The moment the arrow shot out. The flow of time suddenly slowed.
An arrow faster than light should have been a fleeting, traceless existence. But now, as if someone had pressed the pause button, it froze at the distance it had just been fired, ceasing its advance!
An unexpected pitch-black dimension tore open from the sky. It spread rapidly, instantly enveloping Leon in its embrace.
It shrouded both man and bow, and the arrow of "Causality" he had just loosed.
Among the eighteen "Paths," it wasn't only "Enigmata" that could intercept "Causality." There was another "Path" that could rival it, mounting an effective counter.
"Enigmata" counters "Causality" by confounding the senses, hiding true history with false concepts.
But this "Path" could truly dismantle and even repel "Causality" head-on!
—That is "Nihility," which can erase all things!
"Once is one thing, but blocking me twice... you really think I won't kick you to death too, huh?"
Leon recognized this technique. He had already been delayed because he was dragged into it once.
And now it was happening again. So provocative. Does this bridge-camping dog have a death wish?
"You dare block the bridge but not show your face? You know what I want to say."
Leon said coldly.
He felt "Nihility" wandering within him, trying to pull him into the embrace of that faceless sleeper, yet he remained unmoved.
All things are meaningless? What a joke. His very existence was meaning itself! No one could deny his value but himself! Dammit, don't underestimate my purity!
To be affected by "Nihility," means your heart in pursuit of the Path is not pure enough, your stats are not high enough!
And Leon was maxed out in both!
Just because others can't do it, doesn't mean he can't!
What the hell is "Nihility." Erase the head on my shoulders and the head down below, and doesn't the tip become invincible?
Leon, whose brain was governed by his gut, couldn't imagine how to lose! Don't ask, just say he put all his attribute points there. Mr. Black, my mechanics are above yours; this path he walks has been nothing but rock-hard!
"You cannot kill Dr. Primitive, Arbiter-General of The Hunt."
After his words fell, a woman in a candy-colored evening gown, her face obscured by a blurry mosaic, appeared before him.
Genius Society Member #4.
Nous's mortal proxy, the strongest Emanator in the Erudition faction second only to Zandar, the "Geniuses'" strictest mother.
The rumored "Lord of Silence"!
Polka Kakamond appeared before Leon!
"Dr. Primitive is not only my indispensable aide, but yours as well in the future."
Polka Kakamond crossed her arms.
Within this space of "Nihility" that belonged solely to her, she faced an existence of a rare, equal standing in the universe with a calm and unhurried posture.
—The proxy of The Hunt!
"Without it... we cannot fight against the Finality."
Polka Kakamond intended to negotiate with him.
"Unless..."
Polka Kakamond paused.
"You are willing to fill the void left by the sage, Dr. Primitive."
This was the purpose of her second appearance.
The first time she blocked his path was to probe his depths. If she had been certain of victory, she would have ended the farce right there.
Evidently, the fact that Leon still arrived showed one thing. She didn't have that absolute certainty.
The Omniscience Domain, her proudest manipulative ability.
In a confrontation, it could eliminate all probability and coincidence. Then, through "Erudition," it would lock in fate, thus obtaining a predetermined final result, an unerring conclusion that proceeds exactly according to her will.
To put it simply, if she says one, two is not allowed to appear.
Why can't two be mentioned?
There is no why. Because this is the fate decreed by the rules. Be it storms or waves, they cannot appear; all chaos shall be judged by her.
But to construct a corresponding "Omniscience Domain," a vital prerequisite must first be met.
That is, to know everything about the opponent.
Only when the creator themself is omniscient and omnipotent can the "Omniscience Domain" be born.
This is a very simple principle.
And built upon this foundation, with Nous backing her, there are few things or pieces of knowledge in the world she is unaware of.
She once killed several geniuses. Without a doubt, none of those geniuses survived. In the process, they didn't even have the ability to resist.
Why?
Because everything that everyone is researching now is merely something Nous has long known.
From the moment of its birth, "Erudition" anchored the trajectory of all things in the world.
Nous defined the known and sealed off all possibility of the unknown.
Whether it's the Genius Society, the Corporation, the Family, or the Xianzhou Alliance. Any of their research, including but not limited to species, weapons, or life... strictly speaking, cannot be called research.
It is merely unearthing things that the mechanical god had never cared about, right under Nous's nose.
Omniscient and omnipotent. With Nous's support, Polka Kakamond was worthy of these two words.
Her "Omniscience Domain" was all-powerful, never at a disadvantage. On the Path of "Erudition," she could be said to be invincible.
But against other "Paths," it was slightly lacking. While it couldn't be called an "Erudition-only" special attack, it wasn't far off.
It's true that "Aeons" have different levels of power. But that is limited to strength and the narrowness or breadth of their own concepts. Even "Nous" cannot analyze another "Aeon."
Against an ordinary "Emanator," after a few exchanges, she could get a rough measure of them with her own abilities, and the "Omniscience Domain" would still have a fighting chance.
But it was no use against Leon. He wasn't an "Emanator," but a "Proxy" just like her.
"Causality." This ability is the personification of "Lan," something she could never analyze no matter what.
Of course, even without the "Omniscience Domain," her strength was still at the pinnacle of the "Emanator" pyramid.
Not just "Erudition"; her practice of "Nihility" was also rivaled by few in the universe.
And "Nihility" has a mechanism just as powerful as the "Omniscience Domain"— It can erase any existence!
Meaning it is unaffected by any Path, and can even erode others in turn.
Thanks to this trait, she had the qualifications to delay Leon, and even retreat unscathed after a fight.
"Causality." Very few people could block this ability, and she happened to be one of them.
If she hadn't acted just now, Dr. Primitive would already be dead.
"We can cooperate to fight 'the Finality' together."
Polka Kakamond awaited his answer.
She had thought Leon would be content with killing a clone. She didn't expect him to adhere to the principle of tearing out the problem by the roots, wanting to kill Dr. Primitive completely.
It's not that Dr. Primitive can't die, but that he can't die now.
And if he must die, it must be by her hand.
The reason he is still alive now... is simply because "Nous's" moment has not yet arrived, and she is indulging him in his dance for a little while longer.
When the time comes, she'll slaughter him with a single scalpel. She guarantees her strike will be cleaner and quicker than Leon's.
Arbiter-General of The Hunt, what do you think?
Of course, if Leon was willing to enter a cooperative relationship with her, then this stupid monkey could die right now.
She could weigh the value of the two clearly.
Polka Kakamond looked at him. She expected Leon to reply with:
"Simple, I just need to become an Aeon myself, right?"
But in reality, Leon chose a different approach.
"Go play dead somewhere else."
Leon chose the simplest, most elegant form of communication to obtain the most extreme enjoyment.
"I don't care if it's the Finality or the Four Loves; if you're in my way, I'll kick you all to death. Just because you can't do it alone means you're a medium cup, not that I can't do it alone!
Leon told her to get lost.
"I only do what I want to do, and I have absolutely no interest in your cooperation.
Leon was telling her he would do whatever the hell he wanted!
Any other time might have been fine, but she chose such a lousy moment to ruin his fun. Not only did it pour salt on his already irritated mood towards Dr. Primitive, but she also wanted to negotiate terms with him. Did she think his stats were made of mud?
You're already camping the bridge, what face do you have playing CS?
He laughed in anger!
"I can't be bothered to get tangled up with you right now!"
If Polka wants to fight, they can fight later. Right now, he just wants to kill Dr. Primitive.
The atmosphere has been built up, and the Rangers have all arrived. It would be an offense to heaven if it didn't die!
"But if you don't get out of the way, I'll kick you to death along with it!
A super big cup's worth of stats erupted from Leon!
The killing intent of "The Hunt" continuously battered the pitch-black space, fighting meaninglessness with a meaning bestowed by others!
Why did the screen go black? Try double-tapping!
...
Polka Kakamond could feel this space of "Nihility" collapsing.
She crossed her arms, making no move.
But a scalpel suddenly appeared between her index and middle fingers.
Polka Kakamond's obscured face looked at Leon opposite her, as if considering whether to strike.
Forget it.
After a moment of deliberation, Polka Kakamond dismissed the thought of attacking.
"Nous's" moment had not yet arrived. Now was not the time for them to fight to the death.
For that monkey Dr. Primitive, it wasn't worth her making too great a sacrifice.
Besides...
CRACK!
The pitch-black space was filled with cracks. Leon had broken out of the dark room once again!
The arrow of "Causality" resumed its motion, shooting straight ahead along its original trajectory!
Polka Kakamond gave him one last deep look before leaving.
The Path Dr. Primitive was guarding against was "Harmony."
Killing him was both hard and easy.
Given the characteristics of "Harmony," he might not die so easily after all.
The colorless, formless arrow pierced forward!
Only the sky-shattering sonic boom could prove its existence.
...
In some nameless tropical rainforest.
In a research lab undetectable by any instrument, was Dr. Primitive's location.
"Perfect evolution..."
The ape, dressed in a white lab coat with the appearance of a researcher, collapsed into a chair, muttering to himself with lingering fear.
"So this is the perfect evolution of The Hunt..."
Dr. Primitive savored the taste of the arrow that had killed its clone.
Flames, the attribute of the General of the Zhuming's Blazing Abyss's Lightning-Lord.
This Ranger's strength is far more terrifying than the public imagines.
Perfect evolution, a well-deserved reputation!
Everyone who met it called it a genius.
Dr. Primitive never denied it, because it was a genius.
The problems and topics it solved casually as a child were a lifetime of work for those mediocrities.
When it grew up, it began to wonder.
Why was it the only genius? Why couldn't others keep up with its thinking?
Do beautiful flowers inherently need foil?
No, their evolution must have been wrong from the start!
The moment this thought appeared in its mind, Dr. Primitive had an epiphany.
It was the correct evolution, but that didn't mean others were!
But since it could be a genius, why couldn't others be geniuses just like it?
If everyone were a genius... then the galaxy would surely be a picture of thriving prosperity, wouldn't it?
With this idea, Dr. Primitive decided its life's work and began its initial research into atavism.
In just half a day, it laid the foundation for atavism and conducted its first experiment, successfully reverting a purchased slave into an ape.
Not long after, it received an invitation from the Genius Society.
The moment it picked up the invitation, "Nous" glanced at it.
At that moment, it thought. Even an "Aeon" has acknowledged my philosophy. This path is absolutely correct.
"I look forward to our next meeting, Ranger of The Hunt."
Dr. Primitive stood up, preparing to write the genetic code based on the personally engraved sensation, to prepare its next clone.
"Harmony."
This was the Path it decided to guard against in its "Theory of Finality."
The philosophy of "Harmony" certainly had similarities to its own, but it was absolutely not what it wanted.
What it wanted was the ascension of all.
Not for the 99% to merge with the 1% who ascend.
To have the idea of merging into one, and be willing to accept such an end.
Means that these 99% of people are products of flawed evolution.
They must be corrected. Its atavism is their only savior.
This was also its method for countering "Harmony."
To have 100% of beings be products of perfect evolution.
Each individual's abilities would be complete, self-sufficient, with no thought of mutual support.
Wouldn't "Harmony" then collapse on its own?
To this end, Dr. Primitive must integrate all existing perfect evolutions into itself.
Let them intertwine, and evolve again.
Cultivate the most perfect "gu."
Only by doing this could it find a grand path to the heavens.
"Perfect evolution..."
Dr. Primitive walked to the editing console, still muttering those words.
"Wait!"
Dr. Primitive suddenly realized something, and a strong, bad premonition arose.
The perfect evolution of "The Hunt"... does that mean it also possesses "Causality," the unique ability of the hunter "Lan"?
As soon as this thought appeared, Dr. Primitive felt a sense of dread.
But by the time it came to its senses, it was already too late.
"Dr. Primitive, the Galaxy Ranger has come to bring you destruction!"
An inexplicable shout rang in its ears!
There was no time to dodge. What followed immediately was the sensation of its chest being pierced by an arrow!
Dr. Primitive stood stunned on the spot, its eyes rolling back.
THUD!
A moment later, with a loud noise, Dr. Primitive fell face-first to the ground.
Silently.
"Causality" had pierced through all of its causes in an instant!
Without any mercy, Dr. Primitive from every era died from an invisible arrow through the chest!
In the past, it met the gun of the future; in the future, it met the bullet of the past.
In the blink of an eye, including the laboratory, the entire planet it was on vanished into thin air under the aftershock of this single arrow!
Evaporated from existence, as if it had never been there at all.
____
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