Chapter 446: The Enigma of the Calamity Archbishop

“Mr. Lone Soldier, just hear me out.”

Han Bing said, “According to reports from the Moon Eclipse Research Institute, many are now attempting an assault on the Fourth Stage… I’m sorry, Mr. Lone Soldier, but I don’t know much about the Fourth Stage. All I can do is relay these written messages to you. If anything is unclear, feel free to interrupt me. Professor Bai isn’t far away and can answer your questions.”

“……”

“Oh, oh…”

Lu Xin paused for a moment before agreeing.

He also wondered, “Then why isn’t Professor Bai speaking with me directly?”

But then he thought, perhaps that’s for the best.

After all, Han Bing had trained him through countless collaborations, making communication much easier.

……

“The Fourth Stage—its key element—is the Mental Overlord.”

“The documents indicate that this title was inspired by a powerful regional mental monster from the Abyss.”

“Such overlord-level mental monsters are characterized by constructing a stable mental field centered on themselves. Within this field, all mental monsters fall under the overlord’s command, much like the relationship between a queen ant and her workers.”

“Researchers at the Moon Eclipse Research Institute speculate that this phenomenon relates to the limits of an individual’s psychic capacity.”

“Once an individual reaches the Third Stage, many can exponentially increase their psychic power. However, this unchecked growth can drown out one’s consciousness, leading to loss of control. Thus, a Mental Overlord tends to disperse its mental power to ensure its own awareness endures while controlling the mental monsters in its arena, thereby strengthening itself.”

“This is an inherent trait of mental monsters, a feat humans have yet to replicate.”

“According to estimates by the Moon Eclipse Research Institute and Professor Bai, this very Calamity Archbishop of the Technology Church is trying to achieve just that.”

“Based on his current plans, they have a theory:”

“This Calamity Archbishop intends to create a balanced triangle by leveraging the zero-stage parasitic item Disaster Museum, his own abilities, and the powers and persona of the Queen of Happy Town.”

“Once that balance is reached, he will truly become the Mental Overlord!”

“……”

After listening to Han Bing’s explanation in one breath, Lu Xin found it almost too much to digest.

Moreover, while Han Bing spoke, images flickered on the lens as seven or eight sets of documents were transmitted.

Among them were files on the Disaster Museum and analyses of the Queen of Happy Town’s powers.

“But I still have a cleanup mission…”

Lu Xin glanced at the Calamity Archbishop inside the Light Cocoon and thought he was such a nuisance.

It seemed the Queen could hardly last much longer—who had time to pore over all these documents?

So he asked directly, “Then how do we deal with him?”

“In theory, the solution is simple…”

Han Bing, unsurprised by Lu Xin’s question, quickly replied, “For the Calamity Archbishop to become the Mental Overlord, the three components—Disaster Museum, the parasitic plan of the Queen of Happy Town, and his own abilities—are all indispensable, so…”

“As long as any one of them is destroyed, he will inevitably fail!”

“……”

“So we pick one from three?”

“Theoretically, yes—it’s pretty straightforward.”

Lu Xin felt a strange relief at the simplicity after Han Bing’s explanation.

He immediately stood up, turned around, and studied the massive “Glass Bottle” before him with a slight tilt of his head. Behind him, Doll mimicked his curious gaze, also craning its head to inspect the Calamity Archbishop inside the bottle.

……

Inside the Light Cocoon, the Calamity Archbishop seemed to accelerate his parasitic ritual.

He should have been fully focused on parasitizing the Queen, but perhaps because it was so quiet outside, his attention wavered. His eyelids fluttered as if hesitating, but in the end, his eyes snapped open.

Then he saw Lu Xin and Doll outside the Light Cocoon, both tilting their heads as they observed him.

This odd scene made him feel uneasy.

It wasn’t what he’d expected; shouldn’t they have been frantically pounding on the cocoon, their efforts futile?

Shouldn’t they have been overcome with anger, shouting for him to stop?

How could they be even more composed than him?

A bizarre sensation welled up inside him.

At that moment, he should have been entirely focused on completing the parasitic ritual. After all, every condition was in his favor. Yet the unexpectedly docile attitude of the two outside, as if they were merely on a tour, left him distracted.

The pace of the parasitic process even slowed down a bit.

……

“Thump, thump!”

Lu Xin had no idea what the Calamity Archbishop was thinking; he was simply focused on his work.

After a while of observation, he walked over and tapped on the Light Cocoon.

Upon another inspection, he confirmed that this Light Cocoon—or rather, Bottle—is incredibly resilient. Breaking it would be extremely difficult.

Moreover, shattering it would mean risking the simultaneous elimination of both the Queen and the Calamity Archbishop.

That option wasn’t off the table, but for now, he set it aside.

He couldn’t tell whether that move would annihilate them both or inadvertently facilitate the Calamity Archbishop’s parasitism.

Consequently, he couldn’t target the Disaster Museum or the Queen for the moment.

So then…

Lu Xin turned his gaze to the vast wasteland, where near and far, scattered across the Earth, lay suffering people.

These were all the exhibits from the Disaster Museum.

Given that two options were currently unviable, only one remained.

The Disaster Museum.

If he could destroy this zero-stage parasitic item, it would also derail the Calamity Archbishop’s scheme.

But this choice came with its own challenges.

For instance, where exactly is the Disaster Museum, and how can it be destroyed?

……

“What exactly does this museum look like?”

After a moment’s thought, Lu Xin voiced the question.

His lens promptly displayed the Disaster Museum’s files.

Disaster Museum

ID: 023

Trait: Collects the Misfortunes and Sorrows of the World

Description: Originally legendary among the Southern Archipelago, the Disaster Museum is said to welcome those tormented by pain and misfortune at a destined time. By relinquishing their suffering in exchange for eternal happiness, they gain entry.

Initially just a legend, investigation teams from the Research Institute had once scoured the Southern Archipelago for clues, though without success. It wasn’t until fourteen years after Red Moon that numerous citizens in South Qinggang Mountain City reported incidents related to the Disaster Museum. Subsequent inquiries and verifications confirmed its existence.

Thus, it was designated as the 23rd discovered zero-stage parasitic item.

Note: Researchers have never truly come into contact with the Disaster Museum, so no substantial research data exists.

……

This file clearly came from the Research Institute. It appears the information was relayed to Qinggang after Lu Xin discovered the museum’s existence, then forwarded to Central City for assistance before finally being sent to him as supplementary data.

Yet this file wasn’t of much help.

“No one has ever seen the museum itself—not even you, Mr. Lone Soldier.”

Han Bing replied swiftly and clearly, displaying the professional aptitude expected from an intel analyst.

Lu Xin thought for a moment before she continued, “When you first entered the museum, you were influenced by it—absorbed by its radiation. That suggests the museum is currently situated in Happy Town.”

“If we want to destroy it, there are two options:”

“Either we destroy the museum’s main body or we track down its logic chain to halt its contamination.”

Lu Xin glanced around and shook his head lightly.

No one knows the true size of the Disaster Museum’s main body—or rather, its parasitic item.

If it’s very small, it could be hidden anywhere in Happy Town, making it almost impossible to locate in a short time.

……

“I’ve been inside the museum before. I was trapped until I changed my perspective and realized that the museum was an illusion. Only then did I break free—all while hearing the sound of many bottles shattering. Does that count as destroying the museum?”

“……”

Listening to Lu Xin’s inquiry, Han Bing paused briefly, as if considering someone else’s explanation. Then she said quickly, “Mr. Lone Soldier, what you did was destroy its exhibits, not the museum itself. Entering and leaving the museum doesn’t mean you truly came into contact with the zero-stage parasitic item; you were merely affected by it and then separated from its influence.”

“The Disaster Museum manifests in two ways:”

“The first is as a venue—where visitors enter its radiation zone to appreciate various disasters and the exhibits within the bottles. The second is as a collectible, forever housed within the museum.”

“The first is what you experienced; you didn’t truly enter the museum.”

“But you needn’t worry—its main body is likely not within the Queen’s Light Cocoon.”

“……”

Lu Xin was taken aback, “Why not?”

Han Bing explained, “Because the bottle is contained within the museum, and the museum itself cannot reside inside the bottle.”

Though the explanation was a bit tongue-twisting, Lu Xin thought he understood—yet a part of him still remained unsure.

He pondered deeply before a new idea slowly emerged.

“I can’t locate the museum’s main body, nor do I sense its radiation. But perhaps there’s another way.”

“If I actively enter its bottle, wouldn’t I be truly approaching its main body?”

“……”

“This is…”

Han Bing was momentarily stunned by his suggestion.

“You want to actively enter the bottle?”