Chapter 281: Fragments of Truth

The altar fell silent.

Only the hovering, pulsing azure-blue "heart" crystal emitted unstable, heart-pounding energy fluctuations.

The faceless leader seated cross-legged beneath the altar slowly rose.

His movements bore an inhuman stiffness and precision; the faceless mask covering his face was smooth without a single seam.

"Error…… code……"

"Unable…… to clear……"

"Initiate…… final…… cleanup protocol……"

A dry, twisted voice, as if countless different tones were forcibly blended together, emanated from beneath the faceless mask, directly echoing in Chen Wen's and his guards' minds.

Before the words finished, the faceless leader's figure suddenly blurred!

In the next instant, he appeared directly before Chen Wen's horse!

A hand covered in black-metal-like carapace, fingertips sharp, wrapped in condensed to the extreme nether energy, plunged straight at Chen Wen's chest!

"Your Majesty!"

Li Wu and the guards cried out, wanting to rescue but already too late!

Chen Wen's pupils contracted sharply; his sixty-fourfold reaction and speed were fully displayed at this moment!

He violently leaned back, simultaneously infusing his left arm with full strength, extending it across his chest!

"Bang!"

A heavy, leather-striking-like roar exploded!

Chen Wen together with his horse were blasted backward by this palm, sliding several zhang, the ground plowed into deep grooves!

Chen Wen's left arm armor shattered, intense pain and numbness surged, a cold nether energy attempted to invade his meridians!

Such immense power! Far surpassing the previous "Nether Bone" and "Nether Shadow"!

"Protect His Majesty!"

Li Wu's eyes nearly split, leading the guards to charge at the faceless leader.

"Insects…… get lost."

The faceless leader didn't even turn, his other hand casually swept backward.

An invisible, massive nether energy shockwave erupted explosively!

The dozen-plus guards at the front, both men and horses, were flung backward, armor shattered, tendons and bones broken!

The sixteenfold amplification, before this faceless leader, appeared so fragile!

"Your opponent is I."

Chen Wen suppressed the pain in his left arm, dispelling the invading nether energy.

His gaze turned icy, battle spirit surging.

He knew the guards' sacrifices could not exchange for victory.

This enemy must be resolved by himself, and he must hold nothing back.

He leapt off his horse, wielding "Ding Ye", step by step approaching the faceless leader.

It was time to make a decision.

A thought moved him; the "Broad Grant Sixteenfold" effect covering the guards receded like a tide.

All spirit and strength, no longer scattered, were completely gathered, focused on himself!

The complete, unreserved sixty-fourfold power erupted within him!

Fortune Momentum Huang Guang no longer diffused, but like forged steel, highly condensed within three feet around him, the light blazing like the sun, making him appear like a golden war god!

The air before this condensed to the extreme power emitted a low hum, the pebbles beneath his feet slightly floated.

The faceless leader seemed to sense this utterly different threat, his faceless mask locked firmly onto Chen Wen.

"Energy level…… increase……"

"Rule…… conflict……"

"Execute…… highest priority…… annihilation!"

His figure vanished again, appearing to Chen Wen's left, nether energy claws enveloping Chen Wen's vital points!

"Bring it on!"

Golden light burst from Chen Wen's eyes! The complete sixty-fourfold power perfectly merged with Fortune Momentum, infused into the "Ding Ye" blade!

The blade sang with a sound like splitting clouds and shattering stone, transforming into a thread of golden light condensed to the extreme, as if able to cut space, striking first, precisely piercing the weakest core of that nether energy claw!

"Clang——!"

A sound far clearer and more piercing than before, the metallic clash exploded!

The golden blade, with the force of splitting bamboo and breaking stone, instantly severed several nether energy claws, its momentum undiminished, directly slashing the opponent's face!

The faceless leader hastily leaned back, crossing his arms to block!

"Screech——!"

The blade edge slid across his crossed arms; the black carapace harder than refined iron was sliced open a deep crack, azure-blue liquid splattered out!

He let out a hiss mixed with pain and anger, his figure violently retreating!

Chen Wen followed like a shadow, his sixty-fourfold power fully erupted, speed, strength, reaction all peaked, the blade light like a golden storm, completely enveloping the faceless leader!

Complete sixty-fourfold combat power, facing the unstable energy core of the faceless leader, finally gained absolute advantage!

The guards, deprived of the Ability Granting, watched anxiously from afar at this battle beyond their comprehension, barely able to withstand the aftershock impacts.

"Error…… error……"

"Node…… deviation rate…… exceeds threshold……"

"Cleanup…… protocol…… failed……"

The distorted voice became intermittent, filled with static.

The Faceless Leader's defenses grew increasingly strained, and the wounds on its body multiplied.

Chen Wen spotted an opening; his blade flashed like a thunderbolt from the nine heavens, sweeping aside the opponent's blocking arms and viciously striking between its chest and abdomen!

Pfft—!

Vast amounts of azure liquid surged forth like a fountain!

The Faceless Leader's body suddenly stiffened, its movements instantly sluggish.

Chen Wen was about to press the attack and finish the opponent off completely.

However, the Faceless Leader suddenly lifted its head, and countless fine cracks appeared on its faceless mask!

From within the cracks shone an even deeper azure light.

It no longer attacked Chen Wen, instead letting out a shriek filled with utter madness and despair!

Activate……self-destruct……protocol……

Information……backup……upload failed……

Fragments……preserved……

He suddenly turned, summoning his last strength, and lunged at the pulsating 'Heart Crystal' at the altar's center!

He actually intended to self-destruct, taking this core crystal with him to destroy everything here!

"Stop him!" Chen Wen shouted sternly, forcibly suppressing the surging qi and blood from his all-out burst, and swung his blade again!

Li Wu and the remaining guards also surged forward without regard for their own safety.

But they were still a step too late.

The Faceless Leader's palm had already touched the 'Heart Crystal'.

The violent yin energy within him and the crystal's immense energy instantly triggered the most intense chain reaction!

No——!!!

The distorted shriek became its final echo.

The next moment——

An indescribable azure brilliance erupted from the altar's center!

A world-destroying explosion descended with a roar!

Boom——!!!!!

The terrifying shockwave, mixed with violent yin energy, swept outward like a tsunami!

Chen Wen barely had time to hold the 'Karmic Blade' before him, pushing the gathered Fortune Momentum Huang Guang to its limit, before his whole body was violently flung away!

Li Wu and the guards were instantly engulfed!

The entire shadowed region, in this destructive explosion, violently twisted and trembled, then disintegrated bit by bit!

Sunlight once again shone upon this land.

After a long while, Chen Wen struggled to climb up from the rubble and scorched earth.

His whole body ached, his organs trembled, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he was in a sorry state.

He ignored his injuries, gazing toward the altar's original site.

There remained only a huge, scorched pit.

The Faceless Leader, the altar, and the Heart Crystal were all utterly erased.

Li Wu and some of the guards also struggled to rise, gathering around, each wounded.

"Your Majesty, are you unharmed?"

Li Wu asked anxiously.

Chen Wen shook his head, but his eyes remained fixed on the center of the pit.

There, a faint glow, different from the yin energy's azure light, flickered.

He stepped toward the pit.

Upon approaching, he saw it was a small fragment the size of a fingernail, crystal clear, with countless tiny data streams flickering inside.

It emitted a neutral, pure 'information' fluctuation.

Chen Wen bent over and carefully picked up the fragment.

At the instant his fingertip touched it——

Hum!

Vast amounts of chaotic, fragmented information surged like a breached dam flood, violently rushing into his mind!

【Warning: Node K-747 (Jin Prefecture) has suffered severe deviation!】

【Historical trajectory correction failed! Cleanup protocol execution obstructed!】

【Critical variable (ID: CW-Z001) threat level raised to 'Apocalypse'!】

【Error! Error! Unable to connect to the Main Control Center!】

【Backup protocol activating……'Lord of the Iron Crow' authorization engaged……】

【……energy overload……self-destruct sequence initiating……】

【……information fragment archiving……coordinates……】

Countless twisted symbols, flashing warnings, code fragments, and words such as 'node', 'deviation', 'cleanup protocol', 'variable', and 'apocalypse' frenetically assailed his consciousness!

Ugh!

Chen Wen let out a pained groan, clutching his forehead as his body swayed.

"Your Majesty!"

Li Wu hurriedly supported him.

Chen Wen forcibly steadied his mind, temporarily suppressing the information flow.

His face was ashen, cold sweat beading, his eyes filled with shock and bewilderment.

What is this information…?

Nodes? Deviations? Cleanup agreements? Variables?

They pointed to a cold, vast system far beyond comprehension.

Every strange act of the Iron Crow Army now seemed to have some explanation.

But what is the "historical trajectory" they are maintaining?

And why would this "variable" of ours invite the threat of "Apocalypse"?

He lowered his head to look at the faintly flickering information fragment in his hand, feeling it weigh as much as a thousand jin.

This tiny fragment seemed to contain an astonishing truth about the nature of the world.

He carefully put the fragment away, keeping it close to his body.

He raised his head, gazing at the sky that had cleared yet was still shrouded in gunpowder smoke.

The joy of victory had long been washed away by this heavy fragment of truth.

The Battle of Jinzhou perhaps neared its end.

But a vaster fog, concerning fate and the essence of the world, had only just begun to lift a corner.

The road ahead grew ever more perilous and inscrutable.