Chapter 472, Kashu
The two faced off at a five-meter distance.
Wu Heng carefully observed the target.
Compared to the opponent, who kept looking for opportunities to target him.
He still wasn't even clear on who the enemy was.
A bald man with a square face, thick eyebrows, large eyes, slightly dark skin, a bare upper body, and strong, oiled muscles gleaming in the light.
His hands wore gauntlets, and his gaze was as fierce as a tiger's.
A Boxer, and an unarmored one at that.
The bald man looked at the calm and composed Vice Steward of the Adventurer's Guild, frowning slightly, "What? You're not surprised I suddenly stopped your ship?"
Wu Heng asked, "Who are you?"
"Guardian of the Divine Punishment Sect, Kashu!"
The Divine Punishment Sect?
As expected, it's related to them.
Wu Heng asked doubtfully, "We don't seem to have much of a grudge. Why are you targeting me?"
Heh~!
The bald man chuckled and continued, "You don't need to know the reason. Now, I'll give you a chance to live."
"What chance?"
"You've got some skills. Join our Divine Punishment Sect, and you'll enjoy rights equal to those of a Vice Steward. Don't you like women of different races? We've got plenty of female members for you to toy with, and they'll even be grateful to you," the bald man said unabashedly.
Wu Heng's brows furrowed even more as he glanced at the man, sneering, "I don't consider myself a good person, but I wouldn't associate with people like you. Whatever the Divine Punishment Sect believes in or does has nothing to do with me, but if you come looking for trouble, I won't be easy to bully."
A cold gleam flashed in the bald man's eyes, and a murderous aura surged.
Then, he smiled again. "Guess how many moves it'll take me to kill you?"
Wu Heng sneered in return, "Guess why I went to sea today?"
"You're courting death!" The bald man stomped his foot again, turning into a streak of light as he charged straight ahead.
Crack~!
Suddenly, a bright lightning bolt shot down from the clouds above.
It illuminated the night sky.
The bald man's face changed dramatically mid-charge.
He tried to dodge but was struck by the lightning.
His body curled up, the planks beneath his feet splintered, and silver-white arcs of electricity rapidly spread around him.
At the same time, a magic circle rose from the center of the deck, and Imiro, the old mage, and two high-level Guild Stewards appeared from it.
Imiro looked at the bald man opposite him. "Divine Punishment Sect's Kashu."
He warned, "The Sect's witch is likely nearby. Be careful."
As the words faded.
Imiro shot forward, constantly shifting positions, and sent waves of sword energy slashing toward the bald Boxer.
"Hmph, the Elf Prince most likely to become a hero. Others might fear you, but I, Kashu, don't."
The bald man roared and turned his fists into countless shadows.
Sword energy and energy blasts erupted continuously on the deck, splintering it into flying debris.
Behind them, the two Guild Stewards stayed close to the old mage to protect him.
The old mage waved his wooden staff.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~!
A downpour of energy arrows descended, tracking the bald man and striking him relentlessly.
Then came gusts of wind and lightning, each magical attack targeting the opponent's position amid the fierce battle.
The mage's firepower was undoubtedly effective.
Meanwhile, Xiaoxiao flew down again, saying, "Uncle, there's another Level 18 Professional on that ship."
Wu Heng, who had been observing to steal the final blow, was startled.
He turned to look at the ship.
At the bow stood a figure cloaked in black.
"Dean, there's another Level 18 Professional," Wu Heng called out.
The old mage, engrossed in his spellcasting, glanced over.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
The newly arrived Level 18 Professional leapt into the air, riding thick fog directly toward the old mage.
"It's the Divine Punishment Sect's witch."
The old mage pointed his wooden staff forward.
Boom~!
The rolling fog exploded.
The witch extended her hand, summoning the scattered fog to reform into galloping wolves, tigers, and leopards, which charged the deck again.
The two Guild Stewards protecting the old mage stepped forward, beginning to slash with their weapons.
Wu Heng pulled out a machine gun and opened fire at the black-robed witch.
The witch glanced his way and dispersed, reappearing further away.
Wu Heng started spraying bullets into the fog.
But the bullets passed through the fog with no effect.
The old mage finished his spell, thrusting his wooden staff skyward.
Whoosh~!
A blinding light pierced the darkness, shining down from the sky.
The fog-formed beasts began to evaporate and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
The old mage looked at the witch. "You two handle the witch with me. Wu Heng, have your skeletons kill Kashu. Taking out one will make the other no threat."
"Understood."
The two Stewards charged the witch, while the old mage dispersed one fog beast after another.
Wu Heng focused on Imiro's battle, where sword energy and fist energy alternated, wrecking the deck like a demolition crew.
Wu Heng split into six bodies in an instant.
Barrett, sniper rifle, and submachine gun were all aimed ahead.
At the same time, [Contagion Ray] and [Weaken Ray] were fired at the target, and [Preset Armor] added protection to the clones.
The moment the rays hit.
The bald man's throat itched, and the sword energy wounds on him quickly festered.
But the Level 18 Boxer didn't show any signs of weakness, thanks to his unrelenting stamina.
Bang, bang, bang~!
Gunshots suddenly rang out.
Kashu, entangled with Imiro, had a large hole blown open in his waist.
Kashu's expression changed dramatically. He hadn't expected such a severe injury.
Wu Heng was also surprised; the Barrett had only caused this much damage.
Then, a barrage of bullets riddled his body with holes.
Kashu stumbled from the onslaught.
Imiro seized the opportunity and thrust his sword through his chest.
Sword energy churned within his body, and blood gushed from his orifices.
"Interesting. I'll fall on your Gold-Silver Island... heh heh..." Kashu said, coughing blood. "The Divine Punishment Sect will... will kill you. You'll all die."
Imiro flicked his sword upward.
It split Kashu's head in two from the chest upward.
Imiro flicked the blood from his sword, then shot like a streak of light toward the witch, intent on finishing her off.
Wu Heng didn't join the fight but instead rushed to Kashu's corpse.
The man was definitely dead, and Wu Heng hadn't snagged the experience.
"A wraith escaped." Xiaoxiao, who had been scouting, flew down again.
Focusing his senses, Wu Heng detected a faint soul quickly fleeing from the ship.
Another wraith?
Do wraiths form so easily after Level 18?
The thought flashed through his mind, and he asked, "What level?"
"Around Level 5."
By now, the wraith had reached the sea, outside the range of the Bone Cage spell.
But letting it escape wasn't an option.
If it escaped, it would cause even more trouble later.
With a thought, Wu Heng summoned Glenda. "Devour the wraith, and keep an eye on Xiaoxiao."
"Vast blanketing silence descends, veiling everything in dim warmth, a shadowy light flickering faintly."
Glenda was the first to entangle the wraith, with Xiaoxiao following close behind.
Meanwhile, Wu Heng's Necromancy clones guarded the corpse, while the others supported the old mage.
...
On the other side.
With Imiro joining the fight, the witch was forced into retreat.
The fog beasts barely appeared before being destroyed by magic and sword energy.
Five of Wu Heng's clones, wielding rifles and submachine guns, entered the fray.
They relentlessly fired at the witch's position.
Forcing her to keep running and dodging, looking utterly disheveled.
"You're all mad! None of you are normal!" the witch screamed.
Layers of violent fog rolled and exploded.
Blocking everyone's view.
The old mage waved his staff, summoning a howling wind to scatter the fog.
But the witch had already leapt off the ship, landing in the sea, where she turned into a mist and quickly fled.
"No need to chase her. It's unlikely we'll catch her," the old mage said.
Imiro sheathed his sword, and the two Level 15 Stewards stood at the railing, watching but not pursuing.
Wu Heng also refrained from chasing.
Just then, the system notification sounded in his ears.
[Wraith's level increased to 9. Constitution +1, Perception +2, Intelligence +1.]
[Wraith's level increased to 12. Constitution +2.]
The wraith had finished devouring.
Both Glenda and Xiaoxiao had leveled up.
The two wraiths quickly returned and entered the Necromancy clones' bodies.
Imiro scanned the area and led his men to inspect the other ship nearby.
After confirming there were no dangers.
He ordered, "Return."
Wu Heng commanded his skeletons, and the ship set sail back.
...
Wu Heng's six bodies merged into one in an instant.
The side effects of the artifact made him clutch his head and sit on a crate to rest.
He waited for the side effects to subside before slowly approaching.
"Steward, what should we do with the body?"
Imiro said, "Wrap it up and report to headquarters. We'll handle it after receiving instructions."
"Understood." Wu Heng nodded and directed his skeletons to wrap the body.
The old mage glanced at him.
"How did the Hundred-Arms Robe end up in your hands?"
"I exchanged merit points for it," Wu Heng retorted. "What's that thunder spell of yours called? It's pretty cool."
"Call Lightning. Once you reach Level 15 and join our research group, I'll teach you."
Uh...
The body was stored in a spatial ring.
The ship continued its journey back.
By the time they reached the port.
The sky was beginning to brighten.
The body was transported back to the Guild.
...
On a damp reef island.
Waves pounded the rocks, sending spray crashing down like a torrential rain.
A cloud of mist stumbled onto the reef, taking the form of a battered woman.
Blood streamed from her ghastly wounds, flowing into the sea.
"Damn it, madmen, all of them madmen."
"Kashu, that idiot, didn't even realize he'd been tricked."
The woman cursed under her breath as she struggled to swallow a potion.