Chapter 6: Tide Hunter's Arrival
Su Xiao had been reluctant to use the item in his hand, firstly because of the Tianba Clan's formidable strength, and secondly because of an item he possessed that could greatly enhance the Tianba Clan's combat power.
[Tide Hunter's Residual Soul]
Origin: Source · Divine Realm
Category: Item
Effect 1: After using this item, summon the Drowning Leader · Tide Hunter for a duration of 40 minutes.
Note: The comprehensive attributes of Drowning Leader · Tide Hunter will be determined based on the summoner's intelligence attribute.
Note: Drowning Leader · Tide Hunter is an extremely powerful ranged combatant, agility type.
Description: The beauty of Tianba will assist you in battle; if you dare have improper thoughts, her arrow will fly toward you.
...
Su Xiao's mental energy sank into the [Tide Hunter's Residual Soul] in his hand, and the summoning began.
Hum～
A formation diagram appeared on the ground. Su Xiao's mana value was heavily consumed, along with a peculiar energy from within the item. He saw a humanoid silhouette gradually taking shape, first the soul's completion, then the construction of the physical body.
Su Xiao tossed an item from his hand. It cut through the air in a blur, plunging into the newly formed heart, piercing through it before lodging inside. This item was called [Source (Water Attribute)], the power source of the Tianba Clan. Both the abilities of Soak and Drown were derived from Source energy.
Tide Hunter was originally the Drowning Leader. With the [Source] implanted in her heart, her combat power was unimaginable. Not only that, but her duration of existence would also be greatly extended.
Skin tinged with blue and pale white light particles formed, but immediately, the blue on her skin began to converge toward her chest, centering on the heart, forming large patches of blue patterns. The Tianba Clan's blue skin was not due to bloodline but a mutation caused by Source energy.
Su Xiao had already investigated this in Source · Divine Realm. When Tianba Clan members were born, they were no different from ordinary humans, but they had talent in techniques. After continuously drinking Source water, their skin gradually turned blue.
This summoning, or rather body construction, was very slow. Previously, summoned creatures under the blessing of Reincarnation Paradise would have their bodies formed in seconds. Tide Hunter took several minutes to fully construct her body.
The setting sun streamed through the curtain gap, illuminating her fair back. Tide Hunter opened her eyes—pupils with black centers and a faint blue edge.
Tide Hunter raised her hand, and the Source Bow appeared in her grip. Immediately, ten slender arrows materialized beside her.
Tide Hunter leaped backward, nocking an arrow mid-air.
Bang, bang, bang!
With a graceful backward leap triple shot, three slender arrows flew past Su Xiao's head in a triangular formation, pinning a phantom to the wall.
Upon landing, Tide Hunter rolled to the side, nocking and drawing her bowstring, firing an arrow that struck the translucent phantom's head.
...
Su Xiao looked at the translucent phantom pinned to the wall. Its expression was helpless—this was the Ghost Woman's soul avatar, the personal guard of the Vice Legion Commander.
Tide Hunter held the Source Bow with one hand, her hair floating due to energy. Her skin color had returned to normal, yet she remained beautiful, with a unique charm. After all, she was once the Tianba Clan's number one beauty. As for anyone more beautiful than Tide Hunter? No, there was no such Tianba Clan member. Even if there were, they wouldn't dare say it openly—her combat prowess ensured her title as the Tianba Clan's foremost beauty.
Was Tide Hunter showing loyalty just now? Of course not. She was purely venting her anger. This couldn't be blamed on her. Her last memories were of Su Xiao blowing off her arm with a Dead Silence Annihilation shot, shattering her head with another, and piercing her chest with a third. The only reason she didn't immediately fight Su Xiao to the death was the binding of the summoning contract.
"The contract isn't something you can break."
Su Xiao leaned back in his leather chair and spoke. Not to mention anything else, Tide Hunter's Drown ability alone was worth the cost of summoning. Each arrow carried a percentage of maximum health as defense-ignoring damage. Even at the eighth rank, this ability was absurdly powerful.
Back then, Su Xiao was left speechless by the Tianba's Drown ability. Amu was completely traumatized, Baha was shot into a ground-running chicken, not daring to fly, and Bubu Wang took an arrow to the rear, making him wary of the Tianba Clan even now.
Tide Hunter felt a cool sensation. She tore down the curtain and wrapped it around herself, her gaze wary. If her summoner acted improperly toward her, she could use her Source Bow to deal with him. Otherwise, absolutely not.
"Did you lose?"
Tide Hunter stood by the window, staring directly at Su Xiao. She didn't know what happened afterward at the Heavenly Palace.
"No."
"Then... how is the Tianba Clan now? Is anyone still maintaining the Heavenly Palace?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
"I see... that's good."
Tide Hunter breathed a sigh of relief. She was very concerned about the Heavenly Palace's situation.
"The Heavenly Palace has been blown flat by me. It will never need maintenance again, and no new Tianba warriors will appear. The Source is in your heart."
"You..."
Tide Hunter's lips parted, then she seemed to realize something.
"Then you need to be careful. The Source Guardian · Aideri Dewen will come for you."
"I've already killed him."
"And the Giant King."
"The Giant King is now the Source Guardian of the Fire Attribute 'Source.' I made him guard it."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Tide Hunter felt a mix of grief and anger. She looked at the Source Bow in her hand. Too many things had changed. She needed some time to adapt.
"Boss, was I fast?"
Baha phased through the door using spatial ability, striking a flashy entrance pose. But he immediately spotted Tide Hunter. At first, he didn't pay much attention, but when he saw the Source Bow in her hand, his eyes went wide.
"Oh my god."
Baha made to fly away but instinctively landed, turning into a ground-running chicken. Like a successful thief, he scurried behind the desk for cover. Once there, he saw Bubu Wang already hiding there.
"Boss, why did you summon this old lady? You didn't also boost her with 'Source Stone,' did you?"
Baha peeked at Tide Hunter. Even knowing she wouldn't shoot him, his heart still trembled. Baha had never been afraid of anyone, but in Source · Divine Realm, the Tianba Clan had truly shot him into submission.
Su Xiao pulled out a stack of Tower Pounds and told Baha to get some women's clothing. Baha was quick. After Tide Hunter changed into new clothes, she felt a bit uncomfortable but was very interested in the rotary dial phone on the table, wondering what this suspicious thing was.
Su Xiao hadn't come to the office in Youke City for a vacation. He needed to temporarily avoid the Federation and the Eclipse Organization, complete his main quest here, and wait until he had free hands to deal with them.
The first part of the main quest required containing two types of A-level dangerous objects and one S-level dangerous object. This wasn't too concerning—Su Xiao had already arranged it. As long as a dangerous object appeared within the Southern Alliance's territory, he would be the first contacted. The only downside was that he couldn't mobilize too many people from the 'Organization' for now.
Su Xiao planned to complete the first part of the main quest before dealing with the 'Organization' and reclaiming his authority.
Ding ling ling～
The phone on the table rang. Su Xiao stopped Tide Hunter from smashing it and answered. Baha landed on Su Xiao's shoulder to listen.
A dangerous object had appeared. Preliminary estimates put it at B-level danger, likely A-level, with a small chance of being S-level.
This dangerous object had appeared in a small town dozens of kilometers away, temporarily codenamed 'Ash Box.' Known details were that the object was extremely terrifying and horrifying, like being in a horror movie, filling every pore with fear.
Su Xiao put down the phone receiver. He and Baha both turned to look at Bubu Wang. Bubu Wang raised his dog head, striking a proud pose, as if to say: 'Master, you underestimate me. This dog is no longer afraid of those things.'
Night soon fell. Meanwhile, in a certain 7th to 8th rank area of this world.
Under the bright moonlight, a dozens-of-meters-high giant rock jutted out. Three muscular men, built like bodybuilders, stood atop the rock. Bathed in moonlight, they struck different poses, showing off their muscles, looking exceptionally flamboyant.
The forces of darkness had arrived.