Chapter 3340: Angel-Tier Relic – The Puppeteer's Script

Although they did not know each other, after asking the question, neither played tricks; after a glance, they answered simultaneously:

"The number of Fate Nodes encountered is one, but the matter is not yet fully resolved."

"'The Blood-Crier' Hermes is preparing a major move, and there is no Fate-talented individual within the 【Blood Spirit School】. Through our allies in the 【Truth Society】, our 【Myriad Numbers Return to One Society】 obtained this Relic."

Xia De did not state the date he became a "Protagonist Candidate," yet he did not lie; the sentence lacked a subject, and the Demon indeed remained unresolved. As for the "Priest," he merely mentioned the relationship of interests, saying nothing at all about the price the 【Myriad Numbers Return to One Society】 paid to make the 【Blood Spirit School】 risk an irrecoverable cost to lend a controllable Fate-type Relic.

But the answers to these questions could only be sought by the two of them individually. As the words fell, combat resumed. And this time, as three strange humanoids charged toward Xia De, the Fate Halo finally manifested behind the "Priest."

Nine rings, the same level as Xia De's; only because of the trees and those humanoids blocking the view, Xia De could not see the content of the Core Spirit Runes.

【Enlightenment-Number, Enlightenment-Acceleration, Enlightenment-Control】

"She" spoke gently, but Xia De had no time for now to sigh that indeed two or three Core Spirit Runes were the norm.

As the "Priest's" Fate Halo, the notebook in hand, and the spiritual light on the three humanoids resonated, in a trance Xia De felt the surrounding world seemed to undergo some change.

The evening wind blew across the skin, the setting sun slanted across the side of the face, crystal snow fell from the treetops, and water vapor evaporated by lightning lazily floated close to the ground. The world remained real, yet as if everything was under the control of some power. Like a Maelstrom, like the Words of Ascension, yet precisely neither.

"The power of a complete Angel-tier Relic is influencing this space."

He had no time for deeper sensation; the fastest and strongest golden humanoid had already reached his front. After throwing a punch at him, Xia De intended to counterattack as before, but the very second their fists clashed, he was blasted backward by immense force:

"What?"

It was not that the opponent's strength exceeded his, but that "Xia De being blasted backward after clashing fists" was a matter already written.

And the white humanoid representing "Number One" appeared behind the flying Xia De at this moment. The raised palm swiftly chopped down toward his throat, but only cut the air.

Xia De, using "Lagley's Leap" for spatial movement, had originally aimed to land near the "Priest," but after the spatial movement ended, he found himself appearing directly in front of that pink humanoid.

The latter seemed to have foreseen that his spatial movement's landing point was here, and had already made a motion with both palms facing him. At this moment, a purple light ball was pushed out from the palm, but it merely passed through the air and bombarded a distant large tree, turning it into a puddle of mud. The silver cat landed and immediately ran toward a nearby tree trunk.

And as it darted into the thick snow accumulating on the tree canopy, that tree was knocked down by a punch from the golden humanoid.

But Cat Xia De had already vanished. The three humanoids surrounded the "Priest," who stood in place looking around, then looked at the notebook in his hand:

"The script's only flaw is the inability to respond in advance to unforeseen situations. So that's it; there is also a transformation spell."

With a *whoosh*, a black arrow shot from the depths of the cedar forest. The golden humanoid standing in the arrow's direction reached out to grab it, and then the entire right hand was blown to pieces after the black arrow passed through.

"Night Arrow" aimed at the "Priest's" right hand holding that black notebook, but when Xia De, who had already moved to the far side of the cedar forest, lowered the longbow 【Star's Scar】, he clearly saw the arrow fly past the "Priest's" right side, then hit a pine tree a hundred meters away.

The pine tree was blown apart at the waist, and the surface of the fallen giant tree gradually showed signs of corrosion by night.

Although the Witch's Secret Art "Night Arrow" did not possess a tracking effect, Xia De was confident he would not miss. Combining this with the series of accidents that just occurred, he easily summarized the current situation:

"He learned my level and the powers I used through earlier probing, then combined his own Fate talent with the script in hand to interfere with Fate. Although I don't know what the negative trait is, this Relic is truly a perfect match for 'Thought-Script'."

【Puppeteer's Script】 was itself a Relic that wrote Fate; it was also the only one among the three Angel-tier Fate-type Relics that could directly guide Fate. Although Xia De had encountered script pages many times and had thought a complete script would be stronger, the difficulty he faced after actually encountering it still exceeded his expectations:

"That makes sense; after all, it is a Relic on the same level as the 【Night Watchers】 and the 【Sword Heir Brood】."

But he did not worry about the current situation; the dice had been recovered, and the opponent likely could not fully control Xia De himself even with Candidate talent. So even if he could not find a way to defeat the opponent, Xia De was confident he could escape safely.

At this moment, he and the "Priest" were separated by about six hundred meters, hiding himself behind illusions and the forest's shelter. Although the opponent might find him quickly relying on "Fate" and the "Script," this time would be enough for him to transfer again.

"Controlling Fate must be mocked by Fate; I wonder if the Chosen talent can resist this backlash."

He thought silently to himself. Among the three Relics manipulating Fate on this island, the 【Prophecy Spinning Wheel】 and the 【Divergent Path Kaleidoscope】 mostly wove Fate and did not possess effects like the Script that could be used on the spot. So if what he encountered this time was not 【Puppeteer's Script】 but the other two, the situation would be much better.

He was secretly spying on the "Priest," who, surrounded by three summons, was also carefully observing Xia De's tracks. The sun was slowly sinking toward the western horizon; suddenly, both looked in the same direction, and a third footstep appeared.

"This is bad, Miss Larson has come. As a Candidate, could she be immune to this kind of Fate guidance...? Ellie seems to be over there."

Thus, the golden humanoid surrounding the Priest, after his right hand recovered, went toward the direction of the footsteps. Xia De did not know if the Priest could share vision with his summons, but he was very clear that Miss Larson, currently only at six rings, was absolutely no match for that summon.

If he shot an arrow to signal Miss Larson not to approach, the "Priest" would immediately understand that the person coming here was very important:

"Don't think too much; just move first."

Thinking this, he intended to move toward the direction of the footsteps, but soon stopped again, because the "Priest," leaning against a large tree under the setting sun, suddenly spat a mouthful of blood onto the snow surface. The number "3" symbol on his face flickered a few times and then vanished.

"A trap to lure me?"

Xia De stopped again on the tree, motionless. The badge on his chest, slightly warm, indicated that the footsteps just now were indeed Miss Larson's. But after the Priest spat blood, those footsteps also vanished.

The setting sun at dusk illuminated this cedar forest beside the small town, and the snow surface was also irradiated to shine brilliantly. The water vapor from the melted snow caused by the "Thunder Wave" was gradually dissipating. The "Priest's" side was lit by the setting sun; he stood motionless under the tree, as if turned into a statue.

Xia De knew who the newcomer was, but he did not know; therefore, in his view, not only was there a Fate Candidate of equal level to himself secretly spying, but on the other side of the forest, a mysterious person who had stopped their footsteps after resolving their "puppets" was looking at him.

All three sides made no move; even the two of higher level held their breath.

Two minutes later, the "Priest" made the first move. The spitted blood was destroyed by him; then he lightly flicked his right wrist, causing the notebook in hand to rustle as its pages turned, and then he dove headfirst into the notebook's pages.

The remaining two clones also vanished at this moment, and that black notebook, after the Priest disappeared, turned transparent and vanished under the tree. Thus, the strange atmosphere enveloping this woodland after the notebook unfolded disappeared, but Xia De cautiously waited a while longer before jumping down from the tree.

He walked quickly toward the position where the Priest disappeared to check the situation. Not long after, footsteps in the forest arrived behind him; it was Miss Larson and Ellie carrying Mia.

"Mr. Watson."

The white-haired girl carried a small basket, like a little girl going out to pick mushrooms. She greeted Xia De somewhat uneasily, her eyes still looking around:

"Did something happen here?"

"I want to know first, Miss Larson, why you appeared here."

Xia De, having confirmed that the 【Myriad Numbers Return to One Society】 cultists left no clues, asked somewhat sternly, then noticed his tone was a bit harsh, so he added:

"A troublesome enemy just appeared here; it should be another Candidate."

The white-haired girl softly went "Ah~," then explained:

"Just now, the Young Lady said Ellie hadn't returned, so she asked me to wait for you at the town entrance or the dock. Then I heard people in the town say that a plant similar to 'Tear Fern' was suspected to appear in this forest. I remembered you needed it, so I wanted to come take a look; perhaps I could help."

Her face turned slightly red, quite embarrassed:

"So, actually this was a trap, right? The person chatting at the dock was also a bad person, right...? Sorry, I just wanted to help. I am not as powerful as the Teacher. Yesterday you helped me let Mrs. Otto meet her husband, so I want to do something for you."

The head, previously looking down at her feet, lifted to look at Xia De. The setting sun illuminated the left half of Xia De's face and the right half of Miss Larson's face; green eyes met black-brown eyes. The unicorn looked at Xia De, then at Miss Larson; the cat did the same:

"Meow~"

It had drunk its fill of water; now it was time for dinner.

?? PS: Correction to previous content: The quantity of red wine Xia De took from the Ice Castle was not one bottle but two bottles. This involves Chapter 3379.

? (End of Chapter)