Chapter 121: Destined Death

"Then it's time to check the other gains."

Li Cheng thought for a moment and put the 【Abyss Blade】 back into his arms.

He currently possessed a total of three weapon-type relics.

The first was the 【Eye of the Fatebearer】, which could transform into any weapon appearance, its main function being killing.

The second was obtained from the dragon girl below, capable of turning those killed into Abyss slaves, its main use being shifting blame—the 【End Dagger】.

The third was this 【Abyss Blade】, its main function being sealing.

To be honest, although his weapon-type relics were few, their rank and effects were top-notch powerful, and sinister.

After thinking, Li Cheng looked at Lilith's barrier again.

Counting the Magic Badge Stone obtained from defeating Kristin, and the atonement money she just handed over, Li Cheng currently had over 1000 Badge Stones in his hand.

Abyss Reputation also rose to 5000 points again as the fighting within the City of Deception intensified.

To be honest, this place was simply a paradise for spreading Great Love!

As the Great Love Little Angel, Li Cheng felt coming to the City of Deception was just like returning home.

Looking at the Position Cards again, after the series of operations just now, both cards had changed.

【Half-Demon Insider (SS Rank):

【As the Second-in-Command of the Half-Demon United Front, your true identity has been exposed!】

【You are the Son of the Regenerating Witch, second only to one person and above ten thousand in the City of Deception, holding power over the court.】

【Because of your existence, the status of the Half-Demon United Front has risen steadily, and your Position Card level has reached SS Rank.】

【Please continue to work hard and improve the status of Half-Demons within the City of Deception.】

【City Hall—Vice Mayor (S Rank):

【This is a position that originally did not exist in City Hall, but since you expressed your wish to work at City Hall, Mayor Kristin fully exercised her subjective initiative and created this position for you.】

【This position holds extremely high authority; as officials of the Fraud Cult and Noble factions within City Hall have been wiped out, your word is law within City Hall.】

【Wherever your gaze points, that is where Kristin and others' blades are directed.】

"Not bad." Looking at the two Position Cards, Li Cheng smiled with satisfaction.

Compared to two days ago, his position had evolved again, so presumably the final settlement blessing would yield even better rewards.

Just then, the ethereal voice of the World Tree sounded:

【Explorer, Half-Demon Vivian's fate has changed once again because of you; she has leaped from a small City Hall clerk to an opinion leader of the Half-Demons.】

【From now on, whenever she wants to speak, everyone will fall silent.】

【All of this is because of you.】

【Exclusive Mission 2 completion increased to: 75%.】

【Exclusive Mission 2 completion reached 75%; you have obtained special information—the fixed image, which you can watch at any time.】

【Please continue to work hard, witness or rewrite Vivian's fate.】

"Hmm, Vivian's mission is almost complete, but this fixed image is..."

Li Cheng thought for a moment, chose to watch, and an image immediately flickered in his mind.

Crimson lightning ran through the City of Deception; everything was devoured by that lightning, countless souls of the dead wailed in the sky, and the Land Transmutation Array sacrificed everything.

And within the Half-Demon Slum, Vivian was hugging several of her friends, forming a circle.

Those Half-Demons cried: "Vivian, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, wuu wuu wuu."

Vivian shed tears and calmly comforted them: "Don't be afraid, let's sing together; it will be over soon."

An exotic song echoed above the Slum, and that crimson lightning destroyed everything.

The image ended.

"Hah... I see. Based on Vivian's tattered old clothes, this world line should be her fixed fate when she hadn't met me." Li Cheng rested his chin on his hand:

"And now, she has met me, and fate has changed."

"Hmm, thinking about it, the witnessing or rewriting in Exclusive Mission 2 should correspond to letting Vivian become nourishment, or surviving the final Territory Forging."

"Obviously, rewriting Vivian's fate will yield higher rewards."

"And this ending is the true ending of Vivian's Fate Line."

Li Cheng thought for a moment and decided to bring Vivian by his side during the final Territory Forging.

On his first Clear of this Instance, he wanted to see the NPC's true ending, what the reward was, and whether there was an Erotic Line.

In case this game hid poison for him again and the reward didn't meet expectations, then when he did the Second Playthrough and Third Playthrough later, he would just sacrifice her together.

【Explorer, you have accomplished feats no one dares to imagine; you have triggered Hidden Mission: Truth】

【The City of Deception will be destroyed in Year 1345 on the original timeline, and what you must do is, within the remaining Instance exploration time, find the cause of its destruction.】

【You have found the truth of the City of Deception's destruction; this Hidden Mission has transformed into Hidden Mission: Fated Death】

【Fated Death: The Altar being opened has not yet been discovered by the Regenerating Witch; she is currently entangled by another Terrifying existence and cannot come to the Altar.】

【But once what you have done is exposed, the Regenerating Witch will make up her mind and bestow upon you Destined Death.】

【There are approximately 36 hours until her return; please prepare. The moment she returns to the City of Deception will be the moment of your decisive battle with her.】

【Please continue to witness or rewrite the fate of the City of Deception.】

【Since Hidden Mission: Destined Death has been triggered, the difficulty of this Secret Realm Exploration has been raised to Seventh Stage SSS Difficulty.】

【Extreme Danger, Extreme Danger, Extreme Danger!】

【Due to the difficulty change, this Gate Exploration journey can end early; please, Explorer, choose within one hour whether to leave the Secret Realm.】

【Second Warning: 【Extreme Danger, Extreme Danger, Extreme Danger!】

The last two messages were addressed to all Candidates.

Lilith had also finished reading the Small Booklet left by the Regenerating Witch, floating to Li Cheng's side: "Hey, you're definitely going to stay, right?"

"Of course."

Li Cheng looked at Lilith with slight surprise, not expecting this Artificial Intelligence to actually not advise him to run away.

This was a bit different from her usual persona.

"Hehe." Seemingly sensing what Li Cheng was thinking, Lilith's mouth corner twitched: "Even if I advised you to slip away, you wouldn't leave anyway, I'm already numb to it."

"But rest assured, this time I won't make any more mistakes." Lilith shook her head, looking at Li Cheng solemnly: "I'll guard your back. If you really can't deal with the Regeneration Witch, then I'll go all out to transfer you out of this World. I guarantee, you absolutely won't have any accidents."

If the Savior dies on the path to saving the World, it would affect her probationary assessment.

But if the Savior Goddess forcibly transfers the Savior out of the World, it wouldn't be as simple as just affecting the probationary assessment; it might make her unable to become a full member for the rest of her life.

But Lilith still made up her mind and steeled her resolve.

This wasn't just because Li Cheng was her first Savior, but also because in her view, the Savior's life was more important than saving the World.

Of course, her thoughts violated the Savior Goddess's three major principles. If her teacher and classmates knew, they would surely regard her as a monster, see her as childish.

Facing Lilith's determination, Li Cheng also nodded, saying softly: "To actually describe forced logout so refreshingly, and even prepare a matching World view to go with it, truly impressive, Quantum Technology."

Lilith: () No wait, my such serious and solemn confession, oh no wait, should be... whatever, forget it, just got your such bizarre brain circuit in return? Damn it, why does my family's Savior have a major screw loose in his head! Lilith hugged her head and rolled on the ground.

Just then, smoke rose, the surrounding air temperature dropped bit by bit, and rustling friction sounds came from the shadows.

As if something was wriggling.

Lilith, who was still rolling, heard that sound and startled with a shiver, hurriedly shrinking behind Li Cheng like a puffed-up cat.

"Li Cheng, what is this!"

"Looks like it should be Witch Residue."

Li Cheng looked toward the shadows, only to see pieces of white Sludge wriggling on the ground, surrounding toward him.

While wriggling, they changed shapes, and in a short while, condensed into the appearances of women one by one.

Only they had no skin, whole bodies were white pulp mud, even hair was made of that white mud, dripping down drop by drop.

They swayed their bodies, opened arms and pounced toward Li Cheng.

"Stay, stay..."

"Master's Domain, does not allow desecration..."

"Defense mechanism?" Li Cheng raised his head expressionlessly, smiled a sunshine smile, waved both hands.

One Invisible Blade and Father's Worry Fireball Technique were sent flying over.

Invisible Blade severed the Witch Residue's heads, Fireball Technique exploded their faces.

The sound of "Dad Loves Me" rose and fell in the Altar, but those Witch Residue had no intention of stopping.

Their destroyed bodies immediately recovered as before, or split into new Witch Residue on the ground, wriggling toward Li Cheng.

As attack count increased, these monsters' numbers not only didn't decrease, but instead grew more and more.

"Regeneration ability truly astonishing, also makes sense, after all they are Witch Residue." Witch Residue are products formed after Witch birth or power leakage. This kind of monster can replicate part of a Witch's abilities and appearance. Obviously, the ones in front replicated the Regeneration Witch.

Li Cheng scanned the surrounding "Great White Witches," couldn't help but smack his lips twice.

"Since magic is useless, then what about Physical Attack?"

Li Cheng took out 【Fatebearer's Staff】, transformed it into the form of a two-handed Greatsword, transformed into a dragon, and charged into the residue pile.

Dragon's power gave him super strong melee Attribute. Don't look at him being only 2nd Rank, but melee combat ability can reach 4th Rank, even 5th Rank Knight standard.

Sharp Greatsword every swing could sever Witch Residue heads.

But same as when hit by magic, these monsters in the next second split out new ones.

The more he fought, the more there were.

On faces that originally had no Eyeballs, somehow purple pupils grew, staring at Li Cheng maniacally.

"Hehe, you will die here..."

"You will stay here, stay here forever..."

"You can't beat us, we... are Undying!"

Soon, the entire Altar was stuffed full by these things that could infinitely regenerate and split.

Lilith lay on Li Cheng's back, San Value plummeting: "So this is the Authority of Regeneration? So disgusting..."

"Disgusting? I feel it's actually quite good looking." Li Cheng said calmly, revealing a sunshine smile.

These Witch Residue have no Soul, but replicated the Regeneration Witch's face and flesh.

Plus the fact they have no Clothes...

Hiss, not saying, this Regeneration Witch, still has charm.

Especially that Waist-to-hip Ratio, one look and it's a rear-wheel drive supercar.

"Ah ah ah! Situation already this urgent, how can you still think of those filthy things?" Lilith made exaggerated Color Art again.

"How do you know I'm thinking filthy things? Could it be you..." Li Cheng glanced at her with peripheral vision, smiled.

"Ah? Ah ah ah ah!!" Lilith's Color Art became even more exaggerated.

"Alright, hold tight."

"Ah?" Lilith blanked for a moment, immediately felt her body fly up, she hurriedly clung tight to Li Cheng's Shoulder, face also distorting from the sudden Gale: "Ah ah ah! Slow down a bit!"

Li Cheng narrowed his eyes, switched Greatsword to right hand, left hand took out Abyss Knife, once again charged into the Witch Residue encirclement.

This time, the smile on his face was no longer so sunshine, instead carried a kind of eerie Elegance.

That Greatsword that originally needed two hands to swing, was swung single-handedly by him as if weightless.

Whenever that Greatsword severed a Witch Residue's head, he would follow through and turn, using Abyss Knife to stab into the monster's chest.

【Creation: Witch Residue, Badge Stone required for Seal: 98 pieces.】

【You Sealed the Regeneration Witch's Residue, you obtained 140 Magic Badge Stones.】

【...】

Upon sensing that sealing Witch Residue could yield more Badge Stones, Big Boss completely set his mind at ease.

After entering this Brain-Computer Version of the game, one problem had been troubling him all along.

That was combat technique.

The Brain-Computer Version is not the PC client after all; it no longer relies on chaining combos with a controller, but on one's own understanding of moves and experience.

At this moment, these Witch Residue appearing before him, seemingly infinite in number, were the best teachers for Big Boss.

He moved like an elegant dancer, weaving through the gaps in the Witch Residue's attacks, one hand swinging the heavy Greatsword, the other wielding the pure white Yan Blade.

Sealing these teachers who still retained their charm into immobile white mud.

He was not unscathed; Witch Residue are Fifth Rank existences or higher, after all, and such high numbers were enough to endanger his safety.

Piercing wounds soaked his Long Robe, and the youth's face bore a bizarre Crimson, elegant yet eerily compelling.

He danced just like that, a reckless smile on his face.

"Sorry, you didn't let me enjoy myself to the fullest."

Netherworld magic and the indestructible Greatsword played a symphony in his hands; the creaks and howls of the Witch Residue composed new Musical Notes for this movement.

Thirty minutes later.

The youth stopped dancing.

He lifted his face, looking at the last Witch Residue, and finally that trademark Sunshine Smile surfaced again.

And this time, on that Witch Residue's face, there was no more madness or ferocity, only fear and dread.

Hard to imagine, a creature without a Soul would actually show a fearful Expression.

She fell to the ground, shaking her head continuously, wriggling as she retreated backward.

Big Boss slowly walked to her front.

Just like that, the Witch Residue's back pressed against the Altar's Wall, her purple gem-like eyes full of terror.

"Don't kill me, don't, please, don't..."

"Hush, relax, just go to sleep and it'll be fine."

Big Boss smiled gently, raised the Dagger, and stabbed it into that swollen, plump flesh peach.

All sounds stilled.

All Witch Residue had been sealed by him, turned into stiff white Stone.

He Stretched, looked at his Blood-stained Long Robe, and sighed helplessly: "Ah, the body can heal continuously, but clothes keep getting dirty, keep tearing, still need to think of a way to prepare a set of clothes that won't get damaged."

Lilith, lying on his back, also finally stopped blowing wind.

She sported a huge bird's nest hair, stuck out her tongue, both eyes turned into @@ Appearance.

"Am I in heaven?"

"So dizzy."

"Grandma, I think I see you..."

"Huh? Why are you lying on my back?" Big Boss looked at Lilith with some Doubtful: "Even if you want to observe up close, you can just float beside me like usual, right?"

"Ah?" The still-dizzy Lilith froze for a moment, then instantly Petrified: "What!"

A few seconds later, she stiffly twisted her neck, forced a smile: "Hehe, I was livening up the Atmosphere, hehe."

"Alright, suit yourself."

Big Boss didn't bother with her, shook off the white mud on the Yan Blade.

The fight just now looked easy, but in reality it was fraught with peril.

Those nearly unkillable Witch Residue — if it were someone else, even with strength greater than Big Boss's, they'd likely be dragged to death here alive.

To Deal With these monsters, one needs both inexhaustible stamina and a powerful Relic capable of sealing Residue.

People possessing both conditions simultaneously are few and far between.

"Worthy of a Witch, leaving a backup plan in the Altar too." Big Boss looked at the Yan Blade in his hand.

Had he not started in the Abyssal Eye Witch's Prison, killed his way through there, and stained himself with her Fragrance/Scent, he couldn't have used this Relic.

If he couldn't use this Relic, Big Boss would just be forcing a fifty-fifty match with those Witch Residue.

In that case, he'd have to temporarily withdraw from this Altar and think of another way.

On the other side, Lilith watched the contemplative Big Boss, her eyes holding some additional meaning.

Thirty minutes.

Only thirty minutes used.

Because she had been lying on Big Boss's back the whole time, Lilith's Perception of the combat was even more direct.

She clearly felt that Big Boss's combat technique was still quite green at the start, often having to Choose a Tactic of trading injury for injury.

But by the end, he was already as elegant as a grand swordsman; those Witch Residue couldn't even touch his body.

"Only thirty minutes, and evolved to this extent..."

"This guy's combat intuition and talent aren't much inferior to his Birth..."

"Really didn't expect, I Lilith could actually Summon such a formidable Savior, indeed, I truly am a Unique Saviour Goddess Holy Body!"

"Ahahahaha!"

Big Boss glanced at this Artificial Intelligence again, stowed his Weapon, and walked toward the outside of the Altar.

Not to mention, after fighting this long he's a bit tired too, needs Miss Vivian to give him another Medicinal Bath...

Chapter Complete