"Wh-What...!" Kaius coughed up a mouthful of blood. He forcefully turned around and saw a haggard, shriveled monk holding a sword in his chest.
Jinlong gave a bloody smile as all the color drained from his face. "Cough... Cough... Did you think that was my trump card? Hahaha! That was just a bait! All for this moment!"
Raising his other hand, two objects fell out of his Spatial Ring: a golden bell and an ornate vase.
A chuckle came from behind Kaius as a hand jabbed into the wound the sword made.
"Ugh! Wh-What the hell are you doing!?"
"Hehe~ Don't worry, Sir Immortal Berserker. I know you won't die from this. I never had any intention of killing you in the first place. It's just- Haap!-"
Jinlong's hand wrapped around something–a chain–inside Kaius's body. He suffused the rest of his Qi, Vitality, and even soul into his palm as his grip tightened around the chain, manifesting a part of it back into the physical world at the expense of the rest of his life.
"-you have something we're looking for."
Letting go of the sword, Jinlong shakily picked up the golden bell and flicked his wrist.
Ding!
"AAARGH!" Kaius bent over, screaming in pain as he felt his whole body vibrating from the shock of the bell's ding. His whole body twisted and cracked as all the seals placed on him came to life at full force.
Ding!
Jinlong smiled seeing this, and felt the chain in his grasp becoming more physical and less ethereal.
Ding!
"You know, this bell was originally an ancient relic left behind by Buddhas before they ascended and were wiped out. From what I know, the Abbotts used to meditate under it in search of the ultimate enlightenment–to seek harmony with the universe.
It's supposedly able to dispel heart demons, evil thoughts, and promote inner peace, but that was only the case if you practiced their cultivation techniques. However, there was some truth to it; perhaps after hanging around those virtuous Buddhist Monks all day long, it gained the ability to harmonize the universe."
"That being said, it's the perfect item for revealing the Void Chains that seal you–a Holy Relic that exists in the ethereal once it's placed inside someone."
Ding!
Ding!
"Hehe! It is quite cringy, isn't it?" Kaius struggled to his feet, his legs wobbling as his willpower was running on empty. Yet, he still managed to straighten himself.
Dusting off what remained of his clothes, he turned around, now almost fully healed, and met this daring woman face-to-face.
"I don't know whether to call you brave, shameless, or ignorant for appearing before me after sending all those gifts."
"Ahaha... Those were meant for the monk. I'd never kill a good-looking guy like you."
"Really? Then, why did a few hit me?"
"My aim isn't all that great."
"..."
"It's true. I'm half blind in one eye, and my hand is-"
"Alright, that's enough." Kaius sighed, rubbing his temples. He'd never met a woman this brazen, who dared to spout nonsense right to his face! Still, he was a bit amused, so he didn't act. "I'm in a good mood right now, so I'll overlook this, but-"
"Damn, you're really poor, huh?" Yanira had already disappeared from her position, inspecting the ruins that their fight left behind. She clicked her tongue, looking around in disappointment. "No Spatial Ring. No Castle. Not even any clothes. Well, I got everything I wanted, so I'm out.
I'll see you later, Immortal Berserker."
"..."
Kaius speechlessly watched as Yanira tried to escape like a little rat, but how could he let her go so easily?
"Why leave so fast? I still hadn't taught you a lesson for attacking me!" He reached out and clenched his fist, catching onto Yanira and dragging her back. She could only squirm and struggle as she was forced to return.
"Since you like loot so much, why don't you deal with the flies who are about to show up?"
"Fuck!"
'Speaking of rats...' Kaius looked in a certain direction, his gaze crossing hundreds of kilometers to land on a bloodied fox woman. As if sensing his stare, all the hairs on her tails stood on end, and she looked back, meeting his eyes. Those blood-red eyes were full of hidden killing intent and her existence seemed abnormally strengthened, like she had no weaknesses.
He'd also never seen a fox with ten tails before or someone who embodied human and beast characteristics so well.
However, perhaps the weirdest part was that she was fully healed even after being caught up in such a high-level battle while hiding a mortal girl.
'...Interesting...' A slight smile crossed his face.