Eldritch Horror Theatre

Omnipresent.

The sensation Sophia had exhausted all her strength to convey held genuine meaning.

Naturally, this description could mean the Vacuum Flower possessed an absurdly massive volume that encompassed everything around it.

But at the same time, it offered another explanation: it could appear anywhere at will.

As previously mentioned, it possessed a far more abstract form of existence.

If one assumed Sophia was the Anchor Point, and this "wound" discontinuously Blinked within a certain radius around her, then all of its previous behaviors suddenly made sense—

The Vacuum Flower, originally trapped within the Workshop, had gradually accumulated the foundation to exist in the outside world through its continuous, limit-breaking contact with the previous trio.

Ultimately, as Sophia absorbed its influence and left the area, the Anchor Point became strong enough to allow it to breach that special restriction.

Once outside, it hadn't concealed itself within any piece of flesh. Instead, it maintained that state of uncertainty, Blinking across a much larger area.

And why Ais's earlier plan had failed.

As for why it had Blinked outside for so long without affecting Ais and the other two students?

Fu Qian believed it tied back to a key point the Sage had mentioned—igniting a new Anchor Point required one minute of continuous, close-range contact.

Since the Vacuum Flower's presence was never truly continuous, and it lacked a "will to exist," it never actively sought out new Anchor Points to prolong its own survival. Everything was left to chance.

Later, the trio died, and Fu Qian forcibly severed Sophia's connection as an Anchor Point using the Decree of Return.

Under these circumstances, the naturally omnipresent Vacuum Flower automatically returned to this container, the only place that could stabilize its existence.

But why would a concept devoid of a will to exist suddenly display a drive akin to a survival instinct?

Respecting the experts meant not only listening to their words but also observing their actions.

When the Sage spoke those words, he had also forged this object and imprisoned the Vacuum Flower.

Although no specific operational guidelines were left behind, considering the anomaly's characteristics, Fu Qian didn't think the Sage had actually run off somewhere, caught it, and thrown it inside.

It was far more likely that he had used its own traits to lure it in.

The material and structure of this box likely held a very special meaning for the concept of the Vacuum Flower.

It was like digging a pit to gather rainwater, flying a kite to draw lightning, or taping a circle on the floor to automatically spawn a kitten inside...

The Vacuum Flower naturally gravitated toward such a space.

In fact, he had gone to great lengths to herd the subjects in here just to slightly boost that probability.

True, he had concluded early on that there was actually a very simple, actionable method to resolve this mess.

That was to slaughter every living thing inside this Underground facility and destroy the box, thereby maximizing the chances of forcing the Vacuum Flower into rapid dissolution.

But as previously mentioned, Fu Qian didn't want to miss the opportunity to witness the wealth of knowledge accumulated by the Blind Eye Society.

The Vacuum Flower was clearly a unique entity. Fu Qian was quite interested in taking a little extra time to deeply understand its essence—such as right now.

Fu Qian scrutinized Ais, who looked as if the world had abandoned her.

If not for this, she wouldn't have the slightest value standing here.

...

"Why is this happening?"

Ais's emotional instability was completely undisguised now.

To the point that as she faced the two reborn victims in the corner, her eyes held no fear or guilt, but instead betrayed an irrational envy.

Of course, those two wouldn't answer her, so she gritted her teeth and directed the question at Fu Qian.

"Betrayal."

However, his answer only brought her deeper despair.

Fu Qian's expression was arrogant, the light of righteous judgment flashing in his eyes.

"Those who betray fate shall inevitably be betrayed by fate!"

"And Miracles are forged by those who believe in them!"

"...Bullshit! When did I betray anything?"

Ais practically howled her retort.

"Mortal Flesh, Witness the Transcendent."

But how could Fu Qian's momentum be swayed by such a cowardly roar? His expression grew even more solemn.

"With Gold and knowledge, forge them into the swords and shields of ordinary men."

"How do you know that!"

At those words, Ais's face contorted into absolute horror.

Why wouldn't I know?

I heard the Old Man say it with my own ears back then.

Fu Qian scoffed inwardly.

What he'd just recited was naturally the core tenet of the Post-Blind Eye Society that he had learned before.

Pulling it out now to terrorize the survivor of the expedition felt entirely appropriate.

"Because it was precisely your betrayal that brought me here, answering the call of fate."

He repeated his chuuni declaration once more, though this time, it left endless room for imagination.

...

"Impossible..."

For instance, a multitude of sudden realizations clearly flashed through Ms. Ais's mind at that moment.

But before she could voice them, she rejected every single one.

"No matter who you are... I just wanted to survive. In fact, I don't even know how I escaped..."

Even so, it was obvious she was recalling the expedition.

"So, your fate is to execute me?"

But after subconsciously defending herself, she instantly snapped back to the main point.

"No."

Fu Qian shook his head flatly.

"The future has never unfolded so clearly before my eyes, and I am entirely certain that bringing you and them here was fate's summons to me."

"Them..."

Faced with these increasingly incomprehensible developments, Ais obviously couldn't just take Fu Qian at his word, but she still subconsciously glanced toward the two corners of the room.

In just a brief moment, the crawling movements of the corpse worm had become rhythmic, and Sophia, reborn from the ashes, had opened her still blood-red eyes.

And without exception, both had resolutely locked onto her as their target.

"The Vacuum Flower has already forsaken you. I am merely a witness to this hatred."

At the same time, as if to prove his words, Fu Qian boldly turned around and walked all the way to the remaining empty corner of the room.

It was even the exact same corner he had stood in at Ais's behest the last time he was here.

...

Faced with words and actions she would have dismissed as utterly childish under any normal circumstances, Ais's eyes flickered wildly.

From the very beginning, her understanding of Fu Qian's behavior had hovered somewhere between genuine stupidity and playing the fool.

But the string of developments leading up to this, down to him picking a position that was incredibly hard to brush off as mere coincidence, made that intangible concept known as fate suddenly feel heavy in this moment.

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