Chapter 84: Harvest and the Tirith Family’s Reward (14/26)

Ou Xiaolu’s ultimate move was, in truth, still the same as before: the two sharks were the effect of the skill “Frenzied Shark Bite,” while the lion was the secret technique of the Lion King Sword Style. These three savage beasts were the kind that would relentlessly tear apart anything in their grasp. Once caught by them, no one had yet survived a single round of their ferocious attacks.

This time was no different. The female corpse, a minor boss of sorts, was faster than anyone had expected and packed a powerful punch—one swipe from her could end the life of any of Hédera’s undead minions. Yet bosses with such incredible speed often had frail vitality; if they were ever seized, death would be their only outcome.

Under the all-out assault of the two sharks and the lion, the smile on the female corpse’s face grew ever more twisted, until at last she let out a piercing scream. The shriek tore through the eardrums of everyone present, while a swirl of black mist surged around her. Though it lasted only an instant, it brought with it a chilling sense that death was imminent.

Fortunately, the feeling was fleeting. When everyone regained their senses, the female corpse had already been reduced to a pile of white bones. All could clearly see that, at the center of the forehead, a clown’s face had been branded in black.

As the bones clattered to the ground, the effect of the water ghost’s hair vanished as well. Ou Xiaolu was the first to step forward and examine the remains, casually picking up a few items from the floor. His audacity was due entirely to the prompt he’d received from the “Game Across Worlds” system: the boss had been slain, all 150 experience points acquired, with 60 experience points immediately absorbed into the “Purple Palace Manual.” The ninth through fourteenth light nodes were instantly lit.

This time, the enhancements granted by the light nodes included an increase in defense (+6%), two automatic attack reflections (4% and 5%), a gas defense (against poison), a vital organ defense boost (for the heart), and an element immunity (water). It could be said that the defensive power of Ou Xiaolu’s “Purple Gauze Robe” was now formidable; few normal attacks could harm him any longer.

With the boss confirmed dead, Ou Xiaolu saw no reason not to snatch up the loot. After all, bosses always dropped good items, and he had never believed his own luck would fail to yield something worthwhile.

Sure enough, he grabbed three items. The first was a mask bearing the face of a clown, which transformed into a card as soon as he picked it up.

“Evil Smile: Equipment Card, Blue. Activates the darkness within the character’s heart, transforming them into an agent of evil and elevating their status (up to protagonist level). Single use only.”

One look at its properties, and Ou Xiaolu knew it was meant for an avatar. The next time he upgraded, he could simply equip it to an appropriate character and immediately gain a ruthless, remorseless evil incarnation to do his bidding.

The next item he obtained was a playing card—the King of Clubs—which seemed to possess a similar effect to the Red Queen’s soldier cards.

“Unawakened Alexander: Item Card, Green. Can transform a humanoid creature into a Club Soldier King. If the attributes are suitable and the soldier awakens, it will become Club Soldier Alexander.”

The final item was a small orb, no larger than a thumb, radiating an aura of death when held.

“Undead Core: Item Card, Green. Can be placed inside a corpse to transform it into an undead creature with combat ability. The stronger the corpse was in life, the more powerful the undead, but the shorter its existence will be.”

Ou Xiaolu understood that this Undead Core must be a fundamental treasure of the Tirisfal family. If they learned he had taken it, their favor would surely plummet from friendly to mortal enemy.

Turning these thoughts over in his mind, he quietly stashed away his spoils.

At that moment, Hédera approached with the other undead. He glanced at the pile of bones on the ground and hesitated before saying, “There won’t be any more infiltrators like that, will there?”

Ou Xiaolu did not answer, but the Red Queen replied confidently, “No. The other side only controlled the Spades and Black Clubs, and they’re all here. If you don’t believe me, you can collect the brand marks and count them yourself.”

Hédera nodded, giving no further orders, for in truth the more intelligent undead had already begun doing just that.

It wasn’t long before one of the undead reported back to Hédera, who listened with a stern expression.

“The Tirisfal family thanks you all once again. We will not let this matter rest. If you discover the mastermind, please inform us—we will send our own forces to join the battle.

“Additionally, you are now recognized as friends of the Tirisfal family. Each of you may request one favor from our house.”

Ou Xiaolu and his companions all nodded silently. Such a promise from a great family was a considerable reward. Though the Red Queen and White Queen were but projections of Ou Xiaolu, within this world they possessed their own consciousness, and this kind of reward from a powerful house was, for them, a valuable boon.

The Red Queen was the first to speak. “I require an undead or similar entity that can blend into the shadows.”

The White Queen immediately grasped her sister’s intention and protested, “Sister, you cannot do this.”

“It’s not that I cannot, but that I must. We are all afraid, you know, sister. If we do not take this step, there will always be an uncontrollable king above our heads,” the Red Queen replied, then turned to Hédera. “Is there such an undead or similar being?”

Hédera pondered, then answered, “There is indeed such a thing—a corpse soaked in venom for a very long time. It has never decayed. We tried several times to convert it into an undead, but failed because every time we removed it from the venom, it vanished into the shadows. It would take us ages to find it again, so we eventually gave up. It’s still soaking outside in the venom to this day.”

“Very well, I want that one. Please place it into my shadow, if you can,” the Red Queen said firmly.

Seeing the Red Queen’s decisiveness, the White Queen said, “I understand. In that case, could I have one of the trees unique to your island? I think I, too, must take that step.”

Watching the two queens, Ou Xiaolu couldn’t help but smile. He considered the three treasures he’d just obtained and felt he had little need to ask for anything else. So he said, “Do you remember the girl I brought with me? She’s holding an egg in her arms…”