Chapter 127: Heavy Rain, Tokyo, Bloody Storm Auction (11) |
On the dead-silent auction stage, Black Cocoon strangled Robert's neck with his Restraining Bands, hanging upside down beneath the spotlight, staring unblinkingly at Qi Yuanli's face.
"Black Cocoon..."
Ghost Bell narrowed his eyes, slowly uttering the uninvited guest's moniker.
An Lunsi and the Ripper exchanged a glance. Neither of them knew who this Black Cocoon was, so they looked toward Blood Progenitor and Oda Takikage, only to find confusion and surprise mingling in the eyes of their fellow members.
It seemed no one knew where this guy had come from.
After a long silence, Qi Yuanli opened his mouth to ask Black Cocoon, "What do you want?"
"Finally, someone asks. Otherwise, it would have been so awkward for me to keep striking this pose." Black Cocoon sighed. "Actually, what I want is very simple." He paused. "Have your members release Blue Arc right now, immediately, and hand him over to Ghost Bell."
"Impossible," Qi Yuanli cut in.
Black Cocoon shrugged, speaking nonchalantly. "Is that so? Then it's also impossible for me to let go of poor Mr. Robert. This hardworking veteran member certainly never expected to endure such suffering in the end. His beloved captain actually plans to sacrifice his life. Even I cannot help but sigh for him."
A brief silence fell between the two of them.
Qi Yuanli considered this for a moment before finally speaking. "I can agree to your terms, but there must be an additional condition."
"Feel free to speak."
"First, you have Ghost Bell leave this place. Then, I will have my people release Blue Arc, and finally, you will return Robert to us."
"You really have a lot of wicked ideas, Mr. Qi Yuanli. You know full well that once Ghost Bell leaves, you monsters will act without any restraint," Black Cocoon said. "I'm afraid you would kill me before I even had time to take Blue Arc away, wouldn't you?"
Qi Yuanli asked expressionlessly, "Then what do you propose?"
"How about this? Have your people stay put for now." Saying that, Black Cocoon wrapped one hand around Robert's neck and spun downward, landing on the floor of the auction stage.
Black Cocoon walked toward Ghost Bell, dragging Robert along. He deliberately detoured around a few members, maintaining a safe distance from them.
"What... exactly do you want to do?" Ghost Bell stared at him, his voice deep.
"Who knows? What exactly do I want to do? Do what, do what, do what?"
As his words fell, Black Cocoon used his Restraining Bands to steal Robert's supernatural ability.
[Passive Skill "Restraining Band Suppression" activated: While bound by your Restraining Bands, the target cannot use any supernatural abilities.]
[Active Skill "Ability Theft" activated: Your Restraining Bands have stolen the supernatural ability of the Esper "Robert." It can be released within 24 hours (After "Skill Release" or "Time Limit Exceeded," the stored ability will automatically disappear).]
Immediately after, under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Black Cocoon brought Robert close to Ghost Bell's Bell Tower. He raised his hand, touching the tower's wall, and used the stolen ability to create a Wooden Door on the previously empty surface.
This scene alarmed everyone in the White Raven Brigade—only Ghost Bell, unaware of Robert's ability, assumed it was Black Cocoon's own power.
An Lunsi and the Ripper froze, and even Oda Takikage's eyes revealed a trace of surprise.
"Uh... Miss Ripper, did I just see him use Robert's ability?" An Lunsi shrugged, turning his head to ask the Ripper.
"It seems so..." the Ripper nodded.
The Wooden Door reflected in Qi Yuanli's profound pupils as he thought expressionlessly, 'Not only can he suppress abilities... he can also steal them? If only we had met under different circumstances.'
Blood Progenitor sat on the edge of the auction stage, holding her cheeks and remarking casually,
"Oh... no wonder the Captain wanted to pull this ugly thing into the brigade. Turns out he actually has some skills."
Black Cocoon was leaning against the Bell Tower at a crooked angle, striking an incredibly flamboyant pose.
The gaze of everyone in the auction house converged on this flamboyant lunatic. The members couldn't understand why a madman who could clearly be swatted to death with one slap was somehow able to pin down everyone and dictate the flow of the situation... Truly, if you live long enough, you see everything.
Black Cocoon tapped his fingers lightly against the Bell Tower and continued, "Then let us clarify the current situation. Miss Ripper's injuries are about as serious as Mr. Blue Arc's... If we keep this stalemate going, I am afraid both of them will lose their lives."
He paused. "Therefore, how about meeting each other halfway? I will have Ghost Bell wait behind the door. Then, the rest of the members and the Captain will step back, allowing Mr. Ninja to hand Blue Arc over to me alone."
"In return, I will give Robert back to Mr. Ninja. Immediately after, I will leave this place with Blue Arc and Ghost Bell, make this door disappear, and we will be completely even."
Having said that, his gaze swept over everyone present. "You bastards of the White Raven Brigade... and the beloved Mr. Captain, how does that sound to you?"
Black Cocoon's eyes finally settled on Qi Yuanli. The captain's gaze was as profound as ever, like a black swamp that made it impossible to discern his thoughts.
At this moment, both Ghost Bell and Qi Yuanli remained silent. The other members had no authority to decide, so they quietly waited for their Captain to issue a command.
After a moment of thought, Qi Yuanli broke the silence.
"We will do as you suggested," he stated expressionlessly.
"Excellent. Then... please step behind the door and wait, Mr. Ghost Bell." Black Cocoon turned his head to look at Ghost Bell. He formed his Restraining Bands into the shape of a megaphone against his mouth and added in a low voice, "You wouldn't want Mr. Blue Arc to die right in front of you, would you?"
Hearing this, Ghost Bell glanced at Blue Arc, who had a blade pressed against his neck, and his eyes flickered slightly.
He then silently stepped through the door on the side of the Bell Tower. Behind the door was an Outdoor Cafe, with torrential rain pouring onto the street. Black Cocoon had only just stolen this ability and clearly had no idea how to properly use it, so he had randomly selected a nearby location.
Ghost Bell pulled back a considerable distance, standing quietly in the curtain of rain. He turned his head, his scarlet eyes locking onto Black Cocoon through the doorway.
Black Cocoon continued to lean crookedly against the surface of the Bell Tower, propping up his head with his elbow in that flamboyant manner.
"Tell Ghost Bell to move further away," Qi Yuanli demanded. "Then we will exchange hostages."
"Absolutely," Black Cocoon agreed, gesturing toward Ghost Bell with his chin. "Shift your ass back a bit."
Ghost Bell's face twitched slightly.
Separated by a portal, he and Black Cocoon locked eyes, his pupils glowing red as if magma were flowing within them.
"Did you hear me?" Black Cocoon spread his hands. "Shift your ass back a bit. You are too close to this door, and it might compromise the fairness of this trade. Don't you want me to bring Mr. Blue Arc back?"
Ghost Bell remained silent for a long moment before finally stepping further back down the rain-slicked street.
"That's more like it..." Black Cocoon observed the rain-drenched Ghost Bell. Ghost Bell's eyes seemed to be saying: 'If you dare to trick me, I will definitely slaughter you.'
Seeing that Ghost Bell had distanced himself from Black Cocoon's portal in accordance with their agreement, Oda Takikage tilted his head and met Qi Yuanli's gaze.
Oda Takikage removed the blade from Blue Arc's neck and slowly led him closer to Black Cocoon.
"Stop! You can halt right there, Mr. Ninja."
Black Cocoon wagged a finger, warning him, "Don't think I'm unaware of how fast you are. If you take one more step, I will snap Robert's neck."
As he spoke, he used the Restraining Bands to swing Robert's body back and forth in mid-air, exactly like an adult rocking a cradle to coax a crying baby.
"Whee, Baby Robert is flying high!" Black Cocoon planted his hands on his hips. "Whee... If you take one more step, it won't be Baby Robert on a swing, but Baby Robert's head swinging through the sky. Do you understand, Mr. Ninja?"
The faces of the White Raven Brigade members twitched.
At this exact moment, apart from the unconscious Blue Arc, there was not a single person present who didn't want to butcher him—especially Ghost Bell, who was left standing in the rain as punishment.
They were all gasping in chilled air. No one could understand why such a wretch had been born into this world; he was utterly despicable to the point of being punished by heaven and earth.
Any random passerby on the street would probably feel the urge to kick him in the ass, yet this lunatic just stood there wiggling his butt and making funny faces, acting crazy and mocking everyone while methodically controlling the flow of the entire situation.
"Takikage... do as he says," Qi Yuanli ordered expressionlessly.
Oda Takikage nodded, stopping ten meters away from Black Cocoon with Blue Arc in tow.
Their eyes met. Black Cocoon stared into Oda Takikage's eyes and extended a Restraining Band, slowly reaching toward Blue Arc's body. He wrapped it around Blue Arc's waist and gradually dragged him across the floor. Blue Arc's back left a horrifying trail of blood along the ground.
Following that, Black Cocoon slowly loosened the Restraining Band around Robert's neck. Robert coughed violently; he had nearly been suffocated to death by this lunatic's games.
While pulling Blue Arc in, Black Cocoon simultaneously used his Restraining Bands to gently lower Robert to the floor.
In the very next fraction of a second, Oda Takikage burst into motion. He lunged forward with explosive speed and severed the Restraining Bands connected to Robert with his katana.
At the exact same time, Black Cocoon yanked Blue Arc into his arms and tilted his body backward, slipping through the Bell Tower's door before it slammed shut in an instant!
Immediately after, even Ghost Bell's Bell Tower vanished from the center of the auction house, leaving behind nothing but a deathly silence.
After the departure of Black Cocoon, Blue Arc, and Ghost Bell, the oppressive atmosphere filling the entire auction house seemed to lift significantly.
Blood Progenitor sighed with emotion, "What a truly miraculous individual."
An Lunsi's face darkened with exasperation, though he still wore a smile. "Next time I run into this Black Cocoon, I'm definitely going to stuff him into my Slot Machine as a prize doll."
"Are you alright, Mr. Robert?" Oda Takikage untangled the remaining Restraining Bands from over Robert's mouth and looked at him.
"I'm fine..." Robert shrugged and climbed up from the floor, his voice a hoarse metallic rasp. "I am sorry, Captain. If I had noticed Black Cocoon hiding in the auction house, I wouldn't have been caught by him."
"It does not matter."
Saying that, Qi Yuanli turned his head toward the Mirror World. "Robert, take the Ripper back to the nearby base to bandage her wounds first. Then open a door and return. The rest of the members will follow."
As his words fell, he swapped positions with a crow inside the Mirror World. His figure vanished, replaced by a flurry of black feathers drifting to the ground.
"Let's go, Number Two." Robert followed the instructions, opened a Wooden Door on the wall, and carried the heavily injured Ripper away on his back.
The other members sequentially stepped onto the auction stage and walked through the Wooden Door leading into the Mirror World.
Right at this moment, inside the Mirror World.
Member No. 8, Hacker, strolled out of the Mirror World's Vault empty-handed. He stepped onto the auction stage, looked up, and was met with the sight of a magnificent colossal shadow that occupied nearly half of the mirrored auction house.
And there were not just one, but... two of these towering shadows in total.
Monstrous flames and polar day-like white light clashed in mid-air. Two unfathomably massive behemoths were slaughtering each other.
"What the hell?"
Hacker raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise appearing on his tender, youthful face. His Mobile Phone nearly slipped right out of his palm.
He certainly hadn't expected the auction house to devolve into this kind of nightmarish state while he was simply collecting auction items in the Vault. It looked as though he had wandered onto the set of an apocalyptic blockbuster where ancient demons and mythical beasts were engaged in an aerial magic battle.
Blinding flares and scorching gales rushed straight at his face.
At this moment, the Wolf of Celestial Day and the Red Dragon were still locked in a fierce stalemate. The battle situation continued to favor the Red Dragon phantom, which held the upper hand.
Yet for some unknown reason, Li Qingping had not moved from his original spot since the very beginning, relying entirely on passive counterattacks—perhaps in order to protect the Second Prince.
The Wolf Claw, wreathed in dazzling white light, collided explosively with the crimson flames spewed by the Red Dragon phantom in mid-air. Amidst the deafening detonation, a terrifying shockwave rippled outward for hundreds of meters, violently whipping up the clothes and hair of all the brigade members.
The intense thermal currents generated by the Red Dragon phantom's wings nearly scorched right through the air, yet the white radiance of the Wolf Claw forcefully tore a rift through the inferno.
Before that rift could expand, the Dragon Tail, cloaked in lava-like flames, swept across with devastating force. It smashed the giant wolf backward, causing it to stumble as its claws plowed four deep, charred trenches across the mirrored floor.
Every single one of their impacts tore open pitch-black spatial rifts, spreading spiderweb-like cracks rapidly across the void. The mirrored canopy of the dome was already riddled with fractures. Tiny glass shards rained down in flurries, only to vaporize into pale mist the very second they brushed against the dragon fire.
The floor of the auction house shuddered continuously; not a single inch remained intact. Every time the dragon's roar and the wolf's howl echoed, the jagged mirror fragments clinging to the edges of the craters collapsed completely.
It felt as though the entire world was crumbling to pieces right beneath their feet.
Meanwhile, Ayase Origami and Xia Pingzhou were sitting idly on the floor of the auction stage, playing cards with Lan Duo Duo.
"Pair of sevens." Lan Duo Duo tossed down two playing cards and lifted her eyes to look at Xia Pingzhou. "Rookie, don't try to scam me! An Lunsi mentioned he was so thoroughly scammed by you that he lost the whole night."
"Pair of nines," Ayase Origami said.
"Pair of jacks," Xia Pingzhou said.
The hair of all three was blown wildly by the oncoming waves of intense heat, yet they continued their card game without even lifting their heads.
It wasn't that they were slacking off. In truth, all of them had attempted to launch ranged attacks—but Ayase Origami's Paper Butterflies could do absolutely nothing against the Red Dragon, Xia Pingzhou's Rook Golems amounted to nothing more than tickling the dragon, and Lan Duo Duo simply didn't possess any Anecdote Fragments useful for this situation.
At this moment, the only weapons that could barely make a difference were Andrew's Sniper Rifle and Blood Progenitor's bow and arrows.
Hacker stood dazed for quite a while before finally snapping back to his senses.
He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his overalls, climbed onto the auction stage, and spoke to Qi Yuanli beside him. "Captain, I've already used my ability to collect all the auction goods into the 'database.'"
He paused. "We can leave now."
Qi Yuanli remained silent, his bottomless pupils reflecting Li Qingping at the center of the phantom.
Li Qingping's complexion was visibly pale.
An Lunsi walked over carrying a bottle of orange juice. He twisted off the cap, took a sip, and then narrowed his one remaining eye to gaze at the Wolf of Celestial Day, whose eyes brimmed with blinding white light.
He patted Hacker's head and smiled. "That's easy to say... but our classmate White Wolf doesn't seem to want to leave."
"That guy always lets fighting get to his head." Hacker clicked his tongue.
Qi Yuanli stared fixedly at Li Qingping and noted expressionlessly, "The opponent is carrying dead weight, so he is forced to keep the Red Dragon Wales locked in place, using the phantom's massive form to shield the burden. Only by doing this can he prevent him from being caught in the crossfire."
Hearing the Captain say this, Lan Duo Duo immediately lifted her eyes from the playing cards. She glanced at White Wolf, who seemed to grow fiercer with every strike, while conversely, the luminescent flames of the Red Dragon phantom were slowly dimming.
She said, "So that's how it is. I was wondering why the Red Dragon wasn't launching any counterattacks."
"Then, going at this rate, we'll win eventually?" An Lunsi asked.
"It's only a matter of time," Qi Yuanli stated.
At that exact moment, Andrew fired another shot. The deafening blast forced the surrounding members to cover their ears.
Lan Duo Duo rolled her eyes at him. "What the hell is the point of you firing that gun? You'd be better off sitting down and playing cards with us."
Andrew shifted his eye away from the crosshairs of his Sniper Rifle and let out a sigh. "Ugh, can someone tell me why this Red Dragon's hide is so ridiculously thick? I'd love to use some heavier ammunition, but I'm worried it might catch our pale buddy in the crossfire."
"Well, after all, the 'Red Dragon Wales' is the Generation-tier Anomaly closest to the level of a Mythical-tier Anomaly," Lan Duo Duo explained.
Just then, Qi Yuanli, standing upon the auction stage, suddenly arched an eyebrow slightly.
Following his gaze, one could see a solitary chair standing entirely out of place right in the dead center of the ruined auction house.
Neither the blazing dragon flames nor the torrential white light had managed to so much as shake the chair.
But the most crucial detail of all was...
The figure sitting in that chair had finally woken up.