Die, Replay, Repeat

“Why should you be the one to break through?” Xiong Tianguang snapped, glaring at Li Xiaoru. “You’re just a brute. If anyone deserves the help, it’s me.”

Luo Qingxin, who had been standing quietly, remained conflicted. It was clear she wanted to break through to the fifth tier as well, but her aloof nature made it hard for her to voice such a request. After a moment, though, she spoke up.

“Xi... Xiu,” she murmured softly, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. It wasn’t just the tone that caught everyone off guard—it was hearing such tenderness from someone as cold and distant as Luo Qingxin.

But Fang Xiu wasn’t moved.

“Shut up!” he snapped, his gaze icy as it swept over the three captains. There was no respect in his voice, no care for their rank or standing. “The battle isn’t over yet. If you’ve recovered, go kill the enemy.”

The three captains fell silent, stunned into submission by the harsh command of a mere third-tier psychic. None of them dared speak another word.

“Die, Joker!”

Fang Moli’s shout rang out as his Xuanyuan Sword slashed through the air, unleashing a wave of golden energy that illuminated the night sky and cut through the surrounding darkness.

“Noooo!”

Joker’s voice was filled with desperation as he unleashed his full Mindflare in a frantic attempt to block the oncoming strike.

But it was no use. Fang Moli’s newfound fifth-tier power, combined with the overwhelming force of the Xuanyuan Sword, was far too much for Joker to withstand. His Mindflare defenses crumbled like paper under the weight of the attack.

BOOM!

The golden energy exploded on impact, engulfing Joker in a blinding light. In an instant, his body was reduced to nothing more than fragments of flesh, scattered across the battlefield.

There was no time for a final stand, no chance for Joker to self-destruct—he was utterly destroyed.

With Joker’s death, the brutal battle that had raged for so long finally began to reach its end.

Under Fang Moli’s command, the headquarters forces launched a decisive counterattack. The remaining Specters and members of the Pokers were quickly overwhelmed in a one-sided slaughter. Victory was inevitable.

Meanwhile, Fang Xiu, who had endured countless deaths and resets, stood watching the battlefield with quiet satisfaction.

Throughout the conflict, he had schemed, deceived, and even manipulated the powers of the Specter Gods. He had broken through to the third tier during the fight and played every card he had, using every trick in his arsenal.

And now, he had won the war.

For Fang Xiu, all the pain, death, and lies had been worth it. He was no stranger to suffering, no stranger to dying over and over again. The rewards he gained from this battle were enormous.

First and foremost, Fang Xiu had reached the third tier and awakened the ability to manifest pain. To most, it seemed like a weak and useless ability. But for him, it was a godlike power.

With this ability, he could endlessly summon Specter Gods. He could endure the pain they inflicted, then manifest them and borrow their powers.

This meant that even though he was only a third-tier psychic, Fang Xiu now had access to a limitless arsenal of abilities. Every Specter God, every powerful Specter he encountered, had unique powers—and now, all of those powers could become his.

Through Pain Manifestation, Fang Xiu had even managed to bypass the formidable Mindflare barrier, allowing him to injure fifth-tier psychics. Although he couldn’t yet kill one outright, the fact that he could even wound them was terrifying in itself. ȓΑꞐ𝔬Ｂ˧

The captains of the headquarters, all peak fourth-tier psychics, had been unable to break through Joker’s Mindflare. But Fang Xiu, as a mere third-tier psychic, had done the impossible.

Beyond his own personal growth, Fang Xiu had discovered an unexpected asset in Xiao Chuxia. Though her character came across as a cliche—a Mary Sue heroine or even the kind of protagonist you’d find in some bizarre adult-rated fiction—her usefulness was undeniable.

When combined with Nightmare and Fang Xiu’s reputation as the Foreseer, Xiao Chuxia’s lies were nearly indistinguishable from reality itself. Her lies were becoming a version of reality-bending truth, something that Fang Xiu could wield like a weapon.

And then, there was the influence he had gained.

Though the full extent of his newfound power over the Pokers and the headquarters had yet to materialize, Fang Xiu knew that with careful manipulation, he could soon control two of the most powerful forces in the world.

…

Three days had passed since the great battle, and the headquarters was finally beginning to clean up the aftermath.

Destroyed buildings were being rebuilt, and the dead were laid to rest.

Though the headquarters had won, the victory came at a great cost. Many psychics had fallen, and large sections of the base were left in ruins.

The most alarming consequence of the battle, however, wasn’t just the physical damage.

While most of the Specters released from the Specter Gate had been eliminated, a few managed to escape into the world. Worse still, the headquarters had been holding several powerful and dangerous Specters for research.

During the chaos, many of those Specters had also broken free, disappearing into nearby cities.

They were now hidden threats, and the psychics of the headquarters would have their hands full in the coming days.

On this day, the headquarters convened its first meeting since the battle.

The Director sat grim-faced at the head of the conference table. Beside him were the four captains: Fang Moli, Luo Qingxin, Xiong Tianguang, and Li Xiaoru.

Where Yan Changshou once sat was now occupied by Fang Xiu.

Despite being only a third-tier psychic, Fang Xiu’s presence among the captains signified the huge respect he had earned. It was a distinction that didn’t go unnoticed by anyone.

Around the table, there were many of the headquarters' top psychics, including elite third-tier psychics and a few who had broken through to the fourth tier during the battle.

This gathering represented the highest-ranking members of the headquarters, the ones who would shape its future.

The room was filled with somber faces as the Director began to speak.

“Comrades, this battle has cost us dearly,” his voice echoed through the conference hall. The microphone carried his words with a weight that pressed on the hearts of everyone in attendance.

Many of the psychics looked down, grief etched into their expressions. The loss of so many comrades was a heavy burden to bear, and no one could escape the sorrow of those who had fallen.

"The Pokers had been planning this for a long time,” the Director continued. “And they succeeded in turning one of our own, Captain Yan Changshou. His betrayal, combined with their attack, caught us off guard. However, thanks to Foreseer Fang Xiu, who foresaw their plans, we were able to stop them before they could fully succeed!”

At the mention of Fang Xiu’s name, the entire room turned their eyes toward him.

Their gazes held a mixture of awe and respect. The battle might have been won by Fang Moli on the surface, but everyone knew the real mastermind behind the victory was Fang Xiu.

Fang Xiu, sitting calmly, didn’t react to the attention. His expression remained composed, almost detached, as if he was merely a witness to the events rather than the one who had shaped them.

He didn’t enjoy meetings, but this one was unavoidable. It would set the tone for his future position within the headquarters.

The Director, noticing the focus on Fang Xiu, nodded in his direction, his admiration evident.

“Fang Xiu played a pivotal role in our victory.”

For the Director to use such high praise emphasized just how much the leadership valued Fang Xiu's contributions. And no one in the room dared to disagree.

People nodded in silent agreement as the Director’s words resonated with respect.

“He foresaw the future and uncovered the Pokers’ plot before they could destroy us. On the battlefield, with only the power of a third-tier psychic, he defeated Yan Changshou, a traitor and a fourth-tier psychic. He moved between battle zones, risking his life and depleting his Spiritual Energy to guide us, predicting enemy movements and helping our captains secure victory.”

The Director’s voice grew stronger, his words ringing through the room.

Translator's note: So is Fang Xiu going to be the new captain?

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