Embers Ad Infinitum
chapter-918-30041322

"Why?" Shang Jianyao took a few steps forward and asked.

Vice President—who was sitting in a wheelchair—glanced at him and said with a cold expression, "Since you're all here, you must've already made up your mind. No matter what disaster you bring to the Ashlands, you insist on escaping the New World and regaining your freedom. In that case, what's the use of me explaining?"

Flora's lips quivered a few times, but she didn't retort. Barnard and the others were the same.

The scene fell silent.

They had indeed come here with the intention of dying if they didn't succeed. No amount of reason or emotion could stop them from continuing forward.

Long periods of 'imprisonment' had made them rather extreme. As for what disaster would happen in the Ashlands, they could talk about it or make up for it after they escaped!

"It's useful! You can at least persuade me!" Shang Jianyao quickly expressed his attitude.

Amidst the exaggerated hurricanes and the intense earthquakes, Vice President glanced at him again. "It's you?"

"You know me?" Shang Jianyao asked curiously.

Vice President fell silent for a moment before saying, "You and your companions are about to come into contact with the real reason for the Old World's destruction. We have done our best to protect it, but once it spreads, the Ashlands will fall into eternal chaos and endless disaster. Unfortunately, we couldn't eliminate you and your companions in time."

"You make it sound like you're the good guys," Shang Jianyao muttered.

At this moment, Liu Chuan—who was carrying Flora—urged, "We can't waste any more time. We have to pass through here as soon as possible!"

As he urged the rest, he let another New World powerhouse carry Flora.

Shang Jianyao quickly and sincerely asked Vice President, "Why are there so many lights near the tower? Where did so many New World powerhouses come from?"

Vice President's expression changed slightly as he replied strangely, "Those are all parts of Master Zhuang…"

"Oh!" Shang Jianyao was rather excited. He then said, "Listen to me…"

"You don't have to say anything else." Vice President raised his hands from the wheelchair and stuffed them into his ears. "Thought Implantation can indeed exceed distance and have an effect wherever the sound can reach. Therefore, I don't want to hear what you have to say."

He was currently nearly 20 meters away from Shang Jianyao and the others. The perception range of ordinary New World powerhouses had been reduced to ten meters. Only some who had chosen to enhance their perception range could reach 15 meters.

Therefore, at this distance, conventional abilities couldn't affect the Vice President beyond one's perception range.

Thought Implantation could fuse its power into a voice and influence the target aurally. The New World didn't restrict sound at all.

Of course, their conversation was done through shouting at a distance of nearly 20 meters away.

"If I knew this would happen, I should've added an ability when I asked the question. However, I realized that your level isn't low and that I had to use words before 'look' and 'listen to me' to deliver good effects…" Shang Jianyao said in disappointment.

But at this moment, Vice President had already covered his ears.

Upon seeing Liu Chuan and the others stirring, Vice President asked Shang Jianyao in confusion, "Why did you talk to me just now? Aren't you worried that I'll use Thought Implantation on you?"

In order to hear Shang Jianyao's answer, his fingers that were blocking his ears relaxed a little.

Shang Jianyao had a 'what's so strange' expression. "Didn't you pay the price of having your lower body paralyzed? This doesn't belong to the Master Zhuang domain at all."

As for items, the effects weren't too good against New World powerhouses—even if they were also created by New World powerhouses. After all, only a portion of the power was extracted with the corresponding reduction in effectiveness.

"Why couldn't I be paralyzed to begin with and later choose to pay a different price?"

"Why didn't I think of that!?" Shang Jianyao clenched his right fist and punched his left palm with a look of enlightenment.

This made Vice President's face twitch, and he was speechless.

Shang Jianyao pointed at Liu Chuan and the others and said, "They all know you and should know what your abilities are. Since they are willing to talk to you, I'm definitely not afraid."

This was the real reason why he dared to communicate.

Half of Barnard's body trembled as he nodded. "Vice President has Dancing, Spasms, and other abilities in the Door of Scorching domain."

"Stop talking!" Liu Chuan interrupted the conversation. Even now, he was still a little confused.

Why did an operation that should've been of great importance become a 'tea party?' The entire situation inexplicably lost the sense of urgency!

The weird pacing made him feel like vomiting blood.

Liu Chuan composed himself and said loudly, "While Vice President is alone, let's split up and besiege him. We'll circle around and venture deeper. Time is life!"

Upon hearing Liu Chuan's words, Vice President didn't panic. He only slid the wheelchair a few meters back, further away from the deep and hideous rift.

Shang Jianyao was just about to volunteer and strive to make friends with Vice President through an exchange of blows to obtain more information when Chen Wen from the Lost Dream Church came to Barnard and the others' side and whispered, "I'll take the front and draw out his abilities. You guys circle to the side and attempt a pincer attack."

Without Chen Wen's reminder, everyone present was an experienced New World powerhouse. They knew that the key to this plan was that the participants couldn't enter the Vice President's range at the same time. There had to be an order of attack.

This way, when the latter joined the battle, Vice President had to stop the abilities he had previously used and influence all human consciousnesses again to create the corresponding effects.

The connection between the two abilities would become an opportunity for Chen Wen.

"Alright." Liu Chuan agreed.

Around the tower, the brightly lit houses gradually collapsed. Chen Wen stepped on the violently shaking ground and ran a few steps quickly, jumping over the deep and hideous gap.

He didn't stop and ran straight to Vice President.

At the same time, Shang Jianyao, Liu Chuan, and the two New World powerhouses carrying Flora and Barnard circled around the street from the left and right. They approached Vice President amidst the constantly falling dust, rocks, and glass shards.

Apart from a few of them, the remaining New World powerhouses stayed in place for the time being.

If they could quickly finish off Vice President, they definitely wouldn't be willing to be separated from the bulk of the team. After all, they might also be intercepted if they took another street.

If Vice President had indeed shown something unique from often entering the tower and rendered Chen Wen and the others helpless, these spectators would take a detour without hesitation.

The grizzled Vice President—who looked to be in his forties—lowered his hands and placed them on both sides of the wheelchair. His light-blue eyes kept staring at Chen Wen as his mind spread out, sensing the human consciousness around him.

Back then, he had chosen Increased Distance.

Finally, Chen Wen entered a 15-meter range, and his consciousness appeared in Vice President's perception.

His body suddenly convulsed. Not only were the 'muscles' on his arms and legs spasming, but his eyelids also couldn't help but droop. This resulted in him losing his vision.

What was even more terrifying was that Spasms continued at a deeper level. It also affected Chen Wen's 'brain,' making it difficult for him to focus.

Upon seeing Chen Wen's obvious reaction, Liu Chuan, Shang Jianyao, and the others immediately attacked from the side, entering a 15-meter radius.

At this moment, a moving melody sounded from the wheelchair. DUM TSS, DUM TSS…

Shang Jianyao and the others immediately followed the rhythm and swayed; they couldn't help but start dancing. They danced uncontrollably, unable to care about anything else.

Chen Wen—who was supposed to grasp the connection point—seemed to be affected by Spasm and couldn't use his abilities in time.

At this moment, he was also twisting his body to the rhythm.

Vice President was just about to take further action when his heart suddenly palpitated. He suddenly slid the wheelchair back nearly ten meters.

He wore an item from the Mandara domain, which had the Intuition ability.

Although Intuition wasn't potent considering his and the enemy's level, it remained effective. As long as Vice President reacted in time, it could save his life at critical moments.

As the wheelchair slid, Liu Chuan and the others' dance was like a dream in Vice President's eyes. It shattered, leaving only Shang Jianyao doing the moonwalk.

They had all appeared in a completely different place, exactly ten meters away from Vice President's original spot!

When Chen Wen entered the Mind Corridor, he had also chosen Increased Distance. Therefore, the moment he entered a 15-meter range, he was affected by Spasms while also making Vice President fall into an illusion.

The subsequent music was real, but the effects were fake. Liu Chuan and the others didn't dance at all and had quietly approached Vice President.

Vice President—who had slid ten meters away—had a solemn expression, but he didn't show any nervousness.