Eldritch Horror Theatre

It wasn't strange that it could laugh, given that it was a human head.

The scene had grown increasingly grotesque, yet Fu Qian still saw it with perfect clarity.

When the box on the Deer Cart's back opened, it revealed a head slightly smaller than normal.

Aside from its lifelike features and undeniable fleshiness, there was a distinct reason for its small size: an entire outer layer had been peeled away.

It looked exactly like the fleshy scraps left over after crafting a Human Skin Mask.

Not a single patch of skin remained. The subcutaneous tissue lay entirely exposed, and even the eyes were missing.

Yet despite this gruesome state, the empty sockets locked perfectly onto them the moment it laughed, instantly flooding the space with a chilling atmosphere.

"So this is its true form?"

Unfortunately, this horrific atmosphere was entirely wasted on its current audience.

"I suspect so too, though he rarely comes out to say hello."

The Witch, however, was much busier. As she answered, she reached into the empty air, grasping at something unseen, and a cluster of bloody Spikes faded into view.

It really was like that. Truly fitting for the core element of this place.

With his theory confirmed, Fu Qian felt he understood the corporate culture of this bizarre Doll Workshop a little better—

At first, Airo had replaced her flesh with cotton.

The Palm Reader then clearly took things a step further. No longer satisfied with simple Occult Prosthetics, they attempted far more extreme modifications, blurring the very concept of self.

As for the Deer Cart before them, it pushed this to the next extreme. Its own flesh and blood were no longer the main body, serving only as a spare component.

To the outside world, the deer gestated from the concept of "him" was now the true core.

He seemed to be witnessing the process of boundaries being shattered step by step.

Clicking his tongue in praise, Fu Qian locked onto the newly discovered intruder and swiftly detonated it in one smooth motion, executing the threat for the Witch.

Sure enough, when the Witch opened her hand, another freshly torn nail sat in her palm.

Ding!

After showing it to Fu Qian, the Witch casually flicked it away.

Just as she had said, the Deer Cart's posture remained urgent, behaving as though it would never be satisfied.

...

Sure enough, the head still didn't drop.

Executing the intruder hadn't distracted Fu Qian in the slightest; his attention had remained locked on the Deer Cart the entire time.

It ultimately failed to spew the head out and complete its metamorphosis.

As the box on the Deer Cart's back closed up and sank rapidly, the head simply retreated back into the creature's body alongside it.

"You don't decide what form these things take after they condense?"

Slightly disappointed, Fu Qian didn't press the issue and quickly shifted his attention to another matter.

The bloody fingernails were wickedly menacing and highly visually striking, but knowing the Witch, she wouldn't be bored enough to deliberately choose such a shape.

"Correct. I only capture it and make it manifest."

The Witch's response was exactly as expected.

"Now that's interesting. Why take this specific shape? There must be some deeper meaning behind it."

With her confirmation, Fu Qian let his imagination run wild.

"You're absolutely right. It is indeed consistent with the true nature of this place."

The Witch seemed to not only appreciate this active line of thinking, but fully agreed with it.

Clang!

As they spoke, the Deer Cart initiated another equal exchange. The box on its back slowly bulged outward and bloomed open.

This time, a metal object clattered to the ground with a crisp ring. Judging by its shape, it appeared to be a bear.

Based on the Witch's reaction, this third item was still within normal parameters. There was nothing special about it.

"During my time here, I formed a few theories... In your opinion, what would be the first change to happen in this world if the barrier shattered?"

Quietly watching this scene, the Witch posed her question.

"Things would go missing."

Fu Qian answered without a second of hesitation.

...

What exactly were those terrifying entities outside the barrier after?

Truthfully, this question didn't just relate to the Witch's situation.

Long ago in the Ji Clan's Silver Mist Manor, after witnessing the Mother of Gospel's invasion plan and guessing that Her true goal was likely to bypass some kind of barrier, Fu Qian had already started pondering this very issue.

Even villains needed a motive. While the Bookstore World was teeming with experts, the Mother of Gospel had schemed relentlessly—corrupting Ji Feng, deliberately cultivating the Ji Clan Golden Generation, and trying every possible method to force Her way inside. She couldn't possibly be doing all that just to spar.

Something hidden beneath the barrier was highly alluring, even to these transcendent higher entities.

Looking at the world the Witch currently inhabited, the situation seemed largely the same, except for the unique nature of its barrier.

It was a pity his Transcendent Perception was currently at zero, otherwise he could have tried observing and comparing the two.

Regardless, in Fu Qian's view, the moment the barrier broke, those higher entities who had exhausted themselves trying to get inside wouldn't be bored enough to start wantonly slaughtering people just to vent.

Their first reaction would definitely be highly pragmatic—scrambling for whatever had drawn Them there in the first place.

"Precisely. The objects of Their desire are what matter most... Doomsday, the shattering of the world, are merely collateral damage."

Faced with Fu Qian's answer, the Witch nodded slightly in agreement.

"So you think the existence of this place might be a negative side effect caused by something being stolen?"

The advantage of possessing one's own thoughts shone through; Fu Qian demonstrated that he was perfectly following the Witch's train of thought.

"Exactly. Fragile yet pure. To me, this place indeed seems to have been born from some kind of void left within the world."

While acknowledging Fu Qian's deduction, the Witch casually flicked out another nail.

"A reasonable theory. Just regarding the world I was in previously, as far as I know, it contained a few entities acting as foundational pillars of the world, like one named The Abyss. And someone was indeed very interested in it."

Fu Qian recalled his own mission experiences and the summary reports from the Warehouse.

The Abyss was one of the world's pillars—this had been explicitly stated in the mission summary.

And the interested party in question was, naturally, Blazing Rainbow—

Hmm?

The Witch, having just thrown the fourth nail, did not continue the topic at that moment. Instead, she stared thoughtfully toward the Deer Cart.

The square box had bulged and opened once again, and the fourth item subsequently appeared.

"Something new?"

Such a reaction naturally sparked Fu Qian's imagination.

Especially since the item that dropped out of the box was somewhat unusual in itself.

Thin and translucent, it looked like the molted shell of some insect, and its shape was rather unique.

"Something new."

The Witch nodded, indicating that they had finally reaped a real harvest.

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