Chapter 44 - 42: Sacrifice to the Netherworld King
Chapter 44: Chapter 42: Sacrifice to the Netherworld King
Absorbing a Magic Core was no different from absorbing a Demon Core.
Fang Xiu didn’t notice anything unusual as he absorbed it.
The remnant soul of the Demon Beast that Kajimi had mentioned didn’t seem to have emerged.
"Ah, that felt good!"
Having absorbed the Magic Core, Fang Xiu stretched his limbs.
He opened his eyes, ready to try out his new Skill, but...
"Where am I?"
Fang Xiu stared at the unfamiliar surroundings.
He was dumbfounded.
’Just a moment ago... this was the Gate World connected to my room!’
But everything around him was utterly unfamiliar.
The forest was now just deadwood.
The lake had turned foul and turbid.
Even the grass beneath his feet was gone, leaving only blood-soaked earth.
’This doesn’t look like my Gate World at all!’
Fang Xiu stared at the scene before him, a strange feeling washing over him.
It was... somewhat familiar, yet also alien.
It was like the Gate World he had been in before.
The layout was more or less the same.
But everything here seemed different somehow.
It had become... so desolate.
"Kajimi!"
Fang Xiu called out.
’If this is the same Gate World as before, then Kajimi should be here.’
"Kajimi!"
But no matter how many times Fang Xiu called, the Succubus Kajimi didn’t appear.
"What’s going on?"
Fang Xiu’s brow furrowed.
This place looked just like his previous Gate World, only destroyed.
’Destroyed?’
The word surfaced in Fang Xiu’s mind.
Yes, that was it. Destroyed.
The original forest, lake, and prairie—all of it had been obliterated.
And Kajimi was gone.
"Kajimi!"
Fang Xiu yelled one more time.
But still, no one answered.
’It can’t be!’
Looking at the blood-stained ground, a sense of unease crept into Fang Xiu’s heart.
’What in the world happened while I was absorbing the Magic Core?’
’I’d better check outside!’
Fang Xiu wondered, ’If things have become like this in here, what does the world outside look like now?’
’And where did Kajimi go?’
’If this Gate World was really under attack, how was I able to continue my Cultivation?’
’Could Kajimi have risked her life to protect me, luring away all the Demon Beasts that invaded this place?’
A whole scenario played out in Fang Xiu’s mind.
’If that’s true, then is this blood from the Demon Beasts, or is it Kajimi’s?’
Fang Xiu suspected it was a mix of both.
Kajimi was incredibly strong, so hunting Demon Beasts was a simple task for her.
But the sheer number of Demon Beasts must have been too much, to the point where she couldn’t stay here and had to lure them away.
’I need to get out of here first!’
Fang Xiu was worried about Kajimi, and he was also worried about the world outside.
If these Demon Beasts had truly destroyed the city outside...
...then it all would have started from his room.
’If only I’d reported this Gate World Passage when I first discovered it.’
’Perhaps today’s consequences could have been avoided.’
A pang of regret hit Fang Xiu.
He hurried to find the Gate World Passage.
’Thank goodness, the passage is still here!’
The passage was, indeed, still there.
Fang Xiu breathed a sigh of relief.
If the Gate World Passage had vanished...
...he might have been trapped here forever.
He hurried over.
He glanced around; there were no Demon Beasts in sight.
ROAR!
Just as Fang Xiu was about to leave the Gate World...
...a furious roar echoed out.
Immediately after, a massive head began to squeeze through the Gate Passage.
The head was enormous. It resembled a leopard’s, and it was entirely black.
Even its pupils were black.
The only exception was its scarlet tongue, visible when it opened its mouth.
"ROAR!"
The leopard-headed beast let out another furious roar.
The deafening sound sent Fang Xiu stumbling back several steps.
’To think a single roar could contain such immense Spiritual Power!’
Fang Xiu was taken aback.
’What kind of Demon Beast is this?’
Its sheer size was one thing, but its strength was terrifyingly immense.
That was just a roar, yet it contained a frightening amount of Spiritual Power.
Fang Xiu knew that if the leopard wished, it could kill him with a single swipe of its paw.
’Thankfully, this Gate World Passage is so small, it shouldn’t be able to get in!’
Fang Xiu let out another sigh of relief.
’If this were a normal Gate World Passage...’
’...this thing would have already squeezed its way in.’
CRACK!
Just as Fang Xiu was backing away, looking for a place to hide...
...a strange sound suddenly rang out.
Fang Xiu looked up to see a dark, powerful-looking paw reach out from inside the Gate Passage.
It was followed by another paw.
They gripped the edges of the Gate World Passage.
And then, with a great heave, they tore it open!
CRACK!
There was that sound again.
"Holy shit, you can’t be serious!"
Fang Xiu couldn’t help but curse out loud.
’That’s a Gate World Passage!’
Fang Xiu had never even heard of a Demon Beast that could tear one open.
But before his very eyes, the once-small Gate World Passage had widened considerably.
In other words, the passage to the Gate World had truly been torn open.
’What the hell is this thing?’
Fang Xiu stared at the Demon Beast before him.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned and fled.
He had explored this Gate World once before and remembered a mountain not far from here.
On that mountain was a cave, and Fang Xiu had tested it before; even he could barely squeeze inside.
The Demon Beast was massive; a single one of its paws was thicker than Fang Xiu’s entire body.
It would absolutely be unable to squeeze into the cave.
Even with all its Power, there was nothing it could do to the mountain itself.
At this thought, Fang Xiu quickened his pace.
CRACK!
The sound of tearing came from the passage behind him again.
Fang Xiu didn’t look back, but he knew that the enormous Demon Beast was already squeezing its way through the Gate Passage.
Half of the Demon Beast’s body was already inside the Gate World.
Fang Xiu just kept running.
Fortunately, this Gate World wasn’t very large to begin with.
When Fang Xiu reached the mountain, he... froze.
"What the hell?"
More than half of the mountain before him had been obliterated.
Forget a cave; there wasn’t even a hole left.
’Just what kind of battle took place here?!’
Fang Xiu was completely aghast.
What kind of fight could obliterate a mountain?
THUD! THUD! THUD!
At the same time, the ground began to tremble.
Fang Xiu nearly lost his footing.
He turned to see a Black Panther the size of a small hill slowly walking toward him.
It seemed unconcerned with a pipsqueak like Fang Xiu, knowing he had no chance of escaping its grasp.
It was like a cat toying with a mouse.
"What in the world is this thing?"
Fang Xiu was exasperated.
’All I did was absorb a Magic Core, and something like this happens?’
’How much time has even passed?’
’In that case, I have no choice but to fight. I just don’t know if my body, strengthened by the Flower God’s Flower Dew, can stand up to this beast!’
Fang Xiu had no confidence at all.
But now, escape was nearly impossible.
This thing... was a leopard!
Despite its immense size, every one of its steps was incredibly light.
Fang Xiu knew its speed was definitely not slow.
Its current leisurely pace meant it wasn’t worried about him escaping.
Watching the approaching Black Panther, Fang Xiu didn’t flee. Instead, Magic Staff in hand, he began walking step by step toward it.
’If I can’t escape, then I’ll fight!’
Seeing this ant-like existence dare to charge at it...
...the Black Panther was enraged.
It charged toward Fang Xiu.
Seeing this, a smirk played on Fang Xiu’s lips.
’A fast-running target’s weakness is in its legs,’ Fang Xiu thought.
He’d read that in a book somewhere.
The Black Panther was now charging. If he could just seize the chance to trip it, he’d have an opportunity to escape.
Previously, Fang Xiu would never have dared to try something like this.
But things were different now.
After the Enhancement from the Flower God’s Flower Dew, Fang Xiu’s Power had increased by leaps and bounds.
He still had a chance.
’It’s getting closer, closer!’
Fang Xiu ran forward, waiting for the Black Panther to close the distance.
’Now!’
With the Black Panther right in front of him, Fang Xiu swept his Magic Staff directly at its legs.
SWOOSH!
But just as Fang Xiu’s Magic Staff was about to connect with the Black Panther...
...a black shadow flashed past his eyes.
In an instant, the Black Panther was gone.
"What?"
’This isn’t how it was supposed to go in my head.’
"ROAR!"
Just then, a roar sounded from behind Fang Xiu.
He turned to see that the Black Panther had somehow reappeared beside the collapsed hill.
’So fast!’
He hadn’t even clearly seen how the Black Panther had moved.
Its speed was easily on par with Kajimi’s.
BAM!
Just then, the Black Panther leaped up and landed steadily atop the hill.
It then slammed a paw down, shattering a large chunk of the small mountain.
Fang Xiu: ...
He had just been planning to hide inside that mountain.
Good thing he hadn’t.
The Black Panther’s paw might not have been able to reach into the cave...
...but after a swat like that, what cave would be left?
’Oh well, my objective is accomplished!’
Fang Xiu turned and ran.
There was no way he could beat this thing!
His only option was to run.
Fang Xiu’s target was the Gate World Passage behind the Black Panther.
If he could just get through it, he could find a place to hide.
Using Sacrifice was a last resort.
Fang Xiu didn’t even know who he could use Sacrifice on this thing for.
’After the Sacrifice, would the resulting punishment be even worse than being killed by this thing?’
"ROAR!"
Watching the fleeing Fang Xiu, the Black Panther let out another roar.
A glint of mockery flashed in its black eyes.
Then, its body vanished from the hill, reappearing in an instant in front of the Gate World Passage.
"Shit!"
Fang Xiu had run all this way...
...and this thing had appeared at the exit in the blink of an eye.
"There’s no other way. I’ll just have to see if I can Sacrifice you!"
Fang Xiu was out of options.
Sacrifice was supposed to be his last resort.
But now, it seemed, he had reached the end of the line.
If he didn’t Sacrifice this beast, there was probably no escape.
"System, analyze who I can Sacrifice this thing to for the lightest punishment."
Fang Xiu calmed himself, his eyes locked on the Black Panther before him.
[The Spiritual Body of the Nether Spirit Thunderweight Leopard, though pathetically weak, is a perfect offering. Sacrifice it to the Netherworld King to receive a small gift!]
P.S. Sorry, my boss made me work overtime. Just starting the update now!