Apocalypse Forecast Chapter 81: Abyss Genealogy First Stage Stigmata Deluxe Collector's Edition Version 2.0!

Huai Shi jumped in surprise, tore open his collar, and fumbled at his chest.
Right in the center of Huai Shi's chest, a round hole the size of a mug had appeared out of nowhere. Yet, he could not see any internal organs or muscles through it.
Just a gaping darkness.
Like a crack leading to the abyss.
Huai Shi mustered his courage and reached inside to probe. It felt as if he were exploring his own body from the inside, yet he touched no organs or bones.
It was as if he were a person without a heart.
A cool, heavy texture, like dark and cold liquid ammonia, was present in every corner deep within the gap.
"Here, drink this and calm down."
Wu Ya handed him a glass of well-chilled cola. She had even kindly inserted a straw.
"Oh, thanks."
Huai Shi took a sip or two on impulse, then suddenly came to his senses and glared at Wu Ya, who had returned to her crow form at some point.
"Did you do this?!"
"You signed for it, didn't you?"
Wu Ya looked at Huai Shi innocently.
"You asked if I would make a key, didn't you? I answered that I would, so I gave it to you... Besides, you have to get used to your own Stigmata. Otherwise, what will you do from here on out?"
"Stigmata?"
Huai Shi was stunned and pointed at the large hole in his chest.
"Is this hole what you call a Stigmata?"
"That's right."
Wu Ya spread her wings and explained triumphantly.
"The Abyss Genealogy First Stage Stigmata: Yin Soul Deluxe Collector's Edition Version 2.0!"
"Abyss? Yin Soul? Deluxe Collector's Edition?"
Huai Shi felt dizzy and couldn't move for a long time.
"What country's genealogy is the Abyss Genealogy? Yin Soul? Isn't that just a ghost!"
"That's right. It's designed to be easy for an unlucky person like you to use. So you don't have to rely on me feeding you medicine."
Wu Ya looked at Huai Shi with a worried expression, like a parent sending a naive child out into the world.
Huai Shi closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then grabbed Wu Ya and held his summoned axe to her neck.
"I'll give you a chance to rephrase that. What exactly is this?"
"Ah..." Wu Ya darted her eyes around. "It's a long story."
"Then make it short!"
"Simply put, it's a Stigmata specialized for survival in the frontier and exploration of the abyss, created by combining the most typical aspects of ghost legends from around the world just for you. It's perfect for you!"
"How is this perfect?"
Huai Shi opened his eyes wide.
"Before, you were a negative energy generator, right?"
Wu Ya raised her wings and drew numbers in the air.
"Now you're two!"
Huai Shi was angry.
"That's the same as before!"
"The efficiency has increased! Output is up, get it?"
Wu Ya retorted.
"Isn't it like a water pistol turning into a cannon? Isn't it like a rotary phone evolving into a smartphone? How does it feel? Ready to ascend? I worked sleeplessly to make this for you. I went through so much trouble to save your life, and you don't even have a word of thanks. Did a dog eat your conscience?!"
Wu Ya glared at Huai Shi. Huai Shi suddenly felt insecure and looked down. Wu Ya was puffing out her chest proudly. And she smelled like pizza when she talked!
Can you stop using me as a test subject?
"Fine. I'll forgive you. It's a big deal anyway."
While Huai Shi was stunned, Wu Ya slipped out of his hands and flapped her wings magnanimously.
"If you apologize, I'll let it slide."
Apologize, my foot!
Huai Shi rolled his eyes and looked at the large hole in his chest. It felt like something strange might come out of it.
"Don't worry. That won't happen."
Wu Ya tossed a thick book at him.
"Here. A manual I prepared for you. It's not among the currently public genealogies, but since I poured my heart and blood into it, I can guarantee its effectiveness, if nothing else. This unofficial Stigmata has no upgrade path or options for higher-level Stigmata. At first, there's only one path. If things go poorly, it might cut off halfway. But there are two or three good points. Especially the ability to move freely within the same genealogy. I've made the compatible range as wide as possible. Whether domestic or foreign, no matter the genealogy, as long as it's a negative-attribute Stigmata, you can advance and develop in any direction..."
Huai Shi was startled.
"Like a universal adapter?"
"Can't you put it more nicely?"
Wu Ya rolled her eyes at Huai Shi.
"Be grateful for my great kindness. The best thing would be to kowtow a few times and shout, 'I am your slave for life.'"
Huai Shi ignored her.
But he understood most of what she was saying.
In terms of versatility alone, it was top-tier.
Different genealogies are as different as zebras and monkeys.
Even giants are different; Argus and the Titans are completely separate. Undying birds like the Phoenix and the Fenghuang are also entirely different.
Advancing across genealogies, or even changing paths within the same genealogy, carries extreme danger—changing paths for advancement is something only those with no other choice would consider.
For example, the Dongxia Genealogy, which is currently recognized as one of the genealogies with the most options, has several branches. There are over fourteen completed paths of sublimation alone.
Attack type, Defense type, Support type, and rear-guard support type...
In other words, if you choose that genealogy, provided you have the talent, power, and potential, it's as if paths from the first to the fifth floor are already prepared for you.
With fourteen routes, surely one would suit you.
This is the unity and centripetal force of a major genealogy. In comparison, minor genealogies lack complete paths of sublimation, have few sublimators, and lack the money, status, and people to develop and research hell to complement the genealogy.
Most 'savages' try to buy Stigmata without the help of an organization, fearing nothing as they experiment, or they pay to become members of a large organization. One wrong step, and they are stuck, unable to go forward or back, suffering, and if they are unlucky, they die.
The Yin Soul that Wu Ya refined left plenty of room for choice in future plans. He could continue working for the Astronomical Society, or if he got tired of selling his life, he could quit; he wouldn't be stuck no matter how he proceeded.
As long as it's a Yin-attribute Stigmata, he can connect to any of them.
The implantation method felt a bit like he'd been tricked, though...
"Of course, if possible, I want you to advance in the Abyss Genealogy."
Wu Ya suggested.
"It would be a waste of your potential if you chose just any genealogy."
Huai Shi pretended not to hear her, thinking to himself. I'll find a Stigmata that suits me in a while and have a proper advancement.
The Abyss Genealogy doesn't sound orthodox... If it's found out, I'll probably get beaten to a pulp. I'll look into it carefully later.
However, although it sounded creepy, the feeling was very good.
Huai Shi moved his body. Beneath his pale skin, his muscles contracted and expanded, producing unexpected power.
When his growth period ended, Huai Shi thought his strength had reached its limit, but after the Stigmata was implanted, he was even more powerful.
It was truly like a water pistol turning into a cannon.
"Anyway, congratulations, Huai Shi. Advancement successful, congratulations, congratulations."
Wu Ya tilted her head to look at Huai Shi and said seriously.
"Since long ago, humanity has sought power. There are reasons to seek power, but no reason not to. After all, power, like money, is one of the currencies necessary to live in this world. And now you have obtained power. What do you intend to do from here?"
"What do you mean, what do I intend to do?"
Huai Shi was stunned.
"I mean, your ideal life plan."
Wu Ya said.
"The reasons for seeking power vary from person to person, but life after obtaining power is the same for everyone. In other words, no matter how you start, you end up 'doing whatever you want.' So, what do you want to do now that you have power?"
Huai Shi thought seriously before saying.
"Get money and women?"
"Ha!"
Wu Ya laughed mockingly, patted Huai Shi's shoulder hard, and praised him.
"You have no ambition."
"Then... world domination?"
Wu Ya nodded.
"If you work hard, you can do it."
"Immortality?"
"Isn't that exhausting?"
Wu Ya said.
"You shouldn't just pursue the path of immortality, you also need to obtain a relaxed life after immortality. Even the current gods, despite having a thousand-year lifespan, go crazy and die, don't they? There are few who can die peacefully..."
From beginning to end, Wu Ya did not oppose Huai Shi's suggestions, nor did she take the attitude that 'that is impossible to achieve.'
As if there were no such thing as 'impossible'...
Huai Shi thought for a while and said.
"Then, living happily ever after?"
Wu Ya fell silent.
After a while, she sighed pityingly.
"That's difficult."
Wu Ya said.
"Huai Shi, that is very difficult."
It is harder than immortality, more troublesome than world domination, and more luxurious than money and beautiful women. A so-called happy life is, in the first place, like a dream.
"Then shall I try?"
Huai Shi laughed.
"The harder it is, the more worth it is to strive for, right?"
However, the immediate priority is not those things.
It is how to resolve this turmoil in Xinhai and beat that idiot Qi Yuan to death.
Huai Shi listened to the roaring sound coming from afar. The entire city was faintly covered in dark waves. Huai Shi tilted his head, swung his arm, and shouldered his axe.
"Alright. Once I finish off Qi Yuan and those lunatics of the Guijing people, I'll go back and think about a happy life at my leisure."
Huai Shi looked around and asked Wu Ya.
"Do you want to see how my journey ends?"
"I will see it through to the end."

Translator's Note:
The 'ideal life' Q&A between Huai Shi and Wu Ya is a scene I really like.
"Apocalypse Forecast" is a so-called web novel, a light novel, and a thrilling fantasy novel, but there are passages that make you stop and think while reading.