Chapter 404

Shajin, he, he's really amazing… I also want to become someone like him!

Want to become Shajin? Well, that path hasn't been easy, Fufu." Yixuan covered her mouth and smiled, "Although having aspirations is impressive, the universe is vast—what if one day you, Fufu, fall into the demonic path… there's no Junior Sister Ling to bring you to me pleading."

——

"Life is like a long-term investment: choosing the right people, doing the right things, reaching the right outcomes, and showing the world your worth."

"It's impossible for a person to make only correct decisions their whole life, but luck is always on my side. I've never lost."

"Is it because the mother goddess is blessing me? If so, she must be watching me now. I will surely succeed."

"... But then what?"

"If I successfully overcome this hurdle, what comes next? After a grand gamble, what awaits me… another even grander gamble? After successive wins, returning laden with countless chips, or after a loss…"

"... And never return?"

"In the darkness, another voice seemed to sound again."

"Don't you have any sense…… you wretched gambler?"

"Shajin snapped his eyes open, cold sweat sliding down his forehead."

"The scene before him twisted and deformed; the shackles of Harmony clung to his mind like thick syrup. He shook his head hard, trying to shake off this nauseating dizziness."

"What's going on?"

"A familiar low laugh came from behind. Shajin tensed, quickly turning his head—only to see another 'Shajin' not far away, staring fixedly at him."

"\"Am I dreaming, or have I gone completely mad? \" Shajin rubbed his head."

"\"Maybe both. \" The other Shajin laughed, saying, \"You forgot? When you were bound to the electric chair by the Yiyimanika warlord, who gave you the idea? \""

——

AveMujica.

"In the evening park, Xiangzi looked up in astonishment at the scene on the skydome, where two Shajins faced off, identical faces, identical voices—it was as if……"

"Just like his second persona."

"Xiangzi unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes, looking at the blonde girl beside her, her voice trembling: \"Chuhua… you said, did Mu and Motisi previously coexist in this form? In some unseen corner…… existing in this near‑hallucinatory form? \""

"At first she could hardly imagine how Mu and Motisi could coexist; she had only seen symptoms of split personality in films and TV. But now, seeing the Shajin on the skydome…… she gained a deeper understanding of this condition."

"Chuhua tilted her head, thinking: \"These two aren't really the same; it's hard to tell whether this 'Shajin' is a hallucination caused by Harmony. \""

"It's said that under extreme mental tension, some people unconsciously hallucinate. Given Shajin's current mental state…… Chuhua felt that nothing he saw would be surprising."

"\"Would he, like Motisi, end up devouring Shajin's original personality? \""

"Chuhua gave a light smile, subtly moving closer to Xiangzi, and asked in a low voice: \"Xiangzi, do you actually care about Mr. Shajin? \""

"\"No, not really…\" Xiangzi turned her face aside, stammering: \"Just… just Blessed Heaven Temple… cough, that guy wasn't saying he wanted to cover and perform some fan songs about Shajin? I just wanted to try to learn more about him…\""

"\"…I see. \" Chuhua let out a soft \"oh, \" looked up at the Shajin on the skydome, and shook her head calmly: \"Shajin isn't like Mu; he doesn't need a personality like Motisi to protect himself. Rather than calling it a personality…… it would be more fitting to say he's a companion who's shared his hardships. \""

——

"\"Alright… I might be crazy, but I'm not stupid. Get out of my head, newborn of Harmony. \""

"\"Shajin\" raised his brows and said: \"Heh, Harmony? Don't be silly—we've met before, no need to be so formal. I am you, even know yourself better than you do, and know exactly what you want. You're dying, on death's door still wanting to drag a few unlucky souls along… that's why you came here, right? \""

"Saying that, he gave a mocking chuckle: \"…A grand opening act—do you really think you can pulloff? \""

"Shajin asked coldly: \"What's impossible about it? \""

"\"Perhaps you can fool everyone, but you can't fool yourself. I can prove it to you—before you vanish completely, I'll walk the last stretch with you… let's just talk it out along the way. \""

"Shajin finally couldn't help cursing: \"…Damn it, what the hell are you? \""

"That 'Shajin' stopped his steps to leave, glanced back at him: \"Most people spend their whole lives striving for a single outcome… and I am that outcome. \""

"\"Kakawaxia… I am your future. \""

——

JOJO's Bizarre Adventure: Indestructible Diamond.

"\"Is this hallucination his psychological effect? It feels pretty cool. Wait… could this guy be a Stand user? What do you think, Zhàngzhù? \""

"Before his words even finished, he heard the airplane‑haired boy sitting across the table let out a helpless sigh."

"\"I've said it over and over—once you leave Earth, other planets in the universe have no Stand users. Yitai, are you going to make me repeat this a few more times? \" Zhàngzhù said impatiently, \"Moreover, finding hallucinations uncool… this shows Mr. Shajin is about to die. \""

"Zhàngzhù's voice carried a hint of sorrow and regret… lower than usual. Yitai also saw that he was in a terrible mood and promptly shut his mouth."

"Zhàngzhù greatly admired Shajin—this he'd known for a while. Anyway, according to Zhàngzhù, with Shajin's level of psychic power, awakening a Stand on Earth would be more than enough; he could likely awaken a Stand on par with Mr. Jotaro's White Gold Star."

"But even the strongest psychic power would probably be useless now; Yitai could see at a glance that this Shajin was already at the end of his rope."

"\"His hallucination seems to have seen right through him, Zhàngzhù. \""

"\"Hmm. \""

"\"What he said earlier to Huahuo—was he really just lying to himself? The opening act, being just one step from victory, and so on…\""

"\"Then only heaven knows. \" Zhàngzhù raised his head and let out a deep sigh: \"He's already poured his Foundation Stone into this… besides that, I truly can't imagine what other means he has…… I hope Professor Laatio's medical advice for him can save his life at a critical moment. \""

——

"\"After saying that, the hallucination vanished. \""

"Shajin couldn't help but self‑mock: \"First auditory hallucinations, now visual—great, next step should I be promoted to Harmony envoy? \"\"