Chapter 233 - 99: I Am Awake

Stunned, the Close Guard stared at Hyena, unable to process his own conclusion for what felt like an eternity.

The moment his focus lapsed, Hyena seized the rare opening. He stepped forward and tapped him on the forehead.

"My foolish little brother..."

"Would you stop trying to narrate from the sidelines!" the Lone Ranger yelled, grabbing Duan Fei by his clothes. "Are you alright now?"

"I’m really fine," Duan Fei said with a resigned sigh. "I just came over to watch the final act of the story. It really has nothing to do with me after this."

After all, before he even got here, Duan Fei had already laid out the plans for several subsequent quests, detailing every step of the way.

These tasks ultimately had nothing to do with him. His participation wouldn’t increase the success rate one bit, and his leaving wouldn’t decrease it one bit either.

So, it might sound a bit harsh, but Duan Fei really had nothing to do here. He could just kick back and watch the story unfold.

The Lone Ranger looked ready to kill someone, but he could only let go and grumble at Duan Fei, "If you’ve got nothing better to do, go count the stars!"

"Can I sing it?"

"Don’t! Shut up!"

The duel was over. The Close Guard, who had lost by a hair’s breadth, looked at Hyena, then nodded. "I don’t understand why, but I trust my instincts. This way, sir."

He moved aside, revealing the passage behind him. The final path to Sky City was finally revealed.

As the group filed past, the Close Guard watched Hyena’s back and bowed. "Please, take care of yourself."

Hyena glanced back at the Close Guard, gave a slight nod, and activated the elevator.

The elevator moved slowly between the space station and Sky City. Outside the transparent car was the boundless universe.

Riding this elevator was like taking a spacewalk, gradually clearing one’s mind and letting them sink into the embrace of the cosmos.

The inner turmoil was purified, leaving only a sense of ethereal sanctity and filling them with anticipation for the meeting to come.

But the closer they got to their destination, the more nervous Hyena became.

The pure white Sky City was already coming into view. The thought of meeting his original self made Hyena break out in a nervous sweat.

"What do you guys think my relationship with that guy is? What should I call him?" Hyena asked.

"Hmm... The most familiar stranger?" Duan Fei asked.

"Can you not be a smart-ass at a time like this!" Hyena shouted. "I’m really nervous."

"It’s nothing. We’ve all made it this far together. Think about it, we’ve been through hell and high water. What’s there to be afraid of?"

"But..."

"No buts. Just one question: who do you think you are?"

This question made Hyena fall silent for a moment. Then he said firmly, "Hyena."

"That’s all you need. As long as you remember who you are, there won’t be a problem."

"...I’m not as confused anymore, but it still feels a little weird."

"That’s life. Why try to understand everything? Just focus on being happy and living your life."

"Yeah, you’re right."

At the side, Anna watched Hyena slowly calm down and finally let out a sigh of relief.

Looking at Duan Fei, her eyes were filled with gratitude, and a card fell into Duan Fei’s hand.

It was Anna’s Character Card.

Holding the card, Duan Fei felt his investment in her wasn’t for nothing. The two hundred million in "morality" points had made Anna’s Attributes quite impressive. She would make a decent meat shield in the future.

Great. Just getting this made the entire instance worthwhile.

When the elevator finally stopped, Hyena took a deep breath, opened the door, and was the first to step out.

But the moment he stepped out, he froze.

Before him, a multitude of clocks enveloped a middle-aged man. A black, asphalt-like substance oozed from the man’s chest, creeping relentlessly toward his head.

The Clockmaker stood to one side, looking at the group with an amused expression, and said with a smile, "Sorry, you’re too late."

With a wave of his hand, the clocks in the air began to speed up. A large amount of black mud began to spread towards the top of the man’s head, threatening to continue down and corrupt the rest of his body.

Seeing the enemy’s move, the Bartender was the first to react, raising a finger as countless bullets surged madly towards the Clockmaker.

But the bullets only flew in front of him before they began to slow down, eventually stopping a meter away from the Clockmaker.

Seeing that the bullets were ineffective, Lear made his move.

He charged at the Clockmaker, slashing with his two Mantis Blades, but he still couldn’t do anything to him.

Around the Clockmaker, time had been slowed down. Ordinary attacks couldn’t affect him at all.

This was a transcendent Power, an unknown Power. Even the strongest experts of this world couldn’t truly touch him.

Seeing that the two of them had failed, Hyena turned pale with fright. He whipped his head around to look at Duan Fei and asked, "What should we do?"

"I don’t know. I’m just here to fill the numbers," Duan Fei said, shaking his head. "Don’t rely on me so much. I’m not invincible!"

"Then at least give us a hint!"

"That’s up to you."

Hyena was about to say more when he saw the phantom that had been beside him step forward.

He had always thought it was a phantom born from his inherited memories, but now it seemed that wasn’t the case.

Even the Clockmaker didn’t see this conspicuous target, allowing it to walk right up to Zero and merge into his body.

In that moment, Hyena understood.

He was Zero’s backup, but the backup wasn’t the key. The phantom was.

Zero had used some unknown method to store that phantom inside him—inside Hyena—and had guided him here to deliver it.

He didn’t know what the phantom was, only that after receiving it, Zero’s eyes snapped open and turned to the Clockmaker.

"Clockmaker, you’re quite something."

Zero’s voice was like that of a vengeful spirit. The sudden sound made the Clockmaker frown. He couldn’t help but ask, "What’s going on? Why were you able to wake up?"

"Gale’s contingency has arrived."

"When?!" the Clockmaker cried out, his voice cracking.

Without giving him time to react, Zero stood up and strode toward the Clockmaker.

Phantoms of pocket watches flickered, but this power that could imprison time had no effect on Zero. On the contrary, it only made his aura more formidable.

Blue lightning crackled across Zero’s body. This lightning was the great power of time itself, but Zero possessed a distinctly higher-order Power. It was this Power that made him as terrifying as a Demon God.

He threw a punch, and the pocket watches in front of the Clockmaker shattered piece by piece. The Clockmaker himself was punched out of this moment in time, falling into the long river of time.

Pulling back his fist, Zero turned his head. His gaze swept over everyone present before finally settling on Hyena.

"Thank you for your help, Hyena. I’m awake."