Dead End

As the mysterious figure was cleaved in two by a single sword strike, the black mist shrouding him finally dispersed, revealing his true form.

Qin Muchu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and went with Xiao Wu to examine the body.

"Ah! Muchu, what is this thing?" Xiao Wu cried out.

Qin Muchu was just as stunned. The mysterious figure he had "killed" was no living being at all, but a Puppet made of some unknown metal.

No wonder our mental attacks did nothing to it... But how could a Puppet like this exist in this world? Who made it? And why? Panic stirred in Qin Muchu's heart. He suddenly realized this world seemed very different from the one he thought he knew.

First, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had escaped early. Then Di Tian and the other Ferocious Beasts had emerged from seclusion ahead of time. After that came a Ferocious Beast even stronger than Di Tian, and now this mysterious Puppet. Qin Muchu felt as though an unseen hand were quietly controlling everything, while an invisible net spread over him and the entire continent.

As the saying went, all fear sprang from the unknown. So many unexpected upheavals in succession had indeed planted a seed of fear in Qin Muchu's heart.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded again from the direction the first mysterious Puppet had appeared. Then came the same voice as before, grating like metal against metal. "To kill Jin Jiu at such a young age! If we offer both your souls to the master, it will be a great achievement!"

Qin Muchu looked up sharply and saw eight figures ahead, each shrouded in black mist.

"Two Soul Saints and six Soul Emperors." Qin Muchu's heart lurched. "Run!"

He reacted at once, seized Xiao Wu's wrist, and sprinted in the opposite direction with all his might.

"Heh, heh, heh. Trying to run? Too late." One of the Soul Saint Puppets gave a chilling laugh. "Demon Chains!"

Two black chains shot from the mist. In the blink of an eye, they caught up with Qin Muchu and Xiao Wu and wrapped around them.

The instant they bound him, Qin Muchu felt them rapidly devouring his Soul Power. He hurriedly used Steel-Cutting again, severing the chains around them both.

They had escaped the chains, but the delay had allowed the Puppets to surround them and cut off every route of escape.

Qin Muchu looked around. Eight figures shrouded in black mist blocked every way out. Two Soul Saints and six Soul Emperors—against such a force, he could not see the slightest hope of escape.

But having no hope was one thing; giving up was another. Qin Muchu had never been one to sit and wait for death. Even if there was no hope, he would fight to carve some out.

"Xiao Wu, stay close to me." Qin Muchu tightened his grip on the Dancing Shadow Sword, his voice low and urgent.

Xiao Wu did not answer. She only nodded slightly as her Soul Rings lit up once more. Standing back to back, they watched the enemies around them.

"Heh. A futile struggle." The leading Soul Saint Puppet sneered. "Take them."

At his command, the six Soul Emperors attacked together. Six strikes—some spears, some chains—hurtled toward them. Qin Muchu's pupils contracted. He shoved Xiao Wu aside and used the recoil to roll the other way. The attacks skimmed their clothes before striking the ground, throwing up clouds of dust and gouging six deep trenches.

"Third Soul Skill: Instant Teleportation!" Xiao Wu vanished and appeared behind a Soul Emperor Puppet the next instant. "First Soul Skill: Waist Bow!"

Her long leg swept toward the Puppet's neck with a fierce rush of wind. The Soul Emperor reacted just as quickly, condensing the black mist around him into a shield that stopped the blow cold. Xiao Wu used the force of the impact to retreat, but before she could land, another Soul Emperor's killing strike was already upon her.

"Look out!" Qin Muchu roared. The Dancing Shadow Sword became a thirty-meter giant blade once more and swept across, forcing the Soul Emperor back. Xiao Wu seized the chance to land beside him. Her chest rose and fell slightly; using Soul Skills in quick succession had clearly taken its toll.

"They work together too well," Xiao Wu said through gritted teeth.

Qin Muchu's expression was grave. He had seen it too. These Puppets were formidable alone, but their coordination was seamless. Attack, support, counterattack—each move linked to the next, leaving no opening for a breakthrough.

We have to make an opening. Qin Muchu's mind raced. His gaze swept the encirclement and settled on the Soul Emperor Puppet Xiao Wu had just fought. Though it had blocked her attack, the black mist around it was noticeably thinner than around the others.

"Xiao Wu, southeast! Focus on that one!"

"Got it!"

They sprang forward together. Qin Muchu hacked at the Soul Emperor with his giant sword in a relentless frenzy, while Xiao Wu darted beside him like a phantom, fending off attacks from both sides.

Under Qin Muchu's reckless assault, the Soul Emperor staggered backward again and again. The black mist shielding him shuddered violently, on the verge of falling apart.

Now!

Xiao Wu seized the fleeting chance. Gathering what little Soul Power she had left, she used Instant Teleportation and appeared before the Soul Emperor. She unleashed Waist Bow, and this time her strike landed squarely on the Puppet's body.

With a bang, Xiao Wu's kick caved in the Puppet's body. The black mist scattered, exposing the metal structure beneath. He stumbled back several steps. Though he could still move, a gap had finally opened in the encirclement.

"Quick!" They charged toward the gap with all their strength.

But just as they were about to break free, the chains that had bound them earlier came whistling through the air again. Moving at astonishing speed, one wrapped around Xiao Wu's ankle and yanked her back.

"Xiao Wu!" Qin Muchu turned and saw that the two Soul Saint Puppets had finally made their move.

"You thought you could escape right in front of me?" the Soul Saint Puppet taunted. Black mist churned, slowly forming a pitch-black spear that radiated a heart-stopping aura of death. Its point aimed straight at Xiao Wu, trapped by the chain.

Xiao Wu struggled desperately, but the battle had nearly exhausted her Soul Power. She could no longer use any Soul Skills.

Qin Muchu tried to rush back, but the other Soul Emperors had him pinned down. He was in constant peril, their attacks carving wound after wound into his body.

"Don't worry. You're next." The Soul Saint Puppet laughed coldly. With a shriek that tore through the air, the black spear shot straight toward Xiao Wu.

"No!"

Time seemed to freeze. In Qin Muchu's eyes, the black spear drew closer and closer to Xiao Wu.

Can I still do nothing? I have the script and a system, yet I can't even protect someone close to me. What kind of transmigrator am I?

Grief and fury overwhelmed Qin Muchu. A hoarse growl tore from his throat as he kicked hard off the Puppet behind him. Abandoning all defense, he let the other Soul Emperor Puppets' attacks strike him and hurled himself toward Xiao Wu. He poured every last bit of Soul Power into his legs, pushing his speed to the limit.

Almost. Just a little farther.

Five meters.

Three meters.

One meter.

At the final instant, just before the spear could pierce Xiao Wu, Qin Muchu reached her. He spread his arms and put his body between her and the spear.

Thud.

The sound of a sharp point piercing flesh was dull and unmistakable.