At this moment, in the Central Dojo of Chaos City, Gu Chuan sat in the Lotus Position, a book materializing before him. This was the Book of Grotesques. He had incarnated countless times, traversing billions of worlds, and recorded many grotesques that had emerged in these realms.
"Grotesque No. 78, Title: Turning Back Ghost. This entity frequently haunts the lonely during late hours, particularly targeting solitary travelers. It will gently tap a traveler on the shoulder from behind; should the traveler turn around, their head is instantly devoured. As long as one refrains from looking back, the ghost cannot harm them. Threat level: Low."
"Grotesque No. 8, Title: Ghost Train. This is a spectral train filled with malevolent spirits, grotesques, and otherworldly creatures. It travels across billions of worlds. No one knows when it will appear or when it will vanish. It is invisible, and an array of grotesques and evil spirits will board it, taking it to distant worlds. Occasionally, it appears in urban areas, and unwitting souls who board it are doomed, as they enter the Underworld. No being has ever survived on the Ghost Train. It is indestructible and nearly impossible to destroy. Even if it were destroyed, it would reappear somewhere the next day. It moves at unimaginable speed, ignoring world barriers and forbidden formations. Threat level: Very High."
"Grotesque No. 18, Title: Red Shoes. These shoes were left by a newlywed bride who hanged herself on her wedding day, imbued with her deep resentment and boundless terror. They often appear at night, targeting unscrupulous men. If the Red Shoes catch the scent of a cheating man, that man will almost certainly perish."
"Grotesque No. 27, Title: Boxing Guessing. This grotesque originates from a notorious gambler who had won countless fortunes throughout his life and was hailed as the God of Gambling, undefeated until the fateful final bet. In a game of rock-paper-scissors, he lost everything—including his life. Upon death, he transformed into a grotesque, endlessly appearing in various forms, sometimes by day, sometimes by night. Its killing law is simple: once it finds you, you cannot escape its challenge. The game is rock-paper-scissors. Win, and you live; lose, and you die. Countless lives have fallen to this grotesque, and its reputation spreads ever further. Threat level: Extremely High."
"Grotesque No. 81, Title: Grotesque Broadcasting. Source unknown, with a special nature. It spreads grotesque horror constantly, often haunting the chaos virtual network, spreading stories of grotesques far and wide. As its power grows, so does the awareness of grotesques among sentient beings, further fueling their power. It moves without a trace, like a ghost in the digital ether—a faceless entity behind a screen, with countless avatars, impossible to trace. Threat level: Extremely High."
Gu Chuan gazed intently at the book. His billions of clones, scattered across countless worlds, had recorded these grotesques' appearances and cataloged vast amounts of data. Despite the extensive records, the number of grotesques was overwhelming, and even as one was recorded, more appeared the next day, ever-growing and endless.
"The number of grotesques is staggering," Gu Chuan thought, his face grave. He had always known that the calamities of the world were frightening, but never had he anticipated that the grotesques would multiply so rapidly in such a short time. This was only the beginning; more grotesques would undoubtedly appear in the future.
As these grotesques spread, so did the fear.
What is fear? It is the indescribable, the inability to look directly at something, the unknown. Fear originates from the unknown, from Death, and it is something we cannot resist. The very power of fear gives birth to grotesques that defy comprehension.
If this continues, the power of fear will only grow, and with it, many unspeakable evil gods will rise.
"The grotesques are growing stronger," Gu Chuan murmured.
He narrowed his eyes, reflecting on the terrifying nature of these grotesques. Their power was nearing the level of laws. Once their killing laws took hold, there was no escape. The only hope lay in disintegrating the grotesque's killing law or surpassing its power. But they were immortal. As long as their existence was known and their fear endured, they would regenerate over and over, forever returning to the world.
Cogito ergo sum.
This was no mere monster; it was a malevolent force of spiritual power, a grotesque entity that surpassed everything known before. These were creatures beyond death, born of fear itself.
It was nearly impossible to destroy them completely.
At that moment, a black skull materialized in the center of the dojo, appearing directly before Gu Chuan. It laughed maniacally, radiating an aura of triumph and arrogance.
"You are so bold," Gu Chuan said coldly. "You dare appear before me."
The skull, exuding the power of doom, spoke with disdain, "Why should I not? I am the Grotesque Doomsday, born of all beings' fear, conceived in the world's darkness, crafted by the powers of Death, hatred, and jealousy. Fear, evil, and grotesques—all are united in me. This is my greeting to you, City Lord. I come to announce the Doomsday forecast, for the end is near. I hope all beings can enjoy their remaining moments. This will be the greatest honor of my Grotesque Doomsday."
The black skull proclaimed its arrival with arrogance, showing no fear of Gu Chuan. It hovered above the central dojo, its aura suffusing the entire area with a sinister, malevolent energy. Its presence was so powerful that nearly every living being in Chaos City could sense it.
This caused an uproar, with even the gods shocked by what they saw. The central dojo, the very palace where the Lord of Chaos City resided, was supposed to be untouchable. But here, a grotesque entity had dared to soar above it, an unimaginable sight.