Chapter 147: The Psionic Matrix

We clicked Confirm, and sure enough, a major quest was waiting for us. Not knowing what it involved, I said, “We’re willing to help you. What exactly did you lose?”

Zelaka replied, “I lost one of my energy processors. While I was searching for it, a monster snatched it away. That creature could not defeat me, so it fled. The underground passages here are extremely complicated, and I have been unable to find it. Could you help me draw the monster out and retrieve my energy processor from it? I would be deeply grateful.”

“We’re willing to help, right, everyone?” I said excitedly.

The others nodded one after another.

Zelaka said happily, “Adventurers, I am truly grateful for your assistance!” With that, he bowed to us.

Feng Xiaoyue, who had been itching for action, said, “What are we waiting for? Let’s go!”

“Beautiful lady, please don’t be so hasty. You do not even know where to go. Running around blindly here could get you killed.” Zelaka smiled and gestured for everyone to wait.

“Zelaka, where did you lose that thing? Tell us.”

“I can take you to the place where the monster fled last time. Make sure you stay close behind me. There are countless monsters outside, and I would hate for you to die before you can help me. I remember that several humans came here just moments ago, but they encountered my subordinates and were killed. Humans certainly have no shortage of hotheads.”

“Don’t worry. Leave it to us—we’ll stay right behind you.”

The humans this alien mentioned were probably the people we had just seen. Thinking about it, more than forty people had tried to surround a level-one-hundred enhanced monster. They had practically been asking to die.

Zelaka led us out of the room. The instant we stepped outside, a land octopus came swinging at us with all eight of its tentacles. Zelaka stepped forward and released a bolt of lightning from his hand. The number “-24515” appeared above the monster’s head, and it was killed instantly. A few silver coins and a piece of hand armor dropped to the ground before the monster vanished.

The four of us were stunned. It was extraordinarily rare for a quest NPC to fight on our behalf.

Zelaka said, “That’s strange. I remember that the creatures here were not so fragile the last time I came out.”

Fortunately, we had not arrived earlier. Otherwise, we might never even have made it inside.

What followed was pure bliss. Zelaka strode ahead, killing one monster after another in a single blow, while the four of us trailed behind him, gathering coins and equipment. The only drawback was that we gained no experience, but the huge piles of money and gear still left us grinning from ear to ear.

In less than half an hour, Zelaka had slaughtered nearly every monster in the surrounding area. We had collected so much money that our hands were practically cramping. Then, not far ahead of us, a massive platform appeared.

“That is an altar of the angel race,” Zelaka explained. “Many years ago, a group of monsters from Hell invaded this place and slaughtered a great number of angels. Their vengeful spirits gathered here in vast numbers. Be careful when we reach it.”

When we stepped onto the platform, I saw ghosts with angelic features flying everywhere.

Vengeful Angel Spirit, Level 45, Enhanced Monster.

Description: When the demons attacked Heaven, they used terrifying magic to imprison the angels’ souls, preventing them from ascending to paradise.

There were a great many monsters here, but that did not matter while the alien was with us. We barely needed to lift a finger. This time, however, Zelaka did not move forward to fight. Instead, he stood in the center of the altar and said, “You are moving too slowly. I am going to set up a psionic matrix and teleport you across. I need you to buy me some time.”

All right. Our comfortable days were over.

“Everyone, move!” I shouted.

An angel spirit flew toward us and swept across my body at incredible speed. A damage figure of “-500” appeared above my head.

After flying past us, the monster wheeled around and came back. Long Zhan slashed at it with his sword.

“Miss.”

You have got to be kidding me.

Huan Yue and the others attacked as well, but their strikes also produced nothing but misses, leaving them equally frustrated.

Zelaka said, “Use magic. Those creatures are immune to physical attacks.”

Damn! There were monsters like this too? If only our mage, Long Xin, were here. Things would not have been so troublesome.

At that moment, Huan Yue put away her greatsword and assumed a stance as though she were gripping another weapon. Feng Xiaoyue and Xiao Xi looked confused, but I understood what she was doing. Huan Yue had brought out her primary weapon. I immediately scanned it to see what it was.

Level 50.

Phantom Knight.

Equipment: Holy Sword, sealed equipment; Silver Angel Armor Set, incomplete; other details unknown.

Not bad at all. She even had a complete silver-grade set—well, almost complete. The note saying it was incomplete meant she had probably not collected every piece yet.

Relying on Huan Yue’s slashes to create blades of wind, along with Long Zhan’s fiery dragon breath, we began slaughtering the monsters with great enthusiasm. Suddenly, a burst of noisy footsteps and shouts came from behind us.

“Everyone, come quickly! There are people here!”

“Damn it. How did someone get here ahead of us? Don’t tell me they’ve already taken all the good stuff!”

“Who are they?”

Soon, more than a dozen people came running over. They stopped no more than twenty meters from the altar where we stood.

I had not expected anyone else to reach this place—and among them were people I knew. I hoisted my Wishful Staff onto my shoulder and walked forward.

“Well, if it isn’t Tian Dou Battle Soul! Long time no see!”

More than a dozen members of the Tian Dou group arrived and formed a battle formation in the broad passageway.

Knights, swordsmen, elementalists, archers, priests… Their class composition was exceptionally well balanced. Aside from a few less common professions, they had nearly everything covered. Although many of their armor suits showed signs of damage, their movements, equipment, and coordination made it obvious that they were a seasoned team that had worked together for a long time. None of them were low-level players.

“Haha! I was wondering who it was. So it’s you, Weiweilong. I never expected you to be ahead of us. We still haven’t settled the matter concerning that Winged Wolf!” Tian Dou Battle Soul strode over arrogantly.

“Why do you keep bringing that up?” I said. “You and that Winged Wolf didn’t have some kind of affair, did you?”

“Bah! You’re the one who had an affair with that Winged Wolf!” Tian Dou Battle Soul snapped.

“If you didn’t, why do you keep mentioning it?”

“I remember what I want to remember. What are you going to do about it?”

I shook my head. “Suit yourself. By the way, what are you doing here?”

“What a stupid question. We came treasure hunting, of course. What else would we be doing here, sightseeing? Besides, there are only four of you. You’ll never be able to fight your way ahead and claim the treasure. Why not join us? You’ll get your fair share!”

That fellow was actually trying to recruit us.

Feng Xiaoyue said, “Sorry, but we appreciate the offer. We are not traveling the same road, so we will not be boarding the same boat. We will search for what we want, and you can search for what you want. We will not compete with you, and you leave us alone.”

“Fine. You certainly have the spirit of a heroine.” Tian Dou Battle Soul laughed. “This place is enormous. Even a dozen people could never search it all. We can simply—oh?”

He suddenly stopped speaking and stared fixedly at Zelaka behind us. His expression immediately became strange.

“So that’s how it is. I was wondering… I was wondering…”

“Heh-heh-heh.” Tian Dou Battle Soul wore a smile that was neither quite a grin nor quite a sneer. “I really have to admire you. You even managed to hide something like this. That monster behind you is incredibly high-level—I cannot see any of its information. You found him inside, didn’t you? Don’t tell me you intend to take him back to Sky Dragon City?”

It seemed we could not delay any longer. A fight might break out. But once the psionic matrix was complete, the level-one-hundred-fifty boss could deal with them.

“Whether he is or not, what does it matter to you?” I said coldly, tightening my grip on the Wishful Staff. I had already made up my mind. The moment hostilities began, I would order Long Zhan to charge over and disrupt their formation. No matter what happened, I could not let them interfere with the construction of the psionic matrix.

“What do I want?” Tian Dou Battle Soul chuckled.

I was certain that he had lost a great many people on this expedition, but as long as he obtained the treasure, the losses would still be worthwhile.

“Leave that person behind—no, that white ball—and I will let you go.” Tian Dou Battle Soul smiled. “Think about it. It was not easy for you to reach your current levels. Losing a level for nothing would be a terrible waste.”

His smile concealed murderous intent, and his apparently calm words carried an unmistakable threat. It was remarkable that he could deliver such a threat in a tone that sounded as though he were concerned for our welfare.

“Dream on!” I shouted.

Long Zhan moved in front of me, and flames began gathering in his mouth as his fiery dragon breath charged. He was ready for battle.

“Ugh. I try to be kind, and this is the thanks I get.”

“Kill them!”

The next moment, he suddenly swung his great axe and gave the order to attack. The instant the command was issued, fireballs, wind blades, sword auras, and arrows came crashing toward the four of us like a storm.

But Zelaka suddenly appeared in front of us and took every attack head-on.

“Human adventurers, the psionic matrix is complete. Go. I will deal with these uncivilized people.”

With that, he raised his left hand and released a bolt of lightning. A swordsman player was instantly reduced to ash.

We hurried into the psionic matrix. What followed was the classic scene of a boss at level one hundred and fifty mercilessly slaughtering a group of players.

Then we were teleported away.