"Since the shackles between the inner and outer worlds have been removed, why not take it a step further and break through the Dream World as well?"
Hearing Ye Long's words, The Vermin chuckled. "That's unnecessary. If those entities in the Dream World were unleashed, then nobody would be playing anymore."
"Isn't the current situation perfect? You are at the peak of the 4th Step. Looking around, how many individuals truly match your power?"
"You must understand, if possible, I have no desire to be your adversary either. Everyone here simply wants an exit from that place of exile. It is hardly worth escalating things into open conflict."
"Observe the present: no one is wantonly slaughtering innocent people, are they? Everyone lives in relative peace. Isn't that preferable?"
Living in peace?
If it weren't for Ye Long, it would be hard to fathom the current reality.
Those entities disregard life and death, extinguishing lives as easily as taking a drink. The Vermin's ambition is also considerable—unifying the world, seizing mastery as king—who wouldn't aspire to that?
They are not currently engaging in wholesale slaughter, not because they lack the will, but because they lack the necessary audacity.
Ye Long walked to The Vermin's side. "If you genuinely desire peace, then you should not have appeared here today."
The Vermin smiled. "I should possess some means of self-preservation, shouldn't I?"
"In case you, one day, lose your composure and decide to eradicate all humanity, it would be beneficial for me to intervene and prevent you from committing a catastrophic error."
"Then you should exercise caution. The cocoon in the Antarctic has remained dormant for a very long time; that must be the location." Ye Long stated.
The Vermin froze upon hearing this. Had Ye Long located his sister?
Then why hadn't he acted upon it?
No, he is deceiving me!
Ye Long patted The Vermin's shoulder, then walked into the Mad Hatter building.
He had merely come to deliver a final warning to this insect. Killing him was impractical unless Ye Long could destroy his main body.
As for the location of The Vermin's main body, he only suspected the Antarctic, because he had already scoured every other plausible location.
Only the Antarctic remained unvisited, but if he were to go there now, The Vermin's primary form would likely relocate immediately.
Now that the world barrier had been removed, eliminating The Vermin was no longer an immediate necessity.
The timing was currently unfavorable. The Vermin had recently acquired an item from the Gold King, and if that item posed a genuine threat to Ye Long, engaging him now would be unwise.
After all, numerous powerful entities were observing him from the shadows.
003 Watcher: Low 4th Step, but his ability is exceptionally challenging to counter. For the sake of avoiding unpleasant confrontation, he could be temporarily set aside.
004 Queen Bee: Mid 4th Step, her insidious ambition is blatantly obvious. Once she finds an opening, she will undoubtedly seek counteraction.
008 True Ancestor: Peak 4th Step, comparable to Ye Long. Although that fellow's fixation on slaying the Sea King borders on mania, he remains a troublesome opponent nonetheless.
016 Frost King: Low 4th Step, possesses what is recognized as the strongest absolute characteristic. His allegiance has always been ambiguous, which presents the greatest difficulty.
017 Balance: Though a newly ascended 4th Step, he has absorbed Byakuya's abilities. His future potential must not be underestimated.
019 The Vermin: Mid 4th Step, Ye Long's major lurking threat. As long as he draws breath, Ye Long cannot feel truly secure.
020 Computer: No activity registered from his side for the moment. Ye Long is currently disregarding him.
026 Red Mist: Mid 4th Step, similar to the Frost King, his ability set is relatively difficult to manage and not easily neutralized.
028 Hydra: Low 4th Step, anyone associated with the Sea King is certainly not a benevolent presence.
The above account for all the 4th Step entities currently unsealed.
The Demon and Principal Starry had vanished back in the Reason World, rendering their current status unknown.
...
The Vermin and Ye Long passed one another. Watching the interaction between the two, Decapitator faced the wall. "The next one, the next one must be..."
"The next one is Night King."
"What?"
Hearing Elf's words, Decapitator turned around, only to see Night King, the leader of the Night Watcher, walk out of the building.
When fighting Byakuya earlier, Night King had half his body obliterated. Given his near-death appearance, Decapitator assumed he was beyond recovery.
"It's a wonder he is still alive."
Elf shook his head. "With that person around, he cannot possibly perish."
Decapitator sighed. "Sigh... come on, let's retreat."
"Where to?"
"Back to find Night King."
Elf and Decapitator were also members of the Night Watcher organization, but this organization operated without rigid special rules.
Joining was purely voluntary. Once affiliated, all members stood together. If a problem arose, they would bear it collectively; if facing difficulty, they would confront it together.
Having failed their robbery attempt, the two could only return to locate Night King.
...
On the other side, at Kitsune Headquarters.
Frost King bent down and retrieved a piece of Topaz from the ground. This was one of the fragments 009 had shed, each capable of detonation.
One had already exploded previously. This particular piece he had temporarily encased in frost.
"Still a little short, I suppose."
008 True Ancestor looked at Frost King. "His ability must have evolved. The immortality characteristic is more intricate than before; it's proving somewhat difficult to manage."
009's "Mortal to God" potion had caused his own immortality characteristic to undergo some kind of qualitative shift.
This degree of qualitative change significantly exceeded 008 True Ancestor's initial projections. Analyzing this specific level of immortality characteristic was not a task that could be achieved overnight.
Thus, 009 managed to escape.
"Let him run this time; trying to recapture him... will be challenging."
Frost King spoke, and the sky above him seemed to darken slightly. A Frost Dragon descended from the heavens and landed beside him.
Frost King leaped onto the Frost Dragon's back. 008 turned and inquired:
"Where are you headed?"
Frost King looked toward the sky. "I don't know. I have no specific destination. I will simply go wherever the wind takes me."
True Ancestor: "If I manage to locate 009, I will certainly inform you."
With that, the Frost Dragon flapped its wings, lifting off towards the sky.
Among the unsealed 4th Step entities, only Frost King seemed to lack a concrete objective.
Slaying 009 was not his ultimate pursuit in life. After all, what good would killing 009 do? Those who are gone remain gone; they will never return.
"The strongest absolute characteristic, haha..."
Frost King let out a bitter laugh, then casually leaned back, settling onto the giant dragon's back.
...
Over the past few days, several of Kitsune's containment sectors were breached by external entities, successively releasing a number of entities.
Arthur and a squad of Chaos Insurgency members all managed to escape.
Now, focusing on the South American containment zone.
Balance, operating solo, single-handedly subdued the entire containment zone, freeing Swordsmith and several other entities simultaneously imprisoned there.
However, this location held more than just monsters; it also contained derivative compounds, such as Vampires.
The last Vampire prince, Lilith, was right here.
As for why she was the last remaining one, it was because the other princes had successively perished during Kitsune's rigorous experiments, leaving only Lilith.
The containment chamber was completely demolished. A weakened Lilith, her face pale, emerged from the wreckage, only to find the entire containment area already engulfed in raging fire and thick, noxious fumes.
She wore a simple numbered uniform, her frame unusually emaciated.
At that very moment, a grotesquely proportioned Werewolf, covered entirely in coarse black fur, emerged from the adjacent containment room.
"Damn those foxes! Those stinking foxes locked this old man up for far too long. Today, this old man must kill to his heart's content!"
"Wait, we should prioritize rescuing the Wolf King first."
"The Wolf King needs your assistance? Use that dog brain of yours, will you?!"
The Werewolf suddenly sniffed the air intently. "Hold on, that scent..."
The Werewolf abruptly turned and locked its gaze onto Lilith!
"What a narrow escape from an enemy!"
Lilith glanced around frantically, only to see two Werewolves suddenly closing in to encircle her from the left and right.
This situation was truly unfortunate...
These two Werewolves confronting her were derivative compounds of Number 038 Lycaon-Apex.
His original designation was Seans, now known as the Wolf King. He was once a Duke serving under the Vampire Royal, Velen.
Previously, Velen met his end by Shino's hand. The remaining Vampires under his command were nearly all eliminated by Lilith, leaving only one Duke unaccounted for.
This was because that Duke, much like Shino at the time, had qualified to participate in 079's game.
Years later, he received a specialized potion, becoming 038 Lycaon-Apex.
That time frame also coincided precisely with when the Wolf King and the remaining Vampire factions were all apprehended by Kitsune.
The Wolf King desperately sought revenge for Velen, and his primary target for vengeance was Lilith.
This vendetta was precisely exploited by Kitsune. While the Wolf King and the Vampires were locked in a fatal struggle, Kitsune played the role of the mantis stalking the cicada, capturing both factions simultaneously.
It is also worth noting that 038 Wolf King's ability was far from weak; at least, it was significantly stronger than the original form, 008 True Ancestor.
The Wolf King operates at the High 3rd Step, possessing abilities related to lunar phases—akin to Vampires yet simultaneously their antithesis.
As for the two Werewolves before them, they were derivative compounds of the Wolf King's upper tier; their abilities weren't overwhelmingly powerful, but their life level registered as Low 3rd Step.
And Lilith, despite her royal lineage, possessed a life level of only High 2nd Step. Furthermore, she was currently depleted of blood energy. Facing two upper-tier Werewolves, she didn't possess even a shred of a chance for victory.
Before Lilith could utter a word, one of the Werewolves lunged directly forward, claws outstretched, eyes burning blood-red!
Lilith instinctively retreated, but at that precise moment, the Werewolf's charge abruptly halted.
The Werewolf's face instantaneously bloated, its body swelled, and then its eyes were crushed inward. Its entire form instantly exploded into a cloud of crimson blood mist.
Puff, puff!!
Blood mist diffused. The other Werewolf witnessed this, its pupils widening in shock.
An upper-tier Werewolf killed instantly. What in the world just happened?
Was it Lilith?
No, Lilith utterly lacked that level of destructive power!
It couldn't be Lilith!
"Who!"
The Werewolf shouted, then immediately began scanning the surroundings in every direction!
But no one was visible, only the Werewolf that had just exploded into mist slowly condensing back into a blurry, humanoid figure.
The blood mist forming the humanoid figure lacked distinct features or a solid structure; it was a creature made entirely of indistinct vapor.
That red mist entity raised its hand, and a turbid, hoarse voice suddenly echoed from all directions: "Where is the Wolf King?"
The Werewolf heard the voice and looked at the red mist. A streak of red mist instantly coalesced into a hand, gripping its neck and hoisting it into the air!
Red mist?
Could it be... Red King?
Among the ranks of monstrous entities, there was such a legend: certain entities, due to their immense inherent power, ascended to higher-tier worlds.
And among them was a 4th Step existence carrying the moniker "Incorporeal Flesh"!
He had once triggered a world-ending red mist catastrophe, cleansing all of Asia, and even extending into Europe.
Any creature that came into contact with the red mist would instantly be refined into blood mist. And the one responsible for triggering this terrifying blood mist was 026 Red Mist.
Speaking of this designation, not many people knew the full name, because they all referred to 026 by its abbreviated title.
Which was Red King.
The Werewolf couldn't comprehend why Red King would manifest here, or why he was demanding the whereabouts of the Wolf King.
Should he respond? Could he speak? He was unable to judge the situation.
"You, what do you intend to do, My Lord?"
Hearing the Werewolf's words, the hoarse voice echoed from all directions again.
"Recruitment."
Recruitment?
What did that imply?
Did he want the Wolf King to choose a side and submit?
What was he supposed to do?
"I... I do not know where the Wolf King is."
"Those who interfere too much are often the first to break. What a shame."
Puff, puff!!
With that, the Werewolf, held aloft by one hand, instantly dissolved into a cloud of blood mist.
Red Mist. Shino turned her head, only to see Lilith gazing at her with deep wariness.
Shino approached, using the red mist to condense a hand that gently stroked Lilith's face. "Long time no see, Lilith."
Lilith continued to retreat backward until she hit the wall. "Who are you? When have I ever met you?"
Shino withdrew the hand condensed from red mist. "You don't remember, do you? That's understandable."
This situation was certainly two-sided. After so many years, even Shino had almost forgotten Lilith. And Shino had become this formless entity; it was natural for her not to be recognized.
However, Shino gradually understood something profound from this moment.
She understood the kind of emotions Chino felt when she had seen Shino in that previous state.
When one stands above the so-called rules, transcendent over external matters, all the past appears like childish trifles, becoming insignificant.
Before, she hadn't understood Chino. Now, she finally grasped it.
When her own perspective shifted, when Shino began to think from Chino's viewpoint, she instantly understood.
Gods pay no mind to human struggles. Those attachments that cannot be discarded, those matters that cannot be judged, all stem from one's own station being too low.
When one ascends to a high peak, the fog surrounding the mountains naturally disperses. Standing on that summit, everything becomes clear.
Shino chuckled faintly. Understanding was never mere comprehension; it was transformation—it was becoming.
When you become him, you don't need to comprehend; you will inherently know what he thinks.
Lilith's pale face furrowed. "Who exactly are you?"
Shino's misty form wavered, gradually condensing into clear facial features. "What you should be focusing on is not questioning me, but thanking me for pulling you back from death, Lilith."
Watching Shino's face gradually become distinct, Lilith blinked.
That familiar yet unfamiliar visage instantly stirred a deep memory in her mind. "You are... Shino?"
"How did you become... like this?"
Shino's misty body dissipated, condensing again further away.
"Is there something inherently wrong with this appearance?"
"Transcendent of external matters, seeking unhindered freedom, and no one controls my lifespan or death. Only I control my own existence."
"And you remain unchanged, Lilith. The era of Vampires is concluded."
"Because in this world, there is an unalterable iron law: elimination precedes evolution."
"That which remains static will eventually be purged. Survival demands moving against the current; stagnation equates to decay... But, let us cease this discourse here."
"Farewell, Lilith."
Shino's figure vanished. Lilith hurried forward, shouting:
"Shino!"
"I used you against Velen before... I apologize."
Lilith called out, but only three words answered her.
"I don't care."
There exists a kind of answer in this world more devastating than refusing forgiveness: it is utter indifference.
The things you cling to desperately, others have long since dismissed as past smoke and forgotten. Even if brought up tomorrow, it would merely be a casual phrase: "I don't care."
That feeling, at that moment, was akin to pouring a basin of ice-cold water onto every newly kindled flame.
Lilith stared blankly at the dissipating mist, simply watching.
...
On the other side, deep within the containment zone, a man with his eyes covered and limbs bound, resembling a mummy, was imprisoned in a chamber.
And at this moment, countless plants suddenly sprouted within the room.
The roots of these plants gradually covered the entire chamber, physically forcing open the man's restraining iron manacles, thus releasing the prisoner inside.
The man's appearance looked unremarkable. His body was muscular, but apart from that, whether viewed horizontally or vertically, he was just an ordinary human.
But he was a genuine monster.
He was 038, the Wolf King.
Wolf King looked around. Outside the containment zone, red mist permeated the air.
He walked out of the containment room, only to see a solid human figure sitting within the red mist.
"Seans · Delin, do you recognize me?"
Wolf King heard this and his pupils shifted, looking around. There was no one nearby. On the ground, however, there was a pile of intact clothes.
"Red mist catastrophe, flesh and blood extinguished. Are you Red King?"
"Is there something you require of me?"
The figure within the red mist dissipated. Immediately after, the red mist shifted, and two huge eyes sank into it!
"When the great waves of chaos arise, the powerful contend, and the weak, seeking self-preservation, must learn to discern the signs of the times and choose their direction wisely."
Hearing these words, Wolf King immediately sank to one knee. "The Wolf King humbly requests to follow you, My Lord, to be at your command, without hesitation!"
"A clever individual."
Shino's words were concise, but their meaning was unambiguous: now, every 4th Step entity was a regional sovereign. Those below the 4th Step who wished to survive had to clearly assess the situation and align themselves promptly.
As Shino proceeded, the monsters who actively sought refuge with him already numbered over ten.
And this development held a certain connection with Chino.
...
Kitsune Headquarters.
All existing soldiers and personnel were recalled to headquarters, and a grand meeting was organized.
First, within the O5 Council, the departed soul Byakuya sat in the head seat, while the other council members bowed their heads.
A squad of Serpent's Hand members, now wearing Kitsune uniforms, aimed their weapons at the council members from behind. The departed soul Byakuya, seated in his position, picked up a can of yellow peach.
For some inexplicable reason, after occupying Byakuya's body, he always developed a particular craving for canned yellow peaches.
He clearly didn't usually like canned food, yet he intensely desired it now.
"Is everyone present?"
A voice emerged from behind Byakuya. A black-robed figure wearing a red, furious mask leaned against Byakuya's chair.
Everyone present knew that black-robed figure; it was Seth, the leader of the Serpent's Hand.
Reinhard's gaze swept over each bowed council member. "Now, with each containment zone successively losing control, and the world plunged into such chaos, developing into this current state, I believe those of you seated here are difficult to absolve of guilt!"
"So I ask, when the rulers are incompetent, what course of action is necessitated?"
The departed soul Byakuya chuckled faintly. "They should be stripped of their positions, executed, to provide solace to the Kitsune members who perished due to their failings."
Hearing the two's sharp exchange, all the council members present remained silent.
They were not fools; they clearly understood the gravity of the current situation.
Upon learning that Byakuya was not deceased, the council was summoned to attend the headquarters meeting in their true forms. The seriousness of this crisis demanded an in-person discussion.
But they hadn't anticipated that the undefended headquarters had been successfully occupied by Serpent's Hand operatives. Even more shockingly, Byakuya had actually allied himself with the Serpent's Hand!
The moment they entered, they were met with weapons aimed at their heads by these Serpent's Hand members sporting Kitsune uniforms.
They had gathered all the council members for one singular purpose: to eliminate them all.
Thus, whatever protests they offered were rendered irrelevant. If one desires to condemn another, why bother searching for a legitimate justification?
Thud!
At this moment, one council member slammed the table and stood up!
He pointed accusingly at the departed soul Byakuya, then furiously declared: "Byakuya, you have betrayed us by colluding with the dark faction, uniting with non-humans, overturning the celestial order, and destroying Kitsune's very foundation in one fell swoop! If Zero has any spirit remaining in heaven, he will surely never forgive you—"
Bang!!
A gunshot cracked through the air. A bullet left the barrel, directly shattering that person's head.
Blood splattered everywhere. That council member tumbled backward with a 'thud.'
The departed soul Byakuya witnessed this and waved his hand dismissively. "There is no need for such excessive bloodshed. A mere gesture suffices. Take them all into custody and proceed with their sentencing."
With that, a contingent of Serpent's Hand members stepped forward, apprehended the council members, and prepared to escort them out for execution.
"Byakuya!"
"May you never find peace!!"
"Justice, both good and evil, will ultimately be served! It is not that retribution is absent, but merely that the destined time has not yet arrived! You just wait, Byakuya!!"
"Oh Zero, I feel deep shame for my unrequited loyalty to you!"
"Byakuya, if I become a vengeful spirit after death, I swear I will drag you down with me to the Yellow Springs!!"
...
The meeting room descended into silence.
Reinhard turned and smoothly took a seat. Yang Lin, distinguished by his green eyes, emerged from the other side and also took a chair.
"The path toward lasting peace is not forged solely through slaughter; there is also the option of recruitment."
"That may be true, but how many individuals willingly choose to surrender?"
"What if they are presented with no choice but surrender?"
"The threat of overwhelming force?"
"I once heard this concept: we pierced the world with nuclear detonations. We wielded the power akin to gods. That soaring pillar of fire resembled a second sun."
"If nuclear weapons were placed in the hands of a single individual, would the world achieve peace?"
"No."
"Then what if that power rested in the hands of two individuals?"
"The outcome is the same. Conflict will erupt sooner or later."
"What about three individuals?"
"Mutual restraint creates relative stability, but never absolute certainty."
"Apart from absolute characteristics, nothing in this world is entirely absolute or guaranteed. So, this," Yang Lin spread his arms wide, "is the answer."
"Justice always prevails. Therefore, this time, we firmly stand on the side of justice."
"Everything we undertake is for the sake of humanity, for peace. We will shield the vulnerable, we will resist formidable enemies, becoming the ultimate umbrella for the weak."
"And our adversaries, they are terrifyingly powerful. They embody Gods and Devils in this context. We aim to convey to our people precisely how formidable the opponents we face truly are. Our actions are designed to inspire profound awe."
Yang Lin spoke, a chilling grin spreading across his lips.
Reinhard remained silent, yet he understood the terrifying depth of Chino's strategy.
She was subtly altering her entire positioning.
By labeling those 4th Step entities with concepts like destruction and malice, she simultaneously cast herself as the savior, the very guardian deity of humanity.
She would protect humanity; she would personify justice. Beginning with Kitsune, she intended to bring all of humanity under her benevolent protection.
But there is an old adage: if someone has the power to shield you from the wind and rain, they also possess the power to deny you the sight of the sun.
You live under their protection, and consequently, you must submit to their rule.
What a cunning calculation.
Yang Lin tilted his head, gazing across the Kitsune conference room before him. He knew deeply that the critical moment he had been anticipating had finally arrived.
He had once seen a person in a dream, an entity who, operating alone, managed to restore a brief period of peace and order to the world.
That person was Byakuya.