Chapter 198 - One Hundred and Ninety-Four: The True Death
Bai Qi silently planned for his future Secret Realm Tower, then turned his attention to this world.
“Master, you mentioned earlier that this world was dying. What did you mean?”
Bai Heguang pointed at Bai Qi’s head, saying, “Although the Secret Realm turns into a small world after its transformation, its origin remains the Beast Master. It won’t fall apart directly after the death of the Beast Master, but it loses any further possibilities.”
“Also, with the passage of time, the anchoring function of the Secret Realm Tower will gradually weaken. When the Secret Realm Tower can no longer hold it, this small world will separate from the main world.”
“Without the support of the main world and the Beast Master, this small world will gradually lose its vitality and then step into death.”
After hearing Bai Heguang’s explanation, Bai Qi fully understood but quickly asked, “Master, did you bring us here just to understand the origin of the Secret Realm?”
Bai Heguang shook his head, saying, “Of course not.”
As he spoke, Bai Heguang glanced at the Jiuyou Darkbird, which understood immediately and flew towards the depths of the forest with a howl.
Not long after, Bai Qi heard a rustling sound of falling trees, followed by a group of pale gray creatures appearing before him.
“Go, summon your main pet and defeat these creatures.”
Bai Heguang stepped back, clearly indicating that he had no intention of participating in this battle.
Given Bai Heguang’s scarcity of words, it seemed abrupt to start practicing now.
Bai Qi glanced at the gray ferocious beasts charging at them. Their levels varied, but the highest was only the third rank, clearly picked by the Jiuyou Darkbird.
However, these beasts felt like this world, also lacking in vitality, they resembled the undead but seemed slightly different.
Roar!
While Bai Qi was pondering, the beasts had already reached him. Without any hesitation, he summoned Alpha directly.
Crackling!
(Boss, this place is dangerous. Why are you here!)
Alpha detected the danger here at the first moment. Seeing the beasts charging at them, he immediately entered combat mode, conjuring dozens of Ice Crystal Barriers in a split second, blocking the beasts’ path.
However, the sheer number of these beasts, along with the advancing Jiuyou Darkbird, made the Ice Crystal Barrier shatter in just a moment.
But this was just what Alpha had anticipated. The shattered ice turned into a dust that enshrouded the beasts, obstructing their vision and scent. Before they could break free from the influence of the ice fog, dozens of sword blades from behind Alpha swept into the fog. The sound of blades cutting through flesh followed.
These sword blades were conjured in advance by Alpha and had runes attached to them. Their power was completely different from the temporary blades created during a Blade Storm.
However, instead of feeling thrilled, Alpha dispelled the ice fog to reveal the true faces of these beasts.
Alpha’s sword blades had inflicted significant damage on them, and some of the weaker ones had even been dismembered.
But even so, not a drop of blood flowed from these beasts. What was more outrageous was that no matter how severely injured they were, they were still charging at Alpha as if he had barely scratched some models.
Damn, have they all turned into zombies?
Wait, it seems a bit different.
Bai Qi narrowed his eyes, studying these strange creatures that seemed neither alive nor dead, and said, “Alpha, use the Shadow Lotus Skill.”
Alpha nodded. Countless bones twined with Shadow Department Power emerged from the ground, enveloping all the beasts like lotuses.
However, before the Shadow Lotus could close, the beasts launched their attacks.
Fireballs, Rock Spikes, Wind Blades…
Various Elemental skills were released from these dying creatures, directly breaking the Shadow Lotus. Even more, one of them had released a Holy Light Skill that restored some injured beasts.
They could release multiple Elemental attacks and withstood the Holy Light; these creatures were certainly not undead!
“Dad, isn’t it too hard for Bai Qi to face so many Dead Beasts alone?”
Bai Qiucha, who had clearly seen these strange beasts before, asked with some concern.
“It’s fine. Bai Qi hasn’t taken it seriously yet. These beasts are nothing to be afraid of.”
No sooner had the words fallen than Alpha launched a new offensive. A breath of Withering Power sprayed out enveloping all the beasts. When the Withering Breath dissipated, the beasts had lost all vitality, falling to the ground.
“Have you already integrated the Power of Death into your skills?”
Bai Heguang’s eyebrows shot up. He immediately perceived the effects of the Power of Death and was pleasantly surprised that Bai Qi had already started to apply the Power of Death in combat.
With such strong potential, Gusu City was destined to rise.
However, Bai Heguang’s test for Bai Qi was not over. After these third and lower rank beasts had completely died, a fourth rank beast resembling a giant ape was driven over by the Jiuyou Darkbird.
“Alpha, strike first, and see if you can capture it alive.”
Crackling noises.
(Understood.)
Alpha nodded, holding the Withering Sword and the Gravity Sword in his hands, and charged towards the giant ape proactively.
In terms of destruction, the Withering Sword was undoubtedly the strongest, but in terms of control, the Gravity Sword was clearly superior.
However, the giant ape was a Four Stage creature after all, and Alpha didn’t get complacent, choosing to confront it with two swords.
Seeing that even this tiny creature, Alpha, dared to harass him, the giant ape instantly redirected its wrath from the Jiuyou Darkbird to Alpha. It pulled out a huge bone club from its spine and smashed it towards Alpha.
The giant ape’s attack with the club was massive and swift, but before it even landed, Alpha was already in front of it, swinging his swords in a flurry of slashes.
Roar!
The awakened Withering Power inflicted irreparable damage on the giant ape, and the Gravity Sword was constantly adding weight to the giant ape. In just a blink, this Four Stage giant ape was easily suppressed by Alpha in its place.
So weak!
Too weak to be worth training against.
Watching Alpha easily eliminate the enemy, Bai Qi was increasingly puzzled, so he had Alpha go over and study the giant ape.
Crackling noises.
(Boss, this guy seems to have the Power of Death too, but it’s very weak.)
Soon, Alpha reported back his findings and even proactively drew out a trace of the Power of Death.
Without the support of the Power of Death, the giant ape instantly became agonized and then began to age, die, and weather at a speed visible to the naked eye.
“This…”
Seeing the giant ape’s fate after losing the Power of Death, Bai Qi was somewhat surprised and seemed to understand why Bai Heguang had brought him here.
Sure enough, after Bai Qi discovered the sequelae of the Power of Death, Bai Heguang finally spoke, “These pets had absorbed the Power of Death from this world and became neither dead nor alive. Although they can obtain an immortal body and retain their original state, once they lose the Power of Death, they will end up like this.”
As expected, such an overpowered skill as the Power of Death couldn’t possibly exist without any repercussions.
However, Alpha’s Power of Death was fused through evolution, it shouldn’t be easily absorbed, right?
“Your pet has a high compatibility with the Power of Death, so there doesn’t seem to be any problem with the fusion for now. But if one day you’re pushed to the limit and the Power of Death is completely depleted, not only your pet, but also you, will be affected.”
Bai Qi nodded, “Master, the abilities of the Power of Death and the Withering Power are very similar, they should be of the same origin, so why is Master so concerned about it?”
This question had puzzled him for a while. Both skills deprived vitality, and the difference between the Power of Death and Withering Power seemed to only be in speed; Withering Power could do everything else.
Upon hearing Bai Qi’s question, an expression of “as expected” crossed Bai Heguang’s face, “I was surprised that you awakened the Withering Power, perhaps it’s destined for you to master the Power of Death.”
Bai Heguang waved to the Jiuyou Darkbird, which immediately shrank to the size of a common sparrow and landed on Bai Heguang’s shoulder.
“In the current Federation’s Pet System, the Undead Department is the most special Pro, not for anything else, but because the Undead return to the world as the dead.”
“But in a way, undead creatures haven’t actually died, they’ve just come back to life with the power of the Shadow Department.”
Could it be interpreted that way?
Bai Qi looked at Bai Heguang with a touch of surprise, obviously curious about his novel explanation.
But from Bai Heguang’s words, it seems that Undead isn’t really dead, and the Power of Death is?
“The Power of Death, in the true sense, causes pets to lose their vitality, including their physical body, soul, and even consciousness.”
Bai Heguang looked at the giant ape, which had even its bones weathering, “In a way, these Dead Beasts are technically dead. What sustains their movement is just the trace of the Power of Death in their bodies.”
“So, becoming Undead doesn’t count as death, but being eroded by the Power of Death does?”
Bai Qi pondered for a moment and drew a conclusion.
Bai Heguang nodded, “So, your task this time is to turn the Power of Death into a skill of your pet itself. Only in this way can you avoid the possibility of complete annihilation when the Power of Death leaves the body.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Qi understood. The surplus Power of Death was now gathered in the Withering Sword. If he wanted to turn it into Alpha’s skill entirely, wouldn’t he have to awaken the Withering Breath?
Could he really awaken a Super Skill?
Thinking of this, Bai Qi suddenly thought of the Primordial Era creature that Bai Heguang had mentioned before.
Alpha’s Power of Death was obtained from its blood, didn’t that mean it had already mastered the Power of Death?