The Only Player in ‘Child of Stardust’
Chapter 186 - 133 The Torch

Chapter 186: Chapter 133 The Torch

"Ow... Stop hitting... I was wrong... I won’t dare again..."

After a round of punches and kicks, the pitch-black little figure hugged its head and whimpered for mercy.

Zhou Yuan stopped his fists and coldly questioned, "What exactly are you?"

"I am the King of Terror..."

The pitch-black little figure sniffled and said, "I am the embodiment of fear, the monster under the bed, the demon in the shadows, the guide to corruption... Someone hired me to cause chaos everywhere..."

"Who hired you?"

"A Spirit World merchant named ’Zero’... He gave me many evil energy crystals to wreak havoc in the human realm."

Spirit World merchant? Zhou Yuan knew these people, traveling through various planes for business, a mixed bag with no fixed organizations or guilds, all individual operators with odd temperaments who didn’t give face even to the Control Bureau.

"Zero? That guy is an A-level wanted criminal in six planes. Two years ago, he caused the Heaven’s Plague, making the angels gnash their teeth in hatred." Chen Guangxi sneered, "You really have a death wish taking his job."

Zhou Yuan then took out a Level 1 containment box and threw the King of Terror into it.

The scene shifted, returning to the villa’s hall.

"Ahhhhhhhh!" Gu Chacha screamed with tears streaming down her face, stopping abruptly after several seconds. She looked around in a daze and realized she seemed to have escaped the nightmare.

"What’s going on?" The jacketed man looked bewildered and fearful.

"This thing’s tricks." Chen Guangxi pointed at the King of Terror inside the containment box, "When we entered the dream world, it scattered us into different dreams. It could create a real-world to break down the psychological defenses of the trapped. If the trapped person overcame their fear, it would continue to create disasters and troubles, pushing the trapped person step by step towards despair and corruption.

Its ability didn’t affect me, but I couldn’t forcibly tear the dream. I could only observe as a bystander. Fortunately, your Saint Heir was effective."

"Uh..." Gu Chacha was dumbfounded for a moment before understanding what had happened, "So, this thing is resolved?"

"Resolved."

"But I’m very curious, why did you come to bully a little girl when you caused chaos in the human world?" Chen Guangxi asked.

"I... just randomly picked someone..." The King of Terror shivered, "Aren’t men, women, old people, and children all humans? What’s the difference?"

[This is a lie.]

Zhou Yuan suddenly kicked the containment box, making the little figure inside shiver. He threatened, "Speak honestly! Or I’ll throw you into the septic tank."

"No, no, no..." The King of Terror immediately confessed, "Initially, I targeted extraordinary people, but four days ago, ’Zero’ suddenly broke into my dream and instructed me to harass this child. He also wanted me to kill the extraordinary people that came to handle it after. That’s the whole truth, really, I’m not lying."

Zhou Yuan and Chen Guangxi exchanged looks. This seemed like a premeditated ambush!

"Wait..." Gu Chacha was stunned by these words, "Zero wants to kill us? We’ve never met him."

Luo Qi had been entangled four days ago, and four days ago, Gu Chacha and the other two hadn’t yet connected with Zhou Yuan. So she thought Zero wanted to kill the three of them.

"That’s not right. Four days ago, we were in Europe, and our itinerary wasn’t even confirmed..." The jacketed man frowned, "How could he plan to target us? Also, how did Zero know Luo Hongfu would contact us?"

"I think... that guy was after the two of us." Chen Guangxi touched her chin, "After all, you three are small fries. Zero is a Tier-5; even if he wanted to kill you, it wouldn’t need so much trouble."

"Uh..." Gu Chacha nodded, "Indeed."

"Most Spirit World Travelers like Zero know some divination and can see vague scenes of the future or the past. He probably used divination to foresee us connecting, hence planning this incident." Chen Guangxi analyzed, "The reason he chose Luo Qi as the target was that it would make Luo Hongfu contact Gu Chacha. After you realized the trouble on-site, you would naturally seek help from the newly acquainted Saint Heir. I would also come along for the fun of it..."

She looked at the King of Terror in the containment box, "Although this little guy looks timid now, its ability is terrifying. If it weren’t for Zhou Yuan breaking the situation, even I would be trapped in the dream world... This trap was planned excellently but still fell short by one step.

Just don’t know, if Zero wanted to kill me or you... or maybe both."

"I haven’t offended him, surely he doesn’t want to kill me just because I am the Holy Crow Church’s Saint Heir?" Zhou Yuan was helpless.

"Very likely." Gu Chacha nodded seriously, "Several previous Saint Heirs were assassinated shortly after taking office. Even if you have no personal grudge, your status alone would be enough."

Zhou Yuan: "..."

"Good thing, it sounds so badass to be the enemy of the world." Chen Guangxi smiled and patted his shoulder.

·

Leaving the dream world, the system’s prompt sounded immediately.

[Mission "My Love for Killing in Dreams" has been completed]

[Mission Rating: S (Experience Points and Star Coins rewards increased to 150%)]

[Comments: There is only one true heroism in the world: to love life after knowing its truth. No amount of suffering and difficulty can extinguish your true heart. One day, this passion will warm many others.]

[Mission Reward 1: Experience Points x1200]

[Mission Reward 2: Star Coins x6000]

[LV28→LV29!]

[Experience Points: 450/1500]

[Star Coins: 13160]

[Assignable Attribute Points: 1]

The mission goal was to kill the ghost in the dream, but that ghost was transformed under the power of the King of Terror. Capturing the king directly completed the mission as well.

Zhou Yuan neatly added the attribute point to Perception, bringing his Perception attribute to 31 points.

He left the rest of the matters to Gu Chacha and the other two. Zhou Yuan and Chen Guangxi didn’t engage much with Luo Hongfu’s family and immediately rushed to the Xinyue Control Bureau.

Containment Department.

Zhou Yuan placed the containment box on the table, "Just contained an abnormal creature, should be a Level 3 abnormality."

"Level 3 abnormality?" The Containment Department staff’s eyes widened in shock, "Then why did you use a Level 1 containment box?"

"Calm down. Given its current state, a Level 1 containment box is enough."

"I’ll go call someone right away."

Half an hour later, after the professors in the Containment Department had researched it, a brand new abnormal project was born, and the abnormal items catalog was updated.

[Abnormal 10254·King of Terror]

"This abnormality’s ability can be used to screen specific groups, but its danger level is very high. I imagine most people wouldn’t be able to escape the dream world, so it should remain in semi-permanent containment." Professor Ma, wearing heavy glasses, said.

If an abnormality’s ability was suitable, the Control Bureau would use it as an asset; otherwise, they would implement different containment strategies.

Semi-permanent containment meant it could still see the light of day if the time was right.

Permanent containment meant eternal isolation from the outside world, sinking into the dark and void vault.

"If you could break through that kind of dream world, your character might be worthy of using that abnormal item." Professor Ma looked at Zhou Yuan, eyes full of meaning.

"Huh?" Zhou Yuan was stunned.

"Come with me." Professor Ma led Zhou Yuan and Chen Guangxi to the containment warehouse.

At the warehouse entrance, he gestured for the two to wait before going inside. Shortly, he returned, wearing thick cotton gloves and carefully holding a box made of ice.

The ice box emitted visible cold air, and inside it, a red flame burned and danced.

"Abnormal 1054·Sacred Flame." Professor Ma introduced its name, with the firelight reflected in the depths of his glasses and pupils.

"This was an abnormal item formed after an extraordinary person in Xinyue died many years ago. Only those with a suitable character can wield it.

If you can wield it, it’s yours.

If you can’t, then the mission subsidy will be the standard price for a Level 3 abnormal event, 5 million Federal Coins."

"This..." Zhou Yuan was stunned.

Because the price of this abnormal item far exceeded 5 million Federal Coins, it wouldn’t normally be offered as a mission subsidy.

"I want to find a suitable successor for it." Professor Ma said earnestly.