Chapter 93 - Dark Clown

The spiral staircase led directly to the core control area on the highest floor.

After climbing an unknown number of steps, s.h.i.+ Feng arrived at a winding corridor that led towards the core area. Ancient magical runes were carved into the walls on both sides of the corridor, and even though almost a millennium had pa.s.sed, this corridor was still gleaming with light. Only some parts of the corridor had decayed, damaging the magical circuits etched in it and plunging those particular areas into darkness. Fortunately, not many parts of the corridor were badly decayed, so s.h.i.+ Feng was still able to clearly see the entirety of the long, narrow, and maze-like corridor.

Just after s.h.i.+ Feng set foot into the corridor, the alarm once again rang out.

“Alert! Alert! The intruder has already invaded Area A of the fortress, the Magic Corridor. Activating Guardian Statues on duty!”

s.h.i.+ Feng then heard loud booming noises coming from the corridor, as if some gigantic machine had started moving.

s.h.i.+ Feng no longer dared advance slowly. He immediately used a Speed Scroll, das.h.i.+ng through the Magic Corridor at flying speed.

After taking several turns in the Magic Corridor, s.h.i.+ Feng discovered a machine that had a flas.h.i.+ng red light. Although this machine was just the size of a football, it was constantly producing alarms, as if it were a tool meant for guiding the Guardian Statues.

[Sentinel Guard] (Common Monster)

Level 10

HP 200/200

s.h.i.+ Feng immediately understood how he was so easily discovered. This Sentinel Guard was just like a radar. It could detect enemies within a range of 500 yards, and after discovering them, it would set off an alarm. The distance between the entrance of the corridor and this location was roughly around 500 yards, so the Sentinel Guard was able to immediately discover s.h.i.+ Feng. As long as s.h.i.+ Feng could get rid of it, then he would be able to rid himself of the alarms of this area.

However, this thing had very sensitive reactions. It would not let any enemies get within 30 yards. Also, if it were attacked even once, it would try to retreat with all its might. Simultaneously, it would increase its speed of calling for its allies, and it would absolutely not give the enemy a second chance to attack. It was extremely hard to deal with.

“I guess I’ve no choice left. I can only give it a try.” s.h.i.+ Feng unsheathed both of his swords. He could already hear the angry roars of the Guardian Statues coming from behind him. Based on his strength, fighting in this narrow area would only lead to his own death. His only chance of throwing off those Guardian Statues was to get rid of this Sentinel Guard.

When s.h.i.+ Feng was nearing the 30-yard range, just as the Sentinel Guard was about to break into a run…

s.h.i.+ Feng’s eyes locked onto the Sentinel Guard, the muscles in both of his arms bulged, and with the strength of his entire body, he cast out both swords.

Xiu! Both swords flew towards the Sentinel Guard.

Precision Throw!

The throwing distance of the skill was just at 30 yards, and it caused 150% of his weapon’s damage.

The Sentinel Guard was extremely vigilant. It rapidly moved its body, immediately dodging the Crimson Blade that flew at it. However, the Sentinel Guard’s dodge had, in turn, placed it in the flight path of s.h.i.+ Feng’s second sword, the Abyssal Blade.

Peng!

The Abyssal Blade pierced through the Sentinel Guard, causing -211 damage and instantly killing it.

System: Level 10 Sentinel Guard killed. Level difference of 4. EXP obtained increased by 400%. Obtained 800 EXP.

s.h.i.+ Feng activated Windwalk, his speed once again increasing by a notch as he rushed to pull out his swords that pierced into the ground. He then rushed towards the Magic Corridor’s exit. Without the guidance of the Sentinel Guard, the Guardian Statues were like flies that lost their eyes. They ran around all over the place, completely unable to find s.h.i.+ Feng.

More than a dozen minutes later, after getting rid of another three Sentinel Guards, s.h.i.+ Feng finally escaped the Magic Corridor, arriving at the control room.

There was a barrier in the central region of the control room. A dark grey colored sphere of iron was placed inside the barrier. This sphere of iron was the heart of the Steel Fortress, and it was the fortress’ source of energy. It was the t.i.tan’s Heart.

“I never thought that, after so many years have pa.s.sed, there would still be somebody who would come to this place.”

Before s.h.i.+ Feng could examine the entire control room in detail, he heard a deep sneer coming from the entrance of the barrier. This sound was bone-chilling, and no human was capable of producing such a sound. Only a puppet or a corpse would be capable of sounding so emotionless.

“Welcome to my Steel Fortress Barrutia! In order to celebrate your arrival, I’ve decided to use your fiery flesh and blood to feed my baby! Come out, h.e.l.lhound!”

s.h.i.+ Feng could faintly see the outline of a humanoid lifeform inside the barrier. However, the figure seemed to be currently absorbing the energy of the t.i.tan’s Heart, so it did not have surplus powers to deal with s.h.i.+ Feng, sending out its pet in its stead.

“Ao! Ao! Ao!” A large black dog, its entire body covered in flames, rushed out from the barrier.

[h.e.l.lhound] (Elite-rank)

Level 15

HP 6,000/6,000

“c.r.a.p, did I come at a bad time?” s.h.i.+ Feng’s brows slightly wrinkled as he observed the h.e.l.lhound. According to the information in his previous life, there were definitely no lifeforms or monsters in this place. The person that did the Quest was able to safely take the t.i.tan’s Heart away. So, why was it that, when it was his turn to do the Quest, a mysterious character appeared here, trying to steal the t.i.tan’s Heart’s energy.

However, s.h.i.+ Feng also thought of another possibility.

This mysterious character stole all the energy of the t.i.tan’s Heart first. Meanwhile, the player who came here had merely taken away the t.i.tan’s Heart that was empty of any energy. On the other hand, s.h.i.+ Feng had coincidentally run into this energy thief. However, unfortunately for s.h.i.+ Feng, he wasn’t even capable of defeating the pet of this mysterious character, not to mention the person, itself.

“Since you want to battle, then come!” s.h.i.+ Feng pulled out his swords, his attention affixed on the slowly approaching h.e.l.lhound.

As the h.e.l.lhound’s distance from him continuously shortened, s.h.i.+ Feng could feel his surroundings become exceptionally hot, causing his mouth to feel parched. s.h.i.+ Feng thought of taking out a Cold Beverage to enjoy, but he currently couldn’t carelessly move about. He would immediately reveal a weak point as soon as he moved. As a Level 15 Elite monster, the h.e.l.lhound’s intelligence was already extremely high. It was the reason why it leisurely walked towards s.h.i.+ Feng.

That was because the h.e.l.lhound knew the best time for it to launch an attack. As long as s.h.i.+ Feng revealed a gap, it would immediately bite at him with all its might, not letting go of s.h.i.+ Feng until he was completely dead.

In the confrontation between the two, after all was said and done, the h.e.l.lhound was still the more powerful. So, naturally, it would not simply wait. Its legs immediately pushed against the ground, leaping high into the air and transforming into a ball of fire. It then opened its flaming maw.

s.h.i.+ Feng rolled to a side, dodging the h.e.l.lhound’s pouncing attack.

However, immediately after the h.e.l.lhound landed, its flaming claws slashed horizontally.

s.h.i.+ Feng had long since prepared for this, so he used both of his swords to Parry.

Peng! Although s.h.i.+ Feng did not receive any damage, his entire body was thrown.

The h.e.l.lhound immediately opened its large mouth, spewing scorching-hot flames. The flames wrapped around s.h.i.+ Feng completely, preventing him from escaping.

s.h.i.+ Feng clenched his teeth. He used Phantom Kill, and at the moment of imminent peril, he swapped positions with his doppelganger in mid-air.

s.h.i.+ Feng’s doppelganger was immediately swallowed by the flames, instantly turning into a pile of ash. Meanwhile, the System Notification showed a damage of up to -3,000. Even if s.h.i.+ Feng were to take the hit with his HP full and all of his Life s.h.i.+eld[1] activated, he still wouldn’t be able to shoulder this attack.

s.h.i.+ Feng clearly felt how powerful the h.e.l.lhound was. Such damage was definitely not something a Level 15 Elite monster could dish out. Its strength was greatly increased because of the Quest’s Story Line. According to his experience, s.h.i.+ Feng estimated the h.e.l.lhound’s actual level to be over Level 30, and it should be a Lord-rank Boss.

If the pet were already this powerful, then what about its owner?

Seeing that the h.e.l.lhound’s flaming claws were about to slap down at him, s.h.i.+ Feng used Abyssal Bind. Even if the h.e.l.lhound were any stronger, it would still be restricted for 3 seconds. Following which, s.h.i.+ Feng rushed into the barrier at the center of the room. Currently, the best option s.h.i.+ Feng possessed was to s.n.a.t.c.h the t.i.tan’s Heart and swiftly depart.

However, just after entering the barrier, s.h.i.+ Feng immediately became shocked upon seeing this mysterious person’s true ident.i.ty.

“Dark Clown!” s.h.i.+ Feng immediately recognized the ident.i.ty of this mysterious character. His heart could not help but be surprised, “Why is such a b.a.s.t.a.r.d here?”

TL Notes:

[1]Life s.h.i.+eld: Effect 2 of the Silvermoon Set Equipment (mentioned in Chapter 81)