Chapter 23: Utilizing the Nature of Contracts for Strategy

Chapter 23: Utilizing the Nature of Contracts for Strategy

“Karl, there’s something I’m unsure if I should say.”

“Why the unnecessary formalities? Just spit it out. I can tell you’ve got something you want from me.”

In front of Karl, this old monster, Xiuliein couldn’t hide his thoughts at all—he was immediately seen through.

“Uh, as expected of His Highness Karl. It’s really not a big deal, though. We learned from the oracle that we’re all doomed to die here, and there’s really no way to avoid that outcome. So, this territory will ultimately return to you, no need to worry.”

“I told you before, just say what you need to say directly. No need for all the roundabout talk.”

Karl was also the impatient type; he didn’t want Xiuliein to ramble and just wanted to get to the point.

“Alright, I’ll get straight to it. It doesn’t matter if we adults die here, but at the very least, we don’t want these children to meet that fate. So, could you please protect them?”

Xiuliein knew his own strength wasn’t enough to protect those kids, but he clearly understood Karl’s power. If those kids could be under Karl’s protection, at least they would have a chance to survive.

“Is that all you wanted to say to me?”

“What did you think I’d come to you with? I hope you can accept this request.”

“Fine, I’ll do my best to protect those children. But about their accommodation, I’m afraid…”

“There’s no need to worry about that… I’ve already notified other tribes, and there will be adults from other tribes coming to take them away.”

“Is that so… then there’s no problem. I’ll agree to your request.”

Karl felt that this didn’t harm him at all, so he simply agreed, returning a favor to Xiuliein.

“Thank you. With your promise, we’ve got nothing to fear anymore.”

Xiuliein left to discuss this matter with the other tribe members. They all agreed to the proposal of letting the children escape to live in other tribes. However, the kids seemed very resistant, preferring to die with their parents rather than go live in other tribes.

In the end, it took a long time to convince his kids to go to Karl for protection.

…

“As expected of me, this feels so intense! It’s the first time fighting to a standstill!”

Aierjisi wiped the sweat off her forehead, looking at the Phantom across from her. It was created by the core of creation, healing from any damage immediately and had no limits on its magic power. If it turned into a war of attrition, she would be in a very unfavorable situation.

But in a quick battle, their strengths were about equal, making it hard to take the Phantom down swiftly.

“Oh no!”

While Aierjisi was feeling troubled, Yake was having a hard time too. He had been beaten down by his own Phantom, lying on the ground with his mouth gaping.

“Yake, get up! The battle isn’t over yet.”

“I know!”

Yake rolled aside to dodge the Phantom’s thrust and got back up.

The current situation was very unfavorable for both of them; neither could overcome their own Phantoms.

“Darn it, this core of creation is just too unfair! It created such a powerful Phantom; there’s no way I can defeat this guy.”

“That’s obvious. The power of the core of creation is incredibly strong. To obtain its power, you have to go through the corresponding trials.”

“I get that, but couldn’t these trials be a bit simpler? We came here to save the world, after all. Plus, it feels like one wrong move, and I’ll be dead here.”

“Now you’ve hit the nail on the head. The trials here are meant to take our lives; either you pass the trial or die in it—there’s no way out.”

“So what do we do next? Just keep clashing with them?”

“No, fighting them out like this is clearly hopeless. For now, let’s just stall and I’ll think of a way to deal with them.”

If this were a game world, Aierjisi could’ve forced her way through by spending real money on buffs to take down her Phantom.

But in this other world, she had to rely on her own wits.

Was there a way to interfere with the two of them? If she wanted to take them down…

Hmm? Wait a minute, she and Yake shared a single life, meaning if one of them was defeated, the other would also die.

When Gilbaris’s group captured her, Yake would be taken along as well.

If she and Yake were truly one person now, could this mechanism be used in reverse?

“Yake, I think I’ve come up with a great idea. Listen to me!”

“You better hurry up; I can hardly hold on here!”

Yake raised his sword, deflecting the onslaught of the Phantom. However, the Phantom seemed to be attacking faster and faster; he was on the verge of collapsing.

“Remember how our lives are linked?”

“Of course, but why bring that up now? What does that have to do with your ‘great idea’?”

“Of course, if this Phantom is copied exactly from us, it should inherit that property as well. If that’s the case, we might see a chance.”

“How so?”

“Their individual strength matches ours, so in a one-on-one fight, we’d surely lose. Instead of dragging this out, we should both attack one of the Phantoms together. If we can defeat one of them, the other should dissipate as well.”

“That makes some sense. Which Phantom should we hit? Yours or mine?”

“Let’s go for yours; yours looks weaker and easier to take down.”

“Looks weaker? How rude!”

Hearing her call his Phantom weaker and easier to defeat, Yake couldn’t hold back and started to complain to Aierjisi.

“Enough with the excuses! Just get to it already!”

Aierjisi channeled the magic within her body, constructing three magic circles. Aiming at Yake’s Phantom, she unleashed her magic cannon.

Yake also loaded the magic cartridge Aierjisi had given him earlier and launched a blade toward his Phantom.