novelraw Chapter 362: Opening the Witch’s Coffin
Chapter 362: Opening the Witch’s Coffin
Crack! Crack!
The ice-sculpture-like Palu struggled to move his body, looking at the horrific scene before him in disbelief.
Almost the instant the Black Hunter entered the scene, this fairytale-like ice field began to burn fiercely.
Just the ghostly fire trail left by the Ghost Ship's entrance had split this ice field in two, one half heaven, one half hell.
After the Rift Slash was released, everyone looked up, trying to find Carol's figure amidst the shattered ruins.
"My beloved Lady Carol!"
"Sister Carol!"
"Lady Sister!"
Someone shouted loudly, but as the dust settled, the first sight that met their eyes sent a bone-chilling cold through them.
In the pale gray sky, the Ghost Ship remained completely unscathed despite facing countless Spiral Bullets.Carol's Hammer Release hadn't even managed to penetrate the Ghost Ship's armor.
Bang!
Soon, the bloodied Carol fell like a dewdrop from a great height, crashing onto the ice field with a thunderous impact.
Instantly, the robust, beautiful, and proud Gunfire Queen lay on the ground like a piece of trash, covered in wounds.
"I, I..."
Carol lay on the ground in despair, her eyeballs moving with difficulty as she extended a blood-drenched hand, trying to cover her face.
However, it was all in vain - her remaining strength wasn't enough to support any movement.
In truth, she had imagined her defeat, envisioned the Black Hunter withstanding her Gunfire Queen domain with his powerful body!
But she never expected that after activating her domain, she would only last three seconds.
Just three seconds!
Behind Carol, countless admirers showed terrified expressions.
"What happened!?"
"Why did Lady Carol lose!"
"What just happened! Has the Black Hunter also comprehended a domain!"
"Lady Carol, you're no longer worthy of being my master!"
The many pirates watching from afar cursed angrily while hugging themselves tightly.
After the Black Hunter activated his domain, the temperature of the entire world became even colder, the wind more piercing.
"Cough! Cough!"
The Black Death Doctor drank a mouthful of hot water, struggling to move his body as he explained to everyone:
"See? This is the Black Hunter. In such a short time, his Rift Slash has reached perfection."
A flicker of excitement appeared in the Black Death Doctor's wrinkled eyes.
Among peak legends, battles were often decided by a single domain.
And among domains, there were also hierarchies and counter relationships.
Undoubtedly, the Rift Slash was among the strongest domains the Black Death Doctor had ever seen.
However, under normal circumstances, when two domains overlapped and intersected, it shouldn't result in such a one-sided outcome.
"Is it because of the dimensional rift?"
The Black Death Doctor stroked his chin, speculating quietly.
It wasn't just because of the rift. According to the Azure Beast's intelligence, not long ago, Chen Qi's Rift Slash was still incomplete.
But now, such earth-shaking changes had occurred.
Undoubtedly, something had happened during this period...
What was it? The Black Death Doctor wondered curiously.
What exactly caused the Black Hunter's power to surge again in such a short time?
Why exactly?
Suddenly, inspiration struck the Black Death Doctor.
Looking at the Black Hunter high above, the Black Death Doctor explained word by word:
"I understand!"
The Black Death Doctor had seen through everything.
Undoubtedly, something happened to Chen Qi when he passed through the Merchant's Coffin.
And given Chen Qi's constitution, the most likely scenario was that he received the Lord of Condensation's blessing!
Some people who spend long periods with the sea have a chance to obtain an inspiration talent called 'Ocean's Blessing'.
Through this talent, people can exchange power with powerful deep-sea entities.
This matter is also recorded in the Sea God Pirates' writings.
However, to withstand the Lord of Condensation's blessing, that alone isn't enough - it requires extremely strong willpower, with difficulty no less than a mortal crossing a snowy ice field naked.
The Black Death Doctor spread his arms wide and declared loudly:
"You received the Lord of Condensation's blessing, didn't you? Black Hunter!"
"???"
Chen Qi looked at the Black Death Doctor in surprise.
He had actually guessed everything correctly. In a way, he really had accepted the Lord of Condensation's blessing.
The Lord of Condensation's blessing was really valuable!
Seeing Chen Qi's expression, the Black Death Doctor changed his tone:
"As expected of the vessel chosen by the Great Whale! Come, Black Hunter, abandon the witch, abandon the Ice Witch!
Join our Blackfin Crew! In the name of the Whale Father, we promise that as long as you join us, we're willing to pardon all your sins!
In the future, you'll be the Blackfin Crew's vice-captain, and my beloved daughter Little Crow will be the second captain!
As for how to deal with the witch, we'll leave that to you! Even if you like witches, our Blackfin Crew is willing to help you capture witches!"
"..."
Recruitment again... Chen Qi tapped his forehead with his finger.
The Blackfin Crew really liked him.
Starting from Big Mom Carol, the Blackfin Crew never gave up on recruiting him.
At that moment, the Black Death Doctor took out a blood-red contract from his Backpack Card.
The instant the Black Death Doctor unfolded the contract, a brilliant bloody light burst forth.
Everyone was shocked.
This contract wasn't an ordinary one, but a reward from the A-rank dimensional rift 'Court of Law' - the Scales Covenant!
Even Saints couldn't defy the contract's contents. Unlike most contracts, violating this one would cause the entire soul to perish.
Legend said that when this contract was signed, the Scale God who presided over balance and fairness would personally appear.
Reportedly, in the hundred years of the Witch Sea, only during the last Dimensional Tide did the Blackfin Crew use this contract to cooperate with a Saint-level hunter to defeat an out-of-control titan.
The Black Death Doctor said with considerable sincerity:
"Black Hunter, join us. I swear in the name of the Scale God that as long as you join us, we'll give you the most precious resources!
In our ambitions, you will become the Witch Sea's new god!"
New god... Chen Qi looked at the Black Death Doctor's sincere eyes.
The madness in the Black Death Doctor's eyes seemed to genuinely intend to make him the Blackfin Crew's leader.
Undoubtedly, once he joined, he would gain entirely new power.
But as a price, he would become the Great Whale's vessel, forever reduced to being the Great Whale's proxy in Beiguo.
Chen Qi shook his head, preparing to chat for a while to stall for time, allowing the Ice Demon Pirates to recover their strength.
Suddenly, two lines of pitch-black bloody tears appeared on the Black Death Doctor's withered face.
The Black Death Doctor was crying, weeping over loss.
He screamed hysterically:
"Stop! Azure Beast!"
It was too late! In the next instant, the Azure Beast's figure cut a dazzling blue trail across the ice field!
And his distance from Chen Qi was only one meter!
The Black Death Doctor's tears flowed uncontrollably.
The Azure Beast was different from the Blackfin Crew - in his eyes, the Black Hunter had no value whatsoever!
And the Black Hunter had just used his domain. Facing the Azure Beast who completely outclassed him in stats, he had no way to fight back!
Once a legend releases their domain, they don't even have the qualification to gaze upon a Saint!
Even the Black Hunter couldn't activate the Rift Slash again in such a short time.
In that brief moment, the blue flames on the Azure Beast's face gently scorched Chen Qi's cheek.
After several days apart, the flames in the Azure Beast's eyes burned even brighter now!
Thanks to the abundant resources from the Dimensional Tide and the Blackfin Crew's support, his body had recovered considerably from his battle with the Black Lantern Dragon.
The Azure Beast stopped before Chen Qi, forming a sword-drawing stance:
"Your codename is Black Hunter? You're truly a one-in-ten-thousand genius."
"Unfortunately, I've killed three hundred and ten such geniuses."
The Azure Beast said expressionlessly, like a hunter shooting a dying beast, whispering:
"Farewell."
In the Azure Beast's view, Chen Qi's correct approach should have been to conserve strength, keeping his domain as his trump card.
The Azure Beast fiercely swung his rust-covered longsword.
In this era, the Azure Beast showed no mercy toward others.
Bluefire Great Slash!
Boom! Instantly, azure-hot flames split the ice field before them!
"Damn it!"
Palu blocked in front of Chen Qi with his own body.
Chen Qi looked at the scene before him with some emotion.
The blue flames were like thousands of blades, cutting through Palu's throat and flesh!
Instantly, the flesh of his chest bones was burned away, and he let out a mournful cry.
Unexpectedly, by coincidence, the Witch Sea's two major bosses, Palu and the Azure Beast, had clashed head-on in an instant, simultaneously displaying their terrifying aspects.
The Azure Beast, as an incomplete Saint, possessed power, speed, and spiritual energy far surpassing others.
Coupled with the domain release that had a chance to activate when near death, he was countless people's nightmare! For a long time, he was known as the Witch Sea's most terrifying boss.
And Palu's most terrifying aspect was his dice...
No, to be precise, it should be his most annoying aspect.
"Prey like a fawn..."
The Azure Beast pulled his blood-stained blade from Palu's shoulder, preparing to strike at Chen Qi again.
However, contrary to his expectations, the next second, the blood-covered Palu aimed his gun at the Azure Beast's head.
Bang!
A close-range lucky bullet was fired, and under this tremendous force, the Azure Beast's head actually tilted back 5 degrees, leaving a three-centimeter-deep bullet hole!
Everyone looked at this scene in astonishment.
Palu pressed his hand on the Azure Beast's shoulder with his broken body:
"Only bad luck can kill me."
At that moment, above Palu's head, a bright red dice kept rolling.
And finally landed on 5 points.
Release. Fated Death!
When facing a fatal attack, a twenty-sided dice would roll above his head. Only by rolling a one would he die;
otherwise, he could continue acting.
And after each roll, he would gain a powerful surge of spiritual energy for himself.
This was a divine skill Palu obtained by chance in a high-level dimensional rift, offering his life to a deity. It was also the key to his daring adventures in dangerous places.
In other words, no matter how powerful the attack, it had to pass the dice roll to truly kill Palu!
If combined with his D20 domain, the cursed dice above Palu's head would also become a hundred-sided dice.
Therefore, as long as he could deploy his domain, unless facing a Saint-level domain, Palu's Fate Dice made him almost immortal.
It was precisely because of this powerful release that Palu was known as the hardest to kill, most variable legend, one of the Four Emperors.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Boring dice tricks..."
The Azure Beast had seen Dice affinity transcendents a hundred years ago.
Without hesitation, he continued drawing his sword to strike.
Palu also used his gun as a sword, engaging in combat with the Azure Beast.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Instantly, lightning flashed and thunder roared as their figures, like two dancing afterimages, exchanged hundreds of moves!
Bang!
However, under absolute stat superiority, Palu was still pierced through the heart by a sword, then kicked behind Chen Qi.
Looking at Palu's tragic condition, Chen Qi asked:
"Can't activate D20?"
For Palu to fight the Azure Beast, he needed to rely on his D20 domain.
Palu spat out a mouthful of pus and blood, saying to Chen Qi:
"Not yet time. My current Dice affinity spiritual energy isn't enough to activate the D20 domain..."
"..."
The moment he finished speaking, Palu tightened his grip on the dice in his hand.
Not long ago, he had already activated the D20 domain. With his spiritual energy damaged, to activate the D20 domain again, he needed to rely on items to replenish his Dice affinity power.
For this purpose, he had specifically used a special relic 'Rebirth Dice' - a dice that could make him revive at full health!
Every minute, this dice would roll once. As long as it rolled the maximum value, 100 points, he would revive at full health!
The blood-covered Palu turned his head sideways and smiled at Chen Qi:
"Don't worry, this captain has strong luck, Black Hunter. After we return from this voyage,
I'll tell you the great secret our Ice Demon Pirates have been desperately searching for."
After saying this, Palu looked at the Azure Beast before him, his expression suddenly darkening:
"If I can't return, tell Jin Li to donate all my deposits with her to needy poor people..."
After speaking, Palu spun the dice in his hand.
Finally, the dice stopped at one point.
Palu's luck today didn't seem very good... Chen Qi took a deep breath.
Looking at the extremely unlucky roll in his hand, Palu smiled bitterly:
"Although we haven't known each other long, I entrust the Ice Demon Pirates to you, and Jin Li to you. Although that person is a bit money-obsessed, she's not bad..."
Palu thought that if he died, perhaps only Chen Qi could inherit his Ice Demon Pirates.
At that time, his money-loving close friend Jin Li would also have to be entrusted to Chen Qi's care.
"Shut up."
Chen Qi's mind involuntarily envisioned the scene of Palu continuously rolling ones and dying tragically.
If luck was bad, Palu might not be able to deploy his domain throughout this entire battle.
Most importantly, Palu kept setting up death flags!
Not to mention, there was still a Little Crow on the Ghost Ship, desperately praying for their victory.
Bad luck clung to them.
It was about time... Chen Qi took a deep breath, silently raising his blood-stained middle finger toward the Azure Beast:
"Trash that was once killed by the Deep Sea Hunters! Come on!"
Deep Sea Hunters... The Azure Beast froze, tightening his grip on his rusty sword.
In this declining era, someone actually dared to speak arrogantly to him!
The next instant, the Azure Beast said nothing more, instantly taking a step and flashing before Chen Qi!
He quickly bent his waist, thigh forward, holding his sword with both hands, his entire body merging with the blade.
In that moment, his body seemed to transform into a blazing fire sword!
Qi Transformation. Flowing Fire Slash!
Boom!
A scorching blade light flashed briefly, boundless blue flames covering Chen Qi's body, pouring across this ice field!
A hundred-meter astonishing crack split open beneath Chen Qi's feet!
Everyone watched this scene in amazement.
This was currently the Azure Beast's strongest move!
This move was no less powerful than a legend's release!
However, facing such an attack, Chen Qi simply placed his hand on his waist, then slowly turned his head:
"Leave it to you, Little Tentacle..."
Boom!
Suddenly, countless thick, scalding octopus tentacles burst from behind Chen Qi, withstanding the scorching blue flames as they wrapped around the Azure Beast's right hand.
The Little Tentacle Merchant walked out leisurely, looked up, licked her lips, and said dotingly:
"Understood, little cutie."
"A fifth-tier sacrifice! Precious sacrifice!"
Little cutie? This guy treats me like a pet? Chen Qi looked speechlessly at the Tentacle Merchant.
Standing less than 1.5 meters tall, she looked particularly excited at the over-2-meter-tall Azure Beast before her!
This was the most perfect sacrifice she had encountered in the Witch Sea!
If offered to the Sea God, the great Sea God would definitely give her a large sum of money - of course, if the Sea God still had money...
"Little blue-haired one! I'm going to eat you!"
The Little Tentacle Merchant puffed out her chest, showing an extremely arrogant expression, then used her short legs to kick the Azure Beast's thigh.
Thump! Thump!
"This is..."
The Azure Beast lowered his head, looking at the small creature before him, tilting his head.
Since his revival, he always felt this was the first time he'd been insulted by such small prey.
Swish!
The Azure Beast expressionlessly swung his sword!
However, suddenly, the parts of his body that had been touched by the tentacles immediately spurted huge amounts of blood, rapidly rotting.
"Huh?"
Palu was completely shocked, wanting an explanation from Chen Qi.
But Chen Qi simply waved his hand lightly, walking toward the depths of the Witch's Coffin:
"Don't worry, it's a mercenary. The Azure Beast is yours now."
"Don't die, Palu!"
As Chen Qi waved goodbye, the Tentacle Merchant's cute appearance gradually shattered.
The tentacles on her body grew thicker and stronger.
You call this thing a mercenary? Palu looked fearfully at the increasingly terrifying Tentacle Merchant.
Wasn't this actually a great demon summoned through sacrifice?
Her entire spiritual energy field had transformed into a terrifying natural disaster.
Chen Qi silently walked toward the direction of the Witch's Coffin.
With the Little Tentacle Merchant buying time, the Azure Beast wouldn't be able to interfere with his actions for at least half an hour.
And after half an hour, either the Little Tentacle Merchant would escape, or the Azure Beast would be forced to activate his near-death release.
Unconsciously, Chen Qi had strolled to a massive transparent wall.
Whoosh, whoosh—
The entire area before the wall was covered with a blizzard.
So cold... Chen Qi reached out, touching the wall.
This insurmountable transparent wall was the Witch's Coffin's lid.
Forcing entry would instantly turn one into an eternal ice sculpture.
It was said that within the ice sculptures, though the body perished, thoughts became eternal.
Holding his lantern, Chen Qi soon saw a small yellow flower swaying in the wind and snow.
At the entrance, the heavily injured Fen had been waiting for him for a long time.
Inside the Witch's Coffin, besides containing the Ice Witch, there were also other heroes' corpses and various strange monsters.
To be safe, Fen had been waiting for him.
Fen looked at Chen Qi, breathed on her small hands, a weak white flower sprouting from her head as she shook it!
Because of the extreme cold, Fen's throat and ears had suffered severe injuries, making it difficult for her to speak.
Plus the massive blizzard, they could hardly converse using sound.
In the snow, the two looked at each other and smiled slightly.
After so many adventures, even without sound, they could understand each other's meaning.
Fen's lips moved slightly, using lip language to whisper three words to Chen Qi.
A three-word whisper? Chen Qi looked puzzled.
After speaking, Fen turned her head sideways, a small pink flower sprouting from her head as she took out witch relics and aimed them at this massive wall.
Fen gently inserted five relics into the wall, then gently turned them.
Instantly, the wall made a key-turning sound.
On the airtight wall, a door slowly opened, revealing stairs leading to deeper levels.
Fen looked at the bottomless stairs, a frightened little black flower sprouting from her head, then waved at Chen Qi and walked inside.
Finally reaching this step...
Chen Qi took a deep breath, feeling a strange excitement in his heart.
The Ice Witch was the dividing line of the Witch Sea's major events, the turning point where the Witch Sea's situation reversed.
In the forums, the Blood Blade Pirates and Flower Witch paid the price of ten thousand people to reach this coffin, reviving the Ice Witch in blood.
And now, he would personally revive the Witch Sea's soul, the witch countless people respected and worshipped, the strongest existence in the mid-stage Witch Sea!
Unlike Fen, the Ice Witch was a true traditional witch.
Cold and emotionless, unpredictable, holy, proud, mastering unimaginable spells and knowledge.
I wonder what kind of look the Ice Witch will give me at our first meeting?
Am I overthinking this... Chen Qi's heart raced rapidly as he shook his head.
He collected his jumbled thoughts, holding his lantern as he stepped forward, following the dark stairs into this frozen space, the silent resting place of countless heroes.