Xiao Lu is about to face the biggest boss of the entire text. He has never seen Duan Kai before and has always regarded him as just a mission target given by Mr. A.
But along the way, he has met Huang Sansheng, Mo Yisheng, MIKI, and many others from the White Dove and the Divine Punishment Society. He has witnessed the chaos in Yao City, walked through the bustling yet still vibrant streets of Cloud City, and seen countless people living in this world.
These people have become increasingly real to him; they are no longer just background characters that appear in novels. They have their joys and sorrows, their pursuits and convictions; they are living, breathing individuals.
With this understanding, Xiao Lu’s mindset has gradually changed. Perhaps what he can do is not just be a hurried passerby. He also hopes that his friends and the people of this world can live in peace and tranquility.
The heavy door has appeared before him.
There is no light in the corridor, and the previously stern guards have vanished.
Something feels off.
Anyone who sees this scene would have such a thought flash through their mind. The tightly closed ornate door looks like a carefully crafted trap, waiting for its prey to walk right in.
Xiao Lu gently strokes the Star Vessel in his hand. Whether it is the Star Vessel or his own instinct, both are telling him that Duan Kai is inside.
At this moment, the heavy door slowly opens a crack, emitting a heavy creaking sound that is particularly pronounced in the night.
But the door does not fully open; it only reveals a deep gap, like the mouth of a giant beast from the abyss.
A faint, weak crying sound comes from within.
“Wuwuwu… don’t eat me.”
“Mom, I want my mom… I want my mom… bad man, let me go…”
The voice is tender, sounding like that of a child, and there is more than one.
Xiao Lu’s face suddenly turns grim. Is it a trap or real hostages? Regardless of which guess is correct, it indicates that the other party has long known he would come, just waiting for him.
The room is dim.
A tall man sits relaxed on the throne, surrounded by several bound children.
The children cry in fear, but due to their restraints, they cannot escape.
In the face of the children’s wails, the man’s expression shows no sign of emotion. His indifferent gaze sweeps over the child who is crying the loudest, and he reaches out to pinch the child’s chin, slowly uttering two words: “Useless.”
“It seems you are all of no use. Wasn’t it said that capturing human cubs to threaten the adults is a very effective method? But why aren’t they coming in?”
He suddenly turns his head, looking at the other children: “Could it be because… you have no blood relation to him?”
Under the gaze of the dark lord, the child facing him is too scared to speak, while the other children huddle in the corner, trembling.
Duan Kai: “Since they are useless, then dispose of them.”
Duan Kai throws the child in his hand back to the ground, and a cloud of black mist rises from his hand, slowly enveloping the children.
Pairs of tender and terrified eyes look at him, but they do not evoke any special feelings in this inhuman being. Humans are merely vessels for their survival on this planet.
These cubs were not chosen by the Star Radiance, just like clothes that no one wants; who would feel nostalgic for a few ill-fitting garments?
“You, don’t be smug! My mom is very powerful, she’s an ability user… Mom… Mom will definitely take revenge for me!”
A little boy with a missing front tooth musters his courage to point at the man before him, unleashing the harshest words he knows.
“Oh?” The man’s lips curl into a cold smirk, as if mocking this foolish cub who doesn’t know any better.
Mom?
Perhaps this little thing’s mother has long been thrown into a pile of corpses, rotting away.
The black mist continues to advance towards them without losing speed. This planet will eventually become the territory of their Star Radiance; the less inconvenient natives, the better.
At this moment, a blinding warm light shoots in from outside the door, dispersing the heavy black mist.
“In the world of humans, only shameless adults bully children.”
The man’s cold gaze shifts away from the seemingly harmless cubs and turns to the doorway: “So you couldn’t hold back after all.”
Xiao Lu is too lazy to waste words with him, and with a flick of his fingers, several beams of light shoot directly at Duan Kai on the throne. Duan Kai moves swiftly, disappearing from the throne in an instant.
Xiao Lu didn’t expect to take down the final boss in just a few moves.
If it were that easy, this boss would be too weak.
“Wuwuwu… Mom—” A voice filled with surprise and sobs sounds out, and upon seeing the newcomer with short hair, it chokes up.
Glancing at the snot-nosed child, Xiao Lu speaks calmly: “No mom, two dad-moms, just make do.”
In this brief moment, Ye Qi’s barrier has quietly appeared, wrapping around the children and quickly moving to a slightly safer area at the edge of the hall.
The little ones watch this marvelous scene, their mouths agape: “…”
Dad-mom is also very powerful!
“It seems that controlling the cubs works very well; this can be promoted in the future. This way, when attacking other human cities, we can save a lot of time.” Duan Kai’s voice rings out.
Unbeknownst to when, he has already settled on the railing of the second floor of the room, and no one can see how he moved.
Xiao Lu looks at Duan Kai.
This is his first time facing this big boss directly. Duan Kai is tall, with sharp features, looking down at Xiao Lu with an air of arrogance as if he were born with it:
“From the moment you stepped into Shadow City, I felt your presence and have been looking forward to your arrival. But what surprises me is that the other living prince is actually a human. How interesting; such a weak creature can often burst forth with powerful will.”
“Now that you are here, your instincts should have told you that only one of us can survive; there can only be one king.”
“I have no interest in the so-called throne.” Xiao Lu looks at Duan Kai, speaking each word clearly.
Duan Kai: “Then why did you come here? Isn’t it better to hide in the human city, struggling to survive?”
Xiao Lu laughs, a laugh more disdainful than Duan Kai’s: “I just don’t like the sight of you, is that a problem?”
Perhaps having never been treated so arrogantly, Duan Kai’s expression turns dangerous: “Provoking me, angering me, is not a wise choice.”
“But you’ve already made me angry enough.” Xiao Lu raises his hand and pulls down the mask fixed on his head.
The grotesque mask obscures his features: “I promised my friend to deal with you properly.”
“Hahahahaha…” Duan Kai lets out a low, mocking laugh, as if he has heard the funniest joke.
With the laughter, waves of black mist surge from his body, gradually spreading outwards, while his form becomes increasingly irregular until he completely disappears, merging with the black mist.
The black mist suddenly lunges at Xiao Lu.
Wherever it passes, everything is shrouded in a layer of grayish-white.
Xiao Lu keenly notices a mouse hiding in the corner. But after the black mist passes, it becomes stiff and motionless, as if it were a stone-carved mouse.
“Hmm?” While dodging Duan Kai’s attack, Xiao Lu instinctively voices his confusion.
In the original plot, Duan Kai’s ability was not like this!
Xiao Keyang’s ability is called Radiance, and as his opposing boss, Duan Kai’s ability is called Dark Annihilation, which can pollute everything it touches with darkness, even using the abilities of others for himself.
And the greatest nemesis of this ability is light.
Xiao Keyang, who wields Radiance, is his natural enemy.
But what is going on now? Why has Duan Kai turned into a Medusa?
Xiao Lu can’t help but ask Ivan in his mind. The conclusion he receives is: every time the world operates, there will be minor accidents. Since Xiao Lu is no longer “Xiao Lu,” Duan Kai doesn’t necessarily have to be “Duan Kai” either.
The original plot never mentioned how many princes of Star Radiance there actually are. Perhaps there is more than one targeting Duan Kai’s body, and in this battle, the victor is another.
This is exciting.
The cannon fodder halo truly lives up to its name; even fighting a boss can feel like opening a blind box.
This is too much! Xiao Lu suppresses the urge to curse. Suddenly, the boss he had already strategized against has turned into a completely unknown boss.
But there is no time to think more; Duan Kai’s attack has already arrived.
Glancing at the huddled children in the corner, Xiao Lu shouts to Ye Qi: “Go.”
The two turn and leap out of the window, needing to draw Duan Kai away further; otherwise, any small ripple in the battle could take these fragile children away.
“Hehe…” Duan Kai’s low laughter comes from the black mist behind them. He sees through Xiao Lu’s intentions, but he doesn’t care, still pursuing his target.
The lives of these children are of no importance to him; they are merely bait, and their greatest usefulness is to lure Xiao Lu into the trap.
Now that this purpose has been achieved, these children are no longer useful; he won’t go out of his way to kill something of no value.
Xiao Lu and Ye Qi climb upwards, reaching the top of the castle, and begin to run swiftly across the ornate rooftop.
The black mist behind them continues to chase.
The grayish-white color spreads across the castle’s peak, and the alert birds sense danger, taking flight to escape.
The strangest thing is the alien guards stationed below. They clearly notice the commotion above, but upon seeing the spreading black mist, they do not rush to help their boss; instead, they flee in fear.
One guard, unable to escape in time, is caught by the black mist. In almost an instant, he becomes a stone statue.
What kind of ability is this?
Xiao Lu and Ye Qi reach the edge of the castle, far from the previous hall.
Here will do!
Xiao Lu stops, the black mist closing in behind him, transforming into a ferocious beast, its multi-story high mouth snapping down at the two.
The beast formed from the black mist obscures the moonlight, casting a heavy shadow, enveloping Xiao Lu and Ye Qi. They look like helpless, weak prey unable to resist.
Duan Kai’s voice comes from the black mist: “Is this all there is? I thought you could provide me with a bit more fun.”
As if in response to him, a brilliant light suddenly surges, directly piercing through the beast’s head.
Moonlight gently spills through the hole in the head, like a thin veil, carrying a hint of coolness.
Immediately after, an invisible force spreads from the wound, and the beast seems to be burning, its form collapsing little by little.
After absorbing Xiao Keyang’s power, the night will no longer limit the ability of Radiance. Whether day or night, his light remains equally powerful.
Xiao Lu raises one hand, and a light curtain begins to expand from his palm, gradually approaching the black mist. Wherever it passes, the black mist dissipates like paper set ablaze.
“This is… the Star Vessel.”
Duan Kai’s voice comes from the black mist.
The menacing black mist rushing towards the two suddenly dissipates, and Duan Kai’s figure reappears.
His gaze sweeps over Xiao Lu, finally landing on the transparent ring in his hand: “So it really is the Star Vessel; you actually found another piece of it.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lu furrows his brow. What does “another piece” mean? Could it be that the Star Vessel…
Duan Kai laughs. He flicks his fingers, and a black mist envelops a delicate box that appears. When the box opens, it reveals a crystal identical to the one Xiao Lu saw before.
Duan Kai holds the Star Vessel in his hand: “It seems you didn’t know that the Star Vessel was broken into two halves, one of which has been with me all along. The other half is missing; I thought it would take a long time to find it, but I didn’t expect you to deliver it right to my door.”
“Doesn’t this sound like what you humans call destiny? It is destined that I will unite the two pieces of the Star Vessel, defeat all my opponents, and become the new king.”
Xiao Lu looks at him: “Destiny? The last person who said something similar in front of me is now buried underground.”
He is referring to Xiao “Char Siu Brother” Keyang.
Duan Kai stands in the moonlight, looking down at Xiao Lu: “No, I will let you truly see what it means to be the king chosen by fate.”
Next, Duan Kai makes a surprising move.
He grabs the Star Vessel and stabs it fiercely into his chest. A wave of black mist rises from the wound, enveloping the Star Vessel and drawing it into his body.
In an instant, Xiao Lu feels Duan Kai’s aura change abruptly, becoming more violent and oppressive.
“You still don’t know the true use of the Star Vessel, do you? After all, how could a non-member of my race possibly grasp our secrets?”
“Ivan, is there a way to use the Star Vessel? How does this thing absorb?” Xiao Lu urgently asks in his mind.
Clearly, in the original plot, the Star Vessel had not been developed for any additional uses.
Ivan’s voice sounds like a student who has been dozing off in class and is suddenly called upon: “The database says: please let the player explore on their own.”
Xiao Lu: “…”
What kind of garbage database is this?
It seems that this system does not fully understand every world either, which makes Xiao Lu even more suspicious of the system’s so-called motivation to “repair the plot.” If it doesn’t even know the hidden details of the plot, how can it know whether the so-called repair is heading in the right direction?
Unless it simply doesn’t care about whether the “repair” of the plot is correct.
But now is not the time to consider the system; Duan Kai’s figure disappears once more, transforming back into black mist.
This time, the black mist is dotted with faint starlight, looking as vast as the universe.
Yet Xiao Lu feels his hair stand on end, a sense of crisis spreading from his heart, warning him that the seemingly beautiful scene before him is incredibly dangerous.
The black mist rushes towards Xiao Lu and Ye Qi again.
Xiao Lu weaves light into a net in his hand, launching it at the black mist. But this time, the black mist does not dissolve; instead, the light is swallowed the moment it touches the black mist, utterly fragile and powerless.
What on earth…
Before Xiao Lu can figure it out, a new wave of attack has already arrived.
Ye Qi raises his hand, and three barriers stand in front of them. The barriers only hold for a moment before shattering.
But at this moment, Ye Qi has already turned around, pulling Xiao Lu to jump down from the high castle. The cold night wind howls as they fall from the rooftop, their clothes billowing in the wind, letting the chill of the night seep into their bodies.
With each drop, a piece of icy blue barrier appears beneath their feet, helping to cushion their fall.
In the end, the two land safely.
Looking up, the castle’s high rooftop is shrouded in black mist, as if brewing a storm of destruction.
Duan Kai clearly will not let them off so easily. Xiao Lu and Ye Qi turn and run forward; the opponent’s strength is strange and formidable, so it’s better to create some distance first.
After absorbing the Star Vessel, Duan Kai resembles a nightmare beast hunting under the moonlight, leaping down from the castle and winding towards the two.
Xiao Lu and Ye Qi attempt to attack him several times, but it’s as if they are throwing a stone into the sea, completely vanishing without a trace. At this moment, they truly feel like weak, helpless prey, unable to do anything but run.
Will they die here?
It’s impossible; Duan Kai must have weaknesses. Since he can use the Star Vessel and discover a new way to utilize it, he must also have the Star Radiance of the prince.
But what exactly is this method?
Since obtaining the Star Vessel, Xiao Lu has been playing with it almost every day. But the Star Vessel is an inanimate object without consciousness; it won’t actively tell him what secrets it holds.
He has deduced that he can use the Star Vessel to suppress the Star Radiance ability and extract the Star Pattern crystal, and he has thought of many methods to use it in battle. But how to integrate the Star Vessel into himself, he has no clue.
Would a normal person casually shove a crystal into their chest?
Xiao Lu tries to cut open the skin on his arm and stuff the Star Radiance ring inside. But such a hard object cannot be absorbed by the human body at all; even when covered in blood, it still shows no reaction.
Xiao Lu even wants to raise his hand and give the sky the middle finger. What kind of bullshit fate is this, suddenly throwing him into a hellish difficulty boss battle?
Is it really destined for cannon fodder to have no chance of turning the tables?
Ye Qi grabs his hand, which is trying to cut himself in another place, with an undeniable strength.
In this moment, Ye Qi is surprisingly assertive, looking intently into Xiao Lu’s eyes. Those pure eyes possess an indescribable magic. Strangely, the anxiety that had been rising in Xiao Lu’s heart begins to dissipate little by little.
Ye Qi’s hand is warm, almost dispelling the chill of the night wind. He firmly holds Xiao Lu as they weave through the castle.
The castle is enveloped in a deathly grayish-white, with trees, flowers, and grass all turned to a stone-like hue. Among them are the guards who failed to escape, their faces still bearing fear as they desperately reach forward, only to have already turned into stone statues.
This place looks even more harmful than the eerie castle in the movies, like a gate to hell opening in the human world.
The night is once again obscured by thick black mist, which has now reached above the two.
Duan Kai’s tone is leisurely, as if teasing his pet: “Running away all the time. Is it interesting? Why not come over obediently and become my nourishment?”
Ye Qi does not stop his steps, leading Xiao Lu into the council hall, skillfully moving downward.
The black mist follows closely behind, entering the room with them.
As they dodge the attacks of the black mist, they advance. After several back-and-forth movements, Ye Qi leads Xiao Lu to a dim corridor.
Ye Qi feels along the wall and opens a hidden door, signaling Xiao Lu to enter.
Xiao Lu takes a few steps forward, only to find that Ye Qi has not followed him in.
His heart skips a beat, and turning around, he sees several icy blue barriers erected between them, making it almost impossible to see Ye Qi’s face. The barriers that had protected him countless times now serve as a barrier.
“What are you doing?” Xiao Lu asks urgently.
Ye Qi simply looks at him, still silent as usual. Then he twists a switch, closing the door to the secret passage. Just as the door is about to close, he raises his hand and points in a direction, as if telling Xiao Lu to keep going forward to leave this place.
Leave this place.
Run away.
Abandon the companion who has accompanied him all along.
Survive alone.
He absolutely refuses to accept such an arrangement.
“Ye Qi! Ye Qi!” Xiao Lu calls out.
NOOOOO YE QI