【Congratulations, you have passed the trial of the 20th Doomsday Rule】
【Rewards have been distributed to the Storage Box】
【The 21st Doomsday Rule will be released in thirty days】
At the rule’s end, every Ascendant received a notification indicating they had passed.
People had already anticipated this the moment the Bright Moon stopped rising, but a notification plus rewards carried undeniable authority.
However, unlike previous times when online discussion after a rule’s end centered on its practical effects, this time the heated debate online revolved entirely around a single statement.
Two days ago, Suroma’s government issued an official speech in which King Bruce made a rare public appearance. Unexpectedly, just hours after the speech, Beixing’s government posted an emergency statement.
The statement refuted Bruce’s remarks and announced that multiple official Ascendants from Beixing had assisted Shadow in destroying the Bright Moon’s core, thereby preventing it from continuing its ascent.
Once that statement went out, the uproar was immediate.
Within minutes the comments section exploded with tens of thousands of posts—some supportive, some skeptical, but most people were simply baffled.
On the Casual Chat board of the Ascendant Home forum, the reposted Beixing statement provoked nonstop arguments among members over the last two days.
“Beixing’s official statements are usually rigorous and reliable. I tend to believe this one is true.”
“The statement provided no supporting evidence. Claims without proof mean nothing. Didn’t Suroma’s officials say yesterday that Beixing should at least show respect for the fallen heroes?”
“Can Suroma even prove they destroyed the core?”
“You can’t say for sure, but the Ascendants who entered the array are really dead. Suroma is holding a group state funeral for them this evening. When so many high-level fighters die at once, how could it be fake?”
“What about Shadow? If he did this, why hasn’t he come forward to say so?”
“Right. I remember the forum’s Administrator was close to Shadow, right? People used to guess the Admin was Shadow’s alt. Why hasn’t he popped up now?”
“Could Beixing be trying to save face? After all, every other country in the Human Consortium sent Ascendants into the array except Beixing. Honestly, that’s embarrassing on an international level.”
“Are you from Beixing, upstairs? Why didn’t you volunteer a few days ago when sign-ups were open?”
“I wanted to, but my Mind Power upper limit is below 500, so I didn’t meet the standard. Otherwise I would’ve gone. I thought everyone would be like you—only caring about themselves.”
“Beixing did handle things poorly this time. I think they should admit they didn’t want to risk losing high-end fighters instead of stubbornly denying it.”
“Whatever you say, I still smell something fishy. I’ll wait for the truth to come out!”
At the Twin Stars Bar, Black Star sat behind the counter frowning at the forum comments on his tablet.
“Boss, are we closed again today?” One of a few idle staff in the bar asked. “We’ve been shut two days straight. Many customers are asking what happened.”
“I already told you we’re closed, stop asking!” Black Star snapped, then tossed the tablet aside and went into the back room.
The staff exchanged glances.
“What's wrong with the boss? I've never seen him so short with us.”
“If something’s up, it’s been weird since yesterday. Let’s keep our distance and not provoke him.”
“Be honest, working for the boss pays less than being an official. Where else are you going to find a worse job?”
White Star joined them in the back just as Geng Bo was finishing a phone call.
She walked over to Black Star and said, “I just contacted Aaron.”
“What did he say? Any news?” Black Star asked quickly.
White Star shook her head. “Aaron said the base hasn’t heard anything either. Dragon Soul—the one who taught him combat techniques—also doesn’t know what’s going on.”
“...”
White Star pressed her lips together. “Black Star, do you think the Troupe Leader could actually be...”
“Impossible,” Black Star said decisively.
“But it’s been two days. If he’s fine, why hasn’t he contacted us? And it’s not just the Troupe Leader—Deputy Troupe Leader Uenoshi is also unreachable.”
As soon as Beixing’s official statement went out, Black Star and White Star tried contacting Guan Tong, but couldn’t reach him at all. It wasn’t only Guan Tong who was missing; Uenoshi, the deputy leader, was also out of contact.
Black Star immediately closed the bar temporarily and used all his channels to determine Shadow’s status, but every channel turned up nothing.
“I don’t want to believe something happened to the Troupe Leader, but we must prepare for the worst.” White Star reached out and took Black Star’s hand. “Brother, we—”
Before she could finish, Black Star’s eyes flashed. He grabbed her right wrist.
A mix of chagrin and joy crossed his face. “I can’t believe it... I was so stupid! White Star, we’ll reopen the bar in a bit!”
“What?” White Star didn’t understand yet.
“You idiot, you’re not that much smarter than me.” Black Star smiled and raised his right hand, aligning his palm next to White Star’s so they were side by side.
“I’ll ask you this: if an Ascendant dies, what happens to their items and abilities?”
“They disappear... ah!”
Only then did White Star realize, looking down, that the two small black triangles printed in their palms overlapped perfectly.
“It’s the Mental Stability Anchor totem the Troupe Leader gave us! Since it hasn’t disappeared, the Troupe Leader must not be dead—he’s definitely still alive!” White Star’s face lit up with excitement when she understood.
“Yeah.” Black Star exhaled and grinned. “We, as middlemen who deal with Ascendants every day, forgot such a basic setting about Ascendants. Worrying made us lose sight of that.”
“But if the Troupe Leader is alive, why hasn’t he contacted us?” White Star wondered. “With his personality, he wouldn’t deliberately make everyone worry, would he?”
Black Star nodded. “He’s definitely alive, but he might be in a condition that prevents him from contacting us right now. Given his strength, he’ll recover quickly. We just do what we need to do and wait.”
.......
New Covenant City National Cemetery.
At dusk, many people had already gathered in this cemetery near Suroma’s Senate Hall.
Most were officials dressed in somber black, here to pay final respects to those who died in the Array Operation.
Unlike other cemeteries, this national cemetery is an official facility. Only those who served the state can be buried here:
outstanding soldiers fallen in war, officials who died on duty, even elders and authorities from the highest decision-making levels have been interred here.
Today the cemetery was to receive over a thousand new coffins.
All Suroma Ascendants who died during the Array Operation would be buried here. King Bruce and several Senators were due to attend and pay their last respects.
The ceremony had not yet begun; people gathered in small groups, chatting.
“It’s quite the turnout. How many officials have come?”
“They’re here to send off heroes.”
“I heard Beixing’s foreign affairs department issued another rebuke, claiming the Senate staged a show. That’s ridiculous.”
“I don’t know how this will end. If things go wrong, the Human Consortium could have real trouble.”
“Look over there.”
“Oh? Isn’t that...”
“Our new ‘Senator,’ hehe.”
“The Senate really appointed him? Lucky gadget timing let him qualify for this rule, so they made him a Senator?”
“You actually believe that? I heard he’s just a figurehead, no real responsibilities.”
“You really buy that? I heard it’s just for show.”
Andrew, in a suit, threaded through the crowd. He knew that after becoming a Senator, many of these officials would be his colleagues, many in lower positions—potential subordinates.
But the way they looked at him wasn’t that of colleagues looking at a peer or a respected Senator.
Andrew could sense the mockery and contempt in their gazes, which filled him with anger, confusion, and pain.
He still remembered someone telling him he would be hailed as a global hero after the rule ended. Now that the rule was over, did any of these looks resemble how people regard a hero?
“Oh, if it isn’t our Senator.” Joiessen’s voice cut in. Andrew turned and saw Joiessen approaching with a smile.
“How’s it feel, Andrew? I didn’t lie, did I? Your promise of a Senator seat came true. How does that feel?”
Andrew forced a smile. “Not bad. But I still can’t understand what happened that day—”
“Andrew.” Joiessen interrupted in a heavier tone and patted his shoulder meaningfully. “Remember this: don’t bring up what’s already past. It’s bad for you, for me, and for everyone. What you should do now is enjoy the privileges of your new status and not overthink things.”
“...”
“All right, see you later.”
Joiessen smiled and walked away. Andrew stood in silence.
He didn’t want to think about that day either, but whenever he closed his eyes in the past two days, the image of two thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine corpses rose in his mind.
Those dead seemed to be asking him: you received the notification that the Bright Moon stopped rising, so why did you still activate the Carrier Array?
“Andrew.”
“Ah!”
A voice behind him startled him. He turned to find Gill, the observer he’d met during the rule, staring at him intently.
“Andrew, I need to talk to you.” Gill’s eyes burned with intensity; Andrew felt the unease in his chest get picked apart by that gaze.
On the other side of the cemetery, Bruce leaned on his metal staff and looked over the headstones. Han Qiu stood not far from him.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty, on accidentally eliminating a dangerous internal threat,” Han Qiu said.
“It’s surprising that the observers tracked a Mind Power host and found out it was Shadow. Even someone as powerful as him would fare poorly if three thousand Ascendants with over 500 Mind Power each struck at once without warning. It was a pleasant surprise.”
“Is that so.” Bruce showed no visible emotion. “Beixing will not let this go. They will investigate to the end.”
“So Your Majesty must ensure Beixing can’t find any evidence,” Han Qiu murmured. “The people on that transport plane should be wiped out—leave none of them. Deal with them immediately.”
Bruce turned to look at Han Qiu.
“What was your purpose in contacting Yishan?”
“Just admiration for her beauty.”
“You are not the kind of person who would befit someone like Yishan,” Bruce warned gravely. “Han Qiu, if you want to stay in Suroma, don’t entertain improper ideas.”
“Also, you have too many friends. You should lose one.”
Han Qiu asked, “Your Majesty means—?”
Bruce’s expression remained cold. “Hand over the leader of the Fire Thief Worship Cult. With our new friends in Suroma, you no longer need that old associate.”
“This...” Han Qiu scratched his cheek. “Forgive my candor, Your Majesty, but isn’t that burning bridges? Without that cult leader’s help, how would those Ascendants have willingly entered the array to die like obedient lambs?”
Bruce said nothing to that. “You can only pick one friend. And don’t test my patience.”
....
In the darkness and chaos, a voice sounded.
“Guan Tong, can you hear me?”
“Teacher Guan Tong, what happened to you? Why aren’t you answering... You have to be alive, right? Otherwise I couldn’t reach you through the Mind Network...”
“Guan Tong, I know you must be injured, but you’re not dead. Don’t forget your wish.”
These voices traveled via the Mind Network directly into the depths of his mind. At first they were hazy, but gradually, as time passed, they sharpened.
“Guan Tong, Chen Na came to the academy today. She’s very sad, but I told her you’re still alive.”
“My student, your friend Xiaotian also came by. He said you wouldn’t die, but he looked uncertain. I told him to wait for news so he could calm down.”
“If you don’t contact me soon, they’ll call me a liar. I don’t want to be treated like a liar, so can you hear me now?”
“Guan Tong.”
Quantity turned into quality. When the voices reached a certain threshold of clarity, his consciousness abruptly returned.
Guan Tong blinked open his eyes. He met a pair of vertical pupils glowing faintly; the pupils reflected his pale face and his slightly bewildered expression.
He saw joy beginning to bloom in those eyes.
“Uenoshi, I...”