"Alright."
Klein felt immense joy in his heart but maintained the mystery and composure of the "Fool." He nodded slightly, smiling, "One of my followers is facing an offspring of an evil god about to be born. I thought you might be interested."
"An offspring of an evil god?" Ash's heart stirred, but he quickly shook his head. "Tingen is too far."
"Of course." Klein sighed lightly, having already anticipated this response. He found himself in a bit of a dilemma. He needed Ash's help but couldn't afford to waste too much time in the gray fog. Every second he lingered here, there was a possibility of danger in the real world. He had to send Ash away but didn't know how to bring it up.
Ash, sensing the urgency, took the initiative. "Sorry, Mr. Fool, I have other matters to attend to. If there's nothing else, may I take my leave?"
Klein was almost moved to tears. This was the kind of understanding only a fellow countryman could have! Knowing he was in a hurry and giving him a way out. He loved it!
"Alright."
Klein nodded slightly, not wasting any time. He quickly sent Ash away, then immediately grabbed the ring and dagger from the table, returning to reality. On the dimly lit stone steps leading from the underground to the surface, Klein looked at his hands. His left hand was wrapped with the "Vein Thief," his right hand held a dagger, and his index finger wore a ring.
"Just as expected!"
Klein was overjoyed. Everything was going as he had predicted. What ascended to the gray fog were their souls, referred to in this world as "star spirits." All of Ash's "tools" could manifest on the soul level. Last time, Miss "Justice" had demonstrated this with her personal experience.
The only pity was that he couldn't ask Ash for more help. Firstly, Ash had only introduced the "Sacrifice Ring," so theoretically, Klein should know nothing about Ash's other items. If he suddenly requested them, it would arouse suspicion. Even asking for the Sacrifice Ring was risky because it had been introduced in the gray fog, and "Klein" had never attended a Tarot meeting there, so he shouldn't know about it.
Secondly, Klein didn't have enough time to borrow these mystical items from Ash or ascertain their effectiveness. He couldn't afford to explain everything to Ash or wait for him to describe the functions of each item. Although the Captain and Leonard were still buying time, no one could predict when the enemy might strike.
The Sacrifice Ring was the limit; the dagger was an unexpected bonus. But after obtaining it, Klein couldn't help but regret not asking for more rings. Unfortunately, the urgency didn't allow for another trip to the gray fog to discuss things with Ash.
As he climbed the stairs quickly, Klein reached the second floor. He saw Dunn Smith, dressed in a black knee-length coat, standing silently under the dim blue gas lamp at the night watcher's rest area. His eyes were deep and gray, just as they had been when Klein first met him. Dunn's left hand held the saint's ashes box.
Klein's joy instantly faded, and his heart sank. "It should be almost time, right?"
Leonard's eyes twitched as he watched the young woman before him, whose mouth had split up to her cheekbones, exposing her white teeth and red gums. It was hard to believe that not long ago, this was a radiant and beautiful girl.
"I need to use the restroom!"
Forcing a smile, Leonard quickly left without waiting for a response, meeting up with Klein. "Captain, in less than three minutes, Megos will mutate. Her child will be born prematurely. We must act quickly!"
Dunn looked at the two of them, frowning slightly. His expression was exceptionally serious as he said in a deep voice, "I'll take Saint Selena's ashes outside. You two wait ten seconds, counting silently, and then join the fight. No matter what happens to me, don't waste time. Aim your strongest attacks at Megos and the baby in her womb."
Leonard's lips were dry, and he shouted in a low voice. Klein, however, looked down, his expression fluctuating as he touched the ring on his finger. After a moment's hesitation, he suddenly stepped forward.
"Captain, take this."
Klein removed the ring from his finger and put it on Dunn's. "What's this?"
Dunn was puzzled but didn't stop Klein. "It's a lucky ring from my family."
Klein explained vaguely, fastening the ring on Dunn's finger. "It can bring good luck to its wearer." His heart suddenly felt calm. He feared death—having died once before, he was terrified of it happening again. But he knew some things were more frightening than death.
He was selfish and afraid of dying, but he didn't want to regret it. Moreover, death wasn't necessarily irreversible. With the protection of the gray fog, he might be revived even if he died. But Dunn was different. As the strongest among them and the first to face the "evil god's offspring," he would bear the most pressure and danger. He was also holding the saint's ashes—a type of sealed item. Klein vividly remembered the cost of using the saint's ashes: if a low-sequence Beyonder forcefully activated them, they would die without a doubt. Dunn needed the ring more than he did.
"Alright."
Dunn looked at Klein for a long time, ultimately accepting his gesture with a slight nod. He gazed at the ring on his right index finger. It was a roughly made ring, with a dim, scratched, and chipped green gemstone. It seemed worthless, a trinket you'd hesitate to pay a penny for at a street stall. But Klein's goodwill made it irrefusable. Dunn gently rubbed the ring with the back of his hand, smiling faintly. "Don't be nervous. We're here to protect Tingen."
With that, he moved without hesitation, eyes focused ahead as he stepped through the partition, his black coat flaring slightly behind him. Soon, Megos's sharp, terrifying screams echoed from outside.
"You want to kill my baby!"
"Bang!"
The piercing shout reverberated, feeling like a hammer blow to Klein's head. He forgot to count silently, overwhelmed by pain and dizziness. His vision turned blood-red, and he felt liquid flowing uncontrollably from his nose. Glancing sideways, he saw Leonard Mitchell's face, blood streaming from his eyes, nose, and mouth. His complexion was pale, his body swaying as if about to collapse. Dunn, also affected, had blood gushing from his seven orifices. But he didn't falter, driven by sheer willpower to open the saint's ashes box with his right hand.
(End of Chapter)
50 Power stones = Extra Chapter