There Must Be Something Wrong With This Game!

Although it was only a 2-point increase to his Strength Attribute, point allocation in *Abyss* was based on small numbers to begin with. A 2-point boost already made him 20% stronger than an average person, which meant he could now wield his crowbar with even greater skill.

Flexing his fingers, Duan Fei could feel the physical changes from the increased Power. He could feel the Power flowing to his fingertips, his clenched fist now stronger and more confident.

Walking over to the believer from before, Duan Fei found that the man’s vital signs were normal. His pupils reacted to light, indicating he was not in any mortal danger.

After a moment of thought, Duan Fei recalled the information about the Mechanical Sect he had just read in the ancient tome. He decided it was time to pay them a visit.

Having confirmed his new objective, Duan Fei re-wrapped the bandages around his eyes. Then, he turned to the other believer, who was scared witless, and said, "Are there any more?"

"Anymore what!" the believer asked in terror.

"Superpower Users. I feel like I’m in for a real feast."

Watching Duan Fei lick the corner of his mouth, looking as if he hadn’t had his fill, the believer shamefully wet his pants.

’This heretic is terrifying!’

In the end, under duress, the believer had no choice but to lead Duan Fei away and toward the local branch of the Mechanical Sect.

The Mechanical Sect’s branch very much lived up to the name.

Numerous computer cases were stacked together and filled from the inside with foam cement, forming the supporting walls of the Church.

The Church’s windows were made from discarded monitors, the decorative patterns on them were just labels from printer ink cartridges, and the pews were all gaming chairs. For a moment, Duan Fei wondered if he’d walked into an internet cafe.

A mass was currently in progress. The CD-ROM drive of a computer case had been ejected, its tray propped open. A large bottle of cola was inverted over it, fitted with a tap to dispense the drink.

A large crowd of believers had gathered around a man, performing some sort of mysterious ritual.

The black-robed man stood before a large mechanical keyboard that served as a Sacred Artifact, a computer mouse hanging from his waist like a sidearm. The sight was utterly ridiculous.

Upon seeing him, Duan Fei had to repeatedly remind himself not to laugh, but he lost all composure the moment the man opened his mouth.

Halting the mass, the man turned to Duan Fei and asked gravely, "By the CPU, are you the heretic who mimics our Sect?"

"HAHAHAHA..."

Unable to hold it in, Duan Fei collapsed to the ground, roaring with laughter. "You actually said ’By the CPU’! You actually said it! This sect of yours is too much!"

The Priest frowned at Duan Fei, confused by his laughter.

The Priest, however, was a man of great composure. Even with Duan Fei howling in his face, he explained patiently, "The CPU is divine. It is the name of God, the heart of the machine. It is silent, yet all-knowing. Vast computational power flows through its core, and in this, it is made holy."

"Please, stop. The more you talk, the funnier it gets. What is this, Pastaism?"

After finally managing to compose himself, Duan Fei clutched his stomach, which ached from laughing, and plopped down into a gaming chair. "Okay, I’ve had my laugh. Now, back to the earlier question. Why do you say I’m a heretic?"

"Because you are not a member of the Mechanical Sect, yet you mimic our attire."

"Is that so... Let me propose something. Is it possible—just a possibility—that you are the ones imitating *me*?"

The Priest’s tone was still serene. "Impossible. Our attire is a tribute to the machine, a kind of..."

"Save it. I think I know why you wear such a bizarre getup. ’Machine’ was originally another name for the Void, a term meant to evoke its coldness and mystery. But over time, you lot lost track of that original meaning and became... this peculiar sect. As the Priest, surely you’re aware of this?"

The Priest fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "You are correct. How did you find out? From the ancient texts? But there are so many of them. How did you know which one was the right one?"

"I have a special method for indexing."

Duan Fei glanced at the Spirit Detective beside him, who proudly raised its head.

"I see..."

The Priest seemed lost in thought, but he still shook his head. "Alright, even if we have misinterpreted the Holy Scripture, your disrespect toward us still..."

"Have you forgotten what I just told you? I am not imitating you; you are imitating me. You worship the Void, and I... am the Void Envoy."

Duan Fei lifted a corner of the bandage over his eye. The slight leakage of power alone was enough to make the Priest staring at Duan Fei feel an icy chill.

The next moment, the Priest felt as if his very soul was cast into the depths of space. Boundless emptiness and a terrible vastness enveloped him, forcing an agonized scream from his lips.

Though he had only seen it for a second, the Priest’s eyebrows instantly turned white. His trembling knees gave out, no longer able to support his weight, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

Once his violently pounding heart finally began to settle, he wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and turned his head, not daring to look at Duan Fei again.

At this point, he was utterly convinced of Duan Fei’s identity as the Void Envoy.

He had been reduced to this state after just one glance. Only someone chosen and blessed by the Void could possibly endure such a thing without perishing in its emptiness.

After confirming that Duan Fei had replaced his bandage, the Priest dipped his hand in the cola and sprinkled it over the believers below him.

"Pray! Rejoice! The legendary Mechanical Envoy has arrived! He brings with him countless seeds to the world of man, a symbol of knowledge and freedom! Tonight, everyone is permitted to reward themselves an extra time. Now, go home."

"Yes!"

After dismissing everyone, the only ones left in the vast Church were the core members of the Mechanical Sect, along with Duan Fei and the Spirit Detective.

The Priest gave Duan Fei a long, hard look and said, "Follow me."

Picking up a nearby candle, the Priest headed deeper into the Church, leading the pair into a smaller, two-person internet cafe room... no, a private prayer room.

There were no machines here, no electronics whatsoever. Before entering, both of them were required to remove all their electronic devices.

Once he was certain they had complied, the Priest allowed them inside. He poured them some cola and said, "No electronics are allowed in here. Certain... entities can listen in. Only by distancing ourselves from such things can we keep secrets." Then he asked, "Ice?"

"Two cubes. Oh, and this one here is only six, so it can’t have cola. Milk will be fine."

"...Why are you always trying to give me milk!" Spirit Detective Sai Wen yelled in frustration. "Have you ever considered the feelings of the poor calf that’s left with nothing to drink!"

"Then we’ll have veal for dinner tonight."

"That’s not what I meant!"

The Priest waited quietly for the two of them to settle down.

In the candlelight, a flame seemed to ignite within the Priest’s pupils. "Envoy," he asked, his voice filled with excitement, "does your arrival mean... we can begin?"

"Begin what?" Duan Fei asked, perplexed.

"Begin the destruction of this problem-ridden world."

Hearing the word "problem," Duan Fei shot a puzzled glance at the Spirit Detective.

In the back of his mind, something seemed to click.

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