Chapter 499 A Turning Point

Chapter 499: A Catalyst

"The reason I refer to those beings as 'them' isn't just because I want to stand by your side and protect you." A serious look crossed Wu Hang's youthful face, though what he said was reassuring.

However, this also reminded Su Bai that the Wu Hang before him, the "Lord Ghost Witch" mentioned by the administrator, the great puppeteer spoken of by the Fog City Lord, was not part of the human faction but rather one of the Eerie Entities.

But Wu Hang clearly wasn't siding with "them" at the moment.

"The other reason I'm not on their side is actually quite simple: their experiments have never gained the support of all 'people.' This is perfectly normal." Wu Hang spread his hands with an air of matter-of-factness. "Although they do possess immense influence and terrifying power, and in this dog-eat-dog world under the red moon, they can indeed use their overwhelming force to compel about eighty percent of the Eerie Entities and the surviving Remnant Races..."

"But the world still has that remaining twenty percent, beings who also possess formidable power, their own territories, and even their own factions. Because these beings have sufficient strength and aren't so easily cowed by their power, 'they' have tried various methods to coerce and entice them, hoping all beings under the red moon would join them and continue the experiments together..."

"Unfortunately, not all 'people' favor their experiments. In fact, not all 'people' even wish for the red moon to continue existing." Wu Hang recounted the behind-the-scenes story of the Nightmare World, one unknown to Su Bai, in a calm tone.

"Most of the time, as long as these beings aren't disturbed by 'them,' they don't intend to interfere with 'their' experiments. After all, 'their' power is truly terrifying, and few 'people' under the red moon are keen to go looking for trouble."

"'They' call themselves the Red Moon Association, and their leader calls himself the Lord of the Red Moon."

"The power of the Red Moon Association is indeed terrifyingly vast, but that world isn't made up of only the Red Moon Association."

"Quite a straightforward name." Su Bai wasn't surprised by their naming convention. The Red Moon Association Wu Hang spoke of thought very highly of themselves. So even if they would become fish out of water after losing the red moon, it didn't stop them from considering themselves the saviors of the red moon.

"So, you mean although the Red Moon Association's influence is very powerful, it's just one faction among many in the Nightmare World? There are other factions in that world that ignore them or are even hostile to them?"

Wu Hang nodded and continued, "However, even those hostile to them rarely dare to actively provoke them before the Red Moon Association truly takes action. There aren't any righteous champions charging ahead under the red moon either. Most beings simply choose to live peacefully within their own territories, completely uninterested in the fate of the world or the end of the red moon."

"Though many 'people' have long harbored grievances against the Red Moon Association's actions."

"Sounds like the Red Moon Association doesn't exactly leave them in peace either." Perhaps because he knew the Red Moon Association was the faction opposing humanity, Su Bai was quite pleased to hear some unfavorable news about them.

"Humans and mermaids aren't the Red Moon Association's only test subjects. Besides humans and the nearly depleted mermaid race, the Red Moon Association has many ongoing observation targets."

"Although there's still some time before the red moon perishes, the Red Moon Association has no confidence they can truly create a fixed point in time. If they truly cannot stop the red moon's demise, returning to the past when the red moon existed and traveling to other worlds unaffected by the red moon are also their backup plans."

"Precisely because of this, Eerie Entities and Remnant Races possessing the ability to return to the past or travel between different worlds are all observation targets of the Red Moon Association. Their every action is watched."

At this point, Wu Hang's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

"So you..." In that moment, Su Bai understood many things. He understood why Wu Hang had appeared by his side in various forms yet never revealed his true nature. He even understood the source of the troubles Lord Ghost Witch encountered, as mentioned by "Xiao Wu."

"Not just me. Su Xuan is too."

"And many other 'people' dissatisfied with the Red Moon Association are as well."

"If a special catalyst were to appear, perhaps the power generated by these 'people' gathering together could have an impact on the Red Moon Association."

"That seems utterly impossible." Su Bai shook his head. "This isn't some story where justice ultimately triumphs over evil. Where would such a thrilling, rallying scene come from? The fact that the twenty percent of beings you mentioned aren't involved in the Red Moon Association's experiments is already good news. How could there possibly be any catalyst to bring them together?"

"Perhaps."

"But perhaps such a catalyst truly exists... a catalyst protected by layers upon layers..."

Wu Hang's voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, becoming almost inaudible even to Su Bai.