Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Swallowing the Core of the World (Request for Full Subscription)
Wu En slowly pulled his arm from the hole piercing Lu Luo’s chest. Such an attack should have killed him, right?
Wu En looked at Lu Luo’s corpse, his own vision blurring. He was exhausted, but he couldn’t collapse yet; he still had much to do.
"There can only be one Dawn Disc, and only one. Li Ming and Holy Light will eventually bathe the lands of the Fourth Ring. And I will always serve by Li Ming’s side, upholding my faith, whether as a human or an Exotic Species."
After killing Lu Luo, Wu En looked towards the center of the Doomsday Disc, wanting to go there.
Wu En was somewhat puzzled. Why hasn’t the disc disappeared now that Lu Luo is dead? Why is my power still fading? Why am I getting so tired? Even if I’m old, I shouldn’t be tiring this quickly. What exactly is this disc? And what is its relationship to the Dawn Disc?
The moment he turned, the attack came! SQUELCH! Lu Luo’s palm, imbued with Qi He, pierced Wu En’s chest and clamped around his heart.
As per the Observer’s instructions, Wu En had retained all human characteristics, and thus, all human weaknesses. His heart was, naturally, one of them.
Ultimately, even though Wu En had completed his transformation and become a true Exotic Species, he currently possessed more human features than Lu Luo. At the very least, Wu En’s heart, brain, and many other organs were still intact.
"Priest Wu En, you have many ideals and desires. Your devotion to Li Ming has indeed impressed me. But a nobody like me has his own simple desires. I want to live, and I want my friends and family to live. So, you must die."
Wu En stared at the hand buried in his chest, his expression a mixture of surprise and shock.
"COUGH, COUGH. So, you weren’t dead after all! No wonder this place hasn’t disappeared."
"I told you, in the world of the Doomsday Disc, I am the master."
Lu Luo glanced at the Observer’s prompts, only then realizing just how ridiculously potent he was within the Doomsday Disc.
[You have suffered an energy impact. Chest pierced. Your Constitution and Toughness are insufficient to resist this damage.]
[Fusioner activated. Preparing to repair severe injuries, including the pierced chest. Due to the Doomsday Disc’s influence, this repair will only consume 10% of the usual energy.]
[345 energy points consumed. Repairing Host’s pierced chest. Bones, muscles, and blood regeneration complete.]
[You have fully recovered.]
This state... it’s probably a true Undying Body!
Absorbing the enemy’s Life Energy while simultaneously using it to repair his own body.
"So, you think you’re going to win?"
Wu En’s expression grew increasingly calm. His tone suggested he still had a final trump card.
But Lu Luo had already guessed what it was: simply abandoning all restraint and fully transforming into an Exotic Species.
"You haven’t been human for a long time. Why are you so reluctant to accept this fact? Priest Wu En, you should consider whether the will controls the body or the body controls the will. If you can maintain your will, what difference does your form make? Transform, Mr. Nightmare Servant."
Wu En nodded thoughtfully at Lu Luo’s words.
"You’re right. If I can maintain my will, then what difference does it make what my body becomes!"
The words had barely left his lips when Wu En’s body began to twist. His legs contorted, and a roiling gray fog started to emanate from him. Dark Energy surged, but as he unleashed it, Lu Luo directly absorbed a large portion of the Dark Energy particles.
This was precisely why Lu Luo had goaded Wu En into transforming.
Soon, Wu En transformed into a monster with the gigantic torso of a man and a lower body of mere gray fog. His face was covered in gray runes, two massive tentacles replaced his arms, and his withered upper body still retained its aged appearance.
This was the true Nightmare Servant.
Fully transformed into an Exotic Species, Wu En gradually lost his sanity. He brandished his hands, now nightmarish tentacles, and lunged at Lu Luo, radiating boundless Dark Energy.
"Return to Li Ming, young man!"
Lu Luo didn’t dodge or evade. He firmly planted himself in a horse stance and extended eight tentacles of his own—the tentacles of a Devourer.
Initially, these tentacles were mere shadowy lines, but as Lu Luo’s strength grew, they had thickened to the width of an arm.
Though much smaller than Wu En’s nightmarish tentacles, their functions were entirely different.
As the nightmarish tentacles flew toward Lu Luo, his own tentacles pierced the discs above his head and beneath his feet.
Then, both discs began to rotate in opposite directions. Lu Luo was playing his final trump card.
[Doomsday Disc rotated. Temporarily activating Sequence S-02-Devourer. Sequence Arcana: Devour the Core of the World.]
In the center of the Doomsday Disc, the second of the twelve Sequence sigils suddenly lit up.
Immediately, countless tentacles extended from the disc. Though individually weaker than the nightmarish tentacles, their sheer numbers were enough to overwhelm them.
The Nightmare Servant, seeing tentacles flying at it from all directions, grew agitated and frantic. More and more tentacles wrapped around its body, completely immobilizing it.
Then, from the void beyond the disc, more Devourer tentacles emerged. They pierced directly into the Nightmare Servant’s body, beginning to destroy its physical structure and tissues.
Lu Luo slowly straightened, raising his left hand. "I am Devour the Core of the World."
His left hand suddenly clenched into a fist. Limitless devouring power instantly drained the Nightmare Servant dry. A Fifth-Tier, Lord-level Exotic Species, reduced to ashes in an instant.
[You have devoured a Fifth-Tier, Lord-level Exotic Species: Nightmare Servant.]
[You have obtained 4,735 energy points.]
[You have obtained 41 Sequence Value.]
[You have obtained a Level 1 Doomsday Factor: Nightmare Servant.]
"This haul is so damn worth it!"
Including the previous energy points, I’d gained over 6,000 in total. I spent a little over 1,000, so now with what’s left, I have 5,200. And the Sequence Value! A total of 45 points! I’m really taking off! As for the Doomsday Factor—Nightmare Servant, I’m not too sure what it does.
"How do I use this Doomsday Factor?"
[Beyond Sequence. Cannot be appraised.]
Damn, after all this time, the Observer hasn’t improved at all. Just as Lu Luo decided not to press further, the Doomsday Disc proactively provided an answer:
[The Doomsday Factor is the power to create an apocalypse. Fifth-Tier Lord-level beings barely reach the standard of a Level 1 Doomsday Factor. To release a Doomsday Factor is to unleash an apocalypse; to reclaim a Doomsday Factor is to avert an apocalypse. Destruction or salvation is the Host’s personal choice. Please collect as many Doomsday Factors as possible to complete the Doomsday Disc.]
Lu Luo’s eyes narrowed slightly. Collect as many Doomsday Factors as possible to complete the Doomsday Disc... The implications of this ability seem... significant. He had a vague guess but wasn’t entirely sure.
"What would happen if I released a Nightmare Servant’s Doomsday Factor?"
[It would create a new Nightmare Servant to fight for the Disc’s Host.]
"What’s the cost of releasing a Doomsday Factor like that?"
[A large amount of Life Energy and sufficient Dark Energy.]
Lu Luo immersed his consciousness, sensing the single speck of light on the Doomsday Disc. He knew this was the Nightmare Servant’s Doomsday Factor.
Upon touching this factor, a new prompt appeared:
[Releasing this Doomsday Factor requires 18,351 energy points. Current environment lacks Dark Energy; the Nightmare Servant cannot develop.]
18,351 energy points... that’s roughly three times the energy I just absorbed. An expenditure of over 18,000 energy is far too much for me right now. If I had that much, I’d probably consider attribute enhancements, not summoning a Lord-level Exotic Species. Besides, summoning a Nightmare Servant also requires a Dark Energy environment. This ability could be a trump card, but its use—how and when—requires careful consideration.
"Sigh, one last question. If I summon a Nightmare Servant, then don’t need it anymore and absorb it back, is the Doomsday Factor recovered? If I absorb and release, release and absorb, repeatedly, would I only need to expend energy?"
[Exploits are prohibited within the Disc. The Doomsday Factor is a consumable; it can only be used once.]
"Alright, I was overthinking it!"
Lu Luo touched the Doomsday Factor again, his expression one of fascination, before reluctantly withdrawing from his mental scape.
Now, it’s time for attribute enhancements. Over 5,000 energy points are enough for a significant boost to my current state. My priority for attribute enhancement is clear: continue strengthening my Constitution. In terms of combat power, with Steam Gear Shift Two, Extreme, and both Strength and Agility at 20, my destructive power is already more than sufficient. I seemed weak fighting Wu En because he’s Fifth Tier and I’m Second Tier. It was like an out-of-position ranged carry trying to fight a fed brawler head-on; of course, my damage barely scratched him. But in a fight against someone of the same tier, my current attack power would be absolutely crushing. Even fighting a Third Tier opponent as a Second Tier, I’d be fully confident of victory. When damage output is sufficient, maxing out survival attributes is the way to go. Strengthening Constitution directly boosts survivability. Plus, there’s another very useful aspect: mitigating firearm threats. For instance, a Rose 390 close-combat pistol deals around 40 damage, while Wu Sen’s hand cannon can reach about 65. A Constitution of 20 isn’t enough for me to be immune to such attacks, and I can’t maintain the Qi He defensive state indefinitely. So, when facing firearms, especially ambushes or sniper fire, I’m still vulnerable. But a Constitution of 30 is a different story. With 30 Constitution, plus the damage reduction from the Toughness Effect, I could likely ignore defense against ordinary firearms and just tank the hits. A Constitution of 40 would make me immune to most handgun and even rifle damage. At 50 Constitution, perhaps only sniper rifles could injure me—and even then, just injure, not kill. That level of defense would be a game-changer in the Wasteland Alliance, a world rife with firearms. Shots imbued with Dark Energy have noticeable energy fluctuations, allowing me to preemptively defend with Qi He. Energy confrontations boil down to who is stronger, and I’m confident I can handle those. But assassination is the real nuisance—silenced pistols, silenced sniper rifles, sudden automatic or aimed rifle fire all pose a significant threat. Although I’m currently just an unremarkable nobody, I already possess considerable power. With assassination, you don’t fear the ten thousand possibilities, only the one that succeeds. So, prioritizing Constitution enhancement is definitely the right call. Defense will make me fearless. This isn’t about hiding or being timid; it’s the smart choice.
"Enhance Constitution."
[2,550 energy points consumed. Constitution increased to 30.]
The cost is getting steeper. To raise a single attribute to 50 will cost over 10,000 energy points.
He felt the Life Energy gradually strengthening his body, savoring the wonderful sensation.
After the enhancement was complete, Lu Luo pulled out his Rose 390 and fired three shots into his own palm. BANG! BANG! BANG!
All three bullets struck the same spot. Lu Luo’s palm tingled, and to be honest, it still hurt quite a bit. However, just as he’d expected, a Constitution of 30 was enough to make him immune to handgun damage.
[You were shot by your own firearm. Toughness Effect reduced damage by 17% (6.8 firearm damage). Your 30 Constitution reduced damage by 30. Your Fortitude reduced final damage by 4. You are immune to this gunshot.]
Sure enough, a Constitution of 30 makes me immune to damage from a high-end standard issue handgun like the Rose 390.
"Heh, I’ve really made it now. In the future, I can boldly taunt them: ’Go on, shoot me if you dare!’"
Lu Luo didn’t spend all his energy this time. He still had 45 Sequence Value points left, enough to activate Affinity of Light and enhance Observer and Fusioner.
Whether Affinity of Light is useful or not, I have surplus Sequence Value, so I might as well unlock the icon first.
"Activate Affinity of Light."
[10 Sequence Value points consumed. Activated D-06-Affinity of Light for the Host.]
D-06-Affinity of Light
Effect – Holy Radiance: Allows your Dark Energy to be converted into the power of Holy Light.
Description: All who can use Holy Radiance will awaken this Sequence.
I usually convert absorbed Dark Energy into Qi He, so I have very little stored. Enough to release a small orb of light, maybe? To put on my head? Too bad I’m not bald; otherwise, it’d be double the brightness.
As for the remaining Sequence Value, upgrading Fusioner and Observer will require a trip to the market in the Fourth Ring. And not just a casual stroll—I’ll need to bring money.
"Still short on cash. Everything costs money. Why am I so poor? That Bai Yuetong is pretty useless too; he has a legislator for a father but still managed to get on bad terms with him. When will a rich lady show up? I don’t want to struggle anymore!"