Chapter 270
The Black Tower has thirty floors.
Dark clouds surged, thunder roared, and the oppressive aura of the Titans relentlessly swept across the gloomy sky.
Ogutov's sudden appearance undoubtedly brought about a dramatic change to the stalemate, and players could even vaguely sense the system uttering furious curses from outside the void.
Many who thought he had already betrayed them were shocked, especially Speaker Moke, who had previously harshly criticized Xie Xubai.
"Could it be that the Fifth Apostle did not betray us?"
"Are they staging a self-inflicted injury?"
"Oh! Actually, I expected this a long time ago. White couldn't possibly make such a basic mistake. Who knew Speaker Moke would be so impulsive, and we couldn't stop him."
This group of people were just as critical of Xie Xubai as he was a moment ago, but now they've changed their tune faster than anyone else.
Speaker Moke was so provoked by their shamelessness that his temples throbbed, and his face turned pale and flushed in a spectacular display.
Almost at the instant Augutov's divine power manifested, a group of people stepped forward; they were the core elite technical team members at the pinnacle.
As if countless preparations for battle had been made for this moment, dozens of spiritual forces emerged one after another, with the team leader as the focal point. Their movements were swift, skillful, and uniform, like ancient troops arranging themselves before battle. Each intersecting node complemented and protected the others.
Amidst the terrifying roar of the five-clawed golden dragon, the top technical team broke through the system's powerful suppression with lightning speed and accurately connected with Augutov's faint but clear divine guidance!
Suddenly, it was as if the fog had been cleared and the sky had brightened.
Those present who had formed a mental link felt a chill run through their entire bodies, as if the system's eerie, cold gaze had suddenly shifted from a blurry shadow to the light, becoming so clear and distinct that it could not be ignored.
However, this cannot be ignored... doesn't it mean they can directly pinpoint the system's location?!
The system's firewall was originally impenetrable, but Augutov, who had delved into the system's database, managed to open a breach for them.
Now they can use this internal link to lock down the system's main program!
Upon realizing this, Speaker Moke's heart pounded. He turned his head and saw that many top organizations had already taken action, moving with the speed of precognition—clearly, they were insiders of the secret plan.
Normally, Moke, who would have been excluded, would have been unable to tolerate such concealment and would have denounced their cunning and distrust, strongly demanding information sharing.
But now he couldn't care less about anything else. He turned to his subordinates and roared an order: "All members of the technical team, immediately apply to Peak for access to the combat channel to assist their technicians in setting up attack routes! Once you find the system's main program, open fire with full force, hold back! Logistics and defense must always be on the lookout for cover and purification of mental pollution!"
Without needing any instructions, all players moved forward and backward at top speed.
Multicolored rays of power shot into the sky, crisscrossing the attack paths constructed by the top-tier technical team, resembling a siege cannon erected with lightning speed, its muzzle blazing with a scorching, chilling light—
boom!
The dark sky cracked open amidst the sudden barrage of fire, and a stream of crimson, chaotic data poured down from the breach, as if the sky itself were wounded and bleeding!
The same scene had occurred on the eve of the final battle in the previous life, when Xie Xu and Bai Yu were destroyed together, which led to the exposure of the system's main body.
This time, however, with countless cycles of blood, tears, and sorrow accumulated, the players are better prepared, more enlightened, and ready to die for their cause.
This will be a powerful and unstoppable revenge, and a defense of homeland, civilization, and freedom!
The divine blessings of the Titans followed one after another, descending upon Xie Xubai.
Xie Xubai seemed to hear Ogutov respectfully call out "Chief" in his ear, but the next second the other party's voice faded away and he could hear nothing at all.
When strength accumulates to a certain point, it leads to a qualitative leap.
Xie Xubai opened his mouth as if to shout something, but the next second his breath stopped and the words suddenly stuck in his throat.
His blood was boiling like magma as it surged through his body, and his cells underwent dozens of cycles of renewal in an instant. A series of chaotic popping sounds rang in his ears as his muscles and bones rapidly reorganized.
Godhood progress 99%!
Promotion is like undergoing a complete transformation, a process that is undoubtedly painful and arduous.
Xie Xubai's vision blurred, cold sweat poured down his face, and he almost couldn't stand. He managed to grab onto the shadow that had jumped up to support him, barely managing to avoid falling headfirst.
Seeing this, the Second Apostle Miel knew it was the best time to leave. Without any further hesitation, he smiled and said goodbye, "Farewell, White."
"Messiah" was a simulated body created by the system based on Xie Xubai's original data. It was originally intended to frame and harm Xie Xubai, but it was unexpectedly intercepted by Miel.
During the long-term possession and fusion with this body, Miel's soul was corrupted, his personality became fragmented and extreme, and he also inadvertently acquired an internal identity in the system database.
The system is aware of this, but so what?
Humanity's inherent flaws have existed throughout history, and we have seen far too many examples of them among players who have defected to the enemy.
Perhaps some people initially feign betrayal and flattery, but in the end they cannot resist the evil thoughts and greed in their hearts, and become corrupt and twisted.
Even if you can resist it psychologically, what about your physiological instincts?
Aside from god-level players who possess powerful mental barriers, how many people can be immune to cognitive manipulation?
Even god-level players are not monolithic. Miel's deepest resentment towards his younger brother Raven is something he cannot overcome, just as Raven can become resentful and distorted when his older brother is neglected and treated unfairly.
Once the contamination began, Miel's corruption was almost inevitable.
Like the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Apostles, and like the Fifth Apostle Augusto.
The system's extremely high success rate in bewitching others fostered its arrogance and conceit, and its absolute control over life and death made it unrestrained and rampant.
Even when Ogutov suddenly burned away the one percent of his soul that he considered completely useless, and forcibly tore open the firewall of the main program, it became confused, panicked, and full of loopholes.
But this is all temporary.
The higher dimension crushes the lower dimension; the system's attack on the player is akin to a dimensional reduction.
Even though its attacks were repeatedly restricted by violations, and Ogutov secretly cracked its firewall from within, it still possesses comprehensive antivirus and self-repair capabilities.
The system has now realized that instead of dealing with the players' concentrated attacks, it's better to eliminate the Fifth Apostle and completely close the "door".
So it aggressively activated its "antivirus software," locked onto the "virus Ogutov," and launched a fierce attack, turning the entire intranet into a living hell.
Miel, who was also part of the "internal data," could vaguely sense that Augutov's consciousness was dissipating.
If the pillar that forced open the gate breaks, it needs to be replaced with a new one.
He will use this method to atone for his brother's sins.
The players' attacks intensified, and deafening explosions echoed across the sky, even drowning out the thunder.
The system's disguise was torn away, revealing a chaotic stream of crimson data covering half the horizon.
A strong wind swept through the air, carrying the smell of gunpowder from the explosion, brushing against Miel's scattered blond hair and his slightly closed eyelashes.
The wind carries my longing far away, across the river of time, through the turbulent winds and rains, and finally lands in that warm and peaceful manor from years ago, where my mother's joyful laughter echoes in my ears.
Miel, look! This is your younger brother. Your father and I have decided that you will name him.
Miel opened his eyes wide, his gaze sharp, and activated Raphael's flaming sword.
Accompanied by the heart-wrenching cries of crows, the dark and mottled spiritual pollution in his soul was burned away by the sacred flame!
...
Young Miel stood in front of his mother, curiously looking at the little one curled up in his swaddling clothes.
The little one was fast asleep, its eyes tightly closed, its hands clenched into tiny fists, its chest rising and falling with its breath, its skin as delicate as snow, and it was very small.
His birth was quite difficult. His mother was so frightened that she gave birth prematurely, which damaged her heart. She was on a ventilator and treated in an incubator in the hospital for nearly half a year.
Miel tentatively reached out and carefully poked the little guy's hand, but he didn't expect to receive such a soft touch from his fingertips, like cotton.
He froze for a moment, afraid to move, lest he hurt the other person if he used too much force.
Unexpectedly, the little guy was still startled. His tightly closed eyelids trembled, and his mouth pouted in grievance.
The mother gasped in alarm, giving the father a look that suggested something was very wrong.
Upon seeing this, Miel immediately recalled visiting his mother in the hospital and witnessing the cacophony of cries from the babies in the nursery.
The shrill cry, like a demonic sound piercing his ears, gave him quite a shock, and he still remembers it vividly.
So, Miel looked at the little guy who was about to wake up and was about to cry, and his body stiffened even more, his mind went blank, like a helpless stone.
He was so flustered that he completely forgot to retract his finger. Little did he know that the little guy would swing his hand and accurately grab his finger.
In those two seconds, Miel, his scalp tingling, saw the little guy's wrinkled face suddenly relax.
As if Miel's fingers were a reliable support to him, he no longer felt uneasy, so there was no need to cry anymore.
Under his parents' astonished gaze, Miel vaguely understood how incredible this was.
He tentatively withdrew his hand, but the little one held on tightly, his weak strength stubbornly pulling him back, demonstrating his unreserved love and dependence.
Miel couldn't help but move closer. The feeling of being connected by blood was so wonderful that he was no longer afraid of hurting the little guy.
He bent down and felt the continuous warmth emanating from his younger brother, and heard the baby's heartbeat thumping like a drum, as if it were striking his own heart.
This fragile little life was born into a life fraught with hardship. It was tossed between incubators and the ICU, its skin pale and weak, its body reeking of hospital disinfectant, and it almost didn't survive.
In that instant, a name popped into Miel's dizzy mind.
“Peter Pan…”
I want to name him Peter.
[My dearest brother Peter, I hope you will be innocent, lively, brave, and carefree, living a happy and worry-free life, just like Peter Pan, the little boy in the cartoon who will never grow up.]
...
Without pausing, Miel sealed the raven's dying soul into the Flame Sword, and then placed the Flame Sword into Raphael's body.
Raphael manifested a blurry divine form in mid-air, his six wings slowly fluttering, and white feathers falling like tears.
He gazed with pity at his departed family, let out a long, sorrowful sigh of helplessness, chose to grant their wishes, and bestowed his final blessing.
But just as Miel relaxed his will and prepared to merge into the system database, a golden line, like a chain, tightly bound his wrist.
Miel's heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly turned to look at Xie Xubai.
He knew that White wouldn't fall so easily, but he never expected that Xie Xubai could endure the torment of promotion while multitasking.
No, to be precise, it's multitasking!
Amidst the hail of bullets from players attacking the system's main program, Miel unexpectedly spotted the shadow of the [White Ghost (Xie Xubai's split soul)]!
Miel, who had given up resistance, was automatically retrieved by the system. Xie Xubai's spiritual power, which was bound to Miel's soul, also secretly slipped through the system's database.
The golden lines immediately split into three streams: one continued to bind Miel, one rushed toward the system's main program, and the other searched for the Fifth Apostle's consciousness at full speed in the crimson data stream.
"I said I would bring you back." Xie Xubai's weary, pained breathing traveled through the mental link to Miel's mind. "Not one of you can be missing."
Author's Note:
Sorry I'm late, I'll be giving away 50 small red envelopes in the comments section as compensation QAQ
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