Chapter 1901 Chimera Continent <TOC> Chapter 1903 Separation of Consciousness
Translator: SumTLMan
Popoca, still incessantly talking to himself, was so immersed in his own world that he failed to notice the cracks forming on his skin under the harsh sunlight. Meanwhile, a foul-smelling liquid, a mix of thick green pus and sweat, continuously dripped and evaporated upon the scorching sands, filling the air with a stench of decay.
Five minutes later, Popoca finally ceased speaking. He saw the cracked skin all over his body and the evaporating flesh and blood.
“I didn’t even realize it. Have I lost my sense of smell and pain? Am I on the verge of collapse?”
Complex emotions flickered in Popoca’s eyes, astonishment, fear, and dread.
Even though he had imagined his death countless times and prepared for it, the actual moment filled him with apprehension and terror.
For some, death is not an end but a symbol of freedom from bondage. But for Popoca, death meant his soul would be eternally imprisoned by the Demon God. The thought of perpetual damnation terrified him.
Popoca had even considered obliterating his soul completely, but he lacked the courage and was bound by the Demon God’s contract, leaving him powerless.
Now, all he could do was watch helplessly as his flesh vaporized, leading him to oblivion.
With death inevitable, Popoca’s heart, after a long period of dread, finally resigned itself. His eyes, filled with regret and guilt, eventually settled into a sense of helplessness and acceptance.
As he felt his body weakening, unable to even reminisce, Popoca finally stepped out of the metaphorical rainforest named “Self.”
Popoca looked towards Angel and softly said, “My Lord, the time is almost upon us.”
Angel nodded, acknowledging Popoca’s words.
“In my life, I’ve lived in disarray. Most of the time, I’ve been in a cycle of searching and losing,” Popoca reflected. “Initially, my sister and I depended on each other, living aimlessly without a clear goal; later, I found a purpose in my ancestral heritage——to restore the glory of the Laudsourcian. I thought I had found the direction for my life’s struggle. However, after finding this so-called goal, I lost my dearest sister.”
“Then, I started searching for my sister, for the future, for a prophecy that would give me strength. In doing so, I lost myself, my soul, and my initial heart.”
“After all these experiences, I now realize that the most peaceful moments of my life were actually when I had no goals… and also, these past few months confined in the Lord’s bracelet,” Popoca said with self-mockery. “The former was free from the troubles of having a goal, while the latter was a self-imposed exile, knowing the goals were unattainable.”
“Looking back, my life’s pursuits were but illusions. What I truly enjoyed was being carefree.”
“But, there’s no chance for that anymore.”
At this point, Popoca seemed to reconcile with his past self in his heart, falling into a long silence. After a while, he continued, “Lord, thank you for your care during this time.”
Angel just quietly looked at Popoca, waiting for him to continue.
“This morning, fortunately, a Morphing Softworm hatched, and I’ve isolated it in the Insect Nest pouch. Also, the insights on cultivating Softworms that I’ve researched with my sister these days, I’ve recorded them in a book, placed on the table for you to check anytime.”
Popoca went on, “Though Morphing Softworms don’t need expensive cultivation, they can still die if neglected for too long. So, if you plan to continue cultivating them, please find someone to replace me soon after my death.”
“And moreover, if the Worm Mother is not continually stimulated, it’s estimated she will lose the ability to birth Morphing Softworms. But overstimulation also shortens her lifespan, a case of too much being as bad as too little…”
Popoca spoke at length about the Morphing Softworms, probably also as a way to ignore the physical breakdown of his body.
Angel looked at Popoca, whose body was almost entirely starting to decay, and nodded gently: “I understand.”
After a pause, Angel looked at Popoca: “Is there anything else you want to say?”
Popoca hesitated for a moment before saying, “Although my sister always told me not to trouble you because of her, what I still can’t let go of in the end is her. I won’t be able to see her anymore. If you could help her, I would be completely satisfied.”
Angel: “Hana has also helped me before. Whether for mutual benefit or emotional reasons, I will do my best to help her.”
“Thank you.” Popoca tried to smile in gratitude, but as soon as he did, a piece of skin at the corner of his mouth, along with some flesh, fell off.
Angel: “Besides this, is there anything else you want to say?”
After thinking, Popoca said, “Apart from my sister, what concerns me most is Totoro…”
When mentioning Totoro, Popoca seemed to recall something, pausing abruptly. After a while, he shook his head: “I originally wanted… but never mind. Totoro has his own thoughts, and my dreams, along with the heavy burden of the Laudsourcian clan, perhaps shouldn’t be imposed on him.”
“Now, I only hope that Totoro can stay alive, after all, he is the last of the Laudsourcians. Even if he can’t become the hope of the eternal night, he should not turn into the despair of an end’s terminus.”
Popoca spoke to this point, looking towards Angel: “However, I shouldn’t worry about this. Moreover, I believe that the Lord will choose the best path for Totoro. After all, the Lord is the most profound and indelible faith in Totoro’s heart.”
As his voice fell, Popoca’s entire skin had completely disintegrated. He looked like a flayed ghoul in a laboratory, terrifying and shocking.
Angel was silent for a moment: “Your time is almost up.”
Popoca bowed his head, looking at his own ‘completely exposed’ viscera and skeleton, somewhat self-mockingly said: “My current appearance must be quite ugly, thankfully my sister did not witness this scene.”
After saying this, Popoca looked towards Angel, and in a voice only he could hear, softly said: “Thank you, Lord… Farewell.”
After Popoca finished speaking, he closed his eyes.
He could see himself, just a step away from ultimate death.
Because, in the thought space that does not exist in the present world, a crack also appeared. Simultaneously, a dense black mist drifted out from the crack.
As the black fog spread, a circle of light emerged from the center of the fog.
It resembled a total solar eclipse.
This was the Profound Mark, the true name mark of the Supreme Demon God, the Profound Lord.
The last time it appeared was when Popoca, using the Profound Mark, exhausted all his potential in a desperate battle; and this time, its appearance signified…
The time had come for him to pay the price for his contract with the Demon God.
Chapter 1901 Chimera Continent <TOC> Chapter 1903 Separation of Consciousness