Chapter 4: Go to the "Foul Land" to Find the First Saintess.
Considering Gulu's performance during the battle with the Wolf Cavalry, bringing her along this time was a good choice.
"I'm planning to go to the Foul Land to find the First Saintess. You can come along."
"You said before that you need Level 8 Protection to enter there safely, right?"
"That's right."
"Then how do I get in? I only have Level 5 Protection from my Protection Stone, and I'm not your follower, so I can't share the Protection status boosted by your equipment."
Gulu spread her hands, indicating she really 'wanted' to go, but her Protection level wasn't high enough.
"Use one and swallow one, and the Protection level will be sufficient."
"Are you sure... that'll work?"
Gulu was a bit tempted.
"Someone has tried it before."
Of course, Su Xiao wasn't fooling Gulu. Using one Protection Stone plus swallowing one could raise the Protection level to between 8 and 9. A contractor's partner had tried it before, though the experience was quite unpleasant a few hours later.
"So there's this method. By the way, how does the First Saintess's strength compare to the Wolf Cavalry Captain?"
Gulu seemed to ask casually, but this was actually her biggest concern. Her fight with the Wolf Cavalry Captain had left her a bit traumatized. As an Assassination-type contractor, she had always killed enemies with agility and precision, feeling she had chosen the right path. Especially during World War, slitting an enemy contractor's throat and instantly killing them felt amazing—only Assassination-types could understand that feeling.
But after arriving in Dead Silence City, Gulu felt the hostility here toward squishy characters. Even though her equipment was all 'pay-to-win' and her survivability in direct combat was stronger than some Eighth Rank Melee-types, here she was still a squishy target.
Regarding this, Gulu kept comforting herself that when facing a strong enemy, it would be her time to shine. After a series of combos like Fatal Backstab + Throat Slit + Reaper + Death Heart Extraction, even a boss-level unit in Dead Silence City would suffer massive damage.
The reality was, during Su Xiao's deadly battle with the Wolf Cavalry Captain, Gulu, as an Assassination-type, couldn't get close and almost died from an unknown large-scale shockwave. In her ideal, assassination was elegant; in reality, she had to hide at the edge of the battlefield and occasionally drink Recovery Potions.
Gulu's thought was: if the First Saintess was anything like the Wolf Cavalry Captain, she would refuse to go no matter what.
"The Wolf Cavalry Captain is one of the strongest in the Healing Church."
"Yeah, I guessed that."
"The First Saintess is a Demigod. In the Gloomy Continent during the Age of Gods, her strength probably ranked in the top three."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Gulu, who had been sitting on the edge of the small bed, immediately lay down, signaling: 'I'm seriously injured and can barely walk. I don't want to hold you back.'
"My father, I wish you success."
After saying this, Gulu pulled the blanket over her head, indicating she absolutely refused to go.
"..."
Su Xiao frowned. He had originally planned to trick Gulu into coming along. In the battle with the Wolf Cavalry Captain, aside from her using that Origin-level item, she had also served as a shield at the start of the fight.
Su Xiao left the Grand Cathedral with Bubu Wang and Baha. This time, besides going to the "Foul Land," there was a more important task: finding Amu's location.
...
Inner City, Back Half District. A sealed underground laboratory once used by the Healing Church.
Inside, the equipment was large and old, with black marks covering the thick metal. At the center of the ceiling, a distorted spatial vortex spun.
Below this spatial vortex, a dwarf was adjusting various devices. His head and the right half of his body were made of metal, giving him a fierce, unapproachable look.
Just then, blood and severed limbs suddenly scattered from the distorted spatial vortex above. Following them, Amu, holding the Dragonheart Axe, fell down with a thud amidst the debris.
"Failed again, hehehehe. You're pretty tenacious too. Isn't it better to be trapped here with me? Why do you insist on finding that contractor? Few contractors who come here ever leave; most of them die."
The Steel Dwarf spoke with a hint of mockery. Amu, covered in wounds and dripping blood, turned his gaze toward him.
"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. But... if you don't defeat the Lone Monster, you can't absorb its power. Without its power, you'll never leave this place. Keep trying. I hope you succeed before you die."
The Steel Dwarf grinned, revealing a mouthful of metal teeth. In truth, he was lying. This was his territory. Only he was trapped here. As for why he was tricking Amu, he had been imprisoned here by the "Divine Cult" for so many years that he couldn't even remember when the Healing Church was founded.
Having been trapped for so long, the Steel Dwarf finally had someone to talk to. Even though it was a dull ox, he wasn't about to let him go.
...
Inner City, directly below the Central Tower.
Su Xiao looked at the door that had opened before him. After stepping inside, a spiral staircase appeared before him. Following it, he reached the top of the tower after more than ten minutes.
The area wasn't large, circular in shape, with a 1.5-meter-high wall surrounding it. A metal ballista was set up here, surrounded by bloodstains. A man in priestly robes lay nearby, his chest blasted open like a blooming flower.
Beside him, Zuiyasi sat on the ballista, several nearly two-meter-long metal bolts piercing his torso and head. The reason Zuiyasi had killed this priest was obvious. Anyone would do the same—being suddenly pinned to the ground by a ballista bolt while walking down the street would make anyone want to kill the perpetrator.
"Bai Ye, how's the Source Stone search going?"
"Not bad."
"Where are you headed next? I'm free, so I can come with you."
"The Foul Land."
"Oh? What's there?"
Zuiyasi became interested.
"The First Saintess."
Hearing this, Zuiyasi suddenly fell silent. He looked up at the overcast sky, as if to say, 'Nice weather.'
This bastard Zuiyasi clearly knew how strong the First Saintess was. Realizing he couldn't trick this guy into coming along, Su Xiao headed down the tower.
Not far from the tower was the "Treatment Center." In this area, the surrounding buildings were covered in green moss, giving an oddly vibrant sense of life.
Half an hour later, Su Xiao stopped. The three-story building ahead was the Treatment Center. He walked up to the door and knocked.
Knock, knock, knock~
After a moment, the door remained silent. Just as Su Xiao thought no one was inside, the door opened, revealing a Crow Doctor standing within.
An eerie aura rushed toward him. The Crow Doctor's body writhed beneath his robe, as if he might morph into a horrifying monster at any second.
Su Xiao took out the [Hymn Group Badge]. The Crow Doctor's movements abruptly stopped. The twisted, bulging flesh under his robe retracted, returning to its original form.
The Crow Doctor, wearing leather gloves, took the [Hymn Group Badge], looked Su Xiao up and down, nodded at him, and returned the badge.
Su Xiao entered the Treatment Center. Under the Crow Doctor's guidance, he arrived at a wooden counter. Behind it sat a small old man with round glasses. For a moment, Su Xiao wondered if this was one of Kaisa's clones or something.
[Reminder: The Crow Doctor has temporarily recognized you as a member of the Healing Church.]
[The special faction of Dead Silence City, the Treatment Center, temporarily maintains a neutral/slightly friendly stance toward you.]
[You can use Ancient Gold Coins, Hymn Group Badges, Wolf Cavalry Badges, Saintess Badges, Pale Medals, Hunter Badges, Moonlight Badges, Lone Warrior Badges, or Sinner Badges to purchase or exchange rare resources here.]
[Reminder: The Treatment Center is a zone certified by the Void Tree.]
[You have activated the Treatment Center Shop.]
[Current Badges: Wolf Cavalry Badge, Hymn Group Badge.]
[Current Ancient Gold Coins: 6,017.]
[You can make the following exchanges.]