Extra Story: Shenzhou Broken Sword Record XII

This is a world of dim, lifeless gray.

Apokronia was entangled by countless dark purple threads, and her broken body was slowly being repaired under their embrace.

"You look quite disheveled, Apokronia," Midrash emerged from the shadows. "I recall you confidently claiming you'd get the first kill before setting out."

"Hmph, Midrash, you don't think this kind of taunt will work on me, do you? If Qianjie hadn't suddenly charged out, Sakura and Pardofelis would have died by my hand," Apokronia said expressionlessly. "As for you, you've been saying you'd kill Hua for over a decade, yet she's still alive. Was your operation with the Tai Xu Sword School successful?"

"Then I can only regretfully tell you that I also failed," Midrash shrugged. "Hua used Feather Dust's first rated power, and with a single strike, she shattered the kill formation that Sumei and the others had prepared for over ten years. What a waste of my efforts in secretly manipulating things."

"Feather Dust's first rated power? Then she can't use it many more times," Apokronia mused. "Speaking of which, Midrash, as one of the original 'us,' are you planning to remain confined in this puppet body forever? Why not become a Divine Corpse like us?"

"Because there's no need," Midrash glanced at Apokronia. "Besides, to walk this world, using a body like yours would likely lead to immediate discovery upon appearance."

"Then how many of your schemes have actually succeeded?" Apokronia asked mockingly. "You said you'd fractured the Schicksal, but what do you have to say about Qianjie's sudden appearance this time?"

Just as Midrash was about to speak, another figure emerged from the shadows, her voice as young and clear as a little girl's: "Aponia has also joined forces with Vill-V and Griseo, Midrash. It seems your plan has failed."

"At least Elysia and Kevin haven't appeared yet, right?" Midrash spread her hands. "By the way, I remember Shinjikou was supposed to be attacking the European region with Wudigo. If Wudigo and Shinjikou had attacked together, those three plus Schicksal wouldn't have stood a chance, would they? Where is Shinjikou?"

Both Apokronia and Wudigo fell silent.

Seeing their lack of response, Midrash looked up and said, "Naphtali, where did Shinjikou go?"

If anyone were present, they would be astonished to discover that the threads binding Apokronia and repairing her body all originated from a giant female puppet seated on a throne.

Naphtali lowered his head and spoke without any emotion, "He is already dead."

"Huh? Who could have taken down Shinjikou?" Midrash frowned. "He possesses six Imaginary Cores. He can only be killed by destroying all six of them, right? Moreover, neither Vill-V nor Aponia could have done it. Could it be that Kevin from the Sea of Quantum emerged and gave him a Skyfire?"

Apokronia and Wudigo both looked at Naphtali in surprise.

At this moment, another playful voice rang out, accompanied by the appearance of a phantom-like figure: "Hey, hey, hey, who said Shinjikou is dead? I managed to retrieve one of his six cores."

"Genius, what's going on?" Midrash asked.

"Fortunately, I'm not a Divine Corpse and wasn't discovered by Elysia," Genius produced a white core. "The situation was roughly this: Apokronia and Wudigo felt your plan was too slow, so they had Shinjikou go directly to trouble Elysia. As a result, the Divine Key left by that traitor shattered Shinjikou in one go."

"Is the Thirteenth Divine Key really that outrageous? And Elysia only had a third of it!" Apokronia couldn't help but exclaim.

"I'm very sorry, but in reality, it is that outrageous," Genius's phantom-like body shrugged. "I truly have to thank myself for always disguising myself as a harmless little lizard and observing from the shadows. Otherwise, if Elysia had discovered me, I might not have made it back here."

Midrash narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Genius. This was the most recently born twelfth Herrscher proliferation, and unlike other Divine Corpses, Genius possessed the nature of a Quantum Shadow.

"So, Apokronia, I believe Wudigo is an honest child. How much responsibility do you think you should bear for all of this?" Midrash walked up to Apokronia, a smile on her face, and suddenly thrust her hand into Apokronia's body, grasping her Imaginary Core.

"Midrash, you..." Apokronia's eyes widened.

"Don't you think it's because of you that our entire operation has ended in complete defeat?" Midrash said with a smile. "Then you should pay a price, shouldn't you?"

Apokronia looked at Genius and Wudigo. Neither of them made any move to help her. There was even less hope for Naphtali, as their strongest combatant, Naphtali, only obeyed Midrash's commands.

Suddenly, Midrash's expression shifted slightly. She then withdrew her hand and said coldly, "This will be a lesson for you this time, Apokronia. If you dare to do it again, I'll crush your core!"

Apokronia lowered her head, remaining silent.

"So what do we do next? We've suffered heavy losses this time," Genius said. "If we still want to completely eliminate those Schicksal, we can only take a gamble and deploy Naphtali, right?"

"If we do that, we'll have no retreat," Wudigo frowned. "But we've already been exposed. If we continue to hide, with humanity developing like this, we'll eventually be eliminated."

"I do have a contingency plan," Midrash said calmly.

"Oh? As expected of the original 'us,' truly trustworthy!" Genius clapped her hands in mock admiration. "Then, Midrash, what is this contingency plan that you've been keeping from us?"

"Didn't you also secretly send Shinjikou to trouble Elysia?" Midrash looked coldly at Genius. "Genius, stop playing innocent here. Even if you weren't involved in this, you were aware and failed to report it."

"Tch," Genius turned her head away. "Fine, fine, fine, the wise Lord Midrash, please tell us ignorant ones what your contingency plan is."

"Naphtali, bring her out," Midrash commanded Naphtali, looking up.

Naphtali raised a hand, opening a spatial rift for the Herrschers of Erosion.

Within that rift, the green-haired girl was bound by dark purple threads, currently in a state of slumber.

"Mobius?!" Genius exclaimed in shock. "When did you..."

"I have no need to inform you of everything," Midrash said coldly.