Apocalypse Forecast

It had to be said, He Luo, the Second Stage Sublimator Naga, possessed truly lackluster Sword Technique. Even after systematic training, when it came time to slash people, he still relied on his superhuman strength and defense, occasionally using his Soul Ability to ambush someone. But as for actual technique... Let's just say it was passable. Just going through the motions. To Huai Shi, who had gone through Raven's dark training camp, it seemed downright sloppy.

The useful information in He Luo's remaining records was scarce. The fragmented accounts were largely about killing, with another significant portion dedicated to collecting money. His memories of many combat skills had grown vague and rusty, incomplete even. Conversely, he remembered his anonymous American United Bank account number with perfect clarity.

Unfortunately, while Sublimators earned a lot, they also spent a lot. The four Curved Knives crafted by the Alchemy Workshop alone had cost tens of millions. Such melee weapons, usable in both the Current Circumstances and the Border, truly embodied the principle of 'you get what you pay for.' They had clashed with Sacrificial Knives—Border Relics capable of slicing through iron like mud—countless times, only breaking after Huai Shi cheated using his Soul Ability. One could only say their quality was exceedingly impressive.

The expenses for Alchemy Potions were even more frightening. A single tube of Silver Blood Potion, comparable to a common health potion, cost nine hundred thousand on the market. Even if the unit price didn't seem excessively high, the cumulative cost over time became an enormously frightening expenditure. And this stuff was essential. Going out without a health potion? Were you planning to fight with your bare head?

Furthermore, there was the Myanmar Religion—Theravada Tantra—which monopolized the Stigmata of the Poisonous Dragon lineage. Wanting to buy special custom potions or obtain advanced materials from them was practically like sending money to be robbed. Even if one earned a fortune through smuggling and other illicit activities, it was quickly spent. Only about seven million remained, an amount Raven sniffed at.

Penniless.

Huai Shi could only feel an acute sense of dread. Calculating it all, the food, drink, and items he'd received from Raven must have already amounted to tens of millions, hadn't they? He had inquired before; standard replenishing potions on the market might be relatively cheap, but those were just common nutritional supplements. If they included specially enhanced custom versions, well, those started at one million per tube. Who didn't want a sound body? And who didn't hope to lay a solid foundation for the future during their developmental phase?

Looking at it now, the price she'd quoted him wasn't just a 'friendship price'; it was practically a 'paternal price,' almost as if she were giving it all away for free. It had to be said, occasionally having such a ludicrously thick Gold Thigh to lean on was quite a thrill. As for her occasional unreliability and spouting nonsense... well, everyone had their strengths and weaknesses. Besides, it was Raven...

In summary, after reviewing He Luo's records, aside from learning a few ingredients needed for the Naga Stigma formula, the greatest gain was this authentic Theravada Dual Sword Technique, passed down directly by Theravada Tantra. Those monks might have charged exorbitant fees, but at least they delivered the goods generously, holding nothing back when teaching He Luo.

Unfortunately, He Luo had no talent for such a skillful weapon technique. Moreover, the Naga Stigma involved four swords, making it even more cumbersome. In the end, only his fundamentals were passably maintained. Theravada Tantra wasn't so considerate as to keep pestering him with lessons if he showed no interest. They'd made their stance clear: whether he learned it or not was his problem. Found four arms too troublesome? The higher-level Naga Stigma even had six! If you couldn't learn it, that just meant your destined connection had run its course. No need to force it—just make another donation...

As a result, the benefits fell into Huai Shi's lap.

Dual Sword Technique was cool, huh? Though putting it into practice was a bit of a hassle... After being thrashed by the instructors for the sixth time, an agitated and frustrated Huai Shi waved his hand, summoned ropes, and tied up an instructor to use as a human training dummy. After all, he could always restart if the instructor was 'killed.' You might as well take the hit first, old man.

Through gradual experimentation and practice, the dual swords in Huai Shi's hands constantly transformed. Though still Curved Knives in form, their center of gravity and curvature gradually began to resemble the pair He Luo had once wielded. Only after gradually grasping its profundity did Huai Shi truly believe in the existence of four-blade and six-blade styles.

Ultimately, the core of this Theravada Dual Sword Technique lay in adapting to circumstances. It didn't matter whether one had two, four, or even eight arms. The key was 'patching up the gaps.' It was actually an underwater combat method, its fighting style suited for aquatic environments—the Naga's home ground. Since it originated underwater, it naturally couldn't resort to overtly forceful moves like Power Splitting Mountain, which would only be counterproductive against the water's resistance. What it strove for were constant, relentless attacks, the soft and deceptive power of concealed strikes, and highly deceptive feints. Once fully executed, enemies wouldn't have any opening or chance to breathe until they died; and when on the defense, it was said to be watertight.

The focal point of its force when attacking didn't lie in the chopping motion, but in the process of pulling the blade back after it had been placed close to the enemy's body. Like sawing. The serrations on the blade edge would tear a huge gash in the enemy, and Naga's toxins would then invade, tormenting the enemy to death bit by bit. With special throwing techniques, one could even utilize the Curved Knives' weight to achieve a boomerang effect. In the hands of a true expert, they would move as nimbly as sea snakes. More knives meant more lethal force.

The horror of this Dual Sword Technique didn't lie in its straightforward killing power, but in the immense psychological pressure it brought to enemies through an impenetrable defense and relentless, penetrating attacks, gradually hollowing them out from the inside. Insidiously lethal. As for He Luo's approach of wide, sweeping attacks from the start, which was entirely the wrong path, the instructing Masters could only comment: No wisdom root. Next!

After 'killing' dozens of instructors for practice, Huai Shi finally began to grasp the rudiments. The level of 'Theravada Dual Sword Technique' in his Book of Fate reached LV4. With the foundation of Rome Dagger Fighting, learning anything new was fast. Unlike military Dagger Combat, which simply pursued maximum lethality, this Dual Sword Technique, once he got the hang of it, turned out to be unexpectedly fun, allowing for many flashy maneuvers.

It was a pity He Luo's knives had been abandoned at the scene and were probably owned by someone else by now. As a fugitive, I'd better not dwell on it and just satisfy my cravings within the Book of Fate.

Ah, hacking at the instructor is so fun! He had completely immersed himself in it. Even after ending the simulation for the umpteenth time, he couldn't resist starting the Book of Fate again.

I'll just slash one more time, just one...

Meanwhile, at the Stone Marrow Pavilion, Raven's Stigmata Forging had reached its most critical juncture.

Under the somber light, the molten metal in the Crucible emitted not the slightest glow. Instead, it seemed to draw in the surrounding light like a Black Hole, resembling a fissure leading to the Abyss. With the addition of materials like rainbow ash, the Seal of the Silent Ones, Yin Iron Frost Silver, and others, it began to emit gusts of chilling wind. Swirling with black mist, this wind enshrouded the entire basement in a gloomy fog.

Now, all preparations were complete; only the final component was missing.

Raven stood before the Crucible, turned to look at the wailing Sacrificial Knife on the table, and gently urged, "It's time. Will you jump in yourself, or shall I help you?"

The Sacrificial Knife vibrated violently, screaming. It seemed to be refusing with all its might. After Raven's repeated urging, it actually leaped out of its sheath, attempting to slash at her.

Having absorbed a vast amount of blood and life force, the Sacrificial Knife now flowed with a brilliant golden light, magnificent beyond compare. Its blade was inlaid with various small gemstones forming strange runes. Once unsheathed, its sharp killing intent instantly dispersed the dreary wind and cold rain within the room. A tangible aura of death coalesced along the blade's edge as it slashed down towards Raven.

Then… there was no 'then.'

Raven merely glanced up at it, and it instantly fell to the table, all power gone, wailing pitifully.

"You sure have guts," Raven sneered. "Even Cipactli didn't dare act so presumptuously before me. You, a shoddy imitation of 'Skinner,' where do you find such courage?" She nonchalantly mentioned the cruel god revered by the ancient Aztecs, her tone dripping with condescending judgment.

"Alright, so you prefer the hard way, huh? Come now, let your big sister here see if you've been developing properly, hm?"

She lifted her slender claws and, one by one, pried out the gemstones—condensed Source Substance—and tossed them into the bubbling metal within the Crucible. Amidst the blade's pitiful shrieks, all its gemstones were stripped away, even the golden plating torn off, leaving nothing behind. In the end, she even dismantled the hilt, leaving only the dull, gray blade emitting a sound like weeping.

"Agreeing now? Too late!" Raven scoffed. "A scheming piece of trash like you thinks you can become Little Huai's Stigma? Dream on! If I don't dismantle you today, my name isn't Raven!"

Ignoring the fact that her name indeed wasn't 'Wu,' she pecked lightly with her beak, pulling a screaming shadow from the blade and swallowing it whole. Then, she let out a satisfied burp. Beneath her feathers, her true form—the Event Branch—gained a faint, shimmering golden layer.

A complete tonic. A pity the portion was still a bit small.

She clicked her tongue in regret, then with a flick of her wings, an invisible force flung the bare blade into the Crucible.

Compared to the blade's length, the Crucible seemed surprisingly shallow, yet it swallowed the blade in an instant. It was hard to tell whether the blade had melted like butter in that moment or had truly fallen into some dark fissure leading elsewhere.

Immediately, a boiling sound arose.

The darkness surged.

From within the surging darkness, substance seemed to slowly coalesce. Borne by the liquid metal, it gradually condensed, revealing a smooth, polished surface. With the remnants of the Sacrificial Knife as its core, integrated with numerous other materials, a miracle of the Abyss finally emerged from Raven's cauldron, revealing its true form.

It was difficult to say whether it was a resplendent dagger or the key to some Treasure Vault Door. Jagged serrations clustered along its spine, each tooth glinting with a brilliant golden radiance. Upon its hilt rested a nearly pure black Hexagonal Gem.

Raven looked up, glanced at it, and declared, "Let there be light."

Then, flames ignited within the Hexagonal Gem.

And so, it was done.