Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 579 A Galaxy of Stars
When the hunter loses his prey
Then fate began its hunt.

—The Tower of the End: Hunting Chronicles, Volume IV

The streets roared, concrete collapsed as if being torn apart by a beast, lampposts snapped, and electric arcs exploded in the air into blinding white light.

The crimson mist churned, and a blood-red light array suddenly lit up the ground, with a beast bone totem slowly emerging, like a living emblem.

Virant Silver stood in the center of the totem, arms outstretched, laughing wildly, as if he were being swallowed up by some ancient being.

"Beast Assimilation!"

With a deafening roar, his body rapidly expanded, his muscles bulging until his skin tore, blood and bone intertwined to form a twisted beast armor, and white bones emerged from his body, wrapping around his torso.

Virant threw his head back and laughed, his spine arching violently, and two scarlet blood vessels, resembling "rib wings," burst forth from his back, bone spurs extending outwards like the wings of a demon emerging from a cocoon.

His eyes were bloodshot red like lamps, his fangs were exposed, and his breath turned into scalding heat waves.

The ground trembled beneath his feet, and dark figures crawling out of the cracks surged forth like a torrent, writhing, roaring, struggling, and howling—hundreds of mutated beasts roared into the sky at the same time, the sound waves shattering glass and tearing the night sky apart.

Welcome to my hunting grounds!

Virant's maniacal laughter, accompanied by a deafening roar, swept across the entire street. The streetlights on Seventh Avenue exploded simultaneously, and dust and flames were whipped up by the shockwave, reflecting in the remaining neon lights as a crimson storm.

The monsters went completely out of control; they crawled out of ruins, under cars, and from drains, climbed walls, and tore at anything that moved.

The wind whipped up the shattered billboards, and Ian charged against the shockwave, his movements like a ghost in the wind, the "Sleeper Blades" in his hands gleaming silver.

"The wind is a bit strong tonight."

He smiled wryly, tapped his toes, and leaped into the air like an arrow. The wind instantly coalesced into a blade.

"The Wind of the Sleeper - Slash!"

He drew a perfect arc, the air was sliced ​​open by the blade, and the sound of the wind turned into a sharp whistling.

The next second, five beast heads flew up simultaneously, and the blood mist bloomed into flowers in mid-air.

The wind turned the blood into a red mist, from which Ian's figure emerged. He landed, turned, kicked a lizardman away, and plunged his blade into its neck.

Bang, bang, bang! Each strike was accompanied by an explosion of wind pressure, and each dodge felt like being pushed and danced by the wind.

However, Sear's laughter drowned out all the roar.

“Interesting—but not enough!” He stretched out his completely beast-like arm, bones and flesh intertwined, with half-meter-long claws growing from his fingertips.

"Burning Star Technique: Beast Herd Goes Wild!"

Boom! The totem's light suddenly exploded into crimson, the ground throbbed like a pulse, and a violent energy wave spread outward.

A new horde of beasts surged forth from the cracks in the street, their claws and teeth sparking as they scraped against the ground. The stench of rotting flesh mingled with the acrid smell of gunpowder, creating the stench of hell.

Buildings collapsed, cars rolled over, and steel bars on the sidewalks were torn apart. At that moment, the entire city seemed to fall toward Hill, as if he had become the heart of this hell.

"Target quantity: 183." Rex's voice came through the headset, as calm as ice.

Ian chuckled, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Then you deal with the 180, and I'll keep three to play with." — "Deal."

Rex stood at the edge of the Empire State Building's fault line, his movements as he pulled back the bolt of his rifle clean and efficient.

Thud—Bang! The first shot hit the monster leader, the second shot pierced the throat of a giant beast, and the explosive flash of the third shot illuminated his profile.

Each gunshot was like the heartbeat of fate. His gaze was cold, and his breathing was perfectly synchronized with the rhythm of pulling the trigger, his calmness bordering on mechanical.

However, Hill didn't care about the bullets at all. He walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. He was shot in the shoulder, blood splattered, but it healed completely in the next second.

"It's no use—" he growled, his voice shaking the air, "I am the King of a Thousand Beasts!"

He smashed the chassis of a car with one punch, pulled out the screaming monster hidden inside, and casually tossed it into the air.

Rex's bullet grazed his skin, sparking in the air, but it couldn't even make him take a single step back.

"Rex!" Ian's voice was filled with rapid breathing. "That bastard is coming this way!"

“Don’t block his way,” Rex said coldly. “Lead him to an open area; I need an angle.”

"I'll give you the angle." Ian chuckled breathlessly. "As for my fate, I'll figure it out myself."

He shook off the bloodstains on his shoulder, and with a tremor of his hands, the Whispering Domain unfolded once more.

A gale swept up from the street corner, distorting the air and tearing dust into sharp threads that swirled around Hill.

Hill paused, as if the wind was resisting him. "Oh?" He lowered his head, a cruel excitement flashing in his eyes. "Interesting—even the wind is howling."

He suddenly spread his arms wide, his muscles bulging, and his voice boomed like thunder: "Then I'll make the wind kneel down too!"

With a roar, the wind wall shattered instantly! He leaped up, his body soaring through the night sky like a cannonball, his five fingers spread wide, his giant claws with bone spikes tearing through the air.

"—Die!"

Ian raised his knife in a backhand motion, the wind swirling around him. "Wind Barrier!"

The moment the steel clashed with the bone claws, the air seemed to shatter, sparks exploded between them like a rain of stars, and the metallic shrieks mixed with the roars of beasts were deafening.

"Crack—crack—!" Ian was thrown away by the shockwave, his body arcing through the air before crashing heavily into the wall.

The concrete collapsed, he coughed up blood, the wind ring became unbalanced, and the domain completely dissipated.

He licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, a ferocious smile spreading across his face.

“It’s so much fun—” he said in a deep, animalistic voice, “but—I’m tired of it.”

He looked down at the blood-red ground beneath his feet, where every drop of blood was trembling slightly.

The animal bone totem lit up behind him again, blood-red light filled the sky, the wind subsided, and the air trembled violently.

Ian struggled to sit up and looked up. The crimson light reflected in his eyes, like the gates of hell opening.

The line between blood and wind was completely torn apart. Ian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, chuckled, and shook his head: "Looks like tonight, I'll have to gamble with my life."

Syl's pupils contracted sharply in the crimson firelight, and the bone patterns beneath his skin slithered like snakes, flashing with ancient and dangerous symbols.

He growled in a low voice, his laughter gradually turning maniacal: "The rules of this instance don't even prohibit the Disaster Zone."

He spread his arms wide, his voice tearing through the air, "Rookies, prepare to die!"

Boom! Blood exploded.

"Disaster Zone! Beast Bone Mountain Nest!"

Bones burst forth from his body, instantly transforming into a swirling storm of bones.

The streets were covered by an overwhelming mass of bone claws and blood vessels, and the walls of skyscrapers were torn apart and shattered under the pressure, swept into the eye of the storm.

The air roared, the ground groaned, and Syl stood in the center of the Bone Mountain, his body completely fused with the storm mountain, thousands upon thousands of white bones colliding with each other, producing a deafening cracking sound.

The roar of a colossal beast echoed from the depths of the disaster zone, like a chorus from hell. At that moment, the entire city felt as if it had been sealed inside the chest of a wild animal.

Through his sniper scope, Rex could only see a rolling white nightmare.

At the other end of the street, Ian propped himself up from the ruins. His trench coat was torn in half, and he was covered in dust and blood, but he still had that arrogant smile on his face.

“Do you know?” He raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth and said in a low voice, “You made two mistakes.”

Hill turned his head, baring his fangs, and sneered, "Tell me about it?"

Ian looked up, the wind ruffling his golden hair, the firelight flickering eerily in his eyes. "First—the Disaster Domain is indeed powerful."

He gripped his twin swords tightly, swirling vortexes of air coiling around their blades, "But fate has already drawn the bullseye for you."

He looked up at the red moon, a sharp smile curving his lips. "Secondly, the wind is just right now."

Rex stood at the edge of the Empire State Building's fault line, took a deep breath, and gazed through the churning blood mist. Listening to Ian's whispers, his gaze turned cold and resolute. "Well said."

He pulled the trigger guard, and the power of the Burning Star ignited within him.

"Burning Star Skill - Stars Shine".

boom!
The air at the top of the Empire State Building suddenly burst open, and countless portals of light burst forth like shattered lenses.

In each of the light gates, the figure of Rex was reflected.

Ten, a hundred, a thousand—they raise their guns, load, aim—their movements perfectly synchronized, the cold glint of their scopes weaving a galaxy of stars. "Target locked, phantom of destiny."

The first shot, the bullet pierced the air, trailing a silver flame across the night sky, piercing the storm, and striking Hill in the chest.

But there was no blood—the bullet seemed to have pierced through reality, leaving only a transparent mark on his skin. Hill lowered his head, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Heh, so this is your killing move?"

Rex's lips curled up in a similar smile, his voice low and deep: "The gears of fate have begun to turn."

Hill looked up, his gaze sharpening. The portals of light flickered in the air, reflecting countless images of Rex, who simultaneously raised their guns.

"Boom-boom-boom-"

The air exploded, and hundreds of bullets streaked across the night sky like a meteor shower, sweeping in from all directions.

Hill roared, his blood surging: "—Wall of Bones!"

The storm in the disaster area spun wildly, and countless bone shields, bone wings, and bone blades overlapped and intertwined, forming an impenetrable defensive wall.

"It's no use! My disaster zone—impossible!"

boom--

All the bullets vanished the instant they touched the bone wall. Silence engulfed the street.

Syl laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the crumbling night. "Do you see that? Hunter—your fate is over."

The next second, starlight flickered in the center of the disaster zone. The bullets that had disappeared inside him—in his back, chest, spine, and head—reappeared one after another, like stars awakening in his flesh and blood.

Bang. The first one—the heart.

Bang. The second one—the spine.

Bang. The third one—a head.

A series of light bursts erupted within him, each explosion like an echo of destiny.

Searle's body stiffened, the storm of bones collapsed around him, and the sound of the wind turned into a low echo.

He opened his mouth and spat out blood and bone fragments, and before his eyes appeared countless reflections of Rex—they all raised their guns, turning into a shimmering constellation under the red moon.

“…Impossible.” Syl fell to his knees, his voice hoarse, like the low growl of a torn beast. “I…I clearly opened…the Disaster Domain…”

Boom—the bones collapsed, and the beast tide fell silent in an instant. Their eyes lost their luster, and their bodies collapsed like waves.

The streets returned to silence, with only blood rain falling from the sky.

Rex lowered his gun, the cold light of the sniper scope gradually dimmed, the Starburst Technique ended, he let out a long breath, and said in a low voice: "It's over."

Ian emerged from behind the ruins, blood still seeping from the wound on his shoulder. He looked up in the direction of the Empire State Building, whistled, and laughed with a relaxed smile: "Great, man."

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and chuckled softly, "This is the rhythm a 'hunting game' should have." Rex smiled faintly, his tone calm, "Then let's move on to the next prey."

The wind whipped up a rain of blood, which turned into a thin mist in the air. The crimson moon hung high, and the gears of fate continued to turn slowly—only under a different name.

"Every bullet is a choice presented by fate. And he always chooses 'the end'."

Before the blood mist had completely dissipated, Rex slowly unloaded the gun. Ian smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. The wind blew between them, carrying a hint of weariness.

"Phew... This is really tiring?" Ian turned his wrist, his bones cracking slightly.

"If this stupid game could give us even a little breathing room, I'd be willing to write a thank-you note to the tower." Rex chuckled, about to reply—*snap!*

A shop window on the street corner suddenly shattered, and shards of glass flew in the wind, reflecting light like blades.

The whispers suddenly exploded in Ian's ears—Rex's warning: "Watch out, behind you!!"

Ian turned around reflexively, but the flash of light and shadow shot out almost simultaneously, cutting through the air and emitting a piercing metallic screech.

A figure fully clad in combat armor leaped out of the shattered shop window, his eyes flashing with furious red light. An energy blade sliced ​​through the night, transforming into a blazing white arc aimed straight at his heart.

"The Lord of the World's Calamity, Sigmund Crow!" The deep, thunderous voice fell, and with a stomp of his foot, the entire street instantly collapsed three inches.

"Star Calamity Technique - Earthquake Impact!"

Boom!! The air collapsed into visible ripples, the ground shattered like paper, and the shockwave swept through the streets.

Ian was thrown back, his body slamming into a street lamp, bending the metal pole and sending sparks flying. He landed heavily on the ground, panting, "...Damn it, just got rid of one problem, and now a new one appears?"

Crow emerged from the dust, dragging his massive, monstrous iron warhammer. The sound of metal scraping against the ground was grating. His laughter was cruel.
The voice was as heavy as a grinding stone: "Hunters have no right to breathe. You only need to die under my hammer."

Just as Rex mounted his gun on the railing to provide cover, a calm yet amused voice suddenly sounded behind him:
"You should worry about yourself instead."

He turned around abruptly, and a semi-mechanical man stood in the shadows.

The man's right arm was entirely metal, with implanted armor flashing green runes, and the markings on his shoulder armor were clearly visible: [Overclocking Reactive Armor].

He held a submachine gun that was radiating fluorescent green energy, and a sickly mist rose in the air behind him.

“Calamity Lord Harren Griffin.” Rex’s eyes narrowed.

Herren smiled slightly, revealing his neat dentures: "Congratulations on winning a game, but unfortunately this game—has no end."

He raised his gun and whispered coldly, "Star Calamity Technique, Plague Overlord."

The air quickly turned green, and a sour, rotten smell filled the air.

Thorny fungi grew from the cracks in the concrete, spreading and twisting, emerging from the ground like fleshy buds and covering the entire wall.

The lights dimmed, transforming the entire building into a sickly green garden. Herren smiled calmly: "Welcome to the Plague Courtyard. I'm not destroying the world, just reborn it as corpses."

Rex dodged backward, the sniper scope flashing, and just as he created distance, Herren's submachine gun spat out a string of green flames.

The bullets pierced the air, their trails carrying poisonous gas, each one entwined with cursed runes—the blood of those struck would instantly rot.

Rex rolled to avoid the bullet, which grazed his cheek, leaving a bluish-black burn mark on his skin and emitting a faint wisp of smoke.

"Damn it." He gritted his teeth and quickly raised his gun, only to find that the other person's figure had already disappeared into the fog.

Whispered words drifted over, Ian's voice laced with his usual sarcasm: "Two more?! Is Tower joking?!"

"Two?" Herren's voice rang out from the mist, tinged with a cold laugh. "No rush, there are still spectators."

In the distance, amidst the shadows of tall buildings, a pair of blood-red eyes slowly opened.

Marian Grace. She gracefully leaned forward, raising an old-fashioned telescope, moonlight bathing her skin.
It was so white it was almost transparent, and its pair of blood-red wings slowly unfolded behind it, fluttering slightly and bringing out a sweet, cloying scent of blood.

Her voice was low and mocking: "Hunt for me—my blood slave."

She licked the blood bead from the corner of her mouth with the tip of her tongue, a burning desire igniting in her red eyes. "Mmm...this tastes sweeter than I expected."

Her gaze fell on the virtual leaderboard, where a string of ice-blue words floated in the air.

[Marianne Grace: 760 points, current ranking: third]

She chuckled softly, "Third place? Heh, not bad. Once they're all dead, I'll be number one."

A low laugh came from the shadows behind her: "Curse their celestial calamity with blood, make them hunt each other and devour each other's points... What a brilliant strategy."

Marian turned her head, a dangerous smile curving her red lips: "And what about you? What did you plant in those three people? Don't think I don't know."

The man in the shadows did not answer, but only chuckled softly, a laugh that swept across the cemetery like the wind, carrying an ominous echo.

"Different strategies, same result. As long as they die, we win."

Marianne smiled, her eyes like bloodstained roses: "Then good luck, hunter."

She turned around, her blood wings fully unfurled, and the light of the crimson moon shone through her silhouette onto the glass of the high-rise building, casting the image of a blooming scarlet flower.

Below the street, gunfire and roars mingled once more. Rex and Ian rose again; a whirlwind of debris, a sniper's volley—
They didn't see the pair of eyes watching from afar, nor did they hear the whisper—

"The hunt is not over yet; the real monster always smiles from the shadows."

"Blood, plague, and shattered starlight,"
A new destiny will be written on this night.

—Conclusion of *The Tower of the End: The Hunting Capital*

(End of this chapter)