A Core Ship From The Start

Chapter 213 - 169 Found one... (It's snowing hard today)_1

Chapter 213: Chapter 169 Found one… (It’s snowing hard today)_1

After a day of rest, Duanmu Huai and his team set off once again and arrived at the Dark Cave Tomb.

“Honestly, I’m sick and tired of these damn fetch quests…”

As he entered the cave before him, Duanmu Huai started to grumble. While most of their tasks did involve running around, reality wasn’t a game. Though the scenery wasn’t too bad, having to run back and forth was indeed vexing.

Of course, there was something even more annoying.

“You damned Watchmen……”

The vampire that Duanmu Huai held by the head, glared viciously at Grey standing next to him, its eyes radiating a bright red light. These vampires had attacked as soon as Duanmu Huai and his team entered the cave. It was a pity though, because they were clearly no match for Duanmu Huai. Apart from the one unlucky soul held by Duanmu Huai, the other vampires had already been hammered to oblivion.

“What exactly are you searching for in here? Answer me!”

Duanmu Huai held up the vampire, glaring at him viciously. In the torchlight of the cave, his Rabbit Helmet, stained with fresh blood, appeared both mad and terrifying. Witnessing this scene, Greiya shivered and silently turned her head away. Just last night, she had a nightmare about a giant rabbit grabbing and munching on human heads like carrots. Greiya had been so scared she hid under her bed the whole night.

She still remembered how the rabbit in her dream had showed a menacing smile before gobbling up a human just like a carrot.

Well…… What’s happening before her seemed like a replay of that nightmare.

The vampire seemed to have the same feeling too, screaming loudly at the sight of the terrifying rabbit.

“I, I don’t know! We were just following orders! We were told to find something locked in this tomb and then bring it back! That’s all I know!!”

“Then you’re of no use.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Duanmu Huai tightly held the vampire’s head, twisted and pulled like opening a Coke bottle, ripping the vampire’s head straight off its body. He then casually threw the headless body and the head onto the ground.

“Eek——”

Seeing this, Greiya let out a soft cry. Even though it wasn’t her first time seeing this, no matter how many times she had seen it, she could never get used to it.

“Alright, at least now we have some good news.”

Duanmu Huai dusted off his hands, turned and looked at Greiya and the Watchmen.

“Since these vampires are still here, it means they haven’t found whatever they’re looking for. So, that gives us a chance.”

Just as Duanmu Huai had said, the vampires in the tomb had not yet found the hidden artifact. The group soon set off again. In no time, they reached the depths of the underground tomb.

When they passed through the path and came to the deepest part of the tomb, the scene they saw was astonishing.

In the depths of the tomb was an underground lake, in the middle of which was a circular altar that seemed like a ceremonial site. A few vampires were pacing around the altar, apparently investigating something.

“Sir Knight, should we attack?”

“No, wait.”

However, contrary to what Greiya had anticipated, Duanmu Huai didn’t immediately strike. Instead, he pulled Greiya and the Watchmen back, signaling them to hide.

“Sir Knight?”

“Let’s just wait here. Clearly, they’re looking for something. In that case, we might as well wait for them to find it, and then we can swoop in and snatch it!”

Watching the bustling vampires on the platform below, Duanmu Huai let out a vicious, icy smirk.

Many adventure quests had similar scenarios where players would delve into tombs, crack puzzles, break mechanisms, and after much suffering, finally acquire the artifact hidden within the tomb. But as soon as they turn around, villains would surround them, demanding the artifact or death…

To the players, these plot turns were absolutely sickening!

Why should I play the mantis, and the boss plays the yellow sparrow?

Can’t I reverse the roles?

Scenarios like these usually involved scripted fights, which undermined the players’ combat power. If it weren’t for the cutscene, I’d have shot that dipshit villain right in the head! Or better yet, smash the artifact right in front of the villain. Anything over this sickening plot!

Plus, even if I surrender the artifact obediently, wouldn’t the villain just kill me anyway? They’re villains. Can I really trust them to keep their word? How dumb is the protagonist, seriously?

Hey, I want to play the yellow sparrow for once!

“Er……”

After hearing Duanmu Huai’s words, Greiya and the Watchmen’s expressions were quite mixed. After all, they felt this strategy was somewhat underhanded. However, after giving it some thought, they didn’t object. After all, the hidden artifact could be some kind of a vampire artifact, and maybe only a vampire could unlock it?

The vampires busily moving about on the platform below were obviously unaware that up above, they were being watched by three unwelcome guests, three yellow sparrows waiting for their meal. These vampires seem to have discovered something. Soon, one vampire walked to the center of the round platform and placed his hand on the pillar.

“Crack!”

The next moment, sharp spikes sprang up, piercing the palm of the vampire. He howled in pain and crumpled to the ground. His blood then drained out of his limp forearm like a dam bursting, flowing into the grooves carved into the platform, and a purplish flame emerged, forming a sinister pattern.

As for that vampire, he was now drained of blood, leaving only a desiccated corpse.

“Tsk tsk tsk.”

Seeing this, Duanmu Huai shook his head and looked at the two companions.

“See, lucky we didn’t have to make the sacrifice.”

“………..”

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s remarks, the two of them were speechless. Indeed, if this was the only way to break the seal, they weren’t too willing to sacrifice their blood … after all, this could be lethal!

Just then, the remaining vampires moved the torches on the platform to their respective positions. The previously sealed floor slid open, and a massive pillar rose from the middle.

It’s now!

“Attack!!”

Seeing the vampires delighted, intent on opening the box, Duanmu Huai roared and leaped down, raising his war hammer and charging towards the platform!

Hahaha, now it’s your turn to taste the feeling of a bird in the hand being worth two in the bush!!

As it turns out, reversing certain scenarios can also be effective.

The vampires who had solved the mechanical lock and were about to open the stone pillar didn’t expect to be ambushed. When Duanmu Huai jumped down, their faces were filled with surprise and bewilderment. But clearly, Duanmu Huai wouldn’t waste time talking nonsense like those idiot bosses in story cutscenes. Once they were killed, the object would be his!

So, the villains in set pieces are all fools. Why not just kill the main character from afar and then send someone to retrieve the object? Why do they have to keep talking nonsense, which only makes the player’s blood pressure rise and feel like desperately killing them?

Uh? Maybe mocking the player is the intention of these idiot villains? So that the players can tear them to pieces later?

“Thump!!!”

As the last vampire’s head was smashed into mincemeat, the battle ended, and Grey and Watchmen joined Duanmu Huai’s side.

“Alright, it’s time to open the box.”

Duanmu Huai rubbed his hands and stepped forward, gesturing for the two to step back. After all, no one knows what lies within, so caution is advised.

Just as Duanmu Huai placed his palm on the surface of the stone pillar, accompanied by a “rumbling” sound, the front portion of the stone pillar slid down, revealing the treasure inside.

However…

Upon seeing the treasure hidden within the stone, all three of them were stunned.

“Is this …. a human??”

As Watchmen confirmed, inside the stone pillar was a person.

More precisely, a young girl in her early teens.

She had light brown hair, wore a white long-sleeved shirt and a ruffled gothic mini skirt, and sported bat wing-like adornments on either side of her head. If you just look at her like this, the girl in front of you would seem nothing more than a regular noble young lady.

“Is … this the treasure??”

Looking at the girl in front of them, Grey was stunned. They assumed that what the vampires had gone through such great lengths to find must surely be a divine artifact or something, but … it was a girl? Could it be that there’s something special about this girl?

“I see.”

On the contrary, Duanmu Huai narrowed his eyes upon seeing this. He hadn’t forgotten what Azura had told him before, that the vampires were altering the Star of Azura to control the souls trapped in it — now, it was clear who this modified Star of Azura was supposed to be used on … Uh?

At that moment, Duanmu Huai noticed a long, golden cylindrical object on the girl’s back. It looked like a humongous scroll, about the same height as the girl, studded with jewels and silver patterns. One look and you know it was worth a fortune.

As soon as they saw the scroll, the Watchmen were stunned.

“Is that… the Ancient Scroll?!”