TOMWDET Chapter 208

The Unspeakable

 

What would a person think about before death?

 

This question lingered in the minds of Su Li and the [Tiger] before the elemental storm officially targeted Clemens.

 

But after everything happened in an instant, Su Li suddenly felt that perhaps they hadn’t thought about anything at all.

 

Above the plains, the vegetation had long been carbonized, leaving only barren land exposed. Su Li stood there, moonlight shining upon him, with the gradually dissipating elemental forces around him wildly tossing his hair about.

 

The bright white moon illuminated the earth, night winds howled, and a slight chill seeped into his heart.

 

Before the young man, there was nothing left.

 

“The battle is over,” Su Li said in a low voice, his tone carrying what seemed like a sigh, yet also appearing completely emotionless.

 

He bent down and silently picked up the long blade from the ground. The hilt was covered in dust, but on the blade’s edge, there were only the sharp scratches left by Clemens’ claws after his tiger transformation.

 

In the dim environment, Su Li’s face reflected on the blade’s surface, with scattered bloodstains on his collar. The young man’s face bore dust and bruises.

 

But shortly after, that face, still bearing the innocence of youth, gained a trace of the smile that only adults could display.

 

Having witnessed all worldly affairs, a thousand sails had passed in an instant.

 

What remained in the end was only the beautiful scenery that those who pursued death could never see again.

 

Su Li sheathed his blade and turned toward the others who were either excited or worried.

 

As he gradually recovered from the adrenaline rush, the pain from his twisted joints and various injuries caused Su Li to furrow his brow slightly.

 

Lan Zhe sighed and led him aside, stuffing several bottles of fruit-flavored healing potions into his hands.

 

“Thank Eg and Roy for their potion testing, otherwise you might still have to drink those bitter and astringent concoctions.”

 

As he spoke, the Dark Holy Son took out several rolls of bandages from his alchemy ring and carefully bandaged Su Li’s wounds.

 

Not far away, several people with excited expressions wanted to approach but didn’t dare interrupt Lan Zhe’s work.

 

Until the young man helplessly took the initiative to speak, “Is there something you want to say?”

 

“Anything you don’t understand, I can explain to you all.” His body carried the peaceful feeling that comes after everything has ended.

 

Though it was nighttime, Egbert felt that the current Su Li was like someone who had once sat in the library of Asa Academy, holding a storybook with a cover full of vine patterns in one hand, while gently picking up red tea from the table with the other.

 

Sunlight streaming through the window onto Su Li’s body seemed to say that what they called peaceful years was nothing more than this.

 

The peaceful aura emanating from Su Li allowed Egbert to control those “performances” that tried to express his concern through anxiety and panic.

 

He restrained his emotions, lowered his head and said, “How did Lord Su Li manage to reverse the power controlled by Clemens into a weapon in your own hands?”

 

During his speech, before the question was answered, Egbert’s heart also filled with tranquility.

 

Reality didn’t need to be stated multiple times in words. Su Li, sitting there quietly accepting bandaging, was the ultimate victor of this battle.

 

People like Egbert, and those surrounding them, only needed to know that the [Tiger], which others considered impossible to resist, had been slain by Su Li.

 

“I had already infused dark elements around Clemens’ body beforehand.” Su Li’s left finger joints, held by Lan Zhe, suddenly bent. “Those powers were mixed within, and though controlled by Clemens, the priority of the power still remained in my hands.”

 

Everyone pondered this thoughtfully. Regarding combat, Roy, who had quick reflexes, frowned while unable to control his eyes revealing delight as he said, “So when you chose not to fight with elements but directly drew your blade and charged forward, you were already planning that final strike?”

 

Su Li responded with an emotionless voice. “Yes.”

 

Lan Zhe gently put down his bandaged hand, confirming he hadn’t hurt Su Li before softly exhaling. “It was precisely because you only wanted Clemens’ ultimate death that you ignored everything else in the process.”

 

Su Li had multiple lacerations on his body, and his back bore a bloody mess of claw marks.

 

His right hand bone had remained fractured throughout.

 

“Fighting against such an existence, wanting to achieve victory without paying any price—I don’t believe that’s achievable.” Su Li didn’t care about his injuries.

 

His physical requirements were fundamentally different from the people of this world.

 

For instance, if Roy, as a mercenary, were injured and his wrist developed problems that would affect his future combat, his entire mercenary career would be impacted.

 

But for Su Li, this was inconsequential.

 

At most, his right hand simply wouldn’t be able to exert much strength in the future. Besides, no one needed him to help carry a whole sack of rice.

 

You had to know that when playing games and ambushing from bushes, there were still cooldown periods after exhausting skills. Using partial injuries to achieve a killing blow against Clemens, Su Li only felt this was a very profitable trade.

 

Moreover…

 

Su Li moved his right hand. After drinking several bottles of fruit-flavored healing potions, he could no longer feel any pain from his arm.

 

Believing that if the result was good, everything was good, Su Li received a series of heartbroken gazes.

 

First and foremost was Euphia. The new Alliance Guild Master didn’t want to understand this young man who was overly knowledgeable about equivalent exchange.

 

When it came down to it, the choice to use his own injuries in exchange for that final attack—one that gave Clemens no time to react—was only because these adults were useless, wasn’t it?

 

Useless in the past, useless now, and in the future, they might only become more useless…

 

“I really want to say that you don’t need to bear these burdens at all. But when I think about how we, who want to bear these burdens, are too weak to even have the ability to bear them… if I still chose to say such things, it would only seem too ridiculous.” Euphia wanted to reach out and ruffle Su Li’s hair, which still had some dust on it.

 

But even though her hand was already raised, she somehow couldn’t bring it down.

 

It wasn’t because of germaphobia—she just inexplicably felt that perhaps placing her hand on Su Li’s head would only be an additional layer of suffering for the young man who was now wrapped in bandages.

 

Mavis extended her hand, her entire body hanging on Euphia like she had no bones. Compared to continuously feeling sorry for the young man, Mavis preferred to share some of the work that might still need Su Li’s leadership afterward.

 

“Rather than considering these things, think about how to deal with that so-called [Spirit].”

 

“After all, if it weren’t for that guy, I think Clemens would have had a very good chance of voluntarily giving Su Li a dagger and letting him personally grant him death or something.”

 

Mavis muttered, “Compared to being bombarded until not even a trace remained, Clemens might have been more suited to being directly pierced through the heart by a sharp weapon.”

 

The [Tiger] only wanted death.

 

Not choosing to be devoured by the [Spirit] was firstly because he had no knowledge of this existence before. Secondly, after learning of the other party’s existence, Clemens’ brain automatically gained information about mutual devouring.

 

Like the vague sensing that Raven had before entering monster beast society, that information was granted by a higher level of hierarchy.

 

Devouring meant pure living consumption.

 

Given the choice, Clemens would naturally choose Su Li.

 

Unfortunately, without a grand performance of deception, the [Spirit]—this guy who could even be blocked by Clemens’ dark elements—would probably only learn this information after Clemens was already dead.

 

Then there would be no way to talk about capturing Him.

 

“That’s how I see it anyway.” Mavis nodded vigorously.

 

The Dark Holy Maiden had said some logically confused things, but Euphia understood her true meaning in the blink of an eye.

 

“That makes sense.” Euphia sneered. “Something that claims to represent the collective consciousness of humanity—I don’t want to be represented at all.”

 

“Moreover, that guy was originally born to free humanity from the oppression of monster beast society.”

 

“Yet it ended up creating such a thing…”

 

Speaking of this topic, the several people who had voluntarily taken over the interrogation work also began talking about the evils that the [Spirit] had committed.

 

Ten thousand years was too long, but if humans were to truly evolve from primitive people, this number wouldn’t be enough.

 

And if humans were to redevelop their own system from the fallen monster beast civilization, the current 18th/19th century would be normal.

 

But the reality was that ten thousand years ago, it was already like this.

 

Copy-pasting everything from the monster beast civilization at that time, then forcing humans to be indoctrinated and accept monster beast rules.

 

Theoretically, even in this way, humans should have developed their own path.

 

But the [Spirit]’s existence controlled human consciousness, influenced human thinking, manipulated human brains, telling humans that not only you, but all your future generations, all humans identical to you, must live exactly like you.

 

“But normally, what the [Spirit] should do is strengthen humanity, give humans the power to kill Clemens, and devour the [Tiger], right?” Willard scratched his head.

 

After all, what the [Spirit] wanted was to become stronger.

 

Qi also said, “As humanity’s collective consciousness, first strengthening itself, namely granting humanity leverage, giving humans the basic power to contend with monster beasts, would be much more convenient than Him alone as the [Spirit].”

 

Raven also said, “But how can you say the [Spirit] didn’t do this? The Church of Light is much stronger than the Dark Church in human society. It’s just that what the [Spirit] strengthened was only Himself, His existence as a conscious entity, not humanity as the source.”

 

“But His direction of strengthening is different from Clemens.” Julius pondered for a while before saying, “The latter’s development clearly seems more like advancing toward the ultimate of power. While the [Spirit], He only seems to possess deeper levels of mind manipulation abilities.”

 

Diz stroked his chin, half-summarizing and half-questioning. “In that case, if the power of mind manipulation developed to its extreme, would it be possible to control Clemens and make the [Tiger] voluntarily deliver himself to be devoured?”

 

“A large portion of those nobles in the Inner City previously were like extreme believers of the God of Light.” Ophelia sneered.

 

“Those nobles might be ignorant and stupid to the point of seeming hopeless, but as nobles, the wealth and power they possessed concentrated various information resource channels. No matter what, they couldn’t possibly offer everything to gods they had never seen with their own eyes.”

 

“This question doesn’t need to continue being discussed.” Mark shook his head. “What we should think about now is how, as a race that has no relation to monster beasts yet is closely connected to them, to intervene in the existing rules of transformed monster beasts under the monster beast civilization system.”

 

“That’s right.” The Dark Pope expressed agreement. “I think only letting Su Li’s radiance illuminate all of Amikbi is really not enough.”

 

“Transformed monster beasts who were once human, even if they no longer wish to be human, at least they should have the qualification to enjoy Su Li’s light.”

 

Dean Asa’s mouth twitched. “But my intuition tells me you simply don’t want to let go of those transformed monster beasts of mine.”

 

“Do you want to?”

 

“Heh heh heh, I didn’t say that.”

 

Speaking of letting go, which monster beast chose to let go of the humans who later awakened monster beast characteristics?

 

These miscellaneous matters would naturally be handled by the human alliance with the Winged Tribe and the mermaid.

 

On Su Li’s side, what the young man needed to face was how to solve the [Spirit].

 

When Su Li went to face that guy wrapped in countless layers of dark elements, Mavis voluntarily gave him a dagger.

 

She also said: “The idea that Clemens might once have thought of—letting you stab him with a dagger—even if it didn’t happen to be tested on the [Tiger], you can choose to point the blade at the [Spirit].”

 

“As long as you want.” Before leaving the room, Mavis half-covered her mouth and revealed a meaningful smile.

 

The subtext was that as long as Su Li wanted, even humanity’s collective consciousness could be stabbed at any time.

 

Would killing the [Spirit] cause effects on other humans?

 

After all, it did have the title of humanity’s collective consciousness.

 

Others hadn’t failed to consider this question, but when compared to Su Li nearly being controlled before, and the severe injuries he sustained after battling Clemens…

 

Whether it was Mavis, who was already somewhat mad, or others who were rational or clearheaded, they all unanimously felt that the [Spirit] had better die early.

 

Even His only value in death would be to allow Su Li, who had endured everything, to slightly vent the stifled feelings in his heart.

 

Although the person in question had no such thoughts.

 

Su Li didn’t feel there was anything depressing about it.

 

The only slight discomfort was the deep fatigue that emerged from the depths of his heart after his body recovered.

 

This feeling didn’t bring Su Li any pressure since he had experienced it before.

 

You had to know that after the fourth year and seventh volume ended, he had lain in his room for an entire month, the kind where he wouldn’t get out of bed except for physiological needs.

 

He had resolved to sleep more than sixteen hours a day like a cat.

 

Thinking that he could retire four years earlier than his anticipated age of eighteen, Su Li felt this fatigue was nothing at all.

 

The young man entered the room.

 

Western architectural style, still carrying that gorgeous yet somewhat antique atmosphere. At this moment, a small square table was placed in the center of the room. Some alien object wrapped in dark elements like a ball was pressed against layer upon layer of sealing magic circles drawn on the table, constantly clamoring.

 

Perhaps because there were too many guys with dark elements among those who came to monster beast society this time, the voice transmitted by the [Spirit] was intermittent.

 

“You… humans… you all, monster beasts…!”

 

When others discussed the [Spirit]-related matters earlier, Su Li had also listened from the side, so now facing the [Spirit] again, Su Li didn’t engage in unnecessary conversation.

 

The dagger spun in the young man’s hand. The pen-spinning techniques learned during his student days allowed Su Li, now possessing elements, to freely grip the sharp blade portion of the dagger without leaving any marks on those slender hands.

 

Su Li suddenly stopped his movement, and the voice that had been intermittently transmitting also abruptly ceased.

 

Like being covered with a filter from the underworld, or like the young man had memorized the light, shadow, and environment of this room in his heart, from the [Spirit]’s perspective, He could only see Su Li’s upper half face hidden in darkness, leaving only half a face pale as paper yet with lips red as blood.

 

The dagger was tossed up, cold light flickered, and after falling it was steadied by the young man, then gently placed on the table.

 

The [Spirit] dared not speak.

 

Because He knew he would truly die.

 

Just like Clemens.

 

When Su Li battled the [Tiger], the Dark Pope had held the restricted-to-death [Spirit] while watching together.

 

When the young man held the blade and charged forward fearlessly, it was when Su Li looked most disheveled, but also when, in others’ eyes, nothing could withstand his blade.

 

Everything in front of him, everything blocking his forward path, would ultimately become ashes.

 

Especially now.

 

The [Spirit] couldn’t see any self-satisfaction or pride from Su Li’s expression and posture regarding killing Clemens.

 

It was as if killing such a terrifying enemy that He had coveted for ten thousand years but could never devour was merely like eating and drinking in daily life.

 

Would die.

 

When the young man’s gaze looked over, He thought this.

 

Would die.

 

When Su Li reached out his hand, He still thought this.

 

Would die…

 

It was death with absolutely no power to resist!

 

It wasn’t that He hadn’t thought about trying to control Su Li again, but setting aside those dark elements that forcibly sealed Him, just speaking of human spirit and the powerful strength possessed now…

 

These were things He could no longer influence.

 

That strange body that would be penetrated by any element, as if made of elemental factors themselves—after the young man could control different elemental attributes in more refined ways, the [Spirit] no longer had any possibility of manipulating Su Li.

 

“What do you want to do!” He was fierce on the outside but weak within, and deep in his heart was irrepressible fear.

 

The young man’s footsteps, figure, even the light breathing that filled the entire room, all seemed to become unspeakable horrors.

 

For a moment, He might have wondered whether being killed directly would be better than slowly experiencing these fears.

 

Would die? Wouldn’t die?

 

Could escape? Couldn’t escape?

 

Like what people on the internet had summarized—different styles of horror between East and West.

 

What the [Spirit] felt from Su Li was everything that was incompatible with this world’s existing cognition.

 

Fear, terror, wanting to escape.

 

But none of these were useful.

 

The young man who had already walked to the table placed his hand on the table surface. He pulled out the chair, pointed with his fingertip, and as he sat on the chair, the dark elements that had been controlling the [Spirit] to death were effortlessly removed by one layer.

 

Su Li actually hadn’t clearly heard the [Spirit]’s questioning voice that He thought was directed at humanity.

 

But even if he couldn’t hear clearly, Su Li knew what He would say.

 

“What do I want to do?” Su Li shifted his gaze, his eyes lightly settling on the dagger on the table.

 

The dagger had long been unsheathed. The sharpened weapon, with its tip not matching the weight of the handle and rear half, was now slightly tilted upward at the front end.

 

Seeing this, Su Li calmly extended his pale finger, gently pressed on the front tip of the dagger blade, then quickly withdrew his hand.

 

The rear end of the dagger fell, and the heavy sound of the handle hitting the table surface made the [Spirit] involuntarily startle, followed by uncontrolled agitated shouting. “What exactly do you want to do!”

 

The atmosphere that was about to drive one insane continuously surged in this room, yet was blocked inside, unable to dissipate.

 

The moment that agitated shouting fell, Su Li quickly gripped the dagger and thrust it in front of the [Spirit], who was at the center front of the table.

 

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Speed that could surpass thought left the [Spirit] with no reaction time, only able to emit a stiff “eh-ah” sound.

 

Su Li began to laugh softly.

 

The clear laughter filled the air, like mountain spring water, bright and transparent.

 

The [Spirit] only felt fear.

 

Boundless fear, increasingly thick fear.

 

If just now it was almost driving Him mad, then now…

 

He was already mad.

 

Would die would die would die would die would die would die would die would die!

 

He would truly die!

 

The laughter stopped abruptly, and the young man’s steady voice once again filled the air.

 

“During the long ten thousand years, those who died directly or indirectly because of you can no longer be counted in millions. If judged by human law, even countries without death penalty would probably give you life imprisonment for eternity.”

 

“But as someone who was once born in a country with the death penalty, I can never accept that something worse than beasts like you could continue living comfortably for thousands and millions more years.”

 

“You should die, be cut into pieces, have your tendons pulled and bones stripped, your eyes gouged and heart removed. All the extreme punishments that humans in the world can imagine should be used on you once.”

 

Su Li’s words, clearly without any emotion, pulled the [Spirit], who was on the verge of losing consciousness and falling into madness, back to the realm of clarity.

 

He thought, how was that possible?

 

He was just a consciousness collective without a body. How could he experience those sufferings?

 

Things that simply couldn’t be done, yet continuously spoken from the mouth of someone who made Him fearful…

 

How ridiculous.

 

Because he couldn’t carry out the imagined punishments on Him, could only try to vent through various words?

 

How ridiculous.

 

The [Spirit] repeated in his heart again.

 

He attempted to mock Su Li. “You don’t dare kill me at all, only able to comfort yourself repeatedly with those useless words. But that’s also natural—you’re human, and what you can imagine at the extreme is only a part of me.”

 

“So…” insignificant.

 

“Ugh——!”

 

The [Spirit]’s words didn’t continue.

 

The dagger in the young man’s hand directly penetrated the anomaly hidden beneath numerous dark elements.

 

When Clemens died, his eyes were filled with surprise followed by happiness. What kind of emotions would the [Spirit], who didn’t even have human form, possess?

 

Su Li looked at the dagger that had pierced through the sphere in an instant, ignoring the clouds that suddenly gathered outside the window and the thunder that crashed and exploded.

 

The young man whispered: …..