Chapter 77: Lightning and Darkness
Inside the tavern, wooden splinters flew everywhere, the floor covered in glass shards and alcohol, with the chandelier from the ceiling lying overturned on the ground.
"Eichi, snap out of it!"
The white-haired youth performed a back throw, slamming Eichi to the ground. He then mounted Eichi and, with his right fist clad in an alloy gauntlet, hammered down repeatedly like a pestle crushing garlic.
"Eichi, calm down, calm down, calm down..."
Thump, thump, thump...
While muttering about calmness, the white-haired youth's movements were anything but slow. Punch after punch landed on Eichi's face, each strike hitting flesh with a resounding thud.
Eichi had no strength left to fight back, because Goya had quietly released a canister of 'Mixed Inert Gas.'
Initially, Eichi and the white-haired youth were evenly matched, but now weakened, he was naturally pinned down and pummeled.
"White Hair, Eichi has calmed down, stop!"
"He hasn't."
The white-haired youth replied while continuing to punch.
"He's not moving anymore!"
Nenene finally lost her patience and kicked the white-haired youth's upper arm, knocking him off Eichi. She feared White Hair might beat Eichi to death.
The white-haired youth leaned back against the overturned bar, pulled a bottle of alcohol from the surrounding glass shards, bit off the cork, and took several large gulps.
"Eichi, Eichi, are you okay?"
Nenene lifted Eichi's upper body and placed it on her knees, which were in a kneeling position. At this moment, Eichi had no time to enjoy this fortune; blood flowed from his mouth and nose, and even his ear canals were bleeding.
Nenene pressed one hand on Eichi's chest. With a *pop*, the blood around his mouth and nose flowed back in. This was Nenene's reversion ability, reversing Eichi's injuries.
What Nenene didn't know was that she had not only reversed Eichi's injuries but also the amount of Mixed Inert Gas he had inhaled.
Eichi's eyes suddenly snapped open. His pupils dilated to the maximum, then contracted, finally turning into pitch-black vertical slits.
Eichi abruptly stood up, backhanding Nenene aside. Stimulated by the Mixed Inert Gas, he had little rationality left. If not for Eichi's relatively strong will, he would have gone on a killing spree.
The white-haired youth witnessed all of this. He threw down the bottle in his hand and lunged at Eichi.
...
Deer Flower Manor, in the reception hall on the second floor of the castle.
Su Xiao watched the projection on the wall. Things were progressing smoothly; it wouldn't be long before the Fate Blood could be recovered.
Compared to this, the situation on the Eastern Continent was less favorable. Of the 30 suicide soldiers who used S-001, only 26 remained; the other 4 had been dealt with. These 4 had become uncontrollable, their desire for S-001 having completely twisted their minds.
Around noon today, the 26 suicide soldiers arrived one after another on the Eastern Continent, confirming the intelligence that the Ultimate Insect was there.
Initially, nothing happened when these suicide soldiers arrived on the Eastern Continent. But as subsequent intelligence personnel arrived, the Hunter Company on the Eastern Continent showed its face, issuing warnings to the Mechanism and the Eclipse Organization.
The Hunter Company didn't just warn them; they also captured 6 suicide soldiers. But they obtained no information, as those suicide soldiers exploded and died as soon as they were captured.
This put the Hunter Company in a difficult position. The Eastern Continent was their territory. With the Mechanism and Eclipse Organization's rash incursion, the Company had to take a stand, and a strong one at that.
Just as the mid- and lower-level members of both sides were about to tear into each other, Kingsley arrived on the Eastern Continent, accompanied by over 5,000 superhumans from the Mechanism and Eclipse Organization.
Kingsley's meaning was simple: since the Hunter Company was taking a tough stance, then let's go to war.
The Hunter Company's attitude was: Are we afraid of you, Kingsley? If you want war, then war it is. Whoever backs down is the coward.
And so, the two sides broke ties. As for when the war would start, that was pending~
The current situation was that the main superhuman forces and intelligence personnel of the Mechanism and Eclipse Organization had all arrived on the Eastern Continent and established a foothold.
The Hunter Company, on the other hand, had adopted a posture of preparing for war but, due to concerns about civilian casualties, had not yet made a move.
As for actually going to war, were they out of their minds? Fundamentally, what loss was there in letting other superhumans temporarily enter their territory?
In reality, there was no actual loss. The Mechanism and Eclipse Organization weren't there to seize resources. As for the intelligence personnel, anyone with half a brain would realize that sending intelligence personnel so blatantly was meant to be seen by the Hunter Company. If they were truly hostile to the Hunter Company, the intelligence personnel would have infiltrated secretly, not arrived by steamship.
The only thing lost by having someone step onto your territory was face and prestige. Had the Hunter Company lost these now? Of course not. They were ready to 'go to war' with the Mechanism and Eclipse Organization, showing great toughness.
The situation seemed stable, but the Hunter Company remained intensely curious about the intentions of the Mechanism and Eclipse Organization. In Su Xiao's view, this was a root of trouble.
Su Xiao glanced at the projection on the wall. The white-haired youth and Eichi were still brawling. With both not using their superhuman abilities and only relying on physical strength, the Fate Blood within them was highly active. If the two fought to the death, the Fate Blood within them would inevitably undergo a transformation.
"Baha, have Goya return to the manor before tonight."
"Understood."
Baha flew out the window. The spacious living room was now left with only Su Xiao and Bubu Wang. Xili had already gone out to execute Su Xiao's orders, and Amu was sleeping soundly on the first floor.
Su Xiao decided to accelerate the plan. Things couldn't be delayed any longer. The Hunter Company's claws were reaching further and further. He needed to send the protagonist team over to draw aggro as soon as possible.
To accelerate the plan, he needed to produce some items. Su Xiao took a gray-white concretion from his storage space. This concretion was the size of a fingernail, irregularly shaped, with some grooves resembling brain tissue.
This item was called [Dream Concretion], obtained by Su Xiao in the Dream World of the Dark Star. It was an Epic-grade item with the effect:
After use, it can drag a designated target into a pleasant/nightmare dream (if multiple are used simultaneously, the effect will be greatly enhanced).
This was formed from the brain tissue of the Beast Clan members who slept in the Dream World. Due to the time stagnation there, their brain tissue mutated, forming these concretions.
Su Xiao had a total of 8 pieces of this [Dream Concretion]. He planned to synthesize them before use. If this were a Holy Spirit-grade item, it would be enough to influence the white-haired youth. But since it was Epic-grade, considering the white-haired youth was a World Child, this level of attention was necessary.
The 8 pieces of [Dream Concretion] floated up, adsorbed onto each other while dissolving, and finally fused into the size of a walnut, looking like a shrunken brain.
This wasn't the end. Su Xiao took a balance scale from his storage space, the Overlord-grade equipment [Golden Balance].
Equipment Effect 1: Equivalent Exchange (Passive) — Place any 'consumable-type item' on the left tray of the balance, and an appropriate amount of Soul Crystal (any specification) on the right tray. When the two sides achieve balance, the placed 'consumable-type item' will be permanently enhanced.
Tip: The required amount of Soul Crystal (any specification) will be determined by the quality and rating of the 'consumable-type item' on the left tray.
...
Su Xiao intended to use the [Golden Balance] to enhance the effect of the [Dream Concretion]. He certainly wouldn't use the Soul Crystals in his storage space; that would be too wasteful. Instead, he took the finger-sized [Soul Lock Lantern] from his waist.
The effect of the [Soul Lock Lantern] was simple: after Su Xiao killed an enemy, this equipment could collect the scattered soul energy, compress it into soul power, and store it in the lantern. When needed, this soul power could be converted into Soul Crystal Fragments and released.
Soul Crystal Fragments were obtained by crushing a Soul Crystal (Small), the smallest unit of measurement among Soul Stones.
Su Xiao placed the [Dream Concretion] on the left tray of the Golden Balance, then activated the Soul Lock Lantern. The soul power inside was released and simultaneously converted into Soul Crystal Fragments by the lantern.
*Clatter, clatter...*
A small pile of Soul Crystal Fragments, resembling crushed diamonds, appeared on the right tray of the Golden Balance. When the two trays reached a level, the Soul Crystal Fragments on the right tray transformed into a stream of energy. This energy first passed through the Golden Balance, lighting up the patterns on it, before flowing into the [Dream Concretion].
*Hum~*
A faint light emerged, and ethereal whispers appeared around them. This sound from the dream made people drowsy.
A few minutes later, the faint light on the [Dream Concretion] faded. As a cost, the 2000 points of soul power stored in the Soul Lock Lantern were completely consumed. For Su Xiao, this was just the difference between having 'candy' to eat or not.
Su Xiao picked up the [Dream Concretion] from the Golden Balance. It was now as clear as a crystal product, sparkling and translucent. Inside, it contained a rainbow-like, seven-colored light, representing pleasant dreams. Coexisting with it on one side was a deep, dark red, as viscous as thick plasma, representing nightmares.
[Dream Concretion]
Origin: Dark Star · Dream World
Quality: Holy Spirit Grade
Type: One-time Use Item (Enhanced by Soul Power)
Effect: After use, can drag a designated target into a pleasant/nightmare dream (the pleasant/nightmare dream can be formulated according to the user's will).
Tip: This item has been enhanced by soul power. Willpower determination rank +1, Willpower determination correction +18 points.
Rating: 1000 points (Holy Spirit-grade item rating is 700~1000 points).
...
The effect of the Golden Balance did not disappoint Su Xiao. Overlord-grade equipment like [Blood Feather] or [Golden Balance] was usually useless, but once it took effect, the results were exceptionally impressive.
Unbeknownst to him, the setting sun appeared on the horizon again. After tonight, Su Xiao's main mission time limit would be only 6 days.
A petite figure in a black dress leaped over the wall and into the manor. After landing, a badge appeared between her fingers, and the dozen or so senses locking onto her disappeared, causing Goya to breathe a sigh of relief.
Goya leaped continuously with the grace of a civet cat, finally jumping into a bedroom on the third floor of the castle. Inside, it was pitch black.
Goya lowered her head, knelt on one knee, with one hand pressed to her chest and the fingertips of her other hand touching the floor.
"Master, as per your command, Goya has returned."
"..."
"Master?"
Goya quietly lifted her head a little. Seeing the pair of eyes emitting a red glow in the darkness, she immediately lowered her head again.
"The Extreme Southern Cold Land is a great place for a vacation, especially the Iron Tower Town there. Don't you think so, Goya?"
Su Xiao had been to the Extreme Southern Cold Land · Iron Tower Town. He had recuperated there after his last battle with the Moon Wolf.
In the coldest season there, temperatures could reach -85° to -90° Celsius. Simply put, if you peed, it would freeze into a stick mid-air.
More importantly, Su Xiao was very familiar with Colonel Peder of the Extreme Southern Cold Land · Iron Tower Town. Sending someone there would be very simple.
Given Goya's appearance, once sent there, she would likely fall victim to the 'poisonous hands' of the female doctor, Vina. That female doctor had no interest in the opposite sex but was a lecher towards the same sex.
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Goya stammered. She didn't want to be sent to the Extreme Southern Cold Land. She didn't want to go to that icy wasteland with no entertainment facilities, and she definitely didn't want to go mine coal!
"Lord Commander, I was wrong."
"Oh? You don't want to go to the Extreme Southern Cold Land?"
"No!"
Goya was truly panicked this time. Losing one's life was an instant matter, and fear only lasted a short while before death. But being exiled to the Extreme Southern Cold Land was a lifetime affair. Once there, she would receive a warm welcome, and then a female officer from the Alliance would watch her 24 hours a day, eating and sleeping with her, preventing her from committing suicide, and watching her mine coal.
"Is that so? Then forget it."
Su Xiao folded a transfer order and placed it on the table beside him. He then picked up the small wooden box containing the [Dream Concretion].
A moment later, Goya left the manor under the cover of night, heading straight for the tavern where the protagonist team was. When she returned to the tavern, she found Eichi sitting there with his head down, drinking gloomily. Nenene was leaning against the wall with her hands behind her back, watching over Eichi to prevent him from losing control again.
The white-haired youth had already gone upstairs to rest. He and Eichi had been pounding each other all afternoon. Eichi had the Devourer inside him, so the more he fought, the more energetic he became. The white-haired youth could only rely on Nenene's healing and reversion abilities.
This afternoon of mutual beating hadn't caused a rift between them; instead, it had created a subtle understanding. This understanding was that if Eichi ever completely lost his sanity, the white-haired youth would be the one to personally end him.
"Goya, watch Eichi for a while. I'm going to sleep for a bit."
Nenene spoke softly to Goya. Compared to the white-haired youth and Eichi, Nenene actually trusted Goya even less, but she had no choice now. She had treated and reversed the white-haired youth's injuries multiple times, leaving her exhausted and weak.
"Not afraid I'll sell Eichi off again?"
Goya said with a smile. Nenene sighed and turned to go upstairs, sighing at her teammates' lack of intelligence. Being sold and still counting the money for the seller gave Nenene a feeling of 'living long enough to see everything.'
Goya hummed a low tune, a silver coin flipping between her fingers. Suddenly, the silver coin disappeared from her fingertips, and something touched her calf, letting her know that her helper had arrived.
Goya stretched lazily, silently counting in her mind: 3, 2, 1, fall~
With a *plop*, Eichi, who was drinking gloomily, collapsed. Goya hummed a tune as she walked upstairs. She stopped in front of the white-haired youth's door and pressed a crystal-like concretion against the door. This concretion turned into a dark red mist, passed through the door panel, and entered the mouth and nose of the sleeping white-haired youth. Nightmare... had arrived.
Goya continued forward. When she reached the door of the adjacent bedroom, she spun around playfully, her black floral skirt fluttering along with her.
Goya pushed open Nenene's bedroom door. It was somewhat dark inside. She walked to the bedside, looked at Nenene lying there, and snapped her fingers. Nenene had no reaction; the drug had taken effect.
Goya pulled a claw dagger from her thigh under her skirt and put it on her hand. She pressed the claw dagger against Nenene's neck and slashed down. Blood spurted out.
In the darkness, Goya waited for 3 seconds, then immediately took out bandages to stop Nenene's bleeding. Not only that, but she also pressed the claw dagger against her own thigh and slashed a deep wound across it. Blood gushed out.
The wound on Goya's leg looked like it had been caused by the large claws of some creature. For example, the Devourer form of Eichi had such claws.
Soon, wounds appeared on Goya's arms, behind her shoulders, and other places. Moving with difficulty, Goya carried Nenene to the front of the white-haired youth's bedroom door and collapsed with a *plop*. She slapped the door hard, leaving a bloody, concave handprint on it.
After doing all this, Goya swallowed a small pill. Her vital signs grew weaker and weaker, and so did her aura. Just then, an invisible creature dragged the unconscious Nenene downstairs, leaving a trail of blood.
Downstairs, Eichi lay on the ground. He was mildly paralyzed by the Mixed Inert Gas and drugs. Yet, despite this, he stood up from the ground. A black semi-fluid surged from all over his body, enveloping him.
Eichi transformed into a monster over three meters tall, with claws on his hands and sharp teeth all over his mouth. This was the Devourer's combat form.
At this moment, on the Devourer's forehead, a blue mark flickered with a faint light. This was an absolute command from Su Xiao.
The Devourer grabbed Nenene, who had been dragged over by Bubu Wang. With a *boom*, it smashed through the door and disappeared into the night.
A few minutes later, inside a three-story luxury mansion, the lights flickered on and off. The walls were covered with splattered bloodstains, and a strong smell of blood permeated the air.
A burly man, with only half his body remaining and tattoos covering his face and back, lay on the ground. Tears and snot flowed from him. He had died not long ago.
A clawed foot stepped on the half-corpse of this burly man. A mouth full of sharp teeth was tearing at the man's flesh.
After a while, the Devourer straightened up. There were no living people left in this building. It didn't know why it had come here. It was instinct driving it to kill all the enemies in this building. The enemies here had tried to fight back with guns, but to no avail. In the Devourer's eyes, they were too weak.
Black tentacles emerged from the Devourer's shoulders, writhing. The faint fragrance made its endurance reach its limit, but instinct suppressed it, preventing it from devouring the source of the fragrance. It wasn't time yet.
Meanwhile, in the white-haired youth's bedroom, the white-haired youth sat up in bed with a *whoosh*, panting heavily, his face covered in cold sweat.
"It was a dream. Thank goodness it was a dream."
The white-haired youth shook his head with a smile. He had just dreamed that Eichi had completely lost his sanity, and the Devourer inside him kept growing, even breaking its limits to the point of being unstoppable. Gamma City had turned into ruins, with half-eaten corpses everywhere, buildings covered in bloodstains, a scene of hell.
Although it was a dream, the white-haired youth felt it was exceptionally real. Moreover, after waking up, his forehead was still throbbing with pain.
Just then, the white-haired youth's body tensed. He smelled blood. He quickly put on his pants and shirt and rushed out of the bedroom. A large pool of blood came into view. Goya was lying in a pool of blood, with multiple claw marks on her body.
"Goya? Goya!"
The white-haired youth grabbed Goya's shoulders and shook her. Goya's eyes barely opened a slit.
"Go... save, Nenene. Eichi... has lost... control. Beware... of the Hunter Company."
After saying this, Goya completely passed out. For now, she wasn't in danger of dying.
With no other choice, the white-haired youth first settled Goya in Nenene's bedroom. As soon as he entered Nenene's bedroom, he saw bloodstains all over the bed. The bedding had several claw marks, with cotton and down spilling out.
The white-haired youth placed Goya on the bed. He pressed one finger to his forehead. In his perception, everything around him disappeared, leaving only four auras. Two were very unfamiliar, probably people from the Hunter Company. The other two were Eichi and Nenene.
The white-haired youth leaped out of the window in a few steps and quickly disappeared into the darkness, heading straight for Eichi's location.
Ten minutes later, inside the three-story luxury mansion, the Devourer · Eichi sat on a bloodstained coffee table, waiting.
"Hmm~?"
Not far away, Nenene woke up slowly. As soon as she woke up, she felt a heart-wrenching pain in her neck, which almost made her cry out in pain. The pain was too sudden.
Before Nenene could figure out what was happening, she was grabbed by an irresistible force. A large claw gripped her slender waist and lifted her from the ground.
By the light, Nenene finally saw what the monster in front of her was. It was the Devourer · Eichi. She had seen Eichi enter this combat form before.
The Devourer's large mouth opened. Nenene was about to resist when she felt the grip on her waist tighten, making her, already severely injured, feel weak.
*Bang!*
The front door was smashed in. The white-haired youth rushed in. The moment he entered the hall, the Devourer took a bite.
*Pfft!*
With one bite, the Devourer tore off Nenene's entire right arm, shoulder, and a third of her torso. Her heart sac was exposed, and a large amount of blood droplets splattered around.
The white-haired youth, who had just rushed in, witnessed this scene. His pupils rapidly constricted. The blood and flesh on the walls stimulated him, indicating that Eichi had killed at least a dozen people here. More importantly, the Devourer · Eichi's large claw was gripping Nenene's waist. She was the one whose body had been bitten off by a third.
Blood dripped down Nenene's pale arm, falling from her fingertips onto the blood on the ground with a *drip*.
This subtle sound made the white-haired youth's heart tremble.
"Eichi!!"
The white-haired youth roared in anger. The veins on his face and neck bulged.
*Boom!*
A bolt of golden lightning struck behind the white-haired youth. Golden arcs surged over his body. He slightly lowered his body, and his gaze changed.
Opposite him, the Devourer · Eichi crouched on the wooden coffee table. An eye opened on his left arm.
This was a 'Dark Eye' cultivated by Su Xiao through the Eye Ritual, using the dark matter from the Abyss · Dragon Abyss Bottom.
The Devourer could open up to five 'Dark Eyes' on its left arm at most. This was the peak combat power of the Devourer at its current stage. And now, it had opened the third eye.
Climax