EnCoffin Me Chapter 113
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 113
【The main force of the Federation will arrive about ten minutes later.】
The black sun whispered into Theo's ear. It was indeed modeled after Pupil and possessed most of its functions. Theo had even enhanced it with offensive capabilities. At this moment, the ruins of Beizhu City had already drawn in two guardians, keeping them tied up for the time being.
Theo smiled. Everything was proceeding according to his plan. Although it was a pity that the southeast branch and the night mare breeding farm had been wiped out, these two sweet baits were enough to lure his child away, buying him some time. During this precious interval, he activated the black sun to interfere with Pupil's ascension, while the remaining dark energy had been infused into a special device.
He had utilized everything at his disposal to the fullest, completely disregarding the irreversible consequences of failure.
He was undoubtedly a complete madman.
“We can't allow the guardians of the three pillar to gather,” he said slowly. Delvie and Aamon had already died for his great cause. Now, standing before him was the head of the research institute. Upon hearing his words, he bowed deeply with a profound sense of reverence.
“Everything is ready. Once you give the order, the device will activate.”
“Has the effect undergone its final test?” Theo asked.
“Yes. Just moments ago, the final test results came in. Everyone exposed to the radiation will undergo a mutation tending toward darkness,” the head said, trembling with fear despite his usual lack of conscience. “However, this radiation can't directly change a person's constitution. Without timely treatment from our technology, those irradiated will die from elemental rampage.”
Theo nodded with satisfaction. This was exactly the result he wanted. The surrounding large cities couldn't be evacuated completely in a short time, and those people would become his bargaining chips in negotiations with the Federation. Theo was quite confident in the research done at the Holy Temple. The New Human project was sure to gain some support.
“I want you to personally guard the launch pad and make sure nothing goes wrong.”
“Yes!”
The head of research accepted the order and left. At the door, he finally couldn't hide the exhaustion and panic on his face. He was undoubtedly working for a true demon. If this scheme succeeded, millions of lives would be in the Holy Temple's hands.
But… all of it was just for their research to be acknowledged! Only for this!
“Teacher.” Waiting at the door was his favored disciple, Qiao. This talented and spirited student somewhat eased the head's panic with his calm demeanor.
“Qiao, stay here. Keep in contact with me and coordinate the other researchers remaining at the Holy Temple headquarters.”
“Yes, teacher.”
The head exhaled deeply, then lowered his voice to almost a whisper.
“You have the spare key. If anything happens, activate it on my behalf.”
Qiao's eyelashes fluttered slightly as he bowed his head deeply.
“Yes, teacher.”
“I know you must have some reservations. After all, so many lives are at stake. But think about new humans who fear no light. Isn't that the best rebellion against this world overwhelmed by illumination?” The head spoke patiently. “Also, don't forget, we all have chips implanted in our hearts. Mr. Theo can decide our fate at will.”
“Yes, teacher.”
Qiao's consistent reply eased the head's tension. He adjusted his collar and immediately headed to the launch pad.
After he left, the usually stiff and silent Qiao moved. Instead of waiting at the door, he pretended to go coordinate with the other researchers but quickly slipped away. The place where the spare key was kept was heavily guarded, but with the head's permission, he passed through without trouble.
It was already difficult to get any messages out. He didn't know if his message would get through, so he could only do his best to send the coordinates of the hidden launch pad.
After completing this, he opened the final door and held the small backup activation device in his hand.
The chip in his heart was silent.
Qiao, no, Zhu Heng, lowered his eyes.
He had long anticipated his own fate.
Lucius was definitely not a useless teammate. After receiving the coordinates, he immediately informed Alexio.
“Send the lich to that location. Destroy it at all costs and as quickly as possible!”
Alexio didn't hesitate. He immediately contacted Lucy already en route. The coordinates were confirmed. Within the passage that only the undead could traverse, the skeletal dragon let out a deafening roar, and the soul fire in its hollow eye sockets blazed brightly!
“Dragon, fly faster,” the lich said, stroking the skull of the skeletal dragon. Her black hair fluttered slightly outside her hood. On either side of her, the scene was filled with a legion of white bones and brilliant soul flames, with soul butterflies leading the way. Finally, a glimmer of light appeared ahead.
The moment they broke through the rift, the lich gave an immediate order. The skeletal dragon opened its mouth, gathering intense light inside—
This was undoubtedly a dragon's breath that consumed most of the lich's magic power.
The beam of light incinerated the entire launch pad. Everything burned fiercely, and all faced equal death. Lucy closed her eyes, sensing the life energy at the launch site. The dragon's breath had been so strong and concentrated that all life vaporized instantly. Even the platform itself vanished, leaving behind only a huge crater in the ground. The soil was gone, exposing some shiny metal beneath. Lucy glanced at it, her previously relaxed expression turning serious again.
“Alexi! There's a strange device underground!”
“Destroy it!” Alexio ordered immediately.
“I'm working on it! But it's made of special metal. Dragon's breath can't melt it easily!” Lucy said, the roar of the skeletal dragon's breath echoing in her ears. Her undead army had already scattered downward, hunting down the Holy Temple personnel hiding near the launch pad. After a storm of attacks, more of the metal was exposed, revealing what seemed to be a massive launcher.
They could not allow that thing to be successfully launched. After hearing Lucy's report, Alexio clenched his teeth. They had already broken through the Golden Gate, a very sturdy barrier protecting the Holy Temple inside. Once this defense was breached, the Holy Temple built at the river's convergence lay exposed before them.
At the same time, Theo, still inside the Holy Temple, learned that the launch pad had been destroyed. He immediately contacted Qiao.
“Now, mobilize the remaining researchers and proceed with the launch.”
The researchers remaining at the Holy Temple headquarters operated the backup launch system. Under their control, the massive hidden launcher underground began to activate. Watching closely, Lucy saw metal tubes rise. Dark power gathered at the muzzles. It was the dark energy the Holy Temple had accumulated over hundreds of years. Yet, to Lucy's keen sensitivity to life, it was the souls of countless wailing dark creatures.
She pressed her hand to her chest, tears streaming down her face.
Lucy didn't know what would happen once it launched, but she had already painfully experienced the Holy Temple's cruelty — from Zhu Qing's attack on the conservation center, from the night mare breeding farm, and now from the sorrowful wails of souls here.
Although she commanded death, she no longer wanted any more sacrifices.
“Dragon…”
She heard her own voice tremble.
“Let's get closer.”
If she and the dragon positioned themselves across the launch muzzle, maybe they could stop it…
“Lucy!” Alexio gripped the communicator. Their first wave of attack had already reached the outer walls of the Holy Temple. Alexio even wanted to charge in wielding his black scythe himself, but he knew it would be useless.
Theo was cruel and cunning. He wouldn't be found anytime soon.
Theo smiled silently. He valued his life greatly and had already relocated to the underground facility. Once the launch succeeded, he would hold millions of hostages. Even if the Federation was prepared, they wouldn't be able to evacuate that many people quickly. He seemed to hear the defensive systems activating in every city, but what he was launching wasn't something overtly offensive.
It was a drifting, penetrating, transformative gospel.
By then, he could step forward and negotiate face-to-face with his child. Would he show the same despair and fear in his eyes as before?
Theo was looking forward to that.
But—
“Sir! Qiao is missing!”
Theo's heart sank. Qiao held the spare key. What he was about to launch was too crucial, so he had directly turned people into the keys for the launch, both the head of the research department and Qiao. Everyone in the Holy Temple had been brainwashed by his mental power, and he also used parasite eggs as insurance. If he didn't still need the researchers' intellect, he would have turned them into puppets long ago. Yet, despite such tight control, someone could still betray him?
While ordering a massive search, he activated the parasite eggs. The worms desperately tried to return to their queen. The host's resistance caused one to grow rapidly into its adult form. Almost instantly, Zhu Heng saw a part of the worm's body burst from his chest. He started coughing up blood, but his eyes remained bright. He had already reached the top level of the Holy Temple.
【Qiao!】Theo's mental voice screamed in his mind. Zhu Heng was pushing open the skylight. His right hand nearly went out of control immediately, but he remained calm. With his left hand, he drew his blade and firmly pinned his right hand against the window frame.
After a long mental tug-of-war, he forced his eyes open. His mind felt scrambled. For a moment, he couldn't even recall his own name. Yet, a lingering determination remained. He could not stop, nor allow either his living or dead self to fall into the Holy Temple's hands. This resolve drove him to pull out the blade from his right hand and keep climbing upward.
He had to fly.
The wind at the top of the Holy Temple ruffled his hair. In a daze, Zhu Heng saw the sun hovering above him.
Strangely, in the midst of his near mental collapse, he still remembered a story.
Legend told of a white phantom bird called shen, with a compassionate heart, always alighting by the beds of the sick. If it could save, it would stare directly at the patient and take on their sacred illness.
Then the shen would take flight toward the sun, where it incinerated all calamities and illnesses.
Did the shen ever return? Zhu Heng could no longer recall.
He felt himself spreading wings, becoming a glowing bird. The chip in his heart sounded faster as the distance stretched. He had done it. At the last moment, he had given his full strength to deal a fatal blow to Theo and the Holy Temple.
Carrying the calamity, the shen flew toward the sun.
He seemed to have become the sun himself.