TDU Chapter 414
Chapter 414 Target: Black Tortoise
“How can I explain this…” Qian Five mused. “I’ve spent a lot of time trying to grapple with this, but if you think about it carefully, there’s a simple and blunt explanation that can directly account for this phenomenon.”
“What explanation…?”
“They are {Gods},” Qian Five said. “You’ve probably heard that each of our {Reverberation} powers is a type of {divine power}. Though this divine power differs from what we imagine, it is indeed a capability ordinary humans do not possess.”
“So you’re saying…” Qi Xia slowly lifted his head. “These {Sacred Guardians} weren’t ever human… They are {Gods}? So they were born with these abilities?”
Qian Five listened and gave a wry nod. “Qi Xia…does that seem plausible to you?”
Plausible? Hardly.
A group of so-called {Gods}, confining ordinary people in such a hopeless place, subjecting them to repeated suffering.
However, Qi Xia had already encountered three {Sacred Guardians}, and none of them appeared human. By both visage and ability, they had transcended {human} limitations. Moreover, each of them was utterly deranged; if their {divine power} was triggered through subconscious will, they could succeed almost one hundred percent of the time.
Upon reflection, {Black Tortoise}’s method really did resemble {Probing Pocket}; she only needed to reach out and grasp, and whatever she desired would appear in her hand.
But this was a deeply horrifying realization… How insane must one be to believe they could claim another’s organs?
It seemed that different {Reverberation} could manifest completely differently depending on the individual.
Unfortunately, humans were still human; no one could possibly reach the level of derangement of a {Sacred Guardian} in such a short time.
Yet why, then, did Officer Li possess the same {Reverberation} as a {Sacred Guardian}?
Officer Li lowered his head to look at his own hands.
While they possessed the same {Probing Pocket}…that Sacred Guardian known as {Black Tortoise} could actually summon anything she desired?
“I have a question regarding {Quantum Leap}…” Qi Xia said. “Are you aware which individual possesses this {Reverberation}?”
“If I remember correctly…” Qian Five replied, “that person is Kim Wonhun.”
“Kim Wonhun…” Qi Xia nodded. “That henchman-like youth…possesses {Quantum Leap}?”
“Indeed,” Qian Five said. “It’s an extremely practical ability. As long as one’s belief is strong enough, they can appear anywhere they imagine. But that youth Kim Wonhun is clearly a novice; he can {Quantum Leap} only to locations within his line of sight.”
If Qian Five hadn’t said it, Qi Xia might not even have realized that whether it was {Vermilion Bird}, {Black Tortoise}, or {White Tiger}, they all seemed to possess this {Quantum Leap} ability—suddenly disappearing and reappearing as if they were true deities.
So this was just a {Reverberation}?
From this perspective, Qi Xia suddenly felt the {Sacred Guardians} were not untouchable. If they were all {Reverberatees}, he saw little chasm between himself and them.
“As for {Perishing Disintegration}…” Qi Xia remarked, “Chen Junnan mentioned yesterday that this {Reverberation} belongs to Doctor Zhao, an individual hailing from our probation room.”
“That’s correct,” Qian Five nodded. “Like Zhao Haibo, {Black Tortoise} can destroy any inanimate objects. The difference is that the scale of her destruction is enormous—if she wanted, this entire prison could turn into rubble and sand in an instant.”
Qi Xia rubbed his chin slightly and inquired, “If we view {Black Tortoise} as a participant possessing three {Reverberations}, it doesn’t sound too terrifying. But I have a feeling reality is far more complicated, isn’t it?”
“Oh?” Qian Five raised an eyebrow.
“I once drove a knife into {Black Tortoise}’s head,” Qi Xia continued. “But the sensation was extremely strange… it felt as if I had stabbed a bundle of straw.”
“What…” Those present listening all froze in disbelief.
Chen Junnan was so startled that his jaw almost hit the floor. “No way… You are one insane punk! You’ve already attempted {slaying a Sacred Guardian}?”
“Attempted…?” Qi Xia shook his head. “I’ve done more than just attempted. I stabbed her countless times but not a single cut drew blood. I stabbed her eyes, neck, chest, abdomen… but none of them were vital points. How are we supposed to kill something like this?”
Qi Xia’s expression grew increasingly grave as the memory of that night came vividly to mind. “She’s unbelievably strong, and she feels no pain… There may be a possibility that she possesses {Terrestrial-grade} body traits, along with unseen powers like {Affliction Dismissal} or {Unbreakable Spirit}.”
Qian Five furrowed his brow. “Truthfully… our {Slaying the Sacred Guardians} plan has only existed in theory. {Cats}’ survival principle is to conceal our true objectives. If we take action, success must be guaranteed—otherwise, every member could be eliminated before obtaining their {Reverberation}. No one can predict the consequences of {Assassinating a Sacred Guardian}.”
Qi Xia turned his head to look at Qian Five and asked, “I have a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“If you really intended to slay {Black Tortoise}, how would you go about it?”
Qian Five took a steady breath before answering, “If fortune favors me, I can do it alone. If not, every member of {Cats} will need to assist. As long as I can touch {Black Tortoise}, I have a chance to kill her.”
“What?” Qi Xia realised, from these words, that taking down the {Sacred Guardians} might not be a challenge for Qian Five. “What exactly does your {Conjoined Identity Bloom}—”
“{Conjoined Identity Bloom}, or a dual-flower plant. The bloom of one brings bloom to the other; the decay of one brings death to both,” Qian Five explained. “Once I touch {Black Tortoise}, we share life and death for a set period. In other words, if I die, Black Tortoise dies too.”
“That simple…?” Qi Xia looked at Qian Five in disbelief.
If Qian Five’s ability was this unique, in theory, he could take out everyone in {End Point}—whether Celestial-grade {Earthly Branches} or {Sacred Guardians}—as long as he trades his life for theirs.
After all, Qian Five can be resurrected, but {Earthly Branches} and {Sacred Guardians} cannot.
This three-word {Reverberation} seemed almost custom-made to counter these {Gods}.
“So, have you decided to risk it with the {Cats}?” Qian Five asked, gazing at Qi Xia with a solemn expression. “Every member of {Cats} only follows their captain’s orders. With a single order, we’d go through fire and water without hesitation.”
“Don’t be hasty.” Qi Xia cast a cold glance at Qian. After a few seconds of thought, he added, “I fully understand how you plan to bring about the deaths of the {Sacred Guardians}, but there’s still one last unresolved matter.”
“And that is…?”
“Suppose we actually kill {Black Tortoise}…” Qi Xia said, “have you considered the aftermath?”
TL Note: Rant goes here ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀)
