Free Web NovelChapter 130: Chapter 130: Bai Wu’s Gift
The heartrending roar drew the attention of those around, and as a powerful presence surged at the outskirts of the crowd, everyone looking up at Wu Jiu turned to the edge.
They no longer recognized the face of the monster, only watching as it grew taller, bit by bit, until it burst through the blue combat attire of the Investigation Corps.
The aberrant beast’s skin became pitch black like dark crystal, shimmering with a certain luster.
Wu Jiu and Nie Chongshan, engaged in battle high above, likewise sensed that something was amiss.
The scent of their own kind made Nie Chongshan frown.
To Nie Chongshan, the Martial Training Area was the most amusing playground, and he had no need for the interference of another Evil Fallen.
Wu Jiu had originally planned to attack that monster enshrouded in blackness, its physique as massive as if composed of black crystal stones.
But Nie Chongshan did not let Wu Jiu go:
"Let those trash keep it company! Gu Qingyu, our game isn’t over yet!"
Nie Chongshan’s punches fell like a tempest once again.
Wu Jiu found his retreat blocked by successive punches.
His speed was barely faster than Nie Chongshan’s, and facing the sudden onslaught, he was forced to defend!
With each punch, Nie Chongshan’s lethal offense drew closer to Wu Jiu.
Add to that the appearance of a new Evil Fallen, and Wu Jiu’s mind was already in disarray. He felt an irremovable sense of annoyance, yet he didn’t know why.
Just as Wu Jiu was about to be engulfed by the punching wind, and those wounded below were preparing to defend against the newly emerged monster.
The situation in the field changed once more.
The Rock Giant, even taller than Nie Chongshan, suddenly leapt up. It didn’t care about the Garrison Corps or Investigation Corps below. Like a cannonball, it hurtled into Wu Jiu and Nie Chongshan’s duel.
The twisted air became even more contorted.
Fear and despair appeared on everyone’s faces. It was clear to all that Wu Jiu was at his limit.
Facing the demonic Evil Fallen, he was barely holding on. Now with another Evil Fallen arriving, the situation was a hopeless dead end!
Yet the scene that followed surprised everyone, including Wu Jiu and Nie Chongshan.
When Wu Jiu finally could not escape, and was about to be swept away by Nie Chongshan’s terrifying punching wind, the pitch-black figure finally broke into the battlefield.
It did not choose to attack Wu Jiu but instead stood resolutely in front of him, like a... shield!
Massive trees emitted the sound of snapping under punches powerful enough to warp space.
Yet the black beast on the thick branches was unmoved. The domineering punch from the demon was blocked head-on.
And behind him, Wu Jiu, though he felt the breeze of the punches, received not the slightest injury.
Nie Chongshan, hovering in the air on outstretched wings, looked at the Rock Giant that had suddenly appeared and faintly understood something.
"Things are getting interesting."
Nie Chongshan, fluttering in the sky, began to gather strength. Against Wu Jiu, he couldn’t make a full-powered charge but had to continuously use quick combinations to try to hit Wu Jiu.
Even so, the formidable power of the punches had caused Wu Jiu quite a bit of trouble.
But now, Nie Chongshan began to accumulate punching power.
The visibly gathering strength swirled around Nie Chongshan’s right fist. It was hard to imagine the destructive force that would be unleashed when this punch was thrown!
The black Rock Giant spread its arms and actually protected Wu Jiu completely.
This scene has given the captains a sense of déjà vu, and gradually, as people come to their senses from the sight of the monster bursting through the blue battle garb, reality sets in.
Cao An is the healer of the Vanguard Group for Squad Thirteen, he looks around in panic, but finds no trace of Captain Liu.
Wang Shi may be a member of the Vanguard Group of Squad Seven, but he has always aspired to be like Liu Mu, to be the shield at the forefront, bearing all the hits for his teammates. His eyes also show disbelief as he anxiously searches for a certain figure.
Long Xiao and Meng Yuan also realize that the guy who had resisted the demon longer than anyone before Wu Jiu... has vanished.
"Who exactly are you...?"
Seeing this all-too-familiar gesture, Wu Jiu’s voice trembles, and his expression suddenly becomes frantic.
Even when facing Nie Chongshan for the first time, tormented for six days, completely unconscious, thinking he was going to die... he had never shown such a panic-stricken face.
Not long ago, countless negative emotions had churned in Liu Mu’s consciousness, only settling down after he became an Evil Fallen.
As Cain had said, he possessed a talent to rival Wu Jiu’s; even as an Evil Fallen, he was of the wise kind.
Despite suddenly feeling the Martial Training Area was filled with delicious fear, a strong urge to tear apart those former comrades swelled within him.
Despite the grief and rage in his heart with no outlet, he just wanted to keep fighting, to keep killing.
Yet, when he saw that Wu Jiu was about to fall, he still pushed aside all emotions and rushed forward without hesitation!
Now hearing Wu Jiu’s words, Liu Mu feels an unprecedented calm...
"Take good care of my men, Wu Jiu. It’s a pity I won’t be able to see the day you become the commander of the Legion."
Nie Chongshan’s punch finally gathers momentum, a fist force that seems capable of destroying the world comes crashing down!
Liu Mu stands like an impregnable great shield, blocking all the explosive punch force. Cracks appear on his jet-black skin, but they heal rapidly.
Rare Mutation Entry: Block, Shield Reversal; Perfect Mutation Entry, Infinite Block, Thorny Great Shield.
The Evil Fallen Liu Mu, has become the monster with the strongest defense.
Wu Jiu stands right behind Liu Mu, clearly unharmed by even the slightest.
But he feels... as if something in his head is collapsing, shattering.
After the Evil Fallen Transformation, Liu Mu’s voice has drastically changed, yet as soon as he speaks, his words reverberate in Wu Jiu’s mind, crashing into countless overlapping phrases.
"Huh? You had your nutrient meals stolen when you were a kid? Hahaha, I’ve been robbed too, but that’s not why I joined the Investigation Corps. I hope that in the future, in my jurisdiction at least, no one will have to go hungry."
"Have you heard? The old Corps commander has retired, Qin got promoted to commander! I like him, that guy is different from those bastard nobles."
"Hahaha, do you know how people talk about us now? They call you the Blade of the Investigation Corps, and me the Shield of the Investigation Corps!"
"Damn it, becoming a captain should be a happy occasion, why the long face? Aren’t we one step closer to achieving our goal?"
"Bai Wu is not bad, how about you give him to me? Your Squad Seven has so many talents, it’s about time you evened things out and sent one to Squad Thirteen!"
"Not so fast, you think that’s junk metal? Even without a shield, I can still protect you."
Past scenes flashed one by one, Wu Jiu felt an unprecedented sorrow and fatigue, as if in this moment, he couldn’t even hold his knife steady.
The wristwatch’s values had long entered the red zone, the strongest warrior of the High Tower weeping for the first time.
The punch force dissipates.
In the area around Liu Mu, everything visible ends up turned to dust under that single punch.
Smokey dust clouds fill the sky, and Liu Mu proclaims:
"You like fighting, don’t you? Let them go back! I’ll give you a proper fight!"
This declaration echoed between heaven and earth, making everyone realize that this newly transformed Evil Fallen being was none other than the Shield of the Investigation Corps, Liu Mu.
Ash and dust obscured everyone’s vision, and upon hearing these words, Nie Chongshan’s expression was utterly different from when he had faced off against Wu Jiu.
His demeanor was very serious.
"In your mind, there should now be a string of numbers, which means you can no longer leave this area. And this place, apart from these plants of various sizes, has nothing. Are you sure you want to save them? You may have to endure hundreds or even more years of loneliness."
Nie Chongshan had never considered killing these juniors, and Gu Qingyu’s performance had amazed him.
That among the humans, there could be someone so powerful, it excited and consoled him.
And regarding Liu Mu, who held up the shield enduring his attacks, Nie Chongshan was similarly deeply impressed.
Although he called them ’trash’, Nie Chongshan understood—the current generation of the Investigation Corps was stronger than his generation.
Perhaps the current generation of the Investigation Corps hadn’t gone through as much darkness as his generation had.
That Liu Mu could still protect his teammates in front of himself after turning into an Evil Fallen made Nie Chongshan remember one of his subordinates, and his life within the tower wasn’t entirely about decay and darkness.
Dust danced in the air, Liu Mu did not respond with words, but the sudden surge of his aura had already made his determination clear.
"It’s been a long time since I met an opponent who could make me use all my strength. Today has truly been full of surprises!"
The Siren’s Song rose once more, and in the endless dust, these people, who had been tragic and desperate on the battlefield, finally remembered something important.
But the song did not end at this moment; instead, it became more piercing.
Everyone’s memory began to change, only Wu Jiu and Liu Mu perceived Nie Chongshan’s true intent.
Nie Chongshan loathed the High Tower, but he did not loathe true warriors.
"Don’t think of this as a gift, kid; this might be the greatest malice I have towards you. At least from my point of view, the High Tower is a place more vile than beyond the tower."
The Siren’s Song restored people’s memories of the Return Roulette but made minor changes to Wu Jiu’s fight with the devil.
The warriors about to return to the High Tower would remember Wu Jiu’s valiant fight, but they wouldn’t be surprised by Wu Jiu’s overly formidable strength. In their memories, the one who truly held off the Evil Fallen was Liu Mu, who had also undergone the Evil Fallen Transformation. freёwebnoѵel.com
With this, Cain’s plan was utterly foiled. But then again, Nie Chongshan never intended to cooperate with Cain.
The fist wind blew away the dust, and Nie Chongshan launched another attack, Liu Mu’s body resolutely moved forward, using himself as a shield to face the assault head on!
Amidst the rolling dust, the elite allied forces on the ground could only see two blurred figures attacking and colliding with each other.
In the dim sky, the terrifying clashing sounds assailed their eardrums; everything in sight seemed like the end of the world.
This was an opportunity to escape this place. The two mighty Evil Fallen were locked in fierce battle, seemingly too preoccupied to pay attention to their surroundings, so they activated their Return Roulettes.
The Siren’s Song had drained a lot of Nie Chongshan’s energy, but his punches remained deadly. The terrifying currents of air pushed towards Wu Jiu like tides.
Wu Jiu stood in place, allowing the gusts to beat against him. More and more people left, but he never moved from his spot.
Not until a while later, when he heard Liu Mu’s roar echoing through the entire jungle, did he somberly activate his Return Roulette.
"Go back, Wu Jiu! I won’t die easily, I’ll wait here for you. I believe one day, we will meet again, and by then, you’ll be stronger than all the Evil Fallen, and you’ll find a way... a way to bring me back!"
In seven hundred years, the known history had no record of anyone turning back from being an Evil Fallen to human.
This promise was like a declaration of going to one’s death.
But Wu Jiu didn’t speak; he just nodded, making the heaviest commitment of his life.
...
...
High Tower, two days later.
The captain of the Thirteenth Squad of the Investigation Corps outside the High Tower had sacrificed himself during the martial exercises between the two armies, and news of his death spread throughout the High Tower.
The details of the martial exercises were not disclosed, and people only knew that a powerful Evil Fallen had appeared in the area.
This Evil Fallen, with its own power alone, had defeated the elites of both armies.
Even Wu Jiu, the strongest combatant of the Investigation Corps who intervened against the rules, could not change the course of the battle.
In the end, it was Liu Mu, who, to protect everyone, used forbidden powers that should not have been used.
The shield of the Investigation Corps would never be able to return to the High Tower.
The rulers who oversaw both armies quickly sensed that everything that happened in the Martial Arts Area was too coincidental after learning of the events.
In response to the crisis during the martial exercises, they initiated a meticulous investigation to explore whether any conspiracies lurked behind these coincidences.
Although the management level did not make a clear stance on the outcome of the martial exercises, both the calls from the lower levels and inside the Garrison Corps agreed that the Investigation Corps had shown a better performance.
...
...
Bai Wu remembered that in his past life, people had a custom of giving gifts in social etiquette, mostly fruits.
There were no fruits in the High Tower.
Bai Wu could only go to the leaky port to pick something else. He rarely gave gifts, mainly because there was no one worth giving them to.
But this time he had gifts for two people, one for Yan Jiu and one for the captain.
He had already decided on the captain’s gift, but he was still slowly picking out Yan Jiu’s.
In the matter of rescuing Dwarf’s Wife, Yan Jiu had also played a significant role. Bai Wu thought it over and decided a reward was in order.
Finally, Bai Wu bought an album. The paintings were of some scenes outside the High Tower, their authenticity yet to be validated. Anyway, Yan Jiu loved looking at these things.
After choosing the gifts, Bai Wu first headed to the Investigation Corps’ branch.
Upon learning of Liu Mu’s fate, he also felt a wave of emptiness inside.
Compared to others, he appeared very calm.
There was no overt display of grief, only a tranquility, a solemnity, as if attending the funeral of a great figure.
The gift for Wu Jiu was something Bai Wu had considered ever since he returned from the zoo. It was not until Dwarf’s Wife saw another of his secrets that he made up his mind.
In the past few days, Wu Jiu was still busy with the affairs of the Investigation Corps. The stacks of files on his desk were much higher than usual.
Bai Wu went straight to the point:
"Captain, shouldn’t we leave the tower? Only by leaving the tower can we become stronger and find more clues."
Wu Jiu’s face, which had been distraught upon his return to the High Tower, now looked as usual, except that he was working harder than before.
Without waiting for Wu Jiu’s response, Bai Wu said:
"I know how to transform the Evil Fallen back into humans."
"What did you say?" Wu Jiu was taken aback.
Bai Wu seriously repeated:
"I know how to transform the Evil Fallen back into humans, so, let’s leave the tower, Captain!"
(Enter a new instance in the next Chapter)
