Chapter 71: For What?

A single bottle of [Hulk Potion] was about fifty milliliters, contained in a small, tube-like vial. He’d poured a third into that tall, skinny mercenary earlier, and now the remaining less-than-two-thirds portion seemed incredibly precious. Sun Fei willed it into the Barbarian’s [Belt Space].

He crouched, placing his palm on the dead mercenary’s corpse. He activated the [Find Potion] skill again. Sadly, this time he withdrew his empty hand splattered with blood and gore, no potion obtained. There was no help for it. With [Find Potion] only at level one from a single skill point, the success rate was pitifully low.

All four usable corpses in the chamber were spent now. The single bottle of [Hulk Potion] was a surprise gain. Yet, Sun Fei still felt a crucial question remained unanswered.

Why did such a remarkably powerful potion, absent from the Diablo World, manifest? Sun Fei couldn’t say for sure. If forced to find a barely reasonable explanation, he figured the Barbarian’s [Find Potion] skill might have mutated in some unbelievable way within this real world, and the [Hulk Potion] was likely a product of that mutation. Clearly, this mutation wasn’t something Sun Fei could control yet. He hadn’t determined the potion’s drop rate, couldn’t be sure if there were side effects after consuming it, and certainly didn’t know if anyone taking it would gain terrifying strength like that tall, skinny mercenary had.

So, before formally using the [Hulk Potion] to boost his followers’ strength, Sun Fei needed answers. Even those big-name pharmaceutical companies in his past life required hundreds of clinical trials before releasing a new drug.

Having thought through all the key points, Sun Fei let out a quiet sigh of relief.

His focus shifted to the Four-Star Mage in black lying on the floor like a dead dog, convulsing and spitting bloody foam. Ironically, this fellow might hold the title of the unluckiest, most bizarre Four-Star Mage in Azeroth Continent’s history. Judging by strength alone, he could single-handedly conquer a small border town like Shampoo City. Yet, encircled by thousands of Black Armored Army soldiers, this Mage had been reduced to his current state by Sun Fei’s raw might. Now, clinging to a sliver of life, the poor soul’s situation was laughably pathetic. Earlier, under Sun Fei’s instructions, the jailers beat him senseless with clubs anytime he showed signs of waking. Not a single bone remained unbroken in his limbs; only a few ribs in his chest were intact. Were it not for a Four-Star Mage’s cockroach-like resilience, any ordinary person would have become a ghost long ago.

Sun Fei approached wearing a nasty grin.

He pulled a bottle of [Health Potion] from his [Belt Space], uncorked it, and gently dripped a few drops onto each of the Mage’s mangled limbs. Instantly, a faint surge of magical energy flowed. The pulped flesh began knitting together rapidly…

Four or five seconds later.

The Mage’s limbs were still a horrific mess – white bone fragments tangled with blackened, torn flesh – but at least it vaguely resembled a human form again. Sun Fei dared not let the healing proceed further. A fully restored Four-Star Mage, enraged, could overpower Sun Fei’s current level 16 Barbarian strength.

This process revealed another interesting detail to Sun Fei: the effect of the [Health Potion] varied depending on the target’s power level. The weaker the individual, the more potent and swift the effect. The stronger they were, the slower its healing properties. A simple example: Pierce, that white-haired strongman lacking even one-star power level, could be snatched from death’s brink with a tiny portion of [Minor Healing Potion]. Yet, this Four-Star Mage only healed some superficial wounds despite receiving the same amount.

Splash—!

A bucket of salty, ice-cold water drenched the Four-Star Mage.

“Agh…” A hoarse, guttural groan escaped him. Finally, the Four-Star Mage awoke. His snake-like eyes slowly scanned his surroundings, ultimately locking onto the face etched forever in his nightmares. Instantly, trembling violently, he gave an uncontrollable, rasping shriek: “It… it’s… you?”

“Huh? Memory’s good,” Sun Fei acknowledged with a smirk. “Yep, it’s me. Heh heh!” He looked unbearably smug. Capturing a Four-Star Mage (Four-Star Level) with less than three-star strength? That kind of achievement deserved entry into Shampoo City’s royal record books.

“You’re done! Aghhhh… you’re finished… Ignorant fool… stupid pig… laughable mutt…” The skeletal-faced Mage spat venomously. Spotting the Silver Masked Man’s corpse on the floor, he started trembling violently, like struck by lightning. “You still dare to smile? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?!” His voice rose to a hysterical howl. “Shampoo City will become a tomb! You murdered Korbak – the Prince of the Sande Empire! The entire Zenit Empire will be ground to dust!”

“Whoa! You asking for a beating? Prisoner acting tough?” Sun Fei flared with fiery rage seeing the captive curse instead of plead. He rushed forward and stomped twice on the Mage’s thighs.

Crack! Crunch!

The bones, freshly knitted by the [Health Potion], shattered anew into pulp. The unfortunate Mage choked on bloody foam and passed out again.

Sun Fei dripped a few drops of [Health Potion] onto the Mage’s legs.

After a few seconds, the Mage roused once more. He slowly opened his eyes, saw Sun Fei, and began another rasping tirade: “Y-you… damn swine… idiot… y-you…”

Crack! Crunch!

The newly healed thigh became meat paste again.

With infinite patience, Sun Fei crouched and applied more [Health Potion] drops.

This time, when the Mage gradually regained consciousness, a faint glimmer of understanding about his predicament finally dawned. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he breathed heavily. “Foolish King,” he gasped with forced, desperate calm. “If you want to live… run. Flee this place… immediately… Y-you committed a terrible wrong.”

“If I were you,” Sun Fei retorted coldly, “I’d be more concerned about my own life first, honored Mage. Tell me your name… your origins…” He pointed a finger at the Silver Masked Man’s corpse. “And this sack of trash… he’s called Korbak?!” His voice hardened like ice. “Cough up everything you know. Or else…” Sun Fei’s expression radiated savage fury.

“My life?” The Mage sneered bitterly. “Look at this wreckage! Is there hope? Heh heh… But yours, young King…” Hatred twisted his voice. “Tremble! Your future life will be endless dread. Hunted! Seeing your loved ones die, one… by… one… Watching their skulls turned into wine cups… their hearts cursed… their limbs ground into meat powder…”

Whack! Whack! Whack!

Sun Fei grabbed the Mage’s collar and delivered several vicious slaps. Bloodied teeth spat onto the ground. “Death-wish, huh? Daring to curse me?!” Sun Fei snarled, his knuckles whitening. “My patience wears thin. Utter one more nonsense word, and YOUR skull becomes my first wine cup!”

“Pah! You murdered Korbak, Crown Prince of the Fourth-Level Sande Empire!” The Mage spat blood, forced into some semblance of cooperation by Sun Fei’s savage threats. Malice glimmered in his eyes. “Once the Sande Empire learns of this… forget your pathetic Shampoo City… your overlord nation, the entire Zenit Empire… crushed to pieces!” He spat the words “Sande Empire” with venomous glee, eagerly anticipating despair breaking across the Little King’s face. A Fourth-Level Empire was an unstoppable force for a border fortress like Shampoo City.

He was disappointed.

“This loser was really a Prince of a Fourth-Level Empire?” Sun Fei blinked. He pointed a finger at the Silver Masked Man’s corpse, a grin spreading across his face. “I actually killed a Fourth-Level Empire’s Prince? Haha! You saying it… suddenly makes it feel damn good! Killing a Prince…” He chuckled darkly. “…has a unique kick, doesn’t it?” He tilted his head, curious. “Hey! Does that crappy Sande Empire have any more Princes?”

“…You…” The Mage gaped. His lips, ruined by Sun Fei’s fists, were grotesquely swollen, resembling sausages. Gaps where teeth once were whistled air, making his words slur. He was completely stumped. How? Was the imbecile truly ignorant of what challenging a Fourth-Level Empire meant?

Watching the Mage’s dumbfounded expression, Sun Fei adopted a deliberately slow, mocking pace. “Heh. After I knocked you out,” he drawled, enjoying every syllable, “Zenit Empire cavalry swept the field clean. Not one escapee.” He leaned closer. “Care to guess why? I’d wager you infiltrated Shampoo City secretly…” His grin turned predatory. “And now they’re all dead. Only one breathing prisoner… locked in the Iron Prison Water Dungeon… even a Moon-Level Expert couldn’t escape.” Sun Fei’s voice sharpened like a knife. “Point is… how would the Sande Empire ever know their precious Prince died here? Who should they blame?”

“You…!” The Mage reacted like hit by thunder, eyes wide in disbelief. “How… how could you know that?”

“Wasn’t it blindingly obvious?” Sun Fei scoffed. “From the outset, I found it strange. Why did my enemies never fly any insignia? Say you were just temporary bandits?” He raised three fingers mockingly. “One. Your Black Armored Army troops were disciplined, obeyed commands flawlessly. Two. Your siege weapons were new and lethal. Three. You had many skilled warriors. Classic marks of a high-grade, professional army!” He leveled a finger at the Mage. “That leaves only one reason – you deliberately hid your banners to conceal your origins.” Sun Fei leaned closer still, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “Because this mission… it was secret. Highly classified.” He enunciated each word. “A dirty, undercover military action. An intention… so filthy, you couldn’t risk anyone, not even your own men, realizing what you truly sought.” His eyes gleamed triumphantly as he saw the Mage’s face drain further. “Heh heh!”

Sun Fei was inventing wildly, bluffing with bravado.

But seeing the Mage’s increasingly horrified expression – he knew something had struck a nerve. That flurry of guesses had brushed against hidden truths! Smiling darkly, Sun Fei pressed his face close to the trembling Mage, his expression shifting instantly to freezing menace. “Listen, old bones,” he hissed. “Spill it all now, enjoy mercy. Resist… suffer torture beyond imagining.” Sun Fei drew his thumb across his own neck, a chilling grin replacing the frost. “So talk. Why did you skulk into Shampoo City?” His voice cracked like a whip through the cold cell air. “Exactly… FOR WHAT?”