Chapter 546 Midwinter Purging Night I (I forgot to add the picture, please add it again, you can refresh it)
Terra Calendar 1591.1.16.
06:55PM.
The present world·Hell's Kitchen
48th Street and Ninth Avenue·Shapeshifters Batting Club.
In the silence of the night, the perimeter of the Shapeshifters Batting Club suddenly encountered an unusual siege.
In the cold wind of the night, the vehicles of the Administration, decorated with cold badges, were lined up in a row, occupying the streets indifferently, like a harbinger of the coming storm.
On the streets, the Authority's lineup is tight. Their vehicles are like cold iron walls. They not only physically block every exit of the club, but also symbolically mark the authority of the Authority in Hell's Kitchen. boundary.
On the vehicle, the ruthless logo reflects a faint light in the dim light, like a harbinger of the coming night - a vivid red palm symbolizes dominance and control, holding Terra tightly, All set against a stark black background.
The members of the administration surrounding the club are wearing black uniforms that represent authority and order. Their presence makes the surrounding air seem solemn.
But in the club's most luxurious private room, the scene was completely different.
This seems to be another world, in stark contrast to the tense situation outside.
"Lower right corner pocket."
Boom——
Under the soft yellow light, a handsome young man with blond hair and golden eyes was casually playing the game in front of the billiard table. Finally, a black eight ball on the table fell into the bag.
The blond young man was dressed simply and exquisitely, wearing a white shirt and black trousers. His formal jacket, top hat and a gorgeous silver cane were placed casually aside, showing his relaxed attitude towards what was about to happen.
The people around him stood in an attitude of almost awe.
Sometimes their eyes followed the young man's movements, and sometimes they glanced anxiously at the door of the private room, as if they were waiting for a decisive moment to arrive.
“Evan, you lost.”
After Xia Xiu knocked down the ball, he picked up the hand powder box on the frame of the pool table and rubbed it lightly on the cue head. Then he turned around and looked at Special Operator Qingniu, who was standing upright and holding a pole.
"Is this really your first time playing eight-ball? You played very well."
Wearing the iconic black uniform of the Authority, Qing Niu tried to imitate the director's movements, and he also picked up the little hand next to him The powder box rubbed gently on the club while answering the leader's inquiry.
There was a trace of nostalgia in his voice.
“Most of Oletin’s entertainment projects are in the [Mobile City]—whether it is the Sky City suspended above the sky, or the [Orbital City] that is spread across the Oletin continental plate and moves along the track. City]. Most of the imperial farmers live in new rural areas outside the orbital mobile cities. Since they are far away from the city, a single round trip requires a large amount of fuel. Therefore, the main purpose of people going to the city is mostly to buy daily necessities. "Pursue entertainment."
Qingniu's words undoubtedly showed Xia Xiu the unique culture and social structure of the Oletin Empire - a country that relies heavily on technology to move cities, and the lifestyle and entertainment styles and traditions of its residents. Cities are completely different in meaning, and the urban-rural duality is extremely serious.
"Well, if the schedule is sufficient, I should go to the Far East for inspection and support missions."
Xia Xiu put away the rubbed club. After hearing this, Qing Niu raised his head and looked at his leader with expectation and hope in his eyes. He was obviously very concerned about his hometown.
When Evan Rowell heard this, he immediately raised his head, his eyes flashing with obvious expectation and hope. This proposal obviously touched his deep concern for his hometown.
Facing Qingniu’s expectant gaze, the director of the administration couldn’t help but smile. His smile contained the warmth and encouragement of a leader.
“You will lead the group then.”
Xia Xiu didn't mean to be unreasonable when he said this. He had seen the planning cycle of Eden's Kingdom of Heaven plan. As the fourth sword holder of the Kingdom of Heaven, he really needed to go to the Far East front line.
The Far East Campaign is an area that the Kingdom of Heaven must pay attention to. Most of the Knights of the Kingdom of Heaven are deployed in the hot war in the Far East. They need to keep an eye on this key strategic sector; while the Administration is deployed in Between the Edici Federation and the New World in the far west, it is responsible for monitoring the gods outside the territory who came over to stare at the world because of the attraction of the golden tree.
[Wandman Newspaper] has reported that from the perspective of the entire Terra, the Far East has entered a comprehensive local hot war.
[Olive Branch Pact] The member states and the Oletin Empire are completely at odds.
Oletin has made no secret of his desire to expand westward, and the treaty countries do not want to make things easier for the Oletin Empire.
Of course, Qingniu knew that his hometown was in dire straits, so when he heard the leader's words, he replied excitedly:
"Okay."
At the same time, Xia Xiu picked up the An ornately decorated cane was placed next to it. The fine carvings and silver material on the cane reflected the warm light in the room, making it particularly eye-catching.
His eyes then turned to the other important figures present: Pansy Jane, the Secretary General of the Authority, Mole, the special operator, and the young deputy commander Turs.
Most of the operators are dressed in black and have serious expressions.
Except for the "pretentious" Tours, he was wearing a white sweatshirt, sweatpants, and canvas shoes, which formed a sharp contrast with the serious atmosphere around him.
After Xia Xiu briefly looked at everyone in the room, his eyes fell on the clock on the wall inadvertently, seeming to be silently estimating the time in his mind.
The "snooker competition" he estimated is about to begin.
While Xia Xiu was checking the time, the silver cane in his hand inadvertently tapped on his palm, as if quietly summoning some kind of change while strolling in the courtyard.
As he gently tapped his open palm, the cane began to show its true magic. It gradually deformed and slowly evolved into a shining silver snooker cue.
It is decorated with complex yet elegant patterns, like the most dazzling stars in the night sky.
The moment Xia Xiu easily transformed his cane into a snooker cue, the atmosphere in the private room suddenly solidified, and everyone's eyes were focused on the blond young man. Tours, who was originally in a relaxed atmosphere, couldn't help but feel an inexplicable nervousness after witnessing the amazing transformation of the cane. His hair stood on end, and he unconsciously adjusted his posture and became serious.
Everyone's eyes were irresistibly attracted. What they saw was no longer an ordinary cane, but an existence full of terror and mystery.
The pattern on the surface of the cane began to twist, as if it had a life of its own, slowly walking on the cane.
These patterns, originally elegant and complex, now seem to be telling some ancient and evil secrets. There seems to be some kind of power hidden between them that is difficult to see directly. Looking at this club, everyone felt an indescribable fear in their hearts, as if something in the dark and deep pattern was watching them, through their souls.
They saw that the universe began to shrink, and traces of time and space distortion appeared in the universe.
In this twisted universe, a huge, cosmic-scale snooker cue suddenly appeared in the void.
With unimaginable force, this club smashed a bumpy satellite into an unspeakable monster. The monster seemed to be a nightmare from the edge of the universe.
They saw the stars shining brightly, but then they fell one after another, blooming like fireworks and then faded into nothingness. In this chaotic universe, time and space seem to have lost their meaning, and everything is being violently distorted.
Suddenly, a huge cow-shaped creature appeared in everyone's sight.
Its body is extremely huge, its iron hooves crush the stars, and the earthquake shakes the mountains.
Its appearance brought destruction and chaos, and the planet turned into dust under its iron hooves, as if all order in the universe collapsed under its feet.
Packing——
A clear sound sounded, which was the sound of the club contacting Xia Xiu's palm. It was this clearing sound that pulled everyone out of the illusion.
The cold sweat on the forehead reminded everyone present that they had just seen some unspeakable horrific scene. Their eyes seemed to be escaping to avoid the "snooker cue" in the hands of the blond young man. Turning to look at the other party's warm smiling face.
Xia Xiu had already walked to the billiard table again at this time. His eyes fell on Qingniu, and there was a hint of playfulness in his tone:
"Enough playing black eight. Look at the time, it's time to play a game of black eight. "Evan, do you know how to play snooker?"
Qingniu was a little confused by the sudden attention and inquiry, but he quickly adjusted his state and answered honestly. : "I don't quite understand..."
As [Grey People] from the new countryside of the Oletin Empire, they rarely have time even if they go to [Orbital City] to study at university or work. Contact entertainment.
It’s not that they can’t afford it, but that most people really don’t have time.
Evan Rowell did not go to college and does not work in the city, so he has little exposure to entertainment.
I also learned the black eight of billiards just now when I played with the director. It is quite easy when I say it. I use 16 balls, including a white hitting ball (cue ball) and solid colors from No. 1 to No. 7. balls, striped balls numbered 9 to 15, and a black ball numbered 8.
After teeing off, players determine their group based on the first legally bagged ball (solid or striped). If no ball is hit on the kickoff, it is the opponent's turn until a player hits a ball of a specific group. Players alternate shots, and each shot must hit the ball of their own group first.
If a ball of his own group is successfully pocketed with one shot, the player can continue to hit the ball until he fails to pocket the ball of his own group.
After a player has hit all the balls in his category, he must legally hit the 8 ball in one shot to win.
The shot that hits the No. 8 ball must declare the pocket, that is, the player must clearly indicate which pocket the No. 8 ball will be hit into, which is what Xia Xiu said at the beginning.
A very simple activity, but also an activity that tests skills and strategies.
Qing Niu believes that no matter who fights with his leader, there is no need to consider human relations, because the leader is really strong. Even if both parties disable extraordinary abilities, the leader is still strong.
“Evan, I prefer snooker to black eight because it has more strategies and more techniques.”
While Xia Xiu was talking, he had already arranged fifteen red balls into a triangle and six colored balls at designated locations.
“15 red balls, 6 colored balls, hit one red ball and one colored ball. After the red ball is scored, it is no longer taken out, but after the colored ball is scored, it must be taken out again and placed in the spot. , after the red ball is played, the colored balls are played in order, and whoever gets the most points in the end wins - the red ball is worth 1 point each, the yellow ball is worth 2 points, the green ball is 3 points, the brown ball is 4 points, and the blue ball is worth 4 points. The ball is worth 5 points, the pink ball is worth 6 points, and the black ball is worth 7 points.
When hitting colored balls, the referee must be informed of the target. Points will be deducted if the colored balls are not hit in order. Players hit the balls in order from low to high scores. At this time, the balls will not come back into play.
The main purpose of hitting the ball is to accumulate more points than the opponent. Points can be obtained by hitting the ball into the bag and the opponent's foul. When all the balls are hit into the bag, the player with the higher score wins if one side's score leads before the black ball is hit into the bag. The team with the remaining ball points wins.”
He looked at the clock. The time was [06:59].
“Every time when making a decision, people are more inclined to maximize their interests. After the kick-off, they try their best to pocket the black ball, pray for the enemy to make a mistake, and hit the white ball to a position where it is difficult to attack. . ”
Xia Xiu’s palm easily wraps around the silver ornate snooker cue, with his thumb and index finger gently forming a perfect ring, and the other fingers naturally supporting the cue, which is a standard grip. The other palm is flat on the green velvet of the table, and the fingers are spread out gracefully, forming a stable "bridge". The club passes between the index finger and middle finger. This posture gives him a better shot. Brings greater stability and precise control.
“The family of Whispering Square thinks that they can move the white ball to a safe position. Do they think that the Administration and my hands will never touch the safe zone they made?”
Xia Xiu He did not hide the cold and unusual sneer on his face.
People around him couldn't help but stare wide-eyed because of the three haloes like mutton-fat white jade behind the blond young man.
These three haloes exuded a terrifying intimidation, almost suffocating the people around them.
“Those idiots think that with [Boundary Wedge], they can be unscrupulous by asking for seven holy objects from the gods of the Golden Court?”
“They still don’t understand one thing—— Once the ball kicks off, no matter where the white ball is placed, the game will not stop."
At that moment, Xia Xiu deeply felt the crazy flow of EVE energy, elements, and authority in his body.
It was an indescribable feeling, as if there were thousands of voices whispering in his ears. They were the "recipients" from the Whispering Square. She was praying to him and asking him for strength.
At that moment, Xia Xiu seemed to have become a bridge connecting mortals and gods. His body turned into a huge container, constantly delivering power to those who prayed.
Xia Xiu's response to the voice praying to him was firm and clear - take it, as much as you want.
"I have already given the Whispering Square a choice. Now, I can only tell them that time is running out~"
Boom——
The front end of the silver cue lightly touched the white ball, and with a crisp impact, the fifteen red balls scattered as if by magic, marking the beginning of this "snooker game".
**********
Time returns to the Whispering Square five minutes ago.
At this sacred and epic moment, other messengers of the Lady of the Night - the Dark Tentacle Monster, the Dead Eye Tyrant and the mysterious Shadow Monster also appeared on the edge of the terrace. They are both messengers and guards, and more. She is the practitioner of Lady Dark Night’s will.
They surround the dark tendrils, forming an invisible barrier to protect Eric while performing the ritual, while also demonstrating the power and majesty of the Lady of the Night to all creatures present.
The first thing that appeared were the dark tentacle monsters. Their bodies were composed of countless black tentacles. These tentacles were constantly twisting and stretching in the air, as if they could touch any corner. The end of each tentacle is surrounded by a purple halo, giving people a feeling of mystery and terror.
Dark tentacle monsters float in silence. They don't say a word, but use their invisible tentacles to lock the surrounding space tightly, making it impossible to escape their surveillance.
Then the figure of the Dead Eye Tyrant slowly emerged. These undead eye demons are famous for their huge single eyes and small eyes floating around them.
The giant eye in their center emits a cold light, while the small eyes rotate around, each eye releasing different magical energy.
The Dead Eye Tyrants move slowly in the air, and their appearance makes the surrounding air seem to freeze. Any creature that tries to get close to the altar will face their ruthless sanctions.
Holding the sacred blessing, he held up the spear of darkness, like a hero in an epic poem, and said loudly to the crowd, other family heads, and the rebels:
"Everyone, there are some possessors in the world. Ambitious people, if they feel that there is a path for personal promotion and they are often moving forward, then they will risk everything, eliminate all dangers on the journey, be brave and malicious, and strive to climb up. But if their desire for career is hindered. If there is a certain degree of obstruction, they will have ulterior motives and resentment, and will look at people and things with a vicious eye."
Countless lights shine on Eric, and he begins to feel like a destined hero. A speech like that.
“Yes, that person is the fourth sword-holder in the Kingdom of Heaven, the director of the Administration.”
“Hugh Abraham, along the way, he has had the blood of many innocent people on his hands. Blood, he is a demon, he is the incarnation of disaster. Wherever he passes, there are corpses and devastation everywhere!”
"Why should we listen to him and the Kingdom of Heaven!"
"Everyone, don't listen to the Kingdom of Heaven, don't listen to any word from the abyss -"
"They decide what to do with our Life, they can declare war at will and then ask us to protect their results with our flesh and blood. Why should we harm ourselves to protect the interests of others? Why should they interfere in our business?" br>
We manage our world because it is our world, our business. We must unite closely and resist external interference. Otherwise they would put nose rings on us. "
"Everyone, we should unite! ! ! ”
"We are the people of the Golden Court. Although our races are different, we must unite in the face of powerful enemies!"
Eric Darkweaver, the leader of the Shadow Intertwined Family, standing in the Whispering Square In the center, his figure looked particularly solemn in the night. As he spoke, the air was filled with an indescribable power. The spear he held high seemed to be a symbol of the chosen one, and every word he spoke aroused enthusiastic responses from the surrounding crowd, and their cheers were like waves.
Amidst the thunderous cheers, Eric walked slowly and firmly, holding the spear that symbolized the power of the Lady of the Night tightly in his hand, facing the betrayer standing in full view of the public, with ever-changing chemical engineering The leader of the Fang family walked slowly. Every step seemed heavy and full of meaning. His figure was elongated under the light of the torch, as if he was the messenger of justice and destiny, coming to judge those traitors who had deviated from their principles and beliefs.
Under Eric's gaze, the leader of the ever-changing workshop family seems to have become an abandoned son on an isolated island, and all evasions and excuses will have nowhere to hide.
In a shady corner of the open square, as Eric walked toward the leader of the Everchanging Factory Family, his passionate speech echoed in the air, winning cheers and support from everyone.
At this time, a figure with rabbit ears and a stern face quietly appeared.
He took out a CD from the depths of his robe, on which was engraved the image of a golden giant, shining with a mysterious and incredible light.