Chapter 52: Reunion
The compatibility between the "Overlord Source Matter" and Su Xiao's ability system was beyond doubt. However, due to the stability cultivated by the Law Destruction faction's fortune, this item would definitely be absorbed only after reaching 100% compatibility.
Just now, raising all attributes to 900 points had consumed over 40,000 units of Space-Time Power, using up all the Space-Time Power accumulated this time. Now it seemed that the "Overlord Source Matter" would also be a major consumer of Space-Time Power.
In the past, after obtaining Space-Time Power, Su Xiao would mostly submit it to Reincarnation Paradise or use it as currency in the Honor Shop. But now, as he approached the Supreme rank, although he still couldn't directly absorb Space-Time Power, some rare strengthening resources required Space-Time Power to activate, enhance, or improve compatibility.
This gradually confirmed one thing for Su Xiao: although Space-Time Power was a resource needed by the Paradise factions and couldn't be absorbed by the physical body, as he reached the Supreme rank, the indirect need for Space-Time Power would likely increase.
The good news was that the foundation he had laid earlier, the "Hunt List: Blood Pact," allowed him to steadily obtain Space-Time Power.
Su Xiao wouldn't forget that he still owed Reincarnation Paradise 85,000 ounces of Space-Time Power. Thinking about it now, no wonder Kaisa was so fond of Space-Time Power; that guy was clearly one or two versions ahead.
[You have successfully killed the Dark Hybrid. You have obtained the "Entry Key."]
[It has been verified that you are already within the "Dawn Ruins." You will directly participate in the final stage of this battle royale.]
[The final stage will last 5 natural days (28 hours, 52 minutes, and 40 seconds have already passed).]
[This round consists of a 40-hour exploration phase (reward phase) and an 80-hour escape and kill phase.]
[Exploration phase remaining: 11 hours, 7 minutes, and 18 seconds.]
[When the exploration phase time limit is reached, any team that has not entered the decisive battle area (Dawn Ruins) will immediately lose their qualification to participate, and the "Shattered Origin" they currently hold will be reclaimed and added to the total number of "Shattered Origins" in the final stage.]
[Current number of teams within the "Dawn Ruins": 6.]
[When entering the "Escape and Kill Phase," each team will receive 2 "Shattered Origin Marks." When a team is successfully eliminated, the eliminator will obtain a number of "Shattered Origins" equal to the eliminated team's "Shattered Origin Marks."]
[Congratulations on successfully participating in the final stage of this Paradise Battle Royale. As a reward, you can freely explore the Dawn Ruins and obtain two free notarization rights from the Void Tree.]
[Tip: Some items within the Dawn Ruins cannot be notarized through this free notarization right, such as high-integrity infrastructure, advanced facilities, unique facilities, and the core components of such facilities.]
...
The danger of the final round was beyond doubt, but for Su Xiao, this final round was his home ground. For the other participants, Su Xiao was no longer just a high threat; he was clearly a death knell.
The reason the plan with Shenfu had been so successful earlier was that the old bastard had deliberately concealed the prompts about the final round of the battle royale. This old thing knew that Su Xiao's Dark Hybrid hadn't died yet, so he couldn't push the notarization to the final round and naturally couldn't know the above prompt information.
Therefore, Shenfu had gathered those people for two purposes: first, to surround and kill the Wild Beast for high rewards, and second, to then jointly besiege Su Xiao. Suffice it to say, this old thing was insidious and steady enough.
Switching the perspective to Shenfu, one would find that as long as this plan started, whether Su Xiao secured the kill or Kane and the others did, Shenfu was the beneficiary.
Furthermore, due to the content of the subsequent battle royale, even if Kane and the others realized they had been schemed against by Shenfu, they had to swallow this matter and pretend they didn't know that Shenfu had secretly colluded with Su Xiao to scheme against them. This was because they indeed needed to unite later to deal with the most powerful combatant, the Hunter, Bai Ye.
If they exposed Shenfu's scheming, even if they expelled Shenfu or even killed him on the spot, what would be the point? They couldn't recover the kill rewards, and they would lose Shenfu, this bizarre humanoid Ancient God teammate.
Why were these people so united? The answer was simple: Su Xiao's combat power in this battle was too formidable. Especially when they had previously teamed up to deal with the Abyss Guard Captain, only Su Xiao could directly confront this Abyss boss and severely wound him several times.
After discussion, they became more certain that if they didn't do something, even if a whole team fought him one-on-one, they had no chance of winning.
Originally, Kane's team and the Demon Scythe team had intended to cooperate in the final round, but since the final round was an escape and kill competition, both sides were hesitant. However, after Demon Scythe Tylid obtained the detection data from Kane's team, the cooperation between the two sides naturally came about.
Not only that, but Kane also approached Hao Tao. Upon hearing that they were going to deal with Bai Ye together, Hao Tao laughed. His original words were that he would deal with Bai Ye himself, but it would be a one-on-one deathmatch, not a siege.
However, after Hao Tao saw the detection data provided by the bald man, he immediately fell silent and never mentioned a one-on-one duel again.
It was no wonder Hao Tao reacted this way. Before entering this world, Su Xiao's health points were still 3.9 million, which was already exaggerated enough. But now, he had doubled his health points.
Of course, this included the 2 million points increased through the "Supreme Life Source Matter," and the 1 million points from the life-nourishing equipment [Life Source Monarch] he had before entering this world.
Even so, the remaining 910,000 health points he had increased were still an astonishing improvement. Suffice it to say, risk and opportunity coexisted. Participating as a Hunter in a world battle royale heading to the Dawn Ruins meant bearing several times more risk than others, but the rewards were equally impressive.
In front of a damaged "Potential Transcendence Device," Su Xiao observed the precision components in his hand. After studying for a moment, he felt that he indeed had no talent in mechanics. Fortunately, Bubu Wang had quite a talent in both the technology side and mechanics, so he could continue to cultivate in this direction later.
There were still ten hours until the final stage of slaughter. Although Su Xiao predicted that he might be besieged, he could only wait and see for now. The few competitors this time were either impossible to fool or had already been fooled by him several times to the point of being crippled. Now, whenever he tried to negotiate with them, they felt he was scheming against them. Truly... the hearts of men were not what they used to be.
Summoning the Lord's Train, Su Xiao loaded the collected parts onto the train.
Su Xiao had already found a way to judge the value of these parts. Among the total of over a thousand types of various components from the "Potential Transcendence Device," he picked up one and tried to notarize it using the "Notarization Right" granted by the Void Tree.
[Yes/No Notarize this ??? Part.]
Su Xiao chose no. He picked up another component and began testing them one by one. After testing over a hundred types, a different prompt appeared.
[You cannot notarize this item using the free notarization right obtained this time.]
Su Xiao hadn't forgotten that the prompt about the two free notarization rights had mentioned that high-integrity Dawn Paradise facilities and the core components of such facilities could not be notarized.
The component in his hand was clearly not related to high integrity. What Su Xiao had collected were all heavily damaged "Potential Transcendence Devices." As for a complete "Potential Transcendence Device," cough~, it was no shame not being able to dismantle a high-level Paradise facility.
Su Xiao observed the component in his hand. It was a rhomboid shape with many holes, its texture resembling black crystal. It looked like a consumable, but this thing was actually a core component of the "Potential Transcendence Device."
Using the free notarization right as an elimination method, Su Xiao quickly identified three core components of the "Potential Transcendence Device." These three core components were all particularly unremarkable in appearance, completely incomparable to the five items he and Bubu Wang had previously selected. The five items selected earlier looked rare and expensive at a glance, but these three—a rhomboid crystal block, a lump of gray semi-fluid, and a component resembling a metal button—were different.
Checking the time, there were still over two hours until the final stage. He simply picked up a "Potential Transcendence Device" component that looked particularly high-end and atmospheric, and used the free notarization right to notarize this item.
[You have obtained the Space-Time Power Conversion Device T255.]
[Space-Time Power Conversion Device T255]
Origin: Dawn Paradise.
Type: High-level Paradise facility component.
Effect: Participates in converting Space-Time Power.
Rating: This item does not require notarization rating.
Introduction: Used in conjunction with the "Space-Time Power Conversion Device N33" and the "Circulation Release Device" to perform preliminary conversion of Space-Time Power, preventing the specific World Source mixed within the Space-Time Power from causing severe wear to the "Dynamic Chain Aggregation Device" during subsequent conversion processes.
Selling Price: 5943.6 ounces of Space-Time Power (depending on the degree of wear).
...
Seeing this price, Su Xiao tried to inquire about the notarization fee for this item. He had found over a dozen of these converters in total, but the result was not optimistic. The notarization fee for this item reached 6,580 ounces of Space-Time Power.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang barked, meaning it was his turn. He and Su Xiao had each selected a "Potential Transcendence Device" component earlier.
Su Xiao notarized the component Bubu Wang had chosen, and it appeared.
[You have obtained the Dynamic Chain Aggregation Device.]
[Dynamic Chain Aggregation Device]
Origin: Dawn Paradise.
Type: High-level Paradise facility component.
Effect: Participates in converting Space-Time Power.
Rating: This item does not require notarization rating.
Introduction: A precise yet fragile device. Maintaining such integrity under immense impact is nothing short of a miracle.
Selling Price: 18,590 ounces of Space-Time Power (depending on the degree of wear).
...
Seeing this price, Bubu Wang proudly and swiftly raised his dog head. However, he overdid it, and with a soft crack, he strained his neck. Added to the fact that this fool had slept with a stiff neck last night, the pain made him howl. Heaven knows what strange posture this canine had used to give himself a stiff neck.
A Soul Crystal appeared in Su Xiao's hand. He was about to take a bite, but then thought about the upcoming deadly battle with those troublesome guys. It might end with him being buried here. Before a life-or-death battle, having a luxurious meal, he switched to a Soul Crystal Core. Amidst Fenny's puzzled gaze from the opposite seat, he took a crisp bite.
Mm, the taste of the Soul Crystal Core was indeed richer. Feeling the Soul Energy in his mouth transform from solid to liquid, like ripe fruit juice, full and juicy.
"Gulp~"
The sound of swallowing came from Fenny. Please don't misunderstand; she wasn't craving it. She was afraid. This was a fear stemming from instinct, from the depths of her soul, like being close to an angry beast feeding. Even though she knew it wasn't eating her, she couldn't help but feel fear.
Su Xiao paused in his bite of the Soul Crystal Core, looking at Fenny, who was staring straight at him, and said, "You want some?"
"Ah, no, no, no, no, no, no!!"
Fenny's little head shook like a rattle drum.
There were still a few hours until the deadly battle. But just then, a prompt appeared.
[Warning: Your team member, Tyrant, has killed the captain of the same faction's second team, Rosa.]
[Your team member, Tyrant, has been judged as a high-risk Violator for killing a friendly captain on the battlefield. As you are not a Battle Angel, you cannot accept the initial hunting mission for this Violator.]
[Tyrant has been automatically expelled from the team.]
...
Suffice it to say, this was indeed worthy of Tyrant. He had become a Violator within the Dawn Ruins, and in such a crude and brainless manner.
A dozen seconds after this prompt appeared.
Thump, thump, thump!
The train door was rudely knocked. Su Xiao controlled the train to open the door. The person didn't board but tossed a piece of "Shattered Origin" inside.
"Rosa asked me to give this to you. She kept mumbling about it before she died."
Tyrant stood with his arms crossed, looking like he was already impatient and wanted Su Xiao to come down and die.
"Kukulin Bai Ye, come down and die!"
Tyrant let out a vigorous roar. From his barely suppressed smirk, it was clear how confident he was in this battle and how delighted he was at the impending victory.
Su Xiao stepped down the metal steps of the train, looking at Tyrant with a hint of suspicion. He had always known that Tyrant was not good at strategy, but this level of suicidal stupidity shouldn't have occurred.
Suddenly, a bad premonition arose in his heart. Tyrant's undying ability felt very much like a mutation of Abyss power. Having frequently dealt with Abyss spread, he wasn't afraid of that. The key point was that this type of Abyss-mutated power system had a certain probability of resonating with specific Original Sin Objects.
Su Xiao was indeed sealing six big daddy-level Original Sin Objects, but that didn't mean he was willing to face the abilities of an Original Sin Object holder. Although such holders were generally short-lived, their brief, fireworks-like lives could erupt with astonishing combat power or weirdness.
"Heh, hahaha."
Tyrant, true to his name, even his laughter had a unique style of lacking brain cells.
"Prepare to die, Bai Ye."
Tyrant, with a face full of delight, raised his hand and placed a thick wooden mask on his face. It could be sensed that the wooden mask was in a state of absorbing and sleeping, clearly having consumed a lot of resources to enter such a slumber.
As the withered wood mask approached Tyrant's face, strands of bright red, hair-like tendrils writhed out from the mask and burrowed into Tyrant's face. It was evident that Tyrant's expression showed some pain. The mask's continuous absorption of Primordial Life Force caused the blood vessels on his body to bulge.
If anyone else had their Primordial Life Force absorbed like this, they would die in no time. But Tyrant was an undying type. If a normal person's Primordial Life Force was 100, his was at least 300,000. That was the reason he could regenerate from a single drop of blood.
"Face a power beyond your own."
Under the influence of the withered wood mask, Tyrant's voice was somewhat muffled. He spread his arms, ready for the imitation and transcendence the mask would bring.
Indeed, this was the ability of the withered wood mask. After wearing it, it continuously absorbed the wearer's Primordial Life Force but also granted the wearer an imitation ability. It could imitate enemies they had fought or killed before, or even imitate the powerful enemy they were currently facing.
Not only that, but imitation was just the first step of the withered wood mask. As the battle continued, the mask would allow Tyrant to gradually surpass the imitated target. Using this trick, Tyrant had killed many powerful enemies in the last two world progressions, achieving S-rank world evaluations twice in a row. And with his brute force and the sufficient mission guidance from Apocalypse Paradise, he had completed many high-difficulty missions.
Now, Tyrant wanted to overcome his long-standing inner demon, the Hunter before him.
A gust of wind swept up fallen leaves, blowing between the two. Tyrant, who had raised his arms, was unable to imitate. This made him look puzzled, and he patted the withered wood mask on his face with his hand.
"Mask, do it!"
Finding that manual control wasn't working, Tyrant tried voice activation.
"..."
Su Xiao, his hand on the sword hilt, stroked the Soul Gem at the end of the hilt with his thumb. He had thought Tyrant had some big move prepared, but instead, the guy had pulled a stunt. This fool had actually brought back the pseudo-Original Sin Object he had released, the "Primordial Mask."
Actually, it wasn't just Tyrant who was confused now. Why wasn't the mask working? The "Primordial Mask" had been sleeping soundly when it was suddenly awakened. Considering that this fool had offered quite a few resources, it decided to help him fight. But just as it was about to assume its stance, it was met with the existence it feared the most.
Speaking of which, the "Primordial Mask" had also been incredibly unlucky. Last time, its chosen owner was a man named "Black Wizard Casper," an assassin. That assassin had brought it before the existence it feared the most.
That time, the "Primordial Mask" was like a dirty rag. The "Original Sin Power" it had accumulated for a long time was wrung out by that terrifying existence like wringing a rag. The "Primordial Mask" was very angry. In its anger, it was angry for a long time, then decided not to find an assassin but a brute, preferably one with even lower intelligence. Then it met Tyrant.
During its cooperation with Tyrant, the "Primordial Mask" had been quite carefree. This fool had no brains, and even more perfectly, because he was so brainless, the will fluctuations it emitted were mistaken by the fool for his own thoughts, and he would then execute them. This was a max-level tool.
After several dozen natural days, the "Primordial Mask" had completely relaxed its vigilance towards this fool. So it decided to sleep for a while to deeply digest the "power" it had plundered during this time. It had a dream of becoming a true Original Sin Object, even though that would cause it to lose all its subjective consciousness, it was willing to pay that price.
"So, you plan to deal with me together with him."
Su Xiao looked at the Primordial Mask with red light in his eyes. As soon as he said this, the Tyrant opposite him felt an inexplicable shiver.
"Heh, it's not too late for you to beg for mercy now."
As soon as Tyrant finished speaking, he fell to his knees with a thud before Su Xiao.
"You, you're asking for death!"
Tyrant was furious. Although his intelligence couldn't understand the reason for all this, it didn't stop him from raging and cursing.
With a bang, the kneeling Tyrant slammed his head on the ground. The force of this headbutt was so great that it smashed a round pit in the stone floor.
With his forehead pressed against the ground, Tyrant's pupils trembled. Then, a scene worthy of being on the "Apocalypse Paradise Annual Idiot Ranking" appeared. While loudly cursing Su Xiao, Tyrant, controlled by the "Primordial Mask," kept banging his head against the ground, bang bang bang. Suffice it to say, the undying Tyrant was indeed physically strong; his headbutts even created afterimages, scattering the surrounding dead leaves.
Bang, bang, bang...
Tyrant's angry shouts gradually diminished. As the saying goes, a real man knows when to bend and when to stand. He took a deep breath and then roared:
"Platinum Apostle, save me!"
At this moment, in the shadows, the Platinum Apostle, dressed like a mature lady in stockings, was holding her forehead with one hand. She had originally planned to trick Tyrant into going to his death, then use his death to create a fate mark. Instead, this scene had unfolded.
Zheng~
The long sword was drawn. A blade aura flashed, and Tyrant's head was cleanly severed. No kill prompt appeared. Su Xiao wasn't surprised by this; after all, this was an undying type who had survived on Blazing Sun Star.
The "Primordial Mask" fell off and landed on the ground. Su Xiao picked it up, frowning slightly as he thought, almost talking to himself: "Could it be... it has developed consciousness?"
Su Xiao's words didn't cause any fluctuation in the "Primordial Mask." It seemed as before, just a dead object with Original Sin characteristics.
Seeing this, Su Xiao took out the "Book of Original Sin," removed the Scarlet Card from the ninth page, made room for the "Primordial Mask," and sealed this pseudo-Original Sin Object inside. He let the six big daddy-level seniors—the Collector, the Necronomicon, the Scarlet Scepter, the Sun Mask, the Nether Bone Ring, and the Soul Crown—have a 'friendly' exchange with it.
Su Xiao saw that the "Primordial Mask" inside the page visibly shriveled. The Original Sin power stored inside was all absorbed by the "Book of Original Sin," estimated to be roughly equivalent to four [Original Sin Cores].
A few minutes later, the "Primordial Mask" was drained dry. Su Xiao took it out. Sure enough, his guess was correct. The "Primordial Mask" had developed self-consciousness. The reason was that on the originally smooth surface of the wooden mask, a face of agony had now appeared.