Bizarre Voyage: Summoning The Fourth Crisis

[Explanation: A fungus from the Land of Madness. It draws nutrients from the blood in the soil and, in doing so, also converts the Madness, blooming into a vibrant cap.]

”Huh? Why is there a consumable that gives you a debuff? Isn’t this just a poisonous Mushroom?” Guagua was surprised. ’It’s one thing for the Mad Talk Mushroom to look strange, but for its Effect to actually be a debuff...’

”No, it might come in handy sometimes,” Faraway said, shaking his head.

After speaking, he even went back to the original spot to check.

The Mad Talk Mushroom wasn’t a one-time item; it was already starting to regrow, just like the destroyed structures, but it wasn’t growing quickly.

’A regenerating consumable.’

Having confirmed this, Faraway quickly returned to the Spirit Candle.

Guagua was warily scanning their surroundings. When she saw Faraway return, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Glancing at the blood-red scene around them, Guagua couldn’t help but say, ”Faraway Lord, don’t you think this game is getting scarier and scarier...?”

”A little,” Faraway admitted with a slight nod.

The Blood Pool from before had given Guagua quite a scare.

Still, Guagua was a pretty brave girl with a strong ability to adapt, and she quickly overcame the mental stress.

The game Spirit Candle was extremely realistic in every way. The near-real sensations meant that the impact of facing terrifying and bloody scenes was much stronger.

That’s why some players who couldn’t handle it psychologically had already quit the game back in the Near-Sea Cave or on Exile Island.

”Next time I log in, I’ve got to turn my sensory sensitivity down... This is too terrifying.”

Guagua said, her face a mask of misery.

”Mm,” Faraway nodded. ”Do you want to adjust it now? The smell of blood is getting thicker down below.”

”Um...” Guagua hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. ”Forget it. I’ll do it next time.”

”This feeling is actually kind of exciting...” Guagua added in a quiet voice.

Hearing this, Faraway couldn’t help but give her a strange look.

’Why do I get the feeling she’s actually a little excited about this?’

However, since Guagua had made her choice, he didn’t need to interfere.

”Let’s go.”

After their short break, the two pressed on.

Soon, a curtain-like door made of vines appeared before them. Blood dripped from the plants, casting a crimson haze that obscured their view.

Through the leafy vines, they could vaguely make out two silhouettes inside.

In addition, the sharp crack of a whip echoed from within.

”What’s that sound?” Guagua asked, puzzled.

Faraway shook his head without a word, then led Guagua forward and parted the blood-soaked vine curtain.

The first thing they saw was a pool of blood. The walls were carved with countless patterns. A few hooded lanterns were dotted around—whether for light or some other purpose was unclear—emitting a dim, yellow glow that was quickly swallowed by the crimson surroundings.

In the center of this bloodbath stood an enormous bed.

The Lady of Tyranny sat upon it, legs crossed, holding a Bone Whip and furiously lashing the Mad Fallen Lord below her.

”Ahh...” Guagua’s eyes went wide, her face instantly flushing. ”Wh-What is this...? Good grief!”

At that moment, the Lady of Tyranny—clad in a blood-red gown and wearing leather Gloves—turned her scarlet gaze upon the two intruders.

The Mad Fallen Lord slowly rose to his feet, his eyes filled with Madness as he looked at the two of them. He let out a low, hoarse chuckle. ”Heh heh... Do you want to join our little game, too...?”

The Lady of Tyranny’s towering figure stepped forward. The spikes on her boots plunged into the Mad Fallen Lord’s back, and as she twisted her foot, she commanded in a hoarse voice, ”...Kneel. I’ll be gentle...”

”No!”

”You are my master... Mine!”

”No one else will share my master’s favor!!!”

Hearing the Lady of Tyranny’s words, the Mad Fallen Lord became instantly agitated. He roared and plunged his hand into the nearby Blood Pool.

SPLASH!

A blade of blood quickly formed in its hand. Its other hand was wrapped in a blood-red Banner as it fixed a dangerous gaze on the duo.

”Be careful.”

After giving the warning, Faraway slowly began to walk toward the Mad Fallen Lord.

At his words, Guagua shook her head to clear the dirty thoughts from her mind. She took out the Mad Fall Spear, and after expending some Physical Strength, her form began to shift into that of the Iron-faced Warlock.

Her Fire Seed for Fire Ignition was also the Iron-faced Warlock. However, because her stat build was all over the place, her synchronization wasn’t very high. Still, the Iron-faced Warlock’s Execution Step was a perfect fit for her fighting style.

BOOM!

Over on Faraway’s side, a fierce battle with the Mad Fallen Lord had already begun.

After a bloody shockwave, the Mad Fallen Lord brandished its greatsword, slashing at Faraway with frenzied speed.

Faraway remained calm, dodging while Guard Law Swords condensed from Spiritual Power materialized in his hand. He threw them continuously, striking the Mad Fallen Lord’s body.

Its Blood Volume began to drop.

CRACK!

The Lady of Tyranny rose to her feet and swung her long Spinal Bone Whip. Blood-colored Warfire spread from it, lashing out toward Faraway.

However, the Whip’s target wasn’t Faraway. Instead, it landed unexpectedly on the Mad Fallen Lord’s back.

”More fiercely, puppy!”

The Lady of Tyranny issued another cold command.

The whip strike from the Lady of Tyranny caused the Mad Fallen Lord’s Blood Volume to drop slightly, but its aggression spiked dramatically.

Warfire raged across its body. Its Attack frequency grew faster and faster, the blood-red greatsword in its hand moving so quickly it left afterimages.

CLANG!

Its attack speed forced Faraway to use his Executioner’s Hand Blade, meeting offense with offense to parry some of the Lord’s onslaught.

Just as the Lady of Tyranny was about to strike with her whip again...

”Enough of your weird games! Eat my spear!”

Guagua’s voice rang out.

SCHLICK! A Long Spear slammed into the Lady of Tyranny’s lower half, making her body shudder as she let out a furious roar.

”ROAR!”

Absurdly, the Mad Fallen Lord instantly switched targets. It completely ignored an Executioner’s Hand Blade from Faraway that struck its body and charged straight for Guagua with wild abandon.

”Oh, crap.”

Seeing that she’d poked the hornet’s nest, Guagua’s eyes widened. She instantly abandoned the idea of attacking again and turned to flee.

SHUNK! SHUNK!

Seizing the opportunity, Faraway used Execution Step, continuously forming Guard Law Swords in his hand and hurling them at the Mad Fallen Lord without pause.

Blood sprayed from its body as wound after wound appeared.

However, that strange Talent only made the Mad Fallen Lord more and more excited, and its speed increased considerably.

CRACK!

The Lady of Tyranny’s whip cracked and missed again. Guagua was forced into Rolling through the Blood Pool, dodging the pincer attack from both the Lady of Tyranny and the Mad Fallen Lord.

WHOOSH!

Just then, the Lady of Tyranny coldly raised her leather-gloved hand. The Warfire transformed into a Blood-colored Rope, which shot out from her palm and flew swiftly toward Guagua.

At the same time, the Mad Fallen Lord roared and slashed at Guagua.

’I’m done for!’

Guagua, who had just barely evaded an attack with a Dodge, now faced an impossible choice.

No matter which way she moved, she would be hit. It was too late to Dodge again.

But just then, as if he had anticipated it, Faraway acted.

With a wave of the Devil Fish Tail Staff in his hand, a Blood Stone Burst shot out and exploded next to the Lady of Tyranny.

The Lady of Tyranny let out a hoarse cry of pain. As if by reflex, the Mad Fallen Knight also reacted, instantly spinning around and slashing wildly at Faraway with its greatsword.

Seeing this, Guagua’s eyes lit up. She quickly rolled in the direction of the Mad Fallen Knight.

She was a moment too late, however. The Blood-colored Rope from the Lady of Tyranny still found its mark, automatically wrapping itself tightly around her.

”Oof!” Guagua fell headfirst into the Blood Pool.

The next moment, the Lady of Tyranny was upon her. She raised a foot with a spiked sole high into the air and brought it down violently on Guagua’s head.

Seeing this, Guagua subconsciously gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut.

[DEATH]

With a bloodcurdling scream, Guagua turned into a Wandering Soul.

”Faraway Lord, hang on! I’ll be right back!”