Chapter 942: You hid it! (2/2)

After hours of shopping, Han Hao dropped a dozen or so bones on the counter and asked the merchant, who had been running all around the shop tirelessly the entire time, “I’m taking these. How many crystal coins do they cost?”

The merchant bared his palms, put on a flattering smile, and said, “How would I dare take your crystal coins, Lord? Please, you may have them all free of charge!“

Han Hao stared blankly for a moment. He raised a brow and asked, “Huh? Why won’t you take my crystal coins? Don’t tell me you’re actually running a charity?”

“No, Lord, it is a gift, only for you. You may come anytime and take anything in this shop. Haha, we would be extremely grateful if in return Your Lordship would spare us in the future,” said the merchant in an awkward and somewhat nervous smile.

Han Hao was rather baffled and he looked at the merchant with puzzled eyes. He didn’t seem to quite catch the merchant’s meaning. At this moment, Polo who was standing beside Han Hao chuckled mischievously before whispering into Han Hao’s ear, “A few years ago, Chief instructed us to intercept all the goods flowing into the Omphalos. Hehe, this is one of the merchants we looted…”

Han Hao immediately realized what was going on after hearing Polo’s words. Back then, Tyre and Logue were finding excuses to prevent Han Shuo from joining their ranks and control a part of the Omphalos. They commanded the Omphalos merchants under their influence to oppose Han Shuo’s installment as one of the city’s rulers. In response, Han Shuo had Han Hao loot all the merchandise going into the Omphalos, shutting down their businesses.

“Oh, thanks then,” said Han Hao indifferently as he nodded. He casually took away those bones and left with Polo and the gang.

Suddenly, the moment he stepped out the front door, Han Hao jolted for he felt as though someone had locked onto him. Although this body was just a surrogate body that was nowhere as good as an avatar or his main body, Han Hao’s secondary soul still possessed the acute sensing power of his main soul. He immediately knew that something was going to happen.

And just as expected, a misty cloud of death energy enveloping a dark figure stealthily emerged from a corner of the street and shot towards him at incredible speed. As the shadow approached Han Hao, out of nowhere, the energies of lightning, destruction, and darkness appeared around him to block Han Hao’s every escape path.

You’re finally here, thought Han Hao. He stood tall on his ground without moving, quietly waiting for the energy of death to get to him. He seemed prepared to allow the Overgod to probe him without giving any resistance.

But, out of Han Hao’s expectations, the figure shrouded by a cloud of mist suddenly stopped and a cold voice sounded, “Trap him!”

“Dagmar!” exclaimed Han Hao before he hastily retreated, instantly flying back into the shop he just came out from. He instructed, “Polo, disperse and shout!”

Han Hao was very surprised. He did not expect that instead of Nestor the Overgod of Death, the visitor was Dagmar the Godhunter Alliance’s Hegemon of Death!

They were at the Omphalos, the center of the Fringe. Tyre, Logue, Ossora, Wasir, as well as the leaders of various major factions, were in the Omphalos at that time. It was lunacy for Dagmar to come and strike him at the Omphalos.

Dagmar cultivated the energy of death and had a much more profound mastery of the soul than an ordinary expert. It was indeed possible for Dagmar to conceal his presence from the Sovereigns and sneak into the Omphalos.

Han Hao was between laughter and tears after baiting for the Overgod of Death for many days but it was Dagmar who was obsessed with the Shard that showed up. While immediately retreating into the shop, Han Hao did not forget to give Polo instructions.

“The Godhunter Alliance is here! The Godhunter Alliance is attacking!” Needless to say, Polo was aware of Dagmar’s identity. Having worked under Han Hao for many years, he knew exactly what he had to do at this moment. He cried for help while escaping with his gang.

“There’s no escape this time, Han Hao!” shouted Dagmar in his sinister voice. Multiple shadows appeared from all around Han Hao and surrounded him. Dagmar, however, instead of going after Han Hao, waved his hand to trap Polo and the others in bone cages.

After his previous encounter with Han Hao, Dagmar learned to be cautious of the Shard’s miraculous power. He was afraid of being affected by the gravestone again. It was for this reason that Dagmar had kept a distance from Han Hao.

Naturally, Dagmar had no idea that this was just a surrogate body of Han Hao’s that did not carry the Quintessence Shard. He would keep Han Hao’s followers trapped while having his experts who don't cultivate the energy of death to encircle Han Hao.

“You still can’t kill me!” shouted Han Hao after jumping out from the back window of the shop. He then threw a handful of the Pearls of Annihilation in every direction.

Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!

Tremendous explosions that shook the entire city erupted. Those henchmen of Dagmar’s had to temporarily stop advancing to shield themselves from the blast. One of the experts who were much further ahead of the others was shredded into smithereens. It was instant death.

Afraid that the surrogate Han Hao might get attacked while traveling to the Omphalos, Han Shuo gave him half of the Pearls of Annihilation he had. This surrogate body of Han Hao’s was rather weak and it could not unleash much power as it was made in haste. However, as the secondary soul inherited the properties and memories of the main soul, it could activate the Pearls of Annihilation without any trouble.

In an instant, the violent explosion destroyed several dozen shops in the vicinity. Rubbles, wood chips, broken crystals, and dust were sent flying everywhere. All the merchants, sales clerks, and shoppers in the area became collateral casualties.

Dagmar emerged from the cloud of dust and yelled, “Hurry! Seize him! We don’t have much time!” He flicked his fingers and sent strands of the energy of death into the bone cages trapping Polo and the others. The spiky bone cages started shrinking and piercing through their bodies.

Given that Dagmar was an overgod expert, it came as no surprise that Polo and the others stood no chance against him. Polo and the others would have been dead long ago if Dagmar had not been so focused on Han Hao.

Through Dagmar’s mad shouting, those devoted followers of his dauntlessly braved through the explosions and continued to charge at Han Hao. It seemed as though they were determined to kill Han Hao even at the cost of their own lives.

The Pearls of Annihilation could not instantly kill all those experts Dagmar brought as all of them possessed late-stage highgod strengths. This half-made avatar body of Han Hao’s was no match against the group of highgods. With them now charging ahead without regard for their own lives, Han Hao also could not outrun them.

However, Han Hao wasn’t all too worried. He knew that even if this surrogate body was destroyed, it would have no effect on his main body. Besides, if he was ‘killed’ in the Omphalos, the Overgod would no longer hunt for him. Although this would be different from the original plan, it still accomplished the original objective.

Five shadows suddenly gathered around Han Hao and intercepted him. Immediately after, five energies bound his body, not allowing him to budge.

“Hegemon, we’ve restrained him!” cried one of Dagmar’s followers.

Dagmar was overjoyed and he was shaking in excitement. He stopped injecting his energy of death into the bone cages that were about to pierce Polo and the others to death. Instantly, he landed before Han Hao and put a hand on Han Hao’s chest.

“Yes… My precious… I will finally have you...” mumbled Dagmar foolishly as he caressed Han Hao’s chest. Then, with his sharp, white fingernails, he stabbed Han Hao in the chest.

Chhhkkk!

He pushed his hand deeper into the surrogate body’s chest excitedly as though he wanted to rip Han Hao’s chest out for the Quintessence Shard.