Industrial Cthulhu doesn't believe in the end times.

Chapter 65

In the beginning, it was just a ray of light that rose up, its origin and cause unknown, without beginning or end.

It seemed as if there was no sound, or perhaps it was the greatest silence, without any warning or prediction. A vast energy, as if from another universe, suddenly permeated everything on a timescale beyond human comprehension.

Su Xun felt a dizzying sensation, a feeling that had appeared countless times in his nightmares in his previous life.

Before any emotions could arise, spiritual energy began to affect every living being equally.

In the very first instant, an indescribable, strange sensation was born within Su Xun's body. Beyond the five senses, a tangible sixth sense appeared. In that instant, Su Xun felt that his entire life had undergone a kind of complete evolution.

Yes, spiritual power. It connects the real and the virtual, and is a bridge between spirit and matter. From the very first Planck time when it appeared, the soul has been captivated by it.

From that very moment on, the desire of all living beings on earth for spiritual power will surpass everything else.

Even without water, spiritual energy will flow through the blood vessels.

Sugar is unnecessary; spiritual energy will burn within the cells.

If a creature that has sensed its existence suddenly loses its spiritual power, then even the most foolish single-celled organism will fall into an even more ignorant and chaotic fear—a fear that surpasses even death.

In the second instant, the body named Su Xun began to move the energy within its body extremely naturally, like an instinct honed over thousands of years. The spiritual power that permeated all directions was suddenly touched, revealing all kinds of forms.

Yes, spiritual power connects existence and non-existence; it is the foundation of heaven, earth, and all things. From the same unit of time in which it manifests, it permeates all matter, all dimensions, and all time and space.

It is so fast, so vast, that its speed and breadth surpass human cognition—so much so that past and future, judged by human perception, lose their meaning here—it is self-existent and eternal, self-existent and eternal.

And thus, all energy that could be defined as 'elements' was deconstructed and fell into Su Xun's perception.

The superpower known as All-Elemental Affinity has begun to demonstrate its unique characteristics.

In his previous life, Su Xun could not have seen such a 'rich' world at this moment. He had started from the elements he could understand and slowly tried to contact and study more things. This current perspective was something he only gained when he reached the ninth level.

This was not beyond Su Xun's expectations. The path to becoming an extraordinary being is essentially about constantly coveting the truth of the universe and getting closer to the most fundamental 'Tao' or 'principle'. With spiritual power as the bricks, knowledge is the framework, and willpower is the foundation that supports the building.

With knowledge still intact and will still present, for Su Xun, the path to the ninth rank is nothing more than adding bricks and tiles step by step.

Of course, given the chance to start over, Su Xun would not follow the same path as in his previous life—that path had already been proven to be a failure. It wasn't wrong, but it was far too slow. In the instant Oswell awoke, all beings who couldn't reach the tenth rank were effectively sentenced to death.

The moment this thought crossed his mind, the third instant arrived. Su Xun's thoughts began to accelerate, his physique began to strengthen, and his five senses became more acute. After his spiritual power inspired his 'spirit' and awakened his 'qi', it began to enhance his 'essence'.

From that moment on, an extremely strange and chaotic perception began to appear in Su Xun's mind—

No, that's not right.

Something has been forgotten!
Almost as if jolted awake, Su Xun seemed to have grasped a thread, and in the next instant, his brain began to operate at an even higher frequency.

--why?
Why hasn't my brain exploded with so many memories since my rebirth?
Why? Why is it that even with such a clear and meticulous memory, I still can't tell how many hundreds of years I've lived?

Why is it that, even though I clearly returned from a space-time with spiritual power to a world without spiritual power, I did not feel the fear of falling into ignorance?
Why is it that even though I have already reached the inhuman ninth level, I can still pick up a normal way of thinking and communicate with others peacefully and freely?

Furthermore, what secrets lie hidden deep within this hidden realm? Why do I only remember that it contains danger and opportunity, yet remain completely oblivious to the scene at its very bottom?
And most importantly, what are the names of the 'natural disasters' that should exist on the land of the East, and why have they not left a trace in my memory?
This vast and ancient land should, in theory, have given birth to more than one natural disaster. Yet, even when someone asked, Su Xun was completely unaware that he had forgotten these things.

A chill ran down Su Xun's spine. Among countless loose ends, he seemed to have finally found the most crucial point.

Tenth-order... natural disaster?
Rebirth? Memories?
Forgot?

-

Meng Po?

When the name appeared in his mind, Su Xun's heart seemed to skip a beat. He couldn't be sure if it was this being, nor could he figure out if the other party was friend or foe, or what their background was. But he was almost certain that an extremely powerful ghost had once lingered on this land, and that his rebirth must have hidden more secrets behind it.

But now is not the time to think about these things. The tenth rank is farther away than the sun in the sky for current humans. At least Su Xun is certain that even if the calamity that is suspected to be Meng Po exists now, it can never descend upon the present world.

The secret realm needs time to 'rise', and the strength of spiritual energy in this world is also gradually increasing. At this point in time, this land simply cannot bear the arrival of a tenth-tier being.

So Su Xun quickly suppressed these thoughts and focused his attention on reality.

Then he heard a familiar, hoarse roar that went straight to his bones, and smelled the blood that was almost impossible to get rid of. At that moment, Su Xun felt an unspeakable pain in his heart.

The zombies finally appeared.

The end times have finally come.

This world, in the end, allows no room for luck.

But there was no time for grief, no time for mourning. Su Xun turned around abruptly, and a straight, jet-black command sword was drawn from its sheath with a whoosh, the blade gleaming with a white light called the element of gold.

Whether it's a natural disaster or Meng Po (a figure from Chinese mythology associated with forgetfulness), we don't need to worry about distant crises for now. The immediate danger at the Taimon base is the zombies that have been instantly transformed within the base.

As soon as Su Xun opened the door, he heard gunshots ringing out from the base. Nearby, a figure in camouflage was crawling on the ground, its feet bound by shackles, twisting and struggling. Perhaps smelling the scent of a living person, the figure tried to raise its head and lunge at Su Xun.

He... can now be called it; its pupils, radiating a faint red glow, and its veins, slightly bulging like a network, all signify its new identity.

Su Xun's blade flashed, and without the slightest hesitation, he personally led his former comrade-in-arms to his peaceful rest.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two crisp gunshots rang out. Su Xun turned his head and saw Jiang Yi holding a small pistol as she turned the corner.

"Advisor Su!"

Jiang Yi breathed a sigh of relief, as did Su Xun. This was the first acquaintance he had seen alive, which was perhaps a good start.

Upon seeing Su Xun again, Jiang Yi, who had been somewhat at a loss, seemed to instantly find her anchor. She asked, "What should we do now?"

"Clear the zombies along the way, gather the survivors, and assemble at the command center!"

(End of this chapter)