Chapter 1386
Chapter 1386 - 1382 Part Four
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7 min read
"Who is she?"
"Why is she here? Why is she crying so sadly... Why do I also feel sad?"
In that moment, Bane found himself perplexed.
It was not simply a matter of illusions... To think that the capabilities of high-tier scholars were limited to fantasy and mental manipulation was to severely underestimate the "Unowned-Path," a pathway prolific in producing top-tier strongmen.
"Doomsday. The traveler who can never return home."
It is common sense that a trilogy must have a fourth part.
This painting represents the end, but is also, in fact, the beginning.
One could say that for the sake of this little bit of jealousy... Lu had spent a lot of resources on the first three paintings, which were consumable items without a "core," with actual strengths ranging from Upper Silver to Lower Gold.
For Decree-level beings, killing one was as sure as shooting fish in a barrel, but if the real target was just at Decree-level... how comfortable it would have been for Lu Ping’an to solve the problem with a single punch, instead of wasting so much time and resources.
"She... Who am I? Why is she crying on my back so sadly, I... That’s right, I’m her husband, the husband she has long awaited but who could never return home and perished on the Snow Mountain..."
The Painter of Desperation paints a multitude of stories, and once you step into the reach of his ability, you unknowingly become a character in his paintings.
"If it’s just about replicating images, a camera would suffice. What’s the need for a paintbrush..."
A painter is a branch of the scholars, while Lu Ping’an, as the Painter of Desperation, draws "desperations," depicting with his brush the stories of lives that have encountered their end.
In the eyes of others, at this moment, the powerful Bane was also lost in confusion.
The most evil curses, like the Nail Head Seven Arrows Book, step by step drag life into the abyss... To a certain point, the power that kills you actually originates from within yourself. For professionals, only "Self-cursing" is the most challenging to resist.
The painted realm, or rather the story depicted by Lu Ping’an, merely "defines" your existence, making you believe that you are indeed the protagonist of the painting.
At this moment, bizarre runes spread across Bane’s body, and gray-black ripples crawled out from his shadow.
Do you think that by not trading or speaking with contractors, you can avoid the contractors’ scheme?
You’ve seen my painting, listened to my story, and immersed into my world view, so you should accept my "redefinition."
"...No... that’s wrong... I am Bane... I..."
He tried to wake up. In fact, his sanity was always there; however, the "husband" who was an apparition returning to life had "awakened" on him.
When it comes to malicious intent, Lu really never lost.
The entire trilogy is a prelude to this ending, merely an "overture" to draw you into the story.
Perhaps you could easily crush it, but as you try to understand, reject, or tear it... in reality, you have recognized it, accepted it, and subconsciously projected yourself into it.
"When you look at a painting, the person inside is also looking at you. Your subjective imagination of the painting, isn’t it just a reflection, a refraction of your perception of the surroundings..."
Malice spread rapidly. Facing a formidable enemy like Bane, Lu Ping’an did not hesitate; he promptly used his trump card.
"Ah ah ah, they, they’re coming..."
That Female Ghost from the Foreign Domain was the core of the Secret Realm, as well as the protagonist of the dream realm.
She stood up in terror, embracing the still-struggling "husband"... In that moment, the single protagonist in Lu Ping’an’s storybook became dual protagonists, and Bane was completely dragged into the painting.
Or, to put it another way, having been lured into the scheme by the first three paintings, he became the subject of the fourth "painting."
The Ghost Soul embracing the "husband" could only scream, while the Spider Demons that once hunted her reappeared.
They crashed directly into the beast tide, utterly unstoppable.
They tried to hunt down that couple, the last survivors in the midst of Doomsday.
"Weakness."
"Withering."
Bane swung the black wand in his hand vigorously; a Rule-level Death Triad was instantaneously unleashed.
In just an instant, grey and black halos flashed by, and those terrifying spider demons all turned to ashes.
At this moment, Bane had completely regained his sanity... or rather, he had regained control over his own body. He looked towards Lu Ping’an and saw a smiling face and a finger.
"Hey, take a look at your chest."
The spot the other was pointing at was his heart, where logic told him not to look, but an instinct of spirituality signaled to him that this was the source of trouble.
Crying, once again, came from all around.
Without hesitation, Bane tore open the clothes on his chest, only to see the woman crying again on the wrinkled skin.
And when Bane subconsciously looked at her...
"Ah ah ah ah, they’re coming again, we’re doomed..."
Despair and sorrow began to spread as the ominous spider demons reappeared, this time seemingly a bit larger, more ominous.
But still, they could not stop the formidable "World Devourer".
He fiercely struck the ground, and the next moment, four gigantic "Single-mouthed Strong Monsters" appeared.
They were immense and powerful, Bane’s trump card... but now, it was clearly not the time to hold back.
The spider demons were once again torn apart, dismembered, and devoured. Within just a few seconds, peace was restored, and Bane subconsciously looked toward his own chest, where he should...
"Ah ah ah ah ah..."
Screams descended once again, and this time, within that glance, he realized the woman had become more lifelike, not only sporting more colors but also having some "human characteristics".
At the same time, unbeknownst to him, his already sufficiently aged face began showing more age spots.
"The Final. The Traveler Who Couldn’t Return Home," the original painting in Lu Ping’an’s hands had turned to ashes.
And now, the new essence of the painting resided on Bane.
Lu Ping’an’s malice had become reality, Bane was not only the figure within the painting but also the viewer. Every time he looked at the painting, he naturally "projected" himself into it.
It was a malevolent curse, specifically prepared by Lu Ping’an for top adversaries.
Why not simply avoid looking at her? Some things, the more you try not to care, the more they come to mind, and once remembered...
"Get lost!"
The newly expanded Bane easily shattered the sixth wave of spider demons.
But this time, they were not only larger, but their numbers also reached over thirty... and Bane himself was aging at a rate visible to the naked eye.
As a "painting" continuously activated, naturally, it consumed his own power and life.
At the same time, the "woman" in the painting was becoming increasingly vivid, more and more like a real person.
"Ah ah ah ah ah!"
This time, it was Bane who screamed. He tore away a piece of his flesh, attempting to completely rid himself of this eerie curse.
"They, they’re coming again..."
Yet the discarded flesh lay on the ground, and on the fresh flesh above it, the despairing female ghost screamed once again.
It, or she, had gone through countless reincarnations, and now it had just acquired a "companion," how could it be easily stopped.
"Lu Ping’an!"
This time, Bane’s eyes were filled with hatred.
He faintly perceived that he had become the source of this curse. Even if he killed Lu Ping’an, it would not solve the problem.
He would probably have to endure while seeking professionals to exorcise this curse...
"Uh, did you call me?"
And Lu Ping’an, who had been not far from Bane just a moment ago, was already silently standing at the edge of the battlefield, smugly waving at Bane.
— End of Chapter 1386 —