Sacred Artifact's Cage? Taking What's Mine, No Debate!

Hearing the servant's call, Du Chen quickly dressed and pushed the door open, stepping out.

Beyond the servant, a Household Guard stood at the door. Du Chen recognized him as a trusted confidant of Lord Norton, the City Lord.

“Sir, what’s the true state of affairs out there?”

The Household Guard replied, “His Eminence Zigurd is stalling the enemy with words, buying time for the common folk to take shelter underground. But a battle is inevitable! Young Master, quickly gather your essential belongings, then follow me to the underground secret chamber for cover. The surface is no longer safe!”

“Underground? What if there’s an earthquake, like the one from two months ago?”

“No, that won’t happen! The City Lord said that His Eminence Zigurd intends to draw the battle into the skies this time, to minimize casualties! Oh, Young Master, please hurry! Once they start fighting up there, any stray fireballs or hydro blasts that fall could crush a whole swathe of people!”

Du Chen felt a strange disconnect. This was a battle in the Battle God world, yet it sounded exactly like an air raid from his previous life. Hiding in underground bunkers for protection?

But then, a realization dawned, and he relaxed. Even if Zigurd was at his weakest, he was still a Tenth-Tier Titled Battle God. If he fought with all his might, the sky cracking and earth splitting open was entirely possible. And the fellow outside, who bellowed his presence every three minutes, could command tens of thousands of pythons in an assault – it didn't take a genius to know he was a formidable opponent.

If these two clashed, it would surely be a spectacle akin to meteorites colliding with the earth.

With that thought, Du Chen wasted no further time. He urgently called out to Aliza, who was in the adjacent room, to pack their valuables – especially the chest where he kept his personal treasures. After all, his Ramhorn Warhammer and the necklace gifted by the Flaying Battle God were both tucked inside!

Aliza emerged, one arm cradling the chest, the other lugging a large basket overflowing with dried beef. The Household Guard, abandoning all decorum, seized Du Chen's hand. “Young Master, quickly, follow me!”

“Wait!” Du Chen’s heart clenched. He barked, “Where’s my elder brother? He hasn’t returned!”

“Young Master Steve secured the statue and has already taken the City Lord’s protective sacred artifact, finding shelter in a nearby commoner’s basement. Rest assured!”

Du Chen let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Feeling a sense of relief, he followed the Household Guard towards the inner court of the Lord’s Manor. In this world, he had only three loved ones: Old Foye, Aliza, and his elder brother Steve. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could happen to these three.

Along the way, he saw the elderly, weak, women, and children of the Lord’s Manor hurrying into basements, while the able-bodied men within the estate were all rushing outwards. Were they going to aid in the city’s defense?!

The Household Guard led Du Chen to a secluded room in the inner court, where he lifted a section of the floor, revealing a secret chamber five or six meters deep, and gestured for them to enter.

The chamber was not large, merely a dozen square meters, furnished with a table and chairs, a bed, and a cabinet well-stocked with food and daily necessities.

After settling Du Chen, the Household Guard pointed to a glowing metallic orb suspended from the chamber’s ceiling. “Young Master,” he instructed, “this orb is imbued with His Eminence Zigurd’s battle qi, and it will keep you safe!” With that, the Household Guard turned and ascended the ladder leading to the exit.

“Hey, aren’t you staying?” Du Chen called out, halting him.

“Young Master Francis,” the Household Guard replied, “the main besieger is preoccupied with His Eminence Zigurd, but there are still many pythons, aren’t there? Heh heh, besides bringing you to this secret chamber, my purpose in returning was to rally my brothers and head to the city walls to deal with those pythons!”

So he had returned for reinforcements. It seemed the pressure outside the city was immense, enough to necessitate deploying the Lord’s Manor’s personal guard!

Wait a minute, if all the skilled personal guards from the Lord’s Manor were deployed, wouldn’t that significantly reduce the number of guards watching the demoness?

Time to probe for information!

With that in mind, Du Chen feigned concern, instructing with a hint of worry, “Oh, by the way, Sir, the pythons outside the city are here to rescue that demoness. You must absolutely warn the guards watching her to be vigilant! It’s possible some pythons might sneak in to save her!”

The Household Guard chuckled. Though Du Chen’s warning was meaningless, it sounded genuinely well-intentioned, which warmed his heart somewhat.

“Rest assured, Young Master,” he said. “Actually, there are no guards around that demoness at all. His Eminence Zigurd sealed her with his sacred artifact! With His Eminence Zigurd’s sacred artifact in place, who needs guards? Heh heh, there’s practically no one in the world capable of forcibly breaking His Eminence Zigurd’s sacred artifact seal!”

Hearing those words, Du Chen nearly slapped himself senseless.

Damn it! So, besides a single sacred artifact, that girl had no guards at all. How ridiculous that he had been constantly plotting how to bypass those phantom guards to rescue her.

Indeed, this was the world of Battle Gods. A sacred artifact seal placed by a Tenth-Tier Battle God, even one inflicted while severely injured, was more effective than ten thousand ordinary guards combined. With that in place, no further defenses were truly needed.

Alas, he had just heard Zigurd mention that his sacred artifact was used to seal the demoness, but he had been too caught up in the exhilaration of his metamorphosis… He should have put two and two together sooner!

Du Chen quickly absorbed this lesson.

Seeing Du Chen’s slightly chagrined expression, the Household Guard assumed he was merely feeling foolish for offering a meaningless suggestion. He consoled, “Young Master, your suggestion was still excellent. You simply overlooked certain things you aren’t familiar with – trying to break a sacred artifact seal is barely easier than forcibly making a sacred artifact accept a new master. Right now, not only will the enemy outside fail to locate the demoness, but even if they did, they’d first need to defeat His Eminence Zigurd. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to break the seal and rescue her.”

“Therefore, Young Master, you needn’t worry about anyone attacking the Lord’s Manor to rescue the demoness before His Eminence Zigurd falls, because it would be utterly futile.”

The Household Guard spoke quickly, then climbed out of the secret chamber via the ladder. “Time is pressing, I can’t say more. If I survive and return, I’d be happy to discuss the knowledge of sacred artifact seals with you anytime, heh heh, though the chances are slim…”

“May Sigurd bless you!” Du Chen called out loudly to his retreating back. This Household Guard was a good man. Putting aside the influence of the Precious Lotus Scripture, for the sake of good people like him who deserved to be spared from the ravages of war, Du Chen felt he should rescue that girl and thereby avert this conflict.

What’s more, everyone in the city, save for the soldiers, was sheltering underground! This was a heaven-sent opportunity to rescue her!

Zigurd’s sacred artifact cage might pose some trouble, but what was Du Chen’s moniker, after all?

Unlocks Anything!

“Young Master, what’s up?” Aliza was still utterly bewildered, looking lost. “Are we going to fight?”

“It’s nothing, Aliza, sit down first! Listen to me!” Du Chen lightly punched Aliza’s chest, motioning for him to sit, then ordered, “I need to go out for a bit. Don’t ask why. If anyone comes while I’m gone, just tell them I forgot my Battle God Academy admission letter and I’ve gone to retrieve it.”

“Oh, Aliza understands!” He squatted in the corner, clutching the chest and dried beef, falling silent.

Du Chen stared at the entrance, pondering for a moment, estimating when the Household Guard would be far away and the Lord’s Manor courtyard would be empty. Then, he climbed out of the opening via the ladder.

Once out, Du Chen seized the opportunity of the deserted grounds. Unleashing his Lotus Internal Force to its maximum, he sprinted towards the statue within the manor. His eyes, however, constantly darted skyward, ready to retreat without hesitation should the battle commence above, or any unusual phenomena appear – a feat his current speed made entirely possible.

Fortunately, Zigurd’s silver tongue proved potent; he was still bickering and stalling his opponent, so the battle hadn’t yet begun.

Arriving in the courtyard, Du Chen noticed the Sigurd statue here surprisingly hadn’t been secured. It seemed the Household Guards within the Lord’s Manor were truly in a state of disarray.

Confirming no one was nearby once more, Du Chen concealed himself behind a wall, gazing intently at the statue from afar. He then summoned three lotus sacred artifacts and hurled them forward with a fierce surge of inner strength.