Apocalyptic Wasteland Simulator-Chapter 319 - 314: The Past

The obsidian mecha was battered beyond repair. After Yang Jian had fully fused with this battle armor, his power had naturally risen to level nine. He was even known to the world as the War Knight, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, a title that spoke volumes about his might. Yet, despite his formidable strength, he couldn't withstand a single move from Chen Pingchuan and had lost his ability to fight in an instant.

"Who are you, really?"

Before Yang Jian had arrived, the intel he received stated that this destroyer was a Demon God from another world, whose sole purpose was to annihilate this realm. Initially, he hadn't thought much of it, but now, faced with his opponent's power, Yang Jian could no longer doubt the rumors. Most importantly, not even a super-nuclear weapon had been able to faze the man in the slightest.

Is there truly anyone in this world who can stop him?

As Yang Jian stared at Chen Pingchuan with terror-stricken eyes, his mind raced with countless thoughts. Suddenly, he remembered Chen Pingchuan's words.

Brother-in-law? You… you are…

Yang Jian was in disbelief. There was only one person who would call him that.

He couldn't help but recall his childhood. At the time, he belonged to the mechanical faction of Celestial Palace One, but he was not yet the War Knight. His rise to become the Second Palace Master was all thanks to the help of a mysterious benefactor.

It was a bitterly cold night, with desolation and bleakness permeating the city's streets. Yang Jian curled up in a shabby corner, looking utterly pathetic. He had failed the mechanical battle armor inheritance trial that day. He couldn't remember how many times he had failed and had lost all hope for the future.

Just as he was on the brink of despair, a strange light flashed, and a mysterious figure appeared before him. Yang Jian looked up in terror. It was a person cloaked in pitch-black. He seemed like someone who didn't belong to this world, radiating a gentle yet mysterious glow.

Seeing Yang Jian's state, the figure squatted down and gently patted him on the shoulder. A wave of warmth instantly surged through Yang Jian's body, revitalizing his frozen form.

"Such intense emotional traits at such a young age."

"It seems you have great potential!"

"Look at me. From today on, you are a peerless prodigy."

The mysterious figure spoke with a smile, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable force. He then waved his hand, and a ray of light entered Yang Jian's body.

Instantly, Yang Jian felt a powerful energy surging within him. His mind became incredibly clear, and his perception of his surroundings grew much sharper. Not only that, but his spirit had become strangely powerful, enabling him to sense everything nearby with his mind—everything except for the mysterious person standing before him.

Yang Jian's eyes widened in disbelief, as if he were living in a fantasy.

"Little guy, there will come a day when I need you to help someone. I don't know their name, but I'm sure you will when the time comes."

After speaking these cryptic words, the mysterious man stepped into a black wormhole and vanished. From that day on, Yang Jian's life was completely transformed.

Relying on the mysterious power Chen Pingchuan had given him, he gradually made his mark on the world. He joined the Demon-Vanquishing Celestial Soldiers, and with his superhuman abilities, he was promoted rapidly. By a stroke of luck, he acquired the obsidian Heaven-Supporting Mecha and successfully fused with it. His power broke through to level nine, and he became the War Knight of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, admired by all.

Yet, centuries passed, and he remained a nearly invincible existence in the mortal realm. But the person the mysterious man said would need his help never appeared.

Later, his third sister found her Heaven's Chosen, even falling out with their eldest sister over him. Yang Jian now felt that this suddenly-appeared brother-in-law was perhaps the very person he had been waiting for all along.

「Now」

The man was calling him "Brother-in-law."

Without letting Yang Jian ask another question, Chen Pingchuan retracted the facial covering of his Demon God Battle Armor. The pitch-black, menacing mask dissolved like writhing flesh, revealing an incredibly handsome face. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Yang Jian stared intently, his pupils constricting. All his doubts vanished in an instant. He finally confirmed that the person before him was indeed Xia Qingxue's Heaven's Chosen, because he had seen Chen Pingchuan's photograph before.

"So, it's you…" Yang Jian murmured, his eyes a mixture of shock and complexity.

Although they had never met, based on the information from the Dark Department, Yang Jian found it hard to imagine. How could this boy, exiled by his eldest sister to Kailing Province with his every move monitored, appear here in such a manner?

"Brother-in-law, I'm not mistaken, am I?" Chen Pingchuan said with a slight smile, a hint of familiarity in his eyes.

It's our first meeting, so why does he feel so familiar? Yang Jian couldn't figure it out. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm in his heart.

"Are you really the world-destroying demon they speak of…?" Yang Jian's words trailed off, unsure how to continue.

Looking at the corpse-filled pits left by the nuclear bombardment, Yang Jian's expression turned grim. He gazed at the devastated landscape and swallowed the rest of his words.

"I am."

Chen Pingchuan's admission made Yang Jian's heart sink. He knew that if Chen Pingchuan was truly a Demon God with such invincible power, the entire world would be plunged into a state of eternal damnation.

"Do you really want to destroy the world?"

Chen Pingchuan shook his head helplessly. Just as Yang Jian was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he spoke again.

"Why would I destroy the world? I'm just going to let it run a different way."

Chen Pingchuan's teasing tone made Yang Jian grow even more silent.

"Why?" Yang Jian looked at Chen Pingchuan, his gaze filled with an indescribable meaning.

Chen Pingchuan knew exactly what he was thinking: if their conversation went south, Yang Jian might just self-destruct. After all, he had tried such a tactic in the last simulation.

Chen Pingchuan gently patted his shoulder, and a dark energy filled with destruction and despair invaded Yang Jian's battle armor.

Yang Jian felt an instant chill envelop him. The energy system within the armor was thrown into chaos, as if caught in a terrifying storm. He looked at Chen Pingchuan in terror but saw no malice in his eyes. The dark energy, after invading the armor, did not continue its destruction. Instead, it seemed to be conducting some kind of transformation.

"You… what are you doing?" Yang Jian's voice was steady, but he was filled with vigilance.

Chen Pingchuan withdrew his hand and smiled. "Brother-in-law, don't be nervous. I was afraid you might do something reckless. Besides, even if you blew yourself up, you couldn't hurt me, so there's no need for such a pointless sacrifice."

Yang Jian was skeptical, but he could feel the unfamiliar yet potent power inside his armor, and his heart was a tempest of emotions.

"So, what now? Are you going to imprison me? Torture me? Or are you going to let me go?"