At that instant, time and space nearly froze, and the entire world seemed to have been knocked directly down into a two-dimensional realm.
Centered on Zhao Cheng, everything became hollow nothingness, while scattered black lines in the distance tangled together in utter chaos.
At that moment, Zhao Cheng held a savage greatsword, blood seemingly flowing along its blade, while his mind achieved a deep fusion with Belvia's.
A sense of sorrow emerged from Zhao Cheng. It was not Zhao Cheng's own emotion, but Belvia's. She grieved for this former companion of hers.
"It's you..."
"No, it's not you..."
"Who exactly are you?!"
"I'll kill you!"
The Puppeteer roared, growing ever more frenzied.
Meanwhile, within the subspace, everything Zhao Cheng perceived was projected onto the vault of the subspace.
When the signs appeared, the girls who had formed contracts with Zhao Cheng had already been standing by in the subspace.
One reason was to prevent any accidents; the other was to fish—to lure the Puppeteer out.
The facts had already proven that Zhao Cheng's fishing plan had been highly successful.
With future sight, Zhao Cheng had no fear of things like ambushes.
"Are these your last words?"
Zhao Cheng spoke softly. Everything was indeed under his control, but Belvia's emotions had also merged into his will.
Thus, while Zhao Cheng's voice brimmed with intense killing intent, it also carried a trace of regret, along with the feeling that a certain destiny was ending here.
Some things were due to end.
As he spoke, countless puppets of every color appeared at once, letting out piercing shrieks as though they had set off a Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.
The Puppeteer, too, lost her human form and became an illusory empty shell. One could clearly see that her body was hollow within,