Chapter 342: Summoning the Baron
Chapter 342: Summoning the Baron
What messy romantic drama is this?
These chosen ones always bring trouble, constantly surrounded by weird women. Zuo Meng decided future protagonists in his Dream Realm would be “fated loners” – the kind who’d die old and alone. All this lovey-dovey nonsense just dulls their fighting edge.
“Why’s he keeping that woman alive? Saving her for supper?”
The Silly Dog had the mind of an eight-year-old, and not even a bright one at that. His careless owner Zuo Meng never taught him human values, so the mutt figured keeping prisoners meant dinnertime reserves.
“Maybe… Zhu Xiao needs an opportunity.”
Zuo Meng turned back halfway.
Zhu Xiao’s destiny was fixed as a “Grandpa Ring” protagonist. Zuo Meng usually ignored such clichés, but after the Dugu family incident in Yuanshi City, he reconsidered. Maybe he could split the “Book of Becoming a God” like he’d done with the “Method of Condensing the Tide Divinity” for Tide Academy’s instructor Ding Jie.
“An Elder Divinity?”
He instantly rejected the name. Sounded ridiculous. Was it divinity for old men? Or divinity made by old men?
“Call it Game God Divinity.”
He knew this theme well. Before elevating the Dream Realm, he’d explored similar worlds with disciple Ye Chen, mastering such concepts.
“Master! Can I eat them?”
The Silly Dog drooled impatiently.
“No eating. But this kid’s in trouble.” Zuo Meng halted his scheming.
Zhu Xiao kept arguing with the woman in black, missing how she buried a signal device using her powers. Even his dormant Grandpa Ring didn’t notice – those external aids always slept to recover.
“Enough. Next time, I won’t hold back.”
Zhu Xiao thought he’d made things clear. What happened was accidental, but people should move forward, not dwell on the past.
“Just kill me.”
The woman’s hatred burned visibly.
Zhu Xiao rubbed his temples. “Why’s it always violence? I told you, that night I was also—”
BOOM!
A colossal metal arm erupted from the sand, crushing Zhu Xiao in its grip.
“Detonate!”
Zhu Xiao’s survival instinct kicked in. A summoned game character exploded, blasting the metal arm to scrap. He rode the shockwave to safety.
“Who are you?”
Wiping blood from his lips, he snapped the last battery into his protective suit. The blast had drained its power.
Ordinary people died in isolation zones.
Even high-ranking tier ones.
Here, the world’s own rules reigned.
“The last hope of the Zhu family, the core heir of the next generation, Zhu Xiao. Had I made a mistake?” Metal scraps flew back as a pitch-black cybernetic being rose from the sand, clutching the tracker the woman in black had discarded earlier.
“Cybernetic being?”
Zhu Xiao narrowed his eyes, recognizing his opponent.
“From the Twelve Alliances – Mechanical Alliance!”
Shending’s three major powers were the Parliament, Twelve Alliances, and Thirty-two Families. While the Parliament stood strongest, the Twelve Alliances and Thirty-two Families remained evenly matched. This balance bred constant friction. The Zhu family and Mechanical Alliance had become bitter business rivals, forcing the Zhus to ally with three other Families against their common enemy.
Their conflict had raged for twenty years – starting with clashes over interests and escalating into deep hatred. Now their encounters always ended in bloodshed.
“Found the right target. What a prize.”
The cybernetic being grinned. Having prepared this ambush, his protective suit brimmed with energy. The isolation zone’s dangers extended beyond harsh environment – its energy-draining sands affected all lifeforms, even augmented ones. Both humans and cybernetic beings required protective suits here.
“You tracked me through her?”
Zhu Xiao quickly pieced it together.
“I warned you to kill me.”
The woman in black locked eyes with him, radiating killing intent.
Zhu Xiao grimaced. His refusal to kill her stemmed from past debts – anyone else would’ve been dust by now.
“Capturing you means promotion! Orders say take you alive.”
Flames burst from the cybernetic being’s boots as he rocketed toward Zhu Xiao, unleashing two dozen micro-missiles.
Fighting mechanized foes always meant dealing with firearms.
“What scrapheap gave you courage to challenge ME?!”
A magic circle glowed beneath Zhu Xiao’s feet as four game characters took positions behind him. Originally five, one had self-destructed during their escape – a loss Zhu Xiao compensated for personally.
Pale blue light surged from the magic circle.
“Master, lend me your strength!”
Feeling power course through him, Zhu Xiao grinned savagely at the approaching missiles.
“Ever seen a baron?”
His summoning ability wasn’t limited to fighters. Any max-level game character obeyed his call – provided he’d fully mastered them.
“Six months grinding that canyon for this!”
Energy detonated.
A earthshaking roar split the air as sand exploded upward.
A monstrous silhouette blotting out the sun emerged from the swirling grit.