Chapter 888: The Mad Director’s Sacrifice

The Old Director is a madman.

He intends to sacrifice this world—and even himself.

In fact, when he began the sacrifice, the first victim was none other than himself…

No wonder he remains unscathed at this moment—whether it was Twelve’s sneak attack or his own use of God’s Particles.

Because he devised the sacrificial ritual known as ‘God’s Cage’ and linked the altar with the primordial pact, he became one of its crucial elements. On a metaphysical level, he has reached the stature of the Primordial, whose level surpasses everyone—be they the orphans or Lu Xin, who is absorbing the Unique Consciousness…

Such a revelation is downright terrifying.

They came over precisely to find out what the Old Director was up to and to stop him.

But the Old Director had already begun, and they didn’t even know where the altar was…

How could they possibly search for it?

……

……

As if sensing their frenzied assault of consciousness and mental tendrils, the Old Director shook his head softly.

“There’s no need to search.”

“The altar isn’t here—or rather, it’s nowhere at all.”

He was as forthright as ever, not hiding even on such a crucial matter: “I despise having my plans interrupted, so I always do everything meticulously. The setup of this altar is no exception. I feared that even the best-laid plans might be thwarted; hence, I chose to place it in a location where it cannot be stopped.”

“The Abyss…”

“The entire Abyss is the altar. It is unstoppable.”

“……”

“The Abyss…”

The crowd, listening, could hardly comprehend that the altar was situated within the Abyss—even though the Abyss is everywhere…

“Children…”

The Old Director continued, his smile growing ever gentler.

He regarded the orphanage students as if they were his greatest masterpiece:

“I did not summon you here to stop me, but to help me.”

He explained softly, almost in a persuasive tone: “In the presence of the Seven Archangels, the sacrifice truly begins. Only then will the Primordial reclaim this world. The Archangels are the witnesses and spokespersons of both this world and civilization. Only when a majority of the Ultimates agree will this sacrifice have meaning and be executed precisely and justly!”

“But I have no way of finding all seven Ultimates and convincing them to agree willingly to this sacrifice.”

“Because by their very nature, the Ultimates are stubborn—or rather… foolish!”

“……”

He shook his head slowly and smiled, saying, “That’s why, from the very beginning, I’ve been cultivating you.”

“I expect you to stand as the Ultimates, to witness this great sacrifice and help me…”

“Help me usher in that glorious era.”

“And help me bid farewell to this desolate and abhorrent world…”

“……”

“The Ultimates…”

In the midst of panic and chaos, the orphanage students could not fathom his words. Their earlier calm—and even joy—vanished once they realized the Old Director remained unaffected. Meanwhile, Lu Xin anxiously tended to Number Fourteen, who had lost 90% of his life force.

Number Two was hesitantly floundering.

Number Eight repeatedly charged foolishly at the Old Director.

Some even tried to flee or planned to kidnap the teacher’s wife and the two children…

But the Old Director’s voice surged uncontrollably into their ears.

This only deepened their endless doubts…

How could they possibly be expected to stand as the Ultimates and bear witness…

when they were neither Ultimates nor willing to help him?

……

……

“Becoming an Ultimate isn’t hard…”

The Old Director explained softly, as though lecturing them from a long time ago:

“When a position opens, naturally someone new must take its place.”

“I have a general idea of Lin Mo’s plan; he overthought it, causing difficulties in his selection. I, however, made it simpler—I only need you to act as the Ultimates and witness the sacrifice…”

“When you were at the Red Moon Research Institute, you were chosen from thousands of Polluted individuals. Your traits held immense potential, and you once died only to be resurrected by the Primordial’s power, inheriting its traits…”

“With the vacancy left by the Primordial, combined with your traits and the First Researcher’s techniques…”

“Making you temporary Ultimates was a simple matter…”

“……”

While speaking, he casually reached to his side and produced a playing card adorned with intricate patterns.

This is a parasitic item container frequently used by the First Researcher, now in his possession.

And it appears he is equally adept at using it.

Casting his gaze on Number Two, he murmured, “You are the first Nightmare of God.”

“I disagree…”

Number Two replied, his voice trembling as he stepped back hastily.

At the same time, Lu Xin—who had earlier used Spider-type powers to stitch up Number Fourteen’s wound—noticed the commotion and stepped forward to intervene between Number Two and the Old Director. But as soon as he moved, a surge of kaleidoscopic mental power struck him, pushing him aside.

It was the power of the Nightmare of God.

Now, few can resist their own might; Number Two’s Nightmare of God was among them.

Unless one harbored a fierce determination to kill Number Two, breaking through that power would be impossible.

“Child, I’ve told you—I will not allow you to refuse.”

The Old Director softly answered Number Two as he gently placed the blank playing card into his hand.

Throughout the entire exchange, Number Two resisted.

Yet his body writhed as if invaded by countless worms.

His muscles, limbs, even his very life seemed beyond his control.

He became like a marionette—rejecting and trying to flee, yet ultimately powerless, forced to accept the playing card. Instantly, the space around him twisted and stretched into endless dimensions.

Number Two’s body began to emit a dazzling array of colors as he was pushed into the depths of space, resembling a frozen statue.

He appeared both like a deity and a puppet, tears streaming from a place where they shouldn’t be.

In his final moments, he cast a look of despair at Lu Xin, silently murmuring:

“Number Nine—when we reunited, you should have ended me…”

“……”

“Life is life…”

As Number Two was propelled into the depths of space, Number Five suddenly noticed something and shrieked.

Though Number Two was unwilling to serve as a witness to the sacrifice, he had no choice—another force seemed to commandeer his will. From start to finish, he never resisted the Old Director; instead, he used his power to push away the Lu Xin eager to help.

That is because his life was never truly his own.

He had been killed by the Tyrant and then resurrected by the Old Director—from that moment on…

“Yes…”

Listening to Number Five, the Old Director nodded gently: “Child, the moment I rescued you, your life ceased to belong to you. From that moment, you became one of my chosen Ultimate candidates. I anticipated that once you grew up, you might rebel, so I embedded a password into your life to prepare for this sacrifice.”

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Number Three.

At that moment, Number Three had already dashed out the window, fleeing into the distance.

But space stretched endlessly; his desperate sprint appeared as though he was merely running in place.

The Old Director stood quietly by his side and whispered, “The Pale Hand did not perish in Qinggang—a fact that surprised me—but now he truly no longer holds Ultimate authority. Thus, replacing him temporarily isn’t difficult.”

He placed a playing card into Number Three’s hand.

With a gentle push, Number Three let out a roar of despair as a twisted, slender monster was ejected from his body.

Its pallid form sprouted multiple hands that writhed grotesquely as it was swallowed by the depths of space.

“Madman, die…”

Number Five suddenly swung a ferocious chainsaw at the Old Director, slashing fiercely while screaming in madness.

Yet the Old Director allowed the chainsaw to cut into his body without a flicker of pain; he calmly placed a playing card between Number Five’s lips and then gently pushed—causing Number Five’s body to detach from that burly frame, his limbs slack as they collapsed into the abyss: “You will follow the power of domination to become the new member of the Cangzhang Sect, even without a scepter.”

“That girl from Qinggang chose another authority, which works to our advantage…”

“……”

The Old Director, seemingly comforted, murmured softly before turning and restraining Number Eight, who was furiously charging at him.

“Perhaps one day you can establish your own Midnight Tribunal.”

“But for now, you only need to stand as the Ultimate witness—and that will suffice…”

“……”

Lu Xin, nearly overcome by despair, watched as the Old Director pushed his classmates into the depths of space. Their anguished, contorted faces flashed before him as he, like a chained god, observed the world. He felt an unprecedented helplessness—something he had never experienced since harnessing the power of anger and absorbing the Unique Consciousness.

Helpless anger solves nothing…

Then, amid his despairing gaze, he suddenly heard giggles and laughter.

He saw a tall, comical Coronated Clown dancing a bizarre dance, strutting through the warped space.

With excitement and joy, the Clown walked over to his designated spot.

Then he saw a girl with white hair, expressionless, silently floating in that realm.

They stood in six different directions in the depths of space, each slightly bowing as if bound like deities, observing the world. Under their watchful eyes, the space began to tear—layers of dark red light emerged, fusing the world’s truth with the Abyss’s projection. A terrible tremor arose from deep within.

……

……

The Coronated Clown.

The Nothingness.

The Old Director, having somehow persuaded the Coronated Clown, secured the Nothingness from the First Researcher.

Nothingness never knows how to refuse; the Clown is his partner.

Thus, he now possessed six of the Seven Archangels, and his sacrificial plan was complete…

“Now…”

The Old Director slowly turned, his gaze sweeping over the dying Number Fourteen, the expressionless Number Seven sitting by the Dining Table, the resentful yet grievously wounded Number Twelve, and Little Nineteen clenching his fists; then he shook his head lightly:

“You were once candidates I prepared. I like making ample preparations for emergencies.”

“But now, I have enough options. Your mission as candidates is complete—you may leave at any time.”

“Although, whether you leave or not, it makes no difference anymore…”

“……”

Then he looked at Lu Xin and said, “Child, you are the last…”

……

……

“Why would you think I’d help you…”

An indescribable fury surged within Lu Xin; the black particles in his eyes swirled like a vortex.

The overwhelming sense of powerlessness fueled his anger; he couldn’t stop his classmates from being turned into pawns—collared deities in the hands of the Old Director—because the password had long been etched into their lives. Everything was prearranged in secret…

Yet, he remained defiant.

Just because he couldn’t harm the Old Director didn’t mean the Old Director could hurt him.

Even if the Primordial once embraced him, he now had the means to resist.

Moreover, nothing bizarre had been written into his life by the Old Director…

“You’ll see…”

But in response to Lu Xin’s shouts, the Old Director merely shook his head slightly.

“Child, you are the truest embodiment of the Primordial Ultimate—one who transcends the very notion of the Ultimates.”

“So, you are my chosen principal sacrificer, the one who can truly help propel this sacrifice…”

“You…”

He paused, then looked intently at Lu Xin, “You are my greatest masterpiece…”

“I know you; your life has always been shrouded in darkness…”

“……”

“Snap…”

Lu Xin’s teeth ground almost to dust as, despite knowing it was futile, he unleashed his raging mental power upon the Old Director. He could no longer tolerate the fate being manipulated, nor be entangled in such a mad plan.

But just as he thought—and charged forward—

The Old Director, right before Lu Xin’s eyes, suddenly vanished like foam, yet his voice came from behind.

“Are you ready?”

A chill ran down Lu Xin’s spine and he quickly turned his head.

Then he saw the Old Director standing in a corner of the Room, holding a gun whose reality was uncertain.

The muzzle was aimed at the Sister hiding on the Ceiling.

“In fact, the inspiration for my current plan came from you…”

The Old Director slowly looked up at Lu Xin and said, “Years later, when I met you again, I saw someone like Little Seventeen by your side. Little Seventeen is already dead—you killed her with your own hands. I didn’t bring her back, but she lives on by your side: thinking, talking, even with her own mischief and temperament. You can see her, touch her—as if she were real…”

He continued, pausing briefly, “In truth, when many people endure severe blows and irreversible tragedies, a miraculous self-defense mechanism emerges. I never imagined that even the Tyrant…”

“Your consciousness has split, allowing the dead Seventeen to return to your side.”

“You keep her company, sharing in the pain, sorrow, despair, and constant insecurity…”

“……”

The Old Director paused, seemingly pained as he looked at Lu Xin, “Child, did you know you suffer from dissociative identity disorder?”

As he spoke, he gently flicked the trigger.

“Bang!”

A surge of formidable mental power instantly enveloped the Sister clinging dazedly to the Ceiling.