The Devil's Cage

The scarlet vines started to wither and the scarlet runes started to dim, and Kiean, standing in the middle of all that, slowly opened his eyes.

Wung!

A powerful blast of air burst from inside, turning the withered vines into ashes. The gloomy runes around the bones were lost and Scarlet, with only half of its upper body, landed beside Kieran's feet.

"You, you!"

The soul fire in its eye sockets flickered repeatedly, wanting to say something, but Kieran didn't give the skull a chance.

He placed his foot over the skull and slowly pressed down into its face.

Crack!

The red skull was stomped to pieces and the soul fire was extinguished, but Kieran didn't stop there.

Kieran repeatedly stomped on the red skull until every single piece of its skeleton was crushed to powder. After that, he laid his eyes on that string of prayer beads that Scarlet carried with it all the time.

It was a little broken, but that didn't stop Kieran from picking it up.

[Name: Scarlet Moon]

[Type: Wonder Item]

[Rarity: IV]

[Attack: None]

[Defense: None]

[Attribute: 1. Expel Day; 2. Moon Pull]

[Effect: None]

[Prerequisite: No]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: No]

[Remark: The scarlet red moon always hangs high in the night sky, it represents the start of calamity and it's the hymn of slaughter!]

...

[Expel Day: Expel sunlight in a small area (10 km radius), and turn the day into night, last an hour, 1 time per 3 days]

[Moon Pull: Bathe in under the moonlight for 12 hours can increase the duration of Expel Sun for an hour, able to store up to 12 hours. Hours stored: 0]

...

"Rank IV?"

Kieran showed shock through his widened eyes.

He knew the items on the scarlet red skull would be anything but normal, but he did not expect this item to be at rank IV.

This probably would be the highest rank item that he had gotten since he entered this dungeon. Unfortunately, it couldn't be brought out of the dungeon.

The limited usage had determined the prayer beads' value, however, its power was still magical to Kieran.

Kieran remembered how Scarlet switched day into night during their first encounter.

Ring City was more than just 10 km in sze!

"It's not possible to achieve what the red skull did back there with just one [Scarlet Moon], it must have used some special spells to boost the effect, that's why it could bring out the prayer beads' full potential and affected such a large area like Ring City," Kieran speculated.

As for what special spells or methods, Kieran had no time for that now.

It wasn't just because the red skull was already dead, it was also because the Origin Forces in his body were growing—they were growing in Basic level. According to normal times, his Origin Forces would have reached Grandmaster level or higher by now, yet since the key part was missing, the Origin Forces grew in their earliest form, enhancing his body slowly.

The growth was far from its limit though, but according to Kieran's calculation, no matter how the Origin Forces kept on growing, they would hit the limit soon.

2 hours, or less, the Origin Forces in his body would reach said limit.

What would happen next?

Kieran knew exactly what would happen, so he looked at Victor and the others.

He had to solve the problem at hand as fast as possible.

After they caught Kieran's gaze, Victor and You trembled.

Kieran had just destroyed Scarlet so easily. They even saw how he stomped the skeleton into powder and it was too overwhelming for them.

He was fierce! So fierce that it caused You's heart to throb.

She would never want to face this kind of enemy and the same went for Victor.

It was fair to say Victor had a better understanding of the situation because he knew he had to deal with this ferocious Bird of Death for a very long time from here on.

Therefore, Victor stopped hesitating and said, "Lord Royan, thank you for all this! You and I wish to follow you from now on, to serve you and comply with your orders."

Victor knelt down on one knee.

You did not hesitate either, following Victor in kneeling down.

"Mm."

Kieran didn't comment on anything since he already knew what happened from Bloody Mary, looking at Anna, who got back on his feet.

The handsome man laid his hands wide open with a bitter smile, expressing that he was harmless.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to dirty your place. I just can't help myself... I'll make it up to you!"

Anna tried to explain but he sharply realized the impatience in Kieran's gaze, so he quickly switched his words.

After he saw a satisfied nod from Kieran, only then Anna did heave a breath of relief.

Anna didn't want to fight Kieran because he too was frightened.

He wasn't scared of his menacing aura but the terrifying power that was contained within his body.

The power was very weak but the extremely invasive sense from the power was enough for Anna to know how scary it would be, because right after he sensed the hidden power in Kieran, Anna saw a vision of a pitch black monster and it was just the start of his nightmare.

He was engulfed in sky-drowning flames at the next moment, he couldn't resist at all and his ears kept hearing a loud shout.

"Kill!

Kill!

Kill!"

The scorching flames and sea of bodies pounded on Anna's soul.

If he wasn't powerful, he knew he would crumble in a second.

"God of Slaughter reincarnated? No! It must be something scarier, something more ferocious!"

Anna recalled the information in his mind but quickly shook his head.

He saw a God of Slaughter reincarnated before, and although powerful, the reincarnation wasn't as scary as Kieran.

The fear that he felt from Kieran had surpassed everything he knew.

Therefore, what Anna said next represented the right choice made.

"Sir Royan, do you know Victor and the matters that revolve around him?" Anna asked in a courteous way.

"Yes, but not him, at least not this 'him' that I see," Kieran nodded and said surely.

The words made Victor ecstatic. He was moved unknowingly and looked at Kieran gratefully.

Someone believed him! Someone was willing to believe him!

From the moment he woke up in that underground cave, Kieran was the first man to believe him!

A real human being! Not a ghost like You!

Even Anna, when he first saw Victor, showed judgmental gaze and doubts, let alone the red skull, who showed hostility before it even introduced itself.

"My lord!"

Victor's lips were trembling as he called Kieran, placing his right fist in front of his chest and bowing with utmost respect.

The promise was made, so he ought to carry it out wholeheartedly. He would never have a change of heart because it was part of his vows.

Victor had decided to give his all in carrying out whatever Kieran ordered him to do, otherwise he wouldn't be able to repay the trust he got from Kieran.

"That's right! It isn't him! My abilities told me he would never do something as horrible—but we need more people to know about this!" Anna said.

"You want to testify publicly?" Kieran had a hunch what Anna wanted to do, looking at Victor with the question.

"I am willing to stand out and prove my name," Victor said loudly.

"Time?" Kieran looked at Anna with the question.

"Tomorrow, midnight. Your place, what do you say?" Anna said with a smile.

"Sure," Kieran nodded and then returned to the restaurant.

Amy had come out from the kitchen when Kieran came back.

"It's over?" The temporary assistant asked.

"I need you to fix the door for me," Kieran said as he walked to the kitchen without pause.

"I am your assistant, not a repairman!"

Amy grumbled for a while but she obediently picked up the toolbox beside the counter.

She really did not want to repair a damn door but she had to sleep on the floor of the restaurant at night. If she left it broken like that, the cold wind would freeze her at night or probably make her sick the next day.

"I'll help. I'm sorry, it was a little bit of an emergency back there."

Victor came over, together with You, to offer a hand.

Unknowingly, Anna was left alone at the entrance.

He somehow felt left out.

No, not left out, he felt isolated!

Anna bitterly laughed.

It wasn't all that strange though, they were a 'family' and he was just a customer.

A deep breath later, Anna walked away.

He had to deliver the news about everything that had happened here to the other high ranks of the Herders, plus he had to stop those bastards blinded by green, otherwise things would go out of hand and it would end badly.

As for the one that hid behind the scenes?

Anna squinted his eyes, his gaze looking sharp for a moment.

He would not simply spare the mastermind, he ought to get to the bottom of this.

However, at the next moment, his sharp gaze went away and started to turn weak.

At the entrance of the alleyway, where Scarlet was stomped to powder, there were still some blood stains at the scene.

Ough!

Violent vomiting noises echoed in the alleyway,

Anna, one of the high ranks of the Herders, threw up and fell limp on the ground again.

...

The noise of the violent vomiting clearly entered the kitchen.

Kieran frowned.

"Jiajia, go clean up the entrance. I don't want the restaurant's entrance to reek. Call Huai Cuike and tell him to pick up his boss and remember to take the cleaning fees from him," Kieran said.

"Yes boss," Li Jiajia ran out immediately.

She didn't want the restaurant to reek either, so she hurried.

Starbeck saw Li Jiajia off and lowered the curtain of the kitchen again before turning to Kieran.

"What's wrong?"

The tacit understanding he had with Kieran allowed him to sharply notice that Kieran purposely ordered Li Jiajia away.

"A little accident."

Kieran didn't explain verbally, taking Starbeck's hand and writing on his palm with the finger.

The ticklish feeling made Starbeck flush, but he replied to Kieran quickly in the same way.

"Very troublesome?"

"Mm, very. So you better keep this. If something happens to the restaurant and I am not around, you should drink this," Kieran replied while giving Starbeck the little bottle he had prepared earlier.

The little bottle was made of metal, the size of a palm and was tightly sealed.

The content should be liquid because Starbeck heard the water waving at the walls when he took it over.

Starbeck didn't ask what the liquid was, keeping it carefully and then bringing out the soup from the claypot.

Kieran smiled and accepted the bowl of soup.

The soup was crystal clear, inside were some cordyceps floating around and meat with a herbal taste. It didn't taste bitter or smell heavy, instead the flavour and taste complemented each other.

Kieran's eyes shone after a sip.

The meaty taste fused perfectly with the herbal taste.

It was not oily at all and felt refreshing, like Kieran was eating a bamboo shoot with extra flavour and smell.

"What soup is this?" Kieran asked as his stomach warmed up.

"Supplement soup I guess, I still haven't gotten the name right. When I get my hands on all the real ingredients, I'll name it properly."

Starbeck's round eyes showed delight.

The medical ingredients that he had been researching were completed without his knowing.

Great!

When every ingredient was collected, he could proceed to the next step!

Charge up through eating, eat to ascend to newer heights.

Starbeck himself didn't even dare believe it. By combining the knowledge and information from [Duyer's Recipe] and [Index of Eat], he completed this step with some simple ingredients!

Aside from completing this medical ingredient, he even got an extra talent: [With God's Help]!

This talent appeared suddenly in Starbeck's talent tab when he finished making the supplement soup.

The description of the talent was simple: when you concentrate on doing something, even Gods will stand by your side to aid you.

Following the new talent [With God's Help], Starbeck realized his older talent, [Nimble Heart Agile Hands] had also recovered.

The other skills, however, were still sealed but he did not mind it at all.

Starbeck didn't keep the new talent from Kieran either, writing on Kieran's palm to inform him of [With God's Help].

"With God's Help?"

Kieran raised a brow, expanding his perception and senses to the max to search for any kind of weird gaze or presence around the premise, and when he made sure there wasn't anyone or anything watching them, he eased his furrowed brows.

"A nice talent you got there, but be careful," Kieran reminded Starbeck.

"Mm," Starbeck nodded obediently.

As the citizen of the big city and a player that had been through multiple dungeon runs, Starbeck might be a coward but his experience far surpassed any others.

Starbeck knew sometimes being overly favoured would end up the other way, especially when the one who favoured him was the almighty and high above and he himself was just a weak, helpless boy.

Kieran smiled when he saw the worrisome face on Starbeck, reaching out to caress his head.

"Don't worry, I am here with you," said Kieran.

He then drained every drop of the soup and walked out.

After Kieran made sure Starbeck was out of sight, his face turned cold.

"You better hope that I don't find out about your dirty work! And those who are attracted by all this, it's best you bastards stay away! If anyone or anything dares to even come close... Kill without mercy!"

Kieran made a vicious vow in his heart before he walked to the basement.

Meanwhile, Li Jiajia, who came back with the broom and mop, heard the voice in her head again, and this time, it sounded more irritating than ever.

It was screaming its lungs out.

'Godslayer!

Destroyer!

The origin of calamity!'

...

"Shut up!"

Li Jiajia coldly grumbled at the crazy voice and didn't care about it anymore, returning to the kitchen and preparing to finish up before she went to bed.

She thought the voice was muttering gibberish.

She thought everything the voice told her was unbelievable.

However, in the oldest temple of Ai City, the fire known as the eternal holy light suddenly died off.

Then…

Under the devoted archpriest's gaze of disbelief, a crack appeared on the statue of the God.

Pak!

The statue broke into pieces.