Arknightcraft Modpack
Chapter 589: So What If I'm Not Very Smart?
"Your power… that is precisely why you are destined to become a savior."
The battle had begun and ended in less than a second.
Even Lin Yuhsia, who had been standing nearby, couldn't process what had just happened. The Damazti that had been lively mere moments ago was suddenly cleaved cleanly in half at the waist right after uttering those words.
Even the crystalline longsword in its hand had split into two alongside its owner, as though both had been carved from tofu.
Damazti's proud shapeshifting and regeneration abilities were rendered completely useless. After delivering that final remark, the creature could do nothing but collapse into a puddle of pale-blue liquid that slowly melted into the ground.
"Thanks for the compliment, but honestly, I've heard that one way too many times already."
With a smile, Steven looked at the remains gradually disappearing before shifting his attention toward the item that had dropped.
He had already guessed that the thing was probably some kind of clone or split body, but the fact that it still dropped loot was a pleasant surprise.
And judging from its properties… this thing was actually pretty valuable.
[Mimic Gel]: Can be used to restore equipment durability, or consume eight units to create a zero-durability replica of any equipment.
Steven vaguely remembered this item coming from some mod or another. The fact that it dropped from a Damazti was honestly an unexpected bonus.
If that Shapeshifter King could reproduce—or better yet, duplicate itself endlessly… then farming that entire race suddenly sounded like a fantastic idea.
Putting away the transparent gel, Steven turned toward the rat-girl beside him, who was still standing there with her mouth hanging open in disbelief.
"You're still staring? The guy's already dead. Shouldn't you be worrying about your own situation now~?"
He stepped closer and lightly flicked her forehead with a finger, finally snapping her out of her daze.
"Wait, what about the Shapeshifter King? It just… huh?"
Even someone like Lin Yuhsia, who prided herself on having seen all kinds of crazy situations, found her brain completely frozen after witnessing that scene.
She pointed blankly toward where the Damazti had been standing moments ago before turning to stare at the boy in front of her with utter incomprehension.
She knew Steven was ridiculously strong—otherwise he couldn't have soloed an entire Umbrella squad by himself.
But this?
This was beyond absurd.
First, the Damazti launched a sudden attack without warning. Then Steven casually pulled out a katana from who-knows-where—and one-shot a Kazdel King with a single slash.
The speed and power behind that Damazti's attack had been terrifying enough that Lin Yuhsia was certain she would have died instantly if she had been the target.
Yet Steven not only blocked it head-on, but immediately counter-killed the thing without leaving it the slightest chance to react.
"Yep. Instantly deleted."
Steven smiled as he patted her shoulder, casually stating a reality she absolutely did not want to accept.
"Relax. It was just some kind of split body or clone anyway. Didn't it say so itself? This was basically a test for me."
"If I can't even insta-kill something like that, then how am I supposed to become the main DPS later?"
To him, this really was that simple.
Was there really any need to be this shocked?
"Besides, why are you so worried about someone else right now?" Steven continued, suddenly locking eyes with her with a much more serious expression.
"I already told you—your biggest problem right now is yourself."
"I wasn't joking earlier. You just overheard a whole bunch of secrets between me and that young'un."
"So tell me… what exactly are you planning to use to stop me from silencing you permanently?"
"Wha—? But you were the one saying all that stuff in front of me! I never asked to hear any of it!"
"And I didn't even understand half of what you two were talking about! How is any of this my fault?!"
Lin Yuhsia's gaze began to drift uneasily.
Sure, she hadn't explicitly said she wanted to listen in, but the moment she chose to stay instead of leaving, that alone had already been an answer.
And from the fragmented conversation between Steven and the Damazti, she had still managed to piece together quite a few things.
For example—
Steven was probably preparing to do something immensely important. Important enough that even the highest-ranking members of Kazdel's Royal Court had to publicly take a stance on it.
And that Shapeshifter King had clearly chosen to stand on Steven's side from the very beginning.
As for the conflict involving Kal'tsit and the Royal Court… that seemed to be an entirely separate matter.
And strangely enough, to the boy standing before her, that issue appeared to matter even more.
That was about as far as Lin Yuhsia's deductions could go.
Anything beyond this would probably require asking the old man back home—or perhaps her superior, Chief Wei Yenwu.
Of course, there was absolutely no way she could say any of that out loud in front of Steven.
Because if she did, she'd basically be admitting that she really had overheard secrets she wasn't supposed to hear.
Lin Yuhsia didn't actually think Steven would go as far as murdering her to keep things quiet.
But considering this guy's personality, doing something equally awful instead felt entirely possible.
For example…
Stealing the brand-new socks she had just changed into.
Most people wouldn't even think of doing something so ridiculous.
But if it was Steven?
Yeah. That suddenly sounded alarmingly realistic.
In fact, she could already feel his burning gaze fixed directly on her thighs, as though he was only one step away from actually making a move.
This bastard—could he at least pretend to hide it a little?!
"Well, that won't do," Steven replied lazily. "Have you ever seen someone silencing a witness while caring whether they overheard things voluntarily or accidentally?"
"I already warned you earlier. You were free to listen."
"But once you heard something you weren't supposed to hear…"
"You can't really blame me for what happens next."
He flexed his fingers slowly while looking her up and down with an openly dangerous gaze, as though evaluating her remaining market value.
"Yeah, except everything you said sounded completely normal!" Lin Yuhsia immediately argued back, turning her face away stubbornly.
"Or rather, those so-called 'secrets' were impossible to understand in the first place, okay?!"
Originally, she had planned that if Steven really tried anything weird, she would just run for it.
After all, based on appearances alone, he didn't exactly look like someone who could beat her in a fight.
But after witnessing him instantly annihilate the Kazdel King moments ago…
That option had been decisively deleted from her mind.
It wasn't that he looked incapable of beating her.
It was more like—
There probably wasn't anyone in all of Lungmen who could beat him.
Seriously, how did a guy who couldn't even use Originium Arts end up with stats this absurdly broken?!
"But I feel like the meaning behind our little cryptic conversation was pretty easy to figure out though," Steven mused deliberately, dragging out his words.
A smug grin slowly spread across his face.
"Unless…"
"You're finally admitting that you're just a not-very-smart little mouse?"
After beating around the bush for so long, Steven had finally guided the girl straight into the trap he had prepared from the start.
Resting a hand against his chin, he waited with great interest for her response.
"You bastard!"
So after all this nonsense, his entire goal had simply been to force her into admitting she wasn't that smart?!
How bored did someone have to be to pull something this stupid?!
And was this really the kind of thing worth teasing someone over?!
"Oh? So you refuse to admit it?" Steven narrowed his eyes playfully.
"In that case, I'll have no choice but to silence you in the cruelest, most inhumane way imaginable."
He deliberately emphasized the phrase most inhumane with a cheerful smile before continuing to stare at her.
"Fine! I'm not that smart, okay?!"
Lin Yuhsia finally snapped and shouted back in complete self-destruction mode.
"How was I supposed to understand any of that?! My brain literally can't keep up, alright?!"
Having practically smashed the pot and given up entirely, she glared at Steven with eyes full of grievance and resentment.
This brat…
He better pray he never falls into her hands someday.
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M