# Chapter 18: The National Football Team's Siege Formation
Inside the office in Youke City.
Su Xiao put down the confidential documents that had arrived this morning. Things were on the right track. Ai Qi had successfully participated in the investigation of the "Thorn Flower Newspaper Bombing Case," and it was expected that he would soon encounter that white-haired youth.
"What exactly are you doing?"
Tide Hunter picked up the confidential documents on the table to examine them. The situation was too complex, and with too little information at her disposal, she was completely confused.
"Let me explain it to you."
Baha cleared his throat and began narrating the situation. It was actually quite simple. The competition between Su Xiao and Kingsley over the mermaid had not yet reached the point of direct confrontation between the two sides.
Ai Qi represented Su Xiao's side, the white-haired youth represented Kingsley's side, and moreover, neither Ai Qi nor the white-haired youth knew about this matter.
Ai Qi and the white-haired youth were about to form a team to jointly investigate the "Thorn Flower Newspaper Bombing Case." Using this as a starting point, upon learning that the mermaid had appeared, with the covert push from Su Xiao and Kingsley, Ai Qi and the white-haired youth's team would go to search for and capture the mermaid.
The white-haired youth possessed the characteristics of a World Child (Pseudo). With the blessing of World Force, the probability of capturing the mermaid, though not high, was also not too low.
If the boost of one World Child (Pseudo) was insufficient, then what about two World Children (Pseudo)?
Su Xiao had a fragment of a Devourer in his possession, which was directly related to Ai Qi. Just this morning, Su Xiao placed a [Fate Seed] into the glass bottle containing the Devourer fragment, allowing the fragment to gradually devour this item.
[Fate Seed]
Origin: Reincarnation Paradise
Quality: Epic Level
Type: Item/Consumable (usable once)
Effect: When in a Derived World/Primordial World, this item can be implanted into a Plot Character's body. This Plot Character has a certain probability of becoming the World Child (Pseudo) of this world.
Rating: 999 points.
Introduction: This is... a toy for madmen.
Selling Price: Cannot be sold.
...
Instead of implanting it, Su Xiao chose to let the Devourer fragment devour the [Fate Seed]. As long as a resonance effect was achieved, this was no different from implantation, after all, the main body of the Devourer was located inside Ai Qi.
Don't underestimate this Epic-level [Fate Seed]. This was obtained by Su Xiao in the Dark Prison World when he killed the genuine World Child, Douglas.
If one World Child (Pseudo) wasn't enough, then two. The mermaid held too many secrets. Direct confrontation would come at too high a cost and would very likely result in the mermaid's death. That would mean waiting for over a decade, or even twenty years, before the mermaid reappeared.
Therefore, Kingsley's approach of inducing the white-haired youth to go was a very wise choice.
With two World Children (Pseudo), plus the covert groundwork laid by numerous members of the Eclipse Organization and the Execution Agency, along with the blood of the little boy from Winter Spring Town — the combination of these factors made the probability of the protagonist team capturing the mermaid quite considerable.
Once the protagonist team captured the mermaid, she would no longer be dangerous. That would be the time for the real struggle. Ai Qi and the white-haired youth would absolutely not be able to keep the mermaid. This item could only fall into the hands of three parties: 1. Su Xiao, 2. Kingsley, 3. the Alliance Council.
The people on the Alliance Council's side weren't actually stupid. The reason they made so many confusing moves was mainly due to their lack of unity. How could people who had climbed to such positions be stupid? When various orders came down, the people below were bewildered, hence the simultaneous emergence of all sorts of strange operations and confusing behavior.
As long as Su Xiao obtained the mermaid, he could use her traits to lure away the Death Grail. His goal was to drink the liquid inside the Death Grail.
After drinking this liquid, he would temporarily awaken a third talent. This talent would only last for about half a month. During this period, the talent would default to a second awakening state.
A third talent that only lasted 15 days was not what Su Xiao wanted. He had an item called [Ancient Will].
[Ancient Will]
Origin: Primordial Continent
Quality: Holy Spirit Level
Category: Special Item/Accessory
Equipment Durability: 59/59
Usage Durability: 1/1
Equipment Prerequisite: None.
Usage Prerequisite: Talent has undergone second awakening.
Equipment Effect: Fearless Person (Passive), Willpower +20 points.
Usage Effect: Activate the Limit-Breaking Mission (this is a Talent Mission).
Currently selectable Talent Missions: 2 types (Soul Devourer/Blood Beast).
Warning: This mission is extremely dangerous. At least promotion to Eighth Rank is required to complete this Talent Mission.
Tip: After activating the Talent Mission, a world suitable for the talent breakthrough will be matched based on the Hunter's own talent characteristics.
Tip: After completing the Talent Mission, the selected talent ability will break through its limits.
Tip: The Talent Mission can be activated at most once. Failure will result in permanent inability to activate it again.
Rating: 1000+++ (Holy Spirit Level equipment/items have a rating of 700~1000 points).
Introduction: The pinnacle masterpiece of the Ancient Elves.
Price: Cannot be sold after acquisition.
...
After temporarily mastering the third talent, Su Xiao could use [Ancient Will] to perform a talent breakthrough on the third talent and accept the Talent Mission.
Of course, after completing the Talent Mission, the temporary third talent ability had a high probability of transforming into a permanent talent. Su Xiao was over 90% confident in this regard.
Su Xiao didn't care what benefits mastering a permanent third talent would bring. His real goal was to obtain the exclusive talent ability of the Law Destroyers.
In the Treeborn World, there was a [Talent Awakening Device] left behind by the Law Destroyers. Using that device required sacrificing one of one's own awakened talents to perform a talent awakening, awakening the unique talent ability of the Law Destroyers.
Su Xiao's goal was to sacrifice the third talent he had mastered to obtain the Law Destroyers' exclusive talent ability.
The entire process was as follows: Capture the mermaid → Lure the Death Grail → Drink the liquid inside the Grail → Temporarily master the third talent → Use [Ancient Will] → Break through the third talent into a permanent talent → Enter the Treeborn World → Find the [Talent Awakening Device] → Sacrifice the third talent, obtain the Law Destroyers' exclusive talent ability.
Compared to using [Ancient Will] to break through Soul Devourer or Blood Beast, Su Xiao preferred to master the Law Destroyers' exclusive talent ability.
With [Ancient Will] in existence, there would likely be future opportunities to break through Soul Devourer and Blood Beast. But the opportunity to master the Law Destroyers' exclusive talent ability only came once. The Treeborn World could only be entered once in a lifetime. Su Xiao would receive the summons in the near future. If he refused, he would never be able to enter again.
As for using [Ancient Will] to activate the Talent Mission and matching a world suitable for the talent breakthrough, there was no need to worry about that. He obtained the third talent temporarily through the Death Grail. The talent obtained would be based on his own self, but would also carry the characteristics of this world.
Even if matching began, it would match a certain area within this world as the location for executing the Talent Mission.
What Su Xiao was scheming for was very large, possibly spanning two world progressions, or even longer. This was the scenery along the path of becoming stronger. Without pursuit, how could one talk about opposing the entire Arcane Eternal Star?
Su Xiao placed the cylindrical glass bottle on the table. The Devourer fragment inside had completely devoured the [Fate Seed].
Beside him, Baha had already explained to Tide Hunter the situation regarding the white-haired youth and Ai Qi, as well as what companions the protagonist team formed by the two would encounter, and their eventual search for and capture of the mermaid.
After organizing her thoughts, Tide Hunter turned her gaze to Su Xiao and asked, "When did you and Kingsley start planning these things? Aren't you enemies? And... how did you manage to do it?"
Tide Hunter was very shocked inside. Although she was strong, she had always lived in the Celestial Palace. There, the strong were respected. If there was a conflict, they would fight it out. She had never schemed so much.
From Tide Hunter's straightforward plan when she schemed against Su Xiao back in the Celestial Palace, Su Xiao knew that Tide Hunter wasn't very cunning. At that time, he was dealing with all sorts of old schemers. Suddenly encountering an enemy as straightforward and refreshing as Tide Hunter was a bit unfamiliar.
"Doing these things isn't difficult. It's like you trying to absorb the 'Source' inside your own heart. You failed? That's only natural. The power of your Tianba Clan comes from this 'Source.' And you want to break free from the shackles of the summoning contract and return to the Divine Source Village, right?"
Su Xiao looked at Tide Hunter, a smile on his face.
Tide Hunter instinctively stepped back a few paces. She was considering whether she had already been schemed against.
"Don't worry, I won't scheme against you."
"Why?"
Tide Hunter became even more vigilant.
"With your straightforwardness, you're not worth me wasting brain cells on. Would you play mind games with a little kid?"
"You!"
Tide Hunter was furious inside. She wanted to retort, but after thinking for a long time, she couldn't figure out how to counter.
Su Xiao stopped paying attention to Tide Hunter. He estimated that by the latest tonight, the protagonist team's companions would be mostly recruited. Among those companions, some were chosen by Kingsley, and some were chosen by his side. When the protagonist team assembled, the investigation into the Thorn Flower Newspaper Bombing Case would be mostly complete, and the protagonist team would set out to sea.
The outcome of this round would depend on who, between Su Xiao and Kingsley, could seize the mermaid after the protagonist team succeeded. That would be the winner of this round.
With a swish, a slash mark passed in front of Su Xiao. He was training his Blade Domain. A piece of wood the size of a fist floated in front of him. It was vaguely discernible that this small wooden carving bore some resemblance to Bubu Wang. It still needed fine carving.
For now, it was a waiting game, letting the protagonist team act as the vanguard.
...
Outside Youke City, in a wide valley.
Boom!
The roar exploded. Debris splashed over ten meters high. A giant beast covered in keratin flew out. This giant beast was an Eighth-Rank wild mini-boss, the type of enemy most beloved by Contractors.
Blood dripped from the corners of the giant beast's mouth. Large patches of its keratin were shattered. It was near death. What was even more surprising was that this originally cruel and ferocious beast actually had tears streaming from its eyes. It had intelligence and at this moment felt immense humiliation.
From within the smoke and dust, three robust figures walked out, each holding a long-handled energy hammer with golden light flickering on it.
"Finished, pack it up."
"Invincible!"
"Oh yeah!"
The Three Brothers of National Football had just ended a battle. When these three brothers were at the Fifth Rank, they were stimulated by Su Xiao's speed of becoming stronger. They began purchasing keys to enter various worlds.
While others experienced one world progression, they experienced at least three. They hadn't returned to the Real World for a long time. They also compressed their stay time in Reincarnation Paradise as much as possible, freeing up more time to enter crisis-ridden mission worlds.
For other Contractors, they would have developed mental problems long ago. But not the Three Brothers of National Football. They were naturally very optimistic. The Three Brothers of National Football's philosophy was that they could be called idiots, but they could not be called salted fish.
Looking at the Eighth-Rank wild mini-boss lying on the ground near death, the eldest of the National Football brothers felt a great sense of accomplishment. The hardships they had endured to get to where they were today were unknown to outsiders. How touching this was.
"Third Brother, are you moved?"
"Huh?"
The third brother couldn't understand. He looked at his eldest brother with confusion. The eldest brother, feeling emotional, recounted their arduous journey to the third brother. He spoke until he himself was in tears. The third brother scratched his head, indicating he didn't feel anything. This was also his experience after all.
After a while, the third brother of the National Football team was also "in tears," having been "moved."
What the eldest brother of the National Football team had just done could be simply described as: Very moved, I cried, younger brother didn't cry, punched him, younger brother cried.
"Big Brother, it's crying too. It was also moved by you."
The third brother of the National Football team pointed at the tears flowing from the giant beast.
"Nonsense. If it were me, I'd cry too. You swung your hammer at its 'clone' over a dozen times. Any male couldn't take that."
The eldest brother of the National Football team slapped the back of the third brother's head. The third brother grinned foolishly.
"You three have worked hard."
A man with gray-black skin all over, his body as if forged from metal, stood at the top of the valley, looking down at the Three Brothers of National Football. It was the Eighth-Rank Tank System of Apocalypse Paradise, Tyrant. The purpose of his appearance was obvious — to compete for the kill reward of this Eighth-Rank mini-boss.
"Bastard grandson, dare you come down and fight?"
The second brother of the National Football team raised his middle finger at Tyrant, deeply embodying the essence taught by Baha.
"Heh."
Tyrant leaped down from the valley. As a top-tier Eighth-Rank Tank System, although Tyrant had been taught a lesson by the Heretic Execution Squad before, he was not afraid when facing Eighth-Rank Contractors. He had a type of damage reflection ability. Although for boss-level units, the feedback of defense-ignoring damage wasn't much, when fighting Contractors, this damage reflection effect was a different concept altogether.
With a bang, Tyrant landed. The gravity field of the Tank System was fully activated. The Three Brothers of National Football all felt a weight on their shoulders, and the ground beneath their feet cracked extensively.
At this critical moment, the second brother of the National Football team suddenly struck a provocative pose. He placed his hands in front of his chest, using his bare left chest as a base, and made a heart shape with his hands.
"?"
Tyrant inexplicably felt a chill in his nether regions. Suddenly, he felt as if his heart was being grabbed by a hand and squeezed hard.
Tyrant's mind went blank, falling into a forced stun state. He didn't know yet that the battle was already over. The Three Brothers of National Football had very strong combat capabilities against Contractors. If there was only one enemy, these three brothers were nearly unsolvable, unless the enemy could resist the physical characteristics of the forced stun effect.
What were the Three Brothers of National Football? The answer was: can fight, can tank, can heal each other, can control, run fast, have life links, and have particularly top-tier equipment.
"80!"
The eldest brother of the National Football team roared. The long-handled energy hammer in his hand carried a sobbing sound of breaking wind. With a bang, it smashed into Tyrant's forehead, renewing 1.2 seconds of the stun effect for Tyrant.
The second brother of the National Football team also stepped forward. He lowered his long-handled energy hammer and swung it horizontally, smashing it into Tyrant's leg. Tyrant's body became unstable, and he fell to the ground. He didn't know yet that his nightmare was about to begin.
"Let's go!"
The eldest brother of the National Football team shouted sharply. The three brothers completed their positioning in a very short time, forming a triangle to surround Tyrant in the middle.
The Three Brothers of National Football, holding their long-handled energy hammers, all had smiles on their faces at this moment. They swung their long-handled energy hammers and began to pound Tyrant wildly. The attack speed was extremely fast. The energy hammers swung into trails of afterimages. The speed at which these three brothers swung their hammers was so fast it was almost insane.
"80! 80!"
"Ora! Ora! Ora..."
"Muda! Muda! Muda..."
"Heavenly Dragon Ascending Kick."
"Crushing Blow."
In the storm of attacks, Tyrant's body had long since instinctively curled up, his hands covering his head. He couldn't move now, and his mind was buzzing. He only wanted to know now, what kind of three things had he encountered.
At the top of the valley, a little healer wearing a gold and white long dress shrank her head. After witnessing the battle below, she didn't dare to use her healing abilities at all. She was extremely frightened right now.