“How should I explain this…”
Qian Wu pondered for a moment and said, “I’ve spent a lot of time trying to understand this issue, but upon reflection, there’s one simple and straightforward reason that directly explains this phenomenon.”
“What reason…?”
“They are ‘gods,'” Qian Wu replied. “You must have heard the saying that each of our ‘Echoes’ is a form of ‘divine power.’ Though this power differs from what we imagine, it is indeed an ability ordinary humans do not possess.”
“So you’re saying…” Qi Xia slowly raised his head, “these ‘Divine Beasts’ were never human… they’re ‘gods’? So they inherently possess these abilities?”
Qian Wu nodded with a bitter smile. “Qi Xia… does that sound reasonable to you?”
How could it be reasonable?
A group of so-called ‘gods,’ imprisoning ordinary people in such a hopeless place and tormenting them endlessly…
But Qi Xia had already encountered three ‘Divine Beasts.’ How could they still resemble humans?
Whether in appearance or ability, they had long surpassed the realm of humanity.
Moreover, each of them was utterly deranged. If their powers were fueled by subconscious belief, they could almost guarantee a 100% success rate.
Thinking back, Xuanwu’s methods indeed resembled ‘Plunder’—she merely needed to reach out, and whatever she desired would appear in her hand.
But this was a terrifying thought. Just how unhinged must someone be to believe they could effortlessly take another’s organs?
It seemed that different ‘Echoes’ could manifest in entirely different ways depending on the wielder.
Unfortunately, humans were still human—unable to descend into the same madness as the ‘Divine Beasts’ in such a short time.
Yet, why did Officer Li share the same ‘Echo’ as a ‘Divine Beast’?
Officer Li also lowered his head, staring at his own hand.
Both wielded ‘Plunder’… but that ‘Divine Beast’ called Xuanwu could take anything she desired?
“I’d like to ask about ‘Leap’…” Qi Xia said. “Do you know the person who possesses this ‘Echo’?”
“If I recall correctly…” Qian Wu replied, “his name is Jin Yuanxun.”
“Jin Yuanxun…” Qi Xia nodded. “That young man who looks like an enforcer—he’s the one with ‘Leap’?”
“Yes,” Qian Wu confirmed. “It’s an incredibly practical ability. With strong enough conviction, one can appear anywhere they imagine. But that young man, Jin Yuanxun, is still a novice. He can only ‘leap’ to places within his line of sight.”
Had Qian Wu not mentioned it, even Qi Xia wouldn’t have realized that Zhu Que, Xuanwu, and Baihu all seemed to possess this ‘Leap’ ability. They would vanish and reappear suddenly, like true deities.
So it was just an ‘Echo’ after all?
From this perspective, Qi Xia suddenly felt much closer to these ‘Divine Beasts.’ If they were all ‘Echo’ wielders, he didn’t believe there was an insurmountable gap between them and the ‘Divine Beasts.’
“As for ‘Disintegration’…” Qi Xia continued, “Chen Junnan mentioned yesterday that it’s the ‘Echo’ of Dr. Zhao in our room.”
“Correct,” Qian Wu nodded. “Like Zhao Haibo, Xuanwu can dismantle objects—except her scale of destruction is terrifyingly vast. Even this entire prison could be reduced to rubble and sand in an instant if she wished.”
Qi Xia stroked his chin thoughtfully. “If we treat ‘Xuanwu’ as a participant with three ‘Echoes,’ it doesn’t sound too frightening. But I suspect the reality is far more complex, isn’t it?”
“Oh?” Qian Wu raised an eyebrow.
“I once stabbed Xuanwu in the head with a knife,” Qi Xia said. “But the sensation was… strange. It felt like plunging the blade into straw.”
“What…?” Everyone present was stunned.
Chen Junnan’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “What the hell, man? You’ve already tried ‘assassinating a Divine Beast’?”
“Tried…?” Qi Xia shook his head. “I didn’t just try—I stabbed her countless times. But not a single wound bled. I targeted her eyes, neck, chest, abdomen… yet none were fatal. How are we supposed to kill something like that?”
Qi Xia’s expression darkened as the memories of that night flashed vividly in his mind. “She’s impossibly strong and feels no pain. Could she also possess the physical prowess of an ‘Earth-level,’ along with unseen abilities like ‘Oblivion’ or ‘Immortality’?”
Qian Wu’s brow furrowed in contemplation. “To be honest… our ‘assassination of Divine Beasts’ has always been theoretical. The survival rule of ‘Cat’ is to conceal our intentions. If we act, it must be with absolute certainty of success—otherwise, all members risk being purged before obtaining their ‘Echoes.’ After all, no one knows the consequences of killing a ‘Divine Beast.'”
Qi Xia looked at Qian Wu intently. “I have a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“If you were to truly assassinate ‘Xuanwu,’ how would you do it?”
Qian Wu took a deep breath. “With luck, I could do it alone. Without it, all members of ‘Cat’ would need to assist me. As long as I can touch ‘Xuanwu,’ I have a chance to kill her.”
“What…?” Qi Xia was stunned. Killing a ‘Divine Beast’ sounded almost trivial the way Qian Wu described it. “What exactly is your ‘Twin Blossoms’…?”
“‘Twin Blossoms’—one flower blooms, both flourish; one withers, both perish.” Qian Wu explained. “Once I touch ‘Xuanwu,’ for a limited time, our lives will be bound. In other words, killing me would mean killing her.”
“It’s that simple…?” Qi Xia stared at Qian Wu in disbelief.
If Qian Wu’s ability was this unique, theoretically, he could eliminate anyone in ‘End’s End’—whether ‘Celestial Zodiacs’ or ‘Divine Beasts’—simply by trading his life for theirs.
After all, Qian Wu could resurrect, but the ‘Zodiacs’ and ‘Divine Beasts’ could not.
This three-word ‘Echo’ seemed tailor-made to counter these ‘gods.’
“So, have you decided to lead ‘Cat’ into this fight?” Qian Wu asked earnestly. “All members obey the captain’s orders. One command, and we’ll charge into the inferno without hesitation.”
“No need to rush.” Qi Xia’s gaze turned icy as he weighed his thoughts. “I fully understand how to kill a ‘Divine Beast’ now, but there’s still one thing I need to clarify.”
“What is it?”
“If we truly kill ‘Xuanwu’…” Qi Xia said slowly, “have you considered the consequences?”
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