Doomsday Wonderland

The world in Lin Sanjiu’s eyes was turning, and she could only see stars.

Lin Sanjiu had no idea what happened but the light beam suddenly constricted, and the next thing she knew, she was being tossed here and there. At this moment, she could not hear anything but Soulsqn’s screams. She tried her best to regain her balance but to no avail. There was nothing she could do but get rocked hither and thither like a volleyball in a gunny bag.

It was only now that Lin Sanjiu saw the reason why the Veda did not show themselves. It turned out that all of them had been tricked by the highest god. The white cord was created by him.

When the world in her eyes finally stopped turning, Lin Sanjiu immediately picked herself up and looked around. The light beam was gone. The flesh worm laid spread-eagled by her feet. She reached out to her surroundings, only to realize that there was an unseen cage around, trapping them both inside.

Looking through the invisible cage, Lin Sanjiu saw Puppeteer floating in the universe not far away. He was staring at both of them, and Lin Sanjiu could feel the anger that welled up inside of him. His face was dark, looking like the dark clouds before a heavy storm arrived. Truth to be told, Lin Sanjiu had a feeling that compared to the highest god, the ruthless man wanted to kill them more.

The highest god stood outside of the cage. He rapped the cage and beamed happily like a young farmer who struck a deal to sell his piglets. After he had had enough of admiring Puppeteer’s angry face, he turned to Lin Sanjiu and offered her a flawless grin. “Surprise! I bet none of you realize that it’s me who created these, am I right?”

The veins on Lin Sanjiu’s forehead bulged up.

“You created the cord just to distract us?” asked Lin Sanjiu as she rammed her shoulder into the invisible barrier. She had no idea why she was so unlucky today, as this was the second time she was trapped inside a barrier. “Are you not afraid of those Veda suddenly showing up?”

“You guys are so pathetic,” the highest god said sympathetically. “Your movements are so primitive and predictable that I think even a plankton could beat you all. You just move one step at a time, and never look too far ahead. The white cord was only 50 kilometers long, and it wasn’t connected to any of the other white cords.”

Puppeteer looked at the highest god in amazement, hardly daring to believe his ears that these things were being said about him. Something inside him snapped, and he jerked his head back. However, he did not make any move. Tracing his gaze, Lin Sanjiu found Hegel, who stood far away and out of their reach. The tiny figure heaved out a long sigh of relief when he realized Puppeteer chose not to go after him and retreated even further away.

“You were leaving just before, weren’t you?” Lin Sanjiu asked the highest god. “So why aren’t you leaving now?”

As if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, the highest god giggled. “Oh my poor silly girl, I’ve never once thought about leaving here. If you guys were caught by the Veda, all information about me would fall into their hands as well.”

Lin Sanjiu was stumped by the answer.

‘But he ran into the wall just before…’

Lin Sanjiu immediately killed the thought as the penny suddenly dropped in her eyes. She said, “You were not trying to escape. What you wanted to do was to create an illusion that you were escaping. Then, after we all thought you were gone, you would return in another form and follow after us.”

“You are correct. In the Data Stream Library, it’s not necessary for me to maintain this appearance,” said the highest god as he caressed his ribbed torso. “It’s just that I can better fool you all in this appearance and make you think that I left.”

To demonstrate, the highest god suddenly vanished into thin air. Lin Sanjiu’s expression turned ugly. If the highest god could go invisible like the Veda, then she could anticipate that the upcoming fight would be a hundred times tougher than the previous one.

“In other words, you were making use of us to test the Veda. And if we failed to live up to your expectations as your guinea pigs, you would come out of the dark and eliminate us first, right?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say eliminate, but that’s pretty much it.”

“Say it. What do you want from us?” Lin Sanjiu growled towards the void. She let out a breath and picked Soulsqn up. The latter was still a little groggy from the blinding light as she asked, “Where is the freak?”

“Why do you have to talk like that? Do you know how many people want to be caught by me, but can never get it? You are a lucky one, so can’t you show me some appreciation?”

It was apparent that the highest god cherished his sculpted body a lot. He appeared from the void ahead. “Didn’t you guys want to wreak havoc on the entire Veda’s community? I can help you. I can provide you with the weapon you need, and—”

“Watch out!”

Hegel suddenly shouted, making the highest god jump. He did not even have the time to turn his head. He raised his hand and created a thin slice of a shadow blade that chopped behind him. When he stumbled to the front in a clumsy manner, he realized that the hair on the back of his head was lost to the shadow blade he summoned.

The highest god touched his head and looked at Puppeteer, who stood frozen not far away. There, a puff of smoke mingled with a shadow. It was not long before both of them dissipated into the darkness.

“Good job,” the young deity complimented. His hair had grown back. He cast Hegel an assuring smile and said, “If you make me happier, maybe I can fulfill your wish in advance.”

“Is—Is there really a world like that?” Hegel asked with a stammer.

“Let me ask you first. What about your children?” The highest god returned his question with one of his own, smiling.

“Nobody can mind my business after I’m dead,” Hegel answered in a raspy tone, his voice trembling with emotion. “They will take care of themselves. Isn’t there a phrase that reads ‘parents should not be too worried about their kids, as the younger generation will do alright on their own’?”

Lin Sanjiu suddenly remembered that Hegel was 37 years old. She had no idea whether or not he had children and what had happened to them.

“Oh,” the highest god drawled, “Honestly, I don’t know if there is a planet that will take 200 years to develop into an apocalyptic world.”

Hegel was stunned. The highest god stopped talking. He glanced across the crowd with a smug smile as if he enjoyed this suspenseful moment a lot. “However, I happen to know of a planet that will never have doomsday.”

‘Does that kind of place really exist?’

Lin Sanjiu suddenly jerked up. Her eyes were wide open. However, she was not the only one who was confounded. Even Puppeteer had stopped moving around and looking for a chance to attack the highest god. Like the others, he pricked up his ears and listened attentively to every word the highest god said.

“The planet is in this universe. If you want to, you can go at any time.”

The highest god spread his arms open and waltzed across the deep space. Nobody spoke up. The young deity asked again, “So? Do you want to go?”

After a few seconds, Hegel found his voice. “This… this is a universe? But how, how can I…”

In this vast and infinite universe, home to innumerable planets, it was certainly possible that one of the planets would not have doomsday. After all, it’s just a matter of probability.

Even though there was a high possibility that the highest god was bluffing, Lin Sanjiu still couldn’t help but feel excited when she thought of the gate to leaving the doomsday being so close to her. It was just that somebody took action a step earlier than her.

“I’m going!” Hegel shouted. “You won’t lie to a posthuman, would you? I’ve studied everything about you… If it’s true, then please send me to that planet!”

However, Hegel did not seem to expect that his wish was cut off before it was fulfilled.

Perhaps he was too absorbed in the thing the highest god was saying, for this time, Hegel did not realize anything. When another puff of smoke spread out from the highest god’s thoracic cavity, everyone—even the highest god himself—were stunned.

“You are really such a disgusting creature,” said Puppeteer coolly.

As soon as he began to speak, a wisp of smoke plumed out of the corner of his lips and gently caressed his lips and skin.

Right now, it was as if the highest god had become a leaky chimney. An endless stream of billowing smoke emerged from every part of his body and rapidly devoured him whole. A heartbreaking roar erupted from afar. Even if his father had passed away, Lin Sanjiu was certain that Hegel would not be as mad as he was now. His rage overshadowed his fear of Puppeteer. Throwing everything into the wind, he charged straight at him.

Puppeteer did not even bat an eye at him. He stared at the billowing smoke as a smile tugged on the corner of his lips.

Then, his cold grin froze.

“I’ve told you guys,” the highest god’s voice rang out from the rolling smoke in front, “Your attacks are as clear as daylight here.”

His head poked out of the smoke first, then his shoulders and finally his body.

“I purposely let you hit me.” The highest god smiled triumphantly. “You are too hard to catch. Right now, I finally have something that can connect me to you.”

Even though they did not understand what was going on, it did not stop both Lin Sanjiu and Soulsqn’s expressions from changing.

Puppeteer, who was their strongest weapon against the highest god, curled up like a frozen shrimp as if he had lost control over his own body. There was a moment where he looked like a paperman that had been folded into half at his midriff, then there was another moment where he looked like a lonely soul that drifted about in the void. While he played along with the smoke, the highest god sighed. “With those wounds and injuries, why do you have to be so hard on yourself?”

He raised his head and nodded at Hegel. “You are pretty good. Come over here.”

Hegel hesitated. He hummed and hawed but did not make any move. Nevertheless, his desire for leaping out of the loop of the doomsday overshadowed his hesitancy. He gritted his teeth, made a detour around Puppeteer, and went closer to the highest god.

It was only now that Lin Sanjiu realized he could not control his own emotions anymore. The veins on his bald head bulged, and his skin was scarlet with excitement.

“I’m going to send them to the battlefield.” The highest god seemed to be in a good mood. “Your task is complete, and I don’t need you anymore. I will grant you your wish right now!”

In any case, the highest god was true to his word, perhaps even considerate. He halted Puppeteer with one hand and gave Hegel a detailed explanation of how he would fold the void and open a wormhole to send him to the planet.

Assuming a dreamy expression, Hegel stepped into the black slit the highest god opened up for him.

Rather than going to sleep fearing you might not be able to see the sun tomorrow, it might be better to take the risk. After all, in the era of apocalypses, they had nothing to lose but their own lives. At the least, Hegel’s tenacity and determination had paid off for him handsomely.

“I’m such a kind-hearted person.” The highest god sighed with pleasure as Hegel slowly disappeared before his eyes. He turned his head and looked at Lin Sanjiu and her comrades. Smiling, he said, “Although you all might not want my present, I’m still going to give it to you.”