Chapter 497

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This chapter is edited by Bakhtawar Kakar. Thank you for your contribution!

Chapter 497: The Saint of Dark Light

Howls, screeches, despair—the mutation of the Giant Hive plunged countless beings into hopelessness.

Due to the power of the Realm of Infinity, Ever-Changing Facade, over one hundred million people in the city were transported to various dimensions. A total of twenty-seven dimensions were created, and among them, millions perished instantly, victims of unfortunate circumstances.

The adaptability of ordinary people was far inferior to that of those with extraordinary abilities. When transported to dimensions with extreme temperatures, freezing cold, or other hazards, most of them could not survive.

If this condition continued, the survival rate of ordinary people in the Giant Hive would drop catastrophically. The number of lives lost per minute was staggering.

“Is the Babel Tower really home to bad people?”

After gathering the survivors she had rescued, Justice North couldn’t help voicing her confusion. She desperately sought a reasonable explanation.

Meanwhile, due to the influence of the Ruin-level Relic Realm of Infinity, Ever-Changing Facade, the barriers within and around the space scattered Mr. Xia’s forces across the dimensions of the Giant Hive.

The Air Alliance’s Imperial Guards responded to Mr. Xia’s call, venturing into the fragmented dimensions. However, they didn’t arrive in the Giant Hive as it existed in the material world. Instead, they were transported to its distorted dimensional iterations.

Unable to fully control the immense power of the Realm of Infinity, Mr. Xia’s forces dispersed throughout the various dimensions upon arrival. The Imperial Guards mobilized in full force, but at this moment, the only ones accompanying Justice were herself and Death.

The two found themselves in a crimson dimension of the Giant Hive. Blood-red structures towered around them, and the ground beneath their feet was a writhing, pulsating mass, as if some unseen creature lurked in the darkness below.

In this place, the Giant Hive’s magical barrier held no sway.

Justice felt deeply unsettled merely by existing in this dimension. She soon discovered some ordinary people who had also been transported here and immediately rushed to save them.

The dire situation weighed heavily on her heart. Ordinary people were unlikely to endure this chaos, and the ongoing conflict with Babel Tower only added to her distress.

“I still don’t believe the people of Babel Tower are bad,” Justice muttered to herself.

The figure in the black robe—Death—stood silent and motionless, his expression unreadable. He finally shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

Justice felt a lump in her throat. She knew that Death was a man of few words, rarely discussing matters with others, but he never failed to complete his tasks.

Especially when it came to Mr. Xia’s orders. Death had never disobeyed him. Though unconfirmed, Justice often suspected there was a deeper bond between them—perhaps that of mentor and apprentice, or even something closer.

Still, she hesitated.

“I just don’t understand. Babel Tower helped Noah’s people. Without them, Noah would have been destroyed long ago. Even Alan, the magician, is our ally now. Why are we acting this way? It feels like we’re the ones betraying them.”

Though she doubted her words would change anything, Justice couldn’t stop herself from speaking. She couldn’t bear the thought of this senseless destruction continuing, nor could she accept the loss of innocent lives.

The people she rescued huddled inside a crimson tower, crying and praying. Some offered her heartfelt thanks. Justice bit her lip, knowing they had no idea the chaos they now faced was a direct result of their own actions.

She hadn’t expected Death to respond. But she had to voice her thoughts, even if they fell on deaf ears.

“We should find Mr. Xia,” she suggested. “We need to persuade him to stop, to end this conflict with Babel Tower. There must be some kind of misunderstanding!”

To her astonishment, Death nodded gently and replied, “You’re right.”

“Ah?”

Justice was taken aback. This was unexpected. For Death to agree with her—it was unprecedented.

“He’s changed,” Death said softly, gazing into the distance. “He’s not the same anymore.”

There was a weight to his words, a meaning Justice couldn’t quite grasp.

Her thoughts spun wildly. Did Death plan to betray Mr. Xia?

But the truth was far more complex than she realized.

At the same time, the White Lion, known as “Power,” and Ms. Shi Nianyu, referred to as “Tower,” found themselves in a Giant Hive located in another dimension.

This dimension was an extraordinary realm composed entirely of water and fire, reminiscent of the stark black-and-white contrasts found in a comic book. Every building and living creature within it was transformed into entities made of flames and water.

The two outsiders, hailing from different worlds, seemed entirely out of place amidst this surreal environment.

Shi Nianyu remained poised, wearing an elegant evening gown and high heels, exuding the refined allure of a mature woman. Beside her stood the majestic White Lion, impeccably dressed in a white suit, with three large cigars clenched between its teeth.

Throughout their journey, they encountered many ordinary inhabitants of the Giant Hive. However, they chose to ignore them, pressing forward with their mission.

“This dimension reeks of danger,” the White Lion remarked, shaking its head with a hint of disdain. “I never expected him to leave you like this, without any regard for your safety.”

Shi Nianyu shook her head and smiled faintly. “That man knew I wasn’t weak. I don’t need his protection.”

Indeed, within the middle-ranked Apocalypse “Tower,” where the Air Alliance’s Crown-level prisoners were confined, Shi Nianyu was no ordinary individual. Her innate strength was well-known, and the White Lion was acutely aware of her capabilities.

In her presence, he felt less like a predator and more like a large, harmless cat. Being in Shi Nianyu’s company was a privilege. She didn’t need protection—if anything, she could fend for herself and more.

“Be careful,” the White Lion cautioned. “The people at Babel Tower are formidable opponents.”

“I know.”

Shi Nianyu’s brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of unease crossing her face. “What puzzles me is why Mr. ‘World’ suddenly decided to attack the Giant Hive, breaking the alliance with Babel Tower.”

An inexplicable feeling gnawed at her—a sense that something was deeply amiss. Yet, she couldn’t pinpoint the exact cause.

Betrayal was not in Xia’s nature, or so she thought. To Shi Nianyu’s knowledge, he had never engaged in treacherous behavior before. The man who prided himself on “ruling heaven and earth” was far too proud to stoop to such measures.

“I think you’re overthinking it,” the White Lion said, shaking its head. Its deep voice resonated with authority. “He’s the decision-maker, seeing things from a higher perspective. We, as pawns of Mr. ‘World,’ need only follow his orders. Overthinking and hesitation will only hinder his grand plans.”

“Your reasoning is flawed.”

The sudden voice cut through the air, making the White Lion’s jaw tighten. Its cigars crumbled under the pressure of its teeth as its eyes narrowed sharply.

“Dark Light,” whispered a voice, calm yet piercing. “Why have you come here?”

From the shadows emerged two figures cloaked in black.

One was a tall, slender woman in her thirties. She wore a black veil, a tall hat, and round glasses. In her hands, she carried a leather-bound black book.

The other was an elderly man, frail and hunched, his hair stark white and his face deeply lined with wrinkles. His eyes remained tightly shut, and his fragile form seemed as though it might crumble at any moment.

These were the Saints of Dark Light.

The woman, known as the “Book of Dark Light,” adjusted her glasses and spoke calmly. “We, followers of Dark Light’s will, are here to eradicate demons. Imperial Guards of the Air Alliance, ‘Power’ and ‘Tower,’ your leader, ‘World,’ has been possessed by a demon from hell. That is why you were sent to attack Babel Tower.”

She continued, her tone unyielding. “Surrender now. Do not resist. Better yet, join us in eliminating the demons.”

Shi Nianyu furrowed her brow, remaining silent.

“Hahaha!”

The White Lion’s laughter boomed, filled with mockery. “We’ve long known your god has been corrupted by the Outer God! And now, you dare accuse us of the same?”

Suddenly, a terrifying aura erupted from the frail figure beside the Book of Dark Light. Despite his withered appearance, the “Head of Dark Night” emanated an overwhelming presence, as immovable and immense as a mountain.

The White Lion’s laughter ceased instantly, its gaze locking onto the elderly man in shock.

The Head of Dark Night’s voice was low and displeased. “To disrespect the gods is to invite your own demise.”

The White Lion snorted, undeterred. “Ms. Shi, Babel Tower has already joined forces with that corrupted god. Even their so-called Savior, with his lollipop, has been tainted by the Outer God. There’s nothing left to worry about. At this point, our only course of action is to eliminate all of them!”

Shi Nianyu remained silent, nodding reluctantly, as though she had no other choice. She could feel the old man’s overwhelming intent to harm, making any attempt at peaceful conversation futile.

Yet, there was something strange about him—something she couldn’t quite place.

***

Maryse sat atop an upside-down building, her expression perplexed.

The dimension she was in was peculiar. The once-mighty structures of the Giant Hive lay shattered, their fragments floating in the sky like pieces of a disassembled puzzle.

She perched at the edge of the inverted building, boredom settling over her. What was once the building’s foundation was now its peak, elevated into the sky.

As Maryse gazed at the myriad of floating structures around her, a pang of loneliness gripped her.

Am I the only one here?

How boring this is.

But then again, there was a silver lining—tranquility.

In a world devoid of people, there were no inner voices to disturb her peace. Rarely did Maryse have the chance to experience such quiet solitude. She took a deep breath and lay down on the cool surface.

In recent days, she hadn’t seen Senior Profligate, and the thought unsettled her. Oh dear, what could possibly have happened to him?

Though she constantly urged herself to be more proactive, why was she so incapable of taking the initiative? Nearly thirty years old, and yet even saying a kind word seemed beyond her.

“But thinking about it… it’s embarrassing,” she muttered to herself. “The way things are now feels… okay.”

Of course, she hadn’t anticipated that while she spent days wrestling with how to be proactive, someone else had already taken the initiative—and succeeded in stealing her home!

Such decisiveness was something a half-elf girl like her could never fathom.

“Maryse!”

A familiar voice echoed through the air.

She immediately sat upright and spotted Senior Profligate standing beside her, as if appearing out of thin air. Her heart filled with joy at the sight of him.

“Profligate…”

But then, something stirred within her—a faint whisper in her heart.

All this time, in the silence of this dimension, she hadn’t heard any voices…

It wasn’t him.

A chill ran down Maryse’s spine. Tremendous fear surged within her, gripping her body and paralyzing her movements. She couldn’t even summon the will to resist.

She knew she had no chance of victory.

Perhaps this was the end.

Am I about to die here?

“Senior Profligate, save me…” she whispered desperately, her voice trembling.

“What are you thinking about?”

Profligate smiled and suddenly leaned closer.

But as he did, his familiar face began to change. It morphed into another—a cold visage belonging to Mr. Xia, the embodiment of the “World,” his expression devoid of sorrow or joy.