Apocalypse Forecast

Huai Shi was taking inventory of his belongings.

With half an hour left before dinner began, he at least needed to understand his current status and what exactly he was carrying.

An overcoat, a replaceable leather armor lining, a change of pants and shirt, a copy of the 'Bible,' compiled by the Stigma Genealogy, a Wanderer's Coin, and three hundred and forty-five Lira Copper Coins, exactly exchangeable for thirty silver coins. These were all miscellaneous items.

Then there was a set of small Alchemy Equipment and a box filled with Green Solidified Grease. Fourteen Flying Knives, ready to be thrown at any time, were embedded in the grease—the green substance looked like nothing good.

A Hand Crossbow, mountable on the underside of his arm, would be perfectly concealed if worn with the overcoat. Two Short Knives engraved with sacred words and a Short Knife that could be strapped to his lower leg... All of these he had just inventoried.

There were about sixteen Scarlet Liquid Test Tubes filled with red liquid. Huai Shi opened one and sniffed it. The hunger and thirst within his chest greatly diminished, and he even felt quite refreshed. But his craving for the liquid in the test tubes was overwhelming.

Alchemical condensed Plasma.

Apart from serving as daily consumables, it could also be described as the Silver Blood Potion exclusive to Vampires. As long as he had enough blood, he could heal his injuries quickly. When necessary, he could also use the two tubes marked with silver. These contained a Strong Stimulant made from Plasma mixed with cool Silver Nitrate, Ancient Germs, and other Potions.

Besides that, Huai Shi finally noticed sixteen small bottles. After opening and smelling them, he found they contained different colors of Sword Oil. Each bottle bore a different label—all marks of various Dark Creatures. In other words, these were deadly poisons crafted for various monsters.

One could say that Van Essen was indeed very proficient and professional in his business.

The most important item Huai Shi inspected was the Hand Axe, its style strikingly familiar. Even its weight and feel seemed identical. Its purification runes compensated for the original lack of Source Substance lethality, making it a rare and sharp weapon. Its durability was not inferior to that of Border Relics. The only downside was its inconvenience to draw and carry, but Huai Shi could at least hide it in his cello case.

If only he could pull it out at any time like the Axe of Anger.

After entering the instance, his Soul Ability had disappeared. This was understandable; the Soul Ability represented the essence of every Sublimator. If KP could preserve Van Essen's Stigmata while also granting him his Soul Ability, wouldn't that mean he could craft Sublimators at will?

And this was not necessarily a bad thing.

Huai Shi slipped into the mindset of a 'Second fifth': He was only First Stage, so even if he had his Soul Ability, its effect would be limited. And if he couldn't use it, then others definitely couldn't either.

Everyone would be on the same level... probably.

It was just unknown what the identities of the others were and what Stigmata they had been granted. Meanwhile, Huai Shi was starting to familiarize himself with the Vampire Stigmata.

Fortunately, like the Yin Soul, the Vampire also followed the agile route, relying on speed and reflexes for high-speed "offensive" attacks... If it had been a support or heavy defense type, Huai Shi would be completely at a loss.

Van Essen's experience with weapons and Stigmata seemed to have been retained along with the command that was almost etched into Huai Shi's soul. After a little movement, Huai Shi miraculously mastered speed and reflexes that far exceeded his previous limits.

Now, he could move silently and jump adeptly around the cramped cabin. Not just on the bed, deck, walls, or table; he could even use the back of a chair to maneuver effortlessly. It was as if his weight had vanished. He turned into a black shadow that ricocheted rapidly around the room, his form indistinct, leaving only blurred trails. What was even more surprising was that such high-speed movement did not stir a single breath of wind.

As Huai Shi waved his hand, several cold glints flew from his hands and sleeves, silently embedding themselves in the table without making the slightest sound.

Huai Shi stared at his handiwork, shocked and startled by his performance.

A pure assassination type... How much effort had Van Essen put into honing these skills?

But upon careful recollection, it wasn't hard to understand where this man's fervor for this mission came from... Just like the former Red Gloves, this man was a complete tool forged by The Church.

To create a Dark Creature to eliminate Dark Creatures, to cultivate Executioners for killing... And yet, cloaked in lofty and pious names.

From the time Van Essen began learning to read and write in the Church, his teachers told him, "Everyone is born with original sin, and some people are deeply sinful, like you and me."

"Only devotion can pave the way for redemption."

"It's only by acting on this devotion that the world will get better and better."

"Only by making greater Sacrifices can this original sin be forgiven."

In the Genealogy of the Holy Spirit Cult, there lies the dark side of this original sin. Even though at the First Stage everyone is a 'Believer,' by the Second Stage they start to diverge. They swallow the golden apple granted by Paradise, switch to another Sublimation path, transform into the Impure, and are then specifically trained to become Executioner-Vampires. Until The Church believes your sins are redeemed, they will bestow upon you the Sacred Relic necessary for advancement and grant salvation.

And in Van Essen's memories, the higher Stigma for Vampires was the Authority Angel...

It seems the Stigma Genealogy runs quite deep.

It's no wonder they once dominated the entire West. If they hadn't split, they probably would still be the undisputed number one genealogy.

「」

Amid random thoughts and organizing items, time flew by.

When the clock finally struck, Huai Shi, disguised again as a cellist, stepped out of his room, coincidentally bumping into Old Xiao, Lei Feizhou, Yue Jun, and a few others. But Ni Heng and Clement were nowhere to be seen. Without an Inspector directly in control, Clement had become an NPC, no longer an ally, so it was no wonder he wasn't around. But Ni Heng's absence was truly surprising.

Had that guy left earlier?

After knocking on the door several times with no response, more people began to crowd the hallway. Exchanging silent glances, Old Xiao led the way. "Let's head to the dining room first," he said, a tacit understanding passing between them. "It seems that's likely where character introductions happen, and important plot developments may unfold."

Huai Shi continued to feign being under Ai Qing's control, following the instructions Ai Qing sent to his mind. He trailed closely behind, with no chance for his usual wisecracks or shenanigans.

Why do I feel so at a loss...

As they progressed, more travelers emerged, yet they all seemed to carry a heavy, low atmosphere about them. They were outwardly calm but betrayed glimpses of sorrow or frantic unease. By the time they reached the dining hall, this sense of abnormality grew increasingly evident.

Huai Shi couldn't help but frown. Looking around, he saw hardly any smiles. Most faces were veiled in courteous falsehoods, bore worried or apprehensive expressions, or were openly irritable and aggressive, deterring anyone from approaching. The entire dining hall was immersed in a gloomy atmosphere.

It felt as though a storm was brewing.

Even the occasional conversation was conducted in hushed tones, as if afraid of eavesdroppers.

How can everyone be so down? Huai Shi was taken aback, nearly failing to suppress his typically goofy grin. Ruining the mood was one thing, but standing out with joy while everyone else bore heavy hearts might just attract a wave of animosity.

"Haven't you noticed your Character Card background?" he heard Ai Qing remind him. "And the identities of Old Xiao and the others..."

An impoverished cellist who lost his patron, a worker who lost his job, a bodyguard failing to find work due to a bad reputation... It seemed that everyone's public identity was far from high-spirited; rather, they faced one tragic and harsh misfortune after another. Even if they had been given an opportunity in a new continent, who could say for sure what awaited them in that unknown world? So, adopting a face full of distress was only fitting.

But these people...

"That indicates one thing," Ai Qing said indifferently. "The mysterious letters weren't only sent to us. It's possible... everyone on this ship was invited by various mysterious letters."

Huai Shi inhaled sharply.

As he looked around, he suddenly heard a piercing, aged voice.

"How many times must I say it before you'll listen? It was stolen! My little darling was taken!" A distraught elderly woman grabbed a crew member, her voice shrill. "The thief who took my sweetheart must be hiding amongst this crowd of rubes! They must be!"

The old lady clearly stood out from other passengers in her opulent attire, with expensive jewelry adorning her fingers and neck. She exuded an imperious air as she spoke, clearly someone of significant status.

"Calm down, sister."

An elderly man in a wheelchair, seemingly too old to move, interjected hoarsely, his voice weak, "Bobby probably just wandered off to play. No one here would steal your pet."

"Shut up, you useless old fool! If it weren't for your stupid desire to travel, Bobby wouldn't be lost!"

Publicly humiliated by his sister, the old man seemed accustomed to it, merely sighing wearily. He started to say something but violently coughed, as if his lungs were about to be expelled. He shakily retrieved a small medicine box from his chest, swallowed a few pills, and struggled to catch his breath.

"You consumptive wretch, you're utterly useless! Always eating! If it weren't for you, my Bobby... my Bobby..." The liver-spotted lady, overwhelmed with emotion, broke into sobs. She buried her face in the shoulder of the young man standing next to her. "What am I to do, dear? You must help me! My Bobby... my Bobby..."

Beside her, a handsome young man gently patted her shoulder, speaking soothingly to the heartbroken old woman. Huai Shi and the others stared in disbelief.

Ni Heng?!