Chapter 197: Speaking Frankly · The Execution Platform Forged (3/4)
Lightning flashed not far in front of Su Jiu, illuminating her rather stern face. In the next second, booming thunder erupted, as if roaring with discontent.
“Everyone, let us welcome the blessing. There are prepared positions there. You will all discover them once you reach the sky above the sacrificial site.”
Count Sabo made a rather elegant gesture, beckoning towards the sea with a faint smile.
Below the sacrificial platform, the crowd watched the few people on the stage with envy, their murmurs slowly growing louder.
“Let’s go!”
Two counts in black exchanged glances, their bodies transforming into streams of black light as they rushed over. Seeing this, others also transformed into streams of light and followed.
“He’s not coming? He’s giving such a good opportunity to outsiders…”
After a deep look at Count Sam, Su Jiu watched the others flying away and then mounted her sword, rising into the air above the coffin.
“Sizzle—”
She narrowed her eyes as rainwater, carrying electric arcs, struck her energy shield, and her gaze shifted downwards.
She discovered eight hexagonal formations emitting a bloody glow around the coffin below, but the formations were of different sizes, as if intentionally made so.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that chains connected the coffin to the pillars of four underwater structures, holding it from the east, south, west, and north. The pillars emanated a strange aroma, with a sharp edge like that of a sword.
The lightning strikes were precisely hitting these pillars, making them glow brighter with each strike.
“Each of you, descend into the formations below. I will conduct the sacrifice.”
From the sky above the coffin, Bernice’s voice descended, clear and devoid of emotion. Her azure eyes swept across the ground below, briefly pausing at Su Jiu’s small stature before slowly closing.
It’s her…
“We’ll go ahead!”
Before Su Jiu could react, Count Shetuo and his companion, who had arrived overhead first, laughed heartily and were the first to descend into the sacrificial platform, dominantly claiming the two largest formations.
As soon as they entered the formations, the formations seemed to sense their arrival. The small butterfly tokens flew out of their pockets and adhered to the red glow, which instantly turned blue as if recognizing its owner.
Seeing the two vying for positions so aggressively, the other three exchanged glances. They all looked at Laura with disdain in their eyes, and when their gazes landed on Su Jiu, they revealed varying degrees of apprehension.
At this moment, someone unscrupulously rushed forward. The other two, seeing this, had a drastic change in expression and quickly surged towards the formations below like madmen.
As the three pushed forward, the last person to descend suddenly stopped.
“Die!”
The wind blew off his hood, revealing a middle-aged vampire. A crimson glint flashed in his eyes, and a stored skill gathered in his hand. With a flicker, he approached the person closest to him in mere moments and attacked without warning.
“Bang!”
The Battle General struck by him was sent flying like a broken sandbag into the sea. The Battle General had never expected anyone to dare to cause trouble during Count Sam’s sacrifice, let alone anticipate such a sudden attack.
He plunged into the sea, kicking up a wave of scarlet, and then fell silent, as if swallowed by the ocean.
The middle-aged vampire was not finished. He swept forward, a blood-red glow gathering in his hand, and struck at another High-Rank Battle General in front of him. He intended to kill the other person just as he had the previous one.
“Seeking death!”
Sensing the movement behind him, the other High-Rank Battle General’s eyes widened in shock. Realizing the attacker intended to strike him as well, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. A blood-colored long saber appeared in his hand, and he began to fight the middle-aged vampire.
Seeing this, Laura’s pupils suddenly dilated, a hint of joy appearing on her face as she quickly rushed forward.
This was a golden opportunity for a meteoric rise. She had not dared to compete for a position earlier, but now that others were fighting over them, it was an opportunity she could not afford to miss.
“Don’t go! There’s something wrong with this.”
At this moment, a hand with flowing sleeves blocked her path. Su Jiu looked at the coffin emanating a strange aura, her face darkened, and she said with cold, sharp eyes.
Seeing Su Jiu blocking her way and then looking at the brightest and largest of the six formations, Laura’s face turned cold. She reprimanded in a low voice, “Don’t stop me, or don’t blame me for being impolite!”
“I’ll say this one last time, you might die…”
“Get lost!”
Before Su Jiu could finish speaking, Laura brushed aside Su Jiu’s hand and charged forward as a crimson stream of light, still occasionally glancing back, treating Su Jiu as a competitor who had stolen her position.
Seeing this, Su Jiu pouted and said nothing further. At this moment, the two fighting vampires realized that Laura had taken the lead by seizing the opportunity.
They glanced cautiously at Su Jiu, then parted as if by unspoken agreement, each rushing towards the formations next to the coffin.
The two counts who were watching the spectacle felt the fun had ended. They then turned to Su Jiu, who was floating in the sky, and shouted with a smile, “You should hurry down too. If you delay the sacrifice, Count Sam will be displeased.”
Hearing their words, Su Jiu remained motionless. Her gaze swept over the Corpse Demons still being thrown into the sea, then fixed on Count Sam in the distance like a torch. She saw him smiling back at her.
“Count Sam has been smiling all along… this sacrificial ceremony is indeed problematic.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she subtly used her avatar. E Huo transformed into a short sword in her hand. She then withdrew her gaze and said calmly to the people below,
“Have none of you considered why Count Sam would give this opportunity to you? Is he greedy for your Magic Crystals? Heh heh… or rather, why wouldn’t he enjoy such an opportunity for himself first?”
“This is not a position reserved for him…”
The two counts were stunned at first. Then one of them casually pointed to an empty spot, but upon further thought, it didn’t seem right. If the other party truly intended to participate in the sacrifice, why would he choose the smallest position?
This didn’t make sense!
Aided by the Ice Cicada’s vertical pupils, Su Jiu not only noticed Count Sam smiling but also saw that the surrounding four pillars were faintly emitting a golden-yellow light, as if nurturing something with electric properties.
The lightning strikes were indeed falling onto these pillars, as if accumulating energy for them.
The pillars even showed signs of further condensation!
At this moment, Bernice, who was in the center not far away, slowly opened her eyes. Looking at the coffin below, a flicker of hope appeared in her eyes. Without a second thought, she dashed towards one of the formations.
Only by touching the formation could she preside over the sacrifice and channel all the energy from this food into her sister. However, this formation seemed to have been altered—
The formations she had touched before were five blue circles of the same size…
“Bors…”
Just as she was about to touch the blue formation, she suddenly felt her waist being embraced. She could no longer advance and, startled, quickly turned her head to see a familiar face.
Her exquisite face, with pointed ears transformed into fins.
Bernice stopped struggling and allowed herself to be embraced by Su Jiu, letting her clothes flutter in the wind. She slightly pursed her lips.
As expected, it’s her. I thought it was that white-haired girl.
Su Jiu embraced her waist, smelling the faint fishy scent, and whispered in her ear, “Don’t go! It’s very dangerous in there. This might involve the resurrection of the Twin Archduke, and this formation is not right. It’s very likely a trap set by Grand Duke Sam.”
“My purpose for coming here is to stop the resurrection of the Twin Archduke!”
Hearing this, Bernice’s body trembled slightly, her brows furrowed. She wanted to say something but couldn’t utter a sound.
Sensing her struggle, Su Jiu paused slightly and continued,
“Didn’t you say you wanted to see the outside world? Give up the sacrifice, and I’ll take you to Dragon Country to solve the problem with those bugs. Even Count Sam won’t be able to control you.”
“Sigh!”
Upon hearing Su Jiu’s words, Bernice’s body suddenly went limp. She let out a heavy sigh. After a moment, her slightly furrowed brow relaxed. She carefully used her hand to pry open Su Jiu’s hand and said softly,
“I’m not worth you doing this, and I can’t give up the sacrifice… The person lying in the coffin has been by my side since birth.”
As she heard this, Su Jiu’s fingers were being pried open one by one. She looked at the other’s retreating back in astonishment, a bit of speculation in her heart.
“Heh… the girl by your side must be that person’s avatar, right? I envy her.”
Bernice turned her head and asked herself, her voice sounding ethereal in the rain, as if she might leave at any moment.
“…”
Su Jiu remained silent, looking at the other’s face, lowering her head slightly, a hint of disbelief in her eyes. That day, she had run away upon seeing Doubi Xi… This was an “old friend”!
“I am Duke Yudie, one of the Twin Archdukes you wish to kill, Bernice.”
Bernice glanced at the coffin below, then at Su Jiu, her face returning to its cold demeanor, but her eyes revealed a hint of weariness, and she said softly, “If you want to kill me, you can do it now. You don’t need to pity me. We are just strangers who have only met twice.”
“Alas, then I must offend you.”
With a sigh, Su Jiu’s eyes narrowed. She glanced at the coffin below them, flipped her sword in her hand, and thought to herself, destroying the coffin would suffice.
Hearing this, Bernice’s expression remained unchanged, and she didn’t even bother to summon her weapon, appearing like a princess from olden times facing execution, wanting to die with her dignity.
Before Su Jiu could make a move, a rumbling sound echoed from all around, stirring up huge waves. The four pillars shot beams of light towards the sky above the central coffin, the light scattering dust and slowly coalescing into something.
Based on the energy accumulated above, this was not a sacrifice at all, but rather like—
An execution!
Su Jiu and Bernice looked up, a feeling of being executed surging into their hearts. At this moment, a furious shout from the previously mentioned Count Shetuo suddenly came from below:
“What’s going on!? This blue light has directly restricted my movements! Count Sam, come out and explain!”
