Chapter 56: Shadow Armament
Bang!
A tremendous impact shook the ceiling above, followed by the sound of shattering concrete and a cascade of debris raining down.
“Hehehe! They’re here to rescue me! No matter what happens, I’ll survive! You better run if you don’t want to die! Get out of my way, and I might spare you!” Eugene, his confidence inexplicably restored, pointed a bloodstained finger at Abyss, his voice filled with manic glee. “You mages are nothing but lambs to the slaughter before this machine! This is our secret weapon! It can not only crush you mages, but also smash a high-ranking Dou Warrior’s head with a single blow!”
Abyss glanced upwards. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ceiling as a heavy object crashed through the floor of the abandoned shop above, its weight causing the entire structure to groan.
Eugene expected Abyss to flee, or at least to investigate this fearsome machine, but Abyss’s reaction disappointed him. He remained seated, unfazed.
“Rebecca, can you hear me?” Abyss contacted Rebecca through their necromantic link.
“Ah! Huh? Abyss? Are you talking to me through magic?” Rebecca’s voice was initially surprised, then she quickly calmed down, a hint of excitement in her tone. “This is amazing! Your voice is echoing in my mind… It’s kind of romantic…”
“I’m using the necromantic link. It sounds like things are going well on your end?” Abyss asked.
“Yes, the hideout Titus provided for the children isn’t far from his secret base. He brought me here. They have a fully equipped alchemical laboratory and plenty of ingredients. After examining the children, I quickly brewed a potion to stabilize their condition. Now I’m working on an antidote. You were right, it’s the same black mud found on Shadow Demons, but it’s been processed somehow.”
“I’m glad the children are safe. I’m with Eugene now. He told me about their experiments with the black mud—they were trying to enhance the children’s bodies with it. The mud usually lies dormant in their stomachs and intestines, activated by a specific type of magic. This information might be helpful for developing an antidote.”
“Great! This is very useful. I have a starting point now,” Rebecca replied immediately. “The children are safe. Titus’s men are protecting us—although I don’t really need protection, the children are a bit frightened.”
“That’s the situation here. The Goat Eyes gang members are using those black mud-powered machines to rescue their leader. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay! And… Abyss, I love this feeling of being connected to your mind. Let’s chat like this more often.”
“Of course,” Abyss said, smiling.
Eugene, unable to hear their telepathic conversation, watched as Abyss remained seated, seemingly lost in thought. And then, after a moment, a smile spread across his face.
“This mysterious boy… What is he thinking? Does he think I’m lying?” Eugene wondered. “But he’ll regret his decision soon! Everything I told him is true!”
Crash!
The ceiling shattered as a massive object crashed through it, showering the basement with dust and debris. A large, humanoid machine, over two meters tall, landed heavily, its metal feet cracking the concrete floor.
Abyss turned to face the monstrous machine.
It resembled the child-operated mechs he had seen in the factory, but it was far more intimidating. It was painted black, its limbs thick and heavy, its head replaced by a cockpit large enough for an adult. A window on the cockpit revealed the sweaty face of a Goat Eyes gang member. A large tank on its back gurgled ominously.
“Boss! I’m here to rescue you! Should I kill him?” the gang member’s voice boomed from within the machine.
“He’s a mage! Kill him!” Eugene shouted, grinning.
“Yes, sir!” The massive machine lunged towards Abyss, its fist raised.
Abyss, still seated, casually summoned a small barrier, watching the black fist approach with a calm expression—
Clang! Whoosh!
But the barrier offered no resistance. The fist passed through it effortlessly, the barrier dissolving into thin air! The fist connected with Abyss’s body, sending him flying with incredible speed. He crashed into the basement wall, creating a large, irregular hole, a cascade of debris raining down.
“Haha! Cough, cough… Now you’ve witnessed the power of my ‘Shadow Armament’!” Eugene exclaimed, his laughter filled with triumph.
No mage, except for those shape-shifting Druids, could survive such a blow! His bones must be shattered! That mysterious mage must be a pile of mush now!
“Boss, let’s get you out of here!” the gang member piloting the machine said, reaching for the cage with his massive metal arms.
“Be careful! I’m injured! Don’t hurt me!” Eugene said, his face beaming with relief.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
As the Shadow Armament ripped open the iron cage with ease, several white bones erupted from the ground, piercing the metal floor beneath the cage, forming a new cage, trapping Eugene within. The cage constricted, its bony fingers tightening their grip, crushing Eugene, who screamed in pain.
“I see, your machine’s coating has magic-negating properties. It’s practically immune to magic… I’ve never encountered such a fascinating material before,” a voice said.
Abyss reappeared before them, unharmed, his clothes spotless. He had emerged from the hole in the wall, landing gracefully.
“What?! How are you still alive?” Eugene exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. “You should be a pulp! And… This bone cage! You’re a necromancer!”
“I’m not ready to die yet. Let’s see what else your impressive machine can do,” Abyss said, a playful smile on his face.
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