Chapter Seventy-One: Kill the Puppeteer

You return to the Tower of Medicine just before daylight fades. The howling blizzard has shrouded the tower in white, and at night, everyone has retreated to their rooms. You enter your own chamber and notice a newly built stove warming the space.

Morningstar exhales, realizing the Tower of Medicine is more considerate than he expected.

The cold seeps through your clothing, leaving you exhausted. Morningstar opts to rest for a while. You light the stove, and warmth gradually dispels the chill.

After your character finishes resting, you begin reading the next five translated pages of the Black Book.

As you read, a line of text appears:

Reading the book, you gain new insight and unlock the ability to learn “Dance of the Black Flame.”

Dance of the Black Flame:
Requirements: Inspiration 50, Blade Aspect or Void Aspect, and as high as possible resistance to mental and cold effects.
Description: We shall step into this icy fire, transforming the rending flames into an extension of our own hands, allowing us to traverse the long road of black fire.
Progress: 0%.

Simply put, Dance of the Black Flame is an advanced form of the Prison Fire, allowing you to control the flow of black fire and integrate it with your own skills. After mastering it, you can use black fire for ranged attacks, coat yourself in it for defense, and more.

Inspiration is just a matter of point allocation; all other requirements are met.

Beneath the lamp, Morningstar rubs his hands together and continues reading.

…

The night passes.

Your understanding of black fire deepens, and your control grows: Progress 8%.

“Whew…”

Morningstar closes the book and turns his attention back to the New Day game.

His character awakens!

A ray of sunlight and a few snowflakes fall upon your face.

You wake once more, stretching your limbs. After a night’s rest, you feel invigorated.

Looking into the distance, with the help of the traveling merchants and others, ten wanted posters have been taken down.

Only ten… Morningstar recalls that there were seventy-four fugitives listed on the wanted notices, and it seemed some serious offenders hadn’t even been posted. In other words, many escapees remain at large, still undiscovered.

You check your panel, recalling bits of information the bookseller and the courier had shared with you.

Using this information, one fugitive catches your eye, and your hand itches to draw your blade.

The bookseller told you that, before the fall, some criminals incited riots and stole treasures from the Great Crow.

Hmm… Is this a special hint?

Morningstar checks his panel, and a fugitive he’d previously overlooked stands out.

Puppet Apprentice Ra: Swayed by catastrophe, he turned his wife into a puppet. Bounty: 7 Daylight Coins…

The text details the puppet apprentice Ra and his creation. After discovering his wife’s infidelity, he made her into a puppet and descended into madness, turning his colleagues and friends into puppets as well before being discovered and captured.

Though the bounty isn’t as high as the bookseller’s, the intelligence suggests this puppet apprentice carries valuable items.

According to the bounty, the Prison Hunters are only interested in capturing people, not their possessions. So, if Morningstar finds his target, everything on the fugitive is his.

But this text…

Morningstar studies the next lines carefully. This target seems even more unpredictable, but still within manageable limits—greater risk, greater reward.

According to the bookseller, Ra carried many items before the fall.

Morningstar thinks it over. He decides to pursue.

But first, he needs to buy several bottles of Scorching Potion to ward off the cold. Each bottle costs 50 Moon Silver from traveling merchants, but only 25 at the Tower of Medicine.

Considering resistance buildup, Morningstar ultimately buys six Scorching Potions, five Healing Potions, and two Spirit Potions.

After purchasing, he uses Morning Star to track Puppet Apprentice Ra.

The Morning Star leaps from your hand once more.

You look at it; its light is brighter, its pulse more intense.

Advancing…

You summon the eager Shadow Fox.

While daylight remains, you command the Shadow Fox to move swiftly ahead…

Advancing…

Advancing…

…

Morningstar sips a cup of hot tea as he checks back in on the game.

Still advancing.

Unlike the bookseller, this target is much farther away.

Suddenly, a line of text pops up.

Arrived?

Morningstar’s eyes light up, and he readies himself.

A cold white mist appears in the distance.

You order the Shadow Fox to halt; it seems you’ve reached the edge of the Pale Lightlands.

Pale Lightlands… Morningstar bites his lip. Arriving here means the target is even more dangerous.

You look out and see a vast black cavern before you. Scattered white eggshell fragments and white strands, blending with the snow, are visible on the ground.

This place seems vaguely familiar…

You pull out the Herb Gatherer’s Map to compare.

A highlighted line appears.

You gasp. You have reached the domain of the White Giant Spiders!

White Giant Spider Domain:
Description: Home to the white giant spiders, these creatures are as large as giants and can spin vast quantities of silk, making them formidable foes.
Herb Gatherer’s Tip: The white giant spiders, though powerful, hibernate and lay eggs during the cold season. During this time, many weavers come here to collect their silk for making garments.

White giant spiders…

Morningstar grits his teeth. Judging by the name, this is not a monster he can defeat.

Fortunately, it’s mid-blizzard, and as long as he doesn’t attack their nest, there should be no trouble.

The Morning Star rushes into the cavern.

Morning Star… Morningstar stops. This is not a place for reckless action; he commands his character to halt.

You tap the Shadow Fox’s ear, halting the pursuit.

Observe the cavern from a distance?

Yes.

You stand afar, summon a white dove, and peer inside. The cavern floor is littered with bones—a spider’s nest, a hundred meters tall, resembling a white palace. From the ceiling, nearly ten thousand prey are cocooned in silk.

The description…

Morningstar keeps reading.

Another highlighted line appears.

The Morning Star reappears before you.

At the cavern entrance, a shackled man steps onto the snowy ground.

A cold light flashes in your eyes—it is Puppetmaster Ra!

Found him!

Morningstar promptly clicks to view the panel.

Puppetmaster Ra:
Level: 8 (Severely wounded, restricted by shackles)
Aspect: Bladeheart (Warning: has descended into madness, expressing love through violence)
Condition: Moderately cold
HP: 30/37
Strength: 8
Agility: 16
Inspiration: 30
Spirit: 0 (spiritual flow is partially sealed)

Level eight…

Not too high. Morningstar reads on.

Puppetmaster Ra has seen you!

Upon recognizing you, his fearful expression twists into a grin.

“You scared me… Not a Prison Hunter, then.”

His lips curl in a spidery dance, and he bursts into insane laughter:

“My heart, my heart has finally arrived!”

Puppetmaster Ra distorts his mouth, miming a motion to stab your heart.

This guy is…

Wait!

Morningstar quickly uses his talent, locking on to Ra’s puppet via keyword.

The Morning Star darts to your feet!

A pale, slender hand bursts from beneath the snow, aiming to kill you!

You draw your blade instantly, leaping back as you thrust into the ground!

You deal 10 damage! The opponent has 90% HP left!

A two-meter-tall female erupts from the snow, a bloodthirsty monster. She has four slender, pale arms and long legs.

It is a puppet.

Check the panel!

Puppetmaster Ra’s Puppet:
Level: 12
Aspect: Void (for the broken soul sealed within, nothing matters anymore)
Condition: Moderately cold
HP: 100
Strength: 12
Agility: 45
Description: A puppet controlled by the puppetmaster, immune to pain but lacking sensation.

Morningstar notes the puppet is level 12, with extremely high stats—an agility of 45!

“Ah…”

Ra freezes, not expecting you to catch the sneak attack:

“Impressive. In this winter cold, my wife and I are invincible!”

The puppetmaster flicks his hand, hurling silk threads at you!

The puppet charges as well!

While fending off the puppet, Ra’s threads slash your shoulder, drawing blood!

You take 5 damage.

Two against one…

No good; the puppet is too fast, tough to handle.

After some thought, Morningstar has the Shadow Fox entangle the puppet, while he attacks the master directly.

“Leave it to me, Master!” Seeing you hurt, the Shadow Fox bares its fangs and lunges at the puppet.

The Shadow Fox, now a giant shadow, collides with the puppet.

As the puppet dodges, you dash at the puppetmaster!

The deranged master, seeing your blood, grins:

“So eager—are you here to offer your heart?”

He believes that with a new heart, he can remove the mark on his own and escape the Prison Hunters.

The Shadow Fox binds the puppet.

With its help, you close in on Ra…

“Hahaha, you dare approach me?”

Too many have tried to get close.

As you near, black fire blazes along your blade.

“Dance of Silk!” Ra roars.

Suddenly, the puppet manipulates the silk, seizing control over the master himself.

With inhuman swiftness, Ra dodges your strike!

Morningstar sweats—a bad situation.

The puppet closes in, and Ra’s threads strike as well!

You are surrounded!

“Your heart is mine!” Ra cackles.

Morningstar quickly unleashes the Domain of Black Fire.

Black Fire Domain! Plus Shadow Soul!

Black fire surges from your blade!

Within the flames, the puppet charges.

You hide behind your Shadow Soul, making it emit sounds to confuse your positions.

The puppet’s thread pierces your Shadow Soul’s chest!

This injury reveals the enemy’s location!

You drive your black fire blade through the Shadow Soul’s chest, impaling Ra’s abdomen for 18 damage!

Excellent!

Morningstar clenches his fist.

Though both he and his Shadow Soul took hits, as long as the master is hurt, the battle tips in his favor.

“Damn this technique… If not for these cursed shackles, I’d never lose to the likes of you…”

Ra spits blood and flees into the cave.

Chase him!

Morningstar sends the Shadow Soul after him.

The puppet feels neither pain nor cold, nor does the Shadow Soul.

So long as it lives, the Shadow Soul can fight on!

The master’s stats are too low—even weaker than the Shadow Soul.

Your Shadow Soul, battered but relentless, bursts from the black fire and delivers a flying kick, knocking Ra down.

It pins Ra, preventing him from controlling the silk!

Without his command, the puppet grows sluggish, though it still moves.

Victory is certain!

With the Shadow Soul holding Ra, Morningstar and the Shadow Fox close in on the puppet from both sides.

“No, my puppet, my wife…”

Ra howls, but the Shadow Soul holds him fast.

You and the Shadow Fox attack the puppet!

You stab one of its arms for 15 damage!

The Shadow Fox’s iron tail strikes for 10 more!

…

Frenzied, Morningstar and the Shadow Fox assault the puppet.

With your final blow, you slash the puppet to pieces, destroying it!

You gain 250 experience, plus a 50 experience bonus.

Thanks to the combined assault, the puppet with 100 HP is quickly slain.

Excellent…

Morningstar breathes a sigh of relief. Having both a pet and a substitute allows him to fight three against one, making him a formidable force.

With the greatest threat eliminated, he checks the text, ready to deal with the puppetmaster.

“Let me go—you’ll regret this! My friends will tear you limb from limb…”

Ra still struggles, reaching for something.

Your Shadow Soul punches him, knocking out his teeth.

You carefully examine where Ra was reaching.

You discover Ra’s hidden treasure and a special letter!

Seeing the word “treasure,” Morningstar confirms the area is safe and begins looting.

You walk over and start searching.

Check the letter?

Yes.

You look at the letter, your expression complicated, and your heart skips a beat.

What is it?

Morningstar scans the text and takes a deep breath.

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(End of chapter)