Chapter 87: Chapter 11: Epic Boss: Heart Demon! Affix: [Strong Desire]
Su Xuan stared in disbelief at his and Natasha’s current situation.
He had somehow become a soul, separated from his physical body. Natasha, meanwhile, was kneeling on the floor, her body slumping backward in a state of unconsciousness. A white, unbloomed rose had quietly emerged from the depths of her soul, waiting for a key to open it.
And the white rose in Su Xuan’s hand was the very key to unlocking the secrets of Natasha’s soul. Once unlocked, he would obtain Natasha’s treasure.
"Natasha?" Su Xuan tried calling out to her, but he received no response. She was like a sleeping beauty, kneeling there silently, waiting to be claimed.
GULP!
Su Xuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Holding the key, he slowly reached toward Natasha.
In that moment, his hand seemed to be guided by some unseen force, swiftly inserting the small white rose into the unopened soul rose.
The instant the two merged, the soul rose rippled with beautiful, dreamlike white waves.
Suddenly, the scene before him changed. To Su Xuan’s surprise, he now found himself at the site of the giant White Rose in Sunset City.
’How did I get here?’
Filled with confusion, Su Xuan looked up and saw Natasha’s soul standing atop the White Rose, smiling down at him.
At the same time, a petal drifted down and landed in front of Su Xuan, as if extending an invitation.
Su Xuan stepped onto the White Rose Petal, which guided him smoothly to the top of the giant Rose.
When he arrived, Natasha’s soul gave him a smile as soft as silk and produced an item from her snow-white form, handing it to him.
"Is this for me?"
Su Xuan asked, a little confused.
Natasha’s soul nodded gently, as if to say, ’Yes.’
Su Xuan reached out and took the item. It was a Magic Staff with a tip shaped like a Rose.
[White Rose Magic Staff (Epic): A Magic Staff containing the power of the White Rose. It can inflict terrifying Soul Magic damage. (Single use only)]
Seeing the Magic Staff’s description, Su Xuan had a sudden realization. He immediately understood how the game’s plot was supposed to progress.
’This must be it! I’m supposed to use this Magic Staff’s power to kill the Evil Demon buried beneath Sunset City!’
The moment Su Xuan took the Magic Staff, an ethereal voice echoed in his ear.
"I’m counting on you~"
Then, everything around him instantly returned to normal, and he was back in the attic of the Guardian Clan.
’I’m back...’
Su Xuan gazed at the White Rose Magic Staff in his hand, muttering to himself.
He looked up slightly and saw Natasha smiling at him, just like her soul had on the giant White Rose...
Before Su Xuan could admire the sight for more than a moment, Natasha suddenly collapsed into his arms.
"Natasha?"
Su Xuan worriedly checked Natasha’s Status. He still couldn’t view her information, but her status bar had a new entry.
[Empty Shell: Soul has departed.]
"Natasha’s soul... is gone?" Su Xuan’s brow furrowed. He gently lifted Natasha and rose from his seat.
His gaze was profound as he looked through the window toward the giant, blooming Rose in Sunset City. The Rose was emitting a beautiful blue light, and a familiar figure was standing silently atop it.
A realization dawned on Su Xuan. He understood now that the Natasha by his side was merely a guide, her purpose to lead him to resolve the crisis in Sunset City.
"I’ll take you home." Cradling Natasha, Su Xuan picked up the Soul Magic Mirror and returned to the Yerman Clan’s Castle.
When he returned to the castle, Roxia and Rosaline were having a quiet talk.
But their conversation was a bit stiff. After all, neither the aunt nor the niece was particularly talkative, so the atmosphere wasn’t as warm as one might imagine.
When they saw Su Xuan return carrying an unconscious Natasha, they immediately asked, "What happened to Natasha?"
"Don’t worry," Su Xuan replied calmly. "She’s just fallen asleep, but she might be out for a long time."
He knew in his heart that as long as he resolved the crisis in Sunset City, Natasha would naturally awaken, and they would get their perfect ending.
"I’ll take her to her room."
"Okay."
Roxia took Natasha from Su Xuan’s arms and carried her back to her room.
"We should go, too," Su Xuan said, turning to Rosaline.
He decided to go back and prepare thoroughly to ensure he could successfully eliminate the hidden Evil Demon tomorrow.
"Alright."
"What were you two talking about just now?"
"I told her to work hard on her Swordsmanship. The current Roxia doesn’t have enough power to protect Sunset City."
"..."
...
The next day, when Su Xuan arrived at the Guild, he happened to see Ivsha holding a pile of chains and shackles.
"Ivsha, what are those?"
Su Xuan asked in confusion.
"Mr. Su Xuan~ You’re here~" Ivsha stopped and smiled sweetly. "Didn’t you mention something about a prayer room before? I thought I’d bring over some things that might be needed for it. They might come in handy~"
"Oh, I see." Su Xuan nodded in understanding, though he was a bit confused. Why would a prayer room need chains and shackles? ’Is this prayer room... for real?’
"Hee hee~"
Ivsha hummed happily as she carried the tools to an empty room in the Guild. Su Xuan took the opportunity to glance at her Status.
[Brimming with Magic Power: Magic Power increased by 50%!]
Nice, nice, nice~
’Yesterday’s efforts weren’t in vain!’
Su Xuan turned his head and saw Alice diligently cleaning the Guild floor. Thanks to her efforts, the floor was so clean and bright that it clearly reflected one’s image.
Meanwhile, Rosaline was polishing her Oath Sword. The sword seemed incredibly important to her; she had even bought special maintenance items and was carefully applying them to the blade...
’Wait, where did Rosaline get money? Does she have her own private savings? Or did she get it from Roxia?’
"Are we leaving?"
Rosaline noticed Su Xuan’s gaze and asked. Her eyes were filled with anticipation and resolve; she was clearly prepared and just waiting for this moment to eliminate the hidden threat within Sunset City.
"Yeah." Su Xuan nodded. Everything was ready. It was time to head out and subjugate the Evil Demon hidden beneath Sunset City.
"Mr. Su Xuan~ I’m ready~"
Ivsha had just finished stowing away the chains and shackles.
"Then let’s go."
"As you command~"
...
Soon, under Su Xuan’s guidance, the group arrived in the tunnels beneath Sunset City.
This time, all the Guild members had been mobilized. Although Alice was staying behind to guard the Guild, her Soul Weapon could be controlled remotely, so it was as if she were fighting alongside them in person.
In addition, Su Xuan had also specifically brought along the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly.
Although its Level wasn’t particularly high, he had a feeling it might play a crucial role at a critical moment.
After reaching their destination, Su Xuan scanned their surroundings before his gaze landed on the shattered Flame Cocoon.
He gave Rosaline a quiet command: "Begin."
"Right."
Rosaline nodded and walked up to the shattered Flame Cocoon, Oath Sword in hand.
She gripped the hilt tightly and raised the sword high, preparing to break open the fissure and reveal the Evil Demon lurking underground.
Just as Rosaline’s sword was about to fall, a piercing shriek suddenly erupted from the depths of the earth. It washed over them like a tsunami, shocking them and invading their very minds.
Although the sound wave couldn’t cause any physical harm, it made their movements incredibly sluggish. Su Xuan also noticed that the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly had become extremely agitated, flapping its wings rapidly.
"Calm down!"
Su Xuan reached out and gently stroked the Magic Flame Silver Phoenix Butterfly, and the little creature finally calmed down.
As the deafening shriek echoed, the Demon Beasts hidden around Sunset City were instantly thrown into a frenzy, charging menacingly toward the city.
Faced with the sudden beast tide, Sunset City immediately sounded its highest-level alert!
"That’s the alarm bell!"
At that moment, Roxia was sitting by Natasha’s bedside, diligently caring for the unconscious girl. When she heard the bells, she immediately shot to her feet.
She gave Natasha one last look, then rushed out of the room.
"All Knights, to the battlefield with me!"
"Yes, ma’am!"
In addition to the Yerman Clan, the other Knight Clans also mobilized, rushing to the four city gates. The army of Sunset City was already stationed on the walls.
At the same time, some twenty-odd Players who received news of the early beast tide quickly teleported to Sunset City to join the fight.
While everyone else was methodically preparing to fight the beast tide, the Sunset City Lord sat calmly in the City Lord’s Mansion, a confident smile on his face that suggested everything was under his control.
He murmured softly, "Don’t worry. Although there have been a few setbacks, everything is still going according to plan."
...
When the piercing shriek faded, Su Xuan and the others gradually recovered from the disarray.
"Rosaline!"
Su Xuan commanded!
The Oath Sword in Rosaline’s hands instantly swung down!
The ground instantly split open, revealing a deep fissure from which a fluorescent blue light gushed out like a fountain, illuminating the entire underground city.
"Back!"
The fissure widened, causing the surrounding ground to collapse rapidly. Su Xuan immediately ordered everyone to fall back.
The moment they retreated to a safe distance, the area within a hundred-meter radius of the Flame Cocoon rapidly crumbled, revealing the Evil Demon that had been sealed underground.
It was a monster that resembled a human brain, but it was enormous, at least several tens of meters high.
A pair of bizarre human hands grew from the brain’s surface, exuding an inexplicable evil and releasing a terrifying Spiritual Power. As its name suggested, it seemed to possess the ability to bewitch people’s hearts, which was enough to make one’s blood run cold!
[Heart Demon (Epic)]
Level: 39 (0/11700)
Race: Evil Demon
Power: 0 / Agility: 0 / Magic Power: 1000 / Physique: 1000
Growth: 10 (Gains 10 points to All Attributes per Level)
Skills: (Expand)
(Defeating the Heart Demon grants the Additional Trait [Strong Desire]!)
’Strong Desire?’
