Chapter 195
The intricate veins converged at the center, forming a deep purple pupil that swiftly scanned its surroundings, finally locking onto Xia'er.
Tala, observing the direction of the "Evil Eye," stiffened slightly and awkwardly spoke up, "Lord Xia'er, it seems this sealing object is broken..."
"Mm."
Xia'er didn’t elaborate further. After taking the "Evil Eye" from Tala's hands, she calmly met its gaze.
In that moment, the pupil, which had been steadfastly focused on Xia'er, began to tremble, quickly collapsing and dissipating. The blood vessels within were completely absorbed, and the "Evil Eye" reverted to its gem-like form.
"It really is broken."
Xia'er tossed the "Evil Eye" back to Tala and continued, "Keep it safe for me."
Xia'er wasn’t sure if holding a sealing object counted as contact with the extraordinary, but it was better to handle fewer of them.
Lucy's estate in Deton, located outside the city, was far more fortified than that of Opode, with numerous extraordinary beings present, making it quite challenging to deal with.
Moreover, the abilities of the "Destined One" were enigmatic; even now, Xia'er had no idea where their limits lay.
If she rolled the "Lucky Coin" twice and got heads both times, it was entirely possible that none of Tala's trusted aides would return.
However, that scenario did not unfold.
In less than thirty minutes, one of Lucy's severed hands was brought back, still clutching the "Lucky Coin."
When Tala approached Xia'er with the severed hand, she merely shook her head and said, "Just put it down, and remember not to touch that coin."
Xia'er was uncertain of the "Evil Eye's" effects, but having been burned by the "Lucky Coin" before, she would never touch it again.
The "Lucky Coin" was too risky; unless it was directly exchanged from the system, it was best kept in storage. Xia'er would never use it otherwise.
After all, even without using it, it would automatically roll twice a day. If one day it rolled two tails, she could end up dead without understanding why.
One had to admit, Lucy had incredible luck; even with the "Lucky Coin," she had managed to survive for so long—her life was indeed resilient.
However, she couldn’t fend off the cultist ambush this time—after all, it was unpredictable.
Xia'er's arrival would disrupt Lucy's original predictions. Unless she happened to perform another divination after Xia'er landed in the simulation, she could never foresee the calamity that would befall her.
In this way, with Lucy and Opode dead, the feather sealing object would focus all its attention on Xia'er.
Rising, Xia'er casually took the sharp carving knife from the table and raised her hand to summon Tala.
"Lord Xia'er..."
Tala looked at Xia'er, who held the carving knife. Though her voice wavered slightly, she approached nonetheless.
Xia'er used the knife to slice a wound on her left wrist, letting the blood drip to the floor. Then she turned the knife around, offering the handle to Tala, and said, "Have your trusted aides cut off two fingers each."
This was Xia'er's additional insurance.
As long as the blood loss didn’t affect her combat ability, she couldn’t sacrifice too many fingers through spiritual summoning.
Two extraordinary fingers from each of Tala's trusted aides should suffice for Xia'er’s sacrifice.
Tala watched as the blood beneath Xia'er began to twist into thin threads, slowly writhing and arranging themselves. Her breath caught, but she quickly revealed a look of delight and said, "Alright, I’ll go right away."
Not using her own fingers was Xia'er’s way of preserving the "Assassin" save file.
After all, Tala's aides had sacrificed their lives in the last simulation; now, asking for just two fingers each was quite merciful of Xia'er.
The main reason for not directly sacrificing them was that the blood array required for such a large number of cultists was immense and impossible to conceal.
She was worried it might frighten the feather pen, making it reluctant to appear.
After all, the feather pen had some connection to the Old Ones; who could guarantee it wouldn’t understand Xia'er’s blood array like other extraordinary beings?
In less than ten minutes, Tala had gathered all the fingers.
She placed them in a cloth bag, the originally brown bottom now stained deep red with blood, which continued to seep out.
"Alright, things are going to get a bit dangerous, so you all should keep your distance from me."
Xia'er said as she took the bag, addressing Tala.
"Danger? Lord Xia'er..."
Tala was about to say something when Xia'er interrupted her.
"This is an order."
"Yes... Lord Xia'er."
Tala had intended to face the risks alongside Xia'er, but under her command, she could only temporarily disperse her aides, urging them to keep a close watch for any potential dangers.
As for Tala herself, after leaving the "Evil Eye," she joined the outer patrol, helping Xia'er keep an eye out for any extraordinary beings that might approach.
For Xia'er, the more extraordinary beings present, the more variables could arise in confronting the feather sealing object.
She aimed to restore everything to the conditions of the last simulation, minimizing unnecessary variables.
Once everything was prepared, Xia'er returned to the sofa and closed her eyes.
Translucent, soft scales began to emerge from her skin, gently swaying to help her sense the subtle changes in her surroundings.
Last time, after Opode's death, she had spent a long time completing the stitching and replication ritual before the feather sealing object descended.
This time, Xia'er had digested everything in advance; she wondered if the feather sealing object would arrive sooner.
Xia'er rubbed the pocket watch in her left palm, carefully feeling every change around her.
The feather sealing object would appear and dive into her head in an instant, so quick that it was almost impossible to react.
This made it difficult for Xia'er to accurately time when to press the pocket watch.
Xia'er opened her eyes and looked out the window.
It was already evening, and the outside was pitch black. Unless the otherworld had tainted it beforehand, Xia'er wouldn’t be able to observe the shadow of the raven as she had that night.
Now, all she could do was wait.
She didn’t step outside; the blood array was set up in the living room. If it were laid out in the open, the feather sealing object might not come.
Though the room obscured her view, it also concealed the feather sealing object’s probing.
Xia'er was incredibly patient, like a hunter lying in wait in the shadows for her prey.
Suddenly!
Crash—!
Buzz—!
With the sound of shattering glass, a familiar spiritual alarm blared in Xia'er’s mind, reminiscent of the last simulation.
Crack—
In an instant, Xia'er bit down on the poison and awakening potion, her finger pressed down on the pocket watch—
But her left hand was already immobilized.
She looked down to see a black feather embedded in her thumb, piercing through it and sending the pocket watch flying from her grasp.
At the moment the pocket watch slipped from her fingers, the feather burrowed into her body, tearing through skin and muscle, heading straight for her spine and brain.
In an instant, Xia'er lost all ability to resist, her body going limp.
As before, a torrent of incomprehensible knowledge flooded into Xia'er’s mind. This time, she discerned clearly that this knowledge was not in any language she knew, nor was it in Ancient Ansu.
These characters, resembling runes, made it impossible to concentrate; if she shifted her gaze, their forms would blur in her mind.
Xia'er’s originally crimson hair began to be stained black from the roots, transitioning to the deep blue of the feather pen by the time it reached the tips.
"(Ancient Ansu) So you are a part of me... No wonder you could sense my arrival in advance."
The "Xia'er" slumped on the sofa slowly sat up and spoke:
"(Ancient Ansu) I will become more complete... Huh?"
Suddenly, the expression on "Xia'er’s" face shifted dramatically. Just as she straightened her body, she slumped back down again, this time not just her muscles but her consciousness was rapidly fading.
What was happening? What was wrong with this body?
How did she die?!!!
The black and blue of Xia'er’s hair gradually faded, just as the consciousness of the feather sealing object was preparing to leave her body.
At that moment, the sealing object, which was gradually relinquishing control, sensed something was amiss.
The girl, who had been lying on the sofa, pale as a corpse, suddenly raised her right hand and slammed it against her chest.
The "Substitute Saint's Remains," which had always been worn in front of her, pierced through the girl’s chest skin with its spiked metal cage, blood soaking the entire cage and touching the remains inside.
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