Worlds’ Apocalypse Online

Aboul.

After Triste was captured, Ilya immediately summoned the Kingdom's army before anything else.

With the might of the entire Bramble Bird Kingdom's army, they had fully retaken control of the renowned resort hotel.

Currently, Aboul was nothing short of a fully reinforced iron fortress.

The audience with the Empress was now in progress.

Gu Qing Shan released his inner sight to follow Barry and Kitty into the great hall.

Due to the sheer number of people, only Lord-class Combatants and world leaders were able to enter the audience hall.

But the Bramble Birds didn't restrict the use of any clairvoyance techniques to observe the ceremony in the hall.

In fact, the event within the audience hall was being broadcasted live to countless worlds within the 900 million World Layers.

The Mystic Zones were true to its namesake.

Not only were people curious about this area in general, but they also were curious about what kind of treasures the Bramble Bird Empress would grant as rewards.

Empress Laura held a scepter as she sat on the throne, appearing graceful and elegant.

The Combatants whose names were called would come in front of Laura to receive her commendations and praise.

If both sides had no relations, the person called would only need to slightly bow to greet her.

But if they had frequent relations with the Bramble Bird, and they knew Laura, those Combatants would actively kneel down on one knee to greet her.

The ceremony was being conducted quickly and orderly, Laura's performance was exemplary without a fault to be found.

She would always be able to greet each Combatant with appropriate words that stayed true to courtesy------- of course Ilya might be behind to help her, but as a sovereign, who wouldn't have an aide?

Once the commendations were over, Ilya came out.

She retold the story of how everything happened to the masses.

About how Triste had betrayed the royal family and murdered the king.

About how Laura had hidden herself.

How Ilya herself entered Triste's world and discovered the spread of [Kindling].

And finally, how she had used some sort of treasure to set up and ambush and eliminated 2 million demonized people at once.

Without anyone to carry it, [Kindling] died off.

------indeed, Ilya had murdered 2 million demonized people, but no one there blamed her for it.

The moment someone decided to surrender themselves to the embrace of the [Demon King Order], they stood against the 900 million World Layers as a whole.

According to their experience in the past, the demonized would kill living beings of the worlds to enable their fast growth, but they won't obey any rules or laws of the 900 million World Layers, causing nothing but headaches.

They were the source of disruption to the rule and order of society and organizations everywhere!

No Combatants or organization would feel any empathy towards those who chose to become demonized!

As for those who weren't demonized, risking their lives to go against the lure of [Kindling] and ended up killed by the demonized people would be statistically recorded by Ilya using soul-summoning techniques on a later date.

For these people, the Bramble Bird Kingdom would provide ample compensations to make sure that relatives of the dead will be able to live their entire lives without financial worry.

Once that was over.

Triste and her accomplices were brought forward.

Ilya came in front of the throne, knelt on one knee and spoke: "Your majesty, please pass your judgment"

Laura nodded.

When she received the Combatants, she had been maintaining a graceful and polite smile the entire time.

But now, her entire presence can only be described as "cold".

"Triste's accomplices are to be directly executed"

"Yes"

Following the Empress' orders, the royal guards who followed Triste and knowingly helped her catch Laura were beheaded on the spot.

Corpses fell one by one.

"Your majesty, only Triste is left" Ilya reported.

"Torture" Laura coldly spat out.

"Yes" Ilya responded.

From the void of space, the Saint Bramble Tree's branches began to appear.

Through Triste's fearful and desperate screams, countless tiny vines pierced through her from the top of her head.

The vines slowly slithered and filled her body, blooming flowers from her skin.

This was an inhumane pain.

Those who are subjected to this punishment would receive twice as much pain, from both their body and soul, suffering through every second of every minute without end.

Enough that they wouldn't even be able to form a single thought.

All those who were watching in the 900 million World Layers felt cold sweat dripping down.

Because the one executing this punishment was the Saint Bramble Tree itself.

Within the 900 million World Layers, no one could go against this great tree.

------and no one could resist its punishment.

While everyone was still gulping at Triste's heavy punishment, the Bramble Bird Empress said the words that caused everyone to shiver again.

"Ilya, make sure that this punishment continues for the next 1000 years without stopping"

"Understood" Ilya replied, "then what about after 1000 years?"

"After 1000 years, another punishment will be given out"

"As you will, your majesty"

At that moment, the whole 900 million World Layers fell silent.

Those whose benefits were damaged or directly hurt didn't have any word to say as they saw Triste's terrible state.

Their first reaction was fulfilment on seeing a villain punished.

The second reaction was fear.

True fear------ constant torture for 1000 years, not allowed to die, and even after that they will be subjected to another punishment and possibly tortured even further, who wouldn't fear such a horrifying end?

From this moment onwards, the name of the Bramble Bird Empress was spread around the 900 million World Layers under two different versions, the epitome of generosity, and uncaringly cold-blooded.

After Triste's sentence, the audience with the Bramble Bird Empress ended.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, Empress Laura was surrounded by the Bramble Bird officials and guards as she left the hall.

For the Bramble Bird, this matter ended here.

They brought their new Empress back to the Mystic Zones on the Bramble Birds flagship.

For the participants of the war, this war ended in victory.

Aboul fell into a celebratory mood.

On the rowdy and festive plaza, Gu Qing Shan watched as the seemingly unending fleet of ships flew across Aboul's sky and disappeared into faraway space.

That was the Bramble Bird's military fleet.

Laura was there.

It wasn't until Gu Qing Shan couldn't see anything anymore did he stop watching.

He sighed.

From today onwards, that little girl will move forward on her own.

And before I become much, much stronger, I won't be able to help her with anything.

"Hah, Gu Qing Shan"

Someone called out to him from behind.

When Gu Qing Shan looked back, it was Kitty.

As soon as she and Barry left the audience hall, they went to find Gu Qing Shan.

"Why aren't you drinking with the others? I thought you'd be enjoying the booze right about now" Kitty asked.

"Ah, I'm not really in the mood----- are we going to stay here or return straight away?" Gu Qing Shan asked.

"There's something urgent so we need to go back to the club right away" Barry answered him

"Something urgent?" Gu Qing Shan was surprised.

Now that the war is over, everything should've already ended, what else is urgent?

"That's right, something very urgent"

Saying so, Barry and Kitty exchanged looks and smiled mysteriously.

"We're leaving now" Kitty shook the ring on her finger, showing it off to Gu Qing Shan: "I can bring you both back right away"

Grabbing both Barry and Gu Qing Shan, she chanted a short incantation.

Sha!

The three of them disappeared from Aboul.

Super Dimensional world.

The Iron Fist Club.

Three figures appeared from midair, landing on the ground.

Gu Qing Shan regained his balance and looked around.

The world was silent.

Just like before, the club was empty without any people.

Even as he sent his inner sight into the club to look around, he found nothing of interest.

"Why did we need to return so urgently?" Gu Qing Shan couldn't help but ask.

Barry carefully took out an intricate small box.

"This was silently given to me by one of the royal guards when we were leaving after the audience was over" he said.