The destined moment in history!

A woman stood before the divine statue, hands clasped together in silent prayer.

The storm forced the temple doors open.

Rain poured from the heavens like a deluge, and in the gloom, flashes of lightning intermittently illuminated the darkness, followed by the deafening roar of thunder.

Rainwater spilled into the entrance, soaking the already ruined floor.

Before the statue, the woman remained deep in prayer, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around her.

The water pooled, growing deeper, until—

A monster covered in green spikes crawled out from the puddle.

It exhaled heavily, its voice muffled: 「Close-Combat Mage Delia, your time has come.」

The woman whirled around.

She studied the creature, her face tense with caution, and demanded, "What kind of monster are you? How do you know my name?"

"I am one of the creators of the Close-Combat Mage class. I've always loved this profession, and you—as a Close-Combat Mage—have never disappointed my expectations." The monster stood dripping in the rainwater.

"Ridiculous! You dare claim you created the Close-Combat Mage?"

Delia flicked her wrist, summoning a massive axe crackling with lightning from the void.

"Using spells to manifest unique weapon abilities—what an ingenious path. Truly, this is a genius class," the monster mused.

Delia's voice turned icy. "What the hell are you? If you don't start telling the truth, this axe won't be joking around."

"Nothing left to say. You're about to die. Your soul will enter the Nightmare Manor and become a… rather collectible fruit," the monster replied.

Then—it vanished.

In an instant, Delia raised her thunder axe, exhaled sharply, and roared:

"DIE!"

The axe split the air, transforming into hundreds of lightning phantoms that scattered in all directions.

BOOM!

From her left flank, the monster abruptly reappeared.

A streak of lightning slashed into it, sending it flying backward into the temple wall.

"Hahaha! Multi-Shadow Thunder Slash! This move unleashes 360 lightning phantoms—absolute perfection! Delia, you've done magnificently!"

The monster laughed maniacally.

Delia—or rather, Liu Ping, currently disguised under an illusion—stared in shock as the lightning dissipated harmlessly from the monster's body.

"Impossible. I hit you. Why aren't you hurt?"

The monster stepped forward. "Because I designed this move. I know all its secrets."

"Weapons are man-made, and men can be killed by their own weapons." Liu Ping said coldly.

"True. But every law governing this move comes from me. Naturally, I have a way to nullify it."

Liu Ping's gaze lingered on the monster's spiked green carapace before shaking his head. "This has to be a coincidence."

"Naïve. Maybe only in death will you realize your limits," the monster sneered.

Before it could strike, Liu Ping suddenly released the thunder axe, letting it dissolve into crackling serpents of lightning.

"Rise!"

A golden warhammer materialized midair and slammed into the ground with devastating force.

The earth trembled.

A flash of gold erupted beneath the monster's feet, launching it into the air.

Liu Ping clenched his fist and whispered:

"Waterfowl Style—Twelve Hundred Fists."

He threw a single punch toward the hovering monster.

Instantly, countless phantom fists materialized, pummeling the creature in a relentless barrage that lasted several seconds before fading.

The monster landed, spat, and grumbled, "Damn it. Aerial combo into ancient martial spirit strikes? We really made this class too overpowered."

Liu Ping's voice wavered. "What is this? You took my strongest attack—why are you unharmed?"

The monster looked both annoyed and smug.

"Delia… no, Liu Ping, I never expected you to master technique to this degree. You are, without a doubt, the strongest Close-Combat Mage."

"So my fate is still death?" Liu Ping asked.

The monster hesitated before sighing. "Before you die, I, your lead designer, came to see you personally. That is the highest honor."

"You talk as if my entire existence was scripted," Liu Ping said.

"It was. But within that script, you excelled. You'll make a fine… fruit."

"Fruit? You're going to eat me?"

"Not me. The true powers that be. You've earned the privilege."

"How did you block all my attacks? Do you know every move I have?"

"Enough chatter. Your time is up."

The monster raised its hand—

And in its grip was a gun.

Liu Ping didn't hesitate. He leaped back, his body dissolving into scattered embers that illuminated the dark temple like a fleeting blaze.

"Phantom Light Evasion. Tch. We really gave Close-Combat Mages too many skills. Next, you'll use Explosive Shot—it's the optimal play. And you're… HERE!"

The monster abruptly aimed at an empty spot.

Liu Ping reappeared there, mid-swing, his face frozen in shock.

His fist unleashed a storm of phantom strikes, raining down on the monster—

Who didn't even flinch.

"Your final move. Farewell, Close-Combat Mage."

BANG.

The gunshot echoed.

Liu Ping collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.

The monster holstered its weapon and whistled. "Such a shame. Adorable, really."

Then—

A pure, resonant chime echoed through the void.

It was a sound like celestial music, descending from the heavens, permeating all existence.

The patter of rain faded into obscurity as the chime dominated reality, embedding itself into the very soul.

The monster stiffened.

It slowly looked down.

A long blade had pierced its chest, blood dripping from the steel in a steady rhythm.

The chime ceased.

A woman's voice spoke from behind:

"We fight our entire lives—not to end up as some 'great one's' meal."

The corpse on the ground was gone.

It had been a trick.

A Close-Combat Mage had struck it down.

The monster's face twisted in horror. "A Respondent?! No—Manor Lord, SAVE ME!"

The blade slashed horizontally.

The monster split in two, its blood painting the air.

Burning text erupted before Liu Ping's eyes:

[You have unleashed a newly crafted blade technique (unnamed).]

[You have slain a fully matured Nightmare Creature!]

[This monster was a rare knowledge/tech-type, almost never seen in the human world.]

[No planted human has ever defeated one before.]

[You have made history across countless worlds!]

[You have rewritten human destiny!]

[Warning: The monster called for the Nightmare Manor Lord in its final moments.]

[You must conceal this killing immediately!]

[If discovered, all efforts will be for nothing!]

The text vanished.

Liu Ping's attention snapped to the monster's corpse.

The spiked carapace was just a shell—like his own Nightmare Embrace.

Inside was…

A human.

A human.

WHY WAS IT A HUMAN?!

Liu Ping suppressed his shock and waved a hand.

The corpse disappeared.

"There's still time… I'll use 'Special Effects Artist' to make it reappear."

A moment later, the monster stood there again—now just an illusion.

Almost instantly, space tore open.

Several attendants descended, scanning the area.

A white-haired elder at the front frowned. "The Manor Lord sent us. What was so urgent?"

The illusionary monster grinned and pointed at Liu Ping. "This soul is exceptional—the last Close-Combat Mage, incredibly powerful!"

"That's it?" The elder scowled.

"Ah—my apologies. I got carried away," the monster said hastily.

The elder waved dismissively. "Take her. You—return to the Manor."

The attendants seized Liu Ping and vanished.

The elder shot the monster a final glare before disappearing as well.

Now alone, the illusionary monster stood lifelessly.

Andrea's voice whispered:

"May all traces of you vanish."

The illusion dissolved.

"Damn it—I need to get to Liu Ping!"

She rushed off.

The Manor.

Liu Ping—still disguised as Delia—stood on the lawn, flanked by attendants.

Andrea's voice reached him:

"Liu Ping, be careful. You're exhausted. If you're exposed, it's over."

"Relax. According to the timeline, Delia was supposed to die here…"

"Which means there's a destined encounter waiting."

"What do you mean?" Andria asked.

"What happens if I meet myself now?"

"With me here? Nothing."

"Then history will align perfectly."

As if on cue—

Another Liu Ping emerged from the Manor's entrance and stepped onto the lawn.

"Ah… I see," Andrea murmured.

This was the first Liu Ping—the one who had arrived at the Manor as the "Obituary" praised by the Manor Lord.

The one who had met Delia that day.

This was history's surface.

In truth, after killing the monster, Liu Ping (as Delia) had come here—completing the loop.

Liu Ping sighed and said softly:

"Obituary."

"Yes." his past self replied.

Liu Ping smiled. "I remember our first meeting. I bought you a drink… Who knew so much time would pass?"

"Yeah."

"If you ever need help, come find me."

"I will."

The conversation ended.

Liu Ping turned away, speaking into the void:

"I must die here. Then you'll save me. From that moment on, everything about me will become… nothing."

At this very instant—

Somewhere in the void, the real Liu Ping (having just obtained the Dragon Ring) was rushing from the dream world…

To meet Delia.

(TN: Damn...)