So this is the place marked on the treasure map?
I can hardly believe it...
For the past six years, I just thought this place was draft-free, quick to clean, and pretty private.
That's why I kept using it...
Developed a really good bathroom routine.
Thinking this, I asked the Little Demon, "Where is the Teleport Stone mine?"
The Little Demon scratched its broad head and started searching around seriously.
Soon, it came back to me:
[Demon Tongue]: What does that thing look like?
I was stunned... You didn't know? Then what were you pretending to search for?
I also...
Forgot to ask Kai Jin Yi more about what the Teleport Stone mine looks like...
What shape, what color, what size...
Great. Now we have no idea,
how are we supposed to find it in this huge pile of junk?
Just as the Little Demon and I were seriously pondering where to even start—
"BWAHAHAHAHA—!"
A hearty laugh rang out.
A chubby figure stepped from the darkness outside the stone door,
slowly entering the light within the stone gate.
The Little Demon and I both threw him an annoyed glare. Shut up, keep it down!
We're trying to find treasure here.
"The Teleport Stone mine isn't actually a mine..." The chubby man, despite being mentally prepared, was still utterly by the immense wealth before him, his heart surging with excitement.
His wide mouth hung open, stretched in an unrestrained grin.
"But whether we find it or not doesn't matter anymore...
Because it is this place...
Everything here,
each and every item is worth no less than it!!"
Oh—? But without the Teleport Stone, how do we leave this island?
I asked the chubby man.
The chubby man's face suddenly darkened, frozen...
His eyes widened, the corners of his mouth stretched back, baring his teeth—
He remembered the fierce battle before, how he only managed to fight while retreating and escape by jumping into the sea after climbing onto the ship and blocking the enemy's advance.
And the main ship had been severely damaged in the fight... He witnessed its tragic, slow descent into the depths from afar on the open sea.
Gradually, a hint of crimson flooded the chubby man's eyes...
The Little Demon and I both became alert at the same time—
Having coexisted with wild beasts here for years,
we long ago honed a sharp sensitivity to changes.
This person wasn't the chubby man himself!!
"Why like this?!
Nothing goes my way!
Treasure hunting goes wrong!
Reincarnation goes wrong!
You all displease me,
I'll have your lives!"
A faint, almost illusory red mist began seeping out around the chubby man's body,
shaping into something like a skull,
like a specter,
like a bizarre,form!
It constantly shifted and spread...
I asked the Little Demon, what's wrong with this guy?
The Little Demon tilted its head, resting its chin thoughtfully on a claw-tipped finger, giving him a serious once-over:
[Demon Tongue]: He's possessed. Seems like a new wandering spirit that just reincarnated not long ago.
Forget him, then. Let's you and I go look for the Teleport Stone mine,
I'm getting sick of this place too,
need to go see the world,
facing the same beasts every day,
I'm long tired of it.
Especially after this encounter with these "pirates,"
I want even more to see what the world outside this island is like!
Having said that,
the two of us turned around and started rummaging through the "junk pile"—
To get out, we must find the "Teleport Stone mine."
Teleport Stone, Teleport Stone... it must look like a stone, right?
Then let's sift through these mountains of gold for anything that looks like a rock.
Suddenly,
from behind, the smell of burning matchcord and a chilling, murderous aura aimed at the back of my neck!
Crap!!
I knew there was trouble. No time to turn around.
"BANG—!" A gunshot.
Simultaneously, my body reacted on instinct.
I launched a flying kick at the ghostly thing, sending it spinning sideways through the air—dodging the first bullet by a hair's breadth.
I immediately engaged my core,
using the momentum of the kick to pivot and leap towards the Little Demon's direction.
"BANG—" A second shot rang out.
As the gun fired,
I had already swiftly raised my foot,
using the top of my foot to precisely intercept the ghostly thing's spinning momentum,
retracting my blocking foot like lightning,
yanking the Little Demon back, preventing it from flying forward,
then,
followed up with a precise flying kick to its jaw,
sending the ghostly thing flying upwards into the air!
Barely, narrowly evading the path of the second bullet—it grazed past the gap between my calf and the Little Demon's chin.
Then, I landed, sinking into a stable stance.
I saw the opponent,
holding two matchlock pistols—smoke still curling from the barrels.
My own anger flared,
narrowing my eyes dangerously,
I stared fixedly at the "Chubby Man,"
reached out,
and steadily caught the Little Demon falling from the sky.
I was pissed.
This "Chubby Man" was despicable.
Knowing I'm agile,
he aimed directly to kill the ghostly thing.
I wouldn't give him many more chances—
The tip of my toe tapped the ground fiercely,
propelling me into a flying leap,
and in an instant, I was right in front of him.
The Chubby Man also reacted quickly, immediately twisting his body and retreating several steps,
putting distance between us.
His left hand swung to his side, discarding the used pistol,
thendrew a new matchlock pistol from his waist. Without slowing his retreat, he spun the pistol, forcefully scraping its matchcord against the flint embedded in the raised sole of his black boot.
Hiss— A strand of sparks flared.
The muzzle was already aimed between my eyebrows—
Just as he pulled the trigger,
"BANG!" The gun fired.
I jerked my head down, avoiding the spark-trailing bullet,
while simultaneously crouching low,
then uncoiling my waist with force,
firmly grabbing the Little Demon's feet,
swinging it back with built-up momentum,
and violently twisting my wrist to fling it out.
The Little Demon's oversized head became like a "meteor hammer" in my hand,
smashing hard into the "Chubby Man's" jaw.
He hurriedly raised his arm to block the attack,
temporarily unable to free a hand to strike back.
I wasn't about to miss this chance.
I immediately started swinging the Little Demon with immense force,
whirling it densely and relentlessly smashing it against every vulnerable spot on his body—
Eyes, temples, jaw, neck, waist, knees... you name it.
Anyway, the Little Demon had its "Passive Recovery Aura" active,
it would regenerate health instantly, definitely wouldn't die for a while,
so I grew even more reckless in my frenzied assault on the "Chubby Man," my attacks becoming increasingly fierce!
Within the deep, cavernous palace,
the intertwined screams of the Little Demon and the chubby man instantly echoed—!!!
The echoes reverberated continuously through the valley and passages.
The "Chubby Man" gradually weakened.
I also understood the principle of not letting up now,
gripping the Little Demon even tighter.
Stimulated by adrenaline,
I felt less and less psychological burden, swinging it more smoothly, hitting more addictively.
The assault continued for another tenth of an incense stick's time...
Then, I heard,
"Ding—!"
...The ghostly thing leveled up... again...
Seeing the ghostly thing level up, I knew the "Chubby Man" was dealt with.
But the question is...
Why didn't I level up?!
The "Chubby Man" was defeated by my counterattack... Why is it the ghostly thing leveling up again!!?
Thinking this,
I released the Little Demon, now covered in blood,
reached into my clothes, and pulled out my telescope.
Pointing the lens at the Little Demon, I fiddled with the dials aimlessly again.
A white light flashed:
==================[Status Window]==================
Target: Little Demon (Unnamed, but Contract Bound.)
Level: 14
Titles:
• True·Demon's Light ---- (Prefix: True·Demon---- {Effect: All Learned Skills Permanently +5 Levels}
--[Mythical Grade Prefix]
Suffix: Light ---- {Special Effect: 21 HP/sec, Recovers 21 Health Points per second }
--[Mythical Grade Suffix]
[Permanently active while Health Points are not 0]
Strength: 2
Agility: 2
Magic: 14
Health: 34 / 34
Mana: 140 / 140
Skill: Demon Meteor Hammer LV6: (Attribute Bonus: +2 Strength, +3 Agility)