The Devil's Cage

Panda Novel

Kieran watched the decapitated eagle start to turn blurry and dark, as though it was vanishing.

However, at the next moment…

A palm-sized spider appeared and landed on the eagle’s body.

The little spider quickly spun its web around the body and within a breath’s time, the body was turned into a cocoon.

The little spider lay down beside the cocoon and started its meal.

Almost 20 seconds later, the bulging cocoon was left with a layer of skin and the little spider was glimmering.

The glimmer grew into a gleam, the little spider and the layer of cocoon skin vanishing into the light.

At the same time, Kieran’s wrist guard on his right hand was emanating a dark golden glint.

The glint lasted for a moment.

The black wrist guard became darker—as dark as the night—the spider icon on top bulged, as though a real spider was crawling on top.

[Name: Mardos Lair]

[Type: Armor (Right hand wrist guard)]

[Rarity: IV]

[Defense: IV]

[Attributes: 1. Mardos Web, 2. Mardos Net, 3. Mardos Devour]

[Effect: 1.Mardos Fire, 2. Mardos Terror]

[Prerequisite: The one who killed Mardos (Binds player)]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: Mardos was hatched from a Hell Fiend Spider egg that was left on earth, through a special and hasten hatching process, it had a growth disorder in nature, in addition to losing the intellect, strength and lineage of a Hell Fiend Spider, all it has was the natural predator instinct, but your presence has started to change it! The changes are deepening and now, it is one step away from recovering its own legacy!]

…

[Mardos Web: Fire a tensile and sticky retractable spider web not longer than 150 meters, the spider web has a rank II defense, target would require to have rank II Strength to break away from the stickiness, 10 second duration, 2 times per day]

[Mardos NetI: Fire a 25 meter radius sticker spider web laced with poison, binding multiple targets 200 meters within sight, spider web has a rank II and above defense, target would require to have rank II Strength and above to break away. The poison will force the target undergo 3 times Constitution authentication of rank III, rank II, Strong rank I. If target failed all 3 authentication, target will receive rank III poison attack. If target fail 2 authentication, target will receive rank II poison attack. If target fail 1 authentication, target will receive Strong rank I poison attack, 5 seconds duration, 1 per day]

[Mardos Devour: Player will absorb the soul energy of each target kill, replenishing player’s HP, Stamina, the recovery rate is based on the target’s soul level. The soul can be temporarily stored in the armguard, able to replenish at will. The restore level is equal to 2 Lethally Wounded Status worth of HP and Stamina , 3 Heavily Wounded Status worth of HP and Stamina, 4 Moderate Wounded Status worth of HP and Stamina. (Current stored Lethally Wounded Restoration: 2,;Heavily Wounded Restoration: 3; Moderate Wounded Restoration: 4)]

(Note: This is pure soul energy and has no specific harmful elements, suitable for all Origin Force.)

…

[Mardos Fire: When using Mardos Web or Mardos Net, bound target will receive a rank II fire damage and rank II negative energy corrosion. Able to activate Hell Fiend Spider Fire on your will.( Mardos Fire is not mortal fire, water and mud cannot extinguish it.]

[Mardos Terror: The monsters that lived around the hell sulphur river were not as simple as they look but they chose to bow down to Mardos. When using Mardos Web, Mardos Net, binded target will be forced to undergo a Spirit authentication not lower your own, Intuition authentication not lower than your own Fear and Illusion level. If target failed 1 authentication, target will receive mental impact attack equivalent to your Spirit rank. If target failed 2 authentication, while receiving the mental impact attack, target will be forced to undergo another Death authentication (Judged based on special life energy of yours and Mardos), target will die instantly if failed and the soul will be devoured!]

…

“It’s only a step away to recover its own legacy?”

Kieran glanced over the newly enhanced [Mardos Lair]. He went through the attributes and ultimately landed his gaze at the remark.

It seemed like rank V was the starting point for Hell Fiend Spider.

“Rank V the moment it is born… scary!”

Kieran then recalled the description on Hell Fiend Spider: drag the stars down from the sky, devour even the gods.

If rank V was its starting point, it wasn’t surprising to perform those legendary feats because no one knew what kind of absurdity Hell Fiend Spider could grow to become.

Rank VII?

Rank VIII?

Rank XI?

Or higher?

Kieran wondered and landed his gaze at the spot where the eagle fell.

His eyes showed that he was in deep thought.

The eagle appeared in a very timely manner.

After half of the Witch’s Gift on its hand vanished, the eagle appeared. It would make sense if the Witch would want to take revenge.

But… the eagle was still too weak!

Although the eagle possessed all sorts of skills that countered his talents as a Chosen One, the eagle knew very little of him.

According to the Enigmatic Realm which came out from the Witch’s Gift, the ‘gift’ should be very familiar with Kieran since it was with him all the time, thus detailed information of him would have reached the mastermind behind everything and yet it turned out that the eagle only knew a little about him, not much.

As though the eagle had did research on him on the surface level, it knew about the performance and achievement Kieran did in the big city but not the progress in the dungeon runs.

“If that’s the case… Things have just become interesting.”

A person flashed over Kieran’s mind.

He then opened up his PM tab.

…

Ro Street was as crowded as usual.

A while ago, this street beside Wallway Street had become the gathering spot for the newbies and rookies—a lot of veterans dropped by also after it slowly made its name.

The veterans dropped by not just because of the crowd but because some good stuff appeared in the market here a few days ago.

A lucky newbie acquired a Legendary item in his trial dungeon.

Since he couldn’t use the item, he chose to sell it to fund himself and grow stronger.

No one knew the final price of the deal, but it alerted everyone to the fact that there were good things in Ro Street.

The already crowded street gathered more attention and became merrier.

Kieran got to know the story during some chit-chat with the ice-cream shop owner,although he didn’t had much thought on it.

He didn’t deny newbie players having great luck or excellent talents, resulting in an overwhelming start during the trial dungeon, but he didn’t believe someone would have sold a Legendary item after a newbie dungeon.

Although it was unusable and it seemed logical to sell it away, anyone with a slight understanding of the big city wouldn’t have done it.

Humans had selfishness embedded in their nature.

Given that selfishness, where a lot of people would rather harm others than suffer their own loss, it would seem foolish and outrageous in other people’s eyes.

Therefore, this ‘sale’ should be an advertising technique by the people who ran Ro Street.

Of course, if there was really a newbie getting Legendary items in trial dungeon, Kieran would be looking forward to it because if the newbie progressed smoothly, he would eventually make a name for himself in the game.

“Your extra large, strawberry, vanilla, yam, blueberry, mango, chocolate, cheese ice-cream. A total of 3 Points. Thank you very much.”

The ice-cream store owner served a 16 inch waffle with all sorts of ice-cream on top to Kieran. He sounded very joyful.

Other than a buffet restaurant, any other kind of shop would be overjoyed to serve the likes of Kieran.

One man could rival ten men’s appetite!

How could the owner not be happy?

Kieran paid a paper currency equivalent to 3 Points before taking his ice-cream waffle to an empty seat.

Due to the differences in price, a lot of food had not reach the 1 Point value, so there was an exchange booth at the entrance of Ro Street for visitors to convert points to paper currency.

Players might not get used to it at first but as the system progressed on, many visitors of Ro Street had two to three pieces of paper currency equivalent to 1 Point in their hand as they shop.

Kieran picked up his spoon, scooped up one third of the strawberry ice-cream sphere at the top and delivered it into his mouth.

His mouth was then filled with coldness, sweetness, and the aromatic taste of strawberry, squinting his eyes pleasantly and his blurred out face showing satisfaction.

The satisfaction did not go away even when Borl showed up.

Compared to the last meeting, Borl looked even more dispirited this time, not in terms of looks but his presence struck Kieran as such, as if Borl was a gambler who had lost everything and was ready to end his life.

The ice-cream shop owner stared at Borl when he stepped in.

There were securities and patrols in Ro Street but for them to appear at the scene required time, so in the meantime, anything could happen.

She didn’t want anything to happen to her shop, likewise her customers.

Therefore, when she saw Borl walk to Kieran, she uttered her reminder loudly.

“Sir, is he here for you? Do you both know each other?” the store owner asked.

“Yup,” Kieran nodded; Borl shrugged.

“Don’t worry, I am not here to cause trouble, I dare not either. After all, in front of him…”

Borl’s voice got softer and eventually stopped his gaze on Kieran.

Despite the fact that he had gave up on himself because of the repeated failures, Borl did not want to die yet.

The person in front him wasn’t a saint by any means, describing Kieran as ruthless could already be considered as mild.

“Then good,” the store owner heaved a breath of relief when she found out Borl knew Kieran, then went back to her work.

As for the unfinished words from Borl?

The store owner didn’t think much. The big city was too big and too many rumours for her—who was trying to survive—to comprehend.

She didn’t even care. All she sought was to earn a steady income and when the time came, overcome her next dungeon run.

It was the mindset of the majority of players in the big city.

No one should look down on others because everyone is the same.

After all, taking risks was only the minority; enduring passively was the reality.

“What do you know about the leader of the Guardians?” Kieran asked.

“I don’t! Although I was one of the eight Magistrate of the Guardians at first, those who could get in touch with the leader were the two Supervisors! Other than them, no one else can get to the leader. The whole Guardians operated around the two Supervisors, who were responsible for delivering the leader’s order to the rest of us.” Borl shook his head and said what he knew.

“Who are those Supervisors?” Kieran asked.

“If they haven’t changed, they should be Rynester and Yu. Rynester is in charge of delivering the orders; Yu is in charge of sanctions, just like his name suggested,” Borl shrugged in an unnatural way.

He seemed to be afraid of Yu.

4 to 5 seconds later, Borl continued after he expelled the fear in his heart.

“Rynester is a milder person, most of the time he speaks in a tender way. I don’t know about his strength, abilities, or skills because I’ve never seen him in action. As for Yu, his weapon or item is a chain. The chain is very quick and powerful, it has a certain aura to it, similar to killer intents and negative energy. Back then, I couldn’t even withstand a hit from him. If you run into Yu, I suggest a melee approach. Don’t give him the chance to use his chains. That’s what I know about them and if there isn’t anything else, I’ll take my leave now.”

Borl stood up after he finished and ready to leave.

Kieran didn’t stop him, instead initiating a trade and paying Borl 3000 Points.

Borl was stunned, looking at Kieran in confusion.

“Intel fee. Based on what I know, your intel is worth this much,” Kieran answered.

“This is surprising.” Borl took a good look at Kieran.

In Borl’s impression, a powerhouse like Kieran could easily determine the life and death of the weak, like him.

Borl dared not hesitate against Kieran’s question, since he was afraid of dying.

He was afraid that Kieran would simply kill him, and with Kieran’s power, killing him would be too easy, but in the end, Borl got paid.

“I believe in equivalent exchange,” Kieran said as Borl looked at him.

“Is that so? Coincidentally, me too. Based on what I know, the intel I shared with you just now isn’t worth this much—I’ll share another one with you. The true dome clock tower isn’t what it looks like. If you want to see the real thing, go in at 7.01. Of course, danger lurks.”

After that, Borl shrugged and walked out of the ice-cream store, soon vanishing beyond the crowd.

Kieran didn’t care about Borl anymore, quickly finishing his ice-cream and waffle before ordering another set.

“Owner, the same thing, another plate please.”

“Okay, coming right up!” the joyful voice answered.

Two minutes later, an extra large ice-cream waffle appeared on Kieran’s table again.

What followed the ice-cream was another person in mantle.

“What a coincidence! We meet again. Remember me? I’m Bella.”

Yu – Chinese character meaning prison.