chsdbacks Page 7
Page 7
"Heh...heh heh...hahahaha!"
Unrestrained and frenzied laughter echoed through the ice cave, breaking the deathly silence.
Her usual cold smile, tinged with sadistic tendencies, had vanished, replaced by a pure, soul-deep tremor and excitement.
Her heart pounded like a war drum, a feeling that even surpassed her experience when she conquered the North and drank the blood of the demon god.
power.
That one word was all that remained in her mind.
But it is not a force for destruction, freezing, or conquest.
Rather, it is a power of… “definition”.
An absolute authority to do whatever one pleases and rewrite the laws of the world.
“Observer…” she murmured the D, her voice trembling slightly without her even realizing it.
She leaned against the cold throne, feeling a sudden weakness wash over her. The power to effortlessly avert a global catastrophe... made her, who considered herself the strongest and possessed the ability to freeze time and space, seem like a child's trick.
She has always been searching for the strongest man who can conquer her.
She had imagined him to be an ambitious emperor or a warrior of unparalleled strength.
But she never imagined... it would be this kind of existence.
An entity that treats world-ending viruses as program vulnerabilities and then casually "deletes" them.
Her mind uncontrollably conjured up images of the other person. What kind of man would he be? A majestic giant clad in divine armor? A cold god seated on a throne of stars? Or... some other, more indescribable form?
She felt her cheeks getting hotter and hotter.
For the first time in her life, she experienced a sense of surrender that did not stem from defeat, but from pure admiration and willing submission.
If... if this man came into my world... a dangerous yet alluring thought began to grow in her heart.
That decadent empire? That laughable revolutionary army?
In his eyes, it probably doesn't even qualify as an entry worthy of being 'edited'.
"We must find him."
A possessive flame ignited in her azure eyes. "I must have him. Only a man like him... is worthy to be my master."
Demon Slayer Corps: The Butterfly Mansion
Shinobu Kocho stood quietly in the courtyard, her usual gentle smile frozen on her face.
Her usually steady hand, which was holding the syringe, was trembling slightly uncontrollably.
She had seen hell and witnessed the horrific sight of demons devouring people.
But what just happened was another kind of hell, a more silent, more desperate hell that turns everyone into walking corpses.
Then, she witnessed a miracle that defies description.
Her mind, which was well-versed in pharmacology and medicine, was now completely frozen.
She couldn't analyze it, couldn't understand it. It wasn't a cure, it wasn't purification, it was a kind of... a fundamental "proof of non-existence".
Her thoughts drifted uncontrollably to the curse that had plagued the Demon Slayer Corps for thousands of years.
The Curse of Oni... Oniitsuji Muzan...
If a physically existing virus can be erased from the concept, then what about a metaphysical "curse"? What about the demon king who is the source of all curses?
If this "Observer" came to my world... would he... directly 'edit' out Muzan Kibutsuji's existence?
This idea is so crazy, so... "disrespectful".
It almost negates all the sacrifices, all the blood and tears, and all the breaths that swordsmen ignited with their lives over the centuries of the Demon Slayer Corps.
But this idea was like the most tempting poison, giving her an uncontrollable and intense hope.
A tremendous sense of powerlessness instantly enveloped her, but what followed was an even stronger surge of anticipation, enough to ignite her passion.
"elder sister……"
She murmured softly to the empty courtyard, tears blurring her vision, "If, if such power truly exists... perhaps, the world we yearn for, the world without evil spirits, really... isn't a dream..."
【Fuyuki City·Tosaka House】
"Impossible... This doesn't conform to the principles of any magic base... It didn't even elicit any reaction from Gaia and Alaya!"
Rin Tohsaka paced anxiously back and forth in her family's underground workshop, her twin tails swinging, revealing her extreme inner turmoil.
As a legitimate magician, she was more shocked by that kind of "method" than anyone else.
She tried to analyze it. It wasn't a Grand Grail-level ritual; it didn't invoke ley lines, nor did it touch the Root.
It was some kind of power she had never heard of or seen before, a power that transcended all mysteries.
"He didn't 'eliminate' the dead,"
She muttered to herself, her analytical abilities pushed to their limits, "He 'redefined' the concept of 'dead body virus.' This is... this is a power that only a mage can attain, a power that can change the laws of the world! No... even higher than magic!"
In pursuit of the origins, and to fulfill a single wish, the Tohsaka family's long-held ambition—the Holy Grail War—seems so insignificant at this moment.
They fought valiantly, summoned heroic spirits, and risked everything for a single chance to make a wish.
And this "observer"... he doesn't seem to need to "make a wish".
He can directly *rewrite* reality.
If he were to participate in the Holy Grail War... Rin shuddered.
Servant? He could probably edit the concept of 'Heroic Spirit' and turn them all into static, decorative figurines.
The Holy Grail? He might glance at that omnipotent wish-granting machine, then comment, "The energy conversion efficiency is too low, and the logical loop has a flaw," before casually rewriting it into a more efficient causal weapon...
The difference was too great. Like a primitive man gazing at the stars, there was nothing she could do but feel awe. Her pride as the heir to the Tohsaka family and a genius magician was shattered in that moment.
But right there on these ruins, a brand new idea burst forth like a spark.
He… purchased my book, *Jewel Magic: Basic Theory*. He began his journey into the extraordinary realm through my theories… Does this mean that the path our Tohsaka family pursues isn't inherently wrong? Or is it simply… too primitive? Does it require a fundamental, dimensional-crossing 'version update'?
A brand new flame ignited deep within Rin's eyes.
That is the irrepressible desire that arises in a seeker of knowledge after glimpsing the boundless truth.
13 Insect Breathing
The moment Gu Chuan's consciousness was withdrawn from the "purified" apocalyptic world and returned to his own body, an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and emptiness intertwined contradictorily.
The influx of 10,000 Inspiration Points allowed his spiritual dimension to leap forward once again in an instant.
This feeling was like a two-dimensional being seeing "height" for the first time; the resolution of the entire world in his eyes became completely different. He could even "see" the complex emotional network on Kaguya Shinomiya's body, composed of countless entries such as "respect," "vigilance," and "affection."
But what followed was a tremendous emptiness.
In order to complete the self-concept upgrade from "mortal level" to "extraordinary level", these 10,000 points were almost completely consumed in an instant.
He had only added the most basic entry for himself—[Energy Affinity: Basic]—and optimized his [Mental Power Model], yet he was already struggling to keep up.
"We're still too poor."
Gu Chuan sighed inwardly. The power to save the world was immense, but the price was equally enormous. He was like an engineer who had just built a nuclear power plant, only to find that he didn't even have enough fuel to start the reactor.
He needs more fuel—more inspiration points.
"Gu Chuan? Are you alright? You don't look well."
A cool voice, tinged with concern, rang in my ears.
Gu Chuan looked up and saw the flawless face of Kaguya Shinomiya, the student council vice president.
She was holding a cup of freshly brewed black tea, her dark eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.
"It's nothing, I'm just thinking about some budget issues, it's a bit tiring," Gu Chuan said with a smile, making up an excuse casually.
"Budget?" Kaguya glanced at the draft of the school festival on the table, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes. The draft was logically clear and well-organized; in her opinion, it was almost perfect, and there was no reason to put so much "effort" into it.
But she didn't ask any more questions. She simply pushed the black tea gently in front of Gu Chuan and said, "This is Darjeeling that I brought from home. It helps to refresh you."
"Thank you." Gu Chuan picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
The warmth of the black tea slid down my throat, dispelling the fatigue after excessive mental exertion.
Looking at the young lady in front of him, who was completely absorbed in her work in the student council, and recalling the apocalyptic world a few minutes earlier, littered with corpses and filled with wails, a strange sense of disconnect arose within him.
On one side is a catastrophe capable of destroying civilization, and on the other side are peaceful trivia about the school festival.
This stark contrast allowed his spirit, which had just undergone a dimensional ascension and was somewhat adrift, to find a new anchor to be rooted in reality.
His mindset became increasingly calm, and his goals became clearer.
He wants to be a "chess player," not a passive "firefighter."
After finishing his chores and returning to his seat, Gu Chuan immersed his consciousness in the [Cross-Dimensional Film Screening].
Instead of participating in the group discussion, he pulled up all the world status entries of the group members, like a calm venture capital analyst, assessing the "investment potential" of each world.
【World: Fate/staynght】
└【Warning entry: Holy Grail Ritual (Aberration - Highlighted)】
[Investment Rating: High Risk, High Return. The concept is too complex; current levels are insufficient for effective intervention.]
[World: Akame ga Kill!]
└【Core terms: Imperial decay, the flames of revolution】
[Investment Rating: Medium risk, medium return. The narrative chain is too long, belonging to a large-scale military-civil conflict, with high intervention costs and slow results.]
[World: Highschool of the Dead]
└【Status: Corrected】
[Investment Rating: None. No new signs of distortion at present.]
Gu Chuan's gaze swept over them one by one, finally settling on Shinobu Kocho's world entry.
[World: Demon Slayer]
└【Core term: Curse of the Demon (Constant)】
└【Sub-entry: Upper Moon Demon (Concept is unstable)】
[Investment Rating: Low Risk, High Potential]
found it.
A glint of light flashed in Gu Chuan's eyes.
The "Curse of Demons" represented by Muzan Kibutsuji is the core law of this world, deeply rooted, and his current abilities are insufficient to shake it.
However, its subordinate "Upper Moon Demon" is a relatively independent and "unstable" concept.
This means that the cost of intervention is low, and if successful, it is likely to trigger a series of chain reactions, resulting in huge "narrative fluctuations" that bring him considerable inspiration points.
This is a perfect entry point.
After making his decision, Gu Chuan no longer hesitated and took the initiative to tag Shinobu Kocho in the group chat.
[Observer: @ButterflyDance, Miss Butterfly, are you there?]
This abrupt @ comment instantly silenced the group chat that was discussing Rin's new theory.
[Butterfly Dance: Yes, yes! Mr. Observer, what can I do for you?]
The butterfly, flattered and overwhelmed, quickly replied. This was the first time this mysterious and powerful figure had ever reached out to her.
[Observer: I've recently been researching different energy utilization systems. The 'breathing technique' you use is a very interesting way to stimulate energy purely through the physical body. I'm very interested in it.]
Gu Chuan's words carried a scholarly rigor and curiosity.
[Observer: So, I'd like to purchase the complete theory of "Water Breathing" from you under the guise of 'academic exchange' for my research. Would you be willing?]
Academic exchange?
Shinobu Kocho was stunned. She had never imagined that the breathing technique passed down through her family and which she regarded as a tool for slaying demons would be considered an academic subject worthy of study by such a towering being.
This solemn attitude made her feel a sense of respect she had never felt before.
[Butterfly Dance: Of course I'd love to! Mr. Observer, I'll upload all the sword techniques of Insect Breathing! However, the pricing isn't something I can decide on my own; the shop says it's 300 Inspiration Points...]