novelraw Chapter 143 : Chapter 143
Chapter 143 : Chapter 143
Chapter 143 : Comic Extra: The Empire’s Prophet Isn’t Sleeping
The ostensible reason was to celebrate the anime’s conclusion, but the real reason was that the manga artist’s cousin brought a pink-eyed rabbit to visit again.
That day, the manga artist shut the door to all guests and worked through the night to finish an extra chapter.
The extra was titled—《The Empire’s Prophet Isn’t Sleeping》.
“I’m telling you, the name screams tragedy. The title alone is full of glass shards!” Jiang Lan, a seasoned fan, said to her best friend Luo Han before diving into the extra.
They were on a call, and Luo Han was flipping through the manga too.
She responded, “Are you reading it?”
“Of course!” Jiang Lan said without hesitation. “It’s the living Male god! Even if it’s a big knife, I’m reading it!”
Luo Han suddenly sighed, “Yeah, it’s not an illusion. Since the manga ended, we’ve seen the living Heige bigshot.”
After her words, the air fell silent. Both sighed in unison and started reading the manga, already stabbed with heart-wrenching pain.
The two chopping boards prepared their knives and tissues.
Then Jiang Lan turned to the first page of the manga extra.
The first page was a single panel of Heige.
In the image, the black-haired youth faced sideways, elbow resting on the window frame of a wing-horse carriage, hand lightly supporting his chin, gaze seemingly directed outside yet unfocused.
The page was in color.
The sunlight outside was perfect, as if even the passing building walls were painted with golden light, turning them resplendent.
Light streamed in from the window, but the youth leaning against it was backlit, as if sinking into shadow.
In that instant, the dividing line between light and dark was so stark, the jarring sense of disconnection so intense.
The youth’s lips seemed to curve into a faint smile, yet it carried a trace of loneliness.
Because this wasn’t a journey home—it was a desperate, all-or-nothing path to death.
“The Male god is so handsome,” Jiang Lan sniffled. “But why do I want to cry so badly?”
She was at the point where just thinking about the manga’s ending could make her wail.
Jiang Lan covered her nose, rubbed her eyes, and after a moment, continued flipping.
“Is Floating City beautiful?” The scene shifted.
The pink-haired princess sat opposite, hands elegantly placed on her lap, back straight, asking seriously.
She was the city’s most noble flower, adorned with jewelry that matched the mood.
Sunlight illuminated her face, making the jewels at her neck sparkle.
But light and dark drew a boundary.
The youth in the shadows slightly turned his head, answering carelessly, “Beautiful.”
Then, in the next panel, he turned his head, as if smiling at someone beyond the frame.
“An empty beauty.”
Jiang Lan had seen this expression in the main manga—exhausted, listless, with a hint of sickness, as if—
In the next second, he could fade away bit by bit into the shadows.
“So, everything he wanted to protect wasn’t by his side, and that’s why he showed that expression?” Luo Han’s voice came softly through the phone, sighing. “Princess Wuyu is an enemy, but he didn’t need to pretend to be flawless in front of her.”
“Master, stop analyzing, I’m really crying!” Jiang Lan pulled out a tissue to wipe her eyes, then said, “This scene must be right after he killed Shuang Buyan, during Little Corgi’s birthday. Little Corgi told Heige not to hurt those around him, to kill him instead...”
“It’s too damn heartbreaking!” Jiang Lan wiped her nose fiercely with the tissue, as if pinching that idiot Little Corgi. “Serves him right for being her brother!”
“Don’t make me recall Extreme Black’s ending!” Luo Han wailed. “The worst knife isn’t not knowing from start to finish—it’s finding out at the last moment! Unable to change or stop anything—that’s the sharpest knife!”
Jiang Lan sniffled and kept flipping.
So far, the cover page had appeared, and the manga shifted from color to black and white.
In the black-and-white scene, in a grand hall symbolizing power and status, high-ranking noble ability users from the manga’s final chapter sat on either side of a long table.
They were the elite, standing at the world’s peak, bowing to no one, arrogant and immensely powerful.
But in this scene, they were either impatient, cautious, or expressionless.
All their gazes converged on one spot.
A seat beside the imperial emperor, symbolizing supreme power—empty.
“The Prophet never shows up?” someone asked, lips tight, suppressing emotion.
At another seat, Princess Wuyu turned to the empty chair.
A trace of shock flickered across her pretty face, but in the next panel, she spoke with her usual dignity, “Let’s begin.”
A haughty noble snorted, “The imperial family went to great lengths to keep the Illusionist in Floating City, but that commoner keeps thinking about those traitors—just a commoner, mud that can’t be shaped, forever unable to learn what dignity means.”
Princess Wuyu’s fists, resting on her knees, tightened.
She seemed to want to say something, perhaps to retort or disagree.
“He is the Prophet chosen by the imperial family. Mind your words.”
Outside the manga, Jiang Lan put down her phone, clutching her heart.
She couldn’t hold it together, her voice trembling, “In the final chapter, commoners and non-high-ranking Tide members said the Illusionist could kill him directly, the only madman capable of it, abandoning everyone for wealth and glory—but in the nobles’ eyes, he was always a traitor, an unforgivable madman who gave up everyone’s trust for a pile of scrap metal.”
“I knew it would hurt, but not this much!”
On the other end of the call, Luo Han was already crying.
“Wahhh, my Heige bigshot, the best Heige bigshot, they didn’t cherish him…”
Continuing to flip, Princess Wuyu walked through the palace corridors, climbing stairs to a balcony.
Ahead of her, the one who should’ve been in that empty seat had dragged out a lounge chair, basking in the breeze under a sky no longer clear.
Sunglasses hid the Illusionist’s eyes, making it impossible for Wuyu to read his expression.
“Prophet,” Princess Wuyu called first, then said, “You didn’t attend the meeting again.”
In the panel, the black-haired youth didn’t move, as if he hadn’t heard her.
Outside the panel, Jiang Lan, hiccupping, stubbornly said, “I’m done. Seeing the Male god like this reminds me of Yu Xiao the Prophet, that night with only him, that glass of milk he couldn’t drink.”
“Think positively,” Luo Han’s voice was muffled, as if covering her mouth and nose. “Maybe he’s just unwell, lying down to rest.”
The forum had debated the Illusionist’s physical condition for rounds.
The most agreed-upon theory was that his health started declining at the Dawn Arc’s beginning.
The evidence: before the Dawn Arc, Heige would kick down doors; after it began, he only acted when Tide was outmatched.
“Shut up, you’re better off not talking!” Jiang Lan felt another knife fly at her, piercing right through. “Don’t mention lifespan or experimental subject side effects! I’d rather he’s just sunbathing!”
“Is there even sun to bask in there?” Luo Han said softly.
“Wahhh, shut up!” Jiang Lan sobbed.
Wiping tears, she flipped further. In the manga, getting no response, Princess Wuyu asked again, “Prophet?”
Wuyu stepped closer, and the youth’s figure became clearer.
Wearing a long black trench coat, the Illusionist on the lounge chair had his eyes closed under sunglasses, as if napping.
But as Wuyu approached, those slightly closed eyes opened, glancing warily to the side.
Then he returned to his usual casual demeanor, lips curving slightly.
Even in a still image, it was as if you could hear his teasing voice, “What’s up?”
It was as if he hadn’t heard Wuyu’s earlier words.
“It’s confirmed. A high-ranking ability user not noticing a non-ability user’s approach?” Luo Han murmured over the phone. “His physical functions are definitely declining…”
“Why wasn’t anyone by his side back then? Why is it so painful!” Jiang Lan cried. “Is the manga artist trying to run me over with a dump truck? He won! He won completely!”
In the manga, after a moment of surprise, Princess Wuyu patiently repeated, “You didn’t attend the meeting again.”
“A bunch of people sitting together, arguing over useless stuff?” The black-haired youth sneered, then said, “Boring.”
Wuyu’s face showed a hint of disapproval, but before she could retort, the youth seemed to think of something.
He turned his head on the lounge chair, looking at her, “If you’re really that bored, get me a glass of boiled water. I’m thirsty.”
In the panel, the princess, whose glove edges sparkled with rhinestones, lowered her eyes, as if thinking or hesitating, but not angry at the unreasonable request.
After a pause, she looked up and said as solemnly as if announcing state affairs, “Alright.”
This time, the black-haired youth was stunned.
The Illusionist held his gaze on the princess, then laughed in the next panel.
As if seeing something amusing or novel.
But to Jiang Lan outside the panel, that smile seemed tinged with sorrow and regret.
An illusion, she told herself.
Numb from the knives, so it felt like an illusion.
But tears still flowed uncontrollably.
Jiang Lan thought of the manga world’s truth, the imperial family’s exploitation under the guise of ‘protection,’ and Tide’s destruction under the banner of ‘resistance.’
Everything was upside-down, misaligned, forming this wretched Extreme Black world.
In the panel, the black-haired youth’s smile faded. He waved a hand and lay back.
“Hurry up, it’s hot.”
The same casual, weary tone as before.
Princess Wuyu didn’t mind the offense to her imperial status.
She genuinely prepared to leave to fetch a glass of boiled water, something a high-ranking ability user could conjure with a wave.
But before leaving the balcony, she turned back to the youth in sunglasses on the lounge chair.
On that empty balcony, he napped alone, eyes seemingly closed again under the sunglasses, sinking into a light sleep in the cool breeze.
Quiet and lonely, but as if opening his eyes could see the sky.
Yet all he’d see was a murky, dim sky, heavy with oppressive clouds, devoid of beauty.
A gray speech bubble revealed Wuyu’s inner thoughts, puzzled and contemplative.
She thought: What is the Prophet looking at here?
On this balcony unfit for napping, through those dark sunglasses, through the darkness before his eyes, what was he looking at?
She didn’t know, but she knew it wasn’t the palace or the oppressive sky beyond.
The scene shifted.
The former princess stood in a plaza.
It was the new city’s plaza, built by Tide after toppling the imperial family.
Wuyu had just finished her tasks and arrived at midnight.
The black night sky cloaked the city, with a faint light at the horizon.
Wuyu took a few steps, then paused.
She seemed to recall a distant memory, her old confusion.
At that moment, she looked up in the darkness, staring dazedly at the sky.
The panel turned to color again.
In the colored page, the sunrise emerged in a clear sky.
Dawn’s light illuminated the streets, banishing shadows, and lit up Wuyu’s outstretched palm.
The clouds were pristine, as if all gloom had been swept away.
The darkness faded, and sunlight’s halo shimmered with vibrant colors.
A new day had arrived.
Jiang Lan stared blankly at the color page, as if, even in her bedroom in the real-world’s night, she could feel the breeze and warm sunlight piercing her heart.
Jiang Lan gazed at the color page, like a statue, unmoving for a long time.
After an unknown time, she finally moved.
She wailed, “I’m dead, I’m really stabbed to death! He wanted to see the dawn, and in the end, he became the sunrise so everyone could see it. What kind of legendary knife is this!!!”
“My Male god, my Male god!” Jiang Lan recalled the manga’s ending and felt worse.
“No way, I’m writing fanfic, I’m making secondary creations. I can’t be the only one hurt this bad!” She fiercely opened a document, eyes blazing. “Everyone’s getting stabbed!!!”
...
[Hello everyone, I’m an anime fan, starting a thread to record my Extreme Black manga journey.]
1L OP
First off, I hate the villain Heige from the Jiao Huang Arc.
I heard he dies in the manga, so I’m here to enjoy it!
2L
Oh ho, a newbie?
Seeing the OP’s post, I’m already excited.
3L
Hahahahaha, come see the joke, quick!
4L
OP, how about a bet? If you become a Heige bigshot fan, you’ll livestream eating a keyboard?
5L
That’s savage!
6L OP
What the heck, a bet’s a bet. I’ll never stan a hated villain!
Unless he dies :)
7L
Wow, that confidence, I love it!
Newbie, charge in! Extreme Black welcomes you!
8L OP
Just wait! I’ll binge it in two days!
...
182L
One day passed, how’s OP doing?
183L
Daily check-in hahahaha (look, a newbie here)!
...
340L
Two days, where’s OP? Ran away?
341L
Forget OP!
Guys! Great news! The manga artist dropped a new extra!
342L
I’m going, charging right in!
343L
That title… emmm…
I have a bad feeling.
344L
Whatever, I’m diving in! Where Heige’s at, I’m the chopping board!
Stab me! For the Male god, charge!
...
492L
Don’t read it, it’ll stab you to death! Wahhh, who’s crying at night? It’s me!
The manga artist’s gone mad! Two extras! One where Yiming dreams it’s all empty, one from Wuyu’s perspective on Heige, each sharper than the last!
493L
Even dogs got stabbed to death.
I knew the Dawn Arc would hurt, but not this much.
Looking at the ending again, it’s worse.
Heige’s plan succeeded, he didn’t care if the world was destroyed, didn’t know he saved it by reshaping the world wall with his life.
It’s great, just like he wanted—he died as a big villain, while others eat well, drink well, live happily, and casually trash-talk the former Empire Prophet as a true villain.
What’s worse, even fan creations trying for redemption rarely succeed.
The original stabs, and fanworks stab too. I can’t live like this!
494L
I’m already a dog-meat hotpot flavored by the chopping board hahahaha.
OP, you there? If you’ve caught up, you can binge the extra too. So fun.
495L
Only new fan creations can save my broken little heart now, sigh.
...
776L
Five days, did OP run?
777L OP
Stop rushing me, I’m back.
Buying a keyboard delayed me two days.
778L
OP, are you a dog now?
779L
That’s a great question.
780L OP
I ate the keyboard, what do you think!
Manga artist, you played me!
[Heige leaning by the window, first page of the extra.jpg]
Look at that stunning face! That aura! Those eyes! How can I hate him! Male god, you’re my
Male god!
781L OP
Aaaaaa I didn’t know before I jumped in that Extreme Black is a tragedy! No one told me I’d be so stabbed I couldn’t sleep!
These two days, every time I lie down, I wonder if that ending could change. Can it really not change?
I thought from six years ago to six years later, and after the Ranmu Arc, I started thinking two years back. I really tried to imagine a happy ending!
See my dark circles? I can’t figure it out!
782L
Thanks, OP, your pain revived my extra-stabbed heart.
Cry louder, louder hahaha!
783L
“Heard he dies in the manga, I’m here to enjoy it!”
“I’ll never stan Heige, unless he dies!”
OP’s classic quotes, replayed~
784L OP
Aaaaaaa spare me!
Stop laughing and repeating my words, help!
Wahhh, Heige’s dead, my heart’s dead too.
Enjoy what, talk too much what, crow’s mouth!
...
In the manga world, Li Li, who followed the forum and the manga artist’s frenzy, was playing a self-made Monopoly with the protagonist trio.
The forum was crying, but what did that have to do with her happy gaming?
Haha!
The three sat cross-legged on a blanket, each with stacks of cash and deeds.
Li Li looked at her money, then at Yiming’s, deciding to get serious.
So she planned to tell a story to distract her opponents.
After a ghost story backfired, hurting herself as much as her enemies, she switched to fairy tales.
Somehow, it shifted from princesses and princes to Floating City.
“Floating City’s situation is completely different from what Baige said,” An Huyu, who’d lived there long, said with authority.
“Floating City’s prosperous,” he said, buying a deed with cash, then paused. “But that’s my childhood view. Now, I feel commoners’ lives are tough. Upper or lower districts, prices are sky-high.
Lower district commoners, to survive, often pick the most lucrative jobs—offering their abilities. But abilities are soul power; using them and extracting them are different.”
He collected Yiming’s toll, voice lowering, “Commoner ability users, during soul recovery, keep extracting abilities and end up dying in the lower district’s dark, cramped rentals.”
Yiming and Tang showed pained expressions.
Tang glanced at Li Li and suddenly asked, “Brother Li, were you okay in Floating City back then?”
It was Tang’s turn.
She drew an opportunity card: ‘Ask any player a question, they must answer honestly.’
Li Li’s Monopoly was all about thrills.
“This question?” Li Li thought it was easy.
“This one,” Tang nodded, with Yiming and An Huyu staring intently.
A freebie. Li Li said, “Pretty good.”
She recalled the time—running rampant, acting like a boss, ordering around the imperial Libra. Say what you want, it’s done; no need to lift a finger, the imperial princess serves tea and water.
Li Li felt she’d transcended.
Sure, some talked behind her back at first, but after her visits, they avoided her.
The only SS-rank in Floating City who could act freely—who’d dare provoke her?
Back then, she’d leave a phantom on the imperial balcony, lounging in a chair, and sensible people left her alone.
Then she’d swagger out for fun, sometimes trailing a drifting, eye-candy Deity as the mood-setter.
Though that Deity was full of bad ideas, he was as handy as a loyal secretary.
Recalling it, Li Li felt she’d lived too well. She was telling the truth!
But Yiming’s lips moved, his expression pitiful, “Brother, I’m grown up, I can handle reality. Can you stop hiding it?”
His look said: No, I don’t believe it. You must’ve endured humiliation, faced scorn, but stayed strong in solitude until the end!
Li Li blinked, looking at Tang and An Huyu.
Tang nodded in agreement, and An Huyu’s teary eyes looked ready to spill.
In their minds, the imperial family was a lion’s den, dangerous, and she must’ve suffered alone.
Finally, she gave a polite smile, “Yes, I wasn’t okay. A whole imperial family, and they didn’t even have good milk tea.”
Whatever, as long as they’re happy.
In no time, it was An Huyu’s turn. Distracted, he rolled the dice, saying, “Brother, when Big Brother’s back, we’ll get milk tea—”
“You lost,” Li Li showed her newly upgraded deeds, making the trio see the sky-high tolls.
Tang, acting as banker, paused, checked An Huyu’s cash, and said, “Unable to pay the massive toll, An Huyu’s bankrupt.”
An Huyu: “…” He struggled, “What happened?”
Soon, Yiming and Tang went bankrupt too. Victorious, Li Li shook her fake game cash, grinning, “I won.”
Monopoly over, Li Li checked the time, ready to leave for her afternoon class in the real world.
“Play again next time,” she said to the three sulky kids seeing her off.
The manga and real worlds’ time flowed the same.
It was afternoon.
The sun still hung in the sky. Li Li opened the door to a plaza.
She stepped out from the eaves’ shadow into the plaza, letting dazzling sunlight bathe her, illuminating every path. Nearby, white doves fluttered, and children played among them, showing innocent, joyful smiles.
“The weather’s nice today,” Tang looked up at the sky.
A clear, fine day.
Li Li nodded in agreement, but then heard a sound behind her.
Puzzled for a moment, she turned in the sunlight.
The three teens, sulky from losing, were watching her, then broke into happy expressions, as if saying—
It’s great that you’re here.