The Devil’s Cage

“A newbie seeking a shortcut? Or another trap?”

Kieran muttered to himself in the shadows.

Everything was so evident that Kieran was somehow unsure of the person’s true identity.

Using a messenger pigeon, altering handwriting to protect their identity, etc.

However, the alterations weren’t thorough, especially in a place like the big city. Such a cover-up was heavily flawed, one didn’t even need special abilities to trace the sender.

Kieran did precisely that, but unlike the sender, he was careful enough.

Of course, it wasn’t saying that the sender wasn’t careful enough, but because of this kind of ‘carefulness,’ it made Kieran think that the sender didn’t understand the big city and such a situation would only happen on a newbie player.

But!

Could a newbie get a grasp on information regarding Saikory?

The answer was obviously no.

A conflicted answer, though.

Other than that, the timely manner made Kieran feel things were getting interesting, as if the moment he knew Saikory’s identity, everything appeared before him so naturally.

But…

Was it a natural occurrence?

Kieran coldly smiled again. He never believed in coincidences, just like how he thought the best enemy is a dead enemy.

His brain spun quickly.

He quickly formed up some plans and told Rachel about what just happened.

Why not Lawless?

Lawless was undoubtedly a person that Kieran could trust completely, just like Starbeck, but he was too reckless and impulsive.

Impulsive actions are the devil of the human heart.

Kieran never denied that saying, just like he never denied Starbeck being a coward, even though he was a lot better now.

Still, Kieran couldn’t count on Starbeck on certain things.

Rachel: Got it.

…

After a simple reply, both of them ended the conversation.

Kieran leaned back into the shadows again.

The door to Blacksmith’s room opened, she walked out with her previous outfit, but her presence became hard to conceal.

“Here.”

Blacksmith tossed Kieran the [Frost Heart Remnant] and went back to her room.

Kieran raised a brow when he saw the door shut on him.

Based on the exhaustion in Blacksmith’s tone and her hard to conceal presence, everything was telling Kieran one thing: this appraisal process was much consuming than he thought.

Likewise, [Frost Heart Remnant] wasn’t disappointing either.

[Name: Frost Heart Remnant]

[Type: Gemstone]

[Rarity: III]

[Attribute: 1. Consume; 2. Embed; 3. Infuse; 4. Sacrifice]

[Able to bring out of the dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: It belonged to a God, at least it was when it wasn’t destroyed.]

…

[Consume: Extremely high chance to acquire slight Divine Frost Bloodline after consumption (Constitution and bloodline authentication required)]

[Embed: Embed it on a weapon or piece of equipment to acquire a special Frost effect]

[Infuse: It can be infused with items with ice abilities to empower them (the lower the rarity, the higher the success rate)]

[Sacrifice: Offer it in a temple and hold a ritual for it, you will get something unexpected]

…

The coldness came from Kieran’s fingertip and spread to his palm as he held the gemstone with his fingers. The coldness spread further, causing him to shiver uncontrollably.

It felt like he was splashed with a bucket of cold water in winter.

The spread of coldness continued, almost within a breath’s time, the coldness neared Kieran’s heart, and then…

The coldness was burned to nothing.

The Devil Force, from his bloodline, burned the coldness when it approached. [Frost Heart Remnant] then returned to normal.

“Rejected?”

“Interesting!”

Kieran glanced over the description ‘acquire slight Divine Frost Bloodline after consumption (Constitution and bloodline authentication required),’ he finally decided where he would use [Frost Remnant Heart].

Who else was more suitable for it than Frost Wolf? No one.

As for offering it in a temple?

As long as Kieran wasn’t dizzied by impulse, he would not choose this option.

Divine beings or Gods weren’t fun to deal with from the moment they were born.

2567: Thanks.

…

Kieran thanked Blacksmith through the message before he turned around to the station.

However, before he boarded the train, he was shocked.

He suddenly saw a familiar face in the empty carriage of the train.

Wu.

“Don’t tell me this is a chance meeting.” Kieran walked over, stood in front of her, and questioned her.

“Of course not. I am waiting for you about what happened just now.”

When Wu lowered her superiority and wanted to learn to mix around with others, almost no one could ignore what she said, Kieran was no exception.

“Saikory?” Kieran raised a brow.

“Em. It’s him and not him at the same time.”

Wu replied with her old habits, but the diviner quickly reacted to the answer and added, “Saikory is nothing important. 2567, you should be focusing on your next dungeon.”

“Next, dungeon?” Kieran asked in a heavy tone.

He somehow had a bad premonition at what Wu said, and it became real right away.

“Something you’ve come across in your previous dungeon has been… affecting your fate!”

“It’s ultimate goal is to reap your soul.”

“Don’t ask me why it’s like asking me why a wolf is a carnivore.”

“It’s an instinct, I guess?”

“This thing treated you as its prey, it laid its traps like a spider knitting its web, waiting for you to fall and ultimately deliver the fatal blow,” Wu said softly.

“You are saying dungeons can affect other dungeons?” Kieran asked with speculations after he pondered upon Wu’s words.

“It can and can not at the same time.”

“It depends on what kind of existence you encounter in the dungeon world—you aren’t affected in the Title Dungeon with me because Title Dungeons are special, to the point that the existence couldn’t make a move against it.”

“But your next dungeon is different, whether it’s a normal dungeon or a special dungeon, it will go after you!” Wu suddenly sounded serious.

“How? Directly or indirectly?” Kieran was asking about the critical point.

“It couldn’t go after you directly, it has to play along with the rules, and within the rules, it can use its power to… PUK!”

Wu wanted to continue, but a mouth full of blood gushed out, preventing her from doing so.

Her blood was spilled on Kieran’s feathered mantle, the black and red intertwined, and became dazzling under the carriage’s light.

Kieran reached out and helped Wu, preventing her from falling.

“Is this what that thing is doing to you?” Kieran asked.

“No, this is repulsion, repulsion within the rules—I’ve touched something outside the rules, thus the repulsion.” A red line of blood was hanging over Wu’s mouth, but she continued without being too concerned.

Kieran held her by the shoulders, her head slightly tilted towards him and leaned on his arms.

Enough, it was enough for her.

The pain in her body was slowly going away, the ache in her heart was being relieved.

All that was left was the palm and the arm plus the warmth.

He…was exactly like how she remembered.

“It…”

“Enough, that will be enough.”

“I am not so mean to ask for hints in exchange for your life! Besides…”

Wu wanted to continue but was stopped by Kieran.

Kieran covered her mouth with his hand.

He bent down and looked at Wu on the same eye level, his eyes were shining with a never before seen glory and passion, it was dazzling like a dancing flame.

His voice, however, was calm and bland, like still water.

He said, “It’s just God right, it’s not like I never killed one before.”