Chapter 43: Victory
Su Xiao took a deep breath, the sharp pain in his chest causing his vision to darken. He immediately took out a syringe and injected it into his neck.
[Adrenaline]
Origin: Reincarnation Paradise
Quality: Purple
Type: Functional Drug
Effect: Reduces pain by 70% after use, increases attack and movement speed by 20%, comes with an euphoric effect that can relieve exhaustion, effects last 10 minutes.
Rating: 127
Introduction: A natural stimulant, do not underestimate it. When exhausted, it is the last hope.
The intense pain throughout his body gradually subsided, and his bloodshot vision returned to normal.
"Good."
Lightly flicking the blood off Dragon-Slaying Flash, Su Xiao slowly walked behind Uvogin.
At this moment, Uvogin stood frozen in place. After entering automatic operation mode, he relied on visual capture of enemies, doing everything without needing commands from his brain.
Although bypassing the brain greatly enhanced Uvogin's mobility, the drawback was significant: not using the brain meant losing perception.
With his eyes gouged out, Uvogin couldn't find a second target, and the automatic operation mode forcibly terminated.
Standing behind Uvogin, Su Xiao showed no mercy and slashed down with his blade.
Pfft, blood splattered. The slash didn't sever Uvogin's head but cut halfway through his neck.
Uvogin, who had been standing still, suddenly moved. His fist, as big as a sandbag, swung back toward Su Xiao, but several hexagonal energy shields immediately appeared beside Su Xiao.
Boom!
Debris flew from under Su Xiao's feet. The force of Uvogin's punch was greatly diminished, failing to send him flying.
Bracing against Uvogin's punch, Su Xiao kicked him in the lower back. Uvogin stumbled forward a few steps, and Su Xiao charged in, cleanly slicing off Uvogin's head with one slash.
[You have killed Uvogin (Automatic Operation Mode)]
[Detected that Uvogin's abilities were significantly enhanced, reward increased.]
[Uvogin is a member of the Phantom Troupe, obtaining 10.2% World Source. Total World Source obtained: 39.7%.]
[Due to killing three Troupe members, Phantom Troupe reputation -700. Current Troupe reputation: -900 (Mortal Enemy).]
As Uvogin died, Shalnark, who was already bleeding from all seven orifices, collapsed to the ground and lost all signs of life within seconds. This was the greatest risk of automatic operation: if Uvogin fell in battle, all of Shalnark's Nen energy would dissipate.
Nen energy is life energy. The consequence of life energy dissipating was obvious: death!
Uvogin's headless body fell, and a pale gold treasure chest dropped to the ground. Yes, pale gold.
The pale golden glow caused chaos among the surrounding contractors. In that instant, most of them had the urge to rush into the battlefield.
Su Xiao picked up the pale gold chest and stored it in his inventory, also grabbing Uvogin's head. He tossed the head toward the edge of the valley, and the contractors with red-rimmed eyes seemed to have cold water poured over them.
"If you have the guts, come and take it. I may not be able to kill all of you, but the first few will definitely die."
Su Xiao's shout echoed through the valley. The contractors waiting to reap the spoils all hesitated, waiting for someone to make the first move.
"This guy's almost done. Who has ranged abilities?"
A contractor yelled, but no one stepped forward. Everyone knew by now that the first to attack Su Xiao would have no good end.
The sound of hurried footsteps came. Bubu Wang was sprinting at full speed into the valley. Moments later, he reached Su Xiao.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang barked, clearly meaning: "Master, 'hop on.' This dog has come to the rescue."
Su Xiao swung onto Bubu Wang's back. Bubu Wang bolted toward the edge of the valley.
"Bai Ye, come save me!"
Porcupine screamed hoarsely. Under the siege of Machi and Shizuku, he was at constant risk of death.
"Hold them off for two minutes, and I'll save your life."
Bubu Wang had already carried Su Xiao to the valley's edge. Hearing this, Porcupine felt even more despair. He didn't seem able to last two minutes.
Machi and Shizuku exchanged glances. They had two choices: retreat or pursue Su Xiao.
"Retreat."
Machi stepped back, and Shizuku also felt the urge to flee.
Porcupine had just breathed a sigh of relief when he suddenly remembered that Su Xiao had told him to hold them off. If they escaped, would Su Xiao settle the score later?
The more Porcupine thought about it, the more panicked he became. Su Xiao's terrifying combat power had already left a shadow on him. After hesitating for a moment, he charged at Shizuku. Shizuku was injured, making her a prime soft target.
Seeing this, Machi's expression changed drastically. They had lost today. If they didn't leave now, they would all die here. The enemy's words about holding them off for two minutes meant he had healing abilities.
"Machi, you go quickly."
Shizuku's face was calm. She was injured, and with the enemy's speed, she couldn't escape.
"..."
"Machi, we can't all die. We need to report this situation to the leader. For the Troupe, your ability is more important."
Shizuku gripped her vacuum cleaner-like Demon Beast, Blinky, tightly, forcing Porcupine back step by step.
Shizuku smiled. She wasn't afraid of death because she knew that one day, she would be killed by someone stronger.
Although Shizuku looked like a dazed girl with glasses, don't be fooled by her kind appearance. She was a Troupe member. At least a hundred souls had died by her hands, including doctors, merchants, children, thieves, and gang members.
At the top of the valley, Bubu Wang stopped beside the car they had arrived in. Black Mary was sitting in the driver's seat.
Su Xiao stored Dragon-Slaying Flash in his inventory and reached for the half-arm he had been holding in his mouth. It was his own arm.
Reattaching a limb was different from regenerating a severed one. Su Xiao preferred the latter.
He climbed into the passenger seat. The dazed Black Mary was startled. Su Xiao was covered in blood, with one arm severed.
"Mr. White Night, are you alright?"
Black Mary swallowed hard.
"Do I look alright? Use your ability quickly."
"Okay, okay, I'm on it."
Black Mary took a few deep breaths and struck a peculiar pose.
"Heal!"
Su Xiao: "..."
Bubu Wang: "..."
"Heal, regenerate, holy light..."
"Focus, dammit! Concentrate on the Dark Rose."
"Oh, oh, right, focus. Mr. White Night, I'm sorry. Suddenly having this kind of amazing ability, I'm just an ordinary woman..."
Su Xiao and Bubu Wang stared intently at Black Mary. Her body trembled, and she immediately focused her mind on the rose tattoo.
The Dark Rose floated in front of Su Xiao, and milky white Nen energy enveloped him.
As the Dark Rose rotated, the severed forearm floated to the stump. Muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels rapidly regenerated. Moments later, Su Xiao's right arm was restored.
Not only did the arm heal, but three broken ribs also began to recover.
After a while, Su Xiao leaned back in the passenger seat, somewhat fatigued. All injuries were healed, the pain was gone, and his body felt so relaxed that he wanted to sleep.
The Dark Rose in midair stopped spinning. Large petals withered and fell. A total of twelve petals dropped, leaving only eight on the rose. This surprised Su Xiao.
But he quickly figured out what was happening. The stronger the individual being healed, the greater the consumption. He had severe injuries plus a severed limb, and given his strength, consuming twelve petals at once was normal.
The Dark Rose returned to Black Mary's arm. Her head suddenly dropped onto the steering wheel, and she fell asleep instantly, drool flowing. She was exhausted from overuse.
Just as Su Xiao was about to leave the car, a dark purple glow appeared from the back seat. He turned his head to see Bubu Wang holding a dark purple treasure chest in his mouth. This must be Nobunaga's chest.
"I thought those contractors had stolen this."
Su Xiao took the chest.
"Wait in the car."
Leaving these words, Su Xiao, now fully healed, walked back toward the valley. Although his injuries were completely recovered, he was very tired, and his mana was only a few points, just barely restored.