Chapter 201: The Fight for Superiority (1/2)

The locusts, wasps, and mosquitoes swarmed the Bloodstone.

But their efforts only led to their own injuries as the Bloodstone was simply indestructible.

When it landed, a clear sound rang out as the four women—as well as the deformed man—stared at the necklace in shock.

”Stephanie, come out!”

Calvin's voice rang out from behind the veil as the Bloodstone shone in a crimson light.

A sinister being slowly emerged from the Bloodstone. Her eyes carried with it an intense hatred that could only be abated by slaughter.

The four women felt a chill run down their spines as their knees trembled in fear.

The deformed man also stared at the woman who had emerged from the Bloodstone in shock.

”You...”

”Stephanie?”

What the deformed man got in reply was nothing but a freezing coldness and a fiery ire.

Stephanie let out a shrill scream the moment she fully materialized as wings sprouted on her back. She rushed towards the deformed man in a frenzy with her claws, ready to claim the deformed man's head.

”Shit... Wasp!” The deformed man called out for his companion, but he received no response.

”Wasp?! What the fuck are you doing? Where are you?”

The deformed man quickly looked around him. His eyes wanted to peek through the thick veil of insects to no avail, ”Where did that bastard go?” Annoyed, the deformed man gnashed his teeth and took something out of his chest pocket.

The object was made out of steel and it shimmered with coldness reflected in the eyes of Stephanie.

Bang!

The barrel of the steel object roared with fire as a silver bullet flew from its depths flying straight towards Stephanie.

But just as the bullet was about to hit her, Stephanie's crazed eyes turned resolute. She trusted her instincts for danger as she raised her claws and instinctively blocked the incoming bullet.

Peng!

The sound of metal clashing against metal rang out.

Amidst a loud noise, the bullet buried itself into the ground as the four women abruptly froze.

They didn't dare to stop their chanting though, for even though they might be afraid of the mysterious woman.

They were more scared at the deformed man.

They knew his methods far too well. And as someone who had stayed in this village for an extended period of time just so he could hold out and complete his plans to perfection.

The deformed man was a scarier opponent than the woman.

Thus, the four didn't dare to do anything nor move.

They just kept on chanting as the candles above their heads burned, its wax continuously dripped down their cheeks.

Disfiguring them, all the while also tainting their blood with evil.

These four women felt the pain, but their endurance was noteworthy. Despite the searing heat from the candle burning their scalps and its wax ruining their faces. They gritted their teeth and determined to endure it all for the sake of freedom.

Yes, all of these were for the sake of that freedom that would never come.

Stephanie went on a rampage.

Her vertical mobility as well as her agile practiced movements made it tough for the deformed man to hit her with any bullet.

The deformed man gnashed his teeth, ”This bitch, how the fuck is she even here? I'm sure I sealed her soul in that urn!” Anger filled the deformed man's eyes as he stretched his other hand into his chest pocket and took out another pistol from nowhere and pointed it at Stephanie.

Bang!

Stephanie raised her claws once more to block the attack, but her pupils suddenly constricted when she realized that the force within the bullet wasn't something that she could block with her claws.

Forcibly turning her body in mid-air, she twisted herself and she barely managed to dodge the attack.

However, this sudden evasive maneuver left her unable to control her body as she crashed onto the ground and created a cloud of dust.

The deformed man let out an evil smirk.

He was quick to point his pistols at where Stephanie had crashed as he pulled both triggers.

Bang! Bang!

Two consecutive gunshots rang out.

The bullets pierced through Stephanie's body as her tainted blood scattered on the ground.

”Hahaha!” The deformed man maniacally laughed, ”Stephanie, Oh, dear... Stephanie!”

”Since you've managed to escape that ceremonial urn, why did you even return? Don't you know that since I am the one that ended your life back then, I could also do it again?” A cocky smile flitted across his lips.

But as the dust cleared up, his pupils widened in shock.

Yes.

The bullets had pierced through Stephanie's chest and stomach.

But the wound it had created was visibly healing in front of the deformed man.

”That's... the property of undying! You... just what are you...?” The deformed man hissed as he stared at Stephanie.

Stephanie stood up without saying anything.

Frightened, the deformed man sent a salvo of bullets in her direction and Stephanie was quick to defend herself from those bullets.

Peng! Peng! Peng!

The sound of metal clashing against metal continuously rang.

Stephanie was unable to completely defend herself from the rain of bullets, but it was understandable since bullets were just too quick when compared to anyone's flying ability.

Even though she was an Aswang, a species of monsters known for their formidable flying techniques...

She still wasn't at her peak.

After all, she was still at the Peak High-Tier.

She hadn't even unlocked her active and ultimate skill yet, unlike the Mortician who was now a Purveyor.

Aswangs were undying beings that could never be destroyed unless their lower body was found. This was a weakness that the deformed man could never take advantage of since he was in the confines of his turtle shell known as the Veil of Slaughter.

However, just because Stephanie wouldn't die without her lower body being destroyed didn't mean that there was no other way for her to be defeated.

Stephanie might be classified as a Specter, but she still had a physical body in the material plane.

A physical body couldn't possibly function with a central nervous system.

If the deformed man destroyed Stephanie's brain stem, then he would immediately win the fight. No questions asked.

Stephanie was quite intelligent even though she was still so weak.

She knew how to protect herself and that she must guard her brain stem at all times.

The brain stem of a Corpse Eater was located beneath the tip of their noses. But as for the brain stem of a rare Specter like the Aswang? Honestly, even Calvin had no idea. The Aswang was just so rare that information related to them were scarce or close to none.

The Bestiary had a record of them, but other than a general introduction of their origins and their capabilities. There was nothing else.

Stephanie sent a death glare at the deformed man as she flapped her wings and floated into the air. Resentment-filled Nether Qi gathered around her body and a tornado made out of Nether Qi soon formed in front of Stephanie.

The sharp winds of the tornado quickly colored the deformed man's expression green.

He gnashed his teeth in anger and shouted, ”Stephanie! Don't you dare force me!”

The deformed man glanced nervously at the four women.

Upon seeing that the candles on the four women's heads had already stuck to the crown of their heads as if it had been welded with the wax from the candles—a smile emerged from the deformed man's lips. The ceremony was already in its later parts.

He predicted that if he was able to endure for another half an hour, then the fusion would definitely succeed.

Unfortunately, the later parts of the ceremony might be harder to interrupt, but successfully interrupting the ceremony meant dealing a devastating blow against the Sinister Heart and its vessel.

Since the Sinister Heart was made from the blood, hatred, fury, and resentment of the sacrifices that it had consumed. It meant that at its core, the Sinister Heart wasn't really that sinister considering the fact that its sacrifices were innocent people.

In short, there was a certain amount of rejection that was bound to come at the later parts of the ritual. The deformed man considered that rejection as the most crucial stage that the four women had to endure.

They must never stop their prayer chants at that stage, or else everything would be for naught.