Chapter 61: Escape!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
As well-equipped as he was, Nangong was only human. It was obvious from the fighting that he was no miracle worker. He reacted like any normal human would. This gave Hao Ren much relief and emboldened him enough to brick Nangong on the back of his head…
…With his MDT.
"This thingamajig finally has some use!" Hao Ren yelped as he looked at Nangong lying stiffly on the ground. He turned the hexagonal device around as he took a good look at it, recalling the various unhappy experiences with the device. At last, he found a use for the device and it could not stop him. The MDT thought otherwise and it threw a tantrum inside his head for a good five minutes. Hao Ren felt he should have asked about a mute function before smacking Nangong on the head.
"Well, trouble's taken care of. Go wild!" Hao Ren commanded the two with swagger. Vivian and Lily immediately morphed into their true forms and charged towards the armored wraiths with murderous intent. It did not take long for them to clear off the front ranks of incoming wraiths. Just as things were going according to plan, Hao Ren saw something that ticked him off. Another rope was lowered into the room!
The gaunt-looking Indian monk had also stayed behind. He was coming down the same way Nangong did.
Hao Ren glimpsed the two supernatural beings rampaging across the ranks of the wraiths and he looked at Nangong. He was determined to do something useful as the only man in the group. While the monk was still adjusting his sight to the light levels in the chamber, Hao Ren snuck up behind him and pulled the MDT out from his pocket. Just as he did so, the MDT screamed in his head. "Cease at once! Usage err—"
A loud crack echoed as the MDT hit against the back of the monk's head.
It appeared that the monk was equally human as Nangong and fell as he got bricked. The unlucky sod did not even manage to touch the ground before Hao Ren took him out.
He quickly dragged the unconscious monk aside. He threw an apologetic glance at the old man in funny robes. "I'm so sorry! The situation demanded it. It would be even more dangerous if you were awake..."
"Oh, that's rich." Vivian sneered as she spread her bat wings.
"He's still an elder. Shouldn't I be apologizing after bricking him in the head?"
Vivian shrugged and bitterly responded, "... Never saw you pay much reverence to me though..."
Hao Ren could not muster a response.
With no further outside interference, Vivian and Lily could use the wide, illuminated area to their advantage. One mangled everything in sight with brutal strength while another whipped up a destructive, cyclonic spell. It was not log before hundreds of the walking tin cans were scattered all over the place. As effective as their attacks against the wraiths were, the opponents were immortal spirits. They would come back to life at a frightening pace if not reduced to dust. It did not take long for the scattered armor parts to reform. The sight and clanking sounds would send chills down anyone's spine. Hao Ren thankfully, was used to it and surmised that a drawn out battle against seemingly immortal enemies was a battle they would lose.
Even Vivian's cyclones waned after some time. The cold air from her spell had already lowered the temperature in the room significantly. Hao Ren was indeed worried that he would freeze to death way before the armored were encased in ice. Either that or Nangong or the old monk would turn into ice-cubes first.
They needed to bring the field of battle somewhere with even more space. If not, they could just leg it.
"We need to figure this out fast..." Hao Ren took a look at the hole on the ceiling. "You know what... let's get up there and rethink our plans. We don't know how many of those tin cans are there. Fighting them all is just a waste of strength."
"Okay!" Lily ran towards Hao Ren the moment she heard him, dragging one of the armored wraiths along with her. She had enough of the dark and dreary atmosphere. After swatting scores of wraiths with the one in her hand, she got herself ready to breakout of the place. At the same time, Hao Ren dragged the unconscious Nangong and monk together. "We still need to get them out as well."
"Two of them, plus you... This won't be easy..." Vivian frowned. She saw the ropes that they used to descend into the chamber and deftly slashed a long strand off. She passed the ropes to Hao Ren. "Tie the two together. I'll drag them up. You and Doggie hold on for a bit... Eh Doggie, can you come up by yourself?
Lily looked up and nodded confidently. "Just need a good leap!"
Hao Ren stared in awe at the athleticism Lily professed to have. After that, he quickly went about tying Nangong and the old monk together. Vivian lifted them out of the chamber not long after.
Vivian flew back into the room seconds later. "Well, that's that. I left them on the campsite. You really didn’t hold back did you. They won't be waking up any time soon."
"Then, let’s make our exit as well..." Hao Ren nodded. He was suddenly reminded of the Demon Stone, which laid not too far from them. "How do we deal with… this?"
The cause of all the trouble was still lying in the middle of the chamber, buried in rubble. Surprisingly enough, there was nary a scratch on its surface. Hao Ren was pretty sure that the stone had already 'awakened' as a red glow had been emanating from it ever since it fell from the cage. And because of it, the wards protecting the chamber failed and the wraiths went berserk.
That said, after the initial disturbance, the Demon Stone laid there in silence. No demons popped out from the void and it was forgotten as the combat went on.
However at that moment, they could not just leave it as it is. The stone glowed red again, signaling that it would not deign to stay there indefinitely. Plus, seeing how it affected the spirits within the chamber, leaving it behind was not an option.
Hao Ren thought to at least move it somewhere away from the spirits, given that the wards had already failed. Leaving it in the demonic chamber would have made no sense.
Vivian had no idea what to make of the Demonic Stone but, she also knew that leaving it behind was a bad idea. She then turned towards Lily. "Doggie, grab that rock and bring it up. I'll carry Mr. Landlord back to the surface."
Lily recoiled. "Why me...? Oh, you bloody twat!"
Before Lily could finish her sentence, Vivian had already grabbed Hao Ren by the nape and flew out of the chamber.
"God, fresh air does feel good..." Hao Ren took a deep breath as he reached the surface and fell on his behind. He had done his part of the job but, he was merely human and his physical enhancement was the most basic of sorts. He still felt pain and soreness after all of that. He did not have enough strength left to even stand up... "Let me catch a break... God, that was a hell of a mess..."
"Where's Doggie?" Vivian asked after a moment as Lily was no where to be seen. "Did she run into trouble?"
Just as she finished her sentence, Vivian and Hao Ren heard Lily grunting as she jumped out of the hole vertically like a silver cannonball. With her, was the Demon Stone. She managed to leap a good few meters into the air and gleefully said, "Didn't I tell you just a good leap will do!"
Hao Ren and Vivian looked on as she fell back into the hole in the same trajectory...
Lily was jumping in and out of the hole... "Can someone—"
"Give me a boost from behind—"
"Or else I can't land on the ground!"
It took her three tries to finish her sentence.
Vivian flew towards her and gave her a good kick. "You bloody idiot! Can't you leap in a parabolic angle?