Chapter 132 Before the Battle

"Damn it! It makes me angry just thinking about it. I was living a life of luxury just last month, and now I've fallen to this point..."

"That first mate is a piece of shit, he couldn't even take a bullet! I never realized he was such a wimp before. If I had known, I would have chosen me as first mate!"

"Come on, you're so awesome, why don't you just fight him off..."

"Don't be lazy, newbie!" the foreman yelled. "You're the slowest of all the teams. Don't even think about eating if you don't finish this morning!"

The pirates quickly smiled apologetically, then turned around, cursing, and picked up their paintbrushes to continue painting the wall. The red paste they had absentmindedly splashed on, trickling down the cracks in the wall, made it look like some kind of memorial symbol from a third-rate cult.

This group had been detained the day before, but they'd escaped during the earthquake chaos before they could even be sentenced. After their recent string of misfortunes, they were absolutely determined not to rob or steal again. Since the post-earthquake reconstruction project was in urgent need of labor, the pirates found work at a construction site, essentially serving a forced labor reform before going to prison.

In a corner, facing away from the pirates, the heartless girl emerged from the shadows. She carefully marked a spot with her shuriken and secretly activated a communication: "This is Guangshi Qingye. There are currently no abnormalities in the western district."

A voice that was neither funny nor sad came from the communication relic: "Xiaoye, what are you doing..."

"I'm monitoring a key target," Qingye replied seriously. "For reasons I can't explain in detail, I believe these pirates are extremely dangerous."

"Oh, ah, that's it."

Judging from this nonchalant tone, Sister Huaisu and the others probably haven't realized the truth yet. Qingye couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at this thought, but considering the enemy's possible reconnaissance methods, she couldn't put her speculation into words. This contradiction made Qingye feel torn.

"Please be patient for a while, I will definitely save you!"

"Yeah, okay. Then remember to come back for lunch."

Ji Huaisu ended the call and slumped over the table, covering his face. "What's wrong with this kid? It's like he's fighting something we can't see. I feel like Xiaoye's brain isn't working very well!"

"It suits her age very well." Chu Hengkong commented, "Were you any smarter than her when you were 18?"

Miss Ji proudly puffed out her chest, which was even fuller than that of a high school girl: "At my age, I'm already slashing people on the street!"

"I really don't know where you get the confidence to say that about Qingye." Chu Hengkong activated the communication again, "Qingye, have you found Gulibo's manual?"

"No, I haven't. I've searched the area around the elementary school repeatedly over the past two days, but I haven't found anything."

"No need to add a quip when reporting."

"I understand." Qingye said seriously, "I wish you good luck in your fateful battle with the mayor."

"Honestly, even I don't understand what you are thinking."

Chu Hengkong tossed the communication crystal to Gulibo, allowing the enthusiasts to continue their in-depth conversation. Fander, who was listening in, speculated, "Maybe the 'black curtain' picked it up."

"If that's the case, then it doesn't matter. A character who can secretly control the entire city doesn't need a real-time map." Chu Hengkong shook his head. "Everyone, please be alert from now on. Try not to go out alone. Wait for me to come back after the battle."

The various anomalies during the Iceman rescue proved the existence of a mastermind, and Vander's memory-wiping technique further demonstrated its danger. Right now, the most capable fighter on the team was still him, a 2-point assassin. The thought of someone robbing his house while he was out was terrifying, so he had to make some preparations.

"Do we have to fight?" Saislun said, "The situation is not good... We can deal with personal grudges later. Let's evacuate first and then duel..."

"Reasonable people rarely become assassins." Chu Hengkong smiled. "I helped fight Jin Ye before because he had a bottom line, but he's not someone who cares about the overall situation. He said the duel must happen in two days. If I don't go, he'll attack me, which will be even more troublesome."

"What if the underground spiral tower ruins are completely defeated in your duel?" Gulibo said helplessly.

Chu Hengkong thought for a moment: "If the situation is really bad, I can try to send a letter to the empire."

"Do you think the Emperor Dede will come to rescue us?"

"The Empire will kill us and the heretics together." Chu Hengkong said, "This way we can die with the enemy and at least not lose anything."

Gulibo turned around, fell to the ground with a plop, and began to play dead. Ji Huaisu couldn't help laughing: "He's joking. When the situation improves, he will definitely ask Huilong City for reinforcements."

"Can the help be delivered today?" Seth Lun, who was listening in, interrupted nervously.

"The magic power concentration is still high. It will take at least half a day to activate long-distance communication." Shizhong wrote, "Bad luck."

Our luck was truly bad. The magical turbulence following the Stone Monster's death had severely disrupted the flow of information. Even if everyone had done everything they could to clear the demonic dust over the past two days, it would take at least until after the duel for it to completely dissipate.

The coincidence seemed to have been arranged long ago.

"The situation is already like this. There's no point in being anxious. Let's just let things take their course!" Vander was optimistic. "See if this thing can help?"

It handed over a thick stack of notes, a compilation of manuscripts collected at Jinye's mansion. Each page felt as rough as rock. After Jinye's death, a great deal of magic flowed into the manuscripts, turning them into a relic.

Although the original owner of this relic was not a good person, he was at least a talented person. Chu Hengkong took out the big book and pressed it. He didn't have much expectations, but the result was much better than he expected.

【Mixed Elements Magic Manuscript】

【Rating: 3 (bold)】

Origin: Fortress Ella (a string of smeared text, with only a few digits visible)

Jinye City

[Effect: A collection of the research results of the magical scholar Jin Ye in his later years, recording the manuscripts of many weapons and equipment design drawings. There are many fanciful ideas that are of no use, but nearly 1/3 of the content has reached the level of strange blades.

By inputting mental power and matter, the design in the manuscript can be transformed into a physical object.

Only usable by those who have ascended to the Path of Submerged World and Floating Light.】

[Missing: I am the true academic genius, and I must prove it. One day I will prove to the world that I am the best leader, and the fools will weep bitterly at my artistic talent, thus becoming the most daring adventurer in the world of motion. Then my inventions will have the greatest power.]

Three more pounds of fruit wine! 】

Everyone looked at the appraisal document with mixed emotions, as if they had witnessed with their own eyes a drunkard who vomited every day actually come up with an invention.

Vander, who was sorting through his manuscripts, was the most disappointed: "It's like I've drawn a high-rarity card that I can't use..."

It was a good item, a top-tier, sustainable relic with a level 3 output. If Youyou saw it, he could drag it to the workshop right away. Unfortunately, there wasn't a single Floating Light Path on the team, so relying on it to help in the duel was a no-go.

Chu Hengkong stared at the meaningless text for a while, and for a moment, he even thought about "reasoning with Shax." He smiled bitterly and shook his head, stuffed the manuscript into his Qiankun sleeve, and stood up.

"To be on the safe side, let's all hold out until communication is restored. I'm going to fight."

"Come back alive~"

"After all, you've worked so hard to come up with this plan. There's no reason for us to lose this time."

The killer left the base and headed for his own battlefield.

·

Very deliberately, Wu He let himself fall asleep.

In most Dust Isles, dreams represent the unknown and the forbidden. Dreams are the site of a clash between dragons and the moon, while nightmares are the domain of a notorious deity. Outside the protection of the ancient dragons, entering dreamland signifies emotional fluctuations and unstable states of mind, and some superstitious individuals even believe it's a foreboding sign of misfortune.

But Wu He didn't care about these claims. He possessed a highly reliable "means" to protect his dreams, perhaps the most reliable means in the world. With the help of that power, he drifted outside of dreams, looking down on his past like a high-ranking bystander.

At first, it was a place of lush green mountains and clear waters, a hidden and secret place. In a temple atop a waterfall, monks painted and sang, teaching the secrets of the Way of Talismans. It was fascinating, even from today's perspective. But that wasn't the life he needed.

The scene faded. It transformed into the frightened faces of his fellow disciples. Then it blurred again, transforming into a harbor, a forest, a city, a wilderness, a benevolent figure atop a city gate, a battle line where various tribes clashed, a battlefield that would never end... He waved his hand without hesitation, letting the past fade away one by one.

Suddenly, Wu He's movements stopped. The dream transformed into a boundless sea. A vulgar, lowly people gathered on a boat, praising his strength and vision. Thanks to a revelation, he had evacuated the fortress early, escaping the white disaster. He turned around, brimming with triumph, only to be met with a white light that shattered everything. Within that light stood the cold, powerful figure of steel.

Then the tsunami began. The massive waves crashed down like a world. Their boat sank, capsized, and their memories were cut off. When they regained consciousness, they had reached an unknown shore, thanks to his "tactics" to save their lives.

He led the few who had survived on his expedition... the frail natives... the absurd abundance of resources... the secrets discovered in the rapture of plunder. Inconceivable treasures. Powers that defied common sense. Like a dream, the long-desired "cure" was within his grasp, so easily.

Then, the monster discovered them too.

It was an absolute monster. An impossible monster to defeat. Its deformed body bathed in blood, its golden eyes as terrifying as a Tyrannosaurus. Those eyes saw him. From that day on, he was being targeted by the monster. There was no point in escaping. The monster would catch up. The monster would find him. The monster would kill him. Definitely, definitely, definitely, definitely, definitely—

"cough!"

Wu Heru leaped back as if struck hard. He clutched his mouth tightly, a strange-colored blood oozing from between his fingers. He swallowed it back, the look of a defeated man unwilling to admit defeat. The trembling in his body subsided. He took a deep breath. A twisted smile appeared.

"Excuse me, I made you laugh."

Shax tossed a box of tissues. "I told you dream reading was a bad idea. You can't defeat dreams."

"I don't believe it. You're clearly very experienced with nightmares." Wu He wiped his mouth. "Tell me about it. It's not some precious information."

"I've never conquered a nightmare," Shaxx said dryly. "I'm setting out to conquer it now."

Wu He paused for a moment, then understood what he meant. Nightmares are insurmountable; they are the fear bred from past defeats and setbacks. To overcome the source of nightmares, you can only start from reality, to overcome past defeats, to defeat the existence that once frightened you.

Shax's nightmare is the killer. He is obsessed with the upcoming duel not only because he is excited about the prey, but also because he wants to put an end to his past.

"While whether you win or lose has nothing to do with me...as someone who shares your pain, I still wish you success."

"Oh, thank you."

Wu He watched Shakes leave the room and face the life-and-death battle with the killers.

A smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. His previous wish was sincere. As a half-collaborator, he really hoped that Shakes could succeed.

He pulled out a small handbook containing a map of the event. Gulibo's employee handbook, which had been accidentally lost, had somehow ended up in this person's hands.

(End of this chapter)