Chapter 230 - 21: The Chips

Words : 1772 Updated : Oct 3rd, 2025

After a thunderous roar, the outer wall of the clock tower shattered, and the great bell let out a heavy lament. Belli tried to find Bologue’s figure but saw a silhouette leaping into the air. Bologue flung out a grappling hook, swinging towards the spire of the church. Bologue was much more agile than Belli imagined, and in these days swinging around the Path of Uncertainty, his use of the grappling hook had improved significantly. Belli, on the other hand, was fiercer than Bologue anticipated. From Belli’s Ether strength, and his posture, one could easily discern his Secret Energy discipline—this was a Condenser of the Ascended Body School. Most Condensers from the Ascended Body School have relatively simple Secret Energy nature, affecting only their own bodies. This makes them appear brute and straightforward, yet they are often tough to deal with. Swelling muscles and brute strength were endowed upon Belli, gradually causing him to lose human form, turning into the appearance of a rampaging beast, with fur growing more luxuriant, akin to a true beast. More harrowing were the extensive, bizarre tattoos on his skin, intertwining with the glow of the Alchemy Matrix, forming ever more grotesque patterns. Bologue remained cautious; from these guys’ ability to summon the Devil’s aura and provoke the umbilical cord’s agitation, it was clear that these cultists were unlike those he had casually dispatched before. At least the things these guys worshipped truly existed. The Devil can grant debtors "Blessing"; no one knows what kind of blessings will be bestowed upon these fervent believers by the Devil. "Palmer, you’ve dealt with cultists before. Any new discoveries?" Bologue asked. "Wait a moment!" An impatient voice sounded in his mind, Palmer’s tone was a bit flustered, "I’m a bit busy over here." "Need help? We are partners," Bologue asked again. They were partners, and partners were supposed to act together, but for efficiency, to eliminate all enemies more quickly, they usually selected their opponents and fought separately. It wasn’t that they lacked tacit understanding, they just had not encountered an enemy that required them to team up yet. "No need, still under control." "That’s good." Bologue severed the contact with Palmer. Looking at it now, everything was still under control. He gazed at the other end of the clock tower, where Belli, eyes crimson, stared at him. His strength and speed were extremely fast, but like Bologue, he was merely a First Stage Condenser, and the effects of his Secret Energy were not comprehensive. For instance, after gaining strength and speed, he would certainly be weak in some areas. As Bologue pondered this, Belli launched another fierce attack, his body glowing brilliantly for a moment and then releasing. Bologue guessed that the reason he could move so rapidly was because of the addition of Ethereal Amplification, further enhancing his body’s strength and speed. This time Bologue did not dodge, but rather stood his ground, awaiting Belli’s arrival, the distance between them rapidly closing until they were in close combat. Ever since Bologue assaulted the church, Belli knew that the two were field staff of the Order Bureau... it was impossible not to know—Palmer shouted too loudly. Belli couldn’t figure out how these two found their way here. They had already established the ritual site, an alternative and sinister Void Realm, sealing the entire church district. Unless deliberately sought, the outside world would hardly notice what was happening within. Out of caution, he did not reveal himself, instead using other cultists to probe Bologue’s Secret Energy, gradually uncovering Bologue’s strength while hidden in the dark. Unlike before, Bologue rarely exposed his Secret Energy, but now he was deliberately using his own Secret Energy in combat, even with someone secretly observing everything. Previously, his caution stemmed from having too few trump cards; Secret Energy was his only bargaining chip. But now it was different. The guy possessed multiple Alchemy Armaments, each with very cunning effects. With more cards in hand, a gambler becomes more reckless. Most importantly, by actively exposing his Secret Energy, he could somewhat lower the opponent’s guard, as he did now, luring Belli to strike voluntarily. If Belli chose to hide, with his status as a Condenser, if he wanted to escape, in this godforsaken Great Rift, Bologue would indeed find it difficult to capture him. But now, by selling a flaw, he gave the opponent hope of victory. Their figures merged as one, and in an instant, the roaring sound continued endlessly, with the rooftop’s bricks and stones trembling and about to collapse. Belli delivered a fatal strike, sharp claws combined with his powerful strength, like a descending giant blade, capable of easily crushing life. But now, this once fierce heavy blow was unexpectedly stalled in mid-air, with intense aching reverberating from his flesh and blood. Bologue raised the Sheep Horn Shock Hammer, with the aid of Ethereal Amplification, the Sheep Horn Shock Hammer collided with the claws. The immense force transmitted over, twisting Bologue’s arm; he felt his bones fracture, but Belli’s sensation was worse. Even with the Secret Energy’s Protection, the force of vibration still flooded into his arm. What was worse was the gunshot wound in his chest; unbeknownst to him, Bologue had taken out a short-barreled shotgun. He calculated the distance until the moment they faced each other, with no chance to evade, he pulled the trigger. The dense pellets directly hit Belli’s chest, with various sizes of blood holes covering his flesh where the pellets dug deep. The body has been enhanced to a certain extent, but only to a certain extent. Information flickered through Bologue’s mind as he observed Belli, who resembled a mighty giant bear. Many secret energies of the Ascension School are based on beasts, transforming the human body into that savage form, endowed with its power. Agonizing pain swallowed Belli, but it wasn’t enough to topple him. He let out a deep roar, the sound waves crashing towards Bologue, raising a gale that brought down the roof’s bricks and stones. The shockwave even knocked Bologue back several meters, and in the chaotic vision, Belli’s figure overlapped with that of a giant bear. Secret Energy·Roaring Bear Form. A secret energy of the Ascension School, it grants the Condenser the power of a Roaring Bear, greatly enhancing strength and speed, along with the fortification of one’s flesh, and can release a brief shock through roaring. Amidst the chaos, a hook darted through the air, accurately embedding into Belli’s shoulder. In the next second, the figure of the Evil Spirit broke through the flying debris, heading straight for Belli’s face. "That’s why I really hate the Ascension School." Bologue muttered, as the shock hammer and short-barreled shotgun in his hands disappeared, replaced by two crossed folding knives. His knives were swift, and under Ethereal Amplification, the dual blades would be even swifter. A ghastly white cross exploded in front of Belli, followed by a slender wound splitting open along his chest, the horizontal slash reaching his shoulder, while the vertical slash traced Belli’s nose and chin. Just a few more inches deeper, and it could have split his skull. Belli let out a painful gasp, trying to retaliate with a punch, but just as his claw was about to clash with the folding knife, his claw struck at air. It wasn’t that Belli missed, but that the folding knife acted first. Driven by Secret Energy·Summoning Hand, it twisted into bizarre thorns, stabbing directly into Belli’s wound, trying to take root. Condensers of the Ascension School fight in a savage and direct manner, yet external injuries are hard to kill them, while internal injuries are fatal to them. The Iron Thorns nimbly burrowed into the flesh. Belli quickly tore it out, but a large spurt of blood mixed with torn flesh burst out regardless. Belli felt an indescribable sensation. The Ascension School, which was supposed to dominate the battlefield, was now being suppressed. Every attempt to counterattack met with a storm-like retaliation, leaving him no room to breathe. The Alchemy Matrix burst into brilliant brilliance as Belli abandoned defense. Under Ethereal Amplification, he poured all his strength against the Bologue before him, just like boxers brawling on a ring. Bologue’s assault was indeed fierce, but he didn’t possess the same robust body. If he could hit him even once, this guy would be dead for sure. If it were other Condensers, Belli’s decision would be fine, but he couldn’t imagine facing a Debtor now. A Debtor blessed with Undying Power. Claws tore through Bologue’s clothes, revealing the Iron-Repelling Armor beneath. This armor’s effects were exceptional, yet the force still penetrated the defense, acting on the body, the faint sound of bones cracking reverberating. The body leaned back; logically, Bologue should withdraw now, allowing Belli to continue pursuing him and smashing the prey completely. But Bologue clung tightly to the hook embedded in Belli’s shoulder, suddenly raising his hand, discarding the folding knife for the Sheep Horn Shock Hammer, swinging the twisted arm towards Belli. The vibration, coupled with Ethereal Amplification, roared forth. For a moment, Belli felt as if hit head-on by a truck. The struck area, flesh indented, bones misaligned, even the roof beneath quaked, nearing collapse. Belli was confused, Wasn’t this guy afraid of death? Like a stubborn evil dog, even at the cost of life, it was determined to bite him fiercely. Looking towards Bologue, who clutched the hook, the hand holding the hammer hung low, with an eerie frenzy in those azure eyes. "You don’t seem that easy to kill." Bologue clearly sensed that unique, fiendish madness of the Devil revolving around Belli. At the same time, Belli’s slashed-open chest, the flesh visibly squirmed, healing back together. "Coincidentally, I’m not that easy to kill either." The fractured bones realigned under muscle pressure, blood flowed backward, and in Belli’s numb gaze, Bologue raised the Sheep Horn Shock Hammer with a hint of delight in his voice, as if he’d found a beloved toy, no matter how he hammered it, it wouldn’t break. The Sheep Horn Shock Hammer descended, transforming into a storm, breaking arms, shattering legs, crushing the chest, and finally striking the head. The mighty body collapsed in an instant. Even with impressive regenerative abilities, under Bologue’s relentless onslaught, Belli’s self-healing proved utterly futile. As the hammer struck continuously, Bologue also drove silvery spikes into his body. Belli couldn’t figure out where this guy pulled out so many weapons, but soon his body was covered with spikes, like a condemned criminal, and under the final blow of the Heavy Hammer, the roof collapsed, plunging into the rubble.

Chapter 230 - 21: The Chips

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