Chapter 23: Transcendent Organization
When Su Xiao arrived near the narrow alley at maximum speed, he immediately sensed the aura of Dark Demons within it. He drew the long blade from his waist and stepped into the foul-smelling alley.
Ta Balder was not slow either. Just as Su Xiao entered the alley, Balder arrived, carrying the spiral greatsword on his back.
Inside the narrow alley, three Dark Demons stared at Su Xiao, none daring to make a rash move. It felt as if a blade hung before their necks—if they so much as twitched, their heads would be severed.
With a bang, Ta Balder came to an abrupt halt, the ground beneath his feet cracking into a depression. After a brief observation, he nodded to Su Xiao and charged shoulder-first into the side wall.
Boom.
Stone fragments flew as Ta Balder burst into an underground chamber. Several translucent wraiths lunged at him. Balder pulled the spiral greatsword from his back, channeling energy into the blade to form a spiraling vortex.
Gripping the sword's hilt with both hands like a knight charging with a lance, Balder tore through a layer of air. When he reappeared, he was behind the wraiths. One of them shattered, its mist-like true form wailing as it dissipated into the air.
As the remaining wraiths charged Balder with suicidal resolve, ice spread across the chamber.
"Moo."
"Thanks!"
Ta Balder shouted, leaping into the deepest passage of the chamber and vanishing into the darkness.
Clang, clang, clang!
Pale blue blade auras sliced through the walls, cutting the remaining wraiths into dissipating screams. Seizing the opportunity, Amu and Baha also rushed into the inner passage.
Outside the chamber, in the narrow alley, Su Xiao faced the three Dark Demons. Their skin was dark red, all of them second-stage Dark Demons.
"Why is there... a Hunter?"
The three Dark Demons were tense. From their demeanor, they weren't subordinates of Hao Gui or Hun. The Dark Demon faction wasn't monolithic—only a portion of Dark Demons and Wraiths supported Hao Gui, Hun, and Douglas.
Su Xiao sheathed his blade and strode toward the underground chamber. The three Dark Demons didn't even register what was happening. In the next instant, several bloodlines appeared on their faces, necks, and chests. Given their strength, they couldn't even perceive the four slashes delivered by Dragon-Slaying Flash before it was sheathed.
Clack.
Dragon-Slaying Flash settled into its scabbard. Su Xiao walked on without looking back, blood splattering behind him.
Ta Balder led the vanguard, followed by Amu and Baha, with Su Xiao at the rear to prevent their escape route from being cut off.
At the front, Ta Balder's path was far from smooth. Large sections of the underground tunnel had collapsed, and traps were frequently triggered, but nothing could stop him.
A hundred meters underground, the tunnel led to this point, where the sloping passage began to level out.
In a passage about six meters wide and five meters high, a chair sat in the center. A woman in a form-fitting leather outfit with short white hair lounged on it. Her name was Doris. She exuded an imposing aura, looking every bit like a seventh-rank boss.
"Useless trash. A civilian transcendent organization is no reliable long-term backing. Talent determines everything."
Doris clenched her gloved hand. She could feel the surging power within her—a power earned at less than an 8% survival rate. She hadn't become a muscle-bound monster; her lithe figure now possessed monstrous strength and resilience. Along with the power came her inflated confidence.
Rapid footsteps echoed from around the corner ahead. Doris looked up to see a man with stubble on his chin, exuding mature masculine charm.
"My type," Doris remarked, sizing up Douglas before continuing, "Too bad, I took their 300,000 Schiller."
"..."
Douglas kept walking. He had some understanding of civilian transcendent organizations.
In most cases, members of such organizations were captured by the Watch Guild. Those with good conduct were assigned to logistics; those with bad conduct rotted in prison or were handed over to the Rhine Kingdom for execution.
"Hey, I'm talking to you..."
Doris's expression turned cold. She was about to rise from her chair, abandoning her stylish pose, when Douglas waved his right hand. In an instant, Doris shot like a cannonball, slamming into the side wall with a boom.
"Oh?"
Douglas paused mid-stride, surprised. The woman embedded in the wall was still alive—tenacious vitality.
A loud crash came from behind. Douglas ignored Doris. Killing her would waste time. With two God Hunters behind him, that was no joke.
Just as Douglas plunged deeper into the passage, Doris crawled out of the hole in the wall, vomiting a mouthful of blood. Behind her, a human-shaped crater marred the wall.
"Bastard... daring to ambush me."
Doris's pupils trembled with rage.
With a rumble, the wall beside the passage shattered. A spiral greatsword thrust out. Ta Balder glanced around, immediately noticing Doris and her fury.
"Ma'am, stay calm."
The moment "calm" left Ta Balder's lips, Doris lunged. Balder instinctively kicked.
Boom!
Doris tore through an afterimage, crashing into the wall again, leaving a second human-shaped crater—this one with limbs splayed, a different pose from the first.
Seeing the two craters on the wall, Ta Balder sighed and pursued Douglas ahead.
"Ahh!"
Doris crawled out of the second crater, rising as if about to go berserk. Just then, ice spread across the wall opposite her. With a crash, a figure burst through.
Before Doris could grasp what was happening, Baha's shout rang out.
"Move it, don't block the way!"
More direct than his shout, Baha slapped Doris flying.
Thud.
A third human-shaped crater appeared. Coincidentally, the three craters were evenly spaced.
When Su Xiao, bringing up the rear, arrived, the passage was riddled with holes, three human-shaped craters on the wall.
Su Xiao glanced at Doris in the crater, then contacted Bubu Wang through the team channel.
"Bubu, did Douglas get it?"
"Woof."
"Stolen?"
Su Xiao frowned. This civilian transcendent organization was a mixed bag. They possessed an item Su Xiao needed: the [Watch Relic]. According to Bubu Wang, the organization called it a holy relic, claiming their supernatural abilities came from it.
The earlier chaos had shattered the organization. A few members had taken the relic and tried to flee.
With Douglas's strength, he naturally wouldn't let them escape. But when he caught up, a comical scene unfolded.
The three transcendent beings saw Douglas and immediately surrendered, claiming they'd long wanted to leave the organization and join the Watch Guild, turning over a new leaf. They begged Douglas for a chance. Clearly, they mistook Douglas for a Hunter.
If Douglas refused, they'd destroy the [Watch Relic]. They'd studied it for ages—barely understanding how to use it, but thoroughly understanding how to break it.
When Ta Balder arrived, the situation deadlocked. The three transcendent beings didn't know whether to trust Douglas or Ta Balder, as both claimed to be Hunters.
Their greatest leverage was their ability to instantly destroy the [Watch Relic], plus the standoff between Douglas and Ta Balder gave them an opening.
After learning this through Bubu Wang, Su Xiao removed the Hunter medallion from his neck, letting his blood aura seep out. He wondered: if he claimed to be with Douglas, how would the three transcendent beings react? They'd probably immediately believe Ta Balder was the good guy, and that Su Xiao and Douglas were villains.