Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 536 536: 458_1

Then, ST never won again.

The ship drifted across the sea, came to America, then turned south toward Antarctica, until after crossing through the Drake Passage. In total, they played ninety-one matches.

She had only won the very first match.

After that, Huai Shi, having slowly figured out the tricks, began his relentless rise. He skillfully used various card packs he had never seen before to repeatedly push ST into a hell of despair.

After all, he was a decent player, a Saint in Silent Crown. Even if it was a different type of game, he at least had the foundation of his past experience leading others up the ranks.

With ST's help, once he got past the beginner stage, he began to prosper greatly, winning to an extent he himself could hardly believe.

Challenge Mode, Abyss Mode, Epic Mode… He breezed through them all. He even barely scraped past the highest AI difficulty in the board's training mode. His progress was unbelievably smooth.

"Maybe I'm just lucky?"

In the seventh round, Huai Shi threw his last spell card, accurately decapitating ST's Character Card. The victory BGM and special effects popped up instantly.

And Madam Sophie had sunk deep into despair.

Sitting in her chair, head lowered, she repeatedly murmured things like, 'I can't even beat a newbie,' 'They're all acting,' 'Losing to a Guardian of the Heavenly Kingdom isn't shameful,' and so on.

It was as if she were surrounded by an invisible cold rain and chilling wind, looking utterly miserable. This instantly made Huai Shi's expression more helpless. "Um… how about another game? If you can hold on for ten rounds, you win. How about that?"

You're mocking me! ST really wanted to lash out at him.

But the Card of the Ages was just too much fun… She gritted her teeth, restraining herself, but finally couldn't help but nod.

Then, this time she didn't even last six rounds…

"No more playing!"

"What a lousy game!"

"Damn developers, scamming my money!"

Madam Sophie angrily pulled an Axe from her pocket, raised her hand, and smashed it toward the board in front of her. Startled, Huai Shi hurriedly stopped her, "Big Sis, calm down, Big Sis! Don't stoop to this garbage game's level. Why don't we play Silent Crown instead? They recently increased the card pool drop rate; the SSR appearance rate is 3.5 percent!"

"I'll carry you!"

"I'll help you rank up, how about that?"

At the other end of the cruise ship, KP, holding a telescope, was laughing so hard he was about to roll off the deck and into the sea, banging on it like crazy. It wasn't often he saw ST flustered. These past two days had felt like a festival to him as he collected new material every minute. His camera's memory cards were already full—three of them.

"Wow, aren't you guys comrades?" Raven was totally stunned. "Why persecute each other?"

KP turned around, looking blankly at her. "Isn't it joyful to bully comrades? I thought you were the type to understand..."

Raven also wanted to say he was mocking her, but… bullying her own Contractor was indeed too much fun.

The two exchanged a glance, then unanimously high-fived.

Nice!

After filling up another memory card, KP finally put down his phone, contented. He wiped away tears of laughter and then made a great effort to put on a sympathetic look. "I can understand her conflicted feelings now… After all, among us, she and Lily had the best relationship."

"That child was like a daughter and sister to her…"

KP lit a cigarette and shook his head. "Huai Shi was the one who personally saved Lily, just there to complete the final step. But for ST, it's like her own family is being taken away… You understand?"

"Like raising an adopted child for fifteen years and then opening the door to see the irresponsible biological parents standing there?"

"It's a bit off, but pretty much."

KP shrugged. "So, among the three of us, I'm the most relaxed, and ST is actually the most distressed. If it were possible, she would never bother Huai Shi, no matter the cost, to pave the final step for Lily. But now, the person who can help Lily truly complete her metamorphosis isn't herself. It's definitely disheartening. But no matter how disheartened, she can't direct any anger at Huai Shi; after all, he achieved all this. So… she's just plain sad."

"I know what you mean." Raven sighed, "It's like coming home to find your family's Fool trying to raise pigeons. That feeling of frustration is truly indescribable."

"Really?" KP was taken aback.

"Not really." Raven looked over with pity. "I was just playing along to show I understand you."

"Alright, back to the original topic... where were we?"

"Frustrated, but helpless," Raven reminded.

"Right, frustrated."

KP sighed. "That's why she's so eager to give Huai Shi a hard time, huh? But because of her own principles, she can't maliciously set traps for players, nor can she deliberately throw the game. The prepared trials can't be too excessive, nor too easy. In the end, no matter how hard she tries, she still wants to make things difficult for him, just a little…"

Raven couldn't help sighing, "That's just like a child throwing a tantrum!"

"Don't you find it amusing?"

KP turned and asked, "Back then, she was the most popular administrator in the Heavenly Kingdom. Although her personality hardened after the fall of the Heavenly Kingdom, now she's willing to go easy on Huai Shi for Lily's sake. Heh heh, ST really is the cutest…"

Raven moved aside with disdain, "You seem like such a creep."

"I won't lie to you, I've felt the same about myself."

KP waved his hand, and the cruise ship's trajectory changed in an instant.

Under the Creator's framework, the massive cruise ship vanished in an instant, then reappeared miles away, having dodged a sudden, massive whirlpool on the sea surface and the ghost ship slowly emerging from within it.

Above the original sea area, the ghost ship that rose from the whirlpool circled aimlessly for a moment, then vanished without a trace.

KP shook his head helplessly.

"How many times has this been now?" he asked. "The eighth, ninth?"

"Honestly, I haven't been counting." Raven whistled. "You guys just keep up the good work."

"I don't mean to criticize," KP couldn't help but complain, "but isn't your Contractor too bizarre? What kind of fate is this? From Indonesia to here, we first encountered Daguan passing by. Then, in Australia, we ran into a black storm. We barely made it to Canberra, nearly getting dragged into the Sand King's mess. And after boarding the ship, it's just been one disaster after another."

"Think about it. Pirates with an Egypt Genealogy letter of marque trying to rob us. The traitor from the American Genealogy who was planning to board. Destructive Element·Poxun's Reflection. Atlantis, which suddenly opened last night. And just now, that ship clearly belonging to the lost Arctic Ocean Genealogy's Source... According to the Darknet, there are at least ten 'adventure modules' chasing him. Wherever he goes, trouble erupts. What kind of cursed luck is this?"

"I don't want this either."

Life is hard, Raven sighed.

"Isn't it all the pull of the Book of Fate? I've tried to change it before, but the more I changed, the worse it got, right?

The Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy needs a master. After so many years of waiting, the Correction Value it's generated must be nearing its limit.

As long as Huai Shi holds the Book of Fate, this yearning from the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy will continuously alter his fate, sending him on a rollercoaster ride into all sorts of trouble. In the end, he'll either rapidly grow stronger or rapidly 'cool down.'"

"Haven't you thought of other methods?"

"Soloist."

"To tell the truth, that's still not enough."

"No choice then. We'll just have to change it again. I've tested it a few times, just waiting for this moment when he advances."

Raven rubbed her small wings, sounding confident. "When the time comes, I'll transfer all the influence of the Book of Fate onto his love life! That way, for at least five years, the Book of Fate's influence won't be too outrageous."

KP was left dumbfounded. ...Somehow, I feel this approach could easily lead to an untimely death.

"What do you mean you 'feel'?"

Raven felt he was underestimating her Fool and couldn't help but retort sharply,

"—It's absolutely going to be fine!"

"So why the hell are you laughing?"

"Because I thought of something delightful," Raven glanced at him, "Why are you laughing?"

"I... also thought of something delightful..."

Setting aside how his household's scheming woman was secretly making his future more difficult.

When Huai Shi finally helped ST reach Gold rank, a high-pitched ship's whistle blew.

Antarctica had finally arrived.

Digging out sweaters, thermal pants, heavy coats, and the 'Slipped Crow' winter jacket he had specially bought from Bingxi Xi before departure, Huai Shi, wrapped up like a ball and shouldering his backpack, laboriously disembarked.

He was met by a piercingly cold wind and an endless expanse of ice and snow.

Far off, a portly Antarctic Bear crouched on an iceberg floating on the sea, head lowered as it ate a seal, its white fur almost merging with the ice and snow.

Not a single seabird was visible in the sky.

All he could see was a sky that looked frozen by frost, endless falling snow, a white land formed by glaciers, black rocks, and the deep blue sea.

No sounds of bustling could be heard.

Beyond the research station, the world was silent, a desolate landscape stretching to the horizon.

The Stigma of the Mountain Ghost had long since weakened.

In this absolute low temperature, despite possessing the vitality of many Abyss plants, it still struggled against its inherent nature and environment.

A deep lethargy and drowsiness kept emanating from the Stigma, as if trying to lull him into a deep sleep to endure the long winter.

But his body felt the complete opposite, buzzing with excitement, full of vigor.

His blood surged, his muscles pulsed with exhilaration, and every step he took brimmed with energy.

Gazing at the boundless icy landscape before him, Huai Shi couldn't help but let out a heavy breath.

Suddenly, I have the urge to go dogsledding…