Overgeared

“This isn’t fair. I’m so frustrated...”

Tears fell down from the eyes of the old cultivator who was holding a dying girl in his arms. He was crying so bitterly that the atmosphere around him turned grim.

“Do you think we came here out of our own volition? This land is completely unfamiliar to us. We were forcefully brought here. In this cursed land where there are no constellations to perform rituals to and no way to raise our realm, we have no choice but to figure out a way to survive.”

The old man’s skinny hands tightened around the girl as he hugged her.

“My granddaughter has less than ten years left to live. If she doesn’t raise her realm within ten years, she will die. As her grandfather, how can I turn away from this child? I contributed to the construction of the Full Moon Fortress not because I had any ill will toward you. I just wanted to save my only granddaughter...”

The more the old man talked, the darker the expressions of the Overgeared members became. Together with Braham and Faker, they destroyed four fortresses and were on the verge of taking care of their fifth one.

They succeeded in capturing the walls of the Full Moon Fortress, which were guarded by as many as three Absolutes. Now, they just had to destroy the formation in front of them and a total of five Full Moon Fortresses would’ve fallen because of them.

The guardian of the formation also no longer fought back. Since his granddaughter, who was also guarding the formation with him, was seriously injured, all he could do was hug her and sob.

“...Is there anyone in the world who doesn’t have a story?” Zirkan asked. “I know how you must feel, but give me a moment. I will decide what to do with you once this formation is destroyed.”

Zirkan was the former top-ranked swordsman and Chris’ closest confidant. His words were oddly comforting, because he also had grandchildren, so he sympathized with the old cultivator.

The rest of the cultivators, who had been fierce in battle, relaxed their postures slightly.

Zirkan and the rest passed the sobbing old man, who was still hugging his granddaughter, and approached the formation.

But—

“So naive.”

The sneer of the young girl echoed throughout the hall.

Shocked, everyone turned around to see the dying girl in the old man’s arms standing up, looking quite healthy.

“...What?”

The Overgeared members were confused. They looked between the girl, who was smiling eerily, and the old man lying limp like a corpse next to her. They couldn’t really understand what had happened while they had their backs turned.

However, an archer with the skill Hawk Eyes noticed something suspicious. The girl’s fingertips had transparent threads attached to them. Quite a few threads were connected to the old man.

“That guy was a puppet...? A trap! It’s a trap!” the archer shouted, but it was too late.

The Overgeared members had already entered the formation, and the girl had the authority to activate it.

The girl snorted. “What is the point of making such a fuss when the trap has already been set?”

Every time her thin fingers formed a different shape, the formation containing the Overgeared members vibrated loudly.

magician, but it’s fine. You are

Flash!

as long, thin threads pierced their skin. This wasn’t an illusion. Tens of

‘Puppet Circuits’ have

escape,

control of your

“What...?”

that pierced the skin of the Overgeared members and penetrated their organs were in fact intricately crafted treasures. There were many complex circuits installed in every one of them. Every time

members couldn’t even

“Huhu.”

enemies were now acting in accordance with her will. They approached her, lined up,

swear loyalty to my new master,” they

pledged allegiance to the cultivator

puppet strings had

has been imprinted on the Puppet

‘This damn thing.’

They finally realized how powerful the girl in front of them was. They couldn’t think of a way to get

that they were all players, so they weren’t going to be her puppet

glad Braham isn’t here,’ the

echoed through the hall. “I see how things turned out... Why did you appoint him as the commander of the

handsome. Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Braham had already returned from chasing the runaway Absolutes. Faker

I don’t have the knack for leading people, so I needed a squad commander to take charge.” Faker spoke for an uncharacteristically long time. He was talking to Braham,

lead the party on his behalf, since

turned out this way,

expected of the god of wisdom, he immediately put two and two together

girl who was crying while holding the dying old man...? Or was it the old man holding the girl? Oh, well. It doesn’t matter. Either way, you are

at Zirkan and contempt crossed

I have ever seen. They might also be human, but they categorize ordinary people as mortals and don’t treat them as human beings. The vampires who have been superior humans

“......”

as if what he was saying was somewhat absurd. The way Braham described the cultivators was quite

himself was a

giving them such a chance is a privilege only for those who

criticism become harsher. Zirkan’s face turned red and Faker

girl, who had been

do? Your companions have already

The old man, who had been lying on the floor like a corpse, as well as Zirkan’s party, jumped up and stood in front of her, as if they were

stage of the great ascension

becoming an immortal. She had enormous power and she could slaughter cultivators in the early stage of the great ascension realm

had lived for tens of thousands of years, she never let down her guard. Forcing Zirkan’s group into a trap and turning them into puppets was a testament to

colleagues, so

Clink, clink.

great hall. Zirkan’s group pulled

show your ugly