Tonight, Alice joins the hunt.

The Dirac Sea is a sea of ​​energy. The material world floats on it, so it is no exaggeration to call it another world. However, even traversing the gap between worlds is not much more difficult for Zhao Yingkong, who has already reached the fourth level, than 'crossing the door from the living room to the bedroom'.

She saw Saito Hajime, and the instant she saw him, she was in front of him. The flame burning in her palm was gently pushed forward as if she were giving a gift, and the flame then filled Saito Hajime's embrace.

The sea of ​​imaginary numbers rippled. The disturbance of energy directly pushed the two figures back into the real world—the Saito Hajime covered in flames withered into ashes in the blink of an eye. However, at the instant this body disappeared, another unharmed Saito Hajime appeared behind Zhao Yingkong—just a substitute transformed by the Child of No Form, and Saito Hajime could have as many of these as he wanted.

He held an irregular geometric shape in his hand, like a bottle, yet its bottom and opening remained unseen. Energy, almost equivalent to a small-scale starfall, was unilaterally absorbed from the Sea of ​​Imaginary Numbers into this bottle-like geometric shape, yet the shape merely trembled, showing slight instability, as if it were only just about full.

"Because two tigers will fight each other for power and thus kill each other?" he replied casually, tossing the small geometric bottle at Zhao Yingkong.

The surrounding space distorted as a result. The small bottle seemed to merge with the heavens and earth, expanding outwards at near-light speed. The lava pools on the ground, the embers in the air, and even a small part of the entire Great Lakes region were incorporated into this rapidly expanding bottle, and then—the silver bottle shattered!

Centered on their location, a spherical space of approximately 1,300 cubic kilometers was ripped from the world at that moment. Uncontrolled, violent energy, a chaotic spatial structure, and void turbulence generated between worlds—all these factors combined to compress this spatial sphere, with a radius of nearly ten kilometers, into a thin pancake several nanometers thick in an instant. Immediately following, a material storm generated by the world to fill the vacuum void created by the magic filled the void where the two were fighting.

"Using time to interfere with space, thereby creating an out-of-control Klein bottle to simulate a dimensional reduction attack? Impressive, it almost killed me. Just a little bit more." Zhao Yingkong clapped her hands lightly, standing nimbly in the void, 10 kilometers and 1 meter away from the central explosion point. She admired Saito Hajime, who had also appeared in the distance. "It's a pity this isn't a true dimensional reduction. A few nanometers of thickness is still thickness, and unfortunately, I have some experience in using spatial structures."

"Because of Zhao Zhuikong?" Saito put his black-rimmed glasses back on, temporarily halting his fighting stance. During their recent exchange, he realized he couldn't win quickly. Since brute force couldn't secure victory, the only remaining option was a war of words—meaning the situation had shifted in Zhao Zhuikong's favor. Even so, he wouldn't concede defeat.

He needed to know the reason why Zhao Yingkong woke up in order to make the next move.

"As far as I know, your relationship with your brother is quite complicated. But I don't think he's the reason you have to possess this body."

“Ah, that’s not true.” Zhao Ying glanced at her opponent, a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice. “Although you’re also an unlucky guy, it’s not a good thing to pry into other people’s privacy. But… well, never mind.”

She gently shook her head.

"Let's get back to the previous topic. I disagree with your previous answer because the reason 'two tigers cannot share one mountain' is not because tigers will fight for power. It's because resources are limited, and a mountain can only support one tiger. The same principle applies to the fourth tier. An ordinary planet where civilization has not yet stepped out of the atmosphere cannot accommodate a fourth tier... You didn't think I was talking about the Central Continent Team, did you? Fighting for power?" She raised an eyebrow.

"..." Saito remained silent.

"Hmph." She didn't dwell on the topic any further, but continued, "A small temple can't hold a great Buddha, and shallow waters can't nurture a dragon... This is a very simple principle. Because resources are insufficient, and the environment doesn't allow it. Yet, on this tiny planet of one trillion cubic kilometers, at least three fourth-tier beings emerged in the same era. Me, my sister Ruikong, my brother Zhuikong... If we add Likong, who broke through before his death, that makes four... A family whose understanding of genetic engineering is still at a low level, like injecting serums, actually created four fourth-tier beings from a single fourth-tier corpse, even if they were only incomplete fourth-tier beings..."

"...They don't even deserve it!?"

Zhao Yingkong's expression suddenly turned cold.

"After waking up in the God's Space, I learned from the memories of my other self that there are only a few ways to unlock one's genetic lock. One is to linger in perilous situations, using the terror of life and death to directly break through to the next level. The second is to be directly infused with great fortune, becoming the protagonist of the world and unlocking it with the fortune bestowed upon them by the world. The third is to patiently endure, condensing one's spirit and gradually mastering one's mind and body over thousands of years to slowly unlock it. However, for me and my brothers and sisters, none of these three options apply!"

"Earth is a peaceful planet. The most intense wars are nothing more than small conflicts between armed groups and mercenaries in the Middle East and Africa. The Zhao family is just an ordinary family of assassins, and our generation, which was created, naturally has even less of a destiny. We haven't even experienced any rigorous training because we can easily unlock our abilities without having to concentrate on arduous cultivation."

“But… there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. You gain some and you lose some. Since this power came so easily, there must be a reason behind it.” She clenched her fist and gently landed on the ground, which had been pressed into a smooth mirror. “I had a vague answer before, but after I obtained this flame and realized how strong a fourth-tier flame really is in this world, I finally confirmed a fact.”

The assassin girl lowered her head and sighed.

"I, and my dead brothers and sisters, were all sacrifices used by that nameless assassin to resurrect, or even go further!"

"The reason we were able to reach the fourth tier so easily is because we were already at the fourth tier. My sister, Ruikong, realized this, so she deliberately lost control and used the opportunity to instigate a civil war to purge all the members of the Empty Project. Before she died, she said that a black demon was hidden deep within her heart... I always thought it was an evil image derived from the inner demons of the fourth tier. However, after I learned just how strong and how difficult it is to die at the fourth tier, I realized that it was that person—the nameless assassin who appeared on Earth twenty years ago and survived the last cycle of reincarnation!"

“So I have to live, to live with this body.” She quickly calmed down from her turbulent emotions. Then she looked at Saito Hajime. “I will reach the middle of the fourth stage sooner or later, and that will be the time when I die, the time when I face her, the nameless assassin. She and I… have a huge score to settle.”

"That's why I can't back down. Now, you can try to persuade me. If you have a win-win solution, just say it. If you can help me settle this old score, I don't mind self-annihilation and giving my body to the other me. If not, then step aside. Anyway, even if I give my body back to the other side, if I don't deal with that guy, the other me will have to face her sooner or later."

The girl chuckled, but her eyes were filled with helplessness as she looked at Saito Hajime. "She's at least a fourth-tier beginner level powerhouse, not a flawed being like me, but a true powerhouse who has obtained full power. You wouldn't last more than a few seconds against her, and besides... your body won't last much longer either."

Saito remained silent.

After a long while, he said with difficulty, "Zheng Zha... will become a powerful figure capable of standing alone in the future. He will overcome his inner demons and become a quasi-saint at the mid-fourth rank or even beyond the high-level. In addition, there is another person with the strongest wisdom, Chu Xuan... they can help you."

“Words are meaningless. And it’s foolish to pin such things on an uncertain future. I admit that the man named Zheng Zha has potential, and I’m quite fond of him. There are even some subtle feelings… If it weren’t for the incredibly realistic act he and Zhan Lan put on, perhaps there would be some obstacles to me regaining control of my body. But, he’s not ready yet.” Zhao Yingkong shook her head regretfully. “Moreover, from what you just said, I think I can confirm some things as well. The future you can see isn’t actually as much as you imagine, is it?”

"What...do you mean?" Saito asked, frowning.

“It’s simple. It’s because you know too much in some areas and too little in others. Also, there’s a slight disharmony between your emotions and will, but you haven’t noticed it,” Zhao Yingkong replied.

"I've been observing you before I took control of your body. You're conflicted; on one hand, you express weariness with the entire cycle of reincarnation, yet on the other hand, you cherish your teammates immensely... Ah, I can understand that. After all, having encountered so many futures, it's natural to get tired of largely similar cycles. And through so many reincarnations, you've also gained a clear understanding of others—you know the past, nature, and beliefs of everyone else, including me. You know who is reliable and who can be trusted. Perhaps you even have a perfect strategy plan in your head to deal with each person, allowing you to sculpt each person into the shape you want, like a player in a simulation game."

"Having fun with the puppet show, aren't you, Saito Hajime?" She suddenly moved closer to Saito Hajime, and this time, her imposing presence made him take a small step back.

"I...I didn't think that way." Saito's gaze darted away for a moment, then quickly hardened. "No!"

"Ah, of course you didn't, after all, you're about to die. This is a sacred sacrifice, a desire to do something for others before death, not as sordid as I described, right? But..." A sly smile appeared on the girl's face, but her tone suddenly turned vicious and low. "How can you be sure your memories are truly your own? There's no such thing as a free lunch. You... envelope!"

I have some things to take care of today, so I'm taking a day off.

There was a power outage in the Tianhong area of ​​Tianxin District, Changsha City today. It lasted from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM – this can be directly checked on the Changsha power grid website. Plus, I had some personal matters to attend to, so I couldn't start writing until 10:30 PM. Therefore, I probably can't write today, so I'm taking a day off…orz

Section 67 Consensus and the Fourth Day

Qi Teng left. Negotiations failed, and he couldn't win a fight either; leaving was practically his only option. He might not give up entirely, but there was no doubt that he wouldn't reappear in Zhao Yingkong's sight until he found a way to resolve the current predicament.

He lacked time, but Zhao Yingkong lacked time as well.

His body wouldn't last long; he would soon die. And Zhao Yingkong, for some reason, had to break through to the middle stage of the fourth level in a short time, and then confront the demon hidden deep within her heart… that nameless assassin.

For her to break through, her alternate personality must die. This is because Zhao Yingkong is essentially a flawed product, her soul incomplete. Even if she integrates all her power, she might not be able to see the path to the middle of the fourth stage. Furthermore, the idea of ​​preserving this mental derivative, the alternate personality, is utterly absurd.

This makes the problem clear. Qi Tengyi hopes that Zhao Yingkong, the alternate personality, can live, at least temporarily, and not be devoured. Even if they can deal with her later when they return to the Main God Space, at least she, as a companion, can survive. As for the main personality... this one who once desperately wanted to die, now wants to integrate his other half to become resources for progress.

This conflict was irreconcilable, especially after the main personality Zhao Yingkong uttered the words, "You... envelope!", everything fell into an irreversible state.

What is an envelope?

An envelope is a container that carries information and needs to be passed on to others. Qi Tengyi's precognitive memories are the only things on him that can be considered 'important information'—everything has a cause and effect; if something happens, there must be a reason hidden behind it. Qi Tengyi doesn't believe in free lunches, so he was naturally already aware of this.

And since there are envelopes and letters inside them, there must naturally be people who write and receive letters.

Leaving aside the recipient, who was the writer?

....................................

Zhao Yingkong looked at the male figure that had disappeared into the distance, a figure that even with her fourth-level vision, she couldn't directly observe from an optical perspective. She turned her head slightly and sighed.

The next moment, her body began to disintegrate in large chunks. From her fingers to her toes, from her hair to her chest, all the tissues that constituted her body crumbled, melted, and decomposed into clumps of protoplasmic solution in an extremely short time. These solutions were absorbed back into her body by an invisible force the instant they detached from her body, reforming her original form—only to be followed by the next round of collapse.

Melting, disintegrating, reshaping, and melting again—in just two seconds, her body was like a candle boiling in a container, endlessly cycling through destruction and reconstruction thirty or forty times. Hands, feet, torso, head—every part of her body that could be called human tissue was replaced dozens of times in that short period. The surrounding free energy was absorbed, forming a gale, while the rapid decomposition and reuse of large amounts of useless metabolic waste generated immense heat. This scorching wind then rose, transforming into a blazing protective shield around her.

However, her voice could still be clearly heard through the shield.

"After all, it's a flawed body, and forcibly using it will naturally come at a price. But..." Within the molten wax-like sphere that forms her body, something like an eye is watching a certain spot in the surrounding space. "If it's just dealing with a mortal that hasn't reached the fourth rank, I think it shouldn't be a big problem."

As she spoke, the space she was gazing at subtly trembled. Soon, a small doll emerged from a delicate spatial rift tied with a bow, fluttering its wings and arriving about thirty meters in front of Zhao Yingkong. It bowed slightly to her, and from its lips, it uttered a tone unique to Alice.

"It's been a long time, Zhao. This is our second face-to-face meeting since we last met in Hamunaptra."

"A doll... well, you're a puppeteer, so this does count as face-to-face." Zhao Ying raised an eyebrow—she had now developed eyebrows as a body part—she knew before the battle that Alice's gaze would inevitably fall upon this land. After all, Alice had a presence in North America, and the fact that the Great Lakes region was almost completely destroyed meant Alice would at least have to take a look, if not intervene. That's why she asked a probing question when she sensed the anomaly in the spatial structure, and sure enough, Alice appeared directly from a hidden spatial rift.

The only thing she hadn't anticipated was that Alice would actually use a doll to talk to her. But then she thought about it again and realized that this development was perfectly natural.

Her head gradually recovered, and her facial features became clearer.

She tilted her head, cracking her neck as she asked, "What do you want, Miss Alice who's been watching? You must have heard my conversation with Qi Tengyi clearly. If you don't have a corresponding bargaining chip, I suggest you don't say anything. Otherwise, it won't look good for any of us, don't you think?"

“Indeed, I lack the leverage to fulfill your wishes,” Alice’s doll replied. “However, the differences between us aren’t as vast as those between you and Qi Tengyi. Furthermore, your disguise is inadequate. If you intended to awaken from the beginning, you should have woken up before this horror movie even started, instead of letting your alter ego waste three days in this world. Therefore, your awakening must have a trigger, and I suspect… it’s because of my battle with the angel. You sensed a deadly threat that could kill you on your path of revenge. That’s why you had to prepare in advance—and Qi Tengyi’s identity was merely the trigger.”

Zhao Yingkong flexed her newly grown fingers.

"...So what? I admit, the power behind the angels is indeed very strong, because that's a fact I confirmed through certain means after you went to war with them, and it can't be changed. But..."

She stretched her fully recovered body, and a vast, magnificent aura, like a mountain or a deep valley, suddenly emanated from her.

“It’s not that I’m without a way to escape. This world of Final Destination can’t take the life of someone at the fourth level like me. I can simply leave this planet and run to outer space. I can escape to the asteroid belt or even behind Neptune. The guy hiding behind the angelic forces is powerful, but if I just want to stall for twelve days, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

She spoke fluently and confidently.

However, Alice shattered her confidence in the next moment.

"You're just fooling yourself, Zhao. Once we know Qi Tengyi's true nature and this information exchange, we're doomed. Neither you nor I are destined to die in this world. Because the identity of the party involved in the transaction has been clearly exposed to us, hasn't it? That's an enemy we absolutely cannot defeat, even if you're a fourth-tier being."

Zhao Yingkong's pupils contracted, and she hesitated for almost a microsecond before uttering her next sentence.

A microsecond. For a fourth-tier superhuman, a microsecond is not a short period of time. It might not be enough for these superhumans to make a meticulous plan, but it is enough for her to formulate a simple scheme at this moment.

She feigned ignorance and asked, "...Are you talking about...?"

“You forgot?” Alice chuckled, a smile that, though from a doll, possessed the warmth of a real person. However, her tone instantly turned serious. “Let’s end this pointless probing. I don’t want to be wiped out. This is something we can understand without saying it aloud.”

For those who reincarnate, the word "annihilation" will always refer to only one object. And once this implication reaches this point, going any further would be a foolish act akin to suicide.

Because that is... the Supreme God!

After confirming Qi Tengyi's identity as the 'envelope', the identity of the letter writer naturally became obvious. The fact that a pseudo-fourth-tier individual could be forcibly constructed from leaked, fragmented information alone meant the letter writer must have at least reached the fifth tier of the gene lock.

There is no fifth-order being in the cycle of reincarnation, so the only being with fifth-order power must be... the Supreme God!

If one party in the information exchange is a supreme god, then naturally the other party must also be at least a being of a considerable level. Even if the supreme god doesn't interfere, in a world of this caliber, the Central Continent team, having completed their mission, would naturally face certain death!

"...So you weren't just bluffing." Zhao Yingkong lowered her head, her imposing aura vanishing completely. "Now that you know, what are you planning to do? Destroy my memories? If that method worked, you wouldn't need to tell me all this, would you?"

“Oh, of course I have a way. The chances of success aren’t high, but they’re not zero either,” Alice replied quickly, then changed the subject. “But before that, we have some other things to do.”

Do you know... what it means to live in the face of death?

..............................................................................

Time will not stand still for long because of someone's will... at least not at this moment, there is no such person in the world. As Alice and Zhao Yingkong reach an agreement and vigorously promote their plan, many countries in this world are also experiencing an increasingly strong shock to their values.

The global internet outage has lasted for nearly a day. No television, no internet, no radio, and cell phones are rendered useless. Faced with this situation, human civilization, once closely connected and almost a global village, has instantly returned to a state of isolated desolation. Local areas cannot contact the central government, and the central government cannot control the local areas, plunging many countries into widespread chaos. Some major powers may fare slightly better, but they are merely struggling to maintain their positions.

They didn't know what had happened, and they didn't know what to do. Aside from a few major powers who knew the mastermind behind it all because of the prophecies of the Apocalypse, 99.99% of the world's ordinary people were completely unaware of what was truly happening. And the remaining 0.01%, while aware of what had occurred, were utterly powerless to change it.

The passenger plane carrying the rest of the Central Continent team entered Eastern Continent airspace at 5 PM—the people of the Eastern Continent knew this, but were powerless to stop it. They simply couldn't get a modern aircraft to take off without its electronic systems. And while those ancient planes from the last century could fly, trying to use them to hinder that aircraft was wishful thinking.

Ancient airplanes, even when pushed to their limits, could not fly to an altitude of 10,000 meters.

Even if a miracle were to occur and they managed to fly up, the slow movement speed of those old-fashioned weapons would still be a huge drawback.

They couldn't fight them. They couldn't catch up. The Eastern Continent's missile bases had long been completely suppressed by Alice through the information network. Even igniting a missile required the Eastern Continent to do it themselves with a lighter. And missiles were out of the question; short-range, inaccurate missiles were even more impossible to ignite.

So they could only pretend not to see it, letting the passenger plane soar into the sky and head straight for Lop Nur, a military stronghold designated for the construction of underground shelters. Although secretly deploying troops to be ready to act at any moment was inevitable, they could only keep quiet until they achieved their goal.

The people from the Eastern Continent fell silent, so naturally, the others had nothing to say either. Besides, they probably didn't have time to gossip right now.

—Because America collapsed.

The accurate term should be "disappeared." After communications were cut off, countries around the world discovered that the United States, which they could previously contact through clandestine means, had vanished from the face of the earth. It revealed no information and made no contact with any other nation. Even the elite agents dispatched by various countries to gather intelligence disappeared without a trace, like meat buns thrown to a dog. Just when they were about to give up, the Awakened Ones issued corresponding warnings to various governments.

The United States has become a breeding ground for robots. The prelude to an all-consuming apocalypse has begun. Faced with this situation, nations around the world have swiftly mobilized, forming alliances, mobilizing armies, and signing treaties, ready to teach the invading robots a harsh lesson. Among them, the people of the Eastern Continent, whose airspace had been violated by a passenger plane, reacted most fiercely.

Because that plane also arrived at Lop Nur at the last minute of the night.

Author's Note:

......................................................

The Elder Scrolls VIII has produced a cake!