Ashen Dragon

Chapter 202: Chapter 127: The Awakened Player
 

“Where the hell am I?”

“Wasn’t I subjected to a control spell?”

Xin Dog suddenly jolted awake. He first checked his body and, finding no injuries, then looked around the surroundings.

What he saw was a wrecked experiment site, strewn with chunks of flesh and remains. The floor was covered in thick blood, even submerging his ankles.

In front of him was a heavy metallic bed, stained with blood, where Natural War Maniac was firmly fixed.

He then looked warily beside him.

The body belonging to Mantou was already lying in the pool of blood, silent like a dead corpse.

Xin Dog felt a bit puzzled again. The mage who had possessed Mantou had easily dealt with the three of them and was in his own lair without encountering any enemies. How could he have suddenly disappeared?

“Did that ‘Vagnard’ vanish?”

“Did the spell terminate, or is there some other reason?”

A blurred figure seemed to float out of the Soul-Devouring Pot and enter the body.

Xin Dog gasped,

“Mantou?”

The body belonging to Mantou first had fingers that slightly twitched, then opened its eyes. Supporting itself with its arms, it struggled to sit up in the pool of blood.

“This place is so disgusting. Why is it so sticky?”

Mantou complained with a look of disdain.

However, when he lifted his head, he saw Xin Dog drawing a bowstring with an armor-piercing arrow aimed at his forehead.

“Damn it, it’s me, Mantou!”

Xin Dog was unmoved, his tone icy,

“How can I be sure you are Mantou and not something else? You have to pass my test first, or I’ll shoot you with one arrow.”

Mantou cursed in frustration, “Xin Dog, are you crazy? What kind of NPC has the same charismatic style as me?”

But the sharp arrowhead pressed against his forehead, making Mantou break into a cold sweat.

Mantou raised his hands in a French salute, on the verge of tears.

“Alright, alright, I’ll answer.”

Xin Dog looked down at him coldly and said, “What’s Mantou’s most-viewed video?”

“‘Swashbuckler and the Old Vampire’s Unspeakable Thirty Seconds.’

“How many times has Mantou failed at online dating?”

“Damn it, three times.”

“What’s the name of Mantou’s mount?”

“Noodle.”

“How many gold coins has Mantou stolen from me?”

“Fifteen, when you were asleep—wait, damn it, Xin Dog, you’re tricking me!”

Mantou jumped up in shock, suddenly realizing the so-called “test” was just Xin Dog’s trap.

“Very good, you passed the test, Mantou.”

“But about those stolen gold coins…”

Xin Dog spoke slowly, with a cold smile on his face, still holding the drawn bow aimed at Mantou’s forehead.

“I’ll work for you to pay it back, alright? Please, stop this.”

Seeing the situation was bad, Mantou pleaded earnestly.

Xin Dog finally put away his weapon and seriously asked, “What was it like in the pot? Do you know what happened just now?”

Mantou thought for a moment and then said, “It felt very strange. I could perceive the environment from inside the container but couldn’t move at all. I had to watch helplessly as he used my body to control you. But it was kind of satisfying, like I was personally bullying you, haha.”

“…”

Xin Dog ignored his personal feelings and continued, “What did he say? Why did he disappear?”

Mantou was suddenly enraged, “That guy is a beast. Not only did he use Miss Valena as a test subject, but he also wanted to use us all as his samples. Fortunately, he suddenly vanished without a trace.”

Xin Dog rubbed his chin, feeling puzzled.

“Are you saying he just vanished?”

“Didn’t he say anything before he left?”@@novelbin@@

Mantou scratched his head and thought for a moment, then said hesitantly, “The perception from inside the pot wasn’t very clear, and I was busy talking, but… I think I heard him mention our faction leader’s name.”

“Cassius.”

Xin Dog’s eyes brightened with excitement, “So Vagnard is indeed a boss related to the main quest. Tasks related to that Red Dragon are significant. We might be in luck this time again.”

“Xin Dog, hurry and save War Maniac Bro first.”

“If War Maniac Bro dies, it’s all your fault.”

Only then did Xin Dog remember that Natural War Maniac was still tied to the metallic bed. He quickly walked up and used thief tools to pry open the metal shackles on his hands, then injected a stimulant into Natural War Maniac’s neck.

“Ugh—”

“Where are we? Wasn’t I in a battle?”

Natural War Maniac opened his eyes and struggled to get up from the metallic bed, looking confused. Instinctively, he reached for his battle axe at his waist, but found it empty.

Seeing him awake, Mantou hurried over to help.

Natural War Maniac looked at Mantou’s familiar face, and his face instantly flushed with anger, still immersed in the previous fight.

His veins bulged as he swung a fist, roaring in rage,

“Monster! Get off Mantou!”

The barbarian, with 18 points of strength, hit Mantou’s face with a fist the size of a fist.

“Bam!”

A dull thud was heard, and Mantou’s face immediately deformed dramatically, his face turning a mix of red, purple, and green.

“Ouch!”

Mantou couldn’t help but scream in pain.

He was seeing stars and almost lost consciousness again.

Natural War Maniac wanted to land another punch but was quickly stopped by Xin Dog.

“Why are you stopping me, Xin Dog? I’m going to kill that beast!”

“Fight! Thrill!”

“Haa—”

Mantou finally regained his senses. Holding his rapidly swelling face, he said quickly in a high-pitched voice, “War Maniac Bro, hold on!”

“It’s me! It’s really me, Mantou!”

He pointed to his face, crying out.

Xin Dog also explained, “The boss just possessed Mantou. You were under a spell and fell asleep. Be careful not to kill Mantou by mistake.”

“Huh?”

Natural War Maniac quickly dropped his fist, touched his shiny bald head, and blushed slightly.

“Uh, sorry, Mantou. I mistook you for the boss. Are you okay? I’ll compensate you with a healing potion back in town later.”

“Alright, I’m okay.”

Mantou wanted to cry, but his face was already as swollen as a steamed bun.

Xin Dog, somewhat gloating, said, “War Maniac, don’t worry about Mantou, as long as he’s not dead. We happened to stumble into a hidden dungeon, so let’s explore it properly.”

“Oh? Hidden dungeon?”

“There must be some powerful enemies then.”

Natural War Maniac’s eyes were suddenly filled with battle spirit, the excitement unique to professional gamers on his face. He was, after all, a man who had single-handedly fought the Star Leviathan!

Mantou was still rubbing his injured face, letting out a miserable wail,

“My handsome face—”