053 I Am the Savior King

"Come to think of it, although humans perceive us as a collective category, there is no doubt that we are completely distinct individuals."

"Completely unrelated, in fact."

"However, when a lie is repeated a thousand times, it becomes the truth. The world's long-standing self-righteousness has already become twisted enough to shape reality."

"Even a miracle like this today, with the gathering of our four moons, has been allowed to happen."

A woman with pale green hair and crimson eyes sat gracefully upon her throne, her slender barefoot swaying idly amidst the sea of stars, sending ripples outward.

"I have come to taste the ripe fruits that my dear spawn has so diligently cultivated for me. And you, pray tell, what brings you here?"

"Desire, chaos, and... silence?"

Amidst the curtain of the world and the constellations, the woman with pale green hair and scarlet eyes smiled and nodded. "Do not ignore me."

In the silence, the celestial bodies shifted for a fleeting moment.

The Red Moon lowered its brilliant golden eyes and spoke in a solemn tone. "On the surface, this is a coincidence triggered by a stray dog and a spawn."

"In reality, however, the actions of these two individuals involve the Seven Kings of this world behind the scenes."

"The Black King, the Yellow King, the White King, the Silver King, the Cyan King, the Crimson King, the Rainbow King..."

"Without a single exception."

"Are you going to tell me this is all just a coincidence?"

"■■?"

It called out the true name of a certain entity.

Yet the young girl with long black hair and purple eyes merely blinked innocently. "Why are you looking at me?"

"I am nobody's mother."

The Red Moon: "..."

Without the slightest hesitation, it raised both middle fingers at the Purple Moon.

"I interpret your dreams."

"Now, now, let us not quarrel~"

The Green Moon gently played the peacemaker, turning its gaze toward the girl at the furthest end of the throne. "And what about you, Silence?"

"What brings you here?"

Silence remained mute, lost in a trance.

Those azure eyes held not a single ripple of emotion.

"Very well. It seems our [Paths] have all been strangely fulfilled by this instantaneous miracle."

The Purple Moon chuckled, looking at the Red Moon. "Isn't it all because a certain someone got heavily scammed eight years ago?"

"Almost sacrificed her entire moon just to satisfy his desires."

"Wuwuwu... How truly pitiful my little Red Moon is..."

A wicked smile spread across its face as it opened its arms toward the Red Moon. "Still, the great Chaos is generous and embraces all things."

"I can be like a mother to you and comfort you, just like that!"

The Purple Moon tilted its head, full of anticipation. "Would you like to try? I think it would be quite entertaining."

The Red Moon's response was resounding and earth-shattering:

"Bullshit."

"Tsk, how uncute." The Purple Moon's expression turned earnestly serious for once. "Regardless, tonight, he has attracted the gaze of all four of us."

"Propagation breeds desire, desire brings chaos, and chaos returns to silence."

"No one is going to leave halfway through, correct?"

The Green Moon chuckled softly. "Of course not. This world is welcoming its third sunset—the scorching fire, the freezing sea, and the hidden stars."

"This is..."

"Salvation itself."

"Indeed."

"Then, from this moment onward, we officially step onto the title page of this story."

The Purple Moon smiled and clapped her hands together. "This journey known as salvation."

"Let us see."

"What is our dear King of Salvation"

"doing right now?"

...

Mo Bai was thoroughly enjoying beating the absolute life out of Qi Lin.

The awakening of his Blood Source meant the liberation of both body and soul; Mo Bai felt like an untethered wild horse, the kind that could grind grain all afternoon without stopping.

A powerful punch landed squarely on Qi Lin's face. Blood, nearly turned to gelatin due to excessive modification, splattered outward, distorting her fair features into something resembling a Xenomorph.

When she attempted to retaliate, the Stand [Azure Rhapsody], which had been hovering over Mo Bai, crooked a finger. Countless threads sliced through reality in a fraction of a second, tearing her flesh into minced meat.

Not even her bone marrow and nervous system were spared.

Those frantic, murderous eyes stared fixedly at him.

Like a monster.

Then came the descent of Gouque.

Mo Bai treated Gouque entirely as a blunt instrument. To call it a sword was far too thick and heavy; to call it a door panel was far too slender.

Wasn't it simply meant for smashing?

The heavy blade cleaved ruthlessly downward from Qi Lin's collarbone. Flesh tore, bones shattered, and her spine and internal organs were laid bare before Mo Bai, ground into pulp by the ferocious murderous intent clinging to Gouque.

Mo Bai exerted more force, attempting to drive Qi Lin straight into the ground.

"Bastard..." Qi Lin resisted Gouque's blade with all her might, enduring the Stand sister's nonstop mincing while utilizing the power of Propagation to heal herself.

She never expected to be suppressed by Mo Bai! After all, he was merely a rookie who had just awakened his Blood Source!

How could this be?!

Just because of his so-called friendship and bonds?

The power of Propagation activated.

Secondary modification, initiate!

"What the hell?!" Gasped Mo Bai as the edges of Qi Lin's shattered flesh, nearly cleaved in half, actually began to grow sharp saw-teeth?!

Her body expanded once more, and a foul, blood-red tongue protruded from her spine, opening wide.

She was going to devour Mo Bai and his Stand in a single bite!

However, a flash of cold light arrived first, followed by a spear thrust like a dragon.

A pitch-black bullet fired once more, curving through the air to strike Qi Lin's heart dead-center!

That mouth, which had finally managed to open, was instantly blown to pieces.

It was Mu Sheng! He was still shooting!

Third shot, fourth shot, fifth shot... twelfth shot!

Mu Sheng fired a total of twelve bullets, every single one striking Qi Lin's heart!

He had gone all out. He had truly emptied his clip.

Mu Sheng was definitely not hacking!

Qi Lin was blasted into a bloody mess by the bullets. What was worse, she was shocked to discover that the bullets seemed to be coated in some kind of toxin.

Her power of Propagation had been weakened?!

The burning sensation searing through her internal organs forced a miserable shriek from Qi Lin's lips.

Watching Qi Lin wail incessantly, Mo Bai finally smiled.

"So you finally know what pain feels like."

After a brief buildup, Gouque swung like a giant top, batting Qi Lin violently away.

She slammed directly into the trunk of the Tree of Propagation.

With the help of the Stand sister, Mo Bai soared upward, stepping onto the edge of the giant mouth on Qi Lin's abdomen and forcibly prying her jaws open as if shucking an oyster.

Then, Gouque came smashing down mercilessly.

"Want to merge with me, do you?"

"Shooting my best bro, were you?"

"Hurting my sister, huh?"

Once, twice, three times...

The heavy Gouque smashed Qi Lin's body into a heap of rotting meat, nearly caving in her skull and beating the brains right out of her.

Mo Bai leaped off Qi Lin's body and executed a Lion's Claw technique, delivering a massive force that literally hacked Qi Lin right off the tree trunk.

"Ugh, ah...!!!"

Qi Lin tried countless times to attack Mo Bai with various body parts—her duodenum, uterus, bladder, spine... but before she could move, Azure Rhapsody mercilessly severed them.

She didn't even have room to fight back.

Stemming from Mo Mo's escalating yandere tendencies due to failing to protect Mo Bai, Azure Rhapsody's core logic was exceedingly simple:

No one was allowed to harm Mo Bai in front of her.

Absolutely no one.

This stifling protection turned the threads once used for recording and replaying memories into the most gruesome instruments of torture, dripping with thick, congealed blood.

"Why, why..."

Qi Lin roared, using her chest cavity to stubbornly jam Gouque's blade. Her bloodshot eyes glared resentfully at Mo Bai. "Why won't you sacrifice yourselves?"

"I am bringing salvation!"

Qi Lin triggered a surge of power, actually pushing Mo Bai back a step.

"The fire has ignited the origin, the sea has swallowed civilization, and the third sunset is about to arrive."

"The continuation of humanity will be severed!"

"I have sacrificed myself over four hundred times, solely to seek that sliver of a possibility of survival!"

"Why must you deny me?!"

Qi Lin forced Mo Bai back two steps with considerable momentum, but that was all.

Mo Bai yawned, saying indifferently, "Oh, is that so?"

"So you think you're the good guy."

Mo Bai grinned widely. "Then I suppose I'll just have to play the irredeemable villain."

Gouque pressed back down.

"Honestly, I have zero interest in your grand ideals built upon countless bones and tears."

Mo Bai said with utmost sincerity, "I just want to live my ordinary daily life."

"Even if that daily life seems a bit warped right now, I still love it."

"I want it to keep going."

"And you," Mo Bai shook his head, "do not belong in my daily life."

"Get the hell out of my daily life!"

"Forever!"

Gouque pierced straight through Qi Lin's chest, pinning her against the trunk of the Tree of Propagation.

The Stand sister very obligingly outlined patterns on Qi Lin's body with her threads. Right now, she looked precisely like a criminal bound to a cross, awaiting imminent judgment.

Lacking Gouque, Mo Bai began to punch Qi Lin's face over and over again, entirely without form or technique, but it felt deeply satisfying.

It felt wonderful.

It reminded him of the old days, when he and Mu Sheng were shaken down by local thugs near the school—that exhilarating feeling of two against seven.

The collision of flesh and blood.

"Useless, it's usewess..."

Missing several teeth, Qi Lin spoke with a lisp. "You can't kill me, I am the spawn of Propagation."

Her turbid eyeballs stared fixedly at Mo Bai, as if trying to imprint his face into her very soul. "I will be born again, and you."

"Will live in my shadow forever...!"

Qi Lin froze.

Her screams cut off abruptly. Her ferocious expression turned helpless, the twisted lines freezing bizarrely, making her look like a comical, laughable clown in a circus.

She saw the moon.

Four moons.

Even inside the Tree of Propagation, where the sky was blocked off, she clearly saw these four moons—red, blue, green, purple...

They were gradually drawing closer to this world, pouring their moonlight...

Pouring it all onto Mo Bai.

Those were colossal entities embedded in the pitch-black night sky, breathtaking moons that overshadowed the stars.

The solemn and silent blue, the foolish and chaotic purple, the propagating and generating green, the infinite and desiring red...

They existed right there.

Silently gazing down upon someone.

They were solemn guardians, yet also emblems of madness.

Amidst the glorious miracle, coldness and denial arrived in unison.

"Apologies, child."

"You are in the way."

Qi Lin heard that voice—a voice as tender as a mother's, yet unimaginably cruel.

It stripped away everything she had left.

She could no longer see the moon.

"No, no, no, no... don't!!"

Qi Lin shrieked. "Why, why have you abandoned me? What did I do wrong? Why inflict such cruel... mmmgrh?!"

Mo Bai slapped his hand over Qi Lin's mouth.

Seeming to sense something, he glanced up at the sky, then lowered his gaze to inspect Qi Lin's wounds, which had finally stopped healing. He withdrew his hand and smiled cheerfully.

"Looks like you've been abandoned by your mother."

"Just like me."

"How pitiful, an unwanted child."

"However," Mo Bai drew Gouque back, and amid ear-piercing screams, said with a bright smile, "My mother is coming back. What about you?"

"Your mama is gone, hahaha!!!"

Mo Bai raised Gouque high.

Its massive shadow fell over Qi Lin's face. The long-forgotten terror of death caused Qi Lin to clamp her legs shut as turbid fluid leaked out.

"Hey, can we reach a truce?"

"At a time like this? You must be joking."

Mo Bai looked at Qi Lin with derision. "Didn't you say you've sacrificed yourself over four hundred times for the sake of salvation?"

"Aren't you unafraid of death?"

"Why," Mo Bai asked softly, "why are you begging me for mercy now?"

"Why do you fear a death you should already be accustomed to?"

Qi Lin stared blankly, her mouth stammering, "I, I..."

"Because you are utterly base and hypocritical."

Mo Bai answered for her. "Sacrifice? What kind of sacrifice is that?"

"You've never truly died, yet you pretend to be noble, using this fake nobility to look down and condemn others."

"Why won't you sacrifice yourselves like I do?"

"You are merely defiling death itself."

Mo Bai said with deadpan seriousness, "You know what, Qi Lin?"

"When people are killed, they die."

"Once they're dead, nothing is left."

"Will and personality, soul and existence—all of it is obliterated."

"That is what death actually is."

"Not some game of house that you've been playing."

"Now, you are going to welcome true sacrifice and death."

Gouque slowly swung downward. In Qi Lin's terrified eyes, the blade grew larger as she struggled frantically to escape, only to be firmly pinned down by the Stand sister.

"No, no, I can't die yet!"

Qi Lin cried. "There are still so many things I haven't finished!"

"My experiments, my knowledge, my explorations..."

"I want to save the world!!"

Faced with true death, Qi Lin cowered.

She cried and fussed, refusing simply to die.

How pitiful, making one want to crush her dead right then and there.

"Oh, that's easy," Mo Bai chuckled. "Once you're dead, I'll go save the world myself."

"So that I can save the world in peace, would you kindly make a peaceful sacrifice?"

"After you die, this world will become a much better place. Really, trust me."

Mo Bai had started spouting nonsense. "Don't look at me like this, I'm actually the Eighth King—the King of Salvation."

"Off you go now, your wife I shall—wait, that sounds a bit much, never mind."

"Anyway, hurry up and die."

The Stand sister covered Qi Lin's mouth while forcibly prying her eyelids open with threads, making her watch as Gouque's sharp edge slowly grazed her skin and sliced through her flesh.

And then, stripped her of her life.

Just as she had done countless times in the past, in the most mundane manner possible.

Death was truly that simple.

Not even a single scrap would be left behind.

Darkness gradually filled Qi Lin's vision.

She felt as though she were slowly sinking into the deep sea.

The gates of heaven would not open for such a malicious entity; beings like her belonged only in the hellfire of eternal atonement.

In the end, would she remember the lives she had so ruthlessly slaughtered?

No one would ever know.

This was death.

The spawn of Propagation in the eternal paradise, the [Butterfly of the Abyss] Qi Lin, perished completely.

Her corpse lay amidst the filth, indistinguishable from anyone else's.

Unable to become a butterfly, she could only turn into a wriggling maggot.

The magical girl time had ended. Mo Bai staggered and collapsed to the ground, looking up as the Tree of Propagation withered away, revealing the starry sky where the four moons rose.

Mo Bai wore a satisfied smile.

Finally, it was over...

He slowly closed his eyes.

I really want to take a sick day...