Apocalypse Forecast

The power of the Gear Emperor collided with Hyperion, causing another crack to appear on Publius’s face.

Immediately, amidst Publius’s roar, an ancient shield appeared out of thin air before him, transforming into a phantom as tall as city walls, relentlessly doubling back Huai Shi’s power!

Miracle Imprint · Aes Shield!

After casually creating an indestructible defense, Publius waved his hand again, chanting, "For the sake of these ten, I will not destroy the city—"

Then the earth’s crust flipped, and a massive city appeared from iron and stone, encompassing Huai Shi from all directions, firmly sealing him within.

Countless sins turned into tangible chains, not allowing him to escape.

Next, salt powder emerged out of thin air like a storm of snow, followed by a colossal star of sulfur and fire descending from the heavens, completely enveloping Huai Shi and the sin-filled city.

The fire of destruction spread like a tide, while sharp pillars of salt grew from the ground like a forest.

Miracle Imprint · Fall of Sodom!

Next, a fragmented solar disk flashed behind Publius, immediately followed by an endless stream of fiery luminescence cascading towards the earth.

Plasma clouds extracted from the rotation of stars gathered into arrows, continuously falling, each one igniting successive flames on the ground.

When the high temperatures dissipated, they were replaced by divine plagues and toxins.

Miracle Imprint · Rain of Apollo.

As if it were still not enough!

Publius raised his hand without pause, pointing to the sky, as the Mystic Ritual of the Great Grandmaster operated in full force, using his own divine body as the core, once again unleashing a disaster with breathtaking speed.

At the place where his hand pointed, the darkness of the universe was torn apart out of thin air, as if the sky dome cracked open a giant mouth, continuously spewing forth the Waters of the Styx in a torrent.

The river of the dead, which takes away all souls, raged over Helios, and soon, it dissipated into a phantom.

Before that, a storm of thunder composed of countless lightning flashes once again shrouded everything...

This is the destructive power a Great Grandmaster possesses once endowed with a divine body!

In the past, the Miracle Imprints that required complex Mystic Rituals and numerous preconditions were freely wielded now, without any pressure; in a mere half-minute, the seventh Miracle Imprint had already descended from the sky!

However, none of it had any use.

After the mountains of knives, seas of fire, and flashes of thunder and lightning, Huai Shi on the ground remained unscathed.

Before him, the constantly regenerating thick iron wall suddenly vanished, or more precisely, transformed into scorching iron steam, then quickly contracted and solidified.

Countless parts formed out of thin air, riveted together, until a heavy cannon aimed at the sky.

This is the [Three Phase Transformation] that allows forged objects to freely convert between liquid, solid, and gaseous states, as well as [Heavenly Craftsmanship] that ensures all creations operate perfectly without any loopholes.

The combination of these two master casting techniques created this astonishing scene.

During the limited-time experience card provided by the Sun Caster ’Ruler,’ Huai Shi could freely access the master craft techniques of thirteen Kings of Casting, without needing to learn or adapt, as if he naturally mastered them.

In the blink of an eye, he reforged Osiris’s phase shield into the Styx Main Gun.

Next, came [Negative Balance], which could endlessly increase the load limit and [Overload Resonance] that multiplies power through overload!

Using [Chaos Star Chain] to lock onto the enemy’s location, granting the effect of must hit!

With Huai Shi’s flick, Horus’s Blade in the cannon transformed into blazing light, piercing the deep darkness of the universe, penetrating layers of defense, leaving a profound gap in the Miracle Imprint of the Aes Shield.

It pierced through Publius’s chest.

The perfect divine body once again showed a grievous wound!

"Give it up, A Pu, the outside is full of natural enemies."

Huai Shi extended his hand, once again melting the outline of the Styx Main Gun, turning it into the reborn Horus’s Blade, with flame light bursting from the sword blade, locking onto the opponent’s face.

Intimidation.

"So... how about negotiating—"

He said, "As a Second-Class Military Officer of the Astronomical Society, I assure you: If you surrender now, I can secure leniency for you, how about it?"

"You should know—you have no chance of victory."

In reality, when Huai Shi stood on the same level as him, he had already lost.

Or rather, when Huai Shi had the means to harm him, Publius was already destined for defeat.

From a war between gods and mortals to a war between semi-finished products and semi-finished products, between Forgers and Alchemists.

No matter how the external appearances change.

According to Beelzebub’s calculations, even if he lost the complete divine seat, the strength gap between Publius and Huai Shi remained vast, simply changing from ten to zero, to seven to three.

Victory odds became nine to one.

Unfortunately, that [nine] was Huai Shi.

Even if the opponent is a Great Grandmaster!

If oppressing the weak is a privilege unique to the Great Grandmaster, then prevailing over the strong is Huai Shi’s specialty!

If the dignified Astronomical Society’s Two Flowers and Red Sticks can’t even defeat an old man, they might as well retire early, get married, and raise kids!

"Why offer mercy, Huai Shi? It’s completely unnecessary—"

Publius sneered, looking down at him: "I have been in the prison of life for too long, no need for the Astronomical Society to bother building walls for me."

Prison?

He has long been inside it!

From the moment he was born, from the moment he learned his first words.

What he felt was not joy and novelty, but constant suffocation.

During the three months of gestation, diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy, attacked at five months, diagnosed with developmental abnormalities at six months, organ deficiencies, accompanied by several rescues from the brink of miscarriage, two mystic rituals for correction, and one surgery.

Even the mother almost died of massive bleeding during childbirth.

This man, now named Publius, was born with a troubled fate.

When he first opened his eyes, everyone felt happy for the successful birth of this premature baby who almost perished several times, but what he realized was not the joy of life.

It was the fear of death.

That was the panic engraved in the soul.

He couldn’t deceive himself into thinking that time was long, because the end of eternity kept approaching, constantly reminding him that life is as short as dew.

No matter how many principles he learned, no matter what skills he mastered, the despair about death increased every day, unable to lessen.

Even on the miracle-filled Helios, he found no solace, but grew more and more depressed, increasingly tormented.

Following that came anger.

Not even the countless precepts and laws, not even the imprisonment of the Astronomical Society could diminish this anger, this anger towards life!

Following that is the desire for immortality.

From the moment he awakened this thought, Publius swore he would never stop, even if the whole world was blocking his way!

He wants to leave this prison called life!

"Why bother?"

Huai Shi sighed, scratching his head through the helmet: "Isn’t everyone like this?"

"Must I die in such a way? Just because you all are the same? Why!"

Publius laughed hoarsely: "I just want to go to the world outside the cage, must you stop me?"

"Hey, Publius—"

Huai Shi asked indifferently: "I won’t argue about what you’ve done, but you should know the consequences of doing this, right? There’s no rationale in killing the current circumstances just to survive."

"Isn’t killing something to prolong your own existence just human nature? Huai Shi, I only did the same as you and the Astronomical Society—"

The cracked face of Publius showed a strange and mocking expression, "No matter what you say, Huai Shi, I’ve already escaped from that cage, and I will never look back!"

"Nobody can stop me, Huai Shi."

In his eyes burned a fiery crimson, he hoarsely shouted: "Not even a god can!"

"Strange, Publius."

After a brief silence, Huai Shi couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh in resignation: "Clearly yearning for immortality, yet..."

In that instant, he lifted his eyes filled with murderous intent:

"—Are you seeking death?"

Light burst forth.

In his hand, Horus’s Sword trembled violently, countless modules expanded, extending out of the iron confines.

Forming a light flow hundreds of meters long—

Gear Emperor · Osiris in overload operation.

Styx Mode activated!

With the divine soul of the Light King enhanced, the Sword of Judgement descended from the heavens!

It crashed through the waves emerging in the void, Gear Emperor spread steel wings, with acceleration from hundreds of vector jets, soaring atop the Sun Chariot.

Slashing down toward the incomplete god once again!

Publius laughed wildly, hesitating no longer, fearing nothing.

The lengthy and complex incantations condensed into a moment, transforming into a sharp and piercing sound, as miracles descended again and began self-proliferation under his control.

"Copying, transcription, reformation—"

When Publius’s five fingers opened from a clenched fist, countless flames emerged from the void behind him. Under the shrouding of layers of runes and matrices, those god-created miniature suns rapidly split, flying forward according to Publius’s direction.

Only to be swiftly obliterated under the sword of light.

Like a bubble.

Only terrifying impacts and currents of flame erupted from it, leaving dark scorch marks on the hideous armor.

The majestic samurai spread wings of iron and steel, wielding the raging light, cutting through everything blocking the way, launching an assault on the laughing enemy.

Just as if a scene from mythology reoccurs.

The cruel struggle between the hero and the evil dragon descends again.

The rift-ridden Helios moans, cracks appear incessantly, yet the flames burning upon it grow even fiercer. The battle between Sun God and Sun God has progressed to its climax.