HP - Chapter 43

Kingdom of Gods 21

“This is the entrance to the Tarot Path base.”

In a secluded, deserted warehouse, Ning Zhi lifted a stone slab to reveal a manhole cover. She opened it, and inside was pitch black, as though it led into a bottomless abyss.

Ji Zhou leaned over to look down, his face full of disbelief. “You’re saying the Tarot Path people go in and out of here every day like rats? I can understand someone of You Shaofei’s status, but even other leaders are willing to crawl around like rats?”

Ning Zhi looked utterly exasperated. “Of course not. Someone of You Shaofei’s rank wouldn’t come to the base casually without orders. That’s why they have other strongholds outside—you’ve probably been to one of them.”

Back then, Zhong Xu had killed You Shaofei in one of those strongholds—an abandoned tower.

“Right. They use other strongholds, at least so they don’t have to act like rats.”

“This entrance,” Ning Zhi added, “is left open for us—invaders.”

“Huh?” Ji Zhou was completely confused. “You’re saying the Tarot Path deliberately opened an entrance for invaders?”

Ning Zhi knew what Ji Zhou was getting at and immediately continued, “The Tarot Path isn’t stupid. In fact, this is a smart move.”

“They know they’ve committed countless evils, and that plenty of people want them dead—especially the ‘Pantheon’ and ‘Judgment Eye’ among the three factions. No matter how arrogant they are, they understand that some nails shouldn’t be struck lightly. So they deliberately left behind this glaringly obvious, easily discovered entrance. If someone truly wants to invade, then let them come in from here.”

“Then wouldn’t there be countless traps inside?” Ji Zhou rubbed his chin.

“That’s certain, but there’s no need to worry,” Ning Zhi explained. “Based on several reconnaissance missions by Judgment Eye, it’s inferred that the Tarot Path base is circular overall. Their leader and important rooms are located at the ‘center point.’ The base has at least two entrances, and this one is the farthest from the center point. To reach the center, you’d have to deal with the base’s mechanisms and guard forces—it’s extremely difficult.”

While Ning Zhi and Ji Zhou were talking, Zhong Xu had already begun climbing down into the shaft.

“Ah Xu, let me scout ahead first!” Ji Zhou hurriedly tried to stop her.

Ning Zhi also said anxiously, “Shouldn’t we first figure out where your friend is? What if he’s near the center point…”

Ji Zhou smiled.

“Then we’ll just fight our way there.”

As for Zhong Xu—there was hardly anything more to say. It seemed nothing could make her afraid; she was reckless and utterly unconcerned.

And Ji Zhou… he was always smiling, his smile almost blinding.

Their trio was truly strange. Presumably, their other teammate was the same kind of person.

Thud—

Zhong Xu had already calculated the distance and landed firmly.

Ji Zhou didn’t dare waste a second and followed right after her.

Ning Zhi hesitated for a brief three seconds, then jumped in as well.

“Why did you come too?” Ji Zhou was startled when he saw her. “Didn’t you say it would be extremely dangerous? This place is unfamiliar and full of risk—what are you doing here?”

“A traitor of Judgment Eye has nowhere else to go,” Ning Zhi said, cutting him off before he could complain about a traitor tagging along. She immediately added, “Although this base was built by players, it was constructed through Tarot card abilities. Tarot belongs to the game rules. I’m a game planner—maybe I can be of some help.”

“Sound reasoning. Very convincing.” Ji Zhou made an inviting gesture.

Inside the Tarot Path base, countless metal corridors wound and twisted like coiling serpents. There didn’t seem to be many guards, but surveillance was everywhere.

“Let’s not charge in head-on,” Ning Zhi suddenly slipped into the lead and ducked low. “If we can avoid some surveillance, we should.”

Zhong Xu and Ji Zhou had no objections.

“Wait,” Ning Zhi stopped them again. “There are people on the right… My ability is Identification. I sense that the concentration of malice on the right is a bit high.”

Her Tarot card wasn’t combat-oriented, nor did she possess Zhong Xu’s skills. But in this maze-like base, it was useful for quickly identifying enemies.

“We can ambush.”

Although it felt somewhat dishonorable…

Ning Zhi worried that someone like Ji Zhou might not accept it, but to her surprise, he had already carefully slipped over, launching a sudden ambush on the enemies to the right.

Ji Zhou said, “Don’t know how many are ahead. If we can ambush, we ambush.”

“…Alright, good.”

After a moment of silence, Zhong Xu spoke: “Pick up any useful weapons for me.”

Hand-to-hand combat hurts too much.

So they fought their way forward, capturing someone alive along the way, and learned Qiu Heming’s approximate location and current situation.

“Intrusion alarm! Intrusion alarm!”

The closer they got to the center point, the fiercer the battle became, and Ji Zhou’s fire directly triggered the alarm.

“Too noisy.”

Zhong Xu leaped lightly, striking the alarm with her elbow—instantly piercing it.

Seeing this, Ning Zhi’s pupils sharply contracted.

She really was evolving… From initially realistic attack power to something now clearly beyond realism.

Could it be…

Ning Zhi’s heart raced; a guess was forming.

Bang—

A metal door was smashed through; a person was flung out, crashing heavily to the ground.

A strong desire to witness the scene made Qiu Heming endure the pain and turn his head.

Seeing the approaching figures clearly, he wanted to laugh, but even a laugh now caused pain all over. He could only hold it in.

“You all…” Moon Goddess scanned the area, her gaze settling on Zhong Xu. She recognized her immediately as the person on the wanted poster.

“What are you doing here?”

The news she had received clearly indicated… Grave City.

If Zhong Xu was here, that must mean… Moon Goddess’s gaze turned cold: “Miao Ge is dead?”

Zhong Xu ignored her and instead tried to assess the current situation. After descending into the Tarot base, her vision had partially recovered. Now she saw grayish outlines, faintly defined.

“What’s the situation now?” From these huge, bizarre shapes, she struggled to make sense of it.

And it wasn’t just her—Ji Zhou and Ning Zhi, with their eyes wide open, seeing everything clearly, were equally bewildered.

“I think… this game is getting stranger and stranger,” Ji Zhou nudged Ning Zhi’s elbow. “Game planner classmate, what do you think is happening?”

Ning Zhi paused to assess cautiously, then said with difficulty, “Probably advanced gameplay?”

“Ah Xu, let me tell you what’s happening now…” Ji Zhou hesitated to look directly at the scene, instinctively turning his eyes away. “There are monsters… disgusting-looking monsters.”

Zhong Xu frowned, more concerned about: “Is Qiu Heming still alive?”

Ji Zhou hesitated. “Hard to say…”

Still suspended mid-air, Qiu Heming: "...What do you mean 'hard to say'??"

"Huh? So you can still speak human language."

"......"

Ji Zhou’s expression was complicated. "Ah Xu, Ah He has become a monster that can speak human language."

"......"

“Here to rescue?” Moon Goddess clearly wasn’t content with being ignored for so long. She was cradled in the arms of one of the humanoid monsters, forcing her injured body to sit upright. "Your friendship is truly deep. Qiu Heming became a monster for you, and for him you actually dare to come here to die. Miao Ge’s death was not in vain. Capturing you here will save a lot of effort."

Qiu Heming interjected, "You’re injured like this; maybe cut back on the tough talk. Listening to it is exhausting."

Moon Goddess gritted her teeth and signaled to the monster in front.

The monster sprang up, reaching toward Qiu Heming. Already pierced by bones and near death, this strike boded ill for him.

Ji Zhou instinctively ignited flames to intercept, but Zhong Xu was faster.

Having fought her way here, Zhong Xu had picked up many weapons. Now holding a modified advanced submachine gun, she pulled the trigger. A light bullet shot through the air, striking the monster’s head.

The monster howled, its extended hand instinctively veering toward Zhong Xu.

"Truly seeking death!"

Moon Goddess narrowed her eyes.

Just three people making it this far was lucky. But… how could they possibly face dozens of Tarot Path guards and these terrifyingly powerful monsters?

"Ah Xu, they have quite a few people, and monsters too. We’re in trouble," cold sweat ran down Ji Zhou’s forehead. He had long lost his smile, grabbing Ning Zhi who had nearly been cut down. The three of them pressed tightly against Zhong Xu’s back, tense.

"I’ll kill the leader. You two rescue Qiu Heming, then withdraw."

Zhong Xu had already divided the tasks and, without waiting for Ji Zhou and Ning Zhi to react, flashed past the people ahead, heading straight for Moon Goddess.

"Ah Xu!" Ji Zhou had no time and could only shout gravely, "The leader is being princess-carried by a monster!"

Zhong Xu had already divided the tasks; there was no time for hesitation—execution had to be immediate.

What princess carry!

Moon Goddess had no time to be angry; the figure was closing in at incredible speed.

She considered herself a bit of a madman in battle, but this person was abnormally insane—every step, every move showed no fear of being killed.

Testing danger with her own body, killing intent thick in her eyes—she would definitely take her life!

"I’m injured now! I need more protection! Save me!" Moon Goddess shouted frantically.

Even though only one person was charging, that reckless, desperate drive planted a thorn of fear deep in her heart.

But no one paid attention to Moon Goddess.

The dispatched people were only there to kill Zhong Xu; protecting her was not their intention.

Moon Goddess’s heart sank—she had just been promoted to Special Patrol Leader. What a joke! Even a so-called leader could be casually discarded!

"I can die, but please… please must revive my sister Luo Shen! Please!"

Moon Goddess seized the last chance, shouting toward the ceiling.

The loudspeaker crackled, as if ignoring her voice.

Bang—

The monster was sent flying by a gunshot.

At the same time, a Tarot Path guard flashing from her side fired—a bullet grazed Zhong Xu’s face, opening a deep gash.

Zhong Xu ignored it, stepping steadily toward Moon Goddess.

Injured, Moon Goddess fell to the ground, struggling to stand but ultimately in vain.

"You’re the monster…"

Moon Goddess stared at her in disbelief, panic spreading uncontrollably.

She saw Zhong Xu’s face, pierced by the bullet; flesh and blood rapidly regenerated into new skin. In the end, only a bloodstain remained, a reminder that it wasn’t an illusion.

"You are…"

A flash of insight came at the brink of death, but Moon Goddess had no chance to speak.

Bang—

Sevyn here ~~~

Enjoy!