Chapter 114: Shadow Demon Cavalry (Part I)

A crisp, feminine voice emanated from beneath the black cloak. "What? Who are you? We don’t even know you. Why are you talking about sending us to respawn?" Feng Xiaoyue shouted at the figure.

"Exactly! You stole our monster; we should be the ones sending you to respawn. And what makes you think you can take on the three of us by yourself?" Long Xin retorted sharply.

The person replied, "What makes me think that? Because there is no way you can win against me. Though, the man over there might be a bit troublesome. By the way, you must be Weiweilong, the one who took advantage of my two little sisters."

"Huh? Took advantage of your sisters? Who are your sisters?" I asked, confused.

The person continued, "Bullying others and then feigning ignorance? Do you even count as a man?"

I said, "I really don't know you."

The person added, "Fine, I'll tell you. You grabbed Yinyue’s chest and almost forced a kiss on Guardian. Don't you dare deny it."

"Ah! This..." I was speechless. Good heavens, what kind of day is this? I just escaped the pursuit of those two, and now I’ve run into their big sister? My luck is truly abysmal.

I turned my head to see Long Xin and Xiaoyue looking at me with strange expressions. Long Xin spoke first: "Big Brother, if you grabbed Yinyue’s chest by mistake during the heat of battle, that’s one thing, but what’s this about you almost forcing a kiss on Guardian?"

I hurriedly explained, "That... that was also an accident. Trust me, your big brother is very pure."

"Long Ling, I didn't think you were such a dark horse. You haven't even won over Huanyue yet and you're already looking for the next one? Trying to keep your options open?" Feng Xiaoyue teased with a wicked smile.

I immediately shouted, "That is absolutely not the case! I swear the only girl I will pursue in this life is Huanyue."

Long Xin said, "Really? Big Brother, don't follow in Yezi's footsteps, playing two games at once and ending up falling hard."

...

"Hey, have you decided who’s going back to respawn first?" the figure’s voice suddenly cut in.

"The one going back to respawn is you," Long Xin retorted immediately. We all took our stances, weapons gripped tightly.

"Shall we begin? Are you coming one by one, or all at once?" the figure asked.

"I'll go first. I want to see if a mage can withstand my sword," Feng Xiaoyue said with confidence.

"Be careful, don't underestimate her," I warned. Feng Xiaoyue yelled, "Understood!" and launched a charge, rushing forward first.

"Honestly, are you that confident in your strength? Then let me shatter that confidence for you." She opened a book in her hand and began chanting.

"Don't play tricks!" Feng Xiaoyue didn't hesitate, jumping up and swinging her green-tier Soul-Eater Sword forcefully toward the black mist.

But then, the unbelievable happened. Feng Xiaoyue’s attack stopped dead in front of the figure. Long Xin and I were shocked; the person didn't seem to have done anything, but we saw a black circular shield manifest around her. That was why Feng Xiaoyue’s attack had stopped.

"Good!" Feeling her attack blocked, Feng Xiaoyue wasn't discouraged; instead, she grew more fervent. A warrior never fears a strong opponent; the stronger the foe, the more excited they become.

"Again!" Without a moment's pause, Feng Xiaoyue swung her sword again. This time, it was fiercer and more powerful. The ground trembled, and dirt flew into the air, but the black shield protecting the figure didn't shake in the slightest, no matter how hard Feng Xiaoyue struck.

"So tough! Hiding behind a shield won't win this fight! Take this!" Feng Xiaoyue retreated to our side, held her Soul-Eater Sword high, and slammed it into the ground.

A massive shockwave surged from the point of impact toward the shield. *Boom!* A crack over ten meters long and two meters wide tore through the earth, extending from Feng Xiaoyue right up to the shield.

The shield developed cracks—a clear sign of impending collapse—but the figure still stood there calmly, doing nothing.

"How about that!" Just as we prepared to finish off the shield, it shattered on its own, replaced by a massive wave of black light that knocked us all off our feet before we could even react.

"Ugh!" After rolling a distance, we stood back up.

I activated my Fiery Eyes of Truth to scan her. Level 48, Shadow Demon Rider. Equipment: Codex of Death (Sealed), Robe of Death’s Embrace (Green), Cloak of Death’s Shadow (Green), Ring of Regret (Silver), Pendant of Death (Silver), others unknown.

Fire... Huowu? This is absurd. Why do all these top-tier players know each other and act so intimately? Who can tell me why? But she didn't give me time to wonder.

"Where the great power of death passes, no life remains. The worlds swept away cannot be saved. There is no beginning and no end; in the overflow of death, only destruction remains. Life Devour!" Hearing Huowu’s sharp cry, a green orb emerged from her open Codex of Death, firing a green beam that struck Feng Xiaoyue in the chest.

Then, green light radiated from Feng Xiaoyue, connecting to the beam. The light began to flow in reverse, and damage numbers of 500 appeared over Feng Xiaoyue’s head in rapid succession. At this rate, she would be back to respawn in under half a minute.

Feng Xiaoyue immediately launched a charge, knowing that drinking potions to resist was futile; it was better to go down fighting.

"Roar!" Locking onto her enemy, she rushed forward, chugging potions. But just as she reached the figure, a final 500-damage number floated above her head. She collapsed backward, and a white light rose—she had been defeated.

"Damn it! Hellfire that devours all, gather here! Become the power of all destruction..." Long Xin roared, beginning her chant.

"Long Xin, wait!" I shouted, but Long Xin didn't seem to hear me, focusing until she finished the incantation: "Blazing Flame Explosion Stream!" A massive torrent of magma rushed toward Huowu.

"Heh," Huowu chuckled, pulling out a rectangular piece of black paper. It looked like something Huanyue had used. The paper flashed with black light, and Huowu vanished into thin air!

The "Blazing Flame Explosion Stream" missed. As the flames dissipated, Huowu reappeared and said, "Nice move, but it’s meaningless if it doesn't hit. Now, it’s my turn." She dropped a black crystal on the ground, and in the next second, it transformed into a skeleton bound in chains.

"Come on, my cute young lady, dance with my little friend," Huowu said, and the chains on the skeleton automatically fell away.

"Who wants to dance with that skeleton? You big pervert!" Long Xin stuck her tongue out at her.

"So cute. Let me study your body and see if it's as cute as your expression," Huowu said, and the skeleton began walking toward Long Xin.

"With me here, I won't let you touch a hair on Long Xin," I said, stepping in front of her.

"Brother."

"Wandering souls, hear my call. I grant you a second chance at life. Awaken!" Huowu chanted, holding her Codex of Death. A rhythmic, clattering sound began to echo from all around us, growing louder and louder.

"What's happening?" My heart tightened. I didn't know what she was planning, but I knew better than to underestimate any move.

"Ah!" Long Xin suddenly screamed. I spun around to see seven or eight white skeletons, each about 1.7 meters tall, appearing behind us. Two of them quickly grabbed Long Xin and dragged her toward Huowu. I tried to chase them, but the other skeletons blocked my path and jumped onto me, pinning me to the ground. One after another, more skeletons crawled out of the earth and piled onto me, holding me fast.

Meanwhile, Long Xin was bound to a cross, looking like a game version of Jesus. Huowu remarked, "Let's begin. It's dissection time!"