Vol. 3 Chapter 29: Despicable Like Me

Chapter 29: Despicable Like Me

Captain Chen silently released Professor Liao, speaking coldly, "What item, to whom, and when do we leave?"

"The item will be here soon. Take this signal device and wear it on your left arm. The target is a young man in a patient's gown with a horned mask. It will guide you to his location. Whether you can save your family depends on your speed." Professor Liao appeared calm.

Suddenly, the sound of flapping wings echoed from a distance. Captain Chen turned to see the female doctor approaching, carrying a three-meter-tall bronze tree and with crimson wings extended from her back.

Captain Chen took the bronze tree, secured the signal device to his left forearm, and said no more. His black wings flapped rapidly as he flew into the mortuary.

The arrogant flying type possessed near-unbelievable abilities, summed up in three words: "believe in oneself." For example, the giant type on the overpass had its mask buried within its body, making it virtually unkillable unless the mask was destroyed. The flying type, Xiaodu, believed in himself and struck accurately despite not knowing the mask's exact location. This belief modified reality to some extent. Powerful flying types were either mentally unstable, protagonists of their own stories, or both.

"I can do it!" Captain Chen thought of his waiting wife and his daughter who had just learned to say "daddy." He firmly said, "I can definitely do it!"

His black wings flapped furiously as he carried the bronze tree, dispersing the cold air, and raced toward the signal point.

Meanwhile, Lu Li and Lilith were hunting for any living creatures, killing them and arranging their bodies in a circle as required by the ritual. The blood from the exploded ocean type attracted numerous creatures, making it easier to gather sacrifices.

The space shook increasingly, and Lu Li noticed the distance between him and the bronze tree rapidly shrinking. He silently calculated the time and smiled. "Not bad. It should be enough."

As time passed, the cold air was suddenly blown away. A black blur landed in front of Lu Li. Captain Chen had arrived with the bronze tree, with only a minute or two to spare.

"Thank you for bringing both items," Lu Li said, freeing his muscles and taking the bronze tree from Captain Chen with a smile.

"Both items?" Captain Chen was puzzled.

"Yes, both..." An shadow tentacle rose from the ground, piercing Captain Chen's abdomen. The tip split into five smaller tentacles, wrapping around and binding him.

"The ritual needs a determined and powerful main sacrifice. Thank you, and please die now," Lu Li said with a sinister smile.

"I see..." Captain Chen finally understood that he was merely a sacrificial pawn. Everything replayed in his mind. Despite the impending explosion, had he acted too rashly? If this was a trap, he had been sacrificed for nothing. Professor Liao's image flashed in his mind, and he realized that the professor was likely his deputy's backer. Only the insect type's ability could have convinced him so easily of the bomb's existence...

Placing the bronze tree at the center of the ritual circle made of monster corpses, a pale yellow light began to glow. Lu Li's shadow tentacle positioned Captain Chen before the bronze tree, and he started reciting a strange chant.

The serpent patterns on the bronze tree came to life again, and a bronze three-eyed serpent extended from it, standing silently before Captain Chen with its mouth open. The surrounding monster corpses decayed, releasing black and red fumes that entered Captain Chen's body.

Lu Li withdrew the shadow tentacles. The ritual had begun, and Captain Chen could no longer move. The black and red fumes covered his skin, forming symbols and words. The domino effect reached its peak, and the space structure began to collapse with a loud rumble. The once vast space started to shrink.

As Lu Li finished the chant, Captain Chen was covered in black and red symbols. The bronze three-eyed serpent opened its mouth and swallowed Captain Chen whole. The symbols transferred to the serpent, and its third eye turned red.

Sensing the connection, Lu Li hurriedly controlled the serpent to return to the bronze tree, which then coiled around the tree and bit into the largest bronze fruit, swallowing it. The tremors in the mortuary space ceased.

Lu Li noted the black and red symbols on the serpent. Occasionally, one would break, and the red in the third eye faded. He calculated the time and commanded the serpent to lie down beside the bronze tree.

Regretfully glancing at the bronze tree, Lu Li recited another incantation, taking Lilith and disappearing from the mortuary, leaving the serpent with the bronze fruit.

When Lu Li opened his eyes, he saw the shadow assassin and a few claw ghosts kneeling before him, the assassin holding three shadow masks. These were the masks taken by the hospital. Lu Li had ordered the shadow assassin to retrieve them, summoning nine claw ghosts to assist. Despite losing a few, the mission was completed.

Taking the masks, Lu Li noticed a bronze tree projection nearby. This item allowed for spatial transfers with enough sacrifices. However, due to the depth of the matter and time constraints, Lu Li couldn't take it and had to leave it.

This was the last small space separated from the bronze tree, attached to an unopened flower bud outside the hospital. Its distance prevented the hospital from discovering it. Lu Li had determined it would be the last to collapse in the domino effect and had set it as a rendezvous point, informing the shadow assassin via the claw ghosts.

Dismissing the summons and securing the eight masks, Lu Li and Lilith appeared on a small city road. At their feet was the unopened red flower bud. Lu Li picked it, sensing the turbulent space within, and smiled victoriously.