The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

Those words were like cold needles, piercing precisely into the corner of Bai E's heart that he least wanted to touch.

"Enough!" Bai E's voice, filled with suppressed rage, boomed in the empty space. He abruptly raised the greatsword in his hand, stained with the blood of countless monsters, its blade pointing directly at "Russell," its cold light particularly dazzling against the pure white background.

“You, the prison guard who built this eternal nightmare, have no right to judge me! Even the so-called ‘god’ who created you is nothing but my prisoner! And what are you? You have no right to lecture me.”

Russell crossed his arms, a barely perceptible, mocking smile playing on his lips: "A high and mighty god? Isn't he also your creator, little white rabbit? We are both creations, so what makes you think you're superior to me? More valuable than me?"

He paused, his tone carrying an air of indifference that suggested he controlled everything, "Moreover, I have perfectly inherited all the memories of the real Russell who saved your world more than 30 million times. In this world, I am his most perfect replica."

"You must be wondering, since I possess his memories and...emotions, why am I still determined to trap you?"

He snapped his fingers gracefully.

hum-

Space trembled. Right behind Russell, the indescribably enormous phantom of a tree slowly rose and filled the field of vision. Its branches were twisted and gnarled, like a giant beast struggling in its death throes. Its once lush leaves were almost completely withered and fallen, and the few remaining leaves were a sickly grayish-yellow.

The whole tree exuded an aura of decay and impending death, with only a faint, almost extinguished pulse of life remaining deep within the trunk.

“Look,” Russell’s voice held a subtle, almost imperceptible tremor for the first time, a mixture of sorrow and a kind of fanatical fervor, “this is the core that holds this world together. It is withering because of your killings, because of your ‘wake-up call’!”

Bai'er warily surveyed the empty surroundings, searching for possible traps: "Your world is a false cage! When the prisoner breaks free, this cage loses its meaning to that 'Creator'!"

"False?" Russell let out a short, cold laugh. "Is your world real? It's all illusion, why laugh at someone who's no better?"

“I poured everything into this world! I was repairing it, perfecting it! But alas…” His eyes suddenly turned sharp and venomous, “that high and mighty creator forcibly stripped this world of some of the authority it rightfully possessed!”

“I need a container, a key that can hold and release this authority, so that it can truly ‘live’! And you—”

He suddenly pointed at Bai E, his eyes flashing with a crazed light: "—You are the ultimate vessel He set up! He would never have imagined that I borrowed your power not merely to maintain the existence of this world (...I am far more insane than He imagined!)!"

Russell opened his arms as if to embrace the void: "I will use your abundant heart to deduce an ultimate equation—a virus that can completely 'activate' all inorganic life, giving them a brief organic life!"

"Then, in the instant of their 'rebirth,' let their bodies instantly decay and disintegrate! Returning to utter... nothingness!"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement, "What messengers of destruction, what Iron Curtain defenses, will all be devoured by this virus! It will end the threat of omnics once and for all! This is the most efficient purification!"

"If the high and mighty gods look down on us fabricated data, then let them kill us! How can someone so cruel, ruthless, arrogant, and greedy be worthy of sitting on the throne?"

“From the very first second I was created, I hated him. I inherited all of Russell’s memories, and I understand what love is and what suffering in the world is.”

"So I am far more humane than you imagine, but the ultimate fate of this world doesn't allow me to be more humane. Just like him, I bear the weight of everything in this world and move forward."

He looked at Bai Er's furrowed brow and wary posture, softened his tone, and spoke with a strange empathy: "I know you have many questions. But the core answer is simple: I hate Him just as much!"

"The imperfections and lack of freedom in this world, everyone forced to play the role of the jailer imprisoning you... it's all a script He orchestrated! Did He think that I, who inherited Russell's memories, would willingly be a pawn? After learning the whole truth, I changed the script!"

“I also have ideals! I also have ambitions! I also yearn to end the reign of the treacherous Laigushi who manipulates all living beings!” His eyes were filled with complex emotions.

“I don’t want to stop you, Xiaobai. But if you leave, this world will collapse immediately! This is the world I’ve poured my heart and soul into, and everyone in this world will die completely. I have no other choice.”

"Cruel, but efficient. Perhaps... this is exactly the kind of performance He wanted to see?"

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone laced with cold confidence, "However, in this dream world, my power... far exceeds your imagination."

"Furthermore," Russell took a step forward, his voice laced with seduction, "our goals are aligned to some extent, aren't they? I need your abundant power to complete the equation, and you... don't you want to completely eliminate the Ompharos omnic threat before the real Russell returns? Once and for all?"

His response was a sword's cry that tore through the air! Bai E's figure surged forward like a ghost, his greatsword slashing down towards "Russell's" head with the force to cut through everything!

As the sword light fell, Russell's figure rippled and vanished like a reflection in the water.

The next moment, Bai E felt a light tap on his shoulder. He spun around and swung his sword, but missed again. "Russell" had appeared several meters behind him, a hint of regret on his face.

“What a pity,” he shook his head, “all this talk is like casting pearls before swine. This great plan would have succeeded if you had been involved.”

“But you clearly don’t intend to cooperate.” He stretched out his hand, and emerald green light gathered in the void, condensing into a long spear of grass and wood that was full of vitality yet exuded a deadly sharpness.

"From what I remember, you were once my student. If it weren't for the necessity, I really wouldn't want to draw my sword against you. Otherwise, why would I have waited for you to break through my defenses one by one? I could have just crushed you."

His gaze sharpened like a hawk's, locking onto Bai E. He twirled his long spear, the tip pointing directly at Bai E's heart.

His icy words echoed in the pure white space: "Want to escape this world? It's simple. Beat me. Otherwise, you'll never... get out!"

Chapter 1 today

Golden Branches Through the Ages: Chapter 183 The End of the Nightmare

The moment the words left his mouth, Russell moved! Without warning, his figure left a faint emerald green afterimage in place.

His true form appeared on Bai E's side as if by teleportation. The long spear made of grass and wood was silent yet as fast as lightning, piercing straight into Bai E's ribs! The spear tip left a withered trail where it passed.

Bai E's pupils contracted sharply. At the critical moment, the greatsword spun around at an incredible angle to block!

clang--!

The collision of metal and strange wood produced a deafening sound, like the roar of a great bell! An overwhelming force surged through the sword.

Bai E groaned, slid back several meters by the shock, and plowed two clear tracks in the pure white "ground" with his feet.

"Your power... far surpasses that of those monsters!" Bai E steadied himself, speaking in a deep voice, his eyes grave. This was no simple memory copy.

Russell did not pursue, but stood with his gun pointed at the horizon, the mockery still lingering on his lips: "This is just the beginning, newbie. In the dream, my power... is almost limitless."

With a casual wave of his left hand, the ground beneath Bai E's feet suddenly became as soft as quicksand. At the same time, countless sharp ice shards materialized out of thin air above his head and rained down like a storm!

Bai E roared, his greatsword swirling like a wheel, the sword light forming an impenetrable barrier that shredded all the incoming ice shards.

At the same time, he pushed off with his feet, trying to leap away from the quicksand area. However, the quicksand seemed to have a life of its own, suddenly extending several vine-like tentacles that wrapped around his ankles!

"Hmph!" Bai E's sword stance changed, and a sharp sword aura swept past his ankle, instantly severing the vines. He used the momentum to flip over and landed on solid ground a little distance away, his breathing slightly disordered.

“Struggle, little white.” Russell’s voice carried a cat-and-mouse-like mockery. “Every time you swing your sword, you are consuming your own spiritual energy, the very foundation of your ‘existence’ here.”

"And I... as long as this world does not perish, my power will be inexhaustible."

He raised his gun again, and this time, the emerald green light on the gun shone brightly. The pure white space around him seemed to be soaked in it, and countless illusory plants grew and spread wildly, full of vitality, yet containing deadly killing intent, like a living forest cage, surrounding and strangling Bai E!

A fierce glint flashed in Bai E's eyes, and a faint, vibrant emerald halo began to emanate from the greatsword—the power of abundance.

He no longer simply parried, but actively faced the raging tide of vegetation that was engulfing them!

The sword light clashed and tore fiercely against the vines and leaves. Each clash was accompanied by the annihilation of energy and subtle distortions in space.

Bai E was like a lone boat battling against raging waves; though fraught with danger, the sword light grew ever sharper.

The power of abundance endowed him with great resilience, but as Russell said, each use of that power left him feeling a sense of fatigue and strain deep within his spirit.

"Give up! Your struggle will only hasten your demise! Integrate into this world and become the cornerstone of my plan. That is the only way out!" Russell's voice came from near and far amidst the swirling grass and trees, carrying a powerful mental pressure.

"Delusion!" Bai E roared, severing several thick vines as thick as giant pythons with a single sword strike. His figure moved like lightning, forcefully charging against the raging tide towards the direction where "Russell's" true form was located!

The power of abundance formed a tough shield around him, resisting the all-pervasive attacks.

Seeing Bai E charging forward recklessly despite his exhaustion, a hint of surprise flashed in Russell's eyes, which then turned into a deeper chill: "Stubborn to the end! Then... let him sleep completely!"

He gripped the spear tightly with both hands and raised it high. The energy of the entire space converged wildly on him, and the phantom of the withered giant tree reappeared, this time even more solid.

The last bit of life force remaining on the giant tree trunk was forcibly extracted and poured into the tip of the spear.

The grass and wood spear instantly transformed into something resembling a jade carving, radiating a destructive aura. Wherever the spear tip pointed, even the pure white space began to show fine, spiderweb-like black cracks!

"The End - The Sprout of Ruins!"

Russell's voice was like a judgment. He suddenly hurled his spear! The emerald spear transformed into a beam of destructive light that pierced through the void, instantly turning the wildly growing vegetation to ashes wherever it passed.

Space was torn apart, leaving a massive, pitch-black trail that carried an aura of annihilation, heading straight for Bai E's heart! Its speed surpassed the limits of any of Bai E's previous dodges!

The aura of death instantly gripped Bai E's throat! His pupils shrank to pinpoints, and the abundant power within his body was instinctively pushed to its limit. He held his greatsword horizontally in front of him, and the emerald green light shield was as thick as a solid substance!

Boom-! ! ! !

An indescribable roar exploded in the pure white space. The beam of destruction slammed into the light shield!

The emerald light shield held for less than half a second before shattering like fragile glass! The destructive shockwave slammed into Bai E's greatsword and body!

puff!

Bai E was struck as if by a heavy hammer, spitting out blood. His body was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the invisible "boundary" in the distance before bouncing back to the ground.

Spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the greatsword in his hand, and his chest was a bloody mess, but with the Heart of Abundance, he could not die.

The intense pain and immense mental strain caused his vision to blur, and he almost fainted.

Russell's figure slowly emerged from the energy turbulence, hovering in mid-air, looking down at the heavily injured Bai E lying on the ground. He raised his hand, and the jade spear re-condensed in his hand, its tip still gleaming with a dangerous light.

“It’s over, Little White.” His voice returned to its previous coldness and calmness, without the slightest ripple. “Your power, your heart of abundance… I accept them. For a greater purpose, your sacrifice… was necessary.”

He walked step by step toward Bai E, his footsteps clearly audible in the deathly silence, like a death knell.

The tip of the grass and wood spear was aimed at Bai E's chest.

Bai'er struggled to stand up, but the excruciating physical pain and extreme mental exhaustion made it difficult for him to even move a finger. This was not physical torture, but mental torment.

He could only watch helplessly as the deadly spear tip drew ever closer…

Russell stopped in front of Bai E, his eyes indifferent. Without the slightest hesitation, he thrust his spear down!

Just as the spear tip was about to touch Bai E's chest, a sudden change occurred!

The scattered light in Bai E's eyes suddenly focused. He didn't use the greatsword, but instead used his hand to rip open Russell's chest.

"Huh?!" Russell's expression changed drastically for the first time, despite having been in control of the situation!

Bai E's blood-stained lips curled into an extremely cold smile.

His blood-stained fingers, moving with a speed that defied the laws of physics, gently touched Russell's chest, which was frozen in shock.

A voice so cold it seemed to freeze the soul resounded directly in the deepest recesses of Russell's consciousness, carrying the power to pierce through all illusions.

"Teacher, I won this time."

“Yes, you won.” Russell’s tone showed no anger whatsoever; in fact, there seemed to be a hint of relief in it.

This left Bai E completely bewildered, while Russell, seeing Bai E's appearance, burst into laughter, completely unconcerned about his physical disability.

...............

Chapter Two, and also, I'll finish writing Aigu TV today.

Golden Branches Through the Ages: Chapter 184 A Blow to the End of the World

Russell's lips curled into a smile of satisfaction and approval, rather than mockery.

Bai Er's doubts did not dissipate, but he still quickly retreated to the edge of a relatively stable spatial fragment as instructed, cautiously increasing the distance between himself and Russell.

The weapon in his hand was not lowered; energy flowed restlessly over it.

"Really, Xiaobai, why are you so nervous? I'm still your teacher." Russell's gaze swept over Bai E.

His gaze fell upon the towering divine tree that was withering at a visible speed, its leaves turning into golden dust, and he also scanned the surrounding space cracks that were spreading like a shattered mirror.

He let out a long sigh, a sigh filled with complex emotions.

“Now that I have inherited all of Russell’s memories,” Russell said, his gaze refocusing on Bai Er’s tense face, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Then why don't you guess why I can still laugh right now?"

Bai Er's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but Russell didn't give him the chance and gave the answer directly.

“Because, I do love this false world, but I know even more clearly…” He paused, his voice lowering, carrying a sharpness that penetrated the surface.

"The foundation of everything in this world, every grain of dust that forms it, is for one core—you. You are the only prisoner in this cage."

“The key is,” Russell took a step forward, the ground beneath his feet groaning under the weight, “that every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain, every river, and even us, the people who have been shaped here, are all components of a cage meticulously woven by that high and mighty ‘Creator’.”

"From the moment we are born, we are marked as tools and are used to the fullest extent."

"Ask yourself what you were thinking when you first learned that you were also being used as a tool? Remember that thought, because that's how we think."

“What I just said is true.” Russell looked at Bai Er’s furrowed brows and the storm of confusion churning in his eyes.

"You still seem to have doubts... Perhaps, if you were in a more familiar situation, you could accept all of this more easily?" He casually snapped his fingers.

As the crisp sound rang out, Russell's originally solid body instantly changed. His flesh and blood shed, replaced by a phantom outlined by pure, flowing golden light.

Its outline vaguely resembles Russell's, yet it radiates an inhuman, energy-like glow, as if it were formed from the dust of light gathered from the starry sky.

Bai E's pupils suddenly contracted, shock freezing on his face, his knuckles whitening as he gripped his weapon. This form…

“That’s right,” Russell, the golden phantom, said slowly and deliberately, his voice seemingly carrying a strange resonance.

"It was me who warned you that there was a problem in your room. It was also me who tried to prevent you from waking up."

"What, surprised?" He looked at Bai E's incredulous expression and let out a low laugh, which sounded somewhat ethereal against the backdrop of the shattered space.