely certain they were connected, as one of the forms of Commandment Residue, its fundamental nature likely mirrored this world’s Star Law.

And its effect was to ”become the core of chaotic rules, distorting all forms of existence in the surroundings.”

If Jacques was right—if the influence of the Stars was truly omnipresent, and precise, correct commandment formed the fundamental fabric of this world—then nothing was better suited for destroying it.Of course, Fu Qian wasn’t optimistic enough to believe that simply standing here would cause all things to burn to ash or tear the Nightmare apart.

Even the most targeted medicine required a sufficient dose before it could be called a treatment.

But there was no need to be so rigid. If he couldn’t destroy the world, he could at least try destroying a localized piece of it, couldn’t he?

Facing the patient on the ground, Fu Qian took a step forward.

”Stand still! What exactly are you?”

Unsurprisingly, the first to voice his displeasure was his peer.

Too bad that, given their current height difference, even if Brother Jacques was staring at the mouth on Fu Qian’s chest, he had no choice but to look up.

...

Naturally, Jacques’s shock did not stem from a mere change in height.

Considering the mouth growing on his chest was already a case of precious jade is ahead, a mere physical expansion was nothing by comparison.

The true visual impact lay elsewhere.

Centered on Fu Qian’s swelling body, pale, branching fractures constantly materialized and vanished in the void, resembling cracked ice etched into the fabric of space.

As Fu Qian moved, these fractures trailed behind him, stretching into a structure that resembled bizarre, elongated wings.

This was the most fundamental manifestation of the Resplendent Tyrant’s distorting power—utterly surreal, and chillingly cold.

The reason for this visual effect was simple: Fu Qian had activated Burning Frost a step ahead.

Just as expected, it imbued all supernatural actions with a frosty manifestation, even visualizing the sheer might of the Tyrant.

”I told you to stand still!”

The distortion wrought by this overwhelmingly oppressive pressure tore at everything, even the mind.

Accompanying Jacques’s fierce shout, the scent of blood in the air abruptly thickened.

Extending from his wings, the crimson streaks that had previously been rising and gathering at a languid pace now convulsed, shrinking and converging directly around Fu Qian.

In the interest of securing a better atmosphere for communication, Fu Qian had been pretending not to notice this setup, which had obviously been underway for some time.

Judging by the current situation, this technique—which had taken so much time to prepare—was less of a killing formation and more of a cage.

At this moment, the bizarre crimson streaks were already twisting and merging together, densely weaving into a Cocoon.

...

Now that he thought about it, why did this scene look so familiar?

’The Cocoon Spinner Leaves No Heirs?’

Fu Qian sighed with deep emotion. It was all too easy to recall what he had once done to a certain Demigod Realm entity of the Blood Clan.

”I originally only intended to bring one person back. But you were far too eager, and you certainly look like a prime research specimen. I believe the others will be highly interested in you as well.”

As the massive crimson Cocoon completely sealed off his line of sight, Jacques’s voice drifted in again, evidently brimming with confidence in his own technique.

Of course, his confidence was well-founded.

Although they looked similar, this intricately patterned giant Cocoon was fundamentally different from the one he had woven out of pure tentacles back then.

The latter had been like locking someone behind an iron gate; the former was a purely conceptual construct. It was like planting a ”Dead End” sign right there.

It was the very embodiment of impassability.

The only flaw was perhaps that, having been forced into action, Jacques had rushed the execution, leaving it somewhat loose. Before it fully formed, one could have easily found a gap and slipped out.

But there was no longer any need to consider that, because the target clearly had no intention of fleeing in the first place.

...

’Hmph, wielding an axe before Lu Ban’s gate with such an insignificant skill.’

His vision was completely consumed by crimson, and even beneath his feet lay a pool of flowing blood.

Trapped in such a predicament, Fu Qian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, the might of the Tyrant undiminished.

The impassability of the Cocoon even contained the flashing fractures radiating from his body, forcing them to twist and slither solely within its interior.

”Impossible! The commandment is actually being eroded! Such blasphemy!”

Yet even so, it still managed to trigger a massive reaction from Jacques in the very next second.

The man’s shock was even more intense than when Fu Qian had questioned the Stars—it was as if he had just watched someone be murdered yet refuse to die.

”What exactly is your purpose for coming here today?”

Jacques’s voice actually leveled out again. It seemed the sheer impossibility of what he was witnessing rendered an emotion like anger utterly trivial.

He only wanted answers.

”Where exactly did you come from... or from what Nightmare?”

’Even the Blood Clan recognizes the concept of a Nightmare?’

Jacques’s question stirred a sigh within Fu Qian.

Considering this faction’s deep connection to the Stars and the commandment, their perception should be among the hardest to deceive.

This world truly was suffering from the erosion of a Nightmare; it wasn’t just a misinterpretation by The Order.

The situation was clearer now, but that also completely ruled out any chance of a lucky break.

Upending the world seemed to be the only solution.

”Heh... eroded?”

Fu Qian still didn’t move. He let out a low laugh, and when he spoke, his tone was absolutely domineering.

”There has never been absolute correctness before me... because this seat is correctness itself!”

’The intensity still doesn’t seem to be enough.’

Grandstanding as if he were about to transform was one thing, but he still had to remain grounded in reality regarding his actual situation.

Jacques was right: the giant Cocoon’s suppression of the fractures did not come without a cost. Distorted by the Resplendent Tyrant’s aura of ”I am the will of heaven,” the cage was visibly affected.

However, it was merely a cognitive shock—akin to seeing a diamond rust. The actual impact on its structural stability was nowhere near as exaggerated.

This wasn’t surprising. His opponent this time was a ”Truth” of a world, not to mention that the Resplendent Tyrant’s effects required time to ramp up in intensity.

”You arrogant madman!”

Sure enough, Fu Qian’s words instantly re-ignited Jacques’s displeasure.

”I don’t know how you managed that, but you can keep trying right up until I finish my simple treatment for her.”

He really did need to step it up; otherwise, at this pace, time might get a bit tight.

Completely unfazed by the man’s tone, Fu Qian truly took the suggestion to heart.

The very next moment, he snapped his fingers, and the Mark of Old Days activated.

Trying it out wouldn’t cost him a dime anyway.

Who could deny the absolute value of stacking double auras?