Chapter 429: I'll have your back, no matter what

Chapter 429: I'll have your back, no matter what



After dealing with the guards, Mike encountered a new problem.

"How do I purify this Abyssal Core?"

[Requirement for purifying an Abyssal Core: a human Nine-Star Lord.]

That requirement alone was a dealbreaker.

He was only level 499, not even a Chief, let alone a Nine-Star Lord.

"Does it have to be a human Lord?" Mike frowned, confused.

[Other races will be corrupted and assimilated by the Abyssal Core.]

According to the Eye of Truth, anyone other than a human attempting to purify the core would become a "candidate for the Ninth Demon God."

If the current Ninth Demon God were to perish, these candidates would receive the favor of the Ninth Abyss's source, their power skyrocketing as they vied for the vacant position.

Mike could ask Vladimir or Dracula to purify the core, but the price... might be gaining another Demon God as a sidekick.

"That doesn't sound too bad, actually."

Dracula would probably refuse, but Vladimir would jump at the chance.

He decided to shelve that idea for now. He wasn't ready to get entangled with the Abyss.

As for the Abyssal Core, he couldn't store it in his private space, nor could he show it to Master Fool.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

To demonkind, Abyssal Cores were delicacies, capable of significantly boosting their power. Accidentally creating a Demon God within his private space would be a disaster!

Shadow Three... wasn't a viable option either.

It wasn't that Mike didn't trust him.

It was that he couldn't convince Shadow Three to help.

Shadow Three wouldn't even consider touching an Abyssal Core of this level.

After weighing his options, Mike was left with only one choice:

"Time to call for backup."

He encased the Abyssal Core within Thor's Sea and quickly retreated from the underground lair, resuming his demon-kiting routine on the surface.

As he ran, he pulled out his communicator and issued a simple request.

"Get me Maxen!"

"If Maxen's unavailable, send any Nine-Star Lord!"

...

At the human defense line, heavy artillery roared, raining down fire and fury upon the approaching demon army.

Previously, they had been conserving ammunition, prioritizing ore conservation.

But with the arrival of a certain black-clad young man, a new order had been issued: "Blast those bastards!"

B-grade ore, usually considered a precious resource, was now being fed into the cannons with reckless abandon.

Shadow Three scratched his head. "Uneasy... what does that feel like?"

"You've never felt uneasy?" Mike asked, surprised.

Shadow Three shook his head.

Mike tried to explain. "Like... that feeling you get when you're facing Apollo?"

Shadow Three shook his head again. "That's not unease. That's reverence."

According to Shadow Three, he was just a step away from reaching level 1,000.

Therefore, he held Apollo in high regard.

Mike tried again. "Like... that feeling of being watched, of having a target on your back. Have

you ever felt that?"

"Yes!" Shadow Three nodded, his voice earnest. "I felt that way when I first met Shadow

Nine."

Mike: "..."

"By the way, Shadow Three, how did you join the Guardian Shadow?"

Now that they were on the topic, Mike's curiosity got the better of him.

When uneasy, people tended to be more talkative.

A little conversation, a distraction, could help alleviate the anxiety.

In Mike's experience, Shadow Three was an honest individual.

He usually spoke the truth.

After a moment of silence, Shadow Three decided to share his story.

"I was sleeping at home. Shadow Nine woke me up while chasing a Demon God."

Mike: "..."

That opening line was packed with information.

What had Shadow Three been doing before joining the Guardian Shadow that allowed him to

witness Shadow Nine chasing a Demon God?

Shadow Three continued, his words simple and straightforward. "Shadow Nine was wielding

a giant, sharp blade, hacking away at the Demon God while asking me if I wanted to join the

Guardian Shadow..."

Mike could practically picture the scene.

He nodded slowly. That sounded exactly like something Shadow Nine would do.

Shadow Three recalled Shadow Nine's words from that day:

"If you join the Guardian Shadow, we'll be family. From now on, I'll have your back, no matter

what."