Book 5: Chapter 45: The Hidden Cards of the Three Serial Killers

“How do you feel?” Casey asked, staring intently at the three people.

Qin Lun and the other two exchanged glances but did not respond, shaking their heads in silence.

“Won’t you reconsider? Our ‘Nirvana’ is a top-tier team…” Randy’s ghostly flames flickered in his eyes.

“Randy, enough!” Aaron reached out to stop his companion, his playful expression gone. As he looked at the three in the birdcage, a trace of admiration flashed in his eyes. “Now I believe Casey’s judgment was correct. Only those kinds of people… deserve such pride! Our invitation came too late…”

“It was my fault!” Casey sighed softly and raised his hand in a wave. “It’s almost time. Let’s make our move and send them on their way! But be careful; these three are so cunning, they might still have tricks up their sleeves!”

After Casey and the other two joined the assault on the barrier, the entire birdcage barrier began to tremble, its surface light flickering unstably. Clearly, it would vanish soon.

“Time is running out. If any of you have hidden cards, it’s best to play them now, or you’ll take them to the grave!” Qin Lun’s pupils contracted as he turned with a bitter smile.

Hill pondered for a moment, then retrieved a strangely shaped cross from his collar. With his right hand, he took out a silver scroll from his Storage Space and displayed it in the Team Channel.

“My Life-Taking Relic is this cross named ‘Penitence.’ It enhances my Mental Will and maximum Mana Value. It can store up to three times my current Mana Value. The other item is a Dark Gold scroll—the ninth-tier water spell, Water Dragon Wave. Combined, they can give us one chance to escape once the barrier breaks!”

Hill said calmly, “But with my abilities, I can’t control this high-rank water spell. The Water Dragon Wave’s direction is completely unpredictable. Whether we can escape or leave the battle and return directly depends on luck!”

After returning to the Shattered Starry Sky this time, I must learn to swim! Qin Lun covered his face and sighed.

“The last thing I saved for myself… is useless in this world!” Hansen hesitated briefly, then expressionlessly took out something resembling a small artillery shell from his Storage Space.

The shell was about the size of a palm, with tail fins at the back that looked more like a tripod. Standing on the ground, it resembled a child’s rocket toy. However, on its body was painted a small black and yellow symbol that looked like a fan.

“Cough… You prepared a mini nuke!” Hill widened his eyes, pointing a trembling finger at it. Seeing Hansen silently nod, Qin Lun and Hill exchanged a glance, both gasping in shock.

They had always known Hansen was dangerous, but they hadn’t realized The Disciple was dangerous to this extent. This guy rarely spoke at length in the team—truly, the barking dog doesn’t bite.

“Why are you so scared? I originally planned to use it only if our team battle failed!” Hansen curled his lip, speaking calmly. “If The Disciple dies, how can I not take a bunch of people with me? But I was wrong; this thing’s technology is too advanced. Forget this world, even the current Earth Federation might not be able to use it!”

“Don’t talk about destroying the world so casually, alright? If this thing explodes, more than half of the Silent Forest would be destroyed!” Hill shook his head with a bitter smile. “You’re too dangerous. If we survive this, I need to reconsider teaming up with you! By the way, what is your Life-Taking Relic?”

Hansen hesitated, seeming very reluctant to mention his Life-Taking Relic.

However, seeing the other two staring at him intently, as if they wouldn’t let it go unless he showed it, he frowned and took out a small wooden statue. Its shape was exactly the same as the tattoo on his shoulder—a black-winged angel kneeling on one knee in prayer.

After the black-winged angel wooden statue was taken out, a black light flashed over its surface. Its black wings flapped with a “whoosh,” and under Qin Lun and Hill’s gaze, it actually came to life.

“Ya ya!” After coming to life, the small black-winged angel circled Hansen once, then sat on his shoulder, tugging at The Disciple’s ear, puffing its cheeks, and babbling cutely.

The stern military man paired with a cartoonishly cute little angel created an oddly amusing sight.

“Hahaha!” Hill and Qin Lun couldn’t help but chuckle. Hill even pretended to wipe a tear. “Oh my, The Disciple is raising a child now! Is this a Life-Taking Relic or a summoned creature?”

Hansen’s face twitched. He knew they would mock him, which was why he hadn’t wanted the black-winged angel to appear. The Disciple took out a red apple and tossed it to the angel on his shoulder. The little thing was overjoyed, holding the apple with both hands and munching on it eagerly. Its eyes curved into crescent moons, a look of pure happiness on its face, causing Qin Lun and Hill to burst into laughter again.

“It… is named ‘Satan’!” Hansen sighed and spoke in the Team Channel. “Do you remember when we first entered the Shattered Starry Sky?”

“You mean…” Qin Lun thoughtfully stroked his chin.

“During my Law Body reconstruction, some of my soul power… or perhaps faith, merged into this black-winged angel statue, giving it consciousness! It’s neither a Life-Taking Relic nor a summoned creature; it’s more like an Artifact Spirit!” Hansen explained calmly. “It grows as my strength increases. Right now, it only provides a small boost to my physical attributes and has no other use.”

“You’re really lucky!” Hill glanced enviously at the little creature. Something that boosts physical attributes by a percentage is no common item. His “Penitence” only increased Mental Will and Mana Value, which was slightly inferior to the black-winged angel.

“Qin Lun, your Life-Taking Relic must be that dagger, right?” Hansen glanced at the young man. “But I don’t believe that’s your only hidden card!”

Qin Lun looked at Hansen and Hill and sighed. The Life-Taking Relics of these serial killers were truly exceptional. Joker’s Human Skin Mask, Hill’s “Penitence” cross, Hansen’s black-winged angel…

In comparison, though “Guilt” dagger’s Soul Devour and Fate Severance were also powerful and had been decisive in several close fights, currently, they weren’t as good as the others’ Life-Taking Relics.

After all, the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross he possessed, which boosted physical attributes, was a Sub-legendary Item. However, “Guilt” improved in quality the more souls it absorbed; its potential was immense, depending on future weapon enhancements.

Qin Lun lowered his head in thought. He indeed had several hidden cards. The powerful auxiliary abilities of Death Notice, the Inferno Hound Cerberus, Clock Eye, and so on—all were abilities Hansen and Hill didn’t know about and were very strong.

However, in the current situation, none of these abilities were practical. At this thought, Qin Lun felt somewhat helpless. It seemed he had to use that thing.

“I obtained an item earlier that should be very helpful in our current predicament. It might even save Vima!” Qin Lun flipped his hand and took out a thumb-sized crystal vial, speaking in the Team Channel. “But using this will cost me greatly. You must compensate me afterward!”

“Agreed! If you can save Vima, then any rewards she gives later will all go to you!” Hansen and Hill exchanged a glance and nodded.

“Alright then. Hill, lend me your ‘Penitence’ cross. I may not have enough Mana to use this thing on my own.” Qin Lun looked at the crystal vial containing the sprout from the Ancient Tree of Wisdom. “Also, be prepared. If this still can’t block their attack, we might need to rely on your ‘Water Dragon Wave’ to escape!”

Hill nodded without hesitation and threw the cross necklace to Qin Lun. Qin Lun caught it, examined it, and his eyes lit up. This Life-Taking Relic belonged to the lawful evil alignment, so he could use it. It was truly a good item.

Holding the necklace, he felt his mind clear, and the surroundings seemed sharper—a result of greatly increased mental power. Moreover, his Mana Value instantly rose. Combined with his own Energy Points, it had already exceeded 2200 points. It seemed Hill’s own Mana Value was at least over 600 points, so the stored triple Mana was this much.

Qin Lun hung the cross around his neck, pulled out the wooden stopper from the crystal vial, and a rich scent of vegetation instantly filled his nostrils.

Hill and Hansen beside him paused slightly; they also felt the vegetation aura around them multiply. The area was saturated with wood Magic Elements, as if they were in a thick swamp of wood element.

Qin Lun looked at the small leaf sprout in the vial with a pang of regret. He had never intended to use this as a disposable item. If he had soaked the Ancient Tree of Wisdom sprout in clean water over time, he could have obtained a large quantity of recovery items not inferior in quality to World Tree Dew. What a pity!

Perhaps… Qin Lun blinked, stepped forward to Master Vima, and crouched down, meeting the Grand Druid’s azure eyes.

“Master Vima, I know your mind is still clear, and you probably understand our situation.” Qin Lun raised the crystal vial in front of her. “I’ve thought of two ways to use this. One is to give it to you to consume; it might allow you to recover directly. The other is to use it as a medium for the Thorn Technique, which might reinforce the barrier until you expel the poison from your body.

But I’m still hesitating about how to use it. I wonder if you can give me a hint? If you wish for me to give it to you to consume, blink your left eye. If you want me to use the Thorn Technique, blink your right eye.”

Master Vima looked at the crystal vial in Qin Lun’s hand, a faint smile appearing in her eyes. However, she didn’t blink either eye. Instead, her eyeballs rolled upward, and her gaze drifted downward.

“This is…” Qin Lun followed her gaze and noticed her left hand was forming a spell seal, with a grain-sized point of light at the tip of her raised index finger.

“The Magic Web! No, it must be the Arcanum Node within Vima’s body!” Qin Lun’s eyes brightened with sudden joy. He immediately extended his right index finger and gently touched the grain-sized point of light.

“Boom!” Qin Lun’s mind exploded violently. The scene before him changed drastically, and he suddenly found himself in a brilliant Star Void.