Eldritch Horror Theatre

It truly was hard to change one's nature. Even in this place, A Wei still preferred pulling the strings from the shadows, leaving the frontline charges to others.

This was actually what Fu Qian had been waiting for.

Otherwise, considering the Lord's clumsy methods and transparent schemes, why would Fu Qian have wasted so much time on him?

Fortunately, the investment paid off. After Fu Qian handed out opportunity after opportunity, the figure lurking behind the scenes finally stepped out, confirming their hidden presence.

As an old acquaintance once said: "Your sharp knife is my healing salve." Damage would instead convert into healing.

The changes washing over the Lord were deeply familiar. Fu Qian had seen them back in Shangjing on A Wei, one of the Reaper Familiars.

It was precisely this unreasonable ability that had prompted Fu Qian to use the Ash-Bestowing Ring to send him here.

Angel of Death.

It seemed A Wei was adapting to local customs quite well. Not only had he taken on a resounding title, but he had also deeply embedded himself in the "eternal night" plan—serving, at the very least, as a member of its core team.

As for his goal, they both knew it well.

A Wei clearly believed the Lord still had some residual value to squeeze out—enough to cause a bit more trouble for Fu Qian.

Honestly, the idea made sense. In a place like this, the Lord's logic-defying ability was practically insurmountable.

Previously, Fu Qian could just banish him from the Bookstore World to Unseen Hill, but that option was no longer available.

"Thanks for cooperating, even though this isn't exactly how I pictured it..."

As for the man himself, the Lord's mood instantly resurged. No longer in any rush to flee, he even stared at Fu Qian and offered his gratitude.

"Don't mention it. So, did your ideal version of cooperation involve leaving a mark on me as well?"

Signaling for him not to mind it, Fu Qian shifted his focus to the Lord's original grand scheme.

For someone in the rising phase of their career, going out of their way to cause trouble for Fu Qian required a solid motive.

"Yes, though it's a pity you were far more alert than I expected."

Since the other party wasn't in a hurry, the Lord was naturally in no rush either. He simply stroked his rapidly healing body.

"So an outsider works for you too? Your mark is effective on them?"

Fu Qian gave a slight nod. Though this confirmed his earlier guess, he still seemed concerned about some of the technical logistics.

"How will we know without trying? Besides, don't forget what I said—I'm still highly skeptical that you're actually an outsider."

The Lord just chuckled. With a wave of his hand, a massive spike burst from the earth, blocking several Ice Spears at once.

Clearly realizing something was wrong, Crystal finally reacted and launched an attack, but it was already too late.

...

Makes sense. He could also exploit an information gap.

Believing there was uncertainty in this area, which made marking him a low-value target, his guard against being marked would naturally be lowered.

Fu Qian didn't question the Lord's reasoning, nor did he jump in to join the fray.

Crystal against the Lord. The Demigod of Justice against a supervillain. One had to admit, such a classic matchup made one reluctant to ruin it.

As for the spike jutting from the earth, it was clearly identical to the one meant to ambush Fu Qian earlier. Using it for defense right now was fitting.

Defending himself at all actually stemmed from mental inertia. The Lord hadn't quite adapted to his newly acquired special constitution yet; otherwise, he absolutely should have tanked the hits with his face.

The real tragedy lay with the group of slumbering Natives scattered around them.

Having just tumbled into the crater trampled out earlier, they were now nearly buried alive. Even with physiques stronger than ordinary humans, they were undoubtedly being battered relentlessly.

Yet, despite all this battering, they remained trapped in a deeply intoxicated sleep.

"Ignorant fools!"

Seeing that Fu Qian really was standing quietly without intervening, the Lord's aura surged. Taking a bold step forward, he actively bypassed the barrier.

Crash!

So much for the Frost Bomb. Like a blossoming lotus, a cluster of ice crystals instantly erupted across his chest.

It was Crystal's handiwork, naturally—stealthy, vicious, and utterly unavoidable.

Unfortunately, the Lord had finally remembered his invulnerability. Truly tanking the ultimate attack head-on, he allowed the frost spikes to completely cover his upper body as he simultaneously lashed out with a claw.

Rip!

Though the strike seemed far short of reaching Crystal, she didn't dare launch another attack and hastily retreated. The frail barrier left in her wake was shredded from afar by the Lord's claw.

"Have you actually thought about what you're doing? Even the Prophet is dead."

The psychological assault continued as the very next moment, the Lord strode right out of the icy explosion.

Under the full-power blow of a demigod, he looked not only completely unscathed, but even his previous wounds had entirely healed.

"Or do you really believe that Ballard over there is some kind of Savior?"

...

"But you certainly aren't."

With him employing an all offense and no defense strategy—and taking zero damage—the fight was truly despair-inducing.

Facing the Lord's death-knell footsteps, Crystal held back any further attacks and answered his question through gritted teeth.

The implication was clear. She indeed didn't believe in any Savior, but she was absolutely certain the Lord harbored malicious intent.

"You're right, I'm certainly not... I merely realized my place a little earlier. Or rather, our place—"

The Lord admitted it without hesitation, his tone loaded with implication.

"Don't even think about it!"

Crystal naturally understood his implication about the marks and instantly made it clear she would never let him succeed.

"Is that so?"

His footsteps finally paused, but in that moment, the brightness before them surged.

The bizarre electrical arcs from earlier abruptly crawled over the Lord's entire body, forming a layer of Electric Current Armor.

Only, just like the blood from earlier, the lightning was tinged with a dark, ashen gray, giving it a uniquely striking appearance.

"Really—"

Unfortunately, there were too few people in the mood to admire the spectacle. Faced with this shocking new form, a hulking monstrosity threw itself forward with a furious roar.

The genuine Ash Emissary—who had been lying there, left behind when Crystal hastily retreated—had completely lost his human form.

Swollen to at least ten times his original size, his twisted body crouched beast-like on the ground. However, from his ruptured, bloody back, more grotesque, misshapen arms had burst free, wrapping around the Lord in a macabre embrace.

Since the enemy had activated invincibility, using a grapple to trap him was the answer? One had to admit, although the situation looked brutal, it seemed like a reasonable strategy.

Especially as a character who had already been marked, such close-quarters contact didn't matter anymore.

In short, his response was so fluid that it almost made one suspect his earlier helplessness when being dragged over had merely been an act.

Fu Qian, however, was absolutely certain that Holler had been crippled badly earlier. Right now, he was surviving purely on a protagonist-esque surge of willpower.

Though it seemed he wouldn't last much longer.

In that moment, the Lord's Electric Current Armor emitted a furious surge, violently tearing apart everything that dared to offend it.

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