Gaze VS Domination (6K)

The prolonged submersion of his mind in Thought Amber greatly affected Huo Er Man's brain, causing him to forget many things.

But there are some things he still remembers.

For example, the day their supreme ruler, Lyra, begged them for help.

God's cry for help from believers was unheard of in Lyra or any other church. At first, Huo Er Man thought he had received a wrong message, until Bishop Ao Li Wei of the Tower of Babel summoned him and four other bishops and solemnly announced the matter.

Lyra is in dire straits, and in a straits unlike any other – a new Sinful Creature is emerging from Lyra's body and is attempting to kill Lyra.

Upon receiving this news from Ao Li Wei, the remaining four bishops fell into a long silence, but the undisguised shock on their faces said it all.

Moreover, they knew Ao Li Wei was telling the truth, because Lyra's pleas for help were growing more urgent each day.

It seemed that He was about to give up.

"What should we do?" Hermann couldn't help but ask. "If even the Lord can't fight against something, can we really help?"

This was also a concern for the other three bishops.

"Of course," Ao Li Wei said. "The Lord is at a disadvantage now only because He has shared much of His power with us. Now, we must return the power to Him and help Him fight against the newborn Sinful Creature."

Does this mean we should enter the Thought Amber?

"Yes."

"... How long will it take?"

"It depends on when the Lord will be able to destroy that newborn Sinful Creature," Ao Li Wei said. "But conservatively speaking, it will take at least a year."

The bishops fell silent once again, for they knew the Thought Amber well; as the only device that could connect directly to Lyra itself, it was actually not very useful.

Staying inside would cause one to lose consciousness and experience blurred memories, like someone drowning but never truly dying, endlessly sinking into agony. Even Archbishop with exceptionally strong character and willpower generally wouldn't stay in the Thought Amber for more than a day.

But this time, will the time be measured in years?

"I know this will be painful," Ao Li Wei said slowly, noticing the hesitation in the bishops' eyes. "But we have no choice. The Lord needs our help. If the Lord collapses, new Sinful Creature will arise..."

He paused.

"It will trigger an incalculable disaster, dragging the entire Lyra City into hell."

"So now is the time for us to sacrifice ourselves."

After Ao Li Wei finished speaking, another bishop spoke up, "We are not afraid to dedicate ourselves, after all, we are the closest to the Lord, but I have two questions."

"You can speak plainly, Bishop Wei Sen."

"Alright." Bishop Wei Sen nodded. "Then I'll get straight to the point. First, can the five of us help our My Lord defeat that newly born Sinful Creature? Second, if we remain in the Thought Amber for an extended period, we will lose direct control over the lower levels. In that case, if anything happens in Lyra City, we will be completely unaware and unable to formulate any countermeasures. Lyra will then enter a state of being without a master for several years."

"I understand your concerns, Bishop Wei Sen," Ao Li Wei said, nodding. "I can answer your second question now. First, we must have faith in the power of the Lord. Once we stabilize the Lord's state, the underlying order of Lyra will not change. As long as the underlying order does not change, everything else is a minor issue. We can completely trust our Skeleton Corps and Evening Star Corps. After all, Lyra is not only protected by us."

"As for the first question, I can't answer you directly, but I can tell you that taking back our power is not the only means by the Lord. He also has a way to truly kill that Sinful Creature. If all goes well, we won't stay in the Thought Amber for too long. Maybe in six months, we can hold a victory celebration here."

"But before that, everyone, please keep going."

"The future of the Lyra is in our hands."

At this point, Huo Er Man's memory began to fade.

But it has not completely dissipated yet.

After the other three bishops left, Ao Li Wei left him alone, and he remembered Ao Li Wei's expression, which was more serious than ever before.

"Huo Er Man, please contact the Evening Star Squad and tell them to set off as soon as possible. Also, tell Jie La Er that he is our only hope."

"All of our persistence is just to wait for him to come back."

After that, it was a period of decline.

Huo Er Man didn't know exactly how long he had been inside the Thought Amber.

He felt as if he had been there for a very long time, but it also felt like only a moment. Several times, those blurry memories that left the Thought Amber began with two questions he asked.

What year is it now?

Has Xiaoxing returned?

And then it ended with the same answer.

"236 years."

"They haven't come back yet."

Is it just my imagination?

It feels like this kind of conversation has happened many times before.

He thought he had persevered for a long time, but it turns out it hasn't even been a year?

It seems his willpower is too weak; the other four bishops certainly wouldn't be like him.

After a short rest, Huo Er Man's mind gradually cleared. Although he enjoyed the fresh air and the feeling of being alive, he knew he had to return to the Thought Amber. He couldn't keep Lyra waiting too long, and he also needed to buy Jie La Er more time.

Hopefully, Jie La Er will be back when we come out next time.

"I should go back now," Huo Er Man said to Yong Xin beside him. "Please keep a close watch on this city, and remember to let me know when Jie La Er returns."

Yong Xin smiled and nodded in response.

Huo Er Man then walked toward the Thought Amber once more.

But halfway there, he stopped, his eyes fixed on Yong Xin's reflection in the Thought Amber.

Yong Xin was smiling at him, and the smile looked somewhat familiar.

He felt like he had seen this person somewhere before!

As lost memories are gradually recovered, the reflection on the Thought Amber is rapidly merging with the face of someone in the corridor of memories!

Although the face I remember is younger!

But his features and his smile were exactly the same as Huo Er Man's memory!

Huo Er Man froze, then slowly turned around to look at Yong Xin: "Why are you here?"

Yong Xin, who was recognized, was not annoyed. Instead, he clapped his hands with some joy. "Ah, Your Bishop, you finally recognized me."

Looking at the face that was so much more mature than he remembered, a terrible thought finally surged into Huo Er Man's mind, causing his body to tremble violently.

"What year is it now?"

"246th year, Your Bishop."

Huo Er Man swayed slightly. "Where's Xiaoxing?"

Yong Xin smiled and spread his hands, "Isn't this right in front of you?"

In Huo Er Man's eyes, Yong Xin's body began to twist strangely.

"A new era has arrived, Your Bishop," Yong Xin said softly. "Let us, like me, celebrate the coming of the New God."

Before he could finish speaking, the door behind Yong Xin was pushed open with a bang.

Before he could turn around, a powerful axe cleaved him in two in an instant.

"The era you seek will not come." A cold voice rang out. "This is Lyra. Go to hell with the god you seek."

Yong Xin had no way to refute it. He fell into a pool of blood with a smile on his face, letting Ku De step over him.

Huo Er Man breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the Skeleton Corps uniform on Ku De.

"It seems things haven't gotten completely out of control yet," Huo Er Man asked Ku De. "Are you the current head of the Skeleton Corps? What about Fen Li?"

Huo Er Man already knew from Yong Xin that it was now 246 years, meaning he had been deceived for a full ten years.

As a bishop, he had been deceived for ten years, to the point that he couldn't even imagine how badly Lyra was in the present, and the appearance of Ku De gave him a glimmer of hope.

Since the Skeleton Corps are still loyal to him, there is still room for negotiation.

This is also why he subconsciously believes that Ku De is the current head of the Skeleton Corps.

"I'm sorry, Your Bishop," Ku De said to Huo Er Man as he pulled the battle axe from the ground. "The current Minister of the Skeleton Corps is still Lord Fen Li. I only came to you through special means."

Ku De pulled out the oddly shaped key from his pocket, and Huo Er Man understood it at a glance, his heart sinking instantly.

"The Key of Order," Huo Er Man murmured. "Has it really come to this? What has become of Lyra?"

"It's hard for me to describe to you," Ku De said. "On the surface, Lyra is peaceful and no disasters have occurred, but in reality... most people don't even remember what the Lyra God looks like."

Upon hearing this, Huo Er Man couldn't help but close his eyes. "How could this be... Lord, is it really going to fail?"

Everything that is happening now is beyond Huo Er Man's expectations.

The worst-case scenario he and Ao Li Wei had envisioned was that he would be stuck in the Thought Amber for two years, and that Nightstar would never return, causing Lyra's condition to worsen.

In that way, they will simultaneously emerge from the Thought Amber and then consider the next steps in the rescue plan.

Thinking about this, Huo Er Man finally understood why those guys kept telling him it was 236 years ago.

This is to lull them into a false sense of security, to make them think that there is still plenty of time, that Xiaoxing has only just set off, and that everything is still in time.

But in reality, a full ten years have passed.

This is too long, it has taken far too long.

It had grown far beyond the worst-case scenario they had anticipated, to the point that a hint of despair flashed in Huo Er Man's eyes.

Ku De noticed this despair and immediately gave Huo Er Man a Knight salute.

"Your Bishop, please do not give up," Ku De said in a deep voice. "I know the situation is terrible, but please do not give up. There are still far too many people waiting for your return, waiting for the Lord's return. People are not dead, but they are blinded. They are tied to a Gear Train that is about to derail without realizing it. Right now, only you can save them."

Ku De's words startled Huo Er Man.

Can I still save them?

Huo Er Man lowered his head, staring blankly at his hands.

Having spent ten years in the Thought Amber, his body was aging rapidly. Ten years ago, he was a robust middle-aged man, but now he looked as old as if he were about to be buried.

But even these hands reminded him of what Bishop Ao Li Wei of the Tower of Babel had told him ten years ago.

"Everyone, keep going!"

"The future of Lyra is in our hands."

The scene was so clear it seemed like it happened just yesterday, yet so blurry it seemed like it happened a long time ago.

Huo Er Man's hands clenched tighter and tighter, and he murmured, "Yes, the future is still in our hands."

Seeing Huo Er Man regain his spirits, Ku De breathed a sigh of relief and then smiled, "As long as you don't give up, there is still hope."

"Sorry, young man." Huo Er Man tapped his head with his finger. "I've been in the Thought Amber for too long, and my brain isn't working very well right now. Also, I don't know much about the outside world, so I need some advice from you."

"Of course." Ku De immediately stood up. "I will take you to the Skeleton Corps's command right now. As long as the Skeleton Corps obeys your orders again, everything will be fine. After all, the enemy is still hiding in the shadows, and no one dares to oppose you openly."

Ku De led Huo Er Man outside, and Huo Er Man listened to Ku De's description while nodding.

It seems that the public's mindset has been affected, and the fact that Chief makes the situation seem somewhat bad. However, since the grassroots order is still functioning, it's not the worst time yet.

As Ku De said, there is still room for negotiation.

But what worries Huo Er Man is that in ten years, is he the only bishop to have woken up?

What about the other bishops?

And where did those "enemies" come from? Shouldn't Lyra's only enemy be that newly born Sinful Creature?

Huo Er Man still had many questions in his mind, but Ku De's next sentence immediately stunned him.

"Lord Jie La Er has also returned and is waiting for you."

"Really?" Huo Er Man immediately became excited. "Jie La Er is back too? How is he?! Why didn't he... back then..."

"You'd better talk to him in person," Ku De said in a low voice. "He has also lost a lot of his memory of what happened ten years ago. He is no longer a hero, but a sinner, so he has been looking for you."

Huo Er Man was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "It seems that we haven't had a very good ten years."

No sooner had he finished speaking than that nightmarish voice rang out behind him.

"Yes, how can someone who has returned from hell possibly be doing well?"

Huo Er Man and Ku De were stunned as they reached the door. They immediately turned around and witnessed a scene they would never forget.

Yong Xin, who had been cut in two, was swaying as he stood up.

The torn body was being stitched back together at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"This? How is this possible!?"

Ku De's eyes widened, but he immediately extended his switching axe to its full extent and stood in front of Huo Er Man.

"You're from the Skeleton Corps, right? You haven't been to the Contaminated Land." Yong Xin said slowly. "If you're from the Pioneer Force, whether you were Xiaoxing in the past or the Devil now, as long as you've dealt with contaminants, you should know that contaminants are not so easy to kill. You have to crush their corpses, cut them into pieces, and grind them into crude oil before you can keep them from waking up."

At this point, Yong Xin paused, and then a hint of regret appeared between his brows.

"Of course, even so, I will not die. Because ten years ago, that voice commanded my body not to die, which is why I have been able to live until now. And it is because of this that I understand how important 'rebirth' is, more important than anything else."

As Ku De watched Yong Xin's two bodies heal back into one, he realized that this was a power beyond his comprehension, and he had no chance of defeating this guy.

"Hurry, Your Bishop," Ku De whispered. "I'll hold him off. Don't hesitate, run to the Skeleton Corps ... no, just get downstairs."

Huo Er Man paused slightly, "Downstairs?"

"Although I didn't see him," Ku De said slowly, "I believe that Lord Jie La Er is waiting for me downstairs. He must be there."

Huo Er Man understood. He knew he couldn't hesitate at this moment, so after giving Ku De a deep look, as if to imprint Ku De's image into his memory forever, he quickly left.

Yong Xin didn't stop him, but just looked at Ku De quietly, and then chuckled and said, "Very courageous. You remind me of that guy. You really look like him when he was young."

Ku De ignored Yong Xin and instead... "Boom!"

[Divine Art: Overload]!

He unleashed all the limits, and every metal part roared under the overload, causing his entire body to tremble violently.

Ku De knew this would be the most important battle of his life.

He was prepared to give everything for order... and for hope.

But Yong Xin still didn't make a move, and simply said slowly, "Do you think it makes sense to let Bishop Holman leave?"

Ku De narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Lyra has traces of my My Lord within her. Guess what happens to Bishop Holman, who coexisted with Lyra for ten years?"

Ku De's eyes widened again.

He saw Yong Xin spread his arms, open his mouth, and shout in a commanding tone.

"Awake, my Great Lord!"

"Descend upon this place at this very moment!"

The voice seemed to contain immense power, causing Ku De's entire body to tremble involuntarily.

No, this guy is trying to bewitch people!

He gritted his teeth and decided to strike first.

But as soon as he took a step, he saw a huge dark shadow appear in front of him.

Something appeared behind him.

Jie La Er suddenly opened his eyes.

A waiter stood in front of him and said politely, "Excuse me, sir, we are closed."

Jie La Er lowered his head and looked at the coffee in front of him.

It was ordered in the afternoon, but it's still sitting there perfectly fine, untouched.

He remained silent for a moment, then reached out, picked up the coffee cup, drank the coffee in one gulp, and walked out of the coffee shop.

It was already dark, and the branch tower in the Fourth District had been shut down.

Jie La Er looked up at the top of the tower, where everything was calm, as if nothing had happened.

Even though he already knew the answer, Jie La Er couldn't help but ask, "Can your eyes see that far?"

"Haven't I already answered you?" Bai Wei said slowly. "I can't see it now. The divine power of the Lyra is sealed there. If you want to see through it, you'll have to pay the price to use a higher level of [Gaze]. Alright, I don't want to answer the same question a third time."

Jie La Er remained silent.

He wasn't afraid of the consequences, but Bai Wei had made it very clear that if he were to be subjected to that kind of "gaze" again, he might suffer from blindness for several days. In that case, even if he did see something, he wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

So, are we just supposed to wait here?

Jie La Er glanced at his pocket watch.

Ku De has been inside for over an hour; there should be a result by now.

After hesitating for a moment, Jie La Er made his decision. He put away his pocket watch and walked toward the tower.

He needed an answer no matter what.

For some reason, there wasn't a single person on guard on the first floor of the tower at this moment, and Jie La Er easily walked in after Open the door.

Then she went upstairs alone.

In the empty stairwell, only Jie La Er's footsteps could be heard.

The deathly silence made Jie La Er very uneasy.

He walked alone to the top of the tower, where the bishop was located.

Upon reaching the top floor, he saw a person who had been knocked unconscious at the stairwell. Jie La Er immediately went up to him and showed him his identification.

Affairs Assistant, Zamen.

Is this a newly promoted Affairs Assistant? The previous two are already dead.

This guy must have been knocked unconscious by Ku De.

It seems that the Ku De have already arrived here.

With that thought in mind, Jie La Er also took off his Chainsaw Sword and then walked towards the depths of the top floor.

As Jie La Er walked, he noticed another set of footsteps coming from the corridor.

He determined that the footsteps were coming from the front, so he immediately stopped and looked ahead warily.

The footsteps continued to sound slowly, indicating that the person was not in a hurry.

Jie La Er raised his Chainsaw Sword.

Before long, a figure appeared in the direction the sword was pointing.

It gradually became clear from a blurry state.

Jie La Er was stunned.

Because that's Ku De.

He immediately put down his Chainsaw Sword and walked towards Ku De: "Ku De, how are you...?"

The words got stuck in my throat halfway through.

Because the Ku De is like a broken toy, covered in marks of being chewed on.

He looked up at Jie La Er, and a glimmer of light suddenly appeared in his blank eyes.

"I'm sorry, Jie La Er," Ku De said softly, "I failed, and now... you're all alone."

"Please don't give up... Lyra."

After saying that, Ku De collapsed to the ground with a "thud".

Jie La Er stared blankly, and before he could do anything, a shriek came from the depths of the corridor.

The shriek carried a peculiar power that caused Jie La Er to unconsciously raise his Chainsaw Sword and hold it to his own neck.

"Death", "death", "die"!

It was like a command, ordering Jie La Er to slit his own throat.

Then his body couldn't help but do as he was told.

Buzz!

The Chainsaw Sword was activated, and the rolling blade was only inches away from Jie La Er's neck!

"This is... [Domination]?"

"Interesting, are you going to use my power against me?"

In that chaotic sea of consciousness, Bai Wei slowly opened his eyes.

The rules that had been sealed within the pupils were released in an instant.

Rule rewrite!

[Gaze] instantly overshadowed [Domination]!

In Jie La Er's eyes, a gigantic monster appeared.

"Bang"!

He regained control of his body, gripped the Chainsaw Sword in reverse, and then charged towards the monster with a roar.

Thank you, Music Cat, for being the patron! Thank you so much.

Ah, there were only three bonus chapters for the three alliance leaders, and I've only paid back one so far =_= I'll see if I can write another chapter later.

By the way, there was a small bug in the previous plot: Jie La Er's Chainsaw Sword should still be at the Skeleton Corps headquarters. I forgot about that, and it's hard to fix, so let's just assume he still has one, lol.