The Black Sheep Who Breaks the Rules?

Lu Li viewed it all from a perspective beyond the events themselves.

Once again, he began to consider how the story might unfold. Perhaps a sheep unlike the others would appear, refuse to submit to the Shepherd, and ultimately be driven out of the Village.

After all, Scar seemed to consider himself a sage who understood the whole picture, while he-or rather, the Fractsidus-would play the outsider in this story.

That way, they could achieve their goal of getting A Piao to approve of their actions.

At that thought, he turned to A Piao and quietly reminded her, "Don't forget what we said earlier."

After gathering the scattered clues one by one, they noticed that the Remnant named Wukaka seemed to be leading the way.

The two followed it and eventually stopped before a small mound of earth.

A corner of another torn picture-book page protruded from the mound.

A Piao pulled it out and wiped off the dirt.

The picture showed a flock of white sheep surrounding a black sheep, with the Shepherd drawn above the town, silently watching everything.

Scar said, "Day and night, the flock held bonfire parties, celebrating the Shepherd's arrival. All except... the black sheep among them."

"Under cover of night, only the black sheep noticed that the number of lambs was gradually dwindling."

Lu Li let out a long breath and interrupted him. "I don't think there's much point in hearing the rest of this story."

Scar sounded surprised. "Oh? Aren't you interested in what happens next?"

Lu Li shrugged. "You're just trying to say that you're the black sheep, aren't you?"

"The black sheep who breaks the rules."

Scar froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Hahaha..."

"I really underestimated you. The story isn't even over, and you've already guessed its ending."

"Why don't you tell me how you see this story? And how does it end?"

Lu Li wiped the dried blood off Mingyu.

"Actually, you told us the ending right from the start, didn't you?"

"Blind worship, wavering goodwill, lies everyone knows, lives given and taken on a whim, and that small yet special being, driven to its death by everyone else."

"The Shepherd grants wishes at the expense of other sheep. The flock knows the truth and becomes complicit, disposing of the black sheep who breaks the rules."

Scar smiled. "Your guess is very accurate. I didn't expect you to be the first to see through the truth."

"Well, the story is over. I'm sure you both understand the truth about the Village now."

"The black sheep who rebels against the rules, and the selfish white sheep who submit to power and greed."

"The sacrificed girl, the greedy, indifferent villagers who persecute one another and brand their own people as heretics..."

Scar's voice turned vicious. "...they brought all of this upon themselves."

"All it takes is putting the rebel on the execution scaffold to intimidate the flock, win their allegiance, and preserve those unshakable existing rules..."

"Speaking of which, why did you guess I was the black sheep rather than the Shepherd?"

Lu Li replied knowingly, "There's only one innocent side in this story: the black sheep."

"Since you want to win A Piao over, you naturally wouldn't cast yourself as the apparent villain."

Scar clapped and laughed. "Your brain works even better than your fists."

He added meaningfully, "It seems you, someone who was never part of the plan, might become a variable too..."

A Piao finally caught on. "The dragon slayer becomes the dragon."

Scar grinned viciously. "Hahahaha... interesting. Rover, I like you more and more."

Lu Li said, "It's enough that I like A Piao."

Scar conjured a red card between his fingers and slammed it onto the ground.

"In that case, let's see whether this black sheep will be destroyed as easily as you claim!"

A dark red domain rose around them, enveloping all three.

The next second, white light flooded A Piao's and Lu Li's eyes, and they were instantly transported somewhere else...

Ruined buildings, cards fluttering through the air, and the smell of gunpowder filled the space.

Scar's voice rang out from the void. "Without end, immersed in chaos..."

"Take this chance to think carefully about which direction is truly right."

Lu Li tightened his grip on Mingyu and looked at A Piao beside him.

"A Piao, let's fight side by side."

Lu Li took the Terminal from inside his clothes and tapped it lightly. Three flashes of light appeared, and the Rocksteady Guardian and two Violet-Feather Herons materialized before them.

Lu Li kept the Violet-Feather Heron named Handsome Li in reserve.

After all, now that he had become a Resonator, he could also strengthen himself by transforming into an Echo.

Just then, a group of illusory Fractsidus followers charged at them menacingly, carrying rifles and cannons.

But to Lu Li, these followers were nothing more than small fry who could not withstand a single blow.

He smiled faintly, exchanged a glance with A Piao, and they both sprang into action.

Lu Li swiftly unleashed his Aero Resonance Ability, gathering all the followers together while also using the Blood Blade Technique to deal considerable damage to them.

Meanwhile, A Piao silently cut the followers down one by one.

Working together in perfect harmony, the two eliminated every enemy in no time.

After dealing with these "appetizers," they approached an illusory gate with white light glowing around its edges and red light flickering in its center.

They exchanged a glance and, as though of one mind, stepped through the mysterious gate without hesitation.

In the blink of an eye, they arrived somewhere entirely new.

The surroundings were completely different from before, putting Lu Li on his guard.

It seemed Scar possessed a space-related Resonance Ability, which had allowed him to teleport Yangyang away.

At that thought, Lu Li's brow furrowed.

By then, Scar was already standing quietly in the center of the area, apparently awaiting their arrival.

"Do you want to become the Shepherd who makes the rules, or the black sheep who breaks them?"

"If a sane person lives alone among madmen, would you call them sane, or the sole heretical madman?"

"Think about it. The Shepherd isn't the embodiment of established truth. As long as he disappears completely and the black sheep earns everyone's trust..."

"There will no longer be any distinction between perpetrators and victims!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Scar raised his gun, and two cards shot from it toward them.

At that moment, Lu Li had the boost from his talent, Walking with Rover.

His Blood Blade Technique had also reached Lv2, unlocking a new blade skill, Blood Blade Flurry.

It was a continuous attack technique. As the user swung their blade, they would unleash one strike after another, each faster and stronger than the last, forming an unbroken onslaught.

Only after reaching Lv2 did Lu Li realize that Mingyu no longer seemed quite adequate.