Nicholas Gates's memories quickly unfolded before Connor and the others. It was a life full of sorrow and sin. Because of sorrow, there was sin, because of sin, there was sorrow. The world played out a cycle of wickedness one after another.
"Send him on his way."
"Where are you sending me to?"
"The other side of the Styx."
"Go to hell!"
Nicholas Gates woke up from the dreamlike state induced by the insects, as if he had just experienced a carousel of life. He used the[Sandstorm]sword technique that he had forcefully advanced to its peak at level 8.
In an instant, sandstorms swept towards Connor, but Serence raised her hand and with a roar, the tornadoes were stopped as if they were taxi cabs that could be summoned on demand. Then Connor lifted his left arm and used his spatial bracelet to store away the sandstorm.
"How is this possible?"
Connor said calmly: "Anything is possible. Let me ask you one last time: death or surrender?"
The brilliant purple light shone again and rushed towards Connor. Suddenly, Serence appeared and intercepted this invisible light beam in midair with ease.
"With your ability alone, you're not worthy to fight against Nexus Overlord," she said.
"What? You're...a member of Nexus Citadel..."
Bang! Before Nicholas Gates could finish his sentence, Serence's magic pierced through his heart. His face showed an expression of incredible disbelief as if he had seen an indescribable truth.
"My king, all the people brought by this man have already died. What should we do next?" Serence bowed slightly; when the king was present everything would first have to go through him.
Connor responded without changing expression: "Throw all their bodies outside the gate. Extract their souls and attach them onto some strong bodies found at Howling Abyss; your Black Shadow Legion can add new recruits again. This Crimson Standard Gang was originally a bunch of bandits that committed many crimes, but they have a decent sense of combat and are suitable for guarding the outer perimeter of Nexus Citadel."
"Yes, my king."
The atmosphere became quiet due to death. Suddenly, heavy breathing could be heard coming from a corner where someone was crouching in black mage robes.
It was Mystic Flute, the former apprentice of Black Magic in the Crimson Standard Gang. Due to the wall-piercing spell surrounding him having been destroyed by Lyra Nightfang patrolling around them earlier on, he had no way to escape now.
"Almost forgot. There's one fish that slipped through the net here."
Connor turned to look at Mystic Flute.
The clear and bright eyes under his black robe were judged as being close to his age from his physical appearance alone. His whole demeanor did not resemble those lawless criminals of the Crimson Standard Gang; rather, he seemed more like an elite student at a higher institution.
Mystic Flute stared at Connor with a fixed gaze, covering her mouth to prevent herself from making any noise.
"Thinking that being quiet will allow you to escape is as ridiculous as thinking that squatting on the ground will turn you into a mushroom."
Connor gave Serence a signal with his eyes.
"And prepare the soul-searching demon insect combo for this one too."
As soon as Serence flicked her finger and threw the insect, Mystic Flute put down her hand covering her face.
It was only then that Connor noticed two surprising facts.
Firstly, this child was not a boy, but a girl.
Secondly, instead of fear, the expression on this child's face was one of ecstasy.
The girl's cheeks turned red like she had recognized a storm and become excited like the sea. The reason she covered her mouth was not because she was afraid of crying but to avoid getting too excited and screaming out loud.
What is she doing? Is she an obsessive fan?
It's impossible to chase stars in the underground city, so what exactly is she obsessed with?
Connor quickly got his answer when the soul-searching demon insect crawled slowly from his arm to his shoulder, then up to his face and lips.
Mystic Flute suddenly stuck out her tongue and licked the back of the insect shell. A happy expression appeared in her eyes before she took out a wrinkled note from a small bag and wrote down several lines carefully in student handwriting:
"Soul-searching demon insect - dark gray color; six-legged arthropod; slightly bitter taste; effect: extract memories; strip souls."
Even though people were dying, why was she still taking experimental notes? What kind of scientific spirit was this!
Although Connor was the Demon King of his generation, he couldn't help but be shocked: "Aren't you...afraid?"
Mystic Flute raised her head slightly, full of doubts: "Why should I be afraid? I have seen samples of this type of insect in the Akademi's array laboratory before, but unfortunately, the relevant information was incomplete, and I couldn't study it further. Now, not only do I have the opportunity to come into contact with it firsthand and record it on-site, but I can also experience what it feels like to be implanted with the insect. Don't you think that this is a very rare experience?"
Well, in every sense of the word, yes.
"So, so...Nexus Overlord!" Mystic Flute's eyes looked expectantly over: "If you have any other types of insects, feel free to use them on me. Even if you treat me as an experimental container, it's fine. Or this..."
She took out a bundle of hemp rope from her bag.
"You can tie me up and watch me moan under various types of insect torture. The Demon King must have all sorts of sadistic tendencies too; anything goes with you."
Devil! You're the Demon King!
"No need. Thank you," said Connor, waving his hand and clearing his throat. He then pointed to the wall and continued, "Since you have a good understanding of formations, from today onwards, you will stay in Nexus Citadel. The howling abyss is the entrance to the outer circle of the underground city. I need you to draw maze-like formations on the walls to confuse all foreign invaders. For each formation that satisfies me, I will let this soul-searching demon insect stay with you for an extra day."
"Agreed."
"Words are empty; let's sign a contract."
...
After the battle was over, there was a fruitful result from it.
Serence used soul-searching demon insects to harvest hundreds of living souls from Crimson Standard Gang and then fused them with Black Shadow Legion soldiers to create a special forces team that didn't eat or drink but remained absolutely loyal and could train for improvement and go out of the city for battle - Black Shadow Legion Red Banner Squad.
The squad leader Nicholas Gates' soul was revived, retaining his forcibly elevated rank. With the body of a mole cricket integrated into him, he maintained its appearance and inherited its nickname. He had never experienced family warmth before but unexpectedly found care from Serence - he now regarded her as his father and could be said to be as loyal as they come.
Mystic Flute's formation was also being set up, greatly increasing the defensive strength of the city.
In addition, Connor's space bracelet also displayed reminders of completed tasks:
[Completed task: transport military supplies (1/2).]
[Subtask completed: send Crimson Standard Gang ambushed on the way to Fengdu.]
[Earned experience: 500 points.]
[Delivery talent upgrade.]
[Unlocked skill: Space Expansion (passive).]
[Raise expand rate by two hundred percent.]
[Unlocked skill: Space Contraction (active).]
[Raise contraction rate by one hundred percent.]