Chapter 355

A scene suddenly flashed through Kanzaki Rei’s mind.

He saw countless people across the world, hand in hand, smiles bright and joyful on their faces, all walking together toward a massive rift.

[The Deep Realm]

"Why deny it?"

"Why resist it?"

"Why reject it?"

"There is no hatred between you and me..."

The voice continued to echo within his mind.

Clang!

Kanzaki Rei’s battle technique collided head-on with Akasei’s heavy strike. A vast shockwave spread outward—but beneath the heavens, the Ruilen Continent no longer existed.

There was only the two of them—

Fighting as if to shatter the world itself.

Yet within the battle, Akasei’s rage was abnormal, twisted—

While Kanzaki Rei’s eyes remained hollow and vacant.

"Kanzaki Rei, I don’t regret making this choice."

Luluwei’s figure appeared directly within his sea of consciousness.

Ansu silently observed the woman who had suddenly manifested there, yet said nothing.

"Being able to live according to your own desires... that’s happiness, isn’t it?"

After saying this, Luluwei fell silent.

She gazed up at the裂开的 sky within the sea of consciousness—

At the terrifying eye that loomed above, looking down upon Kanzaki Rei.

Clang—

Clang clang—

Outside the sea of consciousness, the battle continued rhythmically.

Invincible Flow clashed against Invincible Flow.

Kanzaki Rei’s physical strength continued to rise—

But so did Akasei’s.

At the same time, a faint law of destruction spread through the surroundings—

Continuously weakening Kanzaki Rei’s regeneration.

And yet—

His regeneration was also increasing at just the right rate.

For a moment, it formed a delicate balance.

Outside, more than ten seconds passed.

But within those seconds, the two had already exchanged hundreds of moves.

Shockwaves from their techniques exploded across the sky!

A warrior’s battle—

Fierce as a raging dragon!

"You’ve only been in this world for a short time, haven’t you?"

"What exactly are you so determined about?"

Within the sea of consciousness, the voice changed form once again.

But this time, it was no longer Luluwei.

Instead—

It was a slightly heavyset, sturdy man.

Huang Minzhi.

His close friend from Earth.

But already dead—perished when Earth transformed into a monster.

"To you... the destruction of Earth doesn’t really matter, does it?"

"Even if your brothers died."

"Even if your friends turned into monsters. Your coworkers, the woman you once liked—all dead."

"It doesn’t matter to you, does it?"

"After all, you’re now a transcendent powerhouse who spans heaven and earth."

"You’re no longer part of our world."

"Kanzaki Rei."

"You look down on everything from Earth, don’t you?"

"That’s why you don’t want to go back. That’s why you don’t want to be ordinary."

These words cut like blades, accusing him.

Faintly—

Kanzaki Rei felt his heart begin to crack.

The once-still depths of his heart were gradually flooded by waves of sorrow.

Boom!

A heavy sword strike severed his left shoulder!

His entire arm—shoulder included—was sliced off...

This should have been an injury that healed instantly.

But now—

It didn’t recover.

Kanzaki Rei’s mind was no longer focused on the battle outside.

Within his sea of consciousness—

He stared at Huang Minzhi.

Crack—

Even the Kanzaki Rei within the sea of consciousness began to fracture slightly.

"I..."

This is the enemy’s method. This is its attack. I shouldn’t fall for this.

He repeated this to himself.

Yet Huang Minzhi before him revealed a vicious, resentment-filled smile.

"Yeah. You’re the only one who ascended to a higher world."

"Our lives and deaths don’t matter at all."

"In fact, with us dead, you have no weaknesses. No burdens."

Crack—

With one hand, Kanzaki Rei blocked Akasei’s crimson strike head-on with his battle spear!

But from that single clash, the tendons in his left arm snapped—bones shattered—

And still—

There was no recovery.

Not only was there no recovery—

Even many of his God-Tier talents seemed to have stopped functioning, as if they had gone on strike.

"Your deaths... were beyond my control."

"Beyond your control!?"

"And that’s enough for you!?"

"Didn’t you feel even a little bit of sadness!?"

"Did you ever cry for us!? Did you ever cry for your destroyed home!?"

Kanzaki Rei lowered his gaze and looked away.

"...What would be the point?"

"Crying wouldn’t bring anything back."

Huang Minzhi froze for a moment—

Then his expression twisted further in rage.

"What are you even saying!?"

"Your family, your parents, Earth—all of it was destroyed!"

"How can you be so cold!?"

"If you truly don’t care about anything, then why pretend like you want to save something!?"

"Don’t you think you’re completely contradictory!?"

Boom!

The greatsword shot forward like a beam piercing the sun!

It punched straight through Kanzaki Rei’s chest—

Crimson light mixed with blood erupted outward.

This strike had pierced his heart.

Pfft—

Blood spilled from Kanzaki Rei’s mouth.

His eyes remained unfocused.

"I... am contradictory."

"Yuna said the same thing about me."

"Yes... I do enjoy this power."

"I can soar through the skies, traverse the earth, chase clouds and grasp the moon. With a single move, I can destroy mountains and rivers. My mind is clear, my spirit sharp—truth itself bends beneath my power."

"What’s not to enjoy?"

"Does that make me hypocritical?"

"I enjoy this power. I’ve never denied that."

"And your deaths... they do make me sad."

"But does being sad mean I have to cry?"

"Without power, there are simply things you cannot do. That’s how this world works."

"I want more power. Is that wrong?"

"Is it a sin to want to become strong?"

Luluwei: "Yes... it’s incredibly contradictory."

"If you seek power, why not embrace purity?"

"If you truly wish to pursue strength, shouldn’t you discard the things that have no meaning?"

"For example... me."

"And this burden as well."

Luluwei’s form flickered—

Transforming into Aoyama Kiyomi.

Within the sea of consciousness, Aoyama Kiyomi spoke:

"Luluwei was corrupted, and you didn’t even know what to do."

"You weren’t willing to decisively kill her, nor were you willing to let her live normally."

"Kanzaki Rei, the people around you would never be as conflicted as you."

The people around him...

In an instant, he thought of Kumironi, Akasei, Obades—

They would never abandon Luluwei.

Even Aoyama Kiyomi wouldn’t.

If it were Iz—

Perhaps, after confirming there was truly no way to save her, he would grant her a swift death.

Am I really that indecisive?

"Yes. You’re stronger than most people, so you want everything."

"You always want both sides—you refuse to give anything up."

"But do you really think someone like that can reach a good ending?"

"Don’t forget—the greatest thing you’ve gained... was given to you by someone else."

Doubt of the world.

Doubt of himself.

Doubt of others.

Within Kanzaki Rei’s sea of consciousness, these doubts churned into a massive vortex.

Vortices collided, merged, devoured one another.

His sea of consciousness—

Was shrinking.

It was collapsing.

And yet Kanzaki Rei, staring at the figure before him, seemed completely unaware of its destruction.

Aoyama Kiyomi’s figure faded.

Another figure took her place.

But this time—

It was not Huang Minzhi.

Not Luluwei.

It was himself.

His 28-year-old self, stepping into middle age.

He walked forward and patted the younger Kanzaki Rei on the shoulder.

"Wake up."

"This is just a dream. You should wake up now..."

"If you don’t, you’ll miss your flight."

"You only wanted to become the strongest in some world—so why insist on this one?"

"If it were Earth, plenty of people would willingly enter a perfectly happy virtual world and live out a complete life."

"And our world isn’t even virtual."

His older self crouched down, meeting his gaze, confusion filling his voice.

"Then why... am I resisting entering the Deep Realm?"

"Do you really feel no attachment to Earth at all? Are you really that desperate to escape it?"

Whoosh—

In the real world—

Akasei held Kanzaki Rei by the throat with one hand.

A massive hole gaped in Kanzaki Rei’s chest.

Akasei’s expression burned with rage as he lifted him.

Kanzaki Rei—

No longer resisted.

Akasei could feel it.

One strike—

That was all it would take to end him.

There was no reason to hesitate.

Akasei raised his sword again—

Preparing to deliver the final blow.

But suddenly—

A hand rested on his shoulder.

Akasei turned sharply.

"Iz..."

Iz spoke calmly.

"He isn’t fighting at all."

Iz looked at Kanzaki Rei, suspended in Akasei’s grip.

Akasei’s voice was hoarse with anger.

"So what if he isn’t? Are you saying we should let him go?"

Iz shook his head.

"The magic within him... shares too many similarities with mine."

"Perhaps there is some connection between us."

"If that’s the case... then what’s happening today might partly be my fault."

Akasei: "Fault or not doesn’t matter. Regardless of where his power comes from, what he’s done is wrong."

Iz: "Mm... I know."

"But his confusion... I can’t ignore it."

"Akasei, give me a moment."

Iz extended his hand and placed it on Kanzaki Rei’s head.

...

Within the sea of consciousness—

Kanzaki Rei stared at the rift before him.

This wasn’t the first time he had seen it.

But now, he understood clearly—

As long as he passed through it—

He would reach a world of happiness.

A world where he had lost nothing—

And would never lose anything again.

Right now, Kanzaki Rei felt—

That if he stepped through that rift, everything he currently possessed could be preserved.

He could return to the world called Earth—

Where he alone wielded absolute power, free to do as he pleased.

...Yes.

What was so bad about that?

Why had he instinctively assumed this was something malicious?

Kanzaki Rei stepped toward the rift.

But just then—

A hand reached out—

And rested on his shoulder.

...

Want to unlock up to 60+ early-access Chapters with NFSW Content and exclusive novels ?! Join my Patreon today and dive deeper into the adventure!

patreon.com/denji21