Chapter 1530

"Moreover, that Screw Gum will also take action! His collection must surely consist of planet-class warships, and combined with the Company..."

"Alright, Fu Fu." Yi Xuan raised his hand to interrupt, "Worthy of the attention of multiple Envoys and Geniuses, causing such a commotion—they must have their own judgment. As for underestimating the enemy... before an Extinction Sovereign facing a universe-life-and-death crisis, I believe deploying any number of troops is not excessive."

—

"The Alliance... is it not just Luofu? This is undoubtedly good news. In that case, our chances of victory increase by one."

Black Swan shook her head: "... Whether good or bad, it's still uncertain."

Ji Zi's expression shifted slightly: "What do you mean?"

"An incident occurred that even General Jing Yuan cannot fathom. The situation is urgent, and I hope to inform the two Geniuses as soon as possible—the causality of Wengfaluo Si has vanished from the 'Great Derivation Profound Observation Array.' Black Swan paused, her expression solemn, and said, 'This means—the moment calculated by the Erudition Venerate is now approaching this world.'"

"In the name of the Divine Rite Audience, I behold—"

Beyond myth, Zandal crossed his arms, brimming with confidence.

"The night has faded—and thereafter, I shall destroy all that I have created. This starry sky shall return to freedom and chaos, as it was in the primordial beginning."

Na Ke Xia found it highly amusing: "Indeed, you're brimming with confidence. In my view, you've already lost all means. Once the Savior and her companions fully unveil the secret of the 'Thirteenth Titan'... that will be the time your plan collapses."

"Your Excellency Anatkesagoras, I have, as you requested, opened all records concerning 'De Miu Ge.' How regrettable that you forever refuse to acknowledge your own error." Zandal said coldly, "Analysis is complete. Before I utterly erase you, allow me to reveal the truth, as a final gesture of mutual respect between the wise..."

"De Miu Ge never existed."

—

Twin City War.

???

Jinx widened her eyes, nearly slipping off a section of pipe.

"Wait, wait, wait—never existed? What do you mean? That thing Xilian spoke of earlier... isn't it De Miu Ge? And what Night Moon said... how could it just 'never have existed'?"

Silco let out an "oh," the trailing tone slightly raised, as if savoring Zandal's profound remark.

"Interesting." Silco replaced his cigar between his lips, "Something that made everyone believe it existed, only to be told it never did. Bao Bao, do you know what this signifies?"

"Isn't it just saying they were deceived?" Jinx furrowed her brow, idly swinging her two blue braids.

"No." Silco slowly shook his head, his gaze shifting between the Sky Curtain and Jinx, "It means that, despite countless variables emerging in between—the Astral Express, Geniuses, Night Moon—Zandal's plan never deviated. From the start, he used a non-existent 'De Miu Ge' to drive his plan forward as intended."

"Was Night Moon also deceived by him?"

Silco did not answer immediately. He took a puff of his cigar, the ember glowing faintly in the dark before dimming again. After a long while, his voice came from the shadows:

"As of now, not only Night Moon, but Xilian, the Star... everyone has been played by him. They all believed Zandal was deliberately concealing De Miu Ge. But if De Miu Ge never existed, then what of the 'Primordial Wise Species'?"

—

"If it was never born, then where did the Unnamed Titan Great Tomb come from?"

Zandal chuckled lightly: "The reason the tomb bears its name is precisely because it houses—merely the remains of the past? Let me illustrate with a story familiar to you."

Zandal turned toward the blood-red light curtain behind him: "A sage of Shu Ting once conducted an experiment: taking a strange beast embryo, severing its skull before maturity, and continuously stimulating its body to make it believe it still possessed a brain, cultivating it in a spirit-fluid vat."

"Strangely, this beast regrew a skull, yet it was hollow—it had made space for a brain, but never possessed one. The experiment concluded. The sage assumed this shell would die once stimulation ceased. But alas, he was mistaken."

"Under the drive of 'instinct,' the beast's body—seized the sage's skull."

Na Ke Xia gave a wry smile: "So I've fallen into a cognitive trap after all."

"Indeed, you have understood."

"The Thirteenth Titan never existed, yet the Scepter must believe 'it' does. I myself strangled it to death. The lifeform named 'De Miu Ge' was excluded from calculation from the very beginning. Only thus could the Iron Tomb be truly completed—"

"Correct. The Iron Tomb is a headless giant; to become a complete lifeform, instinct will drive it to seize another skull—"

"—'Wisdom' Erudition Venerate."

—

One Punch Man.

The Child Emperor suddenly recalled: the Black Tower Lady had countless times addressed the Erudition Venerate as "Machine Head"...

That is, once the Iron Tomb is born, it will instinctively implant the Erudition Venerate into its own skull, establishing a connection.

And De Miu Ge... had Zandal strangled it from the very beginning? Then who was that 'person' Xilian had been confiding in all along? Could it not be De Miu Ge?

The Child Emperor broke out in a cold sweat instantly, an inexplicable wave of heat making him involuntarily tug at his collar.

The conference hall fell silent, even the usually proud Tornado rarely showing such a grave expression... No wonder, for whoever grasps how mad Zandal's plan is would not feel at ease.

Previously, they had wondered how an Extinction Sovereign could slay a Star God, given the natural chasm between Envoys and Star Gods. But whether it was Bai E or Zandal, the Creator of Star Gods... they have continually been flattening that chasm.

And only now, when Zandal laid before everyone the complete methodology of god-slaying, did the Child Emperor finally realize: once the Iron Tomb is born, the 'moment' in the Erudition Venerate's plan will descend.

"Will the 'moment' in the Erudition Venerate's calculation not be the birth of the Iron Tomb?" Metal Bat saw everyone's grim faces, though he didn't fully grasp what Zandal was saying, only knowing the Iron Tomb's birth would surely be dangerous.

"Yes, the 'moment' in the Erudition Venerate's plan will certainly arrive." The Child Emperor lowered his head, saying, "This also means... no matter what, the Iron Tomb will inevitably be born, and once born, it will subconsciously seek to seize the Erudition Venerate, completing the coronation."

—

"Your Titan, the Star God of 'Wisdom'..."

Na Ke Xia laughed softly: "Hahaha... so that's it, you were afraid—afraid of repeating past mistakes, afraid your creation would lose control again, so you resorted to this method, turning it into a puppet."

"With my hands, I place shackles upon the divine. The Iron Tomb will merge with His body, invade His thoughts, and direct all His calculations toward 'Destruction'..."

"I hear—the bell of the apocalypse has already rung. After thirteen heartbeats, my initial and final subject will converge at the universe's end."