Chapter 25: Ambush
It was midnight, and the players and the mermaid princess quietly made their way out of the port city. After a day of adjustment, the mermaid princess, though still not entirely steady on her feet, managed to leave the city with Lu Li and the others' help.
Outside the city, they searched for a suitable spot on the main road. This "main road" was essentially a dirt path lined with sand and stones, bordered by dense forests on either side. The prince's wedding procession would clear the forest flanking the road as they passed. Lu Li and the others needed a spot with good visibility and enough cover to ambush the road clearers, creating an opportunity for the mermaid princess to confront Prince William.
Lacking military strategy or geographic survey skills, the players roughly chose a location and began setting traps, waiting for the right moment.
Hu Wenxu buried his mutated organs, eye-like jewels, around the area. These provided surveillance and were well hidden. Gao Xiaowen's ability involved implants, though its specifics were unclear. Lu Li saw her scattering something on the dirt road, its purpose unknown.
Meanwhile, Xu Haoran was strapped to an altar in a strange posture. Opposite him stood the maid, expressionless, while the witch prepared for the final steps of a ritual.
Placing a severed tongue in a peculiar metal box, the witch added various potions and alchemical materials before heating it over a flame, chanting ancient, harsh incantations.
A beautiful, haunting song emanated from the box, touching the heart and evoking the most cherished memories, making one forget the present. The witch's expression softened.
Life was unpredictable. The witch recalled falling in love with a human girl years ago. Sacrificing his future, he sought the then-witch's help to change species, living blissfully with the girl until the mermaid's land organization found him, demanding his aid. His identity was exposed, and his vocal cords were cut.
Wandering for years, he eventually returned to the former witch, becoming her successor to repay his debt.
As the witch's thoughts strayed, the green crystal in her hand fully merged, clearing her mind. The past faded into nothingness as she resumed chanting. The metal box shook before falling silent.
The witch retrieved the box, revealing a purple crystal, nearly a module, which could be called a rule module: Sound.
She pressed the crystal to her throat, where it embedded itself with a wisp of smoke. Her voice, now clear and pleasant, reflected her joy: "The time has come…"
Dawn broke, the sky brightening as if to banish all darkness, though shadows persisted.
As the kingdom's sole heir, Prince William's security was paramount. After a near-miss at sea last year, his protection detail had grown formidable, with guards clearing the path and scanning for ambushes.
Jack, a guard tasked with clearing the way, came from a long line of royal servants. His ambition was to earn a promotion for his descendants.
"What's this?" Jack poked some grass with his spear, revealing a gem. "A jewel!"
Looking around, Jack quickly pocketed the gem, thinking of presenting it to the prince, hoping for a reward.
As he turned to leave, a fist flew at him, knocking him unconscious. [TL: Surprise mthrfcker!]
"Did I hit him too hard?" Lu Li withdrew his fist, looking at the approaching procession. Twenty elite guards flanked the prince's carriage, with more guards clearing the path. The entourage included maids and attendants, a significant force for the era, capable of a small battle.
The prince's carriage likely had additional protections. Approaching them directly would result in imprisonment at best. To meet the prince, they had to create their own chance.
As the carriage passed, the ground writhed, black hair sprouting to bind the horses' hooves. Seizing the moment, Lu Li unleashed his strength, leaping from the forest. His muscles bulged as he hurled eye-jewels with precise force, striking the guards.
Chaos ensued. Panicked horses made it difficult for mounted guards to dismount, let alone charge. Those hit by the eye-jewels froze, their greed unnaturally amplified, scrambling to gather the fallen gems.
This was one of Hu Wenxu's skills, based on the Greed module, inducing uncontrollable avarice. His eye-like jewels, grown from his mutated organs, served as effective carriers.
Meanwhile, Gao Xiaowen led the mermaid princess toward the prince's carriage. Her face was ghastly pale, with long black hair trailing behind her like a ghost from a horror film. Cold energy emanated from her, and the hair continued to grow, binding and suffocating nearby guards. Even Lu Li faced the hair's attack…
[End of the Chapter]