Consciousness (One Chapter Split into Two)

Angela confronted Honkai, while Huang Hao was still struggling behind.

Honkai: "Why stop him? He gained power, but lost his mind. You, however, only gained power. You can do whatever you want from now on. Why are you so persistent in saving him?"

Angela: "He is my father."

Honkai: "As long as he leaves, you can do whatever you want, without being subservient to anyone."

Angela: "But he is my father."

Honkai grew anxious: "Why are you so persistent? What's bad about this for you?"

Angela: "A deceptive liar."

Seeing Angela wouldn't accept, Honkai stopped trying to deceive her and began to mock: "Forget it. It seems you intend to oppose me forever. But do you think you can still save him?"

Honkai changed the subject, speaking of Huang Hao, who was currently in a state of confused agony.

Honkai: "Even if you suppress him now, when he gets out and returns to the place that causes him pain, what will you two do?"

"Even though you prevented him from accepting our power, can you handle him and the one outside?"

Then Honkai laughed loudly, and the black space slowly disappeared. Angela and Huang Hao reappeared in their original location.

Upon smelling the scent of blood, Huang Hao immediately became frenzied, and flames rapidly ignited all over his body.

After the black space dissipated, Angela also returned to the void. At this time, the void's area was rapidly shrinking.

Kevin and Cosmo had noticed this long ago, but since Angela wasn't there, they didn't know what to do.

Seeing Angela return, Kevin immediately asked, "Angela, did you see this? This space is shrinking faster and faster. What's going on?"

Angela sighed and recounted her recent experience to the two.

Kevin: "I see. No wonder this Herrscher is so much stronger than before. You said this space also belongs to Huang Hao's power, and he's out of control... What should we do? He's probably stronger than all the Herrschers in history right now."

Angela looked at them and said, "I have one last plan."

Cosmo quickly interjected: "What plan? Can we get out of here quickly?"

Angela slowly explained: "As Father absorbs the void, his power will increase. Similarly, mine will too. At that moment, I will have the ability to let you two out. I hope you can suppress him."

Kevin nodded, understanding her idea. However, Cosmo reacted: "Wait, didn't you say your father's power far surpasses yours? When you have the ability to let us out, will we really still be able to defeat him?"

Angela: "Don't worry. Absorbing the space's power is only temporary. Afterward, the power will dissipate on its own, and I just need to release you at that exact moment."

Over there, Huang Hao arrived at an unknown place.

Huang Hao: "Strange, where is this? What was I just doing?"

As Huang Hao pondered, a person suddenly appeared, looking exactly like him.

Huang Hao was startled. After a moment, he reacted and said, "Who are you? Why do you look exactly like me?"

The person said, "I am you."

Huang Hao: "Huh? What do you mean?"

The "Huang Hao" said, "I am your true heart."

Huang Hao was bewildered: "What exactly do you mean?"

"Huang Hao": "It means nothing. Let's play a game of chess."

A chess board suddenly appeared between them, along with two chairs, a pot of tea, and some pastries.

Huang Hao looked at the chess board. Although he didn't understand the situation, he began to play.

The two moved one step at a time. Huang Hao clearly felt like he was capturing pieces, but not a single piece was missing. The game continued like this.

During the game, the "Huang Hao" asked, "By the way, what do you think is the meaning of life?"

Huang Hao's mind drifted from the chessboard: "The meaning of life is just to live, isn't it?"

"But is living for the sake of living meaningful?"

Huang Hao fell silent and continued playing chess.

The "Huang Hao" didn't press the issue further and asked something else: "How is a person who contradicts themselves contradictory? Why would someone who knows the future fear the future?"

Huang Hao's hand, holding a chess piece, hovered in the air as he pondered his words.

"Meaning, is there really meaning?"