The end of the world is approaching, I'm handing myself over to the country.

Finished a cigarette.

Zhang Heng flicked his finger, sending the cigarette butt flying and leaving a trail of sparks.

He stood up again and patted his bottom.

"I'm too lazy to explain. Believe all you want, I'm not playing along."

After saying that, he didn't even glance at Zhou Jian again, and turned to walk towards the woods behind him.

The pace wasn't fast, but every step conveyed a resolute "I'm not going to serve you anymore" attitude.

Zhou Jian instinctively wanted to call out to him, but swallowed the words back.

Why did you call out to him?

Should we pin him to the ground and interrogate him again?

Or should we continue to be on friendly terms with him while secretly observing him?

But the words have already been said so bluntly.

Going back would make me look like a clown.

Moreover, the other party was not his prisoner, so he had no right to interrogate them.

Zhou Jian watched helplessly as Zhang Heng's figure disappeared into the nearby woods.

They have completely disappeared without a trace.

Silence returned to the surroundings, with only the rustling of the wind through the leaves.

"Ugh, so annoying!"

Zhou Jian scratched his hair in frustration.

I finally met someone I could chat with and who seemed to have a good personality, but I ruined it all by myself.

He slowly sat back down in his original spot, where it seemed as if the shadow of another person still lingered.

Could it be... that I really made a mistake?

Once the thought pops into my head, it grows wildly in my mind and I can't suppress it.

If he really is Ainz Ooal Gown.

How could he possibly know so much?

They even know about Wasteland Era.

And those overused Douyin (TikTok) jokes...

The more Zhou Jian thought about it, the more outrageous it seemed.

Will Ainz Ooal Gown (Bone King) use Douyin (TikTok)?

He found it hard to imagine a skeleton covered in bones holding a phone, grinning foolishly at the screen...

It's not hard to imagine, but the scene is a bit eerie.

But there's no internet in this world.

But what if I really made a mistake...?

How do you explain that ring?

Did you find it?

There's no such thing as perfect luck in the world!

And he actually gave it to me?

That's way too generous!

This is completely contrary to human nature.

Even if he wanted to take it back, he only symbolically snatched it; he didn't actually intend to take it back.

Zhou Jian felt like his brain had turned into a mess.

Regardless of which reason he was inclined to, Zhou Jian could not completely convince himself.

Which one is the truth?

Zhou Jian stood up irritably and paced back and forth.

A breeze blew by, bringing a touch of coolness that cleared his confused mind a little.

Filled with doubt, Zhou Jian turned and left.

As he walked, he kept recalling every detail of what had just happened.

Zhang Heng's perfectly timed expression of grievance, his complaints befitting an ordinary person, and that final look of utter disbelief as if he were an idiot...

Everything felt so real.

It was so real that he began to wonder if he was overthinking things.

The silence in the forest was broken only after Zhou Jian's figure completely disappeared.

An outline that was originally blended into the shadow of the tree slowly emerged from behind a giant tree.

It was Zhang Heng, who had just "left in a huff."

But at this moment, he was no longer alone.

Beside him, an incredibly burly figure followed silently.

It was a massive skeleton, its entire body possessing a rock-like, heavy texture, with incredibly thick joints. Just standing there, it exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.

In its hands, one hand held a huge bone shield that could be used as a door, and the other hand dragged a heavy chain that moved across the fallen leaves without making a sound.

At this moment, Zhang Heng was no longer the aggrieved and timid person he had been just moments before.

His gaze fell, a subtle, enigmatic smile playing on his lips.

"I have to say, we really get along well. It's been a long time since we've had such a pleasant conversation."

"It's as if everything has gone back to the way it was before..."

His exclamation came from the bottom of his heart.

The tall, imposing skeleton took a step forward, and in its empty eye sockets, two dark blue soul flames flickered slightly, emitting a deep and respectful echo.

"Lord Bone King..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Heng interrupted him.

"I've told you many times, when no one's around, don't call me Lord Ainz, call me brother."

This relaxed and casual demeanor is completely different from the clerk Zhang Heng who had just been beaten down by society.

The soul fire in Pan Gu's eye sockets flickered violently, revealing a struggle.

"I still think that's not a good way to address someone. If others hear it, it will make them lose respect for you."

Zhang Heng chuckled, turned around, and punched Pan Gu's rock-hard ribs, producing a muffled "bang".

"So what?"

"Don't forget, we are brothers."

He grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, his smile carrying a hint of untamed arrogance.

"If they're not satisfied, they can come to me anytime. I have plenty of ways to make them submit."

Pangu remained silent.

Its massive skeletal body paused slightly, and finally, the soul fire in its eye sockets subsided, turning into a soft whisper of compromise.

"elder brother."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Heng nodded in satisfaction.

"But I still don't understand, why do you insist on contacting them?"

"Besides, this is that old witch's territory, and your injuries haven't healed yet. What if..." Pan Gu's voice was filled with deep worry.

Zhang Heng waved his hand dismissively, then started walking casually through the woods again.

"It's okay, I can't beat her."

He readily admitted it.

"Who told her to be so fertile? She can have as many helpers as she wants, just keep having babies, like she's throwing eggs, endlessly, you can't kill them all."

"But I'm not someone you can just manipulate!"

The smile on Zhang Heng's face suddenly vanished, and an aura of decline spread from him.

The dead tree next to it touched the ground and instantly dried out and cracked.

Then, with a "bang," it turned into dust.

The ground was also cracked with countless fine and deep fissures.

"And the essential difference between her and me is that I can be free from any constraints, travel anywhere, and go wherever I want."

"And she, she will be trapped on that wretched island for the rest of her life, never to leave."

Pangu followed closely behind him, dragging a massive bone shield and chains. His heavy steps treaded the ground, yet they were eerily light.

"I still feel like something's not right."

The soul fire in Pan Gu's eye sockets flickered erratically, as if he were deep in thought.

"It might be a trap set by that old witch."

"We've been searching for so many years without finding a single living person, but now, suddenly so many people have appeared."

"And those people are brazenly opening a shop on the old witch's turf, it just doesn't seem right!"

Zhang Heng glanced at his worried younger brother beside him and suddenly smiled.

"My brother, you weren't like this before!"

He stopped, turned to the side, and stared intently at the enormous skull of the giant skeleton.

"Haven't you always wanted friends?"

"I think we should get to know each other better. With so many people, there are bound to be a few we can chat with."

Zhang Heng reached out and gently brushed a fallen leaf off Pan Gu's shoulder blade with a soft touch.

"Never forget, we are human too..."

These words were like a sharp thorn, instantly piercing the depths of Pan Gu's soul and causing him great pain.

Its enormous bony hand clenched tightly, the joints grinding together with a teeth-grinding "crunch".

Then, as if possessed, he grabbed the iron chain and swept it horizontally, smashing countless dead trees.

In response, Zhang Heng simply snapped his fingers to stop the sound from spreading.

Rock Bones roared, "I don't need friends!"

"unnecessary!"