Vol-2: 108. Why aren’t you dead yet!?
108. Why aren't you dead yet!?
The sky was swallowed by a rolling haze, endless smoke clung to the night, and eerie drumbeats suddenly echoed across the ground. Headless monsters, spiders with women's faces, and evil spirits holding cyan lanterns emerged from the shadows, launching wave after wave of relentless attacks toward Li Aozi.
Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.
"The Great Onmyoji, Abe Tadashige, finally couldn't resist."
Li Aozi crouched slightly, with one hand drooping on the hilt of the greatsword, holding it like a shoulder pole. The other hand casually gripped a pitch-black katana, showing a calm demeanor toward the attacking yokai and spirits.
Looking up, he saw a middle-aged man in a wide robe, wearing a tall hat, his face pale as paper, with his teeth painted black. His appearance was far from flattering, with age spots covering his face despite the lack of wrinkles, and a sickly stench was noticeable even from a distance.
Abe Tadashige's triangular eyes were fixed on Li Aozi. He held a mirror in one hand and a ten-fist sword in the other. From the solid muscles outlined on his body, it was clear the sword wasn't just a ceremonial tool.
The Great Onmyoji's strength within the Gamma tier wasn't the strongest, but he was the religious leader of Tianhuan. It wasn't just him attacking; it was as if all the Onmyoji of Tianhuan had declared war on Li Aozi.
Abe Tadashige didn't rush to attack. His detestable triangular eyes gleamed with cunning as the army of evil spirits flooded the city like tides, transforming the venue of the Kowloon Gathering into a capital of demons. He spoke slowly, his voice directly echoing in Li Aozi's mind:
"Lord Aozi, I thought Tianhuan didn't treat you poorly."
Despite his middle-aged appearance, Li Aozi knew that most of this man's organs had been sacrificed to a great yokai, granting him the power to command thousands of evil spirits.
Unlike the Duke of Gamos, a [Shaman] who accumulated centuries of power, Abe Tadashige, as a [Soul Binder], was more focused on the mind. He wasn't just making idle conversation; he intended to directly influence Li Aozi's thoughts through extraordinary psychology.
[Abe Tadashige has cast [Mental Suggestion • Guilt] on you, conducting a [Willpower] attribute check...]
Hearing the words, Li Aozi subconsciously felt a loss of face, especially under the watchful eyes of the crowd, with drones seemingly broadcasting the scene live. It was as if the entire world was witnessing his dishonesty.
[Feat • [Autocratic] triggered]
[Rolling... Your main attribute [Charisma] has crushed the target.]
[You resisted the attack.]
Li Aozi shrugged, his expression indifferent:
"So what? Tianhuan isn't anything good either, discriminating against Omega Energy Awakeners while using them for human experiments."
"It doesn't surprise me that you spew nonsense, but this slander is truly laughable. Hasn't anyone taught you to respect local customs?"
Abe Tadashige's words carried a faint tone of disappointment and sarcasm, trying hard to provoke Li Aozi's inner guilt:
"Because of your actions, five hundred million people in my country live under the shadow of terrorism. Isn't that atrocious enough? It was the people of Tianhuan who supported Glant's independence, it was Tianhuan's diplomats who boldly sheltered you and exposed Frost-Plated Republic's evil experiments—and this is how you repay Tianhuan, Li Aozi? Even if you can't repay the favor, shouldn't you at least show a bit of basic gratitude?"
[[Charisma] crushes, check passed]
[You resisted the attack.]
"Gratitude, my ass. Anyone else can say that, but not Tianhuan."
Li Aozi spat on the ground:
"If you want to fight, then fight. Stop talking tough, because you can't out-talk me. Besides, with a surname like yours, you're destined to be heckled."
"What a pity. I had thought we could understand each other." Abe Tadashige shook his head slightly, showing no anger at Li Aozi's blunt response. In fact, from the beginning, Tianhuan's attitude toward Li Aozi had always been one of "trying to win him over."
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Tianhuan now faces internal and external problems, with threats from organizations like the Akaban Squad, while the Red Arrow Empire in the north thirsts for revenge. The current priority should be to capitalize on the Red Arrow Empire's interest rate hikes, seize global foreign exchange, launch a massive invasion of Frost-Plated Republic, secure key resources, and divert the rising domestic tensions.
Li Aozi's identity was too sensitive—he was from Frost-Plated Republic, a descendant of refugees, a Red Arrow Empire citizen, and had business dealings with Zhengxu. Even the Glant affair had been a task entrusted to him by Tianhuan.
If Li Aozi wanted to hit back at Tianhuan, all he had to do was leak certain details of Glant's independence to Frost-Plated Republic. Frost-Plated could claim that their sovereignty was being eroded and use that as grounds for international support, launching sanctions against Tianhuan.
Tianhuan found itself in a dilemma. On one hand, they couldn't allow Li Aozi to make a scene and then leave with his reputation intact. That would be too demeaning. For one of the Four Nations, known for its military strength, even if the top brass agreed, would the people accept it?
If they couldn't calm the public's emotions, given the current economic situation, unrest could easily break out.
So, could Li Aozi be killed?
Not necessarily, but it would be best not to. Li Aozi was a legitimate Red Arrow Empire citizen, holding a green card. At this critical moment, Tianhuan's focus should be on invading Frost-Plated Republic, not engaging in a decisive battle with the overbearing Red Arrow Empire. Otherwise, it would only allow Zhengxu and Frost-Plated to reap the benefits.
There were quite a few countries with nuclear weapons. When two giants were locked in battle, who had time to worry about small nations taking advantage of the chaos?
The Four Nations didn't want to become part of the Azure Star Federation, at least not yet.
But this logic didn't apply to the Red Arrow Empire.
Abe Tadashige had deliberately arrived a few minutes early because he feared that the four Gamma-tier experts would kill Li Aozi without leaving a trace.
Li Aozi should not be killed. They didn't want to provoke a conflict with the Empire.
The Red Arrow Empire's goal was revenge, and for that, they didn't care about the future of this planet. Without Tianhuan, Frost-Plated, or Zhengxu, it was all the same to them.
Abe Tadashige's intentions were clear: he wanted to shame Li Aozi into submission. That way, before everyone arrived, he could claim, "It was I, the Great Onmyoji, who, with my superior skills and mental prowess, subdued Li Aozi and made him repent sincerely."
That way, Li Aozi could be handed over to Red Arrow under the pretense of "deportation," saving his life.
Otherwise, as a mere Beta-tier, why did he think he was still alive? Was it really due to his strength? Don't be ridiculous—four Gamma-tiers could take him down with ease.
But that's politics.
Why, despite not being the strongest among the Gamma-tier, was Abe Tadashige still a top leader of Tianhuan? Politics was about relationships, skillful manipulation, and foresight. As long as someone wasn't an enemy, they could be a friend.
Logically, with Li Aozi's intelligence, there was no way he couldn't understand the unspoken message.
Yet Li Aozi's firm stance left Abe Tadashige feeling extremely disappointed and somewhat puzzled.
"I left you a way out, but you turned your back and ignored it. Truly a pity. I believed there could be mutual understanding between humans. I thought the bond between us could transcend the barriers between our two countries. Now I see that I was simply too naive."
Abe Tadashige's words were impeccably phrased, deflecting all responsibility:
"Since that's the case, don't blame me for being harsh. Disrupting the ritual, the Ring of Heaven is the eternal ruler. You've desecrated his ceremony, and soon, the Dragon God will deliver divine punishment."
"Who cares about you? You're just G7+1."
Li Aozi sneered dismissively, his gaze sweeping over the white flag with a red ring fluttering in the distance—that symbol represented the Ring of Heaven's eternal monarch, also Tianhuan's national flag.
But that wasn't the flag of the people of Tianhuan.
"Your king and god are relics of a bygone era. But it doesn't matter, because your people will shatter your old dreams with their own hands."
At that moment, a system message popped up:
[You have triggered a side quest—"The Black Sun Rises"]
[Type]: Combat/Revolution
[Time Limit]: 3 hours
[Mission Difficulty]: S
[Description]:
Did you see sunrise?
(Did you see the sunrise?)
Black sadness
(Shining with black sorrow)
Tell me, tell me
(Tell me, tell me)
Why was it born?
(Why was it born?)
"The Ring of Heaven is a shackle, a dog collar around the necks of the people! The old men wage wars, the financial magnates profit handsomely, but it's the poor young men who are sent to die on the battlefield!"
The black sun rose, and revolutionaries shouted aloud, with the hills and valleys echoing their call:
"They can no longer take away our fate, our freedom, and our property. Let the old kings and the Dragon God kneel, for we should be the true masters of this nation!"
"Unite, we must fight! We may lose our lives, but we will gain the freedom and happiness we have never experienced!"
"For the sake of a new world, we shall break every shackle that binds us!"
[Completion Requirements]:
a. "Last Stand"—Led by Xia Jianjing, the Akaban Squad has launched an attack on Shiratori Prison. You must prevent four Gamma-tier professionals from intervening in the suppression within a short period. Reward: Skill[Savage Stomp];
b. "To the New World"—By any means, you must shake the people of Tianhuan, making them realize who their true enemy is. Reward: Progress in this realization must reach 80%, after which a random Omega-tier Omega Energy will be granted.