Chapter 194 No!!! - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

The instant the young man appeared before him in an entirely new form, Kushusitannin's vigilance surged to its peak. As a member of the demonic race, although he usually projected emotions of madness and savagery, it didn't mean he was devoid of thought. A human ant who had taught him a harsh lesson while still merely a Tier One transcendent deserved no less caution even in the current hopeless situation. The reason was simple. He had yet to detect a trace of despair on the young man's face. Even under the dual torment of himself and a demon of creation, the young man had survived. How could he be expected to die so easily here? Even in death, he would fight back. However, the vessel Kushusitannin had descended upon was far stronger than Lynn had been at that time, equipped with powers and authorities that vastly surpassed the past. Though not at its peak, it was more than sufficient to squash these ants. The only ones qualified to be his opponents were the deities who had descended using divine interventions. So when he sensed that Lynn's presence remained at Tier Two even after using that card, a mocking smile spread across his face. It seemed the boy had merely changed into some pretentious attire and effects, without any substantial change. A slight gesture from him would be enough to wipe him out completely. Thinking this, Kushusitannin laughed heartily, "Is this your trump card? A pointless wardrobe change?!" At this moment, the surviving transcendents couldn't help but focus their gaze on the young man before them. Seeing that his rank hadn't advanced, the glimmer of hope that had briefly appeared in their eyes faded away, replaced by internal curses. Curses directed at the young man who appeared like a hero but then mercilessly extinguished their hope. Only Tia, cradled in Louise's arms, stared blankly at the figure. She knew that fundamentally he was a man of his word. He said he wouldn't let them die, and no matter what happened, Tia believed that she wouldn't perish at the hands of Kushusitannin. Though their acquaintance was brief, she felt this inexplicable certainty. Perhaps it was simply the impression Lynn had consistently given her. Yet, as a mere Tier Two, how could he possibly defeat such an indescribably powerful monster? In Louise's arms, Tia's finger twitched slightly, as if wanting to intervene, but it lacked any strength. In the end, she could only watch helplessly and despondently as he walked toward the finale alone, like a mere spectator. "As you can see." Hearing Kushusitannin's words, Lynn straightened up after a bow, placed his hat back on his head, and gripped his cane, standing in the center of the old factory. He seemed both like a refined gentleman and a magician about to present a grand performance for his audience. "You think this alone can stop me?" Kushusitannin bared his teeth, appearing ominously sinister. "A mere Tier Two?" Lynn shook his head upon hearing this, his gaze tinged with disappointment. "Dear Kushusitannin, when I first recognized you from the Greedy Demon Box, you left me with an impression of 'overwhelming strength.' Yet, today, you've repeatedly attempted to shatter this impression in my mind." "To my astonishment, a being of the same level as a deity cannot even perceive the real changes in me now. It's profoundly disappointing." As his words fell, both man and demon lapsed into silence. Moments later, Kushusitannin's throat rumbled with suppressed frenzy and violence. "What did you say?!!!" "I said that a being unable to discern the boundary between us no longer qualifies as my opponent." Lynn tapped the ground with his cane, strolling leisurely. "To give an example, it's like the distinction between a figure in a painting and the painter." "No matter how grotesque your posture on the paper may be, I have now transcended its confines, viewing you from a higher dimension." "And… those 'lines' around you." His voice was calm, yet no one seemed to comprehend his words. Lynn, at that moment, seemed more like a madman. Perhaps maintaining a composed demeanor in the face of a high-dimensional demon's mental onslaught indicated madness itself. Even Kushusitannin couldn't grasp the arrogance of this tiny ant's words, but the anger surging in his heart was immeasurable. Even now, this insignificant ant continued his futile defiance. How irritating!!! In an instant, with an enraged roar, the crumbling walls of the old factory collapsed around them, as the hybrid monstrosity's aura skyrocketed, spewing a stream of blood-like light, resembling a spear of sin and punishment descending from the heavens, aiming to stake the young man's heart deep within the abyss of endless demons! "Boom—!!!" Within the Tomb of the Silent, the earth caved, dust billowed. The scarlet stream mixed with unparalleled demon power seemed poised to obliterate the space surrounding the young man. This was a blow sufficient to kill a Tier Five Legend. Kushusitannin felt confident that this strike had fallen squarely upon Lynn's head. As a Tier Two, he had no means of resistance. Yet a nagging doubt in his heart refused to dissipate. Moments later, the dust cleared. Kushusitannin was dumbfounded, his lantern-like scarlet pupils widening. Despite the ground around him being plowed as if by a whirlwind, at the very center, the young man merely raised his gloved hand to his lips, coughing lightly as if choked by the dust. Apart from this, nothing more. "You!!!" Kushusitannin raised his head, about to unleash a furious roar. However, in the following moment, in a far-off corner, a surviving transcendent of the Divine Precepts Church suddenly began to tremble. "Help, help!!!" Panicking, he clutched his face, finding that his once-intact body was now crumbling like sand. Those around him, though, could do nothing but watch in horror. The night's events had long exceeded their threshold of endurance. Now, aside from survival, there was no other thought, and how could they extend a hand to someone they weren't familiar with? In mere seconds, the transcendent of the Divine Precepts Church lost all signs of movement. Before everyone’s eyes, his entire being disintegrated into fine sand, scattering into the air, leaving no trace. What exactly happened?! Not only were they bewildered, but even Kushusitannin's scarlet pupils widened slightly. As a high-dimensional demon, in the moment he was about to kill Lynn, he detected an anomaly with his keen senses. "What did you do?!" He asked in a low, sinister voice. Lynn smiled slightly at his query. "Simple." "If death is a fate, then what I did just now was transfer the 'death' originally meant for me onto that fellow." In other words, Lynn, who was supposed to die, had evaded that fate through the power of transference. The Divine Precepts Church transcendent, however, was not so fortunate. Bearing Lynn’s "death," he had no chance to resist and perished instantaneously. At this moment, if solely considering combat power and metrics, Lynn was still not a match for Kushusitannin. But did that matter? Sometimes, the factors deciding victory had nothing to do with combat strength. Lynn Bartleon was indeed operating on a higher level. If you didn’t believe it, then the unseen threads weaving around everyone, visible only to him, served as the best testament. "Authority over space? No, in terms of combat style, this more closely resembles that damned 'Trickery' path. Are you a follower of the Jailor of Fate?" Kushusitannin seemed to have realized something, and a complex expression overtook his face. Jailor of Fate? This was the fifth time he had heard that term in recent times. From the name alone, it seemed that its existence might be related to his current peculiar state. However, he did not know what had transpired in the past. Not only the puppet in the cellar, but even Kushusitannin right in front of him seemed to have a profound connection with it. But now wasn't the time to ponder such matters. Why? His now porcelain-like cracking skin bore the best testimony. On the other hand, Kushusitannin, who had just been immersed in shock, quickly noticed the anomaly in Lynn's condition. After all, the boy had merely withstood his attack, not repelled it head-on. The "Trickery" faith was like that, often possessing many mysterious and bizarre means of self-preservation, yet their direct offensive techniques were extremely weak. In other words, it was a faith that was severely lopsided. Moreover... "Your time is running short, isn't it?" Kushusitannin bared his ghastly white teeth, looking grotesque and fearsome. "To think a mere Tier Two would dare to play with divine authority. Frankly, the fact that you weren't dead on the spot is a testament to your sheer willpower." He wasn't wrong in this. Blame it on Lynn's current power being too feeble. In other words, the quality of the vessel was too fragile. Even if he had been a Tier Five Legend, he wouldn’t have endured such a severe cost. Touching his cracked facial skin, Lynn felt like an engine teetering on the brink of collapse, roaring at full power. The result of this, naturally, would be breaking down. Surviving under Kushusitannin's attack as a Tier Two came with inevitable sacrifices. "You're not wrong," Lynn admitted calmly, noticing his deteriorating body. "So, I'll cut to the chase." In the next moment, his azure eyes shifted to the clawing figure floating above. "Kushusitannin, could you please retreat for now?" "On reflection, ours has never been an irreversible enmity, with the sole conflict being at the Soren Mountains." "Compared to ancient grudges with humans or seething hatred towards the gods, a trivial ant like me surely isn’t worth your fuss." "As for me, whether the Holy Roland Empire falls to demons or the future of this continent—honestly, given the outrageously short lifespan of humans, these questions aren’t worth my attention." "Were it not absolutely necessary, I wouldn’t have even been drawn into dealings with you." "So, put aside your current rage, and you'll realize there's no insurmountable strife between us." "Are you pleading for mercy?" Kushusitannin let out a low chuckle. Lynn shook his head. "I'd rather we both take a step back, avoiding further escalation." "How curious." The demon roared, its entire form writhing in response. "I didn't expect that the audacious soul baring fangs at a demon would bow to compromise with me. It truly is..." "So, what’s your answer?" "I refuse!!!" Kushusitannin slammed his limbs into the earth, causing it to quake violently. "You’re prey waiting to be slaughtered. Since when does a hunter compromise with his quarry?!" His laughter filled the air, his throat rumbling with malevolent malice, while his eyes remained fixed on Lynn, eager to detect any hint of panic. Yet, his efforts were futile. As Lynn struggled to keep his fractured body upright with his cane, his demeanor remained calm, even letting out a light sigh. "The negotiations have broken down, it seems," he tapped the cane on the ground. "That leaves only one path." The choice was clear. Become eternal enemies. "You think the enhancement from that sealed artifact gives you the right to stand beside me?!" Detecting a hint of underestimation in his words, Kushusitannin's wild laughter ceased, replaced by manic rage. But Lynn seemed indifferent to his bluster. He merely adjusted his top hat with a reserved air of mystery befitting a magician. "There's something I must inform you," Lynn stated with a smile. "From the very first moment you saw this form, I've been secretly preparing for something." Kushusitannin's expression froze suddenly. "The principle of 'grafting' is to connect the intangible lines between two entities, thus shifting fates." "However, this method has its limitations." "If fate has weight, for those who have shone brilliantly on the world and historical stage, their fate carries far more weight than that of the common folk." "And from what I understand, only individuals with the same or similar fate weights can be grafted." "What are you trying to say?!" Kushusitannin interrupted agitatedly, acknowledging with his keen senses that something felt amiss. The sensation of watching a prey edge towards despair was being replaced by a troublesome foreboding. "I mean, despite the difficulty and it being my first time using such an ability, I've succeeded." "I have linked the fate strings from you to another presence in this hall." "Are you joking?" Kushusitannin leapt into motion, his limbs forming torrents that engulfed him. "How can a mere human equate to me?!" Yet, in the state of the Trickmaster, any force threatening his life could be transferred and grafted elsewhere. Amidst cries from a distant corner, official transcendents, horrified, realized they had become mere pawns in a power struggle. Yet, Lynn felt no guilt. Why should he worry about those trying to capture him for glory? Their lives weren’t his concern. "You are correct." Moving leisurely amid the torrent of limb-like roots, Lynn remarked calmly, "For a high-dimensional demon like you, your fate weight is such that only those of equal stature could serve as recipients for such grafting." After all, Lynn was still a Tier Two. He couldn’t even see the fate strings clouded around Kushusitannin. But what did that matter? Lynn’s sole purpose was to save Tia, ensuring Kushusitannin withdrew without claiming her life. Thus, rather than vanquish a demon's consciousness, disrupting its vessel would suffice to resolve the present crisis. In truth, the fate string Lynn grafted wasn't from Kushusitannin but from Ber Shuman himself. As the serial killer and a mastermind behind the demon's descent, Ber Shuman had a fate weight not to be underestimated. And among those present, there was someone whose fate was strikingly similar to his. Once that individual perished, Ber Shuman—the limb-bearer connected by fate—would suffer an equally invisible yet terrifying retribution, dying on the spot. Lynn prepared to snap his fingers. "Moments ago, I embedded a needle formed from concentrated agony into the brain of the unconscious fourth prince." "Though it's incomparable to what you took last time, don't doubt its potency. Killing a mere human with it is trivially easy." "For one last time, Kushusitannin, will you leave of your own accord or be forcibly removed?" In that moment, the malevolence and mocking tone on the Demon King’s face vanished, replaced by crimson wrath and murderous intent. "Try if you dare!" He gritted his teeth. "Snap that finger, and you know what consequences await!" "You humans are always talking about cost and benefits. If you can't even continue to live, and all you gain is my temporary retreat, is that a price you're willing to accept?!!!" "Merely?" Lynn seemed unfazed by his words, shaking his head lightly. "To protect those dear to oneself in the final moments of life—how could that ever be described as 'merely'?" "Enough with the meaningless chatter. Lao Ku, it's your turn to decide." "In your dreams!!! You ant, this is an eternal feud between us!!!" At this thought, Lynn sighed softly. Then he slowly raised his hand. At that moment, from a distant corner, a girl's urgent cry pierced through. Within the voice was an unprecedented terror and despair. "…Don't!!!" "Snap!" [S-level plot character "Tiya Yuxesti" has experienced a plot deviation of 37.55%.]