"Ready. They're coming!"
The Dark World guard leader left in charge of the devices shouted to his fellow guards. None of them were Transcendents but all of them were brave enough to prepare for us.
If someone's only focused on the three devices, they would only see an open area and a circle of guards that were patrolling around it. However, a few steps from there, the place was riddled with various traps, and most of them would be triggered if someone flew through it.
To tease these guys, we landed in front of a trap that was supposedly the most dangerous if I based it on my Adaptability's warning.
Even from afar, they're all smiling their teeth out as they acted as if they're waiting for us to traverse the remaining distance.
The Zonemaker was still in full throttle while the Tank and the Converter were being emptied out by one of them. They probably thought that just in case we didn't die from the trap, they could salvage the stored Dark Energy to use for more Zonemakers.
"I'll give you guys a chance. If you destroy those three devices, we will spare your life."
I said as I started to circle around the place. I've already seen the lone path inside where the triggers wouldn't be triggered but they didn't know that. They kept gulping down their saliva hoping for me to step a little closer and trigger a trap.
"I will be counting to ten. If those devices are still working, then I'm sorry but none of you will be left alive. Not even that guy taking out the Energy. That's a valuable resource for us so… I'll gladly accept that as a gift."
Jayna followed behind me and asked what I was doing through telepathy. Well, it's really unconventional to do this. We could just rush inside and end it instantly. I'm probably being overly cautious. But I can't help it. It's full of traps, even if I see the path, if they triggered it remotely then we'll still be impacted.
"One"
"Two."
"Three."
After three counts none of them moved. There are only around 20 of them in there but with the guy who shouted earlier acting as their leader, none of the other Dark World guards moved.
"Really? No one moved? Alright, let me give you something to think about."
I pulled out the Totem and produced a Transcendent clone. Unlike Boris' Illusion Eye, Jayna's disguise only affected my real body.
When they saw the conjured clone that 100% looked like a human. Some were startled while some were confused.
"He's that Human Transcendent!"
Someone from behind the leader shouted as he started trembling on his knees. I don't know if he saw me somewhere before or not but that's a great reaction nonetheless.
"What do you mean? That's probably a fake and something he's trying to use to scare us. Don't be deceived."
The leader calmed him down before turning towards me.
Is he deluding himself that my clone is a fake?
The leader took out a scarlet red bow made of unknown material and aimed it at the clone which started to walk from the only path that wouldn't trigger any traps.
"Leader, that's…"
Someone exclaimed from behind him before a flash of greed appeared in his eyes which he instantly hid. Most likely, that bow is a precious weapon that even if they're from the same world, it's still enough for others to covet it.
During the previous battles I went through, none of the equipment dropped by them caught my eye. Even the weapons and armors of the Transcendents were all distributed to others. I already have the Willful Sword after all and the armors only provided them minimal armor and some were for pure fashion.
That made me wonder whether they have a proper blacksmith and armorer in their world.
But today, against my low expectation, I got that greataxe from the horned guy that would be suitable for Avelin once she finished her Transcendent Trials.
Last night, before we retired to sleep in the camp we made for ourselves, I contacted the four girls at the World of Barbarian. It's about time for Avelin and Erin's Transcendence. And after the call, I sent my Incarnation to witness it and stand guard with them. Maybe I will get the notification of their success later as well as the memories that my Incarnation will bring back from it.
And now, there's that scarlet red bow which looked like something that shouldn't be in the hands of a Mortal Rank.
Will Erin or Zerina like that? Jayna has her staff which she rarely uses but it's like Yumiko's gohei. Both of them needed an upgrade in their equipment as well.
The leader didn't produce any arrows but when he pulled the bowstring, I clearly saw how the bow drew out his Energy to conjure a black arrow made of energy.
However, that one pull was enough to make his arm tremble from how hard it was and his forehead to sweat intensely due to the large amount of Dark Energy that was extracted from him to create the arrow.
Just from that detail, it's clear that the bow is not for him. This guy is delivering me a great long-range weapon like this, huh? My girls will be happy.
"That looks like a great bow. Thanks for bringing it. I'll gladly accept that."
Upon hearing my words, the leader glared at me hatefully before releasing the arrow which produced the same intensity as a Transcendent's attack.
Whoosh!
As the arrow whistled through the wind, it homed in to the clone that was leisurely walking and was already halfway through the path riddled with traps.
Before it hits, the clone casually produced a Purple Sword to block it. Though it has the necessary power to hurt a Transcendent, its target is also a clone as strong as a normal Transcendent. The outcome was fairly predictable.
When the leader saw how it was casually blocked, the sweat running from his forehead gushed out as his face was completely washed out. There's one thing he probably felt at that moment. Helplessness.
For him, that bow is some kind of a trump card but against the overwhelming advantage of the opponent, it's nothing special.
"You attacked him. Didn't you see the path he's walking on? You still have a chance. Destroy or disable those three devices powering up this zone and you'll live. I will be continuing the count. Four."
"Five."
"Six."
After reaching six, I paused once again and looked on to observe them. Some of them were starting to tremble on their knees, some on their arms and some on their feet. Whatever it was that's running in their mind, it's about to burst out, especially when they saw the clone traversing the last fourth of the path. Even if its Transcendent Aura wasn't open, looking at it walking leisurely was enough to drop pressure on them.
"W-what are you doing? Attack him!"
The leader who's already finding it hard to breathe pointed at the clone and shouted.
However, none of his companions followed him anymore. They've already reached the limit of the pressure they could take.
"Still not giving up? Seven."
"Eight."
"Nine."
When it reached that number, those trembling earlier finally made a move.
"Sorry leader! This is also for you!"
Two of the Dark World guards instantly moved and restricted him. While another two hit the back of his knees which resulted in him kneeling to the ground.
"What are you doing?! You'll die either way, Why will you believe what that guy said?! He'll just kill you after taking down the zone!"
Though the leader said that, he's not really resisting. Most likely, in his mind, he's thinking that it's better to be restrained by them than succumbing to my words. Later on, if they could really survive, he could punish or reward them, whatever suits him.
"You're quite devious, Daisuke."
Jayna muttered at my side as she watched what's happening in front of us.
We're going to take the place down without lifting a finger. If I wished so, the clone which already reached the end of the path could be commanded to kill all of them and disable the Zonemaker by itself. However, watching them scrambling on their feet and turning against each other for survival looks fun.
I don't know but this is probably an influence of the dark thoughts that haven't surfaced in a while or this is just me enjoying their misfortune. Either way, there's no use pitying the enemy.
"Maybe I am. Isn't this entertaining to watch?"
The riot started by the Noxian expendables was still ongoing behind us and now these guys guarding the core part of this Zone are grasping the chance I gave for their survival. With the Transcendent standing guard in this place dead, the choices they have are now limited.
Soon enough, the guy collecting the Dark Energy from the Tank was also restrained to the ground while the remaining Dark World guards started attacking the Zonemaker.
"Hurry up, will you? Should I finish the count and let him finish in your stead?"
When they heard my threatening words and the approaching steps of the clone, they all brought out their strongest attack.
A minute later, under the barrage of their all-out attack, the Zonemaker was destroyed and the light beacon coming out of it stopped which instantly resulted for the Zone to shatter like glass.
Don't they have a switch to turn that off? Or maybe they already forgot about it in desperation.
As soon as they saw the destroyed Zonemaker and the shattering of the Zone, all of them sighed in relief, including the restrained leader.
Well then, should I let them live?
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