Free Web NovelChapter 32: Chapter 32: Another Kill
On his walk home, Duan Fei picked up a newspaper someone had discarded and started to read.
In this day and age, the Holy Grail War had been completely stripped of its mystery. It had become a form of mass entertainment, as well as a means to obtain Magic Power.
The Holy Grail was still the Holy Grail, but the war was no longer a way to resolve conflicts. It was now a method of entertainment.
As a result, many large-scale or high-profile Holy Grail Wars featuring famous heroes were heavily reported on, becoming objects of public fascination.
The Holy Grail War Duan Fei was participating in was also mentioned in the paper, but only in a small blurb on the back page detailing the day’s events.
While Yue Hua went online to search for contact information for the others, Duan Fei held the vial of Biological Culture Medium and began communicating with the creature inside.
’Thief Sun, you finally remembered me!’
"How about I spit into your flesh?"
’Are you threatening me?’
"Never mind. Can’t give you a reward, then."
’You’re insulting me!’
"Alright, so we can cooperate a little more pleasantly, tell me who you are and why you’re in my culture medium?"
’I was about to ask you the same thing! I was originally an Elf from the Phoenix Country, all set to be reincarnated in the Phantom Beast Paradise and live for a few hundred years. Who would’ve thought I’d end up in a tube in the blink of an eye? I finally got out, only to look so bizarre. When I died, I even went back to the Phoenix Country. But as soon as I closed my eyes, I was back in this tube again.’
"Hmm, so that’s how it is."
’You know why?’
"Yeah, I have a pretty good idea. You were probably reincarnated into me, and then I cultured you. And every time I restart the cultivation process, you get summoned back in."
’Damn it! So it really was you! Stop summoning me, can you? I’ve already decided on my path in this life: either I go down in history as a hero’s servant, or I’ll just waste my bird life as a useless bird. So please, don’t drag me into this, okay?’
"Speaking of which, I’m a hero, too."
’What kind of hero are you? What great deeds have you done! Let me see with my Eye of the Phoenix... Holy crap!’
Duan Fei really wanted to mock it, asking where it even had eyes right now. But what baffled him more was how it had used his cells to spell out the word "Badass" inside the medium.
’You single-handedly beat down an Evil God’s lackeys, intimidated an Evil God, and even closed a portal for an Evil God’s descent with your bare hands. And at one point, you possessed the great power of a deity! What a legendary hero you are! Please let me be your loyal dog, Grandpa!’
"Isn’t your attitude changing a little too quickly?"
’An opportunity to serve a hero of this quality is once in a lifetime! Let me tell you, I’m an excellent servant! I’m great at telling jokes, I never fear death, and my singing voice is second to none. If you don’t believe me, just listen.’
"No, you don’t have to sing."
’In that faraway place...’
"I said you don’t have to sing!"
After finishing his conversation with this Phoenix fledgling named Yan Yuan, Duan Fei felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him.
But he couldn’t get rid of it.
After all, the DNA he had cloned was now bound to the creature. As long as he restarted the process, it would be summoned again, and its previous body would explode, completely dispelling any thoughts he had of summoning a large number of pets at once.
However, there was an advantage to having the creature acknowledge him as its master: he could now learn the specific Attributes of the creatures he summoned.
Duan Fei, after all, had no appraisal or biology Skills. He had no way of knowing if the creatures he cloned were good or bad, so he needed Yan Yuan to report their Attributes to him.
With this free appraisal expert, things would be much easier from now on.
When the time was up, Duan Fei released the new creature. He didn’t even need Yan Yuan’s report to let out a sigh.
It was another sanity-draining monstrosity.
He decisively restarted the process to destroy it, then couldn’t help but ask, "How long do you think it’ll take to create a suitable body?"
’I have no idea. Probably twenty or thirty tries, I’d say.’
"Can’t you try a little harder?"
’There are only two things in this world you can’t strive for: birth and death.’
"...Master, I’m enlightened."
Along the way, Yue Hua frowned as she watched Duan Fei constantly talking to his vial of Biological Culture Medium. They seemed to be laughing and having a very pleasant chat.
’Modern Demon Summoners really are insane.’
’Then again, they say the crazier they are, the stronger they are. Thinking about it that way, it’s actually kind of reassuring.’
Just then, a van suddenly sped over, stopping beside Yue Hua with lightning speed. Four large hands reached out from inside and violently dragged her into the vehicle.
The door slammed shut, and the van sped away with Yue Hua, leaving a stunned Duan Fei in its wake.
Knowing he couldn’t possibly catch the van on foot, Duan Fei decisively placed the newly-ready Yan Yuan on the ground. Another horrifyingly ugly creature appeared.
It looked like a conglomeration of hundreds of Eye Demons. The sheer number of eyes brought its Magic Power to a terrifying level, so dense that Duan Fei could feel it as if it were a tangible substance.
But Yan Yuan said it was no good.
"Although this body has immense Magic Power, its consumption is also terrifying. After a single battle, it might need the full Magic Power of a top-tier Magician to recover. Plus, it has a magic deficiency and can’t replenish its own Magic Power."
"So this body is a one-shot deal, too."
"That’s right! Hop on, my lord! Let’s go!"
Carefully stepping onto Yan Yuan, Duan Fei felt like he was treading on a soft, old tire. The sensation was rather bizarre.
Once Duan Fei was seated, the immense Magic Power began to burn. In the next instant, Yan Yuan’s speed shot to its maximum as it charged after the van, which had already shrunk to a tiny dot in the distance.
The van’s occupants were clearly prepared. After kidnapping Yue Hua, they immediately turned onto a side road and headed for the suburbs.
Sensing movement behind them, one player turned to look and couldn’t help but shout, "What the hell is that freaky thing?"
The player driving couldn’t resist a glance either and yelled, "What is that freaky thing!"
Inside the van, besides the two players and the kidnapped Yue Hua, were their two corresponding Mages.
Seeing the thing flying toward them from behind, they frowned and said, "It might be some kind of Demon, but I’ve never seen a Demon this ugly!"
"You’re the Demon!"
Having caught up, Yan Yuan roared in fury, then produced rows of bullets and opened fire on the van.
A swarm of bullets instantly peppered the back of the van, riddling it with holes.
The three Mages in the van screamed their heads off in terror, shouting, "What’s going on?! Why is someone using firearms in the Holy Grail War! Have you no dignity as heroes and Mages!"
"I’m not interested in lectures on dignity from kidnappers! Die, you scumbags!"
A torrent of bullets rained down, precisely shredding the roof of the van and exposing everyone inside.
Speeding up alongside the van, Duan Fei took out his Crowbar, slammed it into the gap in the door, and wrenched it open.
Reaching a hand out to Yue Hua inside, Duan Fei shouted, "Yue Hua, jump!"
Yue Hua grabbed his hand without hesitation, leaping from the van and landing in his arms.
Looking at her hero up close, Yue Hua realized he was surprisingly handsome.
After catching Yue Hua, Yan Yuan sensed its Magic Power was about to run out and decisively turned around.
Before leaving, it unleashed all its remaining bullets on the van. Only after confirming that one of the players had been hit and had disappeared in a puff of white mist did it depart with Duan Fei, satisfied.
[White Tiger Team’s Bald Qiang has been killed by Cyan Dragon Team’s Duan Someone.]
