Jar
âHow⦠Is this possible?â Slanted Eyes fell to the ground in disbelief.
âEven if you have powerful spells, your neurons are still too weak. Your processing ability cannot keep up at all⦠Before you even cast a spell I could kill you over ten times!â Xavier rushed in.
âJill! Jill!â The deadly and vicious Snakebite Fist was now used by Xavier to a terrifying degree, and very soon the remaining kidnappers had their throats torn apart, dying in a gory fashion.
He went up to the roof, but Xavier could only see an aircraft flying off in the distance.
âNoâ¦â Xavier fell helplessly to the ground.
âI never thought that Iâd be late!â A sigh sounded beside him, and Xavier unconsciously retaliated.
However, the powerful Snakebite Fist was stopped, and the other person spoke out, âIâm not your enemy. Iâm here to help.â
âYou⦠Crowley?â Xavier recognised him and suspicion filled his face, âWhy are you here?â
âIâll explain later, right now we need to leave this place. Follow me!â Crowleyâs expression was extremely solemn as he dragged Xavier and left the place. Still, Xavier shrugged off the manâs hands once they reached a corner of the school.
âWhat exactly is happening?â
âI said it before, Iâm here to help!â Crowley put on an extremely serious face, âDo you know the identity of those people who abducted your sister earlier?â
âThe empireâs Special Forces!â Xavier spat out the name. Learning of this fact, all his hopes of police help had been dashed.
âNn, theyâre lackeys of the Special Forces!â There was a tinge of hatred in Crowleyâs voice, âNot only do rampantly kill adult bloodline carriers, they capture our children and brainwash them into becoming their own recruits!â
âBloodline carriers? Could it beâ¦â Xavier suddenly recalled the contents of his familyâs inherited book.
âI implicated all of you this time. Youâd best give your parents a call, and let them avoid all risksâ¦â Crowley said apologetically.
âWaitâ¦â Xavier shrugged his hands. Heâd learnt too much today, causing him to feel dizzy.
âWho exactly are you? Why did you say âyou allâ?â Wariness crept in Xavier eyes, and every muscle of his bulged like that of a leopard about to leap on its prey.
âI belong to the Bloodline Alliance, an organisation formed to resist the empire. Our activities in Thousand Bears City attracted the attention of the Special Forcesâ¦â Crowley said slowly.
âYou criminal ringleader!â Before Crowley could finish speaking, Xavier sent out a punch that carried the phantom of a black snake.
*Hiss!* The same giant snake serpent appeared behind Crowley. He punched out the same way, accompanied by the hiss of an ancient snake.
Xavierâs fist was caught in Crowleyâs palm, no damage done to either part.
âSnakebite Fist?!â Shock filled Xavierâs face.
âOnly a weakling will resent others, and disregard the true target!â Crowley let go of Xavierâs hands, âYour gift in practising the Snakebite Fist has far exceeded my expectations. Even those so-called âgeniusesâ would not hold a candle to youâ¦â
âWho exactly are you?â Xavier stressed each syllable.
âMe? Iâm known as Crowley, but my name is Xanier! Deruze Xanier! Can you see the connection now?â There was warmth in Crowleyâs eyes.
âXanier! The ancestor that left us the Snakebite Fist! How? Doesnât that mean youâre over five hundred years old?â Xavierâs first instinct was disbelief.
âThere are many things you donât know about the world. Donât be easily convinced of truth and lies⦠I donât hope for you to believe me anyway. What? Donât you want to save your sister anymore?â Crowley smiled.
âHow do we save her? Crow⦠Xanâ¦â Xavier stammered. If what Crowley said was true, then wasnât this man his great great great grandfather?
âCrowley would be fine!â Crowley smiled, and then his expression turned solemn. âThere is a Special Forces base outside Thousand Bears City. The young bloodline carriers they abducted will be detained in that place, undergoing a rigorous selection process before the best are sent over to the empire. So? Do you have the guts to go with me?â
âOf course!â Xavier clenched his fists and nodded his head with resolution.
â¦â¦
âBloodline Alliance?â Leylin stood on the side of the street. Heâd seen everything, including Xavierâs conversation with Crowley.
âAccording to Xanierâs words, this organization is the one that most bloodline carriers are gathered in⦠These are the descendants of existences who had wielded laws, but they are now reduced to this state⦠Itâs rather sadâ¦â Leylin shook his head.
âHey handsome, do you wanna chat?â A melodious voice sounded by the side of the street. Leylin turned around, only to see a young lady whose earrings reflected the sunlight.
It took him a while to think, but then he smiled mysteriously, âSure!â
Some time later, the two of them were sitting in the partitioned room of a cafe.
This place was rather exquisite in its design and service, and the coupleâs room was also good at isolating sound. The waiter served coffee along with snacks shaped like little animals before quietly closing the door.
Leylin waved his hands, and a layer of blood red light enclosed the room. Only then did he turn back to look at the beautiful lady. âSnake Dowager! You actually dare look for me now? Arenât you afraid of being caught by the Mistress of the Night?â
Leylin already felt that this girl had been possessed when he saw her. The Shadow Weave could have easily discovered this connection of spacetime.
âItâs alright⦠Iâm using the chipped body of the Jar Spectre to contact youâ¦â The young lady smiled, flashing the phantom of a shattered piece of clay and revealing the power of laws within it.
âThe Jar Spectre was an existence on the same level as me back in ancient times. It possessed the law of stealth, and its pristine waters could immediately travel to any part of the Shadow Worldâ¦
âHowever, itâs now been reduced to this broken pieceâ¦â Complex emotions whirled across the Snake Dowagerâs face, âIt seems like youâve discovered it as well? The Mistress of the Night is the only being of law remaining alive in this worldâ¦â
Leylin spoke solemnly, âSo then. Why take the risk to contact me?â
âAn exchange of information, and a plan moving forward.â This girl before him was rather beautiful originally. However, the Snake Dowagerâs possession had elevated her aura, and her wry smile seemed to hold a hint of coquettishness to it.
âSheâs already gotten rid of all beings of law in the Shadow World, and has it under tight surveillance using the Shadow Weave. This psi energy of hers has replaced all sorts of fuel in the world as well⦠I have no doubt that she could will the civilisation of the entire world destroyed as long as she wants itâ¦â
The Snake Dowager was a native of the Shadow World, after all. Since she wanted to seize control of the place, sheâd ideally want it intact. Even then, in a crucial moment she most probably wouldnât care about the destruction of an entire civilisation. This was a common trait amongst beings of law.
Leylin thought over it for a while. She was his ally right now after all, so he decided to chip in with some information, âHereâs some more. My voodoo doll already met the Mistress of the Nightâ¦â
âWhat?â A nervous expression appeared on the Snake Dowagerâs face.
âRelax, she didnât manage to lure me over. I didnât suffer any serious injury either.â Leylinâs retort had been immediate, heâd known what she was thinking of.
âMy apologies⦠The Mistress of the Night is someone who excels at convincing people. The Jar Spectre had been lured by herâ¦â the Snake Dowager said apologetically.
âThatâs alright,â Leylin nodded his head and continued. âFrom what I can see, I didnât meet her true body. It was just an avatar.â
âAn avatar! Then where is her true body at?â This information was rather important, and could determine the victory and ownership of a world. Hence the Snake Dowager pressed on.
âI donât knowâ¦â Leylin shook his head and saw the Snake Dowager turning silent. He then asked, âYour Excellency, what plans do you have now?â
âIâll first rope in the strength of the bloodline carriers⦠and there are several other things for me to do as wellâ¦â The Snake Dowager bit her lips and pointed her finger out, forming a strange rune in the air.
âThis is the imprint of the Jar Spectre. You can contact me through it anytime, it canât be seen by the Weave.â
âAlright!â Leylin reached out his right hand, allowing this rune that looked like a jar with two ear-shaped handles to enter him through his skin.
[Beep! Host obtained âJar Imprintâ! Effects: Able to converse with another imprint holder unlimitedly in the Shadow World. The connection applies before all others in the world. Explanation: The ancient Jar Spectreâs original body is a giant jar with two ear handles. Legends have it that the entire water source of the Shadow World comes from it, and its two ears can listen to any information in the Shadow World!]
âIâll need your help in roping in the bloodline carriers!â The beautiful eyes of the Snake Dowager looked at Leylin.
âI wonât refuse!â Leylin did not decline the request. Heâd already set his eyes on the Bloodline Alliance anyway.
The Snake Dowager left after smiling contentedly, only leaving behind a girl whoâd fainted on the spot.
âSigh⦠I still need to clean up this mess, how troublesomeâ¦â Leylin shook his head and snapped his fingers. The young girl sat up immediately and looked at his eyes which contained no annoyance, âAfter you wake up, you will forgetâ¦â