This white power, originating from Clourie.
However, Clourie's power alone was insufficient to burn Houging into such a state. Wen Wen had added a small amount of his own strength, thus achieving a similar effect.
Seeing Wen Wen quickly incapacitate Houging, all the Disaster-level monsters charging towards them immediately halted. They realized Wen Wen was not of their caliber.
But their stopping did not mean Wen Wen would cease his attack.
Wen Wen instantly appeared before the astonished Clourie, unleashing countless chains from his hands to bind him. He then conjured dozens of black longswords, slicing Clourie into hundreds of small pieces.
Afterward, Wen Wen scattered these pieces towards the Disaster-level monsters. The monsters swallowed their saliva, picked up Clourie's fragments, and fled at an even faster pace than before.
Engaging Wen Wen in combat and being killed, or taking the spoils and leaving – every Disaster-level monster understood the choice.
The area where Wen Wen stood instantly became deserted. This time, he did not seek out other monsters. They were merely losers. He had an important task to accomplish here.
He found a suitable spot and sat cross-legged in the void.
Following a thunderous roar, a grand gate appeared before Wen Wen.
This was the gate to the fifth layer of the facility. Wen Wen had brought it out separately.
In the past, the facility was absolutely indivisible. But for the current Wen Wen, there were few things he couldn't achieve.
Wen Wen pushed open the gate and stepped inside, one step at a time. The gate then closed directly behind him.
Some monsters, seeing Wen Wen disappear, approached out of curiosity, wishing to study the gate's mystical properties.
However, as soon as their hands touched the gate, a massive claw formed from black smoke extended out, seizing a hand and rapidly draining its power.
The Disaster-level monster hastily severed its own hand, thereby escaping the calamity.
But it soon discovered that such hands were not exclusive to the entrance; these black smoke hands were everywhere around the gate, making it appear exceptionally eerie.
No monster dared to approach this place again…
…
The monsters on the fifth layer were somewhat different from before. The last time Wen Wen visited, he was in the form of a black-robed figure. This time, he resembled an intermediate form between the black-robed figure and Wen Wen.
He suddenly opened his eyes, gazing at the opened gap in the door, and burst into laughter.
"You've finally come. I thought you coward would never dare to enter in your lifetime."
Wen Wen shook his head, "Things must be resolved. You are a great hidden danger, and this cannot be dragged out any longer."
The monster smiled at Wen Wen and said,
"Our powers are completely equal, so you might have to stay here for a long time. Let me introduce myself first. You can call me 'Sin'!"
"This is my name. It is the sin left behind by that fellow, the sin of this world, and the sin of the Primal Earth!"
"I had thought that fellow would find a stronger opponent to send, but I didn't expect it to be you."
"So, what should I call you?"
Wen Wen mused for two seconds, "You can call me, Yog-Sothoth."
Sin's expression gradually collapsed. He then pointed at Wen Wen's nose and cursed, "You clearly are named Wen Wen, why use someone else's name? Do you take me for a fool?"
Wen Wen's eyes darted away. He felt guilty but immediately retorted self-righteously, "Since you already know my name, yet you still ask me, what else can you be but a fool?"
Sin's expression turned cold. Seeing Wen Wen like this, he no longer wished to communicate.
Countless black energies emanated from him, and black chains emerged from his body. Then, a longsword with a black pattern on a red base appeared in his hand, resembling a reversed Blood River Sword in color.
Wen Wen wasted no words. He simultaneously drew the Blood River Sword and charged at Sin, striking downwards.
Their longswords collided. A powerful pressure radiated outward. Several stray sword energies shot out from the gate, scattering far and wide. A unlucky Disaster-level expert hiding in his own territory had his toes severed by this sword energy.
Consequently, these Disaster-level experts retreated even further, daring not to show themselves again, lest they become the next unfortunate one.
The final battle between Wen Wen and Sin thus commenced simply.
Their abilities, energy levels, and even their combat intelligence were completely equal, making it impossible to determine a victor.
Within the fifth layer, energy was abundant, and neither of them faced any issue of energy depletion.
They continued this monotonous combat, for an entire year…
Throughout this lengthy battle, Wen Wen and Sin grew together, and his understanding of Sin deepened.
In the first month, Wen Wen understood what Sin truly was.
As he had said, Sin was the collective embodiment of endless sins. Every form of evil could find its shadow within him.
The black smoke that had pervaded the Federation at that time, borrowed from his power, was the tangible manifestation of Sin.
Each wisp of black smoke represented the totality of a creature's sins.
At that point, Wen Wen believed Sin to be the most evil entity in the world, and defeating him was not just for himself, but for the sake of the world.
By the fifth month, Wen Wen's perception of Sin had slightly shifted.
For although Sin was a monster formed from countless sins, his essence might not have been as inherently evil.
So-called sin was an action. Where there were perpetrators, there were inevitably victims. Where there were thieves, there were those who were stolen from. Where there were murderers, there were those who were killed. Where there were betrayers, there were those who were betrayed.
At this stage, Wen Wen viewed Sin as merely an ordinary enemy. He didn't consider Sin particularly wicked, but he had to defeat him.
By the final two months, Wen Wen suddenly realized he could no longer comprehend Sin.
He seemed to be able to empathize with Sin, to feel his state of mind. Within Sin's soul, he could only perceive endless sorrow and loneliness.
The pain caused by a sinner was far greater than his wickedness.
…
Sin represented the world's wickedness, yet he endured suffering far beyond these transgressions.
During his battle with Wen Wen, his gaze was not focused on Wen Wen but on a more distant point. He seemed to be awaiting something.
He… was praying for death!
Wen Wen found it difficult to imagine such an emotion appearing in a monster like him.
"I won't fight anymore. There's no point in continuing. After all, neither of us can win."
Wen Wen's perception of Sin had greatly changed. He suddenly lost the will to fight. Thus, he repelled Sin hundreds of meters with a single sword stroke, preparing to leave the fifth layer.
This battle had lasted for a year. The barrier of the real world must be close to breaking.