Chapter 417

Chapter 417: An Unfinished Game

The Broken Paradise.

After bidding farewell to Michelle, the world around fell silent. In that silence, the faint sound of Crouching Tiger yawning broke through.

The lazy feline, lounging nearby, stretched leisurely before lifting a hind leg to scratch its ear. Its glance toward Bai Wei carried a hint of human-like disdain.

Bai Wei shot it a glare. “Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll smack you with a slipper. Believe it?”

Crouching Tiger let out a faint meow, dropping its gaze and retreating from its bold scrutiny.

With a faint smile, Bai Wei gave the big orange cat a gentle pat. “Everyone who’s meant to arrive has already come. Let’s go welcome them.”

At those words, Crouching Tiger sprang into action, shedding its earlier lethargy. In a blink, the lazy housecat transformed into a regal predator, its energy brimming with battle-ready resolve.

Trouble Approaching.

Bai Wei’s gaze turned toward the distant horizon, where a group of people steadily approached. He hadn’t lingered in the Broken Paradise for the scenery or leisure. His reason was clear—there were unresolved issues that demanded his attention.

The gray tide’s sudden upheaval had drawn a multitude into the Broken Paradise. Among them were invaders from Europa and innocents caught in the chaos. Yet, two groups stood out, their objectives aligned in pursuit of the fragments of heaven.

The first group was the Sacred Religion, represented by saintesses and templars who sought to recover the heavenly fragments to further their heavenly scroll.

The second was far darker: followers of the evil god. These fanatics had anticipated the tide’s rise, positioning themselves to exploit the chaos and enter the Broken Paradise.

Their gathering was methodical. Despite their varied origins, they shared a single directive, their coordination both unsettling and ominous. These devotees advanced with purpose, converging toward the heart of the Broken Paradise.

By the time they reached the mountain’s base, their numbers had swelled to thousands, dark and overwhelming, their allegiance unmistakable. Among them stood seven leaders, one holding a gospel book with an eye etched onto its cover—a sight Bai Wei recognized all too well.

Beneath the Surface.

The fragments of heaven weren’t the sole reason for their arrival. Bai Wei suspected something far more sinister. The evil god’s plans seemed broader, encompassing not just the Broken Paradise but also Hokkaido, far to the north of Yingzhou.

The question gnawed at him: why Hokkaido? What was the evil god’s true aim?

The answer lay in timing. Unlike Bai Wei, the Sacred Religion wouldn’t evacuate survivors after obtaining the fragments. Instead, they would detain or eliminate anyone deemed non-human—a process requiring time.

This temporal difference was crucial. The evil god’s followers were mere pawns, their task to bridge that gap. Yet their slow advance, taking nine hours to reach the mountain’s base, hinted at a deeper agenda.

The Final Act.

Bai Wei’s thoughts were interrupted by a chilling scene.

The cultists, having reached the mountain, did not glance toward the portal leading to safety. Instead, their eyes turned to the abyss beyond. Without hesitation, the first among them stepped forward and leapt into the void.

One by one, they followed, plunging into the abyss without a sound, their bodies vanishing into nothingness.

Bai Wei stood frozen, watching

as the mass sacrifice

unfolded before him. He

realized then that he would

find no answers here. The evil

god had orchestrated this

macabre ritual perfectly,

leaving no trace of its

intentions.

These fanatics, driven by blind

devotion, had fulfilled their

purpose. Their deaths served

as the final punctuation to a

carefully crafted plan.

A Hollow Victory.

Frustration bubbled within Bai

Wei, soon giving way to cold

anger. The evil god’s

willingness to sacrifice its

pawns so ruthlessly was both

infuriating and disheartening.

Turning away from the grisly

ritual, Bai Wei walked toward

the portal. His gaze was icy,

his mind ablaze with thoughts

of retribution.

Though he had won this round,

it felt hollow. The enemy’s

methods were despicable,

their tactics a bitter reminder

of the lengths they would go

to.

“This round isn’t over yet,” Bai

Wei muttered, his voice low

and resolute. “Not by a long

shot.”