Chapter 398: Unexpected

The cosmic void.

Black Tower stared at the suddenly appearing figure before her, that familiar ash‑white long hair, black‑purple dress, wide‑brimmed witch hat…

And the profile that seemed carved from the same mold as her own.

Countless angry memory fragments surged to the fore in an instant—stolen dolls, the bizarre rumor circulating in the Space Station that "Black Tower has a sister," being inexplicably dragged into other chaotic worlds…

Her violet‑black eyes narrowed dangerously; she squeezed a word out between her teeth: "You?"

The figure turned away from her heard this and tilted the head slightly.

The violet‑black eyes under the hat brim met hers, showing no apology, no tension, but a relaxed smile; they even raised a hand and waved it at her casually.

"Long time no see~"

Heimu's tone was as light as if meeting an acquaintance on a street corner.

Black Tower: "……"

For a brief instant the mind went blank—not from shock, but pure irritation.

The tumult of emotions churning in the chest was indescribably complex, finally condensing into an extremely terse yet meaning‑laden greeting.

She stared at Heimu's face, which was strikingly similar to her own, a breath caught in her throat, unable to immediately fashion a rebuke that matched her status and mood—both elegant and forceful.

Heimu clearly read Black Tower's barely materializing resentment, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily: "Tsk, the grudge is still strong…"

At the same time, the thoughts of the Extinction Great Lords intersected swiftly in the shadows.

【Guiji】 "A… unfamiliar colleague? The command of Destruction that I should keep in mind. This lady… has a unique aura, yet she is not any known one."

【Huan Long】 "Interesting… very similar, yet completely different. That feeling… does remind me of Iron Tomb, huh."

【Fenfeng】 remained silent, but the great sword in his hand subtly adjusted its angle, the Lock shifting quietly from Black Tower to Heimu.

Finally, Guiji spoke, bowing slightly, his voice gentle: "Madam who has arrived so abruptly, your assistance is impressive. Forgive my presumption, among Destruction's dazzling constellations I have not yet witnessed your brilliance. May I ask how to address you? And where you hail from?"

Heimu finally turned completely, facing the Extinction Great Lords head‑on.

She did not answer Guiji immediately; her gaze instead leapt beyond them, into the deeper void of the cosmos, as if staring at an indescribable presence.

After a moment she withdrew her sight and spoke calmly:

"Heimu. My name."

She paused, seeming to weigh her words, then gave an answer both ambiguous and information‑rich:

"As for my origin… another world. A product born of a sacrifice…"

"Another world?"

Guiji's eyes flickered slightly; the star ring surrounding Xingxiao showed a subtle fluctuation in rotation speed, and Huan Long wore a pensive expression.

In almost an instant they understood.

The universe is vast, possibilities endless.

This "Heimu" is likely the "Iron Tomb," a variant on another world‑line's alternative possibility.

Like different branches from the same tree, the roots are similar, yet the experiences and final forms may be worlds apart.

No wonder they are so alike.

"I see."

Guiji's voice carried a hint of understanding and deeper interest: "A fellow traveler across worlds, this truly is… a marvelous fate. Since we both serve under Destruction, Black Curtain Lady, may I know your thoughts on this newly discovered world before us?"

He tried to court her, graceful in posture: "Perhaps we could join forces? Your power and wisdom, combined with our experience and resources, could shape this world into… a more artistic ending? I believe that is far more valuable than futile conflict, and would let our lord witness a more splendid poem of Destruction."

Heimu listened silently, and after Guiji finished, she slowly shook her head, cutting off any further words he was brewing:

"No."

Her voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable resolve.

"This world,"

She raised her hand, her fingertips hovering toward the Earth behind her, "I will bring Destruction to this world. All of you, please withdraw."

Guiji: "……"

Even Guiji, famed for elegance and patience, felt a slight… choke at this moment.

First his speech was cut off by Black Tower's magic projectile, and now this newly appeared, theoretically a "colleague," directly interrupts and "dismisses" him?

He felt his "social performance" today had suffered an unprecedented setback.

That illusory torso stiffened for a tenth of a second.

"……Black Curtain Lady, this may be a bit too much to ask of a strong person."

Guiji's tone still retained its decorum, but the underlying meaning was clear—on what grounds?

Heimu raised a finger, gently waving it in the void, her gaze again lifting beyond them, toward that higher‑dimensional realm.

"No,"

She corrected, her voice clear, "I am not consulting any of you."

Her violet‑black eyes seemed to pierce the barriers of the real universe, staring directly at the will emanating from the source of Destruction.

"I am speaking with that one."

The one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it.

The Extinction Great Lords are merely proxies; the true decision whether this world falls under the "Destruction" scope, by what means, and by whom, rests with Xingshen Nanuke itself.

What Heimu seeks is a change of "authorization" from the source.

Huan Long's golden phantom emitted a few light chuckles, tinged with mockery: "Black Curtain Lady, though I do not know how you were born, you should understand that the Lord's will, once set, is as fixed as a stellar orbit, and would not change because…"

Her words halted abruptly.

Because, in that Shana, every presence present—Heimu, Huan Long, Guiji, Xingxiao, and even the silent Fenfeng—clearly felt that the "gaze" of the Destruction Star God, hanging over the Xingyue World like a Damocles sword, had shifted.

It was not a weakening nor a dissipation, but like a lens refocusing, moving the focus from the fragile blue planet beneath our feet to a distant direction.

The "invisible pressure of Destruction" applied to the world's Barrier suddenly lightened.

Those space fissures forcibly torn and sustained by the power of Extinction Great Lord began to visibly lose stability to the naked eye.

Huan Long froze there, the follow‑up words stuck in the throat, golden light flickered erratically, filled with an incredulous astonishment.

Guiji also fell into a brief silence, for the first time showing a clear emotional fluctuation named "unexpected".

"Really…"

Return to Silence Projection sighed softly, tone complex, "…a bit unexpected."