Chapter 12: Bloody Lotus

This voice-changing armament, at least hold on a bit longer for me, hey.

After using the “Witch’s Scythe” skill, easily defeating the scarecrow was within expectations.

This strangely shaped scythe.

Although it’s just a product manifested from my second skill, it can also serve as my “virtual armament,” held in hand at any time.

Unlike real armaments, virtual armaments don’t have any special effect bonuses.

However, whether swinging or performing normal “tactical blocks,” there’s absolutely no problem.

Up to now, in BHAO, the virtual character “Night Witch” that I use has a total of three very practical skills.

The first one, called “Blend into Shadows.”

I really like both the skill name and the design concept—

Submerging the body into any place where darkness exists, and greatly increasing movement speed in the darkness.

It sounds a bit marvelous, this is a process of gradually escaping from the three-dimensional world into the two-dimensional world.

Oneself seems to become darkness itself, a conceptual existence like a shadow, and the perspective completely switches to a mode similar to a wireframe diagram.

Those models composed of virtual lines—

When enemies appear in the field of view in this form, that kind of action feedback really makes one unable to help but want to laugh.

The second skill is “Witch’s Scythe.”

This is also the only attack-type skill the “Night Witch” currently has.

“Summon the witch’s scythe, and slash forward.”

This is just the most superficial description of the skill.

In fact, besides being able to replace fists and feet in duels and serve as a virtual armament, its attack method is indeed as simple as described.

But it has some extremely key damage bonus mechanisms:

For example—

Launching an attack from the “Blend into Shadows” state increases damage by 50%;

Launching an attack from behind the enemy also increases damage by 50%; if no attack is launched within 5 seconds after using the skill, the next strike will additionally increase damage by 100%.

These characteristics stacked together have almost determined the usage of this scythe.

One-hit kill.

Just like an assassin lurking in the shadows, only waiting for that one decisive strike.

However, if this strike is blocked, or fails to successfully kill the enemy.

Then in the subsequent battle, I will immediately fall into an extremely disadvantageous situation.

As for the third skill.

Called “Voodoo Doll.”

It’s also the existence that puzzles me the most.

“Do all AIs in BHAO really have independent thinking abilities?”

This is a question I once asked the doll.

And from that cloth mouth sewn with needles and threads, the answer that wriggled out with effort was just—

“Mommy, what is AI?”

Ah, as expected.

After getting this response, I could only sigh like this.

BHAO’s AI system has always been a mystery.

Many game enthusiasts and research experts assert that with the current level of technology, it’s impossible to create AIs with independent emotions.

Of course, these complex issues are not within the scope I need to delve into.

Just, after possessing the “Voodoo Doll” skill, I couldn’t help but develop some curiosity.

So, after thinking so much—I ultimately only need to focus on its practicality.

“Voodoo Doll” has a total of two effects.

The first is granting me the ability to appear from inside the doll at any time.

After that, the doll will be damaged and enter cooldown, unable to be summoned again immediately.

The second is when the doll is not in cooldown—

If I suffer fatal damage, the doll will take that attack for me and randomly transfer me to a nearby location.

In the end, this is an extremely life-preserving skill.

Holding the virtual armament manifested by “Witch’s Scythe,” I didn’t have much real sense of having just defeated two “Tier 10” enemies.

As a fighting game centered on duels and battles, in BHAO, the influence of “tier” on strength is not absolute.

Of course—the premise is excluding the “Tier 15” KING.

Unlike other characters’ additional moves that may or may not exist, “Tier 15” characters almost all possess—ultimate moves that other tiers cannot touch.

Some have astonishing power, some have bizarre effects.

Unable to determine cooldown time, unable to judge energy consumption.

Every ultimate move is the KING’s trump card at the bottom of the box.

Therefore, for BHAO—

Operation can make up for tier gaps, but cannot cross the chasm of Tier 15.

This is also the real reason they are called KING.

“Sigh… This armament is already starting to have static.”

“That embarrassing childish voice is probably about to be exposed soon.”

While rubbing my throat with my hand, I felt the coolness transmitted to my fingertips by the velvety touch.

Brown-red ribbon.

This is a functional armament I obtained from the spoils after defeating a strangely shaped lord-level BOSS.

Originally, I fantasized about what peculiar uses it could have—

But it turned out to be simply changing the tone and timbre levels.

Useless if given to others, and for me, it can only be considered better than nothing.

At least, it avoided the shame of speaking with a voice similar to a loli sound.

“Since that’s the case, let’s take that first…”

While muttering to myself, I turned around, facing the coffin that should have been loaded with “armaments.”

Bright red impact first occupied the entire field of vision.

Immediately after, what the eardrums captured was—

Gurgle, gurgle.

That was the sound made by extremely viscous liquid flowing under gravity.

Words couldn’t stop immediately due to “language inertia,” but were interrupted by the scene before my eyes, becoming fragmented.

“Armaments… then… hurry… go back…”

The coffin lid vibrated violently in the vertical direction.

This European-style coffin usually adopts a horizontal sliding seal, rather than a heavy coffin that directly covers.

Therefore, this unreasonable shaking, no matter how you look at it, is not normal.

“I don’t remember… any armament that can move on its own.”

I swallowed hard, subconsciously holding the Witch’s Scythe horizontally in front of my chest.

From inside the coffin, an extremely ominous aura came.

Even the other virtual characters who were originally spectating retreated one after another, keeping distance from it.

—Whoosh.

The sliding coffin lid was suddenly pushed open.

I subconsciously retreated two steps.

Immediately after, the noisy flapping sounds of countless bats stacked together erupted from inside.

At the same time, blood surged out along with the sound, quickly spreading to my feet.

The intense bloody smell stimulated the nasal cavity.

“Hey hey… No matter how you look at it, this doesn’t seem like armaments…”

The corners of my mouth twitched uncontrollably, perhaps shock, perhaps vigilance, facial muscles completely tensed.

—My current expression must be quite ugly.

All previous plans were thrown to the back of my mind.

At this moment, the only thing to deal with is the abnormality before my eyes.

As if to respond to my previous question.

The bats began to gather, fuse, gradually outlining a human shape.

Purple hair.

Red eyes.

A pair of brown-red fleshy wings slowly unfolded behind.

The girl condensed from the coffin licked her lips and said:

“Since you’ve intruded into our territory, don’t be in a hurry to escape, little mouse.”

“THE KING OF LANCER… huh.”

I hesitated slightly for a moment.

After all, I’ve never seen the true appearance of the Lancer King.

Just heard some rumors about her from the BHAO player forums—

It’s said to be a vampire-type virtual character.

And this guess was quickly confirmed.

“Yes, yo.”

“We are the lord of the E3 district—”

“BLOODY LOTUS.”