Invincibility Begins with a Super Fairy Manny

Chapter 2897: Chapter 2898: Cruelty

Xue Jingchu was left speechless by the number.

She couldn’t imagine how strong one’s mind must be to stay sane through over ten thousand time loops.

Even just thinking about that kind of despair made Shu Jingchu shiver.

She felt that if she were in that situation, she’d break down after a few hundred times, let alone more than ten thousand.

In contrast, it was quite commendable that Jin Shanquan only went mad after experiencing such terrifying circumstances.

"Then... then how did you all finally get out?" Shu Jingchu asked, stuttering.

"There wasn’t a ’we’!"

"What do you mean?"

"I said there wasn’t a ’we’; only I managed to get out!" Jin Shanquan said calmly.

Yet this calmness was filled with unspeakable sadness.

Though she had anticipated it, Shu Jingchu’s heart sank to the bottom when Jin Shanquan actually said it.

There was no need to ask; those people surely met their end within the time loop.

So Shu Jingchu didn’t ask how they died because she felt it would be too cruel to ask someone who barely escaped that time hell.

But while she didn’t ask, Xue An directly posed the question.

"How did they die?"

Shu Jingchu glanced at Xue An.

Xue An seemed oblivious and continued, "Based on your description, you were trapped in a time loop, so even if someone couldn’t hold on and died, they should reappear in the next loop! So..."

Xue An coldly watched Jin Shanquan, "How did they die?"

Xue An’s questioning made Han Bao and Shu Jingchu shudder.

Indeed!

Once you are caught in a nearly unsolvable time loop, you will return to your original state in the next loop even if you die midway.

But this is no blessing; it’s a form of torture.

Because that means you’ll endure the pain of death without the relief of dying.

Jin Shanquan remained silent for a moment, then lowered his head and spoke in a slightly trembling voice, "You’re right; within the over ten thousand time loops, death truly was a luxury!"

"At the beginning, we tried everything to break free, but all attempts failed. In this unsolvable deadlock, some people finally couldn’t hold on any longer and fell into madness!"

"They cried and shouted, losing themselves and starting to attack their companions! Initially, I had the energy to manage it, but soon I also felt weary because only time resets in this loop, not memories!"

"Under such circumstances, people quickly couldn’t bear the weight and chose the final path, but couldn’t escape the terrible loop even through suicide. We were like insects trapped to death in a time segment with no way out!"

That sad and desperate atmosphere spread, making Shu Jingchu feel deeply sorrowful.

Xue An was unfazed and again asked the crucial question, "So how exactly did you get out, and how did they die?"

"It’s simple; time only exists concerning existent objects. Once an object no longer exists, time loses its effect!"

Xue An raised his eyebrows slightly, showing a contemplative expression.

But Shu Jingchu didn’t understand at all, "What do you mean? Did you understand it?"

She asked Xue An, and Xue An nodded.

"Only objects that physically exist embody time. Once an object disappears or doesn’t exist, time naturally disappears too!"

Shu Jingchu’s face showed more confusion, "Give an example!"

"For instance, something you imagine doesn’t change no matter how much time passes; the only thing that changes is you, who truly exist!"

Shu Jingchu nodded, half-understanding.

Han Bao next to her slapped his thigh, "I think I understand!"

"You understand what?"

"The gentleman’s words! No matter how time changes, it can only change reality, while the imaginary is completely unaffected. Is that what you meant, sir?"

Han Bao looked expectantly at Xue An, who nodded, "Your comprehension isn’t bad!"

Receiving Xue An’s praise made Han Bao overwhelmed with joy, his face flushing with excitement.

Xue An turned to look at Jin Shanquan, "Am I correct?"

Jin Shanquan nodded with a bitter smile, "Exactly right! So you should also guess how I got out and how my subordinates died!"

"I have some guesses; was it self-destruction?"

"Yes! And thoroughly, without leaving even a trace of the soul!"

"How is that different from suicide?" Shu Jingchu finally understood a little more and continued asking questions.

"There’s a big difference; suicide destroys only the flesh, but your soul remains intact. My self-destruction means annihilating even the soul."

Shu Jingchu was somewhat astonished, murmuring, "But is this something one can do?"

"On one’s own, it’s impossible, because you can only commit suicide once, and the soul remains! So it requires help from others!"

Shu Jingchu suddenly covered her mouth because she finally understood what Jin Shanquan meant.

Help from others... doesn’t that equate to mutual killing!

Jin Shanquan spoke eerily, "That’s right, precisely as you imagined it; we turned against our own."

The room fell silent.

Because it was just too tragic.

To escape the time loop, they didn’t hesitate to annihilate their souls.

This was an extremely cruel act for both the receiver and the executor.

"Due to the time loop’s restrictions, of course, it’s impossible to end everything in one cycle; it’s completed in stages and batches. Finish one person this cycle, two people the next."

"Thus, after enduring the final ten-odd loops, my subordinates were gone, leaving only me and another person!"

"At that point, whoever leaves first has the greatest luck because the one who remains might never find redemption again! After agonizing deliberation, I ended up being the one left behind."

"And that was exactly during the seventeenth thousand four hundred and twenty-first loop!"

"You must be very curious why I am so clear-headed, remembering even how many loops I’ve experienced!"

Shu Jingchu nodded.

Jin Shanquan’s face showed immense irony, "That’s because after I personally ended the life of my only remaining subordinate and closed my eyes, preparing for the next loop to begin, a voice suddenly rang in my ear!"

"The loop is over, a total of seventeen thousand four hundred and twenty-one cycles! Hope you had fun!"

The room was eerily silent.

Shu Jingchu stared in speechless astonishment, and after a long time, she couldn’t help but ask, "And... what then?"

"Then the loop ended!"