Die, Replay, Repeat

Fang Xiu had a theory about why the Specter Train demanded psychics of the fourth tier or higher.

Though he had never personally visited the Land Between, he had been to the Other Side.

The Other Side was a realm utterly inhospitable to human life, blanketed by an omnipresent gray mist.

For ordinary people, contact with the mist meant instant death. Even third-tier psychics could only survive there briefly.

Only fourth-tier psychics and above, protected by their Domains, could endure the Other Side for any meaningful length of time.

The Land Between, as the boundary between the real world and the Other Side, was naturally suffused with this gray mist as well.

Fang Xiu had seen proof of this during his first journey aboard the Specter Train—the farther the train progressed, the thicker the mist became.

This understanding made one thing clear: only psychics at the fourth tier or higher could safely enter the Land Between.

With this realization, Fang Xiu's decision crystallized—he would board the Specter Train again. He needed to reach the Land Between.

It was there, he believed, that he might uncover traces of Zhou Qingfeng.

Zhou Qingfeng had been the one to seal the Land Between. Whether Zhou Qingfeng was truly dead, the truth behind the creation of the Green Mountain Hospital, and countless other unanswered questions—Fang Xiu suspected that all of these mysteries were tied to the Land Between.

In recent weeks, Fang Xiu had focused on expanding his influence and solidifying Huaxia's defenses through his role as Chief Commander of the Investigation Bureau. 

While these efforts had bolstered his power base, they had done little to advance his personal strength.

Now that the situation in Huaxia had stabilized, Fang Xiu decided it was time to focus on his own growth. The Land Between was the perfect place for him to work toward breaking through to the fourth tier.

Without hesitation, Fang Xiu retrieved the Scalpel from his storage space.

Under the shocked gaze of a nearby staff member, Fang Xiu drove the Scalpel straight into his forehead.

…

His death triggered a Dead Reset.

Moments later, he was reborn, his memories and consciousness intact. He wasted no time issuing an order: "Bring the Director, the squad captains, Yang Ming, and Xiao Chuxia to my office immediately."

Before long, the requested individuals assembled in Fang Xiu's office.

The Director, an experienced and steady leader, wore a somber expression.

Since assuming the role of Chief Commander, Fang Xiu had rarely involved others in major decisions. He had a reputation for resolving problems on his own with an almost supernatural precision.

For him to call a meeting now could only mean that something of great importance was at hand.

"Fang Xiu, what's the matter?" the Director asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Fang Xiu's calm gaze swept over the group before he began. "I've discovered a spatial node in the future. It's called the Land Between."

"The Land Between?" The term elicited puzzled looks from everyone present. "What is the Land Between?"

Fang Xiu explained, "The Land Between is the anchor point where the Other Side connects to the real world. It serves as the boundary between the two realms."

"What?" The revelation stunned the room.

"There's such a place? Could the Specters be using the Land Between to invade the real world?"

Fang Xiu shook his head. "For now, Specters aren't relying on the Land Between as their primary method of invasion. Instead, the Other Side is continuously overlapping with the real world, causing the two realms to merge slowly.

"Weaker Specters are able to slip through the cracks between the worlds and enter the real world. However, the stronger Specters—the ones with truly terrifying power—require the Land Between to cross over."

The atmosphere grew even heavier at his words.

"Weaker Specters?" Li Xiaoru asked in alarm. "You mean the ones we've been fighting so far are considered weak? Then what are the stronger ones like?"

Fang Xiu clarified, "When I say weaker, I mean those below Class-S. According to my calculations, Class-S Specters likely need to use the Land Between to invade the real world.

"As for the Class-S Specters we've encountered here, most of them didn't originally possess true Class-S power. They only had the potential to reach that level. Once they crossed into the real world, their power grew over time, allowing them to reach Class-S strength.

"However, Specters that already possess fully developed Class-S power can only enter the real world through the Land Between or by other extraordinary means."

…

The implications of Fang Xiu's words weighed heavily on everyone.

If the Specters they had faced so far were merely "weaker" variants, what would the future hold when the fully developed ones arrived?

And if the Land Between was the key to understanding the Specters' invasion, it was clear where Fang Xiu's path would lead next.

Fang Xiu referred to other methods, such as using his Blood Pupil or replicating techniques like those employed by Zhou Qingfeng to open pathways to the Other Side.

He had once subtly questioned the Ace of Spades and learned that the Pokers also had a way to enter the Other Side.

However, that method had been exclusive to the Joker. Now that the Joker was dead, the method was lost.

"In that case," someone asked, their voice trembling, "doesn't that make the Land Between extremely dangerous? Isn't it essentially a gateway from the Other Side that could allow Specters to invade the real world at will?"

"Not exactly," Fang Xiu replied, shaking his head. "First, the Land Between is currently sealed. Specters cannot use it to enter the real world for now. However, this seal is only temporary, and as time passes, it will weaken and eventually disappear.

"Second, even when the seal is completely lifted, not all Specters will be able to enter the real world through the Land Between. Truly powerful Specters cannot pass through it."

"Truly… powerful Specters? Stronger than Class-S Specters?" someone asked, horrified.

Fang Xiu nodded. "Do you recall the projection of Taotie that I summoned? Taotie's true form is a Specter God-level entity. Specters at that level cannot enter the real world through the Land Between.

"Think of it this way: Specters below Class-S are like ants. The real world is like a house, and ants can crawl in through tiny cracks in the walls.

"The Land Between is like a mouse hole. It allows mice—Class-S Specters and slightly stronger ones—to enter the house.

"But Specter Gods are like humans. They can only enter through the front door, and that door will only appear when the two realms—the real world and the Other Side—completely overlap."

The room fell silent as Fang Xiu's explanation sank in.

Even Fang Moli, the only fifth-tier psychic and widely regarded as the strongest in the world, felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.

With his fifth-tier strength and the legendary Xuanyuan Sword, Fang Moli had always believed he could face any Class-S Specter. But now, he understood the cruel truth: on the Other Side, Class-S Specters were no more than "mice."

In that case, what was he? A mere cat at best.

For the first time, Fang Moli truly grasped the limits of human power. If a Specter God were to descend into the real world, it might be unstoppable.

As despair began to take root, Fang Xiu's calm voice cut through the silence. "There's no need to despair. I've already seen the future. In the end, all Specters will be destroyed."

The group looked up, their once dim eyes rekindled with hope. Nothing could be more reassuring than Fang Xiu's words.

His calm demeanor, even when discussing Specter Gods, made it seem as though he was talking about nothing more than Class-C Specters.

To the others, only someone who had truly seen the future could face such an impossible gap in power with such unwavering confidence.

…

As hope surged through the group, Xiao Chuxia alone remained quiet, her gaze fixed on Fang Xiu. Her wide eyes held a mix of realization and disbelief.

Because she alone knew the truth. Fang Xiu was lying.

And yet, when she looked at the faces of those around her—full of hope and determination—she began to understand the purpose of his lie.

Fang Xiu wasn't just deceiving them. He was giving them hope—giving humanity hope.

'What kind of person does this?' she wondered, her thoughts swirling.

Fang Xiu had chosen to shoulder all the despair of the world alone. Even under that crushing weight, he lit himself up like a beacon to guide others.

To give others hope meant bearing all the despair himself.

At that moment, Xiao Chuxia felt a pang of sadness for Fang Xiu. 'Why does it have to be this way? Why does he have to carry everything alone?'

Of course, Fang Xiu noticed Xiao Chuxia's troubled expression, but he dismissed it. He had known her long enough to understand her nature.

Her mind often drifted toward exaggerated fantasies, painting herself as a tragic figure in dire need of saving or as someone wrapped in complex manipulations.

But Fang Xiu knew the truth.

He wasn't lying to inspire hope.

He was stating his resolve.

To him, the destruction of the Specters wasn't just an ambition—it was an unshakable oath.

Specters had to die.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

For Fang Xiu, the future held only one acceptable outcome: the complete extermination of all Specters.

If that didn't happen, then there would be no future at all.

Translator's note: Ants, mice, humans… That's a very smart simile.