[Vol. 6] Chapter 262: The Final Dream
Countless withered branches shot through the air the moment the girl finished speaking. But before they could even touch her, they suddenly froze in place, as if time itself had stopped them. In the next instant, they shattered into dust, disappearing without a trace.
Inside a Divine Realm, a god is the absolute ruler.
Though Xiao Kong represented the beastly and emotional side of the Nine-Tailed Fox, she wasn’t just some temperamental child. In an instant, she shifted into her true form, allowing her to unleash her full strength. Her gaze locked onto the decayed tree-like entity trapped within this space, an opponent that seemed to have lost all sense of reason.
[Be careful. This monster is the shadow of the [Apocalypse]. A manifestation of fate that appeared when you and I reclaimed our divinity. Fortunately, you destroyed the mass of destructive energy that had been festering in [Mirror Valley] for a thousand years before it could merge with this thing. If that had happened, it would have become an unstoppable abomination. Even so, I can’t kill it alone.]
[I’ve already tried many methods, but its very nature seems to be rooted in the Ancient Spirit Realm. I can’t erase it, I can’t banish it, and even sealing it is barely possible. It’s almost as if it was created specifically to counter my authority over space.]
"...A monster designed to counter your powers, huh?"
It seemed like it had learned from the battle between the Fox God and the beast a thousand years ago.
But things were different now.
The chaos of the past and the current state of the world were not the same.
The memories left behind by the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden didn’t contain the exact details of that ancient war, but from the fragments and clues Violet had gathered, she could guess some of what had happened.
An indescribable being, representing the [Apocalypse], had waged war against the gods.
This led to the great [Divine Catastrophe], resulting in the fall of many deities and the rapid decline of the [Origin Realm], throwing the world into chaos and triggering a series of unexplained events.
However, the gods hadn’t just died in vain.
Everything that Dawn and Konghen sacrificed couldn’t have been meaningless.
Judging by the current situation, even if that unspeakable being wasn’t completely destroyed, it must have been severely wounded, sealed away, or forced back into slumber.
What had returned to the Ancient Spirit Realm now… was likely just a lingering echo. A fragmented projection of its power, still drifting within the remnants of its dreams.
In other words, the current threat to the world wasn’t the entity itself, but rather a rigid set of concepts and rules left in its wake, like the difference between a real player and an AI that only follows the system’s programming. And naturally, the latter was much easier to deal with.
This was exactly the outcome Dawn had hoped for before she left. The necessary step to finally free the Ancient Spirit Realm from the shadow of the [Apocalypse].
"An [Immortal Withered Tree]... it really feels like an upgraded version of the [Apothecary]."
Violet raised her hand, and a pure-white staff, as smooth as jade, materialized in her grasp.
Now that she had fully inherited the power of the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden, she could wield both divinities, [Radiance] and [Reincarnation], at the same time. Not only had all her attributes miraculously improved since her arrival in this world, but many of the limitations she once suffered due to certain game settings have also been greatly reduced.
For example, the [Dominion of the Fox Mask], which was originally a crucial transformation medium. Now she simply can just switch between "Dawn" and "Violet" at will.
Her level was still capped at 110, but in terms of raw combat power, she was far stronger than before.
Not to mention… she wasn’t alone this time.
"Xiao Kong, don’t let it move!"
[Got it!]
Even though a thousand years had passed, the two quickly fell back into their old battle rhythm. With just a single command from Violet, the Nine-Tailed Fox instantly understood and unleashed her power.
Before the withered tree could react, the space around it began collapsing, peeling away like shattered glass. The black void churned violently within the divine realm, unleashing a devastating pull, millions of times stronger than the gravitational force of the ‘Dark Stars’ at the [Heaven-Opening Sect] ruins, threatening to tear the creature apart and banish it from this world.
And yet, strangely enough, despite being caught in a dimensional tear created by the Goddess of Space herself, the towering withered tree did not move.
It was as if countless roots had anchored it firmly to the ground, resisting even the power of true divine law.
Seeing this, Violet wasn’t exactly surprised, but she still couldn’t help feeling a bit uneasy.
No wonder even a Level 100 Main God found this creature impossible to deal with.
Although it might not possess the all-encompassing power of a true god, it was like [Taotie]. A terrifying being whose sheer physical strength and absolute brute force made it nearly impossible to fight head-on, even for an avatar of light. These entities, born solely for destruction, embodied a special kind of concept that defied conventional logic.
A concept that was almost like “absolute existence.”
But Violet never expected Xiao Kong to simply defeat it with brute force. The reason she had the Goddess attack first was actually very simple.
“[Extradition].”
—Dingling!
The crisp sound of silver bells echoed through the divine realm.
The silver-blue eyes behind the White Fox’s mask suddenly darkened, taking on a mysterious black-and-white hue, like the deep abyss of the Underworld’s Sanzu River. They became impossibly deep and sorrowful, as if they could pierce into the very essence of the soul.
One after another, blood-red flowers began to bloom on the decayed body of the withered tree, spreading across its massive form like a parasite. It was as if the crimson blossoms were weaving a coffin from red spider lilies, preparing to send it back to the Underworld.
The withered tree, though incapable of speech, was clearly not mindless. Realizing the danger, it immediately shook its massive body, desperately trying to shake off the flowers that continued to spread and consume it.
But at that moment, the collapse of space intensified.
Even though it still couldn’t be banished, the absolute binding force left it completely immobile. All it could do was watch helplessly as it was gradually swallowed by the ever-growing crimson petals.
This was true divine power.
Even though they couldn’t break the concept of the tree’s undying nature, as long as the Divine Realm existed, or even without it, the difference in strength was clear. The only issue was that a permanent, hands-free seal was impossible to maintain.
After all, in the original timeline, [Taotie] that Violet had slain in the past was also supposed to merge with the withered tree. That was the true enemy the Fox God was meant to face.
The depth in the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden’s eyes grew even darker.
The moment the red spider lilies completely enveloped the massive hundred-foot-tall withered tree, something invisible yet tangible seemed to form. A thread connecting the two in perfect resonance.
[Did it work?]
Seeing that the twisted mass wrapped in crimson flowers had stopped struggling, the Nine-Tailed Fox cautiously leaned in, gazing at the rapid flickering light in the priestess’s eyes.
Having spent tens of thousands of years by Dawn’s side, she knew every ability her friend possessed. With just a glance, she understood what Violet was attempting.
“Yeah. I can already sense its twisted, grotesque nature, and I’ve prepared my countermeasures in advance. Leave the rest to me.”
[Be careful. That thing is still the Shadow of the [Apocalypse]. Even if it’s only partially manifesting through a mortal vessel, it’s not something to take lightly.]
Violet sighed helplessly, ruffling the soft fur on the true form of the fox god with a small smile.
“You’re supposed to be an almighty divine being. Can’t you sound a little more confident? Where’s that strategic brilliance you showed back at the temple? Was that all an act?”
The goddess shot her an annoyed glare but didn’t push her hand away.
[I’m worried about you, okay? You’re so heartless.]
Laughing softly, the white-haired girl playfully bumped her forehead against the fox’s head a few times, as if to comfort her.
“I’d like to say that when it comes to soul battles, I’ve never lost to anyone… but don’t worry.”
“No matter past or present, I’ve never been arrogant enough to think I’m the strongest being in existence. And I won’t recklessly force myself to win. If things truly go south, I’ll retreat immediately.”
“…Alright, I’m going in.”
With the Nine-Tailed Fox watching her with faint concern, Violet slowly closed her eyes and let her consciousness sink into the absurd and eerie realm of the [Apocalypse]’s Dream.