Apocalypse Forecast

Outside Huai Shi's door, chaotic screams and roars had already begun to echo.

Some ran out of their own rooms as if fleeing for their lives, only to be pinned to the ground by their now-deranged peers and then feasted upon.

"Help! Help! You lunatics!"

That terror-stricken voice screamed for assistance, but instead drew more of the frenzied toward it, until at last, it was drowned out by greedy chomping sounds.

No more sounds came after, but then, more noises began to emerge.

These were the mutterings of those beyond reason—murmurs and whispers, like the delirious babbling of dreams, echoing amongst intermittent roars, twining around one's ears. Huai Shi felt a surge of irritation at the disintegrating, meaningless words and couldn't help but feel a murderous intent, wanting to hack the creators of these murmurs into pieces.

Everyone who mutters must die!

He began to breathe heavily, his mind becoming hazy, until a cup of cold water splashed on his face, and Ai Qing's cold warning jolted him awake.

Sweat soaked his back.

"What's happening?" he asked, looking bewildered at Lily.

Lily, wordless, pointed outside the shattered porthole of Huai Shi's room.

Between the dark Sea and sky.

The Sky Dome was like blackened rock, pitch-dark and indistinct in the distance. It seemed untouchable, yet it pressed down oppressively on everyone's heart.

Breathing came with difficulty.

The strange Sea remained calm, with not a ripple to be seen.

Yet, upon that mirror-like surface of the Sea, a crescent moon that didn't exist in the sky above was reflected.

The crescent moon was crimson red, its hazy light spreading outward like thin threads of blood. Rather than rising into the sky, this blood-red crescent moon seemed to sink into the seabed, coldly observing these pathetic, earthbound ants from the depths of the Abyss.

Then, madness rained down. Gazing directly at that red moon, which resembled a shattered eye, Huai Shi felt darkness encroaching, a dry cough in his throat, and a thirst for blood.

"A Curse?" Huai Shi murmured softly.

As the eternal night descended, the Deities' Curse upon these forsaken beings finally reached this void of a sea surface. Beneath the illumination of that crimson crescent moon, all sanity and reason were being stripped away, fiber by fiber, laying bare instincts and desires without any pretense.

And so, the dark Sea had turned into a backdrop, the cruise ship a meticulously arranged stage, where the forsaken and Fallen would slowly submit to their original sin, performing the final farcical play for the Gods.

Just at this time…

"No, it was obviously chosen for this time," Ai Qing said coldly. "If it really is Lei Feizhou's doing, then he must be colluding with the Gods currently obstructing our path... Perhaps, this is his secret mission."

If it were any other time, although those on the ship might be affected, they could still restrain themselves. But who could guarantee they wouldn't be influenced right when the wolf calamity surged?

Any hint of murderous intent would be magnified hundreds and thousands of times.

In other words, it seemed that if one only guarded their mind and chose to be good, they could be safe – perhaps this was the last mercy of the Gods. Unfortunately, of those aboard this ship, who could restrain their inherent original sin and choose to be good?

Once accustomed to solving problems with bloodshed, the moment such a situation was encountered, they'd inevitably be consumed by their own brutality and madness.

Then they would self-destruct amid the ignited flames.

Including... Van Essen.

Huai Shi struggled to avert his gaze from that red moon in the Sea, feeling dizzy and pained, as if his blood were flowing backward.

He stumbled back a step and fell to the ground, gasping heavily as cold sweat streamed from his forehead. Although he had just sated himself with fresh blood, he now felt an indescribable hunger.

A burning sensation came from his pocket.

He took out the scorching Coin, saw the glowing red cross on it, and the Archangel's visage on the back, filled with wrath.

Clutching Thunderfire and thorns, the punishment from the Stigma Genealogy now descended upon him.

"Damn it!"

He cried out involuntarily, curling up, feeling agony seeping from his very bones—it was the Archbishop's admonishment and urging, pushing him to fulfill his mission.

Now! Immediately! Without delay! The Church's surveillance had never strayed far, and Huai Shi's prolonged laxity had finally invited terrible consequences.

The blood penalty etched into his very bones began.

An undeniable hunger and bloodlust followed. The creed imprinted on his Soul, like heated silver, sought to tear apart his spirit and rewrite the irresistible command onto his very being.

Find Paracelsus and incinerate that damned abomination along with his blasphemy against the Supreme God Spirit!

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven…"

In a daze, he heard a gentle whisper, like a prayer, echoing in his ears. Trickles of cold water dripped on his head, extinguishing the flames that seemed about to consume him, moistening his cheeks drop by drop, as if soaking dry earth.

He opened his eyes with difficulty and saw Lily kneeling and praying softly, a cup of water in her hands.

Drops remaining in the cup fell onto his face, each one carrying a filament of holy light.

As if he were being baptized again.

Through this rite of purification, he was absolved of his original sin.

The Holy Water, crafted from the Believer's prayers, diluted the pain to a bearable extent, giving him a chance to catch his breath.

But Lily stretched out her hand, pried open his mouth, and somewhat roughly examined his Teeth, catching a glimpse of the Silver Alloy that had been poured into the pulp. She couldn't help but frown. "Too cruel… Who etched such harsh commandments into your body?"

"'Ahaha, let's just say... it's a lash from dear old dad,'" Huai Shi managed, gasping for breath as he struggled up from the ground. He took the cup, drank the last bit of water, and finally felt a bit more alive.

Just a little bit... "Ai Qing, is there a problem with my Card now?"

"There's an added status called 'Penalty for Oath Breaking.'" Ai Qing's voice was hoarse; perhaps the dizziness hadn't ended, as even her voice was somewhat blurred. "It enhances your physical strength and resilience, but until you put the silver coin into Parasussell's blood, a judgment will be made every six hours, forcibly inflicting pain and deducting health points. After thirty-six hours, the status will end."

"And I'll be liberated then?" Huai Shi asked.

"No, you'll be killed on the spot." Ai Qing bit her lip, clutching the armrest tightly. She didn't tell him the other half: And me along with you.

On the pale back of her hand, dark purple veins bulged. Intense pain still ravaged her body, tormenting what little will she had left.

With Huai Shi's condition somewhat relieved, she finally had a moment to catch her breath. She wiped the cold sweat from her face and looked towards KP.

"Is this one of your tricks?"

"The so-called life-and-death bond, isn't that what this is all about?" KP propped his chin on his hand, observing her disheveled appearance. "Why not tell the lad about the severity of the situation? He needs to be on alert, doesn't he? If he knew the consequences, he wouldn't be as passive and lax as he is now."

"Indeed." Ai Qing nodded slightly. Looking down at the paper representing Huai Shi, she couldn't help but laugh softly. "That guy, when he's under pressure, he's incredibly fast, no matter what he does. If tempted with this news, he could accomplish any mission beautifully, right? But there's one thing you haven't understood—I'm not your hostage, and he will not be your Puppet."

Ai Qing raised her eyes, staring at the smiling man before her. Word by word, she told him, "KP, the game between us isn't over yet. Not until I smash your chessboard and your dice in your face..."

"—Regardless of what you want, I will not let you have your way!"

KP's expression faltered for a moment, then his eyebrows arched as if in greater anticipation. "I shall wait and see."

***

"So, that means we have to take action now, right?" Huai Shi had finally caught his breath. He pulled his gear from the suitcase and put it on, one item at a time.

"In such turbulent times, other people with ulterior motives are likely to seize the opportunity to act. No matter what, it's a good time for missions and schemes... It's safe to say that Lei Feizhou is doing quite a good job as the Inspector," Ai Qing said coldly. "If you want to save your own skin, you'll only end up losing more. We're already involved. It'll be too late if we wait for them to come smashing through the door."

"Alright." Huai Shi nodded, finally clipping the Axe to the buckle on his lower back and twisting his stiff neck. "Let's see what tricks that Second Fifth, Lei Feizhou, is trying to pull."

Lily watched him get ready, shaking her head in disapproval. "Are you still planning to go out there?"

"After all, the old fathers are getting impatient." Huai Shi looked down at the brand marks emerging on the back of his hand and shook his head helplessly. "When I leave, seal the door. Don't let anyone barge in."

"I thought you would ask for my assistance." Lily glanced at the entries in her book and nodded in understanding. "Are you planning to save this favor for later use?"

"What favor?" Huai Shi couldn't help but shake his head and laugh. "Even without me, you wouldn't be in any trouble, would you?"

Compared to her effortless Doppelgänger, I struggled so much and couldn't even save one person. I'm truly pathetic. How could I have the nerve to ask for favors?

"If you don't expect anything in return, why bother saving someone who has nothing to do with you?" She frowned, puzzled. "Are you one of those types mentioned in books, someone who feels happy from helping others?"

"Let's just say I am," Huai Shi replied, waving his hand nonchalantly. "Although I'm not sure if it's to play the Hero or out of vanity, there's one thing I am sure of—"

He took one last look at the Teenage Girl before him and smiled softly. "I was genuinely happy to find out you were still alive."

Enjoying her stunned expression, Huai Shi pushed open the door and stepped out. He closed it behind him, sealing the safe, narrow space within.

Then, with a swift movement, he used his Short Knife to pin the lunging, ghastly creature to the opposite wall.

Blood spurted out. The beast-like animated corpse struggled violently, but soon its nerves were destroyed by the toxins in the Sword Oil, and it stilled.

Raucous screams and roars erupted nearby. The pungent smell of blood pervaded the air, utterly piercing to the senses.

He felt the ferocity and killing intent surging in his chest.

"Come—" Facing the dark shadows racing towards him, Huai Shi took a deep breath, his mouth curling into a savage grin. "Let me see if you've all been developing normally!"

He took a step forward, stepping into the calamity unleashed by the wolf disaster.