"How wonderful it is to see you transformed into a stronger version of yourself!" This opening remark felt quite trite, yet I genuinely struggled to find the right words. Lilith gazed at me intently for a few moments before responding in a calm tone, "The Locke Group has harnessed the power of five wish fruits to unleash the most profound dark magic, creating an army of one hundred undead. You should leave Demon Island swiftly;
a devastating war is imminent!"
"And what about you?
Are you one of the undead?" Lilith shook her head and replied, "I am not; I lack such formidable power. I am merely another tool for assassination cultivated by the Locke Group— the Night Demon."
Before I could utter a word, Lilith suddenly assumed a listening posture, then, with a graceful flourish of her arms, ascended into the air, calling out to me, "I am off to join the battle. Be cautious of Snooker; he seems to harbor a deep-seated animosity towards you."
Watching Lilith's ethereal figure depart, despite her alluring form accentuated by her fitted attire, I felt no stirrings of desire.
She had ultimately refrained from taking my life.
An army of one hundred undead may not be enough to conquer Demon Island, yet the Locke Group's intentions remain shrouded in mystery.
What could they possibly be planning?"
I pondered silently as I hopped back into the car, regaining control of the steering wheel. It wasn't until we had driven a considerable distance that I quietly informed Guan Ling, "I intend to visit the training camp of the Demon Sealing Mercenary Corps.
I will also speak to the bald instructor on your behalf, ensuring you can participate in this session's training. If you can pass their ten rigorous trials, assisting your father should be well within your capabilities. However, I may be facing significant trouble ahead, and I can no longer accompany you on your tasks. Here, take two hundred thousand;
make sure to spend it wisely. It should sustain you for quite some time on Demon Island."
I finally relinquished the idea of teaming up with Guan Ling;
her strength was still too lacking, especially with the emergence of Snooker as an adversary.
I needed formidable allies, and Wolf King and Hachi Matsuhira were my top choices, despite their unreliability.
Guan Ling remained silent until we arrived at the training camp, where she finally murmured, "I will become strong; just you wait for me.
"Whether I wait or not is inconsequential. I am unlikely to be the most significant person in your life." Such words were tinged with melancholy, and I suddenly realized my emotions were in disarray. With Lilith, it was a mutual benefit, but now that we had become adversaries, it weighed heavily on my heart.
I still had no idea how to find Pan Li'er.
We fortuitously arrived at the training camp during dinner time. Many new recruits had filled their stomachs and were now seeking entertainment within the camp.
As I drove boldly into the grounds, accompanied by the striking Guan Ling, it didn't take long for discontented glances to be cast our way.
"Hey, kid, mind if I borrow your girl for a bit?"
"Go to hell!" My mood was already soured. I had no interest in even sparing them a glance. The Holy Light Bombs were on sale, and I unleashed a barrage of twenty to thirty, forming a blinding line of radiance. The provocateur, a blonde youth adorned with countless metal rings on his face, seemed to believe his ten or so companions would protect him, never anticipating my retaliation.
Infused with the arcane power of the Holy Light Bomb, its might exceeded the original version by a considerable margin, further amplified by my fury. The blonde youth was caught completely off guard and was obliterated on the spot, validating my words: "Go to hell!"
Violence is always the most direct and unequivocal means of asserting dominance. As I strolled past with Guan Ling, the group of over a dozen accompanying the blonde were rendered utterly silent, too fearful to utter a sound, lest they provoke my wrath and meet a similar fate.
"Wasn't that a bit too harsh?"
"Not at all; if I lacked the capability, I would only suffer a worse fate than his. Death occurs daily in this training camp, with many falling victim to brutal slaughter."
Guan Ling shivered at my cold demeanor; having spent her time in the luxurious Demon Island Grand Hotel, she had not witnessed much of the harsh realities of battle.
If I did not provide her with some lessons, I feared that upon my return, I might be collecting her remains.
Instructor Weir, the bald commander, was in his office. Upon seeing me arrive so swiftly, he expressed surprise at my eagerness to undergo training. However, he asked no further questions and promptly stood to escort me to the teleportation magic circle.
Upon hearing that I was leaving Demon Island, Guan Ling immediately grasped my arm, pleading, "I want to go back too;
can you take me with you?"
"I have no objections, but once you leave Demon Island, you may not return! Participating in the training camp is immensely beneficial for enhancing your strength.
Initially, I had managed to fare well in the camp with only rudimentary skills.
Guan Ling, however, had acquired the level seven martial arts card, the Color Phoenix Flight, along with the supreme skill of the Great Peng's Carefree Technique; she should have no problem passing the first five trials.
If she were to accompany me, I had no assurance of being able to protect her, thus I earnestly tried to dissuade her from leaving. However, Guan Ling was resolute;
she was determined to follow me, and no amount of persuasion could change her mind. Just as I began to feel overwhelmed, Instructor Weir interjected, "You can also participate in the training camp at the headquarters in France; it is not mandatory to stay here."
"Really? The headquarters in France too? Why was I not informed?"
Weir replied nonchalantly, "Because that privilege is reserved for the girls; you are not entitled to such benefits."
"Ah! No wonder it is said that half of the Demon Sealing Mercenary Corps consists of women; the gender discrimination during recruitment is quite apparent. How did you manage to become a senior member, instructor? Don't tell me you're actually a woman."
A flush of anger spread across Weir's face, his previously calm demeanor now disrupted by my words as he bellowed, "Have you ever seen such an ugly woman?"
"Indeed, I have not! But this world is not devoid of oddities!"
Instructor Weir spread his fingers, unleashing a sharp gust of wind. Before I could react, I activated my Holy Shield, bracing for the instructor's furious strike.
I was no longer the naive novice; it would not be so easy for Weir to defeat me. After exchanging a few blows, a colorful ribbon interposed itself between us, and Guan Ling cried out, "Stop fighting! I'm being pushed out the door!"