Chapter 643: The Hell Designer’s Carnival

After entering the game, Lu Xin had seen too many bizarre and terrifying phenomena.

He had witnessed a human-shaped fruit tree with human-like tentacles, mental pollution bombs stitched together from human faces, and even people dancing under the Red Moon. He saw strange pollution sources that hung passerby after passerby from tree branches, brains that played like violins high above the street, the so-called progeny of God, forests of the dead, people with eyes crawling with insects, and the ghost beneath the bridge he had encountered not long ago. The streets were littered with dead bodies…

Having seen so much, Lu Xin had grown remarkably immune.

Yet his first reaction to these sights was puzzlement, as he wondered about their true nature.

Fear was rare.

But now, he truly felt fear.

That fear stemmed from the unknown.

He never imagined that humans could descend into such madness.

…

…

“Creak…”

As Lu Xin was overwhelmed by terror, Xia Chong suddenly clenched his fist. His typically expressionless face now betrayed unmistakable anger as his teeth chattered, “You bastards, are you even human?”

The Hell Designer merely smiled, as if ignoring his words.

He didn’t even deign to answer such a question.

Instead, three figures in black robes standing in the room slightly lifted their heads as their mental power pulsed subtly.

“Speak up!”

After a long pause, Lu Xin sighed and said, “I too want to know why you designed this hell.”

“Well…”

The Hell Designer shot Lu Xin a glance that spoke of resignation.

After a moment, he chuckled and said, “To be honest, I’d be happy to explain what hell is and what it’s for.”

“After all, I’m a designer. My creations are meant to be appreciated and understood.”

“But now, as we near the final act, you’ve made it clear that you’re my opponent, so…”

With an unexpectedly calm gaze, he smiled and said, “How can I put it?”

Lu Xin remained unmoved by the smile, coolly meeting his gaze and asking, “Then what must I do to make you talk?”

An eerie atmosphere settled over the room.

Tension, oppression, intensity, and a calm resolve intermingled into a singular, unified aura.

…

…

“First, when the Gate of Hell opens, I will personally invite you to witness it.”

The Hell Designer actually answered, his expression briefly softening as he added, “I enjoy when others appreciate my work. And if you can’t understand it, I’m happy to explain it to you for free.”

“Second, you become part of this design…”

He laughed, “Once you’re woven into this creation, you’ll naturally comprehend the greatness of my work.”

Lu Xin and Xia Chong fell silent. Xia Chong’s neck stiffened as he stole a glance at Lu Xin.

Lu Xin nodded slightly, as if affirming her point of view.

“So, what do you say, friend…?”

Meanwhile, having finished his remarks, the Hell Designer smiled at Lu Xin, “I admire your lunacy, your calm, and your nerve. If I had a choice, I’d rather not be your enemy. Let me tell you—the Second Descent is inevitable. Smart people choose in advance: would you rather, like a mediocre soul, become my enemy…”

“…or witness the birth of this monumental masterpiece with me?”

“…”

“Buzz, buzz, buzz…”

After a long while, Lu Xin finally lifted his head. The incandescent lights in the control room flickered as if their current were unstable, trembling slightly. In some weak spots, sparks even flew. Amid this erratic light, the shadow beside him became disordered. Standing amidst the chaotic silhouettes, Lu Xin fixed his gaze on the Hell Designer and said, “You truly are terrifying…”

“Although I didn’t catch most of what you said, I can’t help but be curious…”

“You, who created this, have the gall to call me crazy?”

“…”

The Man in the White Zhongshan Suit paused, finding the tone of this exchange different from what he had anticipated.

He sighed softly and shook his head, a hint of regret in his expression.

Leaning back slightly as he watched Lu Xin’s face, his smile gradually faded as he said, “So, what exactly do you want?”

“To arrest you.”

Lu Xin drew a deep breath, his face turning serious as he locked eyes with the Hell Designer. “Because you’ve committed crimes against humanity, I will apprehend you. For the sake of human decency, you—and everyone in Flame City—may resist, but I must warn you: if you do, I might not be able to hold back.”

He paused before continuing, “I hope you all fight back!”

With that, his expression vanished as he stepped forward.

Only the flickering lights cast shifting shadows on his face, their erratic brightness lending him an almost grim aspect.

“Illegal?”

But as Lu Xin advanced, the Hell Designer hesitated for a moment.

He showed no overt nervousness, though his expression grew strangely amused as he said, “I can understand your primitive anger, but your words lack logic. This is Flame City—our territory. You are the invaders…”

“So, whose law have you broken?”

“…”

Noticing a teasing glint in his eyes, Lu Xin narrowed them slightly before continuing,

“When rules leave no room for survival, there’s no need to abide by them.”

As he spoke, his face turned calm and determined. “And if you must ask…”

“You violated the laws I stand by!”

“…”

While speaking, he had already taken three steps; the spacious control room seemed to revolve around him.

Even Xia Chong, who had been silent until then, couldn’t help but glance at him.

Surprised by Lu Xin’s sudden seriousness, she stiffened momentarily, then joined him in looking ahead.

She, too, was completely earnest.

At the same time, the Hell Designer’s face contorted into a chilling smile as he saw Lu Xin coming toward him.

He remained casually seated on the black sofa, making no special move—until the sofa, as if tugged by an unseen force, suddenly rolled back, creating a vast distance between it and Lu Xin.

“Ridiculous…”

“Since I suspected you’d come here, did you really think I wouldn’t have arranged everything in advance?”

As he spoke, the sofa pressed itself against the wall.

The seemingly blank wall suddenly split apart to reveal an elevator embedded within.

Rising from the sofa, he cast a cold glance at Lu Xin and said, “You really puzzle me. I thought I was up against a cunning, mad opponent—which is why I chose a refined way to speak with you.”

“But I never expected you to be such a good actor…”

“Did you really think that bringing a few madmen into Flame City could disrupt our plans?”

“…”

Observing this scene, Lu Xin fell silent for a moment before answering firmly, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“My friends are, at most, just madmen…”

“You are the real lunatics!”

“…”

As soon as his words ended, he suddenly reached out and lunged forward.

The Hell Designer had reached the elevator, stepping inside—at least seven or eight meters away.

Yet Lu Xin raised his hand and reached forward as if the target were right in front of him.

At that moment, the room’s lights began flickering more rapidly. Their already unstable glow twisted into bizarre patterns on the floor, coalescing into the shape of a giant hand that lashed out toward the far end of the room.

A burst of sparks erupted, as if lightning were darting through the space.

“Fall back!”

But just as the Hell Designer retreated, three silent Black Robe Priests stepped forward.

“Buzz, buzz, buzz…”

The sound of a hundred thousand flies beating their wings filled the room.

All the lights exploded simultaneously, showering the area with endless sparks.

Cups, vases, files, papers, and even the glass coffee table developed fine cracks as they twisted and wrinkled mysteriously.

The air became oppressively heavy, as if submerged in a nightmare.

At the same time, dark red emergency lights bathed everyone in a blood-like glow.

Lu Xin reached for the Hell Designer’s black hand. Just as he managed to grab it, it abruptly vanished—and in the very next instant, that missing black hand emerged from the sleeve of a nearby Black Priest.

With an overwhelmingly oppressive force, it lunged forward, seizing both him and Xia Chong.

“Hmm?”

Both Lu Xin and Xia Chong were momentarily startled. Lu Xin stepped in front of Xia Chong as his mental power flared up instantly.

“Crash…”

The black shadow shattered in an instant, but the tremendous impact forced Lu Xin to stagger back, nearly colliding with Xia Chong.

…

…

“It was clearly aimed at that man in white, so why did it suddenly target us?”

Lu Xin frowned and looked at one of the Black Robe Priests.

He, along with two other Black Robe Priests, stepped forward in unison, silently blocking the path between him and Xia Chong.

Under the dark red emergency light, they were shrouded in a mysterious, dangerous aura, like red stone carvings. One of them seemed to have his mental power in chaos, slowly settling like boiling water cooling off.

It appeared that he had used his ability to create that bizarre scene.

“Did he steal my attack and redirect it onto me?”