Chapter 401: The End of Power, Fickle True Heart

The giant fist enlarged in Parriman's vision.

Like a mountain collapsing, like the sky crashing down, the concentrated will and energy created an unshakable "strength". The burning fist pierced through 74 layers of cursed energy, instantly plunging Parriman from the sky to the ground!

“——Fen Ye!”

The aftermath of the crash shattered the ground into dust, wiping out all flesh and blood within a 3,000-meter radius. The demonic influence was swept away by willpower, and the delusion of sole love could never interfere with this man's strength.

Parriman forced himself to his feet like a marionette, twirling the spear in his hand. His spear force formed an impenetrable barrier, impenetrable even to his all-pervasive spiritual power. However, by the time the spear was raised, Huan Ge had already landed, his massive body sinking into the sand, stirring up a cloud of dust. Amidst the chaotic sandstorm, he raised his arm and swung his fist. With an incredibly fast strike, he pierced Parriman's spear force and struck him once again in the heart!

Parriman was sent flying backward, a wall of flesh and blood forming to halt his fall. He swung his spear and attacked again, his roots piercing his lower body, his bloody hands clawing at his six arms, invisible spells piercing the eyes beneath his mask, his dark weapon aimed at his heart. Simultaneously, multiple lethal strikes ripped through space, like a blood-red spider swooping down with a blade.

There was absolutely no possibility for a mere particle 5 to react. Even if the consciousness was honed to the limit, the objective ability could not escape from the killing move.

"break!!"

However, common sense was violently shattered by reality. He smashed the roots with his axe, shattered the bloody hand with his katana, and the curse was directly spread out by Fen Ye. Huan Ge unleashed a torrential flurry of blows, his powerful punches causing cracks to appear on the surface of the Dark Soldier!

Parriman's mind was in a state of confusion, the collective consciousness was arguing endlessly: [No countermeasure] [No similar thoughts] [No experience]

There is no similar technology among us.

We don't know how to deal with this martial artist.

Du Ai's heart seemed to be hesitant, and at this moment, Trick's laughter rang out: "What's the matter? Are you dizzy? That's not surprising..."

"After all, in the thousands of years of the Jingsha City-State, there has only been one Captain Shuchan!"

Parriman was shocked and finally understood why Huang Ge was summoned.

He was able to easily handle the other captains thanks to the combat experience provided by the "False Hero." Duai is a collection of the remnants of the deceased, recording all the city-state's technologies and abilities. Knowing the details, there are various ways to crack it.

But Huan Ge was one of the few exceptions within the city-state system. His strength came from within himself; his martial arts and fighting style were entirely his own, and there was no way to counter them within the collective consciousness. Even if he offered his full knowledge to his subordinates, even the most gifted could never learn his full range of skills, because they were tactics designed specifically for the weak!

What means should be used? [The injustice of the weak] [The resentment of the oppressed] [The hatred of the superiors] The call of his beloved echoed like the fluttering of wings, but Parriman was unable to make a decision.

Ultimately, he's not truly "strong." While he possesses the power of his beloved demons and the courage to risk his life for a purpose, he lacks the experience of facing life-or-death situations. Once his demonic tactics fail, he loses his fighting instincts. This lack of combat prowess is the greatest weakness of a false hero.

"Stop, Second Captain!" Pariman roared. "The Kingdom of Heaven, longed for by all, is about to be completed. You are harming the hopes of the people!"

"It's time to wake up from your delusions, Parriman!" Huange roared. "You keep talking about citizenship and ideals, but what crime did the civilians who died during the Thorn Blossom Festival commit? And how innocent were the Divine Guards who died as a result of your plan?"

"In order for this bill to pass, I must—"

"Must innocents be sacrificed? Then what's the difference between you and the officers you despise?!" Huan Ge threw a fist. "With your one-sided love, what right do you have to criticize Jingsha's justice?"

Parriman was deeply shocked. He only heard Huan Ge say in a deep voice, "Open your eyes and face the reality. There is no heaven in this hellish world. There is only a home that all living beings defend with their blood and sweat!"

He threw up his weapon and threw out six punches at the same time, with heroic force hitting Parriman's hands at the same time, causing the Dark Soldier to fly out of his hands and fly high into the sky!

[Can't] [Don't understand] [No experience] [Can't understand]

The voices of confusion grew louder and louder, but what was even worse was that they were mixed with a growing sense of hostility.

【Don't want to fight】

Can you please stop?

[I don't want to be his enemy]

There is nothing wrong with his words.

Don't hurt the second captain.

“——!”

Parriman's eyes met Trek's, and he finally understood the reason for the commander's shrewd smile.

No reason.

The city-state had no reason to be an enemy of Huan Ge.

Trick bears the resentment of the war dead. Benintic symbolizes a rigid system. Harleyroa is a demagogic capitalist. Ling Feng is a cruel official who exploits the people. Their work can all be interpreted through a malicious lens, and the community always has reasons to be hostile to them.

But Huange was different. A war hero who led his troops from the front, a man who rose from a mere tree cicada to captain. His military exploits and personal conduct were impeccable. Even during the Second Order Civil War, the soldiers never had reason to resent their captain. He fought for the people from beginning to end, and therefore loved the devil alone, having no desire to oppose him!

This is the second weakness of the Devil of Love. As a prototype of a delusional demon, while possessing the potential to transcend time, it lacks a crucial "aspect." The newly born Great Demon has no name or entity, merely a combination of consciousness and thoughts. It must die after its first contractor dies before its own aspect can be born, but Parriman must not die here!

"I will transfer the power used to erode the thorny robe to my battlefield!"

Parriman immediately made a judgment: the Devil of Love had thus weakened the Cursed Heaven's control. The great tree of flesh and blood lowered its branches, covering the sky. Thousands and tens of thousands of blood-red rays converged and entangled, forming an energy channel that pierced Parriman's back.

His momentum surged once more, reaching an undeniable peak even within the confines of Particle 6. He summoned his weapon with incredible speed, piercing Huan Ge's head with a strike far beyond his limits. With Du Ai's full support, his attack had reached the limits of the Second Abyss. The disparity in power was an unbridgeable chasm. Even Huan Ge's martial prowess was powerless to defend against it, and even Trek's reflexes couldn't avert the fatal blow.

However, Perriman's spear landed in the air. The fatal blow missed, as Huan Ge's knife struck him squarely on the wrist. The knife radiated an emerald light... the cold emerald light of the Temple of Law!

At the back of the battlefield, Benintic finally stood up. In his hand, he held a broken blade that was aglow with light. The blade reflected layers of light like a mirror, illuminating every captain on the battlefield and every citizen within the Thorns.

“The heart that prays for peace has not changed for a thousand years;

The will of unity is strength, and it remains everlasting.”

Benintik chanted calmly, raising the broken blade above his head. Then, a new vitality appeared among the emerald green, the steadfast gaze of the sacred tree, the foundation for the realization of the legal system.

"According to their beliefs, they establish laws; relying on their adherence to the laws,

Punish evil and promote good, and perform duties conscientiously;

In the name of God, protect justice for all people! "

"Law Divine Art: Thornshade of Justice!"

Relying on the intelligence gathered by Trek, the Oracle's analysis finally took shape. A brand-new divine art illuminated the battlefield, the very foundation of the legal system, the spirit of upholding justice and protecting righteousness.

This spirit, which transcends the letter of the law, can unite the strength of all those fighting for justice. It will transcend the boundaries of individuals and groups and punish the "crime" itself.

"In the name of the fifth captain, I grant you the blessing of happiness."

"In the name of the Fourth Captain, I grant you the authority of the harsh law."

The two captains simultaneously raised their hands, infusing their power into the light. Trek touched the light with his spear and shouted solemnly, "In the name of the Third Captain, I grant you justice!"

Then, the brilliance of the captains converged into a brilliant flash, bathing Huan Ge in the light and receiving the ultimate blessing of the righteous law. His status was now equal to that of all the captains combined, and thus he possessed the power to fight the demons!

"Haven't you woken up yet, Parriman? You're the one who's destroying the city-state's future!!"

Huan Ge swung his blade again! Down again! Down again! Five blades intersected like lightning, instantly severing the energy pipeline behind Parriman. Finally, he swung out with the Treasure King Sword, a fierce blow that severed the Dark Soldier in two!

Parriman was blown away by the sword's wind, his limbs nearly broken in half, his body no longer able to maintain a human form. He simply used the remains of the Dark Weapon to rebuild his limbs, dozens of them forming long, ferocious, insect-like claws.

Huange wielded six divine weapons in a fierce clash, his presence shrouded in divine light, his blades nearly unstoppable. Pariman summoned a sea of ​​bloody hands in an attempt to crush his spirit, but Huange swung his sword with all his might. The slash of the Treasure King Sword was like divine light descending upon the world, severing the deepest hatred!

"True Secret Sword: Wind, Flowers, Snow and Moon!"

The exquisite swordsmanship broke the curse, and the voice of the devil's love made Parriman's heart noisy. [Powerless] [Unable] [No strategy] [Unable to cope] The insurmountable pressure of the battle gradually pushed him to a dead end.

He would fail. Even without the reminder of the Devil of Love, the reality was clear. The Oracle had grasped his only weakness, and the Devil of Love's thoughts could not ultimately defeat the hero.

He was about to lose, and then the city-state would return to the control of the old tree, and would once again follow the old path of the past thousands of years... But the development of the city-state had already come to an end. The enemies from the outside world had developed a sure-kill method for Jingsha, and even eternal time had passed its judgment.

This old path was destined for failure. If he died now, who knows how many years it would take for the next demon of love to mature, and by then the city-state would have long since lost hope.

He would never allow the city-state to be destroyed...

He must save the city-state!

"There's still a way! Since you chose me, trust me until the end!!"

Parriman's roar cleared his chaotic mind, and the devil's brutal voice was rebuked by him, allowing him to retrieve effective memories from his thousands of thoughts.

There was indeed one. An absolute weapon that the Divine Guards could never reach, a weapon he alone possessed. It was the only "truth" the hypocritical hero possessed, the condensation of everything he had gained in his life.

Parriman dropped his weapon, spreading his arms wide, letting the Treasure King Sword pierce him. His claws grasped the iron mask on his face, the only thing that represented him melting under his twisted mental power, recasting it into an iron-gray scepter.

"——Curse, overwhelming power!!"

Just before victory, Huange's movements suddenly froze. The scepter emanated an undeniable presence, controlling his consciousness like a king. Parriman seized the opportunity, gripping the scepter tightly and driving Huange back.

He dashed to the back of the battlefield at the speed of a demigod, raising his scepter and striking at Hariroa. The female captain, holding the card, remained unresponsive, and was directly hit by his attack!

"Team Five, disband..."

Halleluja was nearly incapacitated. Ling Feng, seeing the situation was dire, grabbed her and transformed into an elemental form, escaping. But Parriman pointed his staff at her, and the wind, which should have flown away, froze on the ground. He soared high into the air, bringing his staff down with a powerful blow, sending Ling Feng plummeting deep into the earth.

"Team Four, disband!!"

The sudden change happened so fast that even Trek had no time to react. Benintic was the only one to notice the change, but he couldn't intervene, his whole being focused on maintaining justice. Then Pariman came up behind Trek and smashed his scepter against his head like a hammer!

"Team Three, disband!"

“Don’t even think about it!!!”

At the critical moment, Huan Ge finally arrived and blocked the scepter with his Treasure King Sword and mixed iron rod. Beads of sweat oozed from beneath Huan Ge's mask, and he could hardly control his body.

"Hey, Trek. What is this?!"

Trick smiled bitterly: "Didn't the Speaker make it very clear... This is his 'power'!"

The true meaning of the scepter is "power." Over the past twenty years, Parriman has steadily climbed to the pinnacle of power. With the demon's help, his position as Speaker has become a tangible force. Armed with abstract concepts materialized, his presence possesses an absolute power over all officials within the Jingsha government. As long as he remains subordinate to the Jingsha government, there is no reason for him to resist!

"You must... obey my orders!"

Parriman breathed heavily, and with the spirit of a martyr, he spoke out his heartfelt words.

"I am the leader chosen by the 1.7 billion people of this city-state."

"I contain their will. I carry their wishes. I must become a true and perfect hero..."

"Defeat you right here! Lead the way to the coming of heaven!!"

Finally, the scepter broke the defense. Huan Ge's weapon flew free, and the strongest force was annihilated. Yet, at the same moment, Trick smiled once again. The compass needle of justice spun in his hand, its tip pointing straight ahead!

"Then, let's listen to the voices of the citizens."

Trek pressed the compass, and he and Huange vanished simultaneously, replaced by a ferocious, enraged beast. The beast roared, its fur easily blocking the Staff of Power. Its heavy claws swung out like fists, striking Perriman squarely in the head!

"--you?!"

He knew the beast. Any citizen who had visited the Third Pulse would likely recognize its massive form. It was the seal manager of the Aquatic Bookstore, a veteran of Seismic Point 5. It certainly possessed some strength among the Seismic Points, but even so, it could never possibly stop the scepter... absolutely impossible!

The otter editor poked his head out. "What's the matter, Parriman? Keep showing off your little toys."

The Crucian Carp manager was furious: "We want to see what effect that thing can have on us!"

With a bang, a deadly bullet pierced Parriman's head. A sea of ​​mist followed, sweeping him away with resolute determination. Parriman swung his scepter again and again, but his overwhelming power had no effect. Furthermore, the force was steadily weakening!

Parriman was deeply shocked. With the help of the Flesh and Blood Tree, he quickly locked onto the source of the change, but at this moment, he was helpless. Because there were too many sources, too many!

In the center of Mansa Star Castle, inspectors are using the sacred tree to clear the roots.

Around the barracks, soldiers wielded weapons to cut off branches.

Farmers carried farm tools to weed, amusement park employees burned the bloody branches, and people from every household walked out of their houses and picked up the tools at hand to eradicate the strange branches.

Somewhere under the umbrella of poetry, Li Ke was raising her arms and shouting, "We can't let the captains fight alone. Let's lend them a helping hand!"

"Now is not the time to sleep in!" "I don't want these things coming through my door." "Stop the stupid politicians." "The captains are fighting!"

Hundreds of millions of people opened their eyes and cut off the branches of their own love through their own actions. They were bathed in divine light, the light of justice released by Benintic.

Indeed, the public is often ignorant of the truth.

They tend to be extreme, emotional, and indulge in wishful thinking.

But even so, this country has a kind heart.

After witnessing the truth about the referee of the past, after seeing firsthand the true nature of the devil of love, after seeing the captains fighting so hard, even an ignorant child knows where justice lies!

"The curse of power is truly a surefire way to defeat us, the captains of the Divine Guard... Unfortunately, Speaker, you seem to have missed one point," Trick said coldly. "Your power was granted by the people, and they can take it back at any time!"

"You step down now, Zan Van Parriman!!"

Parriman remained silent, approaching with his weakened staff. Trick took the broken blade of Justice from Benintic and faced the Speaker head-on. Then, both men accelerated simultaneously, like spectral figures of different colors. Their weapons clashed rapidly, Parriman's face cracked, and faded bark flew like paper. He suppressed his emotions, yearning for a final chance of victory. Take that blade, and if he could defeat Justice, he still had a chance...

Just defeat... Justice...!

“Hahahaha, hahaha, hahahahahaha!!”

He laughed heartily at the ridiculous premise, and then the absurdity turned into pure rage. He slammed his scepter down and shouted, "Why are you trying to stop me?! Can't you hear the cries of the dead?!"

"I heard it clearly." Trek said calmly.

"Every night, I think of the battlefield. When I close my eyes, I can see their faces. I know the consequences of my decisions. I know that those brave soldiers, each one of them, has fear hidden in his heart."

"And I know even more clearly that their sacrifice was for the happiness of more people, and they fought for the prosperity of Jingsha, not for your so-called delusion of 'exclusive love'!"

"You can hate me! Torture me! Kill me! But I will never allow you to insult their deaths!"

The scepter fell to the ground.

The sword of justice pierces the chest.

The curse that maintained immortality was finally broken at this moment.

The tree of flesh gradually faded into shadow, and Parriman, transformed from his fused form into a fragile human. His body gradually crumbled, like dust. In the final moment, he raised his empty eyes and gazed at the soldier before him.

"I resent you, Jas Trick."

"You can hate me all you want." Trick put away his sword. "I will carry this hatred with me and continue to fight."

What a bold statement.

How many were deceived by it. How many willingly went to the battlefield. How many died believing they had meaning.

Yet, there was a regret, otherwise he wouldn't be standing here. He tried his best to achieve his goal of clustering, but ultimately fell short.

The voice in my heart gradually became unclear.

The public's will seems to be slowly changing.

The voice of love for one grew weaker, the voice of unity grew stronger. They were changed again, just as they had always been. But he held no grudges. No regrets.

Because he understood better than anyone that the will of the crowd was always so fickle.

It was this wavering heart that had saved him.

The Speaker's iron mask collapsed. At the last moment, he raised his hand that was about to dissipate and placed a piece of the shattered mask in Trek's hand.

He was reluctant. He hated this man. He wanted to curse him.

But the fickle cluster has new aspirations.

He will definitely make it happen.

Trek clenched his fist, clutching the beloved fragment. Parriman's faceless features twitched for a moment, as if trying to smile.

He completely disintegrated and turned into colorless sand.

(End of this chapter)