Carrying emotions so complicated they felt almost bitter, Steel Scarecrow took a deep breath.
Of course, he did not need to breathe.
Yet the soul controlling this metal shell was still human, and the human soul instinctively tried to grasp some “ritual” in the face of fear, even if it was only air that could never reach the lungs.
The machine oil throughout his body made a viscous glug-glug sound as the gears turned slowly.
Metal and old machinery—these were the basic raw materials that formed “Steel Scarecrow.”
If he had been a flesh-and-blood humanoid character, he would probably already be trembling in terror.
The legendary “Night Witch”—although a newcomer who had only risen recently—had quickly gathered considerable popularity through two features.
The first was the Witch’s “tier.”
Reliable information said she should only be Tier 4.
In the world of BHAO, that tier was merely entry-level, not even qualifying as “experienced.”
Virtual characters below Tier 5 (including Tier 5) possessed only three skills.
Skill strength was unaffected by tier; tier increases only affected the “number of skills obtained.”
This was the charm of BHAO.
As a game centered on combat and extended into network battles, every move was supposed to carry meaning and would not be forced off the stage simply because the tier rose.
Therefore, for Steel Scarecrow.
The only “advantage” he held against the Witch was having two more skills than her.
The second point was even more chilling.
The Witch’s ghost-like elusiveness.
And the terror effect brought by her skill visuals—the shadow skull scythe and that nightmare-inducing voodoo doll.
Either one was a classic villain tactic straight out of a “dark horror film.”
Naturally, no one questioned how well such skills matched the “Witch” title.
But in the current situation, praising her “style fit” would only seem extremely foolish.
At the far end of the straight ancient road, the doll still stood within the range of Steel Scarecrow’s infrared vision.
The brown horse’s iron hooves refused to take even one step forward.
After all, even the Tier 10 Rending Claw Werewolf had failed to withstand that attack.
The ending had almost been written.
Steel Scarecrow had to face the Witch’s assault alone and protect the armament inside the coffin.
“Witch.”
He spoke; his voice sounded dry and heavy through the metal resonance.
“Our BLOODY CASTLE’s actions have not affected you in any way.
We and the Witch should be in a state of peace, right? I think… that should be correct.”
In essence, everyone feared darkness.
Steel Scarecrow was no exception.
Even though only cold light reflected off the steel skeleton could be seen, the soul operating the shell was still human.
Yet as KING OF LANCER’s most trusted subordinate, he could not lose his will to fight because of fear.
An idol-tier Tier 4—perhaps she was only a paper tiger.
Maybe, as long as he forced her to show herself, everything would become “calculable.”
However, it was not the Witch herself who answered him.
“Hee hee, Mommy says—”
The doll spoke.
That bewitching voice carried needle-like sharpness, even the tone scraping like a blade.
“For prey, there is no need to know the hunter’s reasons!”
Compared with the skill name “voodoo doll,” it felt more like a “venomous-tongued doll.”
Steel Scarecrow could almost smell the undisguised pleasure in that single sentence—like a hunter deliberately tightening the trap rope and listening to the prey’s bones give a faint crack.
…Negotiation failed.
The doll was transmitting the Witch’s will.
And from experience, Steel Scarecrow judged that the Witch must be nearby.
“Come out and duel me, Witch! Fair and square!”
He shouted into the empty darkness while transforming the steel bars that served as arms into two hair-raising heavy weapons.
Clack—
The continuous sound of mechanisms shifting and changing linked together.
The shiny metallic luster rapidly turned black and was coated with an unidentifiable layer of paint.
A scarecrow built from iron frames—who would have thought he could pull out the famous GATLING GUN.
And he was exaggerated enough to ignore recoil—he pulled out two.
Judging from the blue meter constantly shrinking below Steel Scarecrow’s health bar, this was a “form-shift type” sustained skill.
The blue liquid inside the rusted steel tubes surged and churned.
Rust was Steel Scarecrow’s exclusive trait.
The blue liquid was the “mana” symbol shared by many characters.
Excluding the Witch’s SHADOW POWER and Rampage Hound’s extra mech health bar, this type of energy consumption covered nearly 70% of BHAO players.
Mana—was the source for activating and maintaining skills.
In other words, this scarecrow that looked like an “assembled robot” was essentially also a magical construct.
Using magic to sustain Gatling guns—even Steel Scarecrow himself had been shocked for a long time when he first learned this skill.
“Come, Witch!”
He used the amplifier to push his declaration farther, his voice carrying the harsh scraping unique to old parts.
“The time has come to show what BHAO players believe in!
Only face-to-face duels are the true fun of BHAO!”
Beside the ancient road lay empty wilderness dotted with faint remnants of Western-style buildings.
The scene name was—THE NIGHT THE DAWN.
In the ENDLESS WORLD, this scene meant the dwelling place of all dark creatures.
Werewolves, vampires, zombies—even the famous Frankenstein…
The monsters repeatedly recorded in history and horror films all wandered in “The Night the Dawn.”
And this was also the main composition of the E3 area territory—“Bloody Castle” members.
The legend of the fear scarecrow was included among them.
The creak of gears rubbing, amplified by the built-in speaker, became even more unpleasant.
In truth, Steel Scarecrow’s original voice was not unpleasant; it was only that the part structure was too old-fashioned and the corroded metal could not simulate a pleasant timbre.
Yet he received no response from the “Night Witch.”
Instead, his broadcast attracted a large number of other players active in the E3 area.
“Isn’t that Steel Scarecrow’s broadcast?”
“His old amplifier still hasn’t been fixed.”
Players active within the “The Night the Dawn” range were mostly E3 district residents in reality.
Their teasing of the lord’s generals was normal.
But they quickly noticed the keyword.
“Hey, did you hear? He just said ‘Witch.’”
“…The Witch came to the E3 area? I want to log out and see what she looks like in real life.”
“…”
The Witch’s fame was like a spark.
A large number of virtual characters converged toward the ancient road.
The originally remote trade route—normally used only for transporting rare materials—quickly became packed with people.
In the Endless World, the players vaguely formed a wall, forcibly turning the area into a temporary duel arena.
“So many people… Xiao Kui is so scared…”
The doll spoke in a sweet yet trembling voice, as if deliberately coating the words with fear like syrup.
“Mommy, come save Xiao Kui quickly.”
“Correct.”
Steel Scarecrow answered in a low voice, yet it sounded more like he was speaking to himself.
“Appear before me, Witch!”
Clang—!
The Gatling barrels began to spin.
Metal collision exploded into a huge roar in the air.
Flames erupted.
The design that used flames as muzzle decoration looked extravagant, yet it was precisely the charm of weapons like the Gatling—howling wildly in the night like a true beast.
Bullets poured out, rushing straight toward the voodoo doll.
“Why is the Scarecrow attacking that doll?”
“Amateur! That’s the Witch’s skill, but its exact effect isn’t clear yet…”
“There’s even a ‘no-damage’ skill like this?”
“…”
The bullets almost formed a single line.
Beneath the curtain of darkness, Steel Scarecrow’s terrifying firepower made every witnessing player’s heart tremble.
But only Steel Scarecrow himself knew how nervous he was.
The Witch was still hidden.
He did not know where she was.
He was merely forced to perform in the open, providing observation material for the hunter in the shadows.
“It hurts! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!”
The voodoo doll let out a sorrowful cry.
Every bullet pierced her body; the originally intact cloth sack soon became tattered.
After persisting for several seconds, she finally seemed unable to endure the pressure.
That small hand with cotton stuffing spilling out slowly rose.
“Mommy! Punish this bad guy!”
“OK, leave it to me!”
The barrels had not yet overheated, yet a mysterious voice sounded behind Steel Scarecrow.
The voice was so close it seemed pasted to his ear.
And precisely because of that, the Tier 10 magic-mechanical being felt a momentary relief.
At least the Witch had appeared.
…Witch, I’m going to catch you.