Chapter 165: Three-Eyed Ghost Cicada
Chapter 165: Three-Eyed Ghost Cicada (Three Chapters Combined)
The Doppelganger Puppet is one level higher than the Treasure Seeker, but that's not the main issue right now.
Currently, only the limbs of the Doppelganger Puppet are present, and each limb is equipped with a human-like prosthetic. The Doppelganger Puppet hasn't even assembled its true form.
Without sensory input, three of the Treasure Seeker's skills—Lick, Hypnosis, and Dream Eater—are rendered useless.
The remaining skills are Barrier, Psychic Power, and Teleport.
Apart from Psychic Power, the other two are not offensive skills.
Moreover, if Psychic Power can't control all four limbs simultaneously and only affects one or two, the other limbs could take advantage of the situation and attack the Treasure Seeker.
After all, Teleport and Psychic Power can't be used at the same time.
This is complicated...
Qiao Sang is starting to feel that the Treasure Seeker's skill set is a bit limited.
However, if the goal is to escape rather than defeat the Doppelganger Puppet, there are ways to do that.
Qiao Sang made a quick decision.
"Throw them in different directions!"
The Treasure Seeker was taken aback by the command, glancing at the limbs covered in red liquid with a look of disgust as it dodged.
After a moment, it steeled its resolve.
It's a command from its Beastmaster, so there's no choice. It can always rub the stains off on its Beastmaster's head later.
"Seek!"
The Treasure Seeker increased the frequency of its Teleport, constantly changing position.
Seizing the opportunity, it Teleported to the last remaining foot, picked it up, and immediately vanished from the Doppelganger Puppet's sight with a series of Teleports.
The other two hands and one foot were left behind, frozen in place.
It wasn't the hands and feet that were stunned, but the head hidden in the darkness.
The Doppelganger Puppet's eyes widened as it watched the Treasure Seeker carry off its foot and disappear.
"Momo!"
The Doppelganger Puppet was furious. In the past, people who saw it were always terrified, and their reactions amused it.
But today!
First, it got kicked in the face, and now its hand is being rejected!
The voice in its ear had barely kept it in check, but now that the voice was gone, it had no more reservations.
After all, its Beastmaster had said to just follow the voice in the ear.
"Momo!"
The Doppelganger Puppet glared in the direction the Treasure Seeker had disappeared, completely forgetting about the others. It summoned the remaining limbs and hurriedly gave chase.
Qiao Sang watched the head and the remaining limbs move toward the Treasure Seeker without a hint of urgency, as calm as a seasoned veteran.
She had already guessed that the head would appear here; it wasn't surprising at all.
The limbs couldn't think independently, similar to clones but not quite. After all, the limbs could only move and couldn't use any skills.
The limbs' movements were controlled by the Doppelganger Puppet itself.
If the limbs were clones, the head would be the original, overseeing everything from the shadows. That's why the limbs could observe the Treasure Seeker's Teleport direction with a god-like perspective.
Sure enough, the head has emerged.
It's not hard to understand why the Doppelganger Puppet hasn't assembled its limbs and head.
Because it's missing a crucial connecting part.
The torso.
The Doppelganger Puppet has placed different body parts in different levels, and it's likely that the torso is in another location.
"Qiao, Qiao Sang, is the Treasure Seeker going to be okay?" Fang Sisi asked, appearing beside Qiao Sang, her thoughts drifting.
She had always known that Qiao Sang had become very powerful after the brain domain awakening, bonding with Fangflare and winning the Newcomer Competition with Fangflare's help.
It wasn't that Fangflare wasn't strong, but winning the championship against Beastmasters several years older was quite remarkable.
After all, some of the Beastmasters in the competition had two familiars that had already evolved into Intermediate Beasts, while Fangflare was still a Beginner Beast at the time.
When she thought Qiao Sang couldn't summon Flame Listener and would have to flee with her in the second level's chamber, the Treasure Seeker managed to defeat Watercry in a few moves and lure the Doppelganger Puppet away...
This feeling was just so magical...
It was like you agreed to be slackers together, but then suddenly, you not only turned things around but became a complete overachiever?
"It'll be fine", Qiao Sang said, looking in the direction where Treasure Seeker had disappeared.
"Hey, what was that Skill Treasure Seeker kept using to change positions?" Fang Sisi asked curiously. "It seemed a lot like teleportation."
"It's called Teleport", Qiao Sang replied.
Fang Sisi: "?!?"
"Say that again. What's the name of that Skill?!" Fang Sisi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Teleport", Qiao Sang repeated.
Fang Sisi stood there, stunned. Even though she was a slacker, she knew Teleport was a Psychic Pet Skill. But wasn't Treasure Seeker a Ghost-type Companion Beast?!
Could it be, could it be that Treasure Seeker...
"It's exactly what you're thinking", Qiao Sang answered before Fang Sisi could even ask.
Fang Sisi fell silent.
After a while, she said, "Qiao Sang, do you remember how I used to write cheat sheets for you during the annual exams, risking getting caught by the teachers? And when you were punished to run laps around the track, I stayed with you. Even when you went to the bathroom, I always went with you. Do you remember?"
Qiao Sang was taken aback for a moment before replying, "I remember. Once, you changed a few multiple-choice answers to make sure they weren't exactly the same as mine, and I ended up being the fifth from the bottom in the class. You moved down one spot to third from the bottom, and your mom cut your allowance for a month."
Fang Sisi's lips twitched.
Qiao Sang continued, "And on the track, you were eating an ice lollipop by my side when you saw your crush holding hands with a girl. You didn't even finish your lollipop before running to the bathroom to cry."
Fang Sisi: "..."
"As for the bathroom..."
"Stop", Fang Sisi cut Qiao Sang off, afraid that she would have a heart attack if she didn't.
"Are we friends?" Fang Sisi changed her question.
"Yes", Qiao Sang nodded.
"Over the years, I think our relationship should take a step further", Fang Sisi cleared her throat and said seriously. "What do you think about letting my Cotton Worm evolve into a Barry Butterfly and marry your Treasure Seeker to have a talented familiar baby?"
Qiao Sang: "..."
"Don't worry about the baby's ownership. Whether it's a Cotton Worm or a Treasure Seeker, I'll take good care of it."
"Get lost!"
"..."
In the Beast Trainer Society, not only do Beastmasters have an advantage in the dating market, but talented familiars also do.
Many Beastmasters arrange good matches for their familiars, giving it a bit of an arranged marriage feel.
Familiars don't have to be of the same species to mate.
As long as they have a connection, familiars with different attributes and sizes can also be together, and the resulting Beast Egg will hatch into one of their species.
"Treasure Seeker and Cotton Worm have different growth cycles. It's only a little over a month old, so don't even think about it", Qiao Sang warned.
A little over a month old... Fang Sisi immediately gave up the idea.
For a Ghost-type Companion Beast, a little over a month old is like a baby that can only drink milk, incapable of doing anything.
By the time Treasure Seeker grows up and becomes mature, her Cotton Worm would be old...
Qiao Sang refocused her attention on Treasure Seeker.
She estimated that Treasure Seeker had gone far enough. Just as she was about to make the hand seals to summon it back, she realized she was still holding a Black Mud.
"Can you hold this for me?" Qiao Sang handed the Black Mud to Fang Sisi and started making the hand seals.
Throwing the limbs was just a ruse to distract the Doppelganger Puppet. Once it was at a certain distance, she could summon Treasure Seeker back. The Doppelganger Puppet wouldn't be able to follow.
If a familiar was nearby, a Beastmaster could summon it with a mere thought or a wave of the hand. But if the familiar was out of sight, the appropriate summoning gesture was needed.
Qiao Sang quickly finished the seal and summoned Treasure Seeker back.
"Xun!"
Treasure Seeker returned happily, floating to its designated spot and rubbing its paw against Qiao Sang's hair before drifting to the side and no longer staying on her Beastmaster's head.
Qiao Sang didn't notice anything unusual and turned to praise Treasure Seeker, "Well done."
"Seek~"
Treasure Seeker’s eyes curved in delight, finding this as enjoyable as a game.
"Let's keep moving", Qiao Sang said, preparing to step forward.
Just as she lifted her left foot, Fang Sisi pulled her back, surprised and excited. "Didn't you realize you summoned Treasure Seeker back?!"
Qiao Sang paused, realizing what she meant, her heart racing. She quickly made the seal to summon Fangy.
It failed...
"Try again", Qiao Sang turned and said.
"Okay." Fang Sisi handed Black Mud to Qiao Sang and made the seal.
Three seconds later.
A Cotton Worm, covered in red liquid and barely recognizable except for its round, beady eyes, appeared before them.
"Jie?"
The Cotton Worm tilted its head, curious about its sudden change of location.
"Mianmian!" Fang Sisi lunged forward, hugging it tightly and sobbing, "Wah... I thought I'd never see you again..."
"Jiejie."
The Cotton Worm looked bewildered, unsure what was happening.
Qiao Sang watched, her brow furrowing as she fell into deep thought.
Outside the Chamber, no one could summon their familiars, but inside, it was possible. There must be something wrong with the outer layer of the Chamber, but not the inside.
But why couldn't she summon Fangy?
Qiao Sang felt anxious, her grip on Black Mud tightening.
At that moment, Black Mud slowly opened its eyes, having been woken by the pain.
"Black Mud!"
Black Mud transformed into a mud stream, flowing out of Qiao Sang’s hand, and then returned to its original form, looking around warily.
"Black Mud! Black Mud!"
Qiao Sang’s eyes lit up. Finally, it was awake! All her efforts carrying it hadn’t been in vain!
"I’m Flame Listener’s Beastmaster. You’ve met it before, the familiar with white and red fur." Qiao Sang asked, "Do you know where it went? What happened just now? Why did you faint?"
Black Mud paused, as if recalling something, then opened its mouth, and its belly swelled. It spat out a familiar covered in some black mud.
"It’s Flame Listener!" Fang Sisi, still holding Cotton Worm, exclaimed in surprise.
Qiao Sang stood there in shock, staring at the familiar on the ground, dumbfounded.
Damn! This was Fangy!
She had imagined many scenarios, but never that Fangy was inside Black Mud!
It turned out she had been carrying Fangy the whole time!
Fangy lay on the ground, eyes closed, drool still hanging from its mouth.
Qiao Sang: "……"
She had been so anxious and worried, only to find it had been sleeping the whole time?
Qiao Sang couldn’t help herself, she squatted down, grabbed Fangy’s ear, and shouted, "Wake up! Aquariana is back!"
"Yah!!"
Fangy’s eyes snapped open, and it immediately stood up, its fur bristling, ready for battle.
"Yah!"
"Yah!"
Fangy looked around frantically, where? Where is Aquariana?
Qiao Sang: "……"
Good, it seems unharmed and still full of energy...
...
Ten minutes later, Qiao Sang finally pieced together what had happened.
Fangy had caused a fire in the first stage, so Black Mud activated its backup plan to transport Fangy to the next stage. However, it fainted for some unknown reason just after engulfing Fangy.
"Qiao Sang, I feel something is off here", Fang Sisi, still holding the confused Cotton Worm, looked at Qiao Sang, seeking her opinion.
In the Beast Trainer Society, strength was the ultimate measure.
In the past, Fang Sisi would have decided on her own whether to send Cotton Worm back to the third stage’s Chamber or take it out. But now, she instinctively wanted to follow Qiao Sang’s judgment.
"Let’s get out of here first", Qiao Sang said.
There were too many things that didn’t add up. It made sense that Fangy couldn’t be summoned while inside Black Mud, but the other Beastmasters couldn’t summon their familiars outside the Chamber, and those familiars weren’t in Black Mud’s belly. That was one thing.
Secondly, Fangy must have been asleep before being swallowed by Black Mud, as it wouldn’t have slept if it had been conscious. Not only Fangy, but Black Mud, the female Npc underground, and the Masked Wraith at the entrance were all asleep.
Thirdly, where were the staff inside the Chamber?
Given the security cameras, they should have been detected immediately upon entering, but no staff had appeared.
Qiao Sang and Fang Sisi started walking back the way they came.
Just then, the ambient lights illuminating the waterways flickered, and a familiar with a purple body, three horns on its head, and blood-red eyes appeared before them.
At the same time, the security cameras in the Security Room for the first and second rooms resumed their footage.
...
Hanggang City.
Public Security Bureau.
Many people were reporting their work progress back and forth at a desk.
"Captain Liu, Target 10 has appeared at 99 Trade Road."
"Captain Liu, Target 6 has been apprehended under Qianshan Bridge."
"Captain Liu, 27 Kuanton Road reported that their child suddenly ate ten bowls of rice in one night. We suspect Target 12 is there."
"Captain Liu, 231 Qin She Road reported that their customer can't summon their familiar, and the staff inside can't be reached. We suspect Target 2 is inside."
The man, who had been looking down at the documents, raised his head and asked, "Is Target 2 the Dreamless Tot?"
"Yes, Captain Liu."
"Has the patrol team been informed?" the man asked.
"We've already contacted them."
The man lowered his head and flipped through the documents. "Among the familiars that emerged from the Hidden Realm Rift, the most dangerous ones are the Three-Eyed Ghost Cicada and the Dreamless Tot. Send more people there."
"Understood, Captain Liu."
"Wait." The man suddenly called out, no longer flipping through the documents. He looked at the person reporting, his expression serious. "When the Dreamless Tot came out, it fought with Qian Song from the Guardian Squad. It didn't show any ability to prevent familiars from being summoned."
"The one inside might not be the Dreamless Tot, but the Three-Eyed Ghost Cicada, Target 1. I'll go with you."
...
Chamber.
Sewer.
Fang Sisi looked at the familiar in front of her and swallowed hard, nudging Qiao Sang's arm and whispering, "This isn't an Npc from the Chamber. It doesn't seem friendly. What do you think? Can we fight it?"
Qiao Sang glanced at her and said, "Dreamless Tot, a Ghost-type High-Class Beast Companion. Do you think you can handle it?"
Fang Sisi laughed awkwardly. "It might not be hostile. Maybe it was sent in to check the situation."
Qiao Sang asked, "You've been here for a few days. Do you know anyone who has bonded with a Dreamless Tot?"
Fang Sisi shook her head in despair.
Qiao Sang sighed helplessly. This was bad. It seemed the strange occurrences in the Chamber were caused by the Dreamless Tot.
"Black Mud!"
At that moment, Black Mud stepped forward and called out to the Dreamless Tot.
When Qiao Sang thought the Dreamless Tot would at least communicate, its red eyes glowed, and the next second, Black Mud's eyes closed, and he collapsed.
Qiao Sang: "!!"
It just attacked without any warning, completely different from the familiars she had seen before. Fangy would at least put on a show before a fight, maybe a threatening smile or something.
The Dreamless Tot just started attacking without any warning or reason.
"Treasure Seeker, ambush! Fangy, frontal assault!" Qiao Sang decided immediately.
Fang Sisi stood there, stunned and scared. How did it suddenly start fighting?
She had seen familiars fight before, but it was either minor skirmishes or in arenas. She had never seen a fight where they didn't even know who the opponent was.
"Stay behind me." Qiao Sang pulled Fang Sisi behind her.
Fang Sisi and Cotton Worm looked at Qiao Sang's back with tearful eyes, feeling a sense of security.
Treasure Seeker was the first to act on Qiao Sang's command.
It immediately became invisible, and the Dreamless Tot's red eyes turned, then it suddenly extended its right claw, condensing a black Shadow Orb and hurling it forward.
"Seek!"
Treasure Seeker's eyes widened as the Shadow Orb was only 0.01 centimeters away from hitting it, and it momentarily forgot to dodge.
Just as the Shadow Orb was about to hit Treasure Seeker, it disappeared from its spot.
"Dream."
The Dreamless Tot paused, turning to look at the pale human in front of it.
Qiao Sang's heart raced. Yes, Ghost-type Companion Beasts can see their invisible counterparts.
It had been a close call. If the Shadow Orb had hit Treasure Seeker, it would have been knocked out by a High-Class Beast Companion's attack.
Fortunately, she quickly summoned Treasure Seeker back into the Beastmaster Codex.
In the end, Dreamless Tot's reflexes far surpassed those of Treasure Seeker.
Qiao Sang glanced at Fangy, who was standing beside her, bristling and staring intently at Dreamless Tot. Although their brief confrontation had lasted only a few seconds, Fangy's usual attack speed should have already seen her launch an assault by now.
Indeed, it seemed that Fangy was still being influenced by the Ghost-type Companion Beast...
Qiao Sang formed the hand signs and summoned Treasure Seeker once more.
"Seek!"
Treasure Seeker's usual playful demeanor was gone.
"Dream."
At that moment, Dreamless Tot's eyes suddenly glowed red again, this time targeting Qiao Sang.
"Damn! It's a wild Ghost-type Companion Beast!" Fang Sisi exclaimed from behind.
To determine if a familiar is wild, one only needs to see if it will attack humans unprovoked. If it does, it's most likely a wild familiar.
Qiao Sang was instinctively drawn to the red eyes.
But her vision was suddenly blocked by a red and white figure.
Qiao Sang's face paled, and she shouted, "Fangy, close your eyes!"
Three seconds later, Fangy hadn't collapsed.
Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief.
"Tooth!"
After the incident where her Beastmaster nearly fell victim to an attack, Fangy opened her eyes again, her fear of the Ghost-type Companion Beast replaced by anger.
She raised her head slightly, and a crimson Energy Orb began to form.
Dreamless Tot froze, seemingly remembering something, and its eyes glowed red once more.
This time, a beam of multicolored light shot out from its eyes, directly targeting Fangy, who was still condensing her Energy Orb.
"Quick, dodge!" Qiao Sang's eyelid twitched as she shouted.
Reluctantly, Fangy interrupted the formation of her Energy Orb and darted to the side.
The beam struck the ground where Fangy had been, but it caused no damage.
Qiao Sang's expression turned grave. This was a peculiar beam unique to Ghost-type Companion Beasts, capable of inducing confusion. If it had hit Fangy, it would not only have disrupted her skills but also left her in a confused state.
"Use Clones to surround it."
Hearing her Beastmaster's command, Fangy's energy stirred, and the original 16 Flame Listeners surrounded Dreamless Tot.
In the next second, the 16 Flame Listeners simultaneously spat out basketball-sized crimson flames.
With Spark reaching Ultimate Mastery, the flames burned with an almost living intensity.
"Dream."
Dreamless Tot surveyed the incoming fireballs, feeling a sense of danger.
Just as it tried to move, an invisible force halted its action for a second.
"Boom!!"
The 16 energy-laden fireballs converged, colliding with a deafening explosion that drowned out Dreamless Tot's cries.
The shockwave from the explosion instantly engulfed the entire sewer.
Qiao Sang squinted against the fiery blast.
"Did it work?" Fang Sisi's voice trembled from behind.
Qiao Sang pursed her lips but didn't answer.
"Seek." The blue light around Treasure Seeker faded.
Although Treasure Seeker had only used Psychic Power to control Dreamless Tot for a moment, the difference in levels and energy between them was significant, making the task extremely draining.
Through the smoke from the fiery collision, a purple and black figure slowly emerged.
Dreamless Tot hadn't fallen; it was panting, but Fangy didn't give it a chance to rest. Several more Spark attacks, each at Ultimate Mastery, were launched at it.
"Seek!"
Suddenly, Treasure Seeker looked behind its Beastmaster, eyes wide, and instinctively teleported over.
Qiao Sang's mouth was dry, sensing something.
She turned her head stiffly and saw a familiar with transparent wings, a gray body, and three narrow eyes, along with Treasure Seeker.
"Seek!"
In the next second, Treasure Seeker let out a pained cry and fell from the air.
Qiao Sang caught it and saw that Treasure Seeker had fainted. Looking up, she noticed the familiar was staring at her, a black Energy Orb forming in its mouth.
She recognized the familiar.
Three-Eyed Ghost Cicada, a High-Class Beast Companion, a Ghost-type Supernatural Creature that enjoys absorbing life energy.
This plot twist seems to be continuing into tomorrow...
(End of Chapter)
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