Abnormal Doomsday Records

Chapter 52: The Sunset Ending of the Yellow Sand Warrior

When Zhou Ke woke up from an uneasy sleep, he opened his eyes and saw something quite familiar from the cockpit window.

Not far ahead was parked Han Bin's unfortunate aircraft, which had been abandoned in this desolate land for almost a week and had been mostly buried by sand, but had been dug out again.

Zhou Ke knew what happened during the few hours he was asleep without even thinking.

He unbuckled his seat belt, stood up, stretched his shoulders, rubbed his still aching forehead, and said to the silent Wu Neng:

"How long have I slept?"

"Four hours and thirty-seven minutes. Your sleep quality was unexpectedly poor. Moreover, this machine heard you calling out other women's names in your dream."

Wu Neng complained:
"'Lusha' called out twelve times, 'Xiaomo' called out twenty-seven times, and 'Mengmeng' called out forty-eight times. Well, it seems you quite like this 'Mengmeng', praising her for being pretty, kind, and not clingy. Also, you called out 'Mom, save me' one hundred and seventy-three times.

It seems you are still a normal person, Joker, who believes that mother is the best in the world."

"Are you sick?"

Zhou Ke cursed a little bit, his defense broken:
"I asked you to monitor my physical condition, not to eavesdrop on me talking in my sleep. Your behavior makes me want to call the police immediately!

Is Ohm still alive?"

"He should have died, but D-4 used Professor Qiao Sina's authority to restart the treatment device in Han Bin's aircraft, and he has been kept alive until now with external maintenance, but he can't hold on any longer. His body has been completely drained.

It's like being thrown into a millstone and ground hard a few times to squeeze out the last bit of oil."

Wu Neng said helplessly:

"While you were sleeping, Oum, Qiao Ya, Qiao Shan, and Old Taf all said their final goodbyes. I guess he held on until now just to have one last chat with you.

Go now, don't delay."

"This kind of thing should have woken me up in advance. Although I'm not very polite, I still understand the principle that the dead are the greatest."

Zhou Ke got off the aircraft, searching for his cigarette case, and said:

"Don't do this next time."

"I wanted to wake you up."

Wu Neng complained:

"But D-4's sleeping pills were so effective that you slept like a dead pig. However, for your health, I must ask one more question. What exactly is that 'noise' in your head that you mentioned earlier?"

"It's hard to describe. It's like a whispered echo. The more you try to hear it, the more vague it becomes. It's very irritating, and the desire to destroy and the disgust are uncontrollable, even affecting your mood."

Zhou Ke recalled the situation a few hours ago and said:
"There's something wrong with this assassin mask of 'Night Crow'! I understand why the assassin had to wrap himself up like a dumpling when he was on the move. There must be a device in that protective gear to suppress emotional fluctuations, otherwise no one can maintain the necessary judgment under such mental interference."

“But it’s a really powerful effect.”

Wu Neng said:
"Even Ascendants like Denar can't sense your assassination, and the 'Instantly Leave the Battlefield' effect makes it the most useful card in your hand right now."

"I know, but I need more time to get used to that torturous 'phase walking'."

Zhou Ke sighed and said:
"There's really no such thing as a free lunch. The Madman's Mask risks losing control, the Hunter's Mask drains my energy, and the Assassin's Mask drives me crazy. If I don't strengthen my small physique, sooner or later I'll be drained by these three 'little goblins', each with their own unique tricks."

"Didn't the Snake State doctor tell you before? The City State District has the kind of physical enhancement you want without any side effects."

Wu Neng suggested:
"After we find Moni, we'll ask him to arrange a way for you. He seems to be quite powerful."

"Let's talk about this after we get to the City-State District. We've already offended the Tiger State, driven the Serpent State Knight Commander crazy, and caused the Acholi Consortium to lose almost all its operators. Rust Castle is definitely not a good thing. I've messed with all of these major forces in the Badlands."

Zhou Ke jumped off the aircraft, stretched his body, and sighed:

"I don't need anyone else's opinion on this. I even think I'm a troublemaker myself. But who knows? I don't like to stir up trouble. Who doesn't want a peaceful life? Unfortunately, there are always those blind people who come to provoke me. I was clearly just defending myself!"

In response, Wuneng snorted coldly to express his disdain for Zhou Ke's words. He said that he didn't like to stir up trouble, but every time when something happens, you are more proactive than anyone else. Zhou Ke is good in every way, but he is too hypocritical!
"I suppose you're looking for this?"

When Zhou Ke approached the aircraft belonging to Abin, Old Taf, who was walking and moving things nearby, threw an opened pack of cigarettes to him.

Zhou Ke took it in his hand and hooked his finger at Old Taf. After he got closer, he said:
"Go and count the contents of Ajie's bags, then calculate the supplies we have and make a list for me. And have your wife make us a hot meal. I'm starving."

"Row."

Old Taft accepted the order without any hesitation.

As an old and experienced man, he can see things clearly. Now that Ohm is about to die, Zhou Ke has become the undisputed leader of this team. Zhou Ke has the final say on where everyone goes next.

But the best thing is that Zhou Ke has demonstrated his unparalleled abilities in a series of events. Following such a leader is a blessing in disguise.

The premise is that old Taft can survive the next wave of malicious fate.

Zhou Ke, puffing smoke, walked to the aircraft ahead and spotted Qiao Shan, who was sitting next to him, sharpening Ohm's knight's sword with a whetstone. He also had Denard's red serpentine sword by his side, and it looked like he was planning to use the two knight's long swords as his primary weapons.

"Have you said goodbye to your master?"

Zhou Ke asked.

Qiao Shan, who had just been treated and had a hideous scar on his chest, nodded and said in a hoarse voice:
"Master told me to protect Xiaoya and stop thinking about rebuilding Slag Town. From now on, I will follow you and obey your orders."

At this point, Qiao Shan looked up at Zhou Ke, hesitated for a moment, and said:
"Master also said that if you don't keep your promise, I will ask Knight Commander Amanda to check you. If things get to the worst, then for Xiaoya's safety, I will find a way to kill you! Well, to be honest, I think Master's mind may be a little confused.

He obviously had unrealistic illusions about my abilities."

"But you have a precise grasp of what you can and should do. Not bad, not bad. I like people with clear minds."

Zhou Ke grinned, threw the pack of cigarettes in his hand to Qiao Shan, and warned:

"Be careful when handling Denar's serpentine sword. It's stained with a deadly poison. Even Ohm couldn't handle it, so I don't think you can handle it either."

"Okay, I'll pay attention. Master is waiting for you."

Qiao Shan lowered his head with some sadness and said:

"Go quickly, he doesn't have much time."

"Ah."

Zhou Ke boarded the aircraft. On the mechanical platform where he had undergone surgery before, the elderly Ohm was lying there, covered with a blanket, but several tubes for delivering medicines and nutrients were connected to his nostrils and chest.

A miserable posture of a patient in the late stage of ICU waiting for extubation.

Qiao Ya sat in front of the bed with a haggard look on her face. D-4 next to her was operating a medical robotic arm to perform an amputation operation on Warren Taft.

Old Taff's eldest son had a bullet through his arm. The bullet was a vicious thing produced by Tiger State. D-4 judged that the arm could not be saved. If it was not amputated, it might threaten Warren's life. Fortunately, for the Badlands people, losing an arm is not a big problem. Being able to survive last night's big scene is already the greatest luck.

After seeing Zhou Ke coming, D-4 said to Zhou Ke while operating the robotic arm:
"D-4 suggested that we remove this state-of-the-art small integrated medical system from the aircraft before leaving. This will waste some time, but D-4 believes it is absolutely necessary. With this state-of-the-art medical equipment, the health of the rest of the team will be greatly improved."

“Is this thing precious?”

Zhou Ke asked, and D-4 nodded and said:
"Even in the city-state area, such treatment equipment is only available in the consortium's high-end hospitals. In fact, judging from its production inscription, this medical equipment comes from the Garden of Eden's high-precision production line. The surface world's environment is not capable of producing it.

It is loaded with a Firewall Core, which allows it to continue functioning despite the Awakening Sickness.

D-4 can guarantee that you will never find another device of this kind in such good condition in the Badlands."

"Then take it down and take it away!"

Zhou Ke said:
"Whether you want to sell it later or use it yourself, it's a valuable asset. You should dismantle it. I don't trust others who are clumsy."

"Please leave it to D-4."

The white-haired robot girl gave a confident smile and continued to work.

Zhou Ke walked to the mechanical bed, and Qiao Ya stood up to make room for him. She knew that Uncle Ohm wanted to discuss some important matters with Zhou Ke, so she was about to leave obediently but was stopped by Zhou Ke.

"You stay here. I believe Ohm would like you to listen to these instructions and instructions."

Zhou Ke put out his cigarette in the ward with great courtesy and said:
"This will also prevent you from having unnecessary doubts about me in the future. Suspicion is the seed of betrayal, and once planted, it will cause endless harm. Given our current situation, I need everyone to trust each other unconditionally."

"Ah."

Qiao Ya nodded, remembering Uncle Ohm's previous instructions to her, and stood there watching Zhou Ke reach out and hold Ohm's wrist, which was as rough as tree bark.

This movement startled the sleeping old knight.

The latter coughed a few times and opened his cloudy eyes but could see nothing.

他叹了口气，说：
"I dreamed of Afen and Old Joe, and it was as if I had returned to the days when I built Slag Town with them. I was no longer the powerful Knight Commander, and I no longer had to carefully manage my relationships with my brothers and sisters, nor did I have to worry about the future of Snake State.

Those days were very hard.

When we were at our lowest, Old Joe and I had to share a pack of contraband cigarettes, and we had to count the days and decide how many cigarettes to share.

But those days were also the most peaceful time in my life.

Especially in the evening every day, when we had dinner with the workers in the town, Afen would always pick up the guitar and sing some songs of the old civilization for us.

Haha, at that time, Afen was the "Queen" of Slag Town. Her words were much more effective than those of the unassuming Old Joe. If you don't believe me, ask Old Taff and Ami. At that time, how many men would be so energetic that they could work all day long just because of a word of encouragement from Afen.

She was such an amazing woman, always able to make everyone around her optimistic. Unfortunately, when things were finally getting better, A-Fen passed away first. The day she left, the whole Slag Town was crying. Old Joe cried like a fool, but I wasn't much better either.

Alas, so many years have passed, but when I think about it it seems like it was just yesterday.

I have been counting the days over the years, but in fact I have been living in the day when Afen passed away. My life since then has been nothing more than a repetition of that day. I am still alive, but just alive.

Zhou Ke, I’m going to die.”

"Well, you're in such a terrible state right now that I think death would be a relief for you."

Under Qiao Ya's angry glare, Zhou Ke said bluntly:

"I heard from Qiao Ya about Knight Commander Amanda. Do you need me to send someone to Tiger Claw Town to call her over? She might be the only person you still trust besides Xiao Ya, right?"

"It's too late. It doesn't matter."

Ohm coughed and said:
"Amanda's brain isn't working very well. She's been like that since she was a child, very impulsive. Something went wrong when she became an Ascendant, and that made her even worse. If she knew about my current situation, Seven Ring City and the entire Snake Nation would never have peace.

But rather than dragging Amanda into this mess, I'd rather she continue to live a dissolute life hanging out with those young hunks.

After I die, others will stop making things difficult for her.

No matter how foolish my father is, he will not allow the second Knight Commander to die in internal strife. In fact, except for me, the relationship between them is pretty good, just like a real family.

Only me, I am an outlier.

I betrayed my family
No matter how I try to sugarcoat it, it doesn’t change the fact that I abandoned them first.”

"What about Denard?"

Zhou Ke said softly:
"You turned him into a perpetually burning Ghost Rider, and I don't think that's the end of it. And that weird trick you used at the end, which can make an Ascendant lose control of his own powers in an instant.

I dare not even think about how big a mess this will cause once other forces know about it. Xiaoya will never have peace in the future."

"Ahem, that's not a secret. In fact, every Ascendant knows this move, but it's just a fatal move."

Ohm sighed and said:
"That's a technique that only exists in theory. By forcibly 'infusing' one's own sublimated power into another sublimator, one can induce permanent energy loss. The principle is simple, but only Afen has summarized a practical method of activating it through her research.

I gave the method to Xiaoya.
Do you know what to do? Zhou Ke. "

"know."

Zhou Ke showed a very unscrupulous smile and said:

"If someone forces us with this matter, Xiaoya will copy this method a thousand times and post it all over the streets and alleys of the city-state. If they don't let us live, then none of us will live!"

"Yes, that's right. Only by holding a sword in your hand can you calm down an enemy who is watching you with all his might. You understand this very well."

Ohm laughed in relief and stretched out his hand tremblingly. Qiao Ya hurried forward and held the uncle's fingers. She heard the uncle say:
"I entrusted Xiaoya to you, Zhou Ke. I know you are not a good person. In fact, my opinion of you has never changed. You are a truly dangerous bastard. This evil land may never have produced such a bad guy as you.

You are bold and reckless, have no respect for authority, and your mind is full of thoughts about overthrowing everything that you dislike, but you just have such ability and brains.

This makes you exponentially more dangerous.

Wu Qinhu underestimated you, and he will definitely pay a heavy price for it. I am sure of that.

If possible, I would never want Xiaoya to follow you, but...but if this world does not allow Xiaoya to live in peace, then you will have room to display your ability to commit sins. When necessary, just go ahead and do it.

Well, I'm dying, I'm leaving, I saw Old Joe
Old Joe, why did you come so late? I'm tired of waiting.

Ohm used his last bit of strength to place Xiaoya's hand in Zhou Ke's hand, then raised his head with great effort, as if to greet the "visitor" in front of him.

A relaxed smile that came from the bottom of the heart appeared on his old face.

Amid Qiao Ya's crying and Zhou Ke's solemn gaze, Ohm actually sat up.

He held out his hand and said:

"Afen is here too. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long. We can go together to the world you always talked about. Finally, we can get rid of all this hypocrisy. Afen, Afen, I see what you said.

That pale halo
I saw it, I lied to you, I actually saw it that night twenty years ago.

I saw it again last night.

I didn't see it wrong, and you didn't say it wrong.

It is real, the end is real, but it is definitely not the kind that Tiger Nation believes in, haha, they all say you are a lunatic, but they are a bunch of idiots. "

"and many more!"

Zhou Ke's eyes widened at this moment, and he reached out to hold Ohm's wrist. He asked loudly:

"What did you say you saw? Ohm, uncle! Don't die! Tell me clearly before you leave, this is really important! Hey, uncle!"

but.
It's too late.

Ohm's wrists fell limply and his head drooped.

It was as if he had finally escaped from the painful and cold reality with the help of Lao Qiao and Afen, and stepped into the door of another world accompanied by his best brother and the woman he loved most.

"father!"

In the extreme sadness caused by the series of blows, Qiao Ya finally called out the name that was deeply hidden in her heart.

Although this is somewhat unfair to Old Joe.

But I guess given the overly complicated relationship between Lao Qiao, Afen and Ohm, Mayor Qiao Can’s spirit in heaven would not care much about these things.

Qiao Ya was unfortunate, she lost everything.

But she is happy.

Growing up she had two real fathers protecting and teaching her.

My god, she has two fathers.
Now no one in kindergarten dares to bully her.

"Master, go ahead and rest assured. I will protect Xiaoya. I swear! I won't let any of those bastards who killed you and Slag Town go!"

Qiao Shan fell at the door of the treatment cabin, crying and kowtowing.

Old Taff and Ami were wiping their tears outside the door. Even D-4 and Warren on another bed fell silent.

The Wu Neng on Zhou Ke's wrist felt that this scene was extremely sad, so he simply played a funeral song as a suitable BGM for this scene.

Although there was still shock and helplessness on Zhou Ke's face, death is the greatest thing after all.

He sighed, placed Ohm's hand back to his side, and bowed to him three times in farewell.

The dead rest in peace.

Unfortunately, living people have many things to do.
-
A few hours later, Ohm was buried in a cave in a remote canyon in the Trak Corridor. Qiao Shan built an irregular stone tombstone for him, and everyone paid tribute there.

Qiao Ya performed much better this time than last time.

Her heartfelt grief did not affect her arrangements for Uncle Ohm's funeral, although there was nothing much to do in such a simple environment.

"When we have time, we'll return his body to the cemetery in Slagtown."

Zhou Ke placed a lit cigarette on Ohm's tombstone as before and said to Qiao Ya beside him:
"Let him stay with Old Joe and Ms. Fenn. I guess that's his last wish. The three of them probably won't mind the crowd. Speaking of which, shouldn't you be crying now, Qiao Xiaoya?"

"I"

Facing Zhou Ke's question, Qiao Ya wiped her eyes and sniffed and said:
"Everyone who could protect me is gone. It's time for me to prepare myself to face the wind and sand of the Badlands. Tears are the last thing I need right now. If Uncle Ohm sees me still crying, he won't be able to leave without worry."

"There are only two of us here."

Zhou Ke shook his head and said:
"Don't hide it, at least cry a few times, so that your father can go away in a lively manner, okay? If you don't cry, do you want me to cry? You have to pay me extra money to be a filial son."

"Zhou Ke, you are such a nuisance!"

"Hey, silly kid, what are you talking about? Cry, cry! I'll guard the door for you. Cry as much as you want. It's best to leave all your tears, cowardice, and fear here. When you walk out of this cave, you have to cheer up!
You won’t have such a leisurely time to adjust your mood from now on.”

"Woo. Woo. Woo."

Amid Qiao Ya's hoarse crying, Zhou Ke walked out of the cave and was about to think about the things he cared about, but he suddenly heard Old Taf's exclamation not far away.

He raised his head and looked at the sky.

The scarlet that stained the entire sky was fading quickly.

The Month of Madness ended. It seemed that after watching so many tragedies of life and death, the scarlet villain hanging in the sky finally stood up and left with satisfaction, but he was so stingy that he was unwilling to leave even a tip.

"Just wait for me!"

Zhou Ke stared at the changes in the sky. He held a cigarette in his mouth and said viciously:

"I'll teach you a lesson sooner or later! You low-class lunatic, stupid moon!"

(End of this chapter)