Infinite Gods Reign Supreme

Chapter 108 - I'm so strong! (doge)
Source World.

Si Ming hadn't thought about his original world for a long time. However, when this thought emerged from the depths of his mind, many old memories also surged in his heart.

He still remembered the crimson field, the poisonous atmosphere, and the golden tree that stood at the edge of the horizon, obscuring the entire sky. He also remembered the piles of bones along the broken stone path, left to be devoured by giant dogs and strange crows, and the enormous mushrooms that grew from those bones, exuding a sweet and rich aroma.

He still remembered the day he first arrived, the putrid swamp, and the countless skeletons that, though dead, had sprouted mushrooms and mycelium, yet still writhed and howled mournfully. He also remembered the grey-white hyena that had been hiding behind the rocks, silently attacking him as he approached.

I still remember the excruciating pain when my arm was torn apart, the terror when the putrid poison invaded my body, the sharp bone fragments I grabbed and desperately stabbed into the hyena's skull, and the old torch that I tried to light three times before I could, and the suppressed growl of pain that burst from my throat when I pressed the flame against the rotting flesh.

Memories flicker in the past.

They are as vivid as if they happened yesterday, clearly displayed before my eyes.

His long-dormant heart began to beat with joy. The person beside him murmured in their sleep, and Si Ming silently got off the bed and stepped into the desolate wilderness outside.

A verdant wasteland, a wasteland at night.

For a fleeting moment, he even wanted to change everything in front of him to the familiar crimson. But in the end, he did nothing.

"It really... brings back memories..."

Si Ming clenched his fist, a massive amount of power gathering within his body. Perhaps because his basic attributes had already reached a transcendent level, even if he were to fully unleash the third-tier gene lock again, his body would no longer need to expand to accommodate the force of a full-force burst. However, even with such a vast amount of power gathered within his body, he did not feel particularly satisfied.

"I am very strong, and there's no need for modesty. Perhaps my genetic lock is currently only at the early stage of the third tier, but with a seven-star Dou Wang aura and the development of 'Night's Gate,' my actual combat strength should have already reached the peak of the third tier. I might even be able to touch the level of a flawed fourth tier."

Genetic lock is genetic lock, and combat power is combat power. The AA-level life-and-death aura and his nighttime battle aura merged and superimposed. Now, he was certain that his battle aura level had reached the theoretically impossible 3A level—higher than 2A but lower than S. Therefore, his full-force combat power should be threatening, even capable of defeating a flawed fourth-tier opponent.

Even if Zhao Zhuikong suddenly appeared in the Celestial Team, I'm confident I could defeat him, even kill him, given his relatively low enhancement level. And if I could train further and acquire more resources, once my third-tier gene lock reaches its limit and my core enhancement reaches S-rank, I think I could easily defeat even a regular early-stage fourth-tier fighter.

Thoughts raced, and considerations weighed.

This wasn't arrogance, but rather a clear understanding of his own position. Si Ming was quite certain that he was currently the strongest in this cycle of reincarnation. He was also optimistic about the speed at which he would continue to improve.

but……

I am not happy.

He clenched his fist gently, then released it, clenched it again, and released it again—Eve appeared behind him unnoticed, draping the inner lining and Night Demon Armor over his shoulders. He naturally took the Flame-Binding Greatsword that Eve offered, stepped forward, entered the field, and began to wield it.

He hadn't had a truly exhilarating battle in a very, very long time.

The only one capable of injuring him, the Iron-Blooded Lone Wolf, only managed to ignite a slight fighting spirit in him. And Yu Zhiwei, who controlled numerous wheelchairs and even helped him take the step of unlocking the third stage of his genetic lock, ultimately failed to land her psychic attack, which could have blown his head off.

She hadn't hurt him—unless she unleashed more power, used more skill. But that would mean a true life-or-death struggle. And as teammates who had already built up a great deal of chemistry, how could he possibly push her to that point?
The sword began to dance, without drawing upon any energy, simply releasing the power of the body. The swift figure dashed left and right across the plain, causing fallen leaves and petals to swirl and swirl with the storm, only to be sliced ​​apart in mid-air by the sword, transforming into a shower of verdant greenery as they fell.

I want to fight—I want to fight truly. No holding back, a fight to the death. Both sides must exhaust every means, draining their blood and brute strength. Wounded, fallen, yet still gritting their teeth and fighting to the death. Only then will victory be truly sweet.

But I can't do that. I have responsibilities, and I must fulfill my duties.

The sword transforms into a spear, and the Fire-Transmitting Greatsword, already capable of being wielded in various styles, becomes swift and agile with its sweeping footwork. And when the spear transforms into a curved saber, its strange and unpredictable movements become difficult for ordinary people to perceive.

Si Ming knew, of course, that he could fight, that he could create those powerful adversaries—in the Cursed World, he could actively create evil spirits. He could easily provoke those righteous gods and then fight them to the death. Moreover, in the Dragon War world where the group battle had already ended, he might very well be able to follow the map to find that mysterious celestial realm and engage in fierce battles with those immortals, gods, and giant dragons.

but……

The sword transformed into a hammer, and the hammer into a whip. He had never studied martial arts, but after unlocking the third stage of his genetic lock, he could master the skills of using these weapons simply by reading a few books. His muscles became active, his power spread, and amidst this storm of wielding weapons, Si Ming revealed a helpless smile.

"I am the captain of the Celestial Team."

The team leader should be held responsible.

The captain should lead his team to victory and survival.

Moreover, this responsibility did not come from the deity's assignment, but rather he chose to strive for it and bear it.

Therefore, we must be conscientious and dedicated to our duties.

'Boom—' The chain whip formed from the Fire-Borrowing Greatsword tore through the air, creating a shattering sonic wave. It transformed back into the shape of a sword and was carried on Si Ming's back once more.

it's time.

Si Ming turned his head and nodded to Eve, who had been watching him with concern.

"I'm going out for a bit, I'll be right back," he said, adding a final touch. "Prepare some late-night snacks for me, and warm up a pot of wine."

He doesn't actually drink much.

But saying goodbye to the past always needs a drink to feel complete—as the captain, he can't stay in a melancholic mood for too long. He'll resolve this lingering attachment to the past, and then… return to his rightful place as captain of the Celestial Team.

—Feigning illness.

He cursed himself inwardly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the tenderness and worry in Eve's eyes. It should still be night, and this futile persistence should come to an end tonight.

Move forward, take a step.

The portal to the new space was easily crossed, and the golden sphere of light still floated above the silent plaza. There was no one else, no onlookers. The timing was perfect.

—God, unlock my source world. And redeem 1 day of return time.

The thought was released.

Si Ming received a reply immediately.

—【One D-rank side quest has been completed, rewarding 50 points. The reincarnator, Siming, is returning to the source world…】

A beam of light descended.

Everything is in flux.

Then… before Si Ming’s eyes, he saw that familiar crimson once again. A desolate and vast decaying wilderness came into view, and at the edge of the sky, the incomparably enormous and expansive golden tree still stood.

He is back.

He was still at the entrance of the rocky cave he had built himself as a temporary refuge. He remembered that he was preparing to hunt a powerful carnivorous beast—a four- or five-meter-tall albino bird. Its body was covered in decaying mycelium, it had a beak full of sharp teeth, and it was guarded by several slightly smaller black birds.

He had a grudge against it; once, it chased him so far that he was almost cornered. He had no choice but to jump into a shallow, highly poisonous pit and hold his breath to escape, at the cost of having a layer of his skin burned away by the corrosive toxins.

I really miss those days.

Si Ming let out a soft breath. The putrid toxins that filled the air and tormented his frail body were no longer effective. He stepped forward, guided by his past memories. Before long, he arrived at the place where he had once hated the putrid nest so much he wanted to grind his teeth in despair.

He saw them, and they saw him, making no attempt to conceal his presence. Then—

'Gah—!'

The strange bird let out a shriek and fled without hesitation—the instincts of a wild beast have their merits, and it could immediately discern the strength of Si Ming's aura, which he had not deliberately concealed.

The sword light swept across.

The giant bird was torn into pieces and fell in all directions. Only then did Si Ming realize that the restrictions the Supreme God placed on his source world seemed to be much less stringent than he had expected.

There are no restrictions on the use of power, no restrictions on the leakage of information, and even the place of return is not anchored by the main god at this point of descent. Instead, as long as the countdown ends, the journey can be ended at any location.

"Unexpectedly..."

Si Ming glanced at the shredded flesh that had fallen to the ground. The powerful monster that he had once struggled with all his might to barely escape was now not even worthy of his attention.

Whatever.

The raging fire swept across the area; he had long known that these corrupt creatures feared fire most of all. In an instant, the entire decaying nest was reduced to ashes. And one of the enemies he had long needed to settle scores with was also eliminated.

From one place to another.

There are multi-legged insectoids in the ruins that can spit out white silk threads; kill them.

In the poisonous pool, there were humanoid mushrooms that released dark green tracking poison orbs, which then burned.

The giant hyenas in the wasteland and the corrupt red-clad knights in the swamp were all slaughtered.

They are weaker than I thought.

He is more than one dimension stronger than them.

With all old grudges wiped away, there was still plenty of time. Having no intention of returning, Si Ming decided to explore the things he had never been able to touch before.

He wanted to see the golden tree perched atop the horizon—no, not just see it, but walk towards it. After all, he couldn't quite believe that the land covered by such a massive and magnificent tree was entirely crimson wasteland that clearly didn't look like a benevolent place.

He was right.

Heading north, then west, the sky gradually cleared. Withered, rather than decaying, grass began to appear on the ground. And after crossing a hill, lush green fields came into view.

There seemed to be human habitation in the distance, and even more distant, massive buildings were faintly visible—the ground beneath his feet appeared to be flat land rather than the arc of a planet. But Siming had no intention of continuing forward.

Enough is enough.

Si Ming knew that in a world with such a magnificent tree, there must be powerful creatures strong enough to cause him trouble, or even pose a fatal threat. But that was enough.

The monsters that needed to be killed have been killed. The old grudges that needed to be settled have been wiped away. At this moment, my mind is exceptionally calm, and the ever-surging flames of fighting spirit have been restrained by reason and integrity.

It's time to go back.

We should continue to fulfill our responsibilities as leaders, instead of indulging in past illusions.

He glanced at his watch; there were three seconds left before he had to leave.

There's nothing to think about, nothing to reminisce about; all we need to do is quietly wait for the countdown to end.

Three, two, one.

zero.

Si Ming suddenly opened his eyes wide.

Negative one.

Turning my head, I saw that the watch on my wrist was flickering like an unstable projection!
Negative two.

A tremendous roar came from beside my ears, from the sky—no, even higher, higher still, into some inconceivable realm. It was as if something enormous was colliding, tearing at me, like massive, incompatible gears squeezing and turning in a crushing grip!

Negative three.

The roaring sound abruptly stopped. In its place came a familiar yet unfamiliar sound.

Solemn and dignified, ethereal and timeless. It was like a proclamation from the supreme deity, yet also like something else mixed in. The twirling wristwatch stabilized once more, but different things simultaneously surfaced in my ears and eyes.

—【Main Quest: Slay a Fragment King. Success rewards you with a return to base. Failure results in being stranded.】

—"Conquest Request: Slay a Fragment King. Request reward: First-stage candidate apostle certification."

Negative four.

Everything calmed down.

A chilling malice that filled the four corners of the earth and covered the eight wastelands poured down rapidly toward Si Ming's location!

(End of this chapter)