Chapter 476: Sorcerer Officer
Chapter 476: Sorcerer Officer
Beneath the Explosive Tunnel...
A world-shaking battle, lightning's overwhelming intimidation.
Faced with the Lord of Demons' ferocious assault, Lute met the onslaught calmly, utterly fearless.
Every movement of theirs carried the power to shatter mountains and split seas.
Thankfully, their battlefield lay beneath the Explosive Tunnel. The space-time fissure here funneled most of their chaotic energy into another dimension. Without this, half the city would already have been reduced to rubble.
"It's about time..." Lute muttered after exchanging countless blows with the Lord of Demons. "Your remaining strength has fallen below 6%. You should surrender now."
"Hmph... You think you can see through this?" The Lord of Demons' tone remained arrogantly defiant.
At a glance, his condition seemed unchanged from the battle's start—dark energy still surged around him, and the four demonic pupils burned with even fiercer intensity than before.
But in Lute's derivative being perception, the world looked vastly different...
"Your power does exceed my initial calculations", Lute admitted. "Still... it's within acceptable regroup thresholds."
Her current appearance differed greatly from earlier. She had abandoned her commonhuman form, transforming into a liquid metal entity resembling quicksilver. In this state, even if shattered into thousands of droplets, she could reassemble within moments—a near-immortal, indestructible existence.
"If this were the Inner World, I could erase you completely in one minute", Lute said coldly. "But here, I'll have to expend extra effort..." She slowly raised her right hand, extending a single finger. A white energy sphere rapidly condensed at her fingertip. "To date, you've 'killed' me six times. Or should I say... you've successfully landed six lethal strikes against me."
She paused for two seconds, her featureless liquid metal face—composed only of simple Silhouettes—forming a faint smile. "However... you've surely noticed by now. After each attack, I become stronger."
With a flick of her finger, the energy sphere rocketed forward like a cannonball, carving a brilliant white light channel through the air. It surged toward the Lord of Demons with windswept force.
The next second, demonic energy ignited violently, and black flames devoured the light.
The Lord of Demons raised one hand, his palm erupting with dark fire. The sphere vanished midair as his black flames consumed it entirely.
Lute fixed him with icy eyes, snorting softly. Then, in a calm voice, she continued: "Let me speak plainly. The version of me that entered this space-time has undergone fifteen 'mutations.' Each time... I grew weaker than my original form." She paused again. "After fifteen cycles, my capabilities finally dropped to just three times that of a Level 1 derivative being. Only then could I enter places outside the Inner World without triggering system anomalies."
As she spoke, Lute advanced steadily, closing the distance to five meters. She thrust both arms forward—ten fingers elongating like steel spikes.
The Lord of Demons met this assault without dodging. His black demonic armor was no ordinary artifact, remaining unscathed even against liquid metal impacts.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
A rapid series of metallic impacts rang out, scattering black sparks.
"You're so talkative when I'm silent, derivative being", the Lord of Demons said, his four pupils dimming further. "You really think... I've already used my full strength?"
At his words, even Lute's expression shifted.
"I was just playing with you using accumulated power from this space", the Lord of Demons sneered. "You overestimate yourself." His menacing grin widened.
His four pupils darkened further, hinting at something ominous. It wasn't a sign of exhaustion—it was...
"Since you're so confident, let me unleash my true power and kill you ten more times... what of it?"
Shoo—
Suddenly, a streak of light slashed from the side, passing precisely between Lute and the Lord of Demons.
The strike's power wasn't overwhelming, but it proved sufficient to halt both warriors' clash.
"Please exercise some patience, Lord of Demonslord." A sharp male voice rang out.
The Lord of Demons glanced sideways without turning his head. "What do you want?"
"Obviously here to stop you from making reckless decisions at critical moments", the newcomer replied.
Lute turned to face him as well.
Data recognition:
—Firewall Breach
—Data Download
—Countermeasure Activation
Physical identification database activated. Downloading... writing/regroup/writing/writing.
[Name: Talium]
[Faction: Lord of Demons]
[Race: Sorcerer Officer]
[Level: 359]
[Height: 180 Centimeters]
[Weight: 60 Kilograms]
[Combat method: Chaos Incantations]
[Skills possessed: ???]
[Danger level: ???]
Voice recognition: Established.
Current location: X-044.
Tracking function: Unavailable.
Control status: Uncontrolled.
Tactical Control Options: ???
"Another one?" Lute murmured. "Hmph... Doesn't matter. The outcome won't change."
Talium sat leisurely on a distant rooftop, legs crossed, speaking casually with the two combatants. He wore a black robe with an ornate mantle. Though human-like in appearance, his cheekbones were more pronounced, and each eye contained two pupils. His skin was pure white—completely devoid of pigment.
"Lord of Demonslord, you've fought quite satisfyingly. Why not... call it quits here?" Talium suggested. Despite respectful phrasing, his tone carried undeniable levity.
"Do you think I'll lose?" The Lord of Demons' voice dripped with murderous intent.
"Nonsense", Talium waved him off. "I merely suggest that... unleashing your full power would destroy this entire space." Shrugging, he added, "Such an act would prevent you from claiming this territory while giving the other Three Gods justification to oppose you. Moreover... killing this derivative being offers no benefit." He pointed at Lute. "Clearly, her goal isn't to occupy this place. Why not return to the Chaos Wasteland with me first? Once the derivative beings and otherworld travelers finish their conflict, we can return. Even if complications arise in between, only the Shi Guan, Jurors, and Nine Death Spirits would perish. You'd suffer no losses."
Talium's strategy was sound. As the Lord of Demons' strategist, this Sorcerer Officer fulfilled his duties thoroughly, balancing accounts meticulously.
"He's right." Lute surprisingly agreed, instantly withdrawing her battle intent. "Continuing this fight benefits neither of us."
Unlike Four Pillars Deity's "controlled" data, Lute's AI could make compromises. In some ways, her responses mirrored those of a Player.
This wasn't inferior wisdom, but an advantage in thinking models. Using dimensional terms, derivative beings existed between Players and Npcs. Players could remain indifferent to everything—even world apocalypse—while Npcs followed predetermined personalities and worldviews. Derivative beings were peculiar—like cultivators perpetually failing heavenly tribulations, possessing transcendent consciousness yet remaining bound to the mundane.
As a higher-order AI, Lute naturally refused to risk space destruction by continuing against the Lord of Demons. Any variable threatening her ultimate goal would be avoided.
...
Meanwhile, within Golden Maggot No. 1:
"Let me guess—you're lost, aren't you?" Matcha Su asked from the back seat, eyes narrowed.
"I never learned roads", Xiao Tan replied. "I'm just driving straight ahead..." He hesitated. "Though... ten minutes ago I thought this path looked familiar..."
"Then why didn't you say something?!" Matcha Su snapped. "We've probably been trapped by something!"
"Could it be... ghost walls?" Xiao Tan asked, visibly panicking.
Matcha Su saw his expression in the rearview mirror and sighed. "Xiao Tan, why do you always imagine horror scenarios when you're so timid?" She retorted, "Can't you make a more scientific, realistic deduction?"
"Penrose Staircase?" Xiao Tan countered quickly.
"Er..." Matcha Su paused. "I meant we might've triggered some skill or trap."
"You're avoiding the question because you don't know the term!" Xiao Tan's intuition proved terrifyingly sharp.
"Silence! Regardless of causes, you're the driver—you bear primary responsibility!" Matcha Su barked.
"Stop arguing... You're like clock hands spinning in place." A strange voice suddenly descended from the car's roof, joining their conversation. "Without locating the caster, you'll never escape..."
(End of Chapter)
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