A Conspiracy

With nothing to do that morning, Bibi Dong carried a recliner over to the window and sat down, leisurely flipping through the book in her hands. The sunlight fell on her, warm and comfortable.

Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes contentedly, turned to a new page, and read on attentively.

"Yaaawn~"

Bibi Dong let out a huge yawn, casually closed the book, and shook her head. Finding a comfortable position, she drifted off to sleep.

"Knock, knock."

She had no idea how long she'd been asleep when a series of hurried knocks jolted Bibi Dong awake from her nap.

"Who is it?" Bibi Dong opened her bleary eyes, rubbed them with one hand, and asked casually.

"Holy Maiden, the Elder Hall has issued an order. You are to leave and carry out a mission."

"What mission?"

Bibi Dong slowly got to her feet, stretched lazily, and walked over to open the door.

"Oh, Niya?"

Bibi Dong spoke as she looked at the young woman standing at the door with her head bowed.

"Greetings, Holy Maiden." Niya bowed, then looked up at Bibi Dong with a smile. "I'm here to convey the Elder Hall's order. Your mission is to track down a fugitive. A servant from the outer hall stole two Soul Tools, and the Elder Hall has ordered you to capture the thief. The details of the mission are all written here."

Niya took an envelope from her pocket and handed it to Bibi Dong.

"Mm, understood. I'll set off right away." Bibi Dong took the envelope, opened it, pulled out a sheet of paper, and read it as she replied.

"Then I'll head back now, Holy Maiden." Niya bowed and turned to leave.

"Mm, all right," Bibi Dong replied casually.

At Bibi Dong's answer, Niya's lips curled into an amused smile as she walked away.

"So..." Bibi Dong looked up at the dilapidated little village in front of her. "Why would someone run all the way here after stealing something?"

Shaking her head, Bibi Dong quietly raised her guard, tensed her body, and prepared to release her martial soul at any moment as she cautiously entered the village.

Bibi Dong scanned her surroundings as she searched for the servant's whereabouts.

"Something just feels off..." Bibi Dong muttered with a frown. "But what is it?"

"Crack."

A sharp snap rang out. Bibi Dong looked down at the dry branch broken in two beneath her foot and instantly grew alert.

The sound! It's too quiet! There isn't even the slightest chirp from an insect or bird. That's impossible, unless...

"Whoosh!"

Bibi Dong suddenly darted to one side and rolled, dodging an arrow shot through a nearby window.

Unless... this is an ambush!

Bibi Dong's expression turned grave. She stared coldly at the shattered window in the distance.

"Come out!" Bibi Dong shouted.

Her answer was a rain of arrows that tore through the air toward her.

"Damn it!" Bibi Dong's pupils contracted. With a furious shout, her martial soul possessed her, and her Soul Rings appeared. Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—the six Soul Rings erupted in dazzling light.

Her First Soul Ring, the only Yellow Soul Ring, flashed. Bibi Dong felt the hairs on her body stand on end. Her body instinctively followed her intuition, dodging again and again as she performed one difficult maneuver after another to avoid the arrows flying at her from every direction.

"No, impossible!" A Middle-aged Man in a distant house gritted his teeth, his arms trembling uncontrollably. With a sharp crack, he crushed the arrow in his hand.

"Wasn't Bibi Dong supposed to be from the Power Attack System? Why is she so agile, damn it?!"

The Middle-aged Man angrily flung the fragments to the ground and snarled,

"Hey, all Soul Masters, attack! I refuse to believe a Soul Emperor can dodge attacks from a whole group of Soul Emperors and Soul Kings!"

"Yes!"

A chorus of low shouts rang out from inside the houses. One Soul Master after another burst through the windows and charged at Bibi Dong with a roar.

"Hah!" A burly Soul Emperor with a huge blade strapped to his left arm suddenly appeared behind Bibi Dong and brought it down hard.

I can't dodge it! Bibi Dong gritted her teeth and glanced back at her attacker. I'll have to take it head-on!

"Whoosh!" Bibi Dong's Fourth Soul Ring flashed. A thick, sturdy suit of armor bristling with spikes covered her body.

Bibi Dong forcibly twisted around to face her attacker, raised both arms, and blocked the mighty blade.

"Boom!"

Bibi Dong's feet carved two deep furrows in the ground.

Bibi Dong wiped the trace of blood from the corner of her mouth. "This again. Am I supposed to have no dignity just because I'm from the Power Attack System?"

"Ah!"

Bibi Dong's face twisted with anger. Armor formed around her right arm, and the Sixth Soul Ring behind her flashed. An inexplicable energy enveloped her right arm. Wind seemed to propel her feet as she charged at her attacker. Before the man could react, she punched him in the abdomen.

"Urgh!"

The man's eyes bulged as he spat out a mouthful of blood, his body doubling over like a shrimp. Bibi Dong didn't slow down. She followed with quick, short steps, twisted around, and kicked him in the side of the neck. With a sharp crack, his head lolled limply to one side, hanging from his body by nothing but a layer of skin. He was clearly dead.

After killing her attacker with swift efficiency, a green glow flashed across Bibi Dong, and her complexion improved considerably.

Steadying herself, Bibi Dong reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Anger in her eyes, she surveyed the enemies slowly closing in around her, though they were still too intimidated to approach.

"Looks like someone's up to no good." Bibi Dong's lips curved into a disdainful smile. "You should take a good look at what kind of people you are."

Though Bibi Dong usually seemed gentle and approachable, she had her own pride.

"Won't you come out and let me see who you are?"

"Holy Maiden, you certainly are impressive. Truly formidable." Applause came from behind the group of Soul Masters. A cold-faced Middle-aged Man stepped forward, affecting an air of elegance.

Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes and sneered. "I've seen you before. You're that little girl Niya's servant, aren't you?"

The Middle-aged Man froze, his expression turning awkward.

"Hmph. I have nothing to say to you. You're already a dead woman, anyway. Once you're dead, your master will bring back the stolen Soul Tools. Then the position of Holy Maiden will be vacant, and with my master's strength and accomplishments, claiming it will be a simple matter."

"So that's it." Bibi Dong considered this. "That's what you're plotting. What a shame..." she murmured.

"What's a shame?" The Middle-aged Man tensed. He thought Bibi Dong had some kind of trump card.

"Nothing. Just wondering—are you strong enough?"

"Arrogant!" The Middle-aged Man gave a couple of sinister laughs. Then his expression hardened, and he swept his hands outward. "Attack! Give our Holy Maiden a proper lesson!"

Though Bibi Dong had claimed to look down on them, she was still a little worried. Keeping a wary eye on them all, she took a deep breath. The Soul Rings behind her began to pulse faster. Bibi Dong crouched and slapped a palm against the ground. Her Fifth Soul Ring flashed, and a swarm of little spiders emerged from the earth, scurrying toward the group on their tiny legs.

The Soul Masters had the advantage of numbers and paid no heed to the little creatures. But it didn't take long for them to pay the price...