Chapter 1
It's rare to have such nice weather tonight. All sorts of monsters and ghosts are behaving themselves; the peaceful atmosphere is almost eerily so.
Only in the desolate countryside not far from the city was there some liveliness; from the owl's perspective, the silence there seemed to be shadowy figures moving about.
......
The cold blade sliced through the night, the Kaifeng steel knife reflecting a milky white light under the moonlight, drawing a beautiful yet deadly arc.
But it was deflected by a small shield strapped to the wrist; the steel rubbed against each other, sending out scorching sparks that smelled of rust. The fiery sparks bounced in the air.
The man wielding the sword then charged forward with a shoulder strike; the metal shoulder armor sank deep into the leather armor, sending him staggering back several steps.
This seems like a chance to catch my breath, so I'll take the opportunity to check on these guys.
The one wielding the sword was a man wearing a dark red robe, with a large metal mask and a head of messy, reddish-brown hair exposed.
He appeared to be a middle-aged man, not particularly burly. In fact, he was rather thin, though not short, more like a tall stick standing on the ground.
He held a short blade, only about the length of his forearm, covered with strange patterns that looked magnificent and dazzling in the moonlight.
In front of this guy were three thieves wearing leather armor: one with a meteor hammer and a round shield, one carrying a large sword full of sharp teeth, and the other swinging a long spear.
Looking towards the middle-aged man, there was only him and the motionless figure behind him. That figure looked even more frail, only reaching his chest. A cloak covered its face, and it stood not far away. Its presence here clearly indicated its involvement in the matter, yet it seemed like a mere passerby.
However, the reason she stayed there motionless was not for any particular reason, but simply because... she was very scared.
“Father…” she groaned softly, her voice revealing a young girl, not very old. She clutched the hem of her robe tightly, standing there trembling slightly.
"It's alright, don't be afraid," the middle-aged man said through gritted teeth, taking a deep breath and getting back into position.
This situation was quite unfavorable for him. He only had a short knife, and he wasn't someone who exercised regularly. The strenuous activity made his breathing rapid, and his body slightly bent, like a bow—a longbow ready to unleash a sharp sword at any moment.
However, the enemy was clearly not in a hurry to attack. The guy with the meteor hammer swung the hammer head and slowly moved forward, while the other two slowly adjusted their positions.
No matter how good the bow is, you can't keep it drawn indefinitely; they're just stalling for time.
It's a very simple tactic. Just keep at it until the guy who's fighting alone is the one who dies.
Damn it, shouldn't they be robbers? If they are robbers, why are they causing so much trouble? The middle-aged man spat on the ground, the phlegm mixed with blood. He was injured. As he blocked the big knife, a tremendous force ruptured his internal organs.
This place is only a few kilometers away from the nearest city, and it would only take a little over an hour to walk there without riding a horse. Damn it, aren't they afraid of the patrolling guards?
The middle-aged man thought to himself, then pulled out one hand and secretly reached behind him.
The instant his hand left the knife, the man wielding the spear seized the opportunity, thrusting straight for his brow. It was an extremely vicious thrust; the spearhead was incredibly sharp, a flash of cold light passing by, the sound of it tearing through the air like ripping silk—it would likely pierce a person's body with ease.
But the guy's spear stopped halfway, and then he was bounced away as if he had been electrocuted... no, he was actually knocked back several meters!
He managed to stand, staggered back two steps, opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood, using his spear to support himself so he wouldn't fall.
The roaring sound came out simultaneously, making everyone's head ache.
The middle-aged man held a bronze-colored pistol in his hand. The gun had intricate engravings and looked like a rather heavy pistol.
The gun barrel is now emitting wisps of white smoke; it was the bullets it spat that just repelled the opponent.
The next moment, the remaining two men almost simultaneously swung their weapons forward. The weapons gleamed with a deadly cold light; this was the moment they had been waiting for.
This musket is a weapon from Nidra, a steam-powered city steeped in alchemy, and only there could such an exquisite weapon be made.
That's the only weapon they need to be wary of. Incidentally, this short musket is a muzzle-loading type. It's not a fully automatic weapon, so reloading takes time. But will they give him that time?
But one more person moved. Moving alongside them was the girl in the robe behind them; she charged forward with unbelievable speed. She swung her left arm to parry the blade, completely unfazed by its sharpness.
The robe was shaken by her large movement and flew through the air, finally revealing what was hidden inside.
With a sickening metallic clang, the greatsword was severed, the break so clean. He was then sent flying by a flying kick, the girl using the momentum to spin and deliver a knee strike to the other man.
The guy was clearly startled by the sudden turn of events and quickly raised his shield to block, but the pain in his arm forced him to retreat repeatedly.
The girl stopped and moved to stand in front of the middle-aged man. Her cloak had been torn in the collision, and her long black blade gleamed coldly in the dim light.
Those who witnessed this scene couldn't help but gasp, because the guy in front of them was truly terrifying.
It was a doll-like, exquisite face, and on that flawless face, red patterns slowly crept up. After the patterns spread to one eye, half of the left pupil turned into an eerie dark purple, but before you could look any further, pale green hair fell down and covered the left half of the face.
The girl was estimated to be around sixteen years old, and was quite beautiful.
She didn't have a left arm; instead, her left elbow was replaced by an intricate mechanical structure with gears turning slightly, and a black blade fixed to it.
"An alchemical puppet?" The man holding the spear wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and asked his companion in a low voice.
The bullet didn't kill him; it was stopped by the leather armor, which was inlaid with metal. The leather armor didn't look like ordinary stuff, but that shouldn't be on a robber.
This is why firearms did not replace bows and arrows; their weakness has always been a drawback. They couldn't even penetrate leather armor with steel plates inside, let alone harm monsters with skin as thick as steel bars.
In other words, alchemists or mechanics—people who haven't received much training—would possess this kind of weapon. It could serve some form of self-defense.
"She should... but why... she seems to be alive." The man holding the meteor hammer in the front showed a hint of fear, but quickly calmed down, took out a pill from the cloth bag at his waist, and put it in his mouth.
Seeing this, the other two also swallowed the pills and slowly dispersed to surround the two.
They already knew that the robber was just an alchemist, and it wasn't strange for an alchemist to have a combat doll with him, so there was no reason for them to panic.
Moreover, this doll was originally their target.
The medicine they took could revitalize their bodies; it was something made by wizards and was quite expensive, something they hadn't originally intended to consume. But now, it seemed, this wasn't the time to be frugal.
The wizards used various rare animals and herbs to boil medicines in large pots, and the effects were immediate after consumption. A faint red glow could be seen on the three of them, their body temperature rose, their heartbeats quickened, and hot blood was pumped from their hearts to every corner of their bodies.
In just a few seconds, their danger level rose to another level.
"What are you doing up here?" the middle-aged man asked, looking somewhat anxious as he looked at the guy blocking his way.
"I...I'm afraid you'll get hurt." The girl who suddenly appeared lowered her head, looking at the ground like a child who had done something wrong: "I hope I can help in any way I can."
In a short time, the color of her pupils gradually faded, returning to a soft chestnut brown. The patterns faded, giving more space back to her beautiful face.
Then there was a deathly silence; neither of them spoke a word for a long time.
"Are you alright?" The middle-aged man quickly loaded his ammunition, looked at the guy in front of him, and took a deep breath: "Be careful, they're not ordinary bandits."
"I will." The girl took a few deep breaths, seemingly breathing steadily. Her body trembled slightly, and she still looked a little scared, as if the series of amazing movements just now were not her doing.
She returned to her previous state, the lines on her face grew, her pupils changed color, and her aura underwent a dramatic transformation in an instant.
What followed was a chanting sound that startled both of them, causing them to instinctively jump away to avoid it.
A torrent of scorching fire swept over them, the burning sparks almost grazing them and even setting their cloaks ablaze.
The spot where they had been standing was now charred black from the heat.
The stream of fire disappeared as quickly as it appeared, like a rattlesnake that had been waiting for its chance to pounce on its prey and had no choice but to slip away.
"Damn it, there are people who know spells?" The middle-aged man cursed in shock, quickly extinguishing the flames on his body before staring at the guy who had released the fire.
Spellcasting is an ability that uses incantations to manipulate elements and achieve magical effects, making it extremely difficult to learn. However, once mastered, it transforms one into a formidable opponent in combat.
That was the man whose weapon had been cut off by the girl. The broken half of his sword had turned crimson red, as if it were about to melt into molten iron under high temperature.
He was acting strangely. He took out a booklet from his satchel and started flipping through it quickly, muttering something under his breath.
This is chanting a spell.
The girl charged forward in that instant, her front foot landing lightly on the ground, as nimble as a cat. She moved so fast that she left only a blur in the air, like a blade, slashing at the sorcerer.
But the dark blue arc was hurtling towards the girl, blocking her path perfectly. That was the iron head of a meteor hammer; one could only imagine the horrific scene that would unfold when it struck her.
But with a loud bang, the hammerhead was bounced away. The middle-aged man had actually shot the hammerhead; the bullet shattered the hammerhead the moment it hit. The broken metal scattered in the air, looking like shimmering stardust falling from the sky.
However, the hammer was also knocked away, and the girl successfully rushed to the side of the robber with the knife, swung her left arm and slashed down from his right shoulder. The other party obviously did not expect the attack to come so quickly.
The incantation was interrupted, and in his haste, he tried to parry with the broken half of his sword, but the sharp black blade, after cutting through the broken sword, still left a huge wound on his body.
Bright red blood gushed from the wound, but only for a moment. Because the guy was able to jump away even after being injured, rolled on the ground, and lay half-prone, looking at the girl in front of him whose face was half-stained with blood.
That guy really looks like a demon now. He has a face as beautiful as a porcelain doll, but the blood all over his body shows that he is a vicious demon.
But there was a hint of fear on her face, as if she were the one who was injured. She slowly took two steps back, panting heavily.
The terrifying expression vanished in an instant, replaced by the look of a frightened child.
Has this guy never killed anyone before? The injured bandit coughed up blood, wiped his mouth, and looked at the strange girl.
The drug temporarily stopped the bleeding from the wound the moment it started gushing out, as if glued the wound shut, preventing him from bleeding to death.
But there was no doubt that he was already very weak, and he was just one step away from dying.
But the guy looked at the girl with a puzzled expression.
This shouldn't be the case. Alchemical puppets are life-saving creations for alchemists who are physically weak. They generally operate solely through alchemical matrices and shouldn't exhibit emotions that could affect their actions and judgment.
However, she didn't seem to intend to finish him off, as if she planned to let him go. In fact, she appeared to be trembling, shaking uncontrollably.
His companion seized the opportunity, leaping forward and aiming his weapon at the girl.
As the spear hurtled towards her, the girl silently raised her left arm, aiming the blade at the creature. But when it touched the blade in her left arm, it sliced her in two, shattering her entire body. In the instant her body was severed, her drug-enhanced heart pumped almost all the blood in her body out.
Immediately following was a scream, but it wasn't the scream from the guy who had been torn in two and thrown to the ground; it was the girl's scream.
The girl stumbled backward, her pupils constricted by terror. She seemed on the verge of a mental breakdown; her lips trembled slightly as she repeated "I'm sorry" in a barely audible voice.
She was covered in blood, which splattered all over her body, turning her originally dark red cloak into a strange and bewitching bright red, making her look like a demon.
Her actions just now were indeed like those of a demon, moving at a speed that was almost imperceptible, with an extremely sharp left forearm. Given her abilities, she could have sliced everyone present in half in an instant.
However, she seemed to be the one who was most afraid of everyone.
"Lady, don't be afraid, it's alright, it's alright." The middle-aged man was clearly frightened by his daughter's condition. He quickly stepped forward, waving his knife to drive away the guy who wanted to take advantage of the situation, trying to comfort his frightened daughter.
"I killed someone, I killed someone..." she muttered softly, then suddenly turned to look at her father: "Yes, I'm sorry, I didn't..."
She couldn't finish her sentence; her pupils contracted again in terror.
Because the middle-aged man's head was pierced by an arrow right in front of him, someone attacked him silently.
Those guys had accomplices! It seems he had been around all along, only firing his arrow at this moment.
The middle-aged man should have been able to notice and avoid it, but his daughter's crying left him no time to think.
The arrow pierced the middle-aged man's temple, and the damage to his brain caused him to collapse to the ground before he could even groan, severing all traces of life.
Lady stood there, stunned. After her temple was pierced, the blood-stained sword was just a hand's width away from entering her head. Her face was warm, covered in thick, foul-smelling blood.
Before the girl could even grieve, she heard a loud thud behind her head and fell backward to the ground without making a sound. Blood stained her hair red until her entire head was submerged in a pool of blood.
Then came another wave of pain that made her tremble all over, as a sharp knife pierced her shoulder from behind, pinning her to the ground.
The girl named Lady stared wide-eyed, seemingly unable to believe her fate. A man carrying a longbow jogged over from a distance, seemingly shouting something in their direction.
It's as if they're saying, "Someone's coming."
Indeed, such a commotion should have been noticed.
Then those guys quickly pounced on the middle-aged man's corpse, stuffing his money bag, knife, backpack hanging from his waist, and everything else of value into their own bags before looking at themselves.
"I didn't have time to bring that doll." He seemed very unhappy, ran over and kicked the girl in the stomach, making Lady curl up in pain.
"The knife on her left arm was taken away; it must be made of rare metal, a valuable item," the injured person shouted to his friend after spitting out a mouthful of phlegm as he struggled to his feet.
"I know, I know." The other man took out a folding knife from his waist, skillfully pried open the mechanism connecting the blade to the severed part of his left arm, broke off the brazen weapon, and hurriedly left.
Moments later, all that remained was the moon, the starry sky, the wilderness, two corpses, and a girl struggling on the ground.
Lady felt her vision getting blurrier and blurrier as she crawled toward her father.
It was supposed to be a great trip; her father had said it would be a memorable journey.
But because of myself, because of my cowardice, this journey is about to come to an end.
But... I've only just acquired this body, and now I'm about to lose it again.
"I...I don't want to die yet." Her voice grew softer and softer, her eyes filled with tears, and then she struggled to get up.
But she failed. The knife left a large wound on her body, and the blood that flowed out took away her last bit of strength until she could barely even groan.
Suddenly, Lady seemed to sense that it was noisy around her, as if there were people nearby.
She turned her head, and through her blurred vision caused by blood loss, she could vaguely see someone in front of her.
Lady opened her mouth, but a mouthful of blood welled up inside her, and her vocal cords couldn't produce a single sound.
But the guy seemed to be talking to someone, and she couldn't see his face clearly.
She only groaned in an extremely soft voice after coughing up the blood that was stuck in her throat.
"Save me," she whispered. "I...don't want to die."
After saying that, he exhausted his last bit of strength and fell into a coma.
But in the instant she lost consciousness, she felt as if she was being picked up...
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