CHAPTER 88: CHAPTER 87: TRAGIC! AWAKENING MEMORIES

Since Markel had abandoned his human body, choosing to transform himself into a cyborg with the Mechanical Heart, it was because he possessed unique advantages in this state.

He no longer resembled a human. His entire body was a shell of gleaming silver metal, strikingly similar to the Blue Demon. A mesmerizing, unconventional power core of liquid metal swirled within his chest.

"I’m so tired of being underestimated," Markel said. "Today, let’s have a true fight."

With that, he stomped his foot. The immense force not only crushed the stone tiles beneath him but also shattered the ground for a large area around him. He shot forward like a bolt of lightning, moving so fast that Chen Pingchuan could only catch a faint afterimage.

His opponent, the Blue Demon, seemed unable to keep up and could only swing its blade in a passive attempt to parry, barely defending against Markel’s onslaught. However, every one of Markel’s heavy punches contained tremendous power, each blow landing with an irresistible force that battered the Blue Demon into a constant retreat.

His figure flickered around the Blue Demon. The once-arrogant creature was now like a punching bag, beaten completely helpless.

Vivian, who had been standing unnoticed in a corner, scurried over to Monica’s side. She anxiously tugged at the woman’s arm, trying to get her to flee.

"Sister Monica, we have to go now! It’ll be too late if we wait! Follow me, we can escape through the secret passage."

Her words made it clear that she, too, knew of the secret passage. As a low-level logistics staffer for the Natural Church, she normally wouldn’t have access to such information. The reason she knew this secret was obvious: the woman in white before her must have told her. Their hidden relationship was far closer than anyone realized.

Monica met her heartfelt concern with a cold glare. She not only ignored Vivian’s suggestion but also gave her a forceful shove, causing the younger woman to stumble. This proved that even as an Archbishop with little strength, she was still several times stronger than Vivian.

"If you want to run, run by yourself. Don’t drag me with you. I am waiting for my God. He told me He would definitely return."

"When the Mechanical Legion blots out the sky and slaughters humanity, God’s Mecha will awaken. That day will be the day the Divine Spirit arrives. Then, God will lead his devout followers to escape this hell on earth."

"The devout will eventually reach the Divine Country, where they will live a life free from pain and fear. So I will not leave. Let death be the proof of my devotion to God."

A hint of madness colored Monica’s expression, but it was overshadowed by her unwavering certainty in the Divine Spirit’s arrival.

I’m deeply shocked, Chen Pingchuan thought as he witnessed the scene. I originally assumed the leadership here just used ’God’ as a tool to control the masses. But now, it seems there’s more to it. After all, whether it’s the fanatically faithful Archbishop Monica or the cyborg Markel with his Mechanical Heart... given the level of development here, if that strength was truly their own, the battle outside wouldn’t have been so one-sided.

Suppressing his pain, Chen Pingchuan started toward Vivian. He had noticed something wrong with the fight. Markel, who clearly had the upper hand, was somehow unable to finish off the one called the Blue Demon. Furthermore, as time dragged on, Markel’s speed seemed to be fading; he was no longer the lightning-fast whirlwind from before. His punches still looked ferocious, but to Chen Pingchuan, it looked more like the last, desperate struggle of a cornered beast.

There’s a universal law: if something has the potential to go wrong, no matter how small the chance, it always will.

Sure enough, before Vivian could persuade Monica, the battle took a sudden turn. The Blue Demon, who had been on the defensive, suddenly stopped blocking the heavy punches. Instead, it twirled its blade in a flourish, allowing a punch to land on its body as its own blade swung in a clean arc to sever the attacking arm.

BANG!

"AH!"

Despite having long been transformed into a machine, Markel couldn’t suppress a scream of terror. His arm had been cut off.

He scrambled backward, realizing he was no match for the Blue Demon. Looking back, it was obvious the creature had just been toying with him.

Markel retreated quickly, but the Blue Demon was faster. Just as Markel’s back was about to disappear into the stairwell, a blue, aurora-like spear of light crackling with electricity shot out and pierced him from behind. The hilt of the weapon instantly transformed into an umbrella-like shape, extending dozens of sharp hooks. It not only destroyed the Mechanical Heart from within his back but also pinned his body in mid-air to the white walls of the base hall.

The turn of events was swift, the battle ending in the blink of an eye.

Chen Pingchuan’s face fell. I thought we were just running out of time. Now it seems it’s not that we have little time, but no chance at all. I don’t want to sell myself short, but even with the powerful attributes from the simulation, I’m at best equivalent to Level 3 Combat Power. Against a monster like this, who could be a Level 6 powerhouse or even a Seventh-level Grandmaster, I’m utterly defenseless.

Just as Chen Pingchuan was at a complete loss, the Blue Demon spoke first.

"You... Not only are you not afraid of me, you just keep muttering endless nonsense. I’ve seen plenty of powerless cultists like you, but a female one is a rare sight."

"What a pity. I’ll have to break my vows again today. You lot certainly won’t wait around for those mindless Mechanical Men outside to clean you up, so it looks like I, the great Blue Demon, will have to get my hands dirty."

The Blue Demon’s words were merciless, delivered in an emotionless, mechanical voice that sent a chill down the spine. Wasting no more time, it picked up Markel’s severed mechanical arm from the floor. Its infrared scanner locked onto the white-clad heretic, who was still caressing the Mecha. With a gentle flick of its right hand, the severed limb became a deadly projectile.

If nothing unexpected happened, Monica would be impaled and killed by the mechanical arm.

The silver gleam and the sounds of alarm were almost simultaneous. Two cries rang out.

"Look out, Sister Monica!"

"NO! Vivian, are you insane?!"

The mechanical arm flew with great force. Even with Vivian in its path, the arm’s momentum carried it several more meters toward Monica. While it didn’t pierce Monica as it had Vivian, both of their white church uniforms were stained with large patches of crimson. Their blood soaked the snow-white fabric, making it impossible to tell whose was whose.

Monica glanced at Vivian, the girl who had blocked the fatal blow for her, and felt a pang of sorrow. This girl, whom I casually saved from a desperate situation a year ago, has found her redemption in the final moments of her life. After all these years... where is my own salvation? Perhaps only God can give me the answer.

At this thought, Monica turned away from Vivian. She carefully avoided the bloodstains on her uniform, afraid of defiling the battle armor before her. With bloodless lips, she knelt before the jet-black Mecha, closed her eyes, and clasped her hands in prayer.

"Great Divine Spirit, I am your most faithful follower. Your follower is now enduring the most painful ordeal. I beg you to save her and let her return to your side. If you, as my God, still cannot feel my piety, then I beseech you: as you obliterate the heretics, please take my life as well."

Chen Pingchuan had started running the instant Vivian did something foolish, but at his current speed, he was a step too late. He knelt on the ground, overwhelmed. Why? It’s just a virtual simulation instance. Even if someone dies here, it won’t affect reality. So why does my heart ache so much?

He reached out, his hand gently brushing Vivian’s pale face. Every strand of her hair seemed to tell an unfinished story. Her lips parted and closed, as if she was trying to say something to him, but her body was too weak to voice the lingering affection in her heart.

Chen Pingchuan pulled her into a tight embrace, trying to share his body heat to keep her with him for just a moment longer. Tears streamed silently down his cheeks. It was the first time he had cried since he’d woken up. Fragments of memory from the last two days, of this girl as pure as an angel, replayed in his mind.

*"Hello, I am Vivian from the Natural Church, and your exclusive caregiver."*

*"You’re amazing! Can you tell me how you did that?"*

*"It’s wonderful that you’re willing to help me with my mission! In that case... could you have a child with me?"*

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Why? WHY? WHY?!"

An emotion he had never experienced before surged through Chen Pingchuan’s heart.

[DING! Unknown plugin detected within the instance.]

[DING! Host’s anger meter has reached 30%.]

[DING! Host has used the Blood Key to unlock a special hidden reward.]

[DING! Bearer requirements met.]