Chapter 105

Chapter 105: Twice the Misfortune! Double Super Doom!

Luxi Hilufa… Opoldusadious…

If there had to be something in common between them, it was that both were third-rank Extraordinary Persons…

Did their doom share any common characteristics?

As for Luxi, Xia’er didn’t know her very well. After all, they had just met formally, and Xia’er hadn’t peeked at her Spiritual Note either.

Regarding Opold, his personality was described in detail in the letter Aivana left behind.

Pompous and overbearing, he hadn’t committed any major evils yet, but he constantly engaged in minor misdeeds. Moreover, he kept pursuing Aivana, even continuing to send harassing letters despite her clear expression of disinterest.

Xia’er hadn’t read much of Opold’s Spiritual Note, merely flipping through the beginning briefly. However, she understood his character well enough, which matched what Aivana had said.

This arrogant heir, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, had a doom rule that made him live as a “commoner”… completely contrary to his experiences and personality.

If other people’s doom rules were also like Opold’s—living lives completely opposite to their usual selves or ones they would absolutely reject—then why was Xia’er’s doom rule about not being able to touch anything extraordinary?

All Xia’er ever wanted was to live a peaceful life. If her life had to contradict her desires, shouldn’t touching anything extraordinary bring doom instead?

No, something wasn’t right.

Xia’er suddenly remembered something. She had indeed thought about extraordinary matters, even under the influence of her subconscious, almost forgetting the changes she had made to her thoughts.

Her recent thoughts started from preparing to deal with the third-rank cultist Prager and continued to be “quickly collecting all first-rank paths, initiating the Old Simulation, and obtaining self-preservation abilities”…

This point was even written down in her notebook before the simulation, and the simulated self strictly followed the instructions in the notebook.

The notebook even mentioned leaving Borough City if things went awry.

Unsurprisingly, the simulated self would prepare for the worst and plan to leave Borough City from the start, ensuring a quick escape if things failed.

Would she encounter doom when leaving Borough City too?

If so, it made sense.

But how exactly did the information in her notebook get known? And why was she targeted?

Moreover, her notebook was recorded in Chinese, not An Su or any script of this world.

This feeling of being fully scrutinized made Xia’er feel restless. She clenched her fists tightly, suppressing the urge to tear something apart.

Without the help of “Calm Thinking,” she might have already tried to uncover what was causing trouble by turning the entire city upside down.

Based on the pattern of her and Opold’s doom rules, Luxi’s doom rule was probably entirely opposite to what she intended.

Perhaps she didn’t want to stay in Derton Manor; her goal might be something else in Borough City. Even lending the Sealed Object to Xia’er might not have been her true intention.

Like Opold, she also noticed something and was forced to make the “correct” choice…

Gaaah—

A crow’s cry interrupted Xia’er’s thoughts. She looked up and saw a black raven on the rooftop, tilting its head and staring at Xia’er curiously.

Suddenly, Xia’er’s vision was covered by illusory blood, seeing translucent blood droplets flying toward her face, while a phantom version of herself slowly fell forward.

Doom… began.

Bang Bang Bang—!

Ting—!

A gunshot rang out behind Xia’er. The bullet pierced through the glass and aimed directly at her back.

However, Xia’er was prepared. A shadow holding a black tower shield blocked her from behind, clearly mimicking Opold’s Extraordinary Ability.

The bullet sank into the tower shield like entering a non-Newtonian fluid mud pit, getting stuck in the center.

Xia’er quickly turned around and, through the shadow, saw flashes of gunfire and gunshots coming from the dark house behind her, accompanied by curses.

“Damn it, I won’t risk my life for you guys! Without Solari, you still think you can sell this batch of weapons to the North An Su Brotherhood?!”

Dong—

The wooden door burst open, and a man wearing a newsboy cap staggered out, clutching his injured arm. Seeing Xia’er on the street, he hesitated for a moment.

He clearly made an attempt to raise his gun but seemed to reconsider. Biting his teeth, he took advantage of the night and ran along the opposite side of the street.

There was no public lighting in Clock Tower Lane District at dawn, only faint moonlight. Faces couldn’t be recognized beyond ten meters. He clearly chose to flee to avoid trouble.

Weapons… Blackwater Gang?

If it was the Blackwater Gang, the weapons they referred to were likely the…

Siege explosive barrels!

In the next instant, a shadow darted out from Xia’er’s feet and rushed towards the distance. Xia’er’s figure gradually distorted.

Just as her vision was about to fade, she glimpsed a flash of illusory firelight.

Boom—!

At the moment Xia’er’s figure was replaced by the shadow, the house in front of the shadow exploded violently.

The rapid explosion tore off the roof of the house. In an instant, the building and several surrounding houses became ruins filled with flames and smoke, even causing the ground to shake slightly.

The once quiet street gradually became chaotic, cries and screams echoed continuously. Xia’er, who hadn’t moved far away, felt a wave of heat rushing towards her, followed by a tide-like wailing sound.

It was the dying screams of those not yet killed by the explosion, amplified hundreds of times in Xia’er’s mind.

“Hmph…”

Xia’er painfully grabbed her hair, trying to cover the despairing cries in her mind with the pain of pulling her hair. She quickened her pace, running away from the direction of the explosion.

It couldn’t be… How could she coincidentally run into the Blackwater Gang’s internal conflict?

After killing the semi-extraordinary Thomas and the Blackwater Gang leader Solari, Xia’er only asked Aivana to help her eliminate Solari’s nephew Yian. Then, her attention was drawn to Dehydration Syndrome, and she completely ignored the affairs of the Blackwater Gang.

In her view, the Blackwater Gang’s issues were perfectly resolved. If nothing unexpected happened, this gang should never have any connection to her again in her lifetime.

But Xia’er didn’t expect that after hitting rock bottom, this seemingly insignificant subplot almost cost her life more than a month later.

After escaping the range of despair’s influence, Xia’er’s mood gradually sank.

Doom… had not ceased after she intervened in the simulation, even though she arrived here with a new save file without any causal relationship.

This indicated that she had been under surveillance by someone or something all along.

This doom, corresponding to Level 2 Doom in Xia’er’s notes, was one where even without Extraordinary Abilities, using [Prophetic Vision] to dodge would still result in minor injuries.

Excluding Nia who hadn’t made direct contact, today she had encountered three third-rank Extraordinary Persons, which didn’t match the intensity of the doom.

The real doom… was still waiting for her ahead.

Xia’er gradually slowed down her running, calming her slightly rapid breathing, and vigilantly observing her surroundings.

Where?

How will the next doom arrive?

A doom in the slums that even a second-rank “Judge” couldn’t resist…

Xia’er suddenly looked up and saw the nearby Clock Tower Lane District. The tall tower top glowed faintly, like a lighthouse beacon in the night sky, glaringly bright.

She had run back to the area closest to the Salvation Goddess Religion!

Could she really be that unlucky?

Xia’er immediately changed direction and entered a small alley, intending to take a large detour to leave the Clock Tower Lane District. But at this moment, a streak of white light flashed before her eyes.

Shit!

Four shadows instantly darted out from beneath Xia’er, surrounding her in all directions within the narrow alley. The next moment, a streak of white light slashed toward Xia’er’s back.

Xia’er only felt a powerful force pushing her forward. After rolling on the ground several times, she managed to stabilize herself with the help of [Agility] and looked back.

Behind her, the shadow holding the black flame tower shield had been cut in half and was slowly dissipating. Nearby, a familiar white shadow was rotating its wrist, its fist clenched, looking toward Xia’er’s direction.

As if turning on the lights in the alley, countless white shadows twisted and appeared in the windowsills, rooftops, and road ends, staring at Xia’er.

It was Xiu!

Why did she attack directly?

Regardless, she needed to calm her down!

“Xiu! Is that you?”

Xia’er shouted, hoping Xiu could hear her voice without caring if ordinary people might overhear.

This shout worked. At least the white shadows stopped their subsequent actions, as if the previous attack was just a probe.

Tat tat tat…

A series of footsteps came from the end of the alley. Xiu, dressed in a white elegant robe with a faceless mask, slowly walked toward Xia’er.

“Tribunal, is it?”

Xiu stared at Xia’er and spoke without any fluctuations in her tone.

“Did you hear?”

Xia’er didn’t rush to answer, delaying time while her brain rapidly considered ways to escape.

“Do you mean starting from Opold? If so, yes, I heard.”

Xiu calmly answered Xia’er’s question.

“Opoldusadious is a key focus.”

“I’ve answered your question. Please answer mine.”

Xiu continued, “Are you from the Tribunal?”

This was a lie-detection question.

As soon as Xia’er answered, she would be judged whether she was lying or not.

This question, Xia’er absolutely could not answer.

Previously, Xia’er cleared space in the warehouse and took out the [Echo of Silver White Time Binder], keeping the [Radiant Bishop’s Relic] inside. Now, it finally came in handy.

“Xiu, do you forget who I am? Do you remember this?”

A silver-white glow flashed, and a letter and insignia appeared in Xia’er’s hand. “This was given to me by you.”

A white shadow on the rooftop leaped down, landed in front of Xia’er, and took the letter and insignia, swallowing them whole.

Next, a white shadow near Xiu reached into its abdomen and retrieved the envelope and insignia, handing them to Xiu.

Xiu unfolded the envelope and glanced at it, then carefully examined the insignia in her hand.

It was her handwriting, the ink was specially made by the Church, and even the insignia…

The white shadow reached into its abdomen again, taking out another insignia and placing it beside Xiu’s.

Identical… Even the aura on them was indistinguishable.

“…Hmm?”

An irresistible doubt arose in Xiu’s heart, breaking her composure.

Dehydration Syndrome… This was an event she was fully responsible for, and it was resolved before it even happened. She hadn’t even set out for Borough City… Where did this letter come from?

Even the spiritual imprint inside the insignia was identical. If the two insignias were mixed together now, Xiu wouldn’t be able to tell which was real and which was fake.

Most importantly, the “Judge” on the opposite side wasn’t lying.

Could she really be from the Tribunal?

No, Xiu hadn’t seen everyone in the Tribunal, but she had a list and information on Judges above the second rank, and none of them matched the figure and hair color characteristics of this person.

Moreover… There was a repulsive aura emanating from the girl in front of her. Xiu couldn’t sense any reverence for the Savior Goddess from her—judging by logic, Tribunal members should have even more fervent faith.

Just these reasons alone weren’t enough to convince Xiu. The evidence presented by the girl couldn’t clear her of suspicion.

Raising her head, Xiu continued, “Please show your insignia, ‘Judge’ sir.”

Hearing Xiu’s question, Xia’er’s heart sank.

If she hadn’t impersonated the Tribunal for convenience, she might have been able to bluff her way through as a “Holy Maiden.” But now, it seemed she had walked straight into trouble.

Perhaps due to the involvement of the “Tribunal,” Xiu insisted on verifying Xia’er’s identity.

She really was having the worst luck…

But Xia’er didn’t have time to tangle with Xiu. She had many things to investigate, and she still wanted to review Tara’s report at noon. She didn’t want to end the simulation prematurely…

And Xia’er truly couldn’t produce any more evidence proving she was from the Tribunal.

“I did refuse joining the Tribunal and declined the invitation from the Salvation Goddess Religion. Impersonating the Tribunal was solely to investigate Opold’s abnormal condition.”

Xia’er took a deep breath and decided to bring in reinforcements.

“I’m from the Rossul Family and work for Aivana Rossul. For offending your esteemed church, I’ll personally apologize with gifts another day.”

Xiu paused for a moment.

“Aivana Rossul…”

Aivana’s name seemed to have some effect.

“Indeed, there was a spy from the Arrival Sect among Miss Aivana Rossul’s servants previously.”

Xiu stepped forward a few paces and said, “Please cooperate with the investigation, Miss. It will be brief.”

Arrival Sect?

Instantly, Xia’er realized what Xiu suspected.

She suspected Xia’er was from the Arrival Sect.

Mentioning Aivana’s name not only didn’t dispel Xiu’s suspicions but deepened them.

Was it the [Satarna Mark] in her warehouse?

The [Satarna Mark] placed in the warehouse could already take effect, making cultists with the “Satarna Mark” bow to Xia’er.

But unexpectedly, members of the Salvation Goddess Religion could also sense the aura of the [Satarna Mark].

Now, Xia’er wished she could destroy the [Satarna Mark] in her warehouse immediately, but the system warehouse didn’t have a destruction function.

What kind of investigation was this supposed to be?

Xia’er’s hand slowly dropped, touching the “Strong Fortune Coin” in her pocket.

This was the Sealed Object borrowed from Luxi. Xia’er planned to use the coin when she couldn’t resist doom, gambling on whether it could reverse her fate.

Now, it was clearly time to fight for her life. In front of Xiu, Xia’er had no chance of winning.

Even if she activated [Spiritual Summoning] immediately, Xiu, who was on high alert, could kill her before the blood array formed.

Without prior preparation, and with the opponent on guard, Xia’er couldn’t sacrifice a third-rank person through offering, which would only confirm her status as a cultist.

“Here.”

Xiu suddenly spoke, then slightly shifted aside, revealing a position.

A trembling woman full of wounds, holding a dagger, stiffly walked toward Xia’er. Beneath her, there was no shadow, replaced by a white shadow replicating her movements on the ground. The disoriented woman’s eyes visibly cooled upon seeing Xia’er.

“Relax, it’s just a test, Lady.”

Xiu glanced at Xia’er’s direction and said, “If you sustain any wounds, I’ll bear the pain for you.”

This was…

A member of the Arrival Sect?!

Previously at Derton Manor, Xia’er used the Tribunal’s identity to obtain information related to the Salvation Goddess Religion…

The internal information of the Salvation Goddess Religion; they caught a heretic trying to infiltrate their investigative team while conducting their investigation on the other side.

It was precisely through the severe torture of the heretic that they learned the Arrival Sect was also unaware of this sacrificial operation.

Xia’er instantly understood what Xiu meant by the “test.”

What Xiu referred to as a test… Was it about eliminating control and murderous intent over those bearing the “Satarna Mark” using the [Satarna Emblem], right?

In Xia’er’s line of sight, the woman who had been moving stiffly began to accelerate. Clutching a dagger in reverse grip, she charged directly toward Xia’er.

The woman’s expression was filled with resistance, but soon she was already before Xia’er, her right hand high above, ready to stab Xia’er.

At that moment, the woman’s raised right hand started trembling, as if struggling against something. Even Xia’er could hear the “cracking” sound of the woman’s bones twisting and breaking.

The woman was using an immense willpower to forcibly resist Xiu’s deliberately weakened control.

In front of Xia’er, the woman’s face contorted in pain, yet her gaze gradually became fanatical. She looked at Xia’er and shakily spoke, seemingly trying to justify Xia’er:

“You… are not Bishop-sama…”

“You… are not… I… must kill…”

The woman attempted to lift her knife to stab Xia’er’s shoulder or some harmless areas, but her dagger hovered in front of Xia’er, unable to deliver the strike no matter what.

Moments later, all control over the woman disappeared. Losing control, the woman collapsed, kneeling before Xia’er, sobbing uncontrollably.

White shadows around them now held long white bows. White spectral arrows gathered as they drew their bows, aiming at Xia’er’s direction.

Finished.

No longer hesitating, Xia’er felt a shadow handing her a coin from her pocket. Taking the coin, she flicked it upwards.

Ding ——

The rust-colored coin emitted a crisp sound as it flew into the air.

Simultaneously, a silver flash appeared on her chest, and in the next moment, a silver light burst forth in both her hands. A pocket watch and a flintlock gun materialized in Xia’er’s grasp.

After taking out the [Relic of the Radiant Bishop], Xia’er gained extra space in her warehouse. She directly used this space to flash the pocket watch from her chest into her hand.

“Click ——”

Xia’er immediately pressed the knob on the side of the pocket watch to adjust time, activating [Echo of Time]!

This was to gain 10 seconds, combining with [Death Reversal] so Xia’er could survive until the result of the [Strong Fortune Coin] toss.

“Hm?”

As Xia’er tossed the coin-shaped sealed object, a strong spiritual alert rang in Xiu’s mind.

She instinctively realized that once activated, the coin-like sealed object would bring unimaginable terrifying consequences!

Under no circumstances should the coin land!

A white shadow instantly leaped down from the rooftop, rushing toward the coin like a white lightning bolt along the wall. A white shadow arm emerged from the wall, directly grabbing for the flipping coin.

The white shadow managed to hold the coin, completely covering it.

However, the coin, as if existing in a different dimension, passed through the palm of the white shadow by several inches before falling.

Rusty red spots spread along the white shadow’s palm toward its torso. Even Xiu nearby let out a painful groan and quickly manipulated the white shadow to sever its own arm, letting the arm carrying the rust-red color dissipate.

Patta ——

The coin landed on the dirty black gravel road. The crimson-eyed demon gazed at the dark sky and rooftops almost covered with white shadows. Its blood-red pupils seemed full of mockery towards fate.

You call this a “Strong Fortune Coin”?!

At this point, seeing there was no way to stop the activation of this unknown sealed object, Xiu acted without reservation.

Countless beams of light shot from all directions, instantly piercing through the girl standing still, causing blood to flow profusely.

Pure white light arrows pierced through the girl’s body, turning her into a hedgehog. Clearly, she was dead beyond any doubt.

But at this moment, the girl’s figure flickered again. This time, the girl swapped places with the shadow on the ground. The aimless light arrows fell onto the ground, slowly dissipating.

“Cough…”

A mouthful of blood spewed from the girl’s lips. Her body riddled with bloody holes, almost soaked in blood, she shakily lifted her hand, gripping the coin on the ground. With her last ounce of strength, she tossed the coin into the air again.

Still alive?!

Seeing the girl whose brain was oozing out through her wound but still moving, Xiu’s expression beneath the mask could no longer remain calm.

Which sealed object?

The pocket watch? The coin? The flintlock gun?

How can a second-rank individual carry so many sealed objects? Isn’t she afraid of the side effects?

Xiu raised her hand again, and all the white shadows reloaded their bows. Each white shadow’s bow was loaded with three light arrows.

Xiu didn’t believe anyone reduced to ashes could revive.

Ding ——

The bloody coin flipped in the air after being flicked by the girl.

This faint sound of flicking the coin was like a death knell.

Xiu’s hand followed the trajectory of the falling coin and swung downward, and all the white shadows released their arrows!

Tssshh —!

Countless light arrows streaked across the sky in white flashes, instantly piercing the blood-drenched figure lying on the ground. Not an inch of skin was spared, and the densely packed arrows penetrated her back, splattering blood and flesh everywhere.

From above, the ground looked like a human-shaped structure made entirely of light arrows, making it impossible to see any part of her body except for the arrows.

An eyeball exploded and rolled away, and at this moment, the “Strong Fortune Coin” traced a path, landing on the eyeball, then fell with a “patta” sound beside the bloody gravel and dismembered corpse.

The demon’s eyeball stained with blood curved crazily due to the coin’s rust-red hue, facing the sky as if laughing maniacally.

Xia’er’s eyes focused on the coin, ending this unbearable torment with her last consciousness.

[Death Reversal] canceled.

A silver translucent dial appeared over Xia’er’s scattered remains, and the hour hand rapidly rewound ten seconds.

The shattered body parts, the brains turned to paste, and the internal organs, except for the spilled blood, seemed to come alive in this moment.

They moved like a wriggling blood-colored slime toward the direction where Xia’er originally stood, quickly reassembling within the blink of an eye.

“Huff… huff…”

After a brief loss of awareness, Xia’er regained her vision. The excruciating pain of wanting to die but unable to made her breathing rapid, her heart rate skyrocketing.

She was already gasping heavily the moment her body’s time reverted, accompanied by dizziness and discomfort from the soaring heart rate.

The enormous consumption caused by [Death Reversal] also made Xia’er’s brain feel sharp pains.

Why is it still tails?!

The moment Xia’er regained consciousness, only one thought popped into her mind.

One tail means doubled misfortune, and she had tossed two tails in a row, resulting in super-doubled misfortune, almost making Xia’er laugh out of frustration.

Just at this moment, Xia’er’s figure began to flicker uncontrollably.

The side effect [Time Distortion] activated.

“Judgment Enforcer” was Xia’er’s strongest combat power, and with the side effect activating now, switching to any save file wouldn’t reverse this certain-death situation.

Facing Xiu, who stepped back slightly, still shocked that two volleys couldn’t take down Xia’er and suspicious of the changes happening to Xia’er,

Once she regains her senses and initiates another volley, Xia’er would be done for.

Within the one-hour duration of [Time Distortion], she couldn’t use [Echo of Time] again!

Xia’er had no more life-saving cards left.

I’m going to kill you!!!

The previous suffering made Xia’er’s eyes nearly bloodshot. She stared at Xiu, unleashing all her unrestrained killing intent.

If given a chance, she would absolutely tear Xiu limb from limb.

But the next moment, “Judgment Enforcer” Xia’er’s figure distorted.

The Tribunal robes on her body disappeared, replaced by an expensive dress embroidered with the Russell family crest. A silver half-face mask, unknowingly covering Xia’er’s face, bore pages of [Other Realm Text] marked with blood characters.

“Hee.”

Xia’er’s lips curled into an abrupt smile, starkly contrasting her previous rage.

“Xiu, it’s just this thing playing tricks.”

A silver light flashed as [Satarna Mark] was pinched between Xia’er’s fingers. She casually flung it toward Xiu, who retreated several steps.

“I’ve never been a member of the Arrival Sect… Look at me now, how much do I resemble a heretic?”

Pinkish halos were spreading outward from Xia’er’s pupils, and inside her irises, pink tentacles resembling worms were wildly flailing, as if trying to burst out of her eyeballs.

Xiu was alarmed internally, and looking directly at the girl triggered a thunderous spiritual alert in her mind.

It’s the Other Realm, the aura of that world!

Compelled by the girl’s words, Xiu involuntarily lowered her head and saw the emblem on the ground.

This… is the bishop emblem of the Arrival Sect.

She wasn’t lying… After discarding the emblem, there really was no trace of a heretic mark on her…

Could it be… she isn’t a heretic?

At this moment, doubts arose in Xiu’s mind about her own judgment.

“I’ve said it before, but I don’t mind repeating myself…”

Xia’er placed her hands behind her back, stepping forward with her right foot, treading on her own pool of blood where the light arrows had dissipated. Her toe traced a circle in the blood-soaked gravel and stepped into it.

“You and Yulis have both invited me to become…”

Xia’er lifted her left foot and took another step forward, lightly circling and smiling as she said, “What was it again? Right, inviting me to the Church to become a Holy Maiden.”

Xiu took a step back, startled.

She… isn’t lying?

Why?! This is clearly a lie! I’ve never seen her before! Yulis has never reported such an incident to me!

This is outright falsehood!

“You’re probably thinking this is fake, right?”

Xia’er advanced step by step, laughing lightly as she asked, “Because all this happened in a dream. In my dreams, I’ve already met you more than once.”

“Ah, according to Yulis, what was it called again?”

“Oracle in dreams?”

“But I don’t believe joining the Church offers much freedom… So I’ve avoided contact with you in reality.”

No lies, no lies, no lies! The relentless pressure from the red-haired girl forced Xiu to retreat repeatedly.

Even though the girl seemed like an ordinary person, devoid of extraordinary aura, she brought an unprecedented sense of oppression to Xiu.

Now, Xiu even began doubting her own judgment, striving hard to find contradictions in the girl’s words, attempting to prove that everything she said was false.

The exaggerated sealed items, the indestructible girl, unheard-of resurrection, the aura of the Other Realm… Everything was overwhelming Xiu’s mind. Coupled with the girl’s graceful approach and incessant shocking words, normal thinking became arduous for Xiu.

The girl’s relaxed demeanor and elegant, stage-like steps made Xiu almost feel like she herself was first rank while the third-rank individual controlling the situation was on the opposite side.

Suddenly, the girl stopped advancing and asked somewhat dejectedly, “Do you still refuse to believe me?”

“I’m willing to believe you.”

Xiu took a deep breath. At this point, she finally realized that she was the one in control.

The girl in front was merely putting up a front.

“On the condition that you return with me to the Church,”

Xiu stared at the girl’s smile and said, “They can judge whether your words are true or false.”

Her emblems and letters, the bishop emblem of the Arrival Sect, numerous sealed items, bizarre immortality and resurrection abilities, and shocking statements…

The girl in front had far too many secrets… No matter what, she had to bring her back to the Church.

“I’d be happy to.”

Xia’er smiled, a silver light flashed, and the [Fatal Blood Rose] beside her feet disappeared. In the next moment, the silver light reappeared in Xia’er’s right hand.

“But they probably won’t agree.”

Xia’er’s left hand suddenly slapped the wall on her left, and her right hand swung the Blood Rose!

What effect will this have?!

Several white shadows darted in front of Xiu. Even though she was third rank, after witnessing the terrifying abilities of the girl in front, she dared not underestimate any sealed item used by her anymore.

When Xiu fully prepared her defensive stance, in the reflection of her pupils, the girl lifted her right hand, holding the flintlock gun, and slashed at her left hand with the blade tip.

Four fingers were cleanly severed at the base, blood flowing down the moss-covered wall.

And those four fingers, as if pulled by something, rolled behind the girl.

Rolling onto the twisted blood array formed by blood and gravel that she had drawn with her shoe tip.

On the roughly completed framework, the blood array instantly coalesced into shape. The girl’s four severed fingers were quickly drained of blood by the wriggling blood threads.

Those dancing blood threads formed a warped blood vortex behind the girl.

The girl smiled at Xiu, her back to the blood vortex, and slowly raised her left hand to her face.

Blood flowed from the four severed fingers, complemented by the intact thumb standing upright, resembling a thumbs-up.

Xia’er’s thumb slowly reversed inward, the initially upright thumb pointing downward, and her previously relaxed smile gradually turned into mockery: “A bit painful… Let’s give it a negative review, shall we?”

This was “Temptress” Xia’er, still able to joke under these circumstances.

“Sigh… I really didn’t want it to come to this… Xiao Zuo! Quickly, take me away!”

The terrifying aura emanating from the blood vortex made Xiu’s scalp tingle. She swiftly raised her hand, manipulating all the white shadows to reload their bows with all her might.

Not giving any chance for reaction, Xiu had already made her decision – to bring back a corpse or pieces of a corpse would suffice.

But just before her hand swung down, a pale hand with tumor-like eyeballs abruptly emerged from the blood vortex, covering Xia’er’s mouth.

Xia’er: “Mmm? Mmm mmm??”

Xia’er, whose mouth was covered, looked puzzled.

Not? Is this bad luck too?

So unfair!

What’s going on? She had asked Xiao Zuo, who was fast, to help her escape. Dragging her with four Xiao Zuo’s shouldn’t be difficult, right?

Several hands emerged from the blood vortex, grabbing Xia’er’s arms and legs. A slightly larger hand even gripped Xia’er’s slim waist, pulling her into the vortex.

A few smaller spider-like multi-fingered hands quickly picked up Xia’er’s pocket watch, Satarna emblem, and rushed toward the blood vortex. Even the emblem and letter of the Salvation Goddess Religion that Xiu had been holding were instantly snatched away.

At this moment, Xiu’s raised hand just fell, initiating a barrage of arrows.

Countless white light arrows densely pierced the blood array on the ground.

After a few flashes, the blood vortex shrunk and disappeared completely.

In the dark alley, only Xiu remained, stunned, unable to comprehend what had just transpired.

Nothing remained before Xiu, not even a drop of blood.

Even her own emblem had been stolen.

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