The Gentleman at the End

Chapter 200: Chapter 199: The Final Performance

The Duke used his mouth to remove the snack residue from his fingers,

prying apart the thick layers of belly fat to reveal his unique navel tunnel… promptly tracing a slimy trail with the Moon Scar.

While readjusting the stack of belly folds, the Duke asked, “How does it feel?”

The Moon Scar snapped his fingers lightly to cleanse himself of the slimy residue with moonlight, while the nurse exchanged his soiled garments for a set of fresh hospital clothes,

“Though ‘Weakness Constraint’ is quite uncomfortable, it deepens my understanding of some basic abilities, and even allows me to restructure certain foundations and change the essence of my abilities.

Moreover, it has given me a wealth of inspiration for ‘creation.’

Most importantly, it has garnered me ‘interest,’ with ‘novels’ from William’s former world revealing one of the meanings of our biological existence.”

The Duke was quite generous and immediately separated several fatty clumps containing book memories from his body, rolled them into sizes resembling small dumplings, and tossed them towards the depths of his private castle.

Presently, two mysterious arms within the ancient castle delivered bound volumes of the novels.

“Consider it a gift for your active participation in the wager.”

“Thank you, Duke.”

After performing a very gentlemanly bow, Moon Scar looked down, accepted the books, and stored them away, his pupils shimmering with the excitement of moonlight.

“Indeed~ The level difference between you and William is too great. Even if I were to extract your consciousnesses and compress them into bodies of the same age group, the gap in rank, though narrowed, still exists.

Thus, the challenge hasn’t reached the level of difficulty I had anticipated for you.

However…”

At this point,

the Duke seemed to lose interest in the wager, having already seen into Yi Chen’s deeply hidden memories and origins of death, and instead turned his focus to Moon Scar.

“Nevertheless, the wager has sufficiently verified your special traits.

Given the pathological characteristics, potential, and adaptability you have shown, you are fully qualified to join the ranks of the nobility and attempt to become a ‘disease root.’

I will reveal the ‘Path’ to you, but whether you choose to walk it, and how you go about it, is up to you~ I’m merely a merchant, and I certainly won’t be providing you with all sorts of so-called teachings like other fellows.”

“That suits me just fine. I don’t like being restricted by others.”

“Come closer~ Let me show you some interesting things…”

Following the Duke’s gesture, Lorrian stepped forward, allowing a fat nerve that had grown from the Duke’s forehead to connect to his own.

Scenes from the Old World, before it was impaled by the colossal sword and while its rules still existed, unfolded before them,

vivid, dazzling tumor sacs forming grand architecture,

rivers of epidemic liquid and mountains assembled from hardened tumors,

a mysterious forest of fluttering fungal spores,

and something like tentacles, the ‘World’s Foot,’ rooted in various places on the Earth, propelling the Old World rapidly through dimensions and spreading disease.

A certain ‘Path,’ along with this vision, poured into Lorrian’s brain, illuminating the direction for his future development.

The transfusion ended.

Regaining his senses, Lorrian couldn’t help but exclaim, “It’s beautiful…”

The Duke replied, “You were born in a later era; such splendor no longer exists. However, one day, it may return to its former glory through the efforts of you young people.”

But Lorrian shook his head, “I’m not too keen on setting such grand ambitions for myself… How’s the wager progressing? Has William taken care of things?”

“It’s almost done. His current state has already exceeded the ‘Limit of Pieces’ in the wager. The difficulty I set no longer poses a threat to him.”

“You’re deliberately gifting him the win,” Lorrian remarked.

“Well, the kid’s memory is valuable enough to make it worthwhile, hahaha!”

The Duke laughed heartily, his ample cheeks quivering with mirth.

…

[Black Mountain Orphanage – Arena]

Director Cao, whose back was covered in spider legs, with duplicated torsos sprouting out and three separate heads, was split down the spine by a silver-finished axe.

Iron chains, following the wound along the spine, filled his entire body, rendering him utterly immobile.

Most crucially, the Death Aura emitted by Yi Chen, adorned in Dead Man Makeup, completely suppressed her regeneration.

Of course,

to fully incapacitate Director Cao rather than killing her outright, Yi Chen paid a severe price.

An entire arm was severed and totally corroded away,

and his body bore several wounds that were difficult to repair, making even standing a challenge.

“`

But these injuries did not affect the final outcome that Yi Chen had already determined in his heart; it was time to say goodbye to the fictional orphanage. To Yi Chen, this place no longer held any significance.

He sat face to face with Director Cao,

Although he was well aware that this old woman was simply a fake body replicated from memory, Yi Chen still showed genuine emotion.

“Before I kill you, I still need to express my gratitude. I must say, Director Cao, your ‘genetic traits’ are indeed excellent. At least the thirst for knowledge that I have demonstrated so far should all stem from you.

I will find a way to connect to the ‘World Connection’ someday, return to the real orphanage, and fulfill my long-cherished wish.”

“You are…!”

Director Cao was also a smart person; from Yi Chen’s words, she immediately gleaned crucial information, which explained why the young man before her felt so familiar.

Bang!

The shotgun fired, forcibly interrupting Director Cao’s thoughts.

As the headless body fell, it crumbled into a powdery substance from the inside out, eroded by the ‘Death Aura.’

“[Orphanage core member – Cao Zhenghong (Disaster Mode) has been killed. Victory is secured in the underground arena, and Research Facility No.1 has been completely destroyed.

Comprehensive points reward – 120 points.]”

An ‘Exit Ticket’ was now in Yi Chen’s hands, but he didn’t use it immediately.

He looked up at the orphanage’s higher-ups in the audience. As he had not had in-depth contact with these figures in real life, even when materialized through the gambles, they remained blurry, all wearing black masks with faces in a mosaic pattern.

Yi Chen did not choose to go on a rampage. He had already found an emotional equilibrium in the enlightenment of death.

Underneath the makeup of a dead man,

he did his best to support his severely injured body slowly standing up, placing his remaining right arm across his chest, expressing his gratitude to the audience for witnessing ‘The Last Performance.’

Snap!

A flick of the fingers set the Exit Ticket ablaze, and his body dissipated into particles of light.

With the exit of the core gambler, the entire fabricated gamble dissipated as well,

Burbles and slithers… covered in slime, Yi Chen slid out through the umbilical passage,

Unlike Lorrian, Yi Chen was not in good condition.

One, the severe injuries from the final battle reflected on his physical body, and two, the awakening of death memories left Yi Chen in a half-dead half-alive state.

To fully master this death experience, he must break through the ‘Limit of Man.’

He hurriedly put on gentleman’s clothes, the delicate skin structure adhering to his physical form providing ‘support’… Only after donning his attire could Yi Chen finally catch his breath and carry on with normal interactions.

The gamble brought profound changes to Yi Chen,

Not to mention allowing him to directly confront the past memories of the orphanage, and awakening the ‘Death Personality’ of the past.

The two crucial attributes, [Physique] and [Intelligence], were also enhanced, with the most significant, intelligence, finally reaching the ‘Limit of Man’ and formally accepting the mysterious death from the world before.

At the same time,

The plant inside his body had also completely transformed into chains associated with pain, becoming even more closely integrated and stronger with the physical body.

After putting on the clothes, Yi Chen was the first to conduct a detailed inspection of the ‘Pathological Trait – Plant,’ and the data displayed left him astoundingly shocked.

≮Special Attention, Special Attention≯

‘Forest Guardian – Casimir’s tumorous crystals’ have been invaded and assimilated by a higher-grade pathological substance ‘Painful Iron Chain (Needle-type)’,

Its quality and traits have undergone fundamental changes.

Quality upgrade[High Quality (Variant)]→[Rare (Variant)]

* ‘Vascular Tissue’ → ‘Chain Tissue’

Retains the original fusion state with the vascular bundles and physical body, replacing the vascular bundles with similarly sized chain structures, serving to support, strengthen, and transmit pain to the body.

Effectively enhances the individual’s comprehensive quality ([Physique] and [Coordination] are increased, and this increase is not limited by the maximum attribute limits).

* ‘Vegetarian’ → ‘Hellraiser’

Can convert the pain endured by the physical body into effective energy, which can be used as a nerve stimulant, enhance the efficacy of the iron chains, strengthen the body, and possibly develop even more uses.

* ‘Needle Chain’:

Used for restraining and harming enemies,

The number of chains, their strength, and the precision of control will be influenced by three basic attributes: physique, intelligence, and perception (mainly intelligence).

It can also be used for self-flagellation to quickly replenish painful energy, break through illusions, or for penance.

Special Attention: The Painful Iron Chain is highly compatible with the individual’s physical body (＞80%), achieving better effects than the original plant.

“`