Zongman: The post-2D era

Kamijou and Index started the rescue operation for Shokuho. The two moved from the tent to the photo studio and were still busy under the leadership of the boss since six in the morning.

After Feng Feng contacted the two, he was busy conducting search and rescue work in the ruins, looking for clues about Shokuho.

The midday sun tried hard to penetrate the thick fog in London, but it could only cast mottled light and shadows. Only when the lampposts were lit up could people see the world in the fog.

Inside the British Library, the ancient bookshelves are like silent giants, guarding endless knowledge and secrets.

Feng Feng followed in Shokuhou Misaki's footsteps and stepped into this palace of knowledge again.

Stepping into the solemn and quiet hall of the British Library, Feng Feng shuttled between rows of old bookshelves, his fingertips gently sliding over books that carried the traces of time.

The place where Shokuhou Misaki looked up information yesterday now only has a faint warmth and a trace of unsolved mystery left.

Just when he was feeling discouraged, his eyes inadvertently fell on a slightly old copy of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", which seemed to have been forgotten by time and lay there quietly.

Turning the pages of the book, the name "Shokuho" incredibly appeared in the descriptions of several cases on the yellowed paper. Although the handwriting was blurred, it was as thought-provoking as a puzzle, making people involuntarily indulge in this sudden clue.

Feng Feng tightly grasped the yellowed copy of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" and walked through the long corridor of the library, heading towards the cemetery next to the church with firm steps.

The afterglow of the lamppost slanted onto the mottled stone road, stretching his shadow long, interweaving with the ancient tombstones and entwined vines around him to form an eerie picture.

In the cemetery, where the church was the day before yesterday, the tombstone of Father Holmes stands quietly, and the inscription seems to whisper in the breeze.

"We are all just a line of text, a name, but we can live forever in 19th century London after death!"

Feng Feng squatted down and flipped through the pages of the book in the dim light. The light shining through the pages cast mottled shadows on the grave.

"The code for the stick figures in this book is different from what I remember, but the solution is the same. The code says that everything can be found in front of your grave!"

His eyes were sometimes solemn and sometimes flashing with hope, as if he was having a silent conversation with the mysteries of the past.

Feng Feng stood in front of Father Holmes' tombstone. The fog grew thicker and the lights around him became dimmer.

He tightly grasped the yellowed volume of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", his eyes flashing with unprecedented determination.

He slowly turned the page and pointed to the blurry but eye-catching words "Shokuho" and said in a low and powerful voice:

"Father Holmes, no matter what the mystery or test, I will solve it one by one."

“But now, I demand that you return Shokuhou to me immediately. She is becoming a character in your story. Otherwise, I will chop open even this solid tombstone with my sword of the mountain!”

Under the light, his figure looked particularly aloof, and the pages in his hands seemed to carry endless determination.

The sword flashed, and although it had not actually been unsheathed, the sharp sword intent had already caused the surrounding air to solidify, as if even time had stopped at this moment.

Feng Feng saw that the other party not only did not return Shokuhou to him, but also treated him coldly, making him feel like a psychopath talking to a tombstone.

The sword of the mountain cut through the tombstone, causing it to crack, and black mist rose into the sky from the cracks.

Feng Feng was filled with rage, and he suddenly drew the Shan sword from its sheath. The sword light was like a dragon, and it struck the tombstone three times.

There was a loud bang and the tombstone instantly cracked, with broken stones scattering and dust flying everywhere.

From the cracks, black haze continued to rise into the sky and merged with the entire foggy city. It was like the gates of hell were suddenly opened, and it quickly spread with endless coldness and despair.

In the haze, there seemed to be countless wails and resentments entangled, which made people feel terrified.

Feng Feng did not move, his eyes were as sharp as torches, staring at the black haze rising into the sky. The tip of the Mountain Sword in his hand trembled slightly, as if he was ready to strike out again at any time to disperse the strange haze.

Feng Feng frowned. The scene around him seemed to be swept by a whirlpool of time. The tombstones transformed one by one, turning into solemn funerals. Then they quickly retreated and turned into Londoners dressed in Victorian costumes, walking through the foggy streets.

An ancient carriage slowly approached. The coachman wore a tall hat and a dark tailcoat. He gently pulled the reins and stopped the carriage beside Feng Feng. He had a polite smile unique to the 19th century on his face, and his voice carried a hint of the times:

"Sir, do you need a ride? It's too foggy. Let me give you a ride."

The surrounding buildings also changed accordingly, and the halo of the gas lamps swayed in the fog, adding a dim and mysterious color to this strange journey through time.

The carriage moved slowly forward on the foggy streets of London. Feng Feng leaned close to the window, scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes.

While driving the horses, the coachman chatted with Feng Feng, and his voice echoed in the carriage, carrying a hint of the charm of the times.

"Are you in London, sir, in search of Sherlock Holmes? He is a very great detective, and I have had the pleasure of meeting him several times."

The coachman said this with a beaming smile, and suddenly, the carriage jolted violently, almost throwing Feng Feng out of the carriage.

Feng Feng steadied himself and looked out the window, only to see a pedestrian bumping into the carriage unconsciously like a zombie.

The pedestrian was ragged, but he was obviously wearing clothes from the 21st century. His face was covered in dirt and his eyes were empty, as if he had lost his soul.

The coachman quickly apologized to Feng Feng and continued driving forward, but along the way, there were more and more pedestrians like this. They were like ghosts in the fog, wandering silently and colliding with the carriage from time to time.

Feng Feng heard the coachman say: "Mr. Holmes is already investigating these zombies. According to him, these people are the ones who died in the earthquake during the era of the destruction of magic in the 21st century!"

"Although we are in 19th century London, we have the magic of the Sakura Witch! Zombies are the dead souls of London in the 21st century who want to enter the eternal foggy world."

"But they are not considered residents of the Fog City. They have no human rights, and the City Heritage Office will not care about their lives!"

Chapter 898: Magic Era

Friday, December 16

Feng Feng's name was also listed on the London Earthquake Relief Missing Persons Center. Many people left their contact information in disappointment and are still looking for his whereabouts.

In Academy City, Shirai and Misaka Mikoto asked to see the three princesses separately, expressing their determination to find Fengfeng even though they did not understand politics.

The topic of discussion for most students turned to the heavy fog in London, England, and during the class breaks as usual, they really started to worry about "the end of the world when the sky is covered by smog."

At the Heart Realm Morning Light Second Research Center, Accelerator and Morning Light Yui stared at the fog on the surveillance screen and detected the distortion of time and space.

Many people are wondering who could cause Feng Feng, who is known as a "saint", to disappear mysteriously without leaving any clues!

Feng Feng walked along the Seine River, looked sideways at the Sakura Witch beside him and sighed: "London in the 19th century was the era of magic."

Feng Feng's gaze slowly moved along the Seine River, and finally stopped on the wooden boat towed by dolphins on the river.

The wooden boat floats lightly, and the leaping of the dolphins brings a fairy-tale-like fantasy.

The people on the boat were dressed in retro clothes and smiling, like travelers traveling through time and space. They all bowed in unison to the Sakura Witch beside them, their behavior revealing their awe for this mysterious woman.

There was a faint scent of magic in the air. Someone waved their wand lightly, and elves came with exquisite cookies and spun around the two people, while others waved their wings lightly, scattering colorful petals, like a gorgeous rain of flowers, freezing this moment into eternity.

Feng Feng smiled and waved goodbye to everyone on the wooden boat, then stood side by side with the Sakura Witch, and the two of them bowed deeply to the people dressed in retro costumes.

The elves seemed to be summoned and flew from all directions, flapping their transparent wings. They held exquisite cookies in their hands and landed lightly on the small table in front of the two people.

At the same time, the people around also cast magic, and petals fell from the sky like snowflakes, red, blue, purple...

The flower rain intertwined into a colorful dream, enveloping Feng Feng and the Sakura Witch. The two smiled at each other, stepped hand in hand into the wooden boat pulled by the dolphins, swaying gently with the river surface, and sailed towards the unknown distance.

Feng Feng and the Sakura Witch sailed downstream, leaving the bustling city. The scenery on both sides of the river gradually became quiet and simple.

Soon, they came to a rural countryside surrounded by lush greenery. The view in front of them suddenly opened up and a magic bean plantation came into view.

The giant beanstalk stands like a guardian angel, and a warm light shines through the bean pods, as if they contain endless secrets and miracles.

The bean leaves swayed gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and magic.

In the distance, several colorful birds are singing on the branches, weaving a dreamlike picture together with this mysterious plantation.

Feng Feng listened to the gentle words of the Sakura Witch, his eyes falling on the lush and green magic bean plantations.

The sunlight shines through the clouds, dappled onto the huge beanstalks. Each bean pod is like a small universe, emitting a soft and mysterious light.

He imagined the children planting their own magic beans with great anticipation, taking good care of them every day, waiting for them to gradually change over the five years of growth, and finally blossoming with amazing magic at the coming-of-age ceremony at the age of fifteen.

In the picture, a little girl in a simple dress is standing on tiptoe, carefully touching the pod, her eyes flashing with longing and curiosity for the future.

When Feng Feng heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

The Sakura Witch gently stroked a magic bean beside her, her eyes full of tenderness and pride:

"These magic beans are the result of my reform of magic. Each bean pod contains the innocent dreams and hopes of children."

"When they are opened at the coming-of-age ceremony at the age of fifteen, they release a unique magic, which is the most sincere wishes of the children."

As she spoke, she gently picked a pod, which slowly bloomed in her hand. A bright light overflowed from it, transforming into a small and delicate magic butterfly, dancing around the two of them. The air was filled with a dreamy magical scent.

Feng Feng shook his head slightly, looking deeply at the magic bean plantation, with a barely perceptible tenderness in his tone:

"Sakura Witch, the magic beans you are so proud of are indeed a revolutionary invention, but have you ever thought that this so-called magic is nothing more than the illusion recorded in this world itself?"

“The light you see and the miracles you feel are all the unique ways this world records the innocence and dreams of every heart.”

He walked slowly towards a magic bean and gently touched the warm light with his fingers. In an instant, the light seemed to come alive and turned into delicate streams of light, wrapping around his fingertips, and then slowly blending into the air and turning into starlight.

Beside Feng Feng, the Sakura Witch nodded slightly, with a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, and she admitted:

"You are right. What I call magic is just the illusion of this world, which is a record of nature. It is not real magic."

"But you see, this magical world where everyone lives and works in peace and contentment, full of love and dreams, isn't it the utopia we are pursuing?"

As she spoke, she waved her sleeves lightly, and the magical aura around her became stronger. The elves danced again, and flower petals fell like rain on the countryside surrounded by magic beans.

In the distance, several children were laughing and chasing a magic butterfly. Their laughter was clear and melodious, like the sound of nature.

The sunlight shines through the clouds and falls on everyone, bringing warmth and peace, as if the whole world is shrouded in a faint magical glow, so beautiful that it makes people intoxicated.

Feng Feng turned his head to look at the Sakura Witch. There was a firm and gentle light in her eyes, as if it could illuminate all the darkness.

The Sakura Witch asked softly, "Feng Feng, are you willing to stay in this magical world where everyone lives and works in peace and contentment, full of love and dreams, and protect this utopia with us?"

Her voice was soft but powerful, like a spring breeze blowing through the heart. She stretched out her hand, palm up, and a magic flower slowly bloomed in her hand, gorgeous and mysterious.

"For this world, for the people who trust me, I am willing to pay any price, even my life."

There was an unquestionable determination in her eyes, and at that moment, the whole world seemed to stand still.

"We have long foreseen the so-called technological world of the future, and after learning from it, we have surpassed the future!"

"But, we can't change the so-called future no matter what, because that future includes your existence and your recognition!"

"So, please forgive me for trapping you in this world, my future beloved!"

Chapter 899 The Future Disappears

Saturday, December 17

Feng Feng's name has been on the list of missing persons at the London Earthquake Relief Center for two days. Many people have left their contact information in disappointment, still looking for his whereabouts.

In front of numerous missing persons leaflets, Shirai, Misaka Mikoto and the three princesses once again announced their determination to find Feng Feng.

The topic of discussion among most students turned to the heavy fog that had spread from London to the entire country of the UK. During the class break, which seemed to be going on as usual, discussions about "the end of the world due to smog covering the sky" were everywhere.

At the Heart Realm Morning Light Second Research Center, Accelerator and Morning Light Wei detected the distortion of space and time based on the fog on the surveillance screen and began to prepare the space portal.