PGVCW 22

Playing God in Various Catastrophic Worlds

Chapter 22: I Currently Hold a Blade in My Hand

"We have arrived."

Xia Wang'an began executing physical warm-up stretches. Influenced by recent rumors that pulling all-nighters and missing sleep causes premature baldness, her daily routine had shifted toward hyper-cautious wellness.

Had time permitted, she might even have performed a complete sequence of radio calisthenics.

"Linke, what are you doing?"

Concluding her stretches, Xia Wang'an turned her head to observe Linke curled tightly into a ball, sequestered within a corner of the primary flight bridge.

Linke huddled silently: "I am practicing. I evaluate my current combat parameters as thoroughly insufficient."

Yuanning offered a tactical clarification on his behalf: "He previously observed the diverse ordinance platforms mounted along the Flying Vessel's hull, calculating that should the vessel suffer catastrophic detonation, escape would be mathematically impossible. Consequently feeling a severe deficit in personal defensive capability, he is attempting self-improvement through accelerated learning."

Yuanning felt mildly helpless.

He had spent considerable time explaining to Linke that this Flying Vessel maintained absolute structural safety—it would not suffer detonation even if the firmament itself collapsed.

Yet Linke remained entirely impervious to logical reassurance.

A look of sudden enlightenment washed over Xia Wang'an as she stepped forward proactively: "It is of zero consequence."

Observing her movement, a warm emotion welled up inside Yuanning's heart.

Wang'an remains unchanged—tender-hearted since childhood, incapable of witnessing another's distress.

Then he heard Xia Wang'an deliver her earnest consolation:

"Should the Flying Vessel detonate, Yuanning and I will similarly prove incapable of escape. The three of us perishing in unison ensures none of us shall endure solitude."

Yuanning: “……”

Yet Linke found this logic exceptionally comforting, instantly elevating his head with radiant expectation as he locked his gaze onto Xia Wang'an:

"Is that authentic? Are you truly willing to perish alongside me?"

Xia Wang'an nodded with absolute certainty: "Indubitably. Who would decline the opportunity to perish alongside their genuine friends?"

Receiving her validation, Linke immediately redirected his expectant gaze toward Yuanning.

Yuanning: “……”

Yet confronting the synchronized, expectant countenances of Xia Wang'an and Linke—

He ultimately capitulated to the group dynamic: "Should absolute death become inevitable, I similarly elect to perish alongside you."

The youth donning the baseball cap instantly narrowed his eyes into joyous crescents: "Then my mind is completely at ease."

Observing him huddled in the corner, beaming with joyful, unreserved vulnerability—looking remarkably easy to execute—Xia Wang'an felt an involuntary itch in her palms.

Yet reminding herself that he constituted a friend, she suppressed the urge, regretfully resting her palm gently atop Linke's head.

"Arise. Let us slaughter people together—correction, let us slaughter flora."

"Mm!"

Yuanning: “……”

The black-haired maiden's slender fingers rested gently atop the youth's crown, while he yielded to the head-pat with total, unreserved trust.

The visual tableau projected an aura of profound warmth and harmony.

Yet for reasons untraceable, the mechanics of that head-pat carried every visual hallmark of a standardized technique designed to twist an adversary's cranium cleanly off their shoulders—

The specific rotational methodology involving a 360-degree torque followed by a propeller-like launch toward the heavens.

Yuanning opened his mouth to intervene, yet observing both individuals radiating genuine happiness, he ultimately swallowed his words.

Pivoting the discourse, he stated: "Let us depart; operational timing is upon us. The Wheat-Excision Sect delegation is awaiting us outside."

Xia Wang'an instantly drew her sidearm sword, her facial topography radiating unbridled combat eagerness: "Advance! My patience is fully exhausted!"

Ever since she had systematically purged the perimeter surrounding Ming County, she felt as though an eternity had elapsed since she last engaged in an uninhibited, exhilarating battle.

Blood, slaughter, heaven and earth plunging into chaos—these constituted the domain of Xia Wang'an's absolute mastery.

Lately, Director Zheng of the Mountain-River Division had been immersed in conducting intensive training drills for ability users, remaining elusive day in and day out, denying her any structural window to execute a sneak ambush upon his person.

Eagerly preparing to charge outward, Xia Wang'an was abruptly yanked back by Yuanning's grip.

Yet the next instant, Yuanning found himself dragged along by her kinetic inertia as she sprinted toward the exit—

The delicate research specialist was forced to shout while being dragged along at breakneck velocity:

"Halt, halt, halt!"

"You are unauthorized to engage in personal combat at this juncture! Operational protocol mandates executing a saturation artillery bombardment first; once target density is suppressed, you shall execute your grand entrance!"

Xia Wang'an executed an abrupt physical brake.

"Indeed; the Strategic Planning Division mentioned that protocol."

Blue Star would have to lose its collective mind to allow their singular savior to engage in direct, outnumbered melee combat.

Although Blue Star had suffered severe degradation, the sovereign state maintained operational continuity; internal doctrine classified their personnel as soldiers and mutant flora as bandit targets.

When military assets engage bandit forces, standard procedure dictates overwhelming numerical superiority and asymmetric firepower suppression—no law enforcement apparatus executes individual one-on-one duels with criminal targets.

Since spatial transit imposed strict limitations on deployed personnel numbers, no compromise could be made regarding weaponry and hardware—the payload was calibrated precisely to achieve the complete destruction of a major metropolis.

Had they not feared that overloading the hull might compromise flight dynamics, the Blue Star command would have eagerly mounted global weapons inventories onto the vessel.

Yuanning reminded her: "The hardware mounted along this hull possesses tactical capability vastly exceeding the requirement to purge the incoming Famine Tide."

Xia Wang'an was thoroughly unaccustomed to scenarios where, upon encountering tactical hazards, external platforms executed combat on her behalf. Yet the moment Linke thrust a portable sweet cake into her hand, she seamlessly reconciled with reality.

While the desire for battle burned brightly, resolving Wangtian City's immediate crisis naturally superseded personal martial gratification.

Within Wangtian City, the garrison pledged to defend the stronghold to the death had already spotted the Flying Vessel navigating from the distant horizon.

Naturally, not every observer possessed the structural perspective of Feudal King Wu, instantly diagnosing the vessel as a celestial ship upon sight.

"What manner of construct is that?!"

A soaring vessel of incomprehensible volumetric scale was approaching from afar, casting a massive, looming shadow resembling an apex predator descending to devour humanity.

To the citizens within the stronghold—whose neurological systems were stretched to absolute breaking limits, desperately resisting while reconciled to the reality that sacrificing their lives might still fail to shield their kin—it was mathematically impossible to optimistically categorize the incoming construct as allied reinforcements.

This mirrored a scenario where Blue Star forces, already suffering total defeat against mutant entities, suddenly witnessed a majestic warship descending from the firmament whose technological architecture clearly transcended native capabilities.

The primary psychological reaction would never be Hooray, allied reinforcements have arrived!—it would invariably be Curse it all, these mutant entities possess high-tier alien conspirators!

A citizen collapsed limply onto the earth, staring up at the colossal construct hovering in the upper atmosphere, his facial topography draining to absolute pallor:

"We are finished... our civilization is utterly finished..."

Yet the following microsecond, the Flying Vessel hovered silently directly above the advancing Famine Tide. Panels along both flanks retracted automatically, exposing rows of unfamiliar, strangely contoured cylindrical launch tubes.

"What manner of artifacts are those?"

"Could they be deploying auxiliary mechanisms to amplify the Famine Tide's lethality?"

Atop the battlements, the two Sect Patriarchs locked their gazes onto the forward tableau. Though fully aware that the probability of this Flying Vessel representing allied salvation was terrifyingly minute, a fragile spark of hope nevertheless flickered within their hearts.

Suddenly, the amplified acoustic signature of Miao Xinghe—a third-generation disciple of the Wheat-Excision Sect—resonated from the forward deck of the Flying Vessel:

"Disciples of the Wheat-Excision Sect, I have returned from my pilgrimage to petition the immortals! All forces execute immediate tactical withdrawal! The immortal sect disciples shall purge the Famine Tide!"

"The celestial arts deployed by the immortal sect possess catastrophic collateral yield! Withdraw immediately to avoid friendly fire!"

Through mechanisms untraceable, despite the immense spatial separation, the acoustic transmission penetrated directly into every listener's auditory receptors with pristine clarity.

A chaotic commotion erupted across the stronghold. Disciples of both martial orders, alongside soldiers garrisoned upon the walls, looked toward the command position of the two Sect Patriarchs.

"Patriarch, shall we execute tactical withdrawal?"

A second-generation disciple queried the Wheat-Excision Sect Patriarch.

The Patriarch gazed blankly at the majestic Flying Vessel in the distance, his ocular focus wavering in momentary cognitive disorientation:

"Immortals..."

"Execute tactical withdrawal."

"Perhaps... authentic immortals truly exist within this mortal realm."

"They have executed tactical withdrawal."

Xia Wang'an nibbled on her sweet cake, gazing toward the urban interior before redirecting her focus toward Yuanning, who was monitoring optical telemetry through tactical binoculars: "Does this spatial coordinate satisfy operational requirements?"

Yuanning lowered his binoculars: "It satisfies baseline parameters; positioning at this elevation is merely an exercise in redundant safety."

Beside them, the Wheat-Excision Sect disciples were consumed by uncontainable anxiety, completely forgetting their lingering dread regarding the human souls bound within the vessel.

"Grand-Auntie, at what precise juncture shall we deploy celestial arts to purge the Famine Tide?"

"Indeed, should we delay further and allow them to breach the city gates, total civilian slaughter will inevitably ensue."

Yuanning was already seated at the master control console: "Execution is imminent."

The Wheat-Excision Sect disciples stared at them with wide, expectant eyes, desperately yearning to witness the three transcendent immortal disciples tread upon flying swords, execute intricate hand seals, and demonstrate the legendary martial feat of a singular sword stroke stabilizing the mortal realm.

Then, they suddenly registered the Flying Vessel executing a sharp vertical ascent.

"Ascent to safe operational altitude complete. Ground-strike clearance authorized—"

The inorganic mechanical voice resonated from the interior consoles, causing the disciples to freeze in renewed alarm.

Yet observing the three individuals remaining seated with absolute tranquility—with Xia Wang'an even initiating consumption of a second sweet cake—the Senior Brother could no longer restrain his curiosity:

"Grand-Auntie, do your noble selves not intend to descend and engage the Famine Tide in direct combat?"

"Deploying my personal combat capabilities against this Famine Tide is structurally redundant." Xia Wang'an, possessing a mere 110,000 units of Faith Power, radiated the absolute, unshakeable arrogance of an entity backed by tens of millions.

As the Flying Vessel attained its designated altitude, automated elevators mounted beside the seating arrays elevated smoothly, presenting tactical dark visors before every occupant.

Personnel experienced in executing air-to-ground missile strikes from combat aircraft recognize that aviators universally utilize specialized polarized visors to shield their ocular receptors from extreme thermal luminescence.

Given that Blue Star command had meticulously packed sweet cakes for Xia Wang'an, how could they possibly overlook baseline operational safety protocols?

Consequently, the Wheat-Excision Sect disciples watched in utter speechlessness—

The immortal maiden, draped in a flowing white celestial gown with her hair casually secured by a singular hairpin, donned a pair of tactical dark visors while vigorously chewing on a sweet cake.

Flanking her, Yuanning and Linke executed identical visual formatting.

The indigenous disciples had never encountered dark visors; observing traditional celestial vestments paired with tactical dark eyewear, they instinctively registered a subtle visual incongruity.

Yuanning issued a calm directive: "You are similarly required to equip these."

Lacking the courage to raise objections, the Wheat-Excision Sect disciples gingerly handled the black treasure artifacts, replicating the三人's posture to secure the visors across their countenances.

The mechanical voice of the Flying Vessel echoed across the bridge:

"Please input ordinance vault authorization code."

"Authorization code validated."

"Engaging precision strike mode—"

"Ten, nine, eight—"

The Eleventh Junior Brother gingerly processed the grey, dimmed visual field created by the dark visor, whispering to Linke—who remained huddled in his corner, though an auxiliary safety harness had been secured across his torso at an untraceable juncture:

"Immortal Master Lin, why has this celestial vessel suddenly initiated a numerical countdown?"

"Immortal Master Lin?"

Receiving zero verbal response after a second call, the Eleventh Junior Brother realized that Immortal Master Lin was entirely deaf to external acoustic input.

Linke sat huddled with his back turned, his facial expression obscured, yet his hands were clearly visible—clamped with white-knuckled pressure over his ears.

Xia Wang'an, actively enjoying her sweet cake, registered the commotion and noticed Linke sequestered in the corner once more.

007: [What vector is he executing?]

Xia Wang'an: [Hypothesis: he harbors a structural preference for architectural corners.]

She found nothing anomalous in Linke's behavior, nor did she analyze the underlying psychological motivations driving it; within her worldview, every action executed by any biological entity was fundamentally understandable.

For instance, regarding the surging Famine Tide below, Xia Wang'an interpreted their ecstatic rush toward Wangtian City as a enthusiastic effort to be harvested by her and transported back to her home plane.

The black-haired maiden continued masticating her delicious cake while casually retrieving a pristine white tactical cloak from beneath her seat.

With a gentle toss, the cloak draped effortlessly over Linke's entire frame.

Curled beneath the cloak with his dark visor equipped, Linke peeked through a subtle fabric gap toward Xia Wang'an, his somatic tension visibly dissolving.

The Eleventh Junior Brother remained bewildered: "Why cover one's ears—"

—BOOM!!!!!

A colossal detonation resonated from the terrestrial expanse below, causing the entire Flying Vessel to vibrate gently.

Though dusk had settled and the sky was darkening, a blinding flash of light—bright as mid-day solar radiation—illuminated the landscape before vanishing in a microsecond.

The Eleventh Junior Brother felt an intense acoustic ringing within his auditory canals. Recovering his senses, he frantically leaned over the balustrade to observe—discovering that multiple launch bays had opened along both flanks of the Flying Vessel, releasing streamlined metallic ordnance platforms that streaked toward the Famine Tide.

—BOOM!!

—BANG!!

On this day, every mutated plant beheld the light.

Colossal fireballs erupted in all directions.

The previously consolidated Famine Tide was instantly shattered by the indiscriminate saturation bombardment.

Under the kinetic strike, targeted flora were either instantly converted into thermal culinary provisions or frantically thrashed their fire-blackened branches to attack their immediate surroundings.

Yet such was the nature of dimensional firepower suppression—even if the mutant flora linked their entire network of branches together, they remained mathematically incapable of reaching the Flying Vessel soaring serenely in the upper atmosphere.

Yuanning's hands blurred into motion-blur trajectories across the control console once more.

Considering operational safety protocols, numerous vessel functions required manual pilot execution.

Fortunately, he had grown accustomed to operating as though possessing ten pairs of hands, simultaneously formulating an internal proposal to submit an External Multi-Limb Mechanical Attachment Protocol upon returning to base.

To the citizens of Wangtian City observing from afar, the scene unfolded as the colossal Flying Vessel glided gracefully, dropping strange, unknown artifacts that systematically disintegrated the invincible Famine Tide.

"Still too weak."

Xia Wang'an observed the tableau as though admiring scenic vistas, comfortably reclining in her adjusted seat behind her dark visor, watching the predatory Famine Tide undergo step-by-step precision destruction below.

"Logically, given such feeble combat metrics, this world should not have proved entirely defenseless."

Even if supreme powerhouses on par with Imperial Princess Heng had perished, third-generation disciples of the Wheat-Excision Sect could still traverse mountains and rivers; their martial seniors ought to possess formidable combat capabilities.

If the Famine Tide possessed only this degree of lethality, though challenging, it should hardly have driven established sects to total institutional extinction, right?

[007, what do you hypothesize is the underlying variable?]

007 remained silent for a second: [Could it be... them?]

The primary Famine Tide was completely neutralized and dispersed.

At an untraceable juncture, the primary gates of Wangtian City were cracked open by a narrow margin. The citizens peered through the gap to observe the exterior field; after a long phase of stunned silence, they finally processed reality and erupted into thunderous cheers.

"The Famine Tide is destroyed!!!"

"The Famine Tide is gone!!"

"Heavens be praised!! We shall survive!!"

Amidst the ecstatic celebrations, even the soldiers garrisoned upon the walls and the disciples of both martial orders allowed relaxed expressions to touch their countenances.

Only the two Sect Patriarchs remained standing in their original positions, their facial topographies grave and solemn, refusing to lower their hyper-vigilant combat posture.

"It approaches."

The Rice-Excision Sect Matriarch tightened her grip on her long-shafted spear, her gaze locked dead ahead.

First came a subtle gust of wind.

Then, severed branches scattered across the terrain began swirling as though caught in an atmospheric eddy, gradually forming a kinetic vortex.

Subsequently, the debris fused together like a magnetic core, drawing surrounding fallen crops toward its center.

"What manner of construct is that?"

Yuanning piloted the Flying Vessel, releasing continuous ordnance payloads upon the forming mass.

Yet after every kinetic strike shattered the structure, it reconstituted at accelerated velocity.

"Parameters are degrading."

Yuanning lowered the Flying Vessel's elevation slightly; the moment it breached the sensor boundary, internal alarms resonated throughout the bridge.

【ALERT: Unregistered ability user detected—】

【ALERT: Environmental pollution index exceeds safe thresholds; execute immediate spatial withdrawal from contaminated zone—】

Linke, who had been curled in a corner moments prior, instantly revived, leaping to his feet while clutching his tactical cloak:

"An ability user?"

He immediately deployed [Wind] vectors to launch an offensive strike, yet his brow furrowed almost instantly:

"An invisible barrier is blocking my vector; I cannot achieve kinetic proximity."

Xia Wang'an rose slowly to her feet, executing a systematic joint warm-up.

Listening to the ominous alarm Klaxons and observing the altered posture of the three practitioners, even the most slow-witted Wheat-Excision Sect disciples recognized that a severe crisis had materialized.

"Immortal Masters, what transpires?"

"Have those Famine Tides not been utterly defeated? Why... why are they reconstituting into vertical posture? Such a phenomenon has never been recorded in historical archives!"

Yuanning monitored the rapidly depleting ordnance reserves, then cast a glance toward the anxious Wheat-Excision Sect disciples, a flash of reluctance crossing his eyes.

Yet ultimately, he addressed Xia Wang'an:

"Wang'an, emergency protocol variable."

This constituted their pre-established code phrase.

An emergency protocol variable denoted a scenario carrying high probability of fatal peril, recommending immediate spatial transit out of the dimension.

Yet should they execute spatial withdrawal, the ultimate fate of Wangtian City was brutally obvious.

Xia Wang'an, however, gently caressed the simple wooden hairpin securing her hair.

A slow smile touched her lips.

Since Xia Wang'an's rebirth, Yuanning had witnessed her smile on numerous occasions.

Initially, her smiles carried a subtle rigidity; later, they gradually relaxed into genuine tranquility; eventually, as they roamed together through the containment facility causing minor chaos, her smile reverted to the uninhibited laughter he remembered from their past.

Yet presently, her smile carried a subtle, unmistakable trace of bloodlust.

Keenly sensing the shift in her psychological baseline, Yuanning executed a console override, turning to address the anxious Wheat-Excision Sect disciples: "Allow us a moment for internal tactical consultation."

Instantly, an opaque barrier manifested around the three practitioners—from within, they maintained full optical visibility of the exterior, while the Wheat-Excision Sect disciples outside were entirely blocked from observing or hearing them.

Confirming absolute privacy, Yuanning queried urgently:

"Are you cognizant of the nature of this suddenly materializing ability user? Have you encountered such entities previously?"

"They are not ability users; more accurately, they are Polluters who subsist upon environmental contamination, roaming across parallel worlds as a specialized, low-tier organization."

"A low-tier... organization?"

Yuanning looked down at the colossal agricultural titan that had fully achieved verticality below, evaluating that this organization appeared anything but 'low-tier.'

Yet Xia Wang'an's smile widened further: "I genuinely assumed I would never cross paths with them again."

"Encountering them once more brings me profound joy."

Though her words articulated joy, her eyes narrowed into joyous crescents.

Yet observing her demeanor, Yuanning recognized with absolute certainty that she had previously suffered severe setbacks at the hands of this 'low-tier organization.'

He looked at her with deep concern: "Your current Faith Power reserve stands at a mere 110,000 units; do you genuinely intend to engage in direct combat?"

"Engagement is mandatory."

Xia Wang'an looked through the barrier at the Wheat-Excision Sect disciples pacing anxiously outside; she refrained from articulating what tragic fate would befall this world should they execute spatial withdrawal, stating merely with a calm smile:

"I am bound to engage; I cannot allow them to trace our operational coordinates back to our home plane."

Yuanning opened his mouth as though intending to offer further counsel, yet locking eyes with her resolute gaze, his hands slowly released their grip on the control console.

"We engage together."

"Should tactical parameters degrade beyond recovery, execute immediate spatial withdrawal."

Linke had already folded his tactical cloak neatly upon his seat, adjusting his baseball cap downward:

"Deployment authorized?"

Yuanning looked at his two companions, ultimately pressing the command to dissolve the isolation barrier.

Miao Xinghe was consumed by agonizing anxiety; possessing exceptional observational acuity, though Yuanning had articulated zero details, she instinctively deduced that this sudden crisis surpassed the operational capability of the tripartite vanguard.

Observing the barrier dissolve, she stepped forward frantically:

"Immortal Masters, might we petition your supreme sect for martial reinforcements? Surely the senior immortals of the Heaven-Saving Sect possess divine arts to suppress this monstrous construct! Or perhaps... perhaps we execute tactical withdrawal first—"

Before her petition concluded, Xia Wang'an tapped her foot gently against the deck, leaping over the Flying Vessel's balustrade and diving weightlessly into the open abyss below.

The Wheat-Excision Sect disciples: “……AHHHH! That is the upper sky atmosphere!”

Before they could process the shock, Linke plunged directly after her: "Await my vector!"

Yuanning executed an immediate follow-up dive.

Consequently, only the indigenous disciples remained stranded aboard the Flying Vessel.

The Wheat-Excision Sect disciples: “AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!”

"I have not yet deployed supportive [Wind] vectors for your descent!" Linke shouted, his voice cracking under kinetic stress.

Xia Wang'an, however, independently circulated her internal spiritual energy, accelerating her downward dive: "Unnecessary."

Mid-descent, her gaze flicked casually toward the sidearm sword mounted at her waist.

It turns out that upon acquiring authentic spiritual energy, executing aerial maneuvering requires zero reliance on Sword Flight.

"Entities are descending from the firmament!"

Within Wangtian City, the populace registered the three silhouettes plunging rapidly downward.

"Great Heavens... are those celestial immortals?!"

—BOOM!

A heavy kinetic impact echoed as Xia Wang'an struck the earth, drawing the immediate focus of the newly reconstituted titan.

The monster turned slowly, observing a deep impact crater.

Dust and debris settled within the crater.

Inside her concealed ear-piece, the biological monitoring sensor sounded frantic alarms:

【WARNING: Current environmental pollution index: 3,980. Hazard level extreme; execute immediate spatial withdrawal.】

Yet before the earpiece could sound a secondary alert, the tactical wristband mounted on Xia Wang'an's arm—designed to monitor her internal contamination baseline—flashed with violent crimson illumination.

"Beep—Internal pollution index rising to 5,790; emergency alert initiated. Beep—Network connection offline; emergency transmission failed."

The environmental sensor ceased reporting localized index numbers, because Xia Wang'an's personal biological vessel was presently far more dangerous than the surrounding environment.

The internal Klaxon continued its frantic escalation:

"Beep—Your internal pollution index has breached 8,890—"

"Breached 10,976—"

"20,987—"

Amidst the rapidly skyrocketing pollution score alerts, the black-haired maiden raised her hand with calm deliberation, stripping off the wristband and ear-piece, tossing them casually onto the earth.

Simultaneously, she removed the simple hairpin securing her hair.

The slender wooden hairpin rested quietly within the maiden's palm.

Under the utterly horrified gazes of every observer, it began expanding and elongating smoothly.

Ultimately, it materialized as a massive, 2.8-meter jet-black long-blade saber.

On the ground, the discarded ear-piece emitted static interference:

"Beep--Pollution index zzzt 34,259-- zzzt, sensor capacity exceeded--"

The crimson-flashing wristband flickered twice before blacking out entirely.

Xia Wang'an gently caressed the cold steel of her massive long-blade, tilting her head slightly as she locked her gaze onto the five-meter-tall Famine Tide Titan, her lips curving into a smile:

"I currently hold a blade in my hand."

"From this geometrical angle, executing a vertical leap should prove fully sufficient to sever your head, correct?"

The Famine Tide Titan stared silently into Xia Wang'an's eyes.

Three seconds later, it turned on its heel and sprinted away at full velocity.