Even So, I Still Felt Lonely

Chen Tao's heart pounded.

He had just reached the edge of the World Forge, intending to have a good talk with Barbatos. He had already rehearsed a whole speech in his mind.

He knew Barbatos was cautious by nature. Until Perpetua and the Empty Hand's influence had been completely removed, he had no intention of leaving the World Forge.

Chen Tao had to convince him—convince him to help and obey his orders, come to the Prime Universe, create Crisis Energy, and even begin the Curtainfall Plan ahead of schedule. Otherwise, with Barbatos's temperament of never starting until he was fully prepared, who knew when his invasion of the Prime Universe would begin?

Barbatos needed time to counterattack Perpetua, and he was indeed exhausted from the effort.

If necessary, Chen Tao had even prepared to threaten Barbatos. It wasn't as if he lacked the ability to do so.

He couldn't help Barbatos solve his problem with Perpetua, but he was extremely good at causing trouble for Barbatos.

On one side was causing trouble; on the other was the prospect of invading the Prime Universe, creating Crisis Energy, and then sending it back to Barbatos through the Cosmic Tuning Fork. With both the carrot and the stick, Chen Tao's plan should have been nearly foolproof under normal circumstances.

But before he could put the plan into action, the situation changed.

The instant he sensed the Anti-Monitor's antimatter energy on Barbatos, Chen Tao turned and ran, fleeing faster than a rabbit.

Fortunately, as Barbatos's Servitor God, he effectively already had permission to enter and leave the World Forge at will. Otherwise, if he had been trapped inside and confronted by a controlled Barbatos, with the other side fighting on home turf, Chen Tao would have been finished.

He vanished behind the portal at