Why is my journey to the world of anime a strange tale of rules?

"You've struggled for so long, that's enough. What's the point of you continuing to fight like this? I remember you players aren't some crazy organization like the [Terror Suppressors], are you? When things get bad, you should try to scatter and escape, isn't that the normal thing to do?"

Mr. Du was puzzled. His gaze fell on Chachai, whose body was missing the four monkey statues and almost half-torn apart, barely breathing. During the confrontation, Chachai had angered Mr. Du by stealing the core artifact that Mr. Du had hidden, and thus received special attention. He couldn't withstand the series of attacks and, after exhausting his life-saving artifacts, could only wait to die.

Cat Brother was still standing, though he was covered in wounds and his aging had become much more pronounced, but at least he was still maintaining his upright posture. As for Xiao Guo, who was with Cat Brother, it was a pity that he couldn't hold out for long against Mr. Du. Shortly after Chachai was defeated, he was killed by the strange power controlled by Mr. Du.

In other words, I'm all alone now.

"call……"

After taking a deep breath, Cat Brother silently activated his strange power once again, intending to try to continue his entanglement with this Mr. Du.

"Are you really that stubborn? Is it really that hard for you cowardly fools to honestly face your fate? That's really laughable."

Mr. Du, wearing Li Xiaoxiao's face, spoke with a cheerful tone. He took a step and broke through Cat Brother's method in a way that Cat Brother could not understand at all, causing his body to suffer even more severe injuries in an instant. The injuries were so severe that Cat Brother was almost torn apart by Mr. Du's attack.

Even so, he still managed to evade further attacks. His entire body instantly transformed into scattered pieces of paper, which then coalesced back into its original, intact state.

"You can still hide? This is never going to end..."

Mr. Du frowned even more deeply. He had clearly mastered power far exceeding the limits of these trash, so there was no reason why he hadn't been able to eliminate them all after so long.

Well, since there's only this one person left, let's use a method with a wider coverage area to see if we can wipe this thing out in one go.

While he was thinking, Mr. Du reached out again, ready to eliminate Cat Brother in one blow. At the same time, Cat Brother also raised his head and looked at Mr. Du not far away.

Rumble, rumble——

The attack was ineffective.

Although it was impossible to tell how the other party did it, Cat Bro was indeed still alive after the attack, albeit with some new injuries.

What's going on? Why haven't we killed this human after all this time?

My attack should have actually been launched.

With the power I possess, even if the opponent has superhuman reaction speed and various extraordinary items for protection, they shouldn't be able to hold out for so long.

How exactly did he manage to avoid all the deadly threats and survive by sheer luck?

It couldn't possibly be something that was predicted in advance; it must be some kind of prophetic ability, right?

Mr. Du's guess was correct.

The reason why Cat Brother was able to hold on until the end was that before the fake Taoist priest Li Nianyou died, she transferred all the power she could to Cat Brother.

The attacks unleashed by the power of the [Form of Origin] are undoubtedly impossible to directly counter; the gap between the two is simply too vast. Trying to bypass the attacks to deal with Mr. Du himself is equally pointless; this thing has clearly transcended the realm of humanity to a certain extent, and even a deadly curse can only slightly slow its movements. However, if one could predict the location of the attacks beforehand and then proceed, the danger would naturally be greatly reduced, but this would only allow one to hold out a little longer.

At this moment, Cat Brother managed to survive by dodging one deadly attack after another.

Not only has he persevered to this day, but he has also discovered some possible limitations beneath Mr. Du's seemingly invincible power.

"It's disgusting."

Amidst the murmurs, the power of the Root Form was activated once again, but Mr. Du's attack was once again dodged by Cat Brother, and once again there was a slight "difference" between what it had observed and what it had done.

Cat Brother took another deep breath, wiped the blood from his forehead, and continued to stare at the enemy in front of him.

By leaving one's original position immediately after the attack begins, or by causing the enemy to misjudge one's location, one can avoid the attack, or at least avoid most attack methods. The reason is simple: Mr. Du must first complete the "observation" of the target before he can provide a stable strike coordinate for his power. Otherwise, like the mental pollution it constantly releases, although powerful, it is impossible to truly kill anyone in a short time because the power is completely dissipated.

His skills are not proficient.

After using his prophetic abilities several times and observing carefully, Cat Brother confirmed this fact.

Although Mr. Du always presented himself as someone in complete control, the fact that he needed to observe carefully before launching a precise attack, and that his attacks wouldn't change their trajectory based on the target's movement, clearly revealed the cumbersome nature of his ability. Such a severely limited power cannot be considered divine. The only reasonable explanation is that this guy never truly mastered this power. Perhaps he was only able to fuse with the [Form of Root] after obtaining Li Xiaoxiao's body?

"The entity that truly exists within the instance as a monster is fake; it's a body devoid of your soul, something that takes your place to bear the karma of the instance itself. And the real you has been hiding in this secret space until a suitable vessel appears, allowing you to access the power you've coveted for so long? If so, then you can't be said to have avoided all karma, because the person you possess also carries karma, and the act of possession will reconnect you with the karma between you and this world."

In a steady voice, Cat Brother, whose condition was deteriorating, looked at Mr. Du and spoke. Although these words were mostly speculation, including things that even Cat Brother himself was not sure about, judging from the somewhat changed expression on Mr. Du's face, Cat Brother felt that his guess was probably correct.

"She's clearly just a human being who submits to order, but I didn't expect her to have some brains. Heh, you're right, the person I possess does have a causal relationship with this world, but do you think I wouldn't have foreseen this? The causal relationship of this body has already gone with her soul; I'll only leave behind a clean body."

Mr. Du stopped and, unusually, responded to Cat Brother's words. However, his tone, which seemed to be praising him, was actually full of sarcasm and disdain. It was not hard to see that he just wanted to ridicule Cat Brother's conclusion and express his contempt for him.

"That's the same; you still can't escape cause and effect."

But Cat Brother shook his head, his attitude unchanged.

"Even if you avoid the karma of [Li Xiaoxiao] herself, you cannot avoid the karma of being a [player]. From the moment you take on this identity, no matter what plans you have next, your only ending is to die with this world. There is no other possibility. This is something I have 'foreseen' countless times."

Although he didn't really want to be like this, after inheriting some of Li Nianyou's obsessions and abilities, Cat Brother's speaking style became somewhat similar to that teammate's.

"Players? You think that kind of thing limits me in any way? Hahaha, I have to admit, I'm starting to feel sorry for you guys."

But what Cat Brother didn't expect was that after he said those words, Mr. Du seemed to have heard the biggest joke and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

“I have seen real gods, beings you cannot even imagine.”

"And the authority I possess, as a follower of such a great being, is beyond your comprehension."

"The so-called player status is just a restriction that only you inferior beings have. I, who am favored by the true god, do not have to pay any price in this regard."

He proudly raised his head and pointed to the stone wall above him, as if he were pointing to something higher up on that wall, something that Cat Brother couldn't see.

"I played an incredibly important role in this delightful drama, and God will surely love me for that. He will give me the opportunity to spread more chaos and create chaos in more worlds. He will never let my mere player status limit me."

"And you are nothing but sacrifices to please Him, domesticated animals for rituals and entertainment. I know you want to find my altar, to try and launch a counterattack through sacrifice, right? It's useless. I am the highest being here. No matter what you do, the result will only be death—"

A fanatical faith emanates without restraint, followed by a release of malicious and pleasurable emotions.

However, he was unable to finish his sentence.

After a strange aura flashed through the cave and was released, Mr. Du's smile suddenly distorted, and he then spat out a mouthful of blood.

"vomit!!!"

Chapter 147: The Twisted Monster That Completed Its Return and the First to Die

What is the definition of God?

This problem had troubled Du Jiahuan for a long time.

As a slave trader from the lowest rungs of society, wandering the streets and alleys in search of suitable targets, Mr. Du's experience can be considered quite rich. Whether it was choosing a target and stealing or abducting a child from a particular family, or classifying the kidnapped children according to their intended use—for example, children from wealthy families were used to extort money, beautiful and obedient children were sold to brothels or to high-ranking officials with particular tastes, relatively ordinary children were sold to wealthy people as servants, and those even worse off were considered for forced labor and mutilation, either having their hands or legs cut off to become beggars, or having their chests cut off and hearts dug out to be used as sacrifices for cults or as ingredients for folk remedies.

Words like "cruel and vicious" meant nothing to Du Jiahuan. Having chosen this path, how could mere platitudes about human compassion possibly stop him? Of course, Du Jiahuan was a devout believer, but he believed that everything in this life would be judged after death. He believed that as long as he donated enough money to temples and monasteries, his merits would outweigh his demerits, and he would escape punishment. Because of this belief, Du Jiahuan even appeared to be a devout believer.

However, it was precisely because he embarked on this despised and sinful path that Du Jiahuan came into contact with many things that he would otherwise have had little access to. As he traveled around the country, he gradually discovered some terrifying things hidden beneath the surface of the world, and began to come into contact with things that ordinary people might never encounter in their entire lives.

Strange object.

At that time, Du Jiahuan had no idea what he was encountering. He only discovered that some children he had killed were inexplicably getting back up, impossible to kill no matter how hard he tried, and causing serious damage to his group. These inexplicable things terrified Du Jiahuan. At first, he thought it was retribution for the many bad things he had done, but later, in the process of constantly escaping those things, Du Jiahuan gradually began to come into contact with things from the dark side of the world, and began to understand the existence of these strange creatures, and what he had actually encountered.

Of course, due to the limitations of the era, Du Jiahuan, like most people who came into contact with supernatural beings, simply regarded them as vengeful ghosts that had escaped from the underworld to claim lives, and could not truly understand the essence of their existence. It was only because Du Jiahuan himself did not want to sit idly by and wait for his death that he tried his best to find those who understood supernatural beings to learn how to deal with them, and even obtained a few items of obsession through courage, luck, and the sacrifice of some subordinates.

However, one question kept Du Jiahuan tossing and turning at night.

If there really are strange creatures in this world, and if these things are truly vengeful ghosts, then why are their actions so rigid? If we can correctly analyze their behavior patterns, we can find ways to restrict their actions and even potentially obtain items with extraordinary powers from them.

If these things come from the underworld, does that mean there's no such thing as settling scores after death? If gods and ghosts are the same, does that mean my previous faith will never receive any response?

If God really is such a thing… No, that's not right. God has never truly appeared before him, whether it's a God who came to help him, a God who came to judge him, or a God who paid no attention to him whatsoever. Du Jiahuan has never seen them; instead, he's only seen one person after another using God's name to amass wealth. He used to think that everything would be accounted for after death, so he didn't pay much attention to those things. But after a genuine supernatural being appeared before him, Du Jiahuan slowly began to question his original thoughts, and confusion began to spread.

Does God really exist?

If God exists, what would He be like?

What is it that I should explore, believe in, and follow?

So, what is the definition of God? Mr. Du, in your eyes, what kind of being qualifies as God?

A voice answered him.

In that strange, twisted place that seemed to be an inn, the figure with a constant smile on his lips answered his questions while also posing questions to him.

[Is it an existence possessing immense power, completely invincible to humanity?]

Or is he a wise man with boundless wisdom? A millionaire possessing all the treasures in the world? Or a clown capable of performing all sorts of incredible tricks that ordinary people could not?

No, no, no, in my opinion, Mr. Du, the so-called God only represents one thing, and that is the boundary of human cognition.

The voice was incredibly gentle, like sweet honey, drawing Du Jia Huan in and making him unable to think any further. Even so, the voice continued to flood his mind, forcing him to understand and think about the words, as if the voice possessed some kind of power, able to disregard his will and force him to comprehend it.

When people cannot understand the changes in weather, the flickering of flames, or other natural phenomena, these things are considered divine to them.

As people gradually explore the earth, delve into the ocean, and gaze at the stars, those places they cannot yet reach, those places their power cannot yet penetrate, are the realms of God.

[And, when individuals, due to a lack of wisdom or a fragile heart, need something to rely on, everything that can provide that reliance, whether real or illusory, becomes their god.]

Although many call me God, I have never considered myself a deity. I am the embodiment of chaos, a part of this ever-changing universe. To some beings, I am a terrifying existence beyond their comprehension, so they see me as both a demon and a god. But to others like myself, or those who have grown strong enough to confront me directly, I may be a threat, something to be used, or more often than not, something annoying, but never a god.

In my opinion, your confusion stems from failing to grasp this point, Mr. Du. Heh heh, I can see that despite your wickedness, your seemingly heartless and morally bankrupt nature, and even the fear you feel towards your own subordinates, you also have a vulnerable side. You seek solace in God, but the existence of these strange creatures has shattered your original cognitive boundaries. You've begun to realize that the deities you once worshipped may not be what you desired, and those supposedly mystical and supernatural things may not be so elusive after all. Thus, the deities you once placed your trust in have begun to appear ethereal and unreal in your eyes. This is a devastating blow to someone as inherently fragile as you.

Heh, for you, finding a new anchor beyond the boundaries of understanding is far too important. But this anchor can't be found arbitrarily, because you're not like a true fool who's incapable of thought and only blindly follows. You've discovered the rigid and irrational nature of the strange creatures, so you've begun to contemplate the existence of supernatural powers and gods, and you won't be fooled by supernatural tricks. But you're not smart enough, because you can't define your own boundaries with your own will. You still need something you can truly accept as an anchor to prevent yourself from losing control, especially given that cute little things often cause you trouble.

Since that's the case, why not try accepting my love? Although I can't truly love every living being in the universe like a certain sister, nor can I maintain the absolute objectivity of order and chaos like a certain brother, when it comes to guiding a lost soul on how to move forward, I believe that every version of myself, in different worlds and in different forms, will offer 100% enthusiasm. So, let me guide you, let me love you, what do you say, my dear Mr. Du?

On that glittering gambling table, he finally found the existence he could pursue forever.

Ah, yes, I am loved by the gods.

I am already a believer in Chaos, so I will follow the will of Chaos and take action for the great game that is about to be held in this world.

Little Black Mountain? The Li family? Ha! What filthy and insane desires! This family, this village, has undoubtedly been corrupted by their own desires. With the right guidance, they will all become my gifts to Chaos.

As for Li Ziyong, haha, if he wants to play along, then let's play along. Let him have a sweet dream for a while, then turn everything into a nightmare—isn't that a good idea?

Perfect timing. I also need to sever my connection with this instance and avoid becoming one of its core obsessions. So, let me fake my death in a suitable way. My body and the pre-prepared twisted soul will be given core status, while my soul will slumber in my sanctuary until the opportunity to escape this place arrives. At that time, I'll have to collect some interest from this place; after all, only by becoming stronger can I do more for the gods.

Mr. Du was very confident that his plan should be flawless.

However, he did not know that after that, the existence of strange creatures gradually disappeared, becoming fewer and fewer with the changing times. The people who possessed extraordinary power and inherited the bloodline of the Li family did not appear as soon as expected, but were delayed for hundreds of years.

He was also unaware of the players' existence. He only knew that the areas containing terrifying monsters would eventually be transformed by the gods of chaos, becoming the so-called Trial Grounds, providing certain individuals with the opportunity for transcendence.

God hasn't issued any new commands for a long time. I think perhaps what I've done here isn't nearly enough. After all, I've been hiding myself; the real choices are always made by the villagers themselves. Compared to something hidden deep within this place, this drama is hardly exciting enough, and certainly won't satisfy the gods. Since that's the case, I'll do more. Hehehe, I'm sure with my improved performance, God's gaze will be more focused on me!

{Were you fooled into believing in Nyarlathotep's antisocial madness? To be fooled to this extent, I really don't know what to say... Well, don't mind me, I'm just expressing my feelings.}

Before Gao Hai went out alone to pursue Li Ziyong, he had already sensed the thirty-eight-sided cube that served as the core object of his obsession. Gao Hai was also aware of the information about the [Wangsheng Hotel] that Qianhua saw in her hallucination.

Well, to be honest, he was really overwhelmed when he first learned this information. Especially after finding out that the hotel owner's name started with the character "奈" (Nai), he felt like everything was going to be over.

The black watch, an item capable of reversing time throughout the universe, originates from the One Who Unifies All Things. The crimson flower, it seems, is highly likely an incarnation of the Mother of All Things, or perhaps an incarnation within an incarnation. And now, a foolish follower, misled by the Faceless One, has come to this instance to cause trouble. How should I put it? Isn't the mix of things in this small village instance a bit too high-level?

Of course, considering that what has appeared so far can only be said to be related to certain great beings, and cannot truly be equated with those beings, Gao Hai didn't feel he needed to be overly vigilant. Putting aside other matters, this Chaos follower called "Mr. Du" did indeed operate very skillfully, making himself the core obsession while simultaneously creating an opportunity for his soul consciousness to separate, thus gaining the possibility of escaping this instance. But this was on the premise that he wasn't greedy enough to want to cause further trouble after gaining the chance to escape. Unfortunately, he didn't make the right choice, so now, possessing Li Xiaoxiao, the player of the [Sacrifice Game], he has re-established a connection with the instance and reconnected with his separated, strange entity clone.