Wasteland Echoer.

Chapter 686 "Klein's Arm" (Part 1)
However, the moment the power of the flames touched the enormous, almost mechanical body of "Eternal Light," it transformed into streaks of azure light.

Immediately afterwards, countless delicate and tiny hexagonal snowflakes fell vertically from mid-air, smashing the ground into terrifying craters like bullets.

“Water-based magical power… Why is the power of fire being transformed into water? This kind of power… No one can do it.” Dark stared in surprise at the increasingly thick layer of frost clinging to “Eternal Light’s” body, which exuded intense cold, and murmured in a low voice.

“Perhaps the fire-based magical energy provided by the ‘Heart of Truth’ is itself an illusion.” Wright stared at the “Eternal Light” whose eyes had turned from scarlet to pitch black, sensing the abnormal flow of red magical energy within his body, and analyzed:

"It extracts the extreme temperature from the flames, but maintains its original flame form by relying on the residual power of the 'ancient gods.' In reality, however, it severs the 'chain' elements that maintain these powers one by one, immersing the user in the illusion of controlling the flames, while their body has already been corroded by the cold."

"So, Hoshino Shota really does want 'Emperor'..." A sense of fear rose up on Dark's back.

This is not fear of unknown and powerful forces, but rather the fear of the unknown stemming from an extreme sense of unfamiliarity with familiar people, etched deep in the soul.

"I want him dead." Wright gave the answer Dark didn't want to hear:
"To protect the city of Nebusk, we must kill Ato. The 'Chaos Group' indirectly caused Yaroslav's death, further leading to the disastrous defeat in the 'Crimson Illusion Ruins' war, and ultimately the fall of Icefall City. Hoshino Shota, no, Nebrius, perhaps wants to correct the mistakes of the Federation Council."

"The fall of Icefall City was too humiliating, too shameful. I heard..." Dark choked up involuntarily, then continued:

"All 10 soldiers in the city were killed in action, and the 30 residents were turned into 'heartless people' by the Lost Ones organizations from all over the west, becoming their servants and food. This city, which continued the culture, spirit and last bit of strength of the Crusaders, did not put up any real resistance, but was shamefully breached from within."

“Shaneva told me this history in person at ‘Military Fortress 08’. At that time, she told me that if Nabrius did not oppose her authority, she would join forces with Nabrius and fight the ‘Chaos Group’ to the death.”

As they were talking, the magical energy in Hoshino Shota's hands began to gradually dry up, the exciting music gradually disappeared, and the haiku poems no longer came out of his throat. Instead, a soft, subtle humming came out.

The so-called fire-type magic power that was originally concentrated in Hoshino Shota's body, as well as the dark-type magic power that he could perfectly control, stopped outputting to the outside world at the same time. All the strangeness and extraordinary things inside the underground floor of this "magnificent building" also disappeared simultaneously, leaving only a pool of angular ice on the ground that was melting rapidly.

However, the "Eternal Light" that was originally covered in crimson scales now appeared dilapidated, decaying, and filthy. The domineering smell that originally belonged to wild beasts had turned into a filthy, foul, and sour smell that was unacceptable and made people feel nauseous.

Countless slender, sharp black branches emerged from every part of the "Eternal Light" dragon's body, replacing the sturdy scales that originally protected its body, exposing the rotten, writhing flesh that oozed black blood.

Immediately following, accompanied by a sharp, painful wail, the dragon's once broad, majestic, and domineering wings seemed to be twisted by some invisible giant hand, turning into a "pretzel" shape out of thin air. After twisting several times, they suddenly broke off, as if they had been forcibly torn off.

However, the next second, a pair of arms, somewhere between human and beast, grew out of the fracture, extending 10 meters outward like the bizarre arms of Satan, the demon of hell, until the palms could press the ground and support the increasingly strange dragon body.

Soon, the strange arms began to expand continuously, and amidst the dark and gloomy piano music that started playing at some unknown time, they became even larger than the already enormous dragon body of "Eternal Light".

"The true God has passed away, and the old gods have descended."

"In the shadows, corruption is born."

"In the beginning of creation, there was the Lord of Darkness."

"Eternal blessings are hard to find, but the gospel is hard to come by."

“A sinister melody has been born, and the darkness is hard to dispel.”

“In the beginning of time, it was already eternally bright.”

"Only in the deepest darkness can victory be achieved." "The final chapter of sacrifice has begun, and the long night has been brightened."

At some point, the bodies of the girls dressed in white, who had been reciting sacred verses, briefly awoke from their state of death. Dark and Light knew that this was the work of Hoshino Shota, the "Singer," but it was more likely the work of the "Seducer" or "Deceitful One" hidden behind the small door of the "Room of Truth."

Back in the German Empire, Melina had told her that once a mid-level or high-level professional's magic power level reached Order 2: Abandonment, as long as they were either a [Seducer] or a [Deceitful], they would naturally master "soul manipulation" type skills.

“I think this is the final step of this ‘End of Ashes’ ritual. Hoshino Shota… and the ‘Deceiter’ hidden behind him are activating the ‘Soul-Stealing Ritual.’ It can briefly revive humans, the Lost Ones, or any intelligent being who has been dead for no more than 24 hours, and put them into a ‘super-controlled’ state, allowing the caster to control them.” Dark explained, looking at the ghostly purple souls of the girls, still wearing robes and standing barefoot.

“‘Super Control’? I’ve never heard of that skill.” Wright looked at Dark with some confusion.

“This is a skill created by Ivan XXII. It doesn't rely entirely on magical energy to operate; instead, it requires a machine called ‘Dariston’ that can store dark energy. ‘Overcontrol’ means ‘control beyond all else.’ Unless the dark energy is cut off or the user intentionally stops it, the souls will act according to the user’s will.” Dark continued, looking at the rapidly dimming souls of the girls.

"Sacrifice... Heh, sacrifice. The sacrifices the Crusaders talk about are never just about wealth or power, but everything, including life and the future, body and soul. 'Eternal Light' was too naive, and we underestimated Hoshino Shota's position within the 'Night Investigation Team.' Look, the souls of those girls have completely vanished. They didn't even have the right to enter the underworld, and they became early victims of this war."

"And what about us?" Wright looked uneasily at the figure standing there, looking up at the new, decaying, and demonized body of "Eternal Light." His mouth opened and closed, but his voice grew softer and softer, and he did not utter a single word of Kruskal.

“Of course we need to leave Nebusk. What Hoshino Shota, Kazama Reiji, and Atlanca have all done is simply to prove to us the courage of the Crusaders and their unwavering determination to fight to the bitter end.” Dark’s answer was quite realistic:

"Sometimes, perseverance doesn't necessarily lead to good results, and the survival of human civilization doesn't necessarily require resistance to the very end. The Crusaders are brave, but also foolish. From beginning to end, strength cannot represent everything. As long as humanity's sins are not atoned for by purgatory, and the gospel of God cannot eliminate greed and folly, humanity, as a race that once ruled the entire continent, is destined to gradually move towards destruction."

As he spoke, Dak took out the "Heart of Truth," a ruby-like object that emitted an illusory, blazing flame, from his pocket.

However, the scorching temperature had already melted the cotton clothing on Dak's chest, causing the hot stone to stick to his festering skin. It took Dak quite a while to tear it off from the skin.

Ignoring the pain from the tearing flesh, Dak crushed the "Heart of Truth" and threw it into the air.

Immediately afterwards, the pale purple girl souls that had been floating in mid-air seemed to have been equipped with a positioning device, following the direction of the "Heart of Truth" fragments and gathering on the head of "Eternal Light," which was already rotten, decaying, and oozing with white bones, yet was exceptionally proud.

"I will not accept any gifts from the Nebusk 'Provisional Cooperation Council,' Hoshino Shota. Use them to empower 'Eternal Light' to fight against Ato. The problem of Ato is something the Zhrine cannot solve, Vasily cannot solve, and Shaneva is powerless to solve. Now that we've reached Nebusk, it's up to you, the Dark Night Survey Team and the 'Dedication Group,' to solve it," Dark roared at Hoshino Shota.

Clearly, Hoshino Shota was shocked by Dark's attitude. After a few seconds of stunned silence, he continued to channel the little magic power he had left, and his arms returned to the illusory state of playing the piano, playing the slightly soaring "Erythia" series of pieces.

The power of the [Singer], mixed with the "fire steam" constantly emanating from the "Heart of Truth," actually stopped the decay and collapse of the dragon's body, causing it to be covered again with a layer of dark red scales that were still sinister but absolutely in line with human aesthetics.

And those arms, which were even larger than his body, seemed to have returned to the state of wings, and were once again under the control of "Eternal Light".

After letting out a comfortable yet sorrowful roar, Yongguang, in his "dragon" form, slowly stood up, leaning on his arms, and looked up at the open skylight at the top of the "magnificent building".

A few seconds later, the huge, jet-black arms suddenly bulged with veins and slammed into the ground, creating some obvious cracks. Then, with a sudden burst of force, like a spring, they sent the enormous body of "Eternal Light" out of the "Magnificent Tower" and onto the "Dome" of the city, which was temporarily shrouded in mist.

“‘Klein’s Arm,’ Shota Hoshino, you really… risked a lot.”

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