Chapter Five: The Ring of Misfortune
Wang Xiao silently hung the meat from the wild boar monster on the private chat group’s trading platform.
In the chat group, the players once again showered him with flattery.
Someone tagged Wang Xiao: “Big bro, can I trade this with you for something? [Equipment: Ring of Misfortune (Special), Effect One: Bound, cannot be dropped. Effect Two: Entwined Misfortune, usable once per day, when misfortune descends it’s accompanied by great opportunity. Appraisal: If you don’t ask for trouble, you won’t die.]”
“Whoa, that’s a good item. Take a gamble and maybe your bike becomes a motorcycle (dog head).”
“The road is long, but life is short.”
“The road is long, but life is short.”
“Bro, will you accept this? (Expectant)”
“Ahem, I survive on my own merits (sweating).”
“Shh~”
“Shh~”
“Shh~”
“What’s with the shushing? It’s supposed to be ‘phew~’”
Wang Xiao couldn’t help but smile at the effect of the equipment.
“I’ll take it. What do you want in exchange?”
“Big bro, just give me some dragon meat, not much, ten pounds will do (shy).”
The chat erupted.
“Dude, are you a bashful little boy or something?!”
“Pfft~ Why can’t a boy be shy? As a big sister, I love this kind of boy.”
“By the way, did you all slip through nine years of compulsory education? It’s ‘zi’ not ‘zhi’.”
Wang Xiao cheerfully replied with a yes.
[You have obtained Equipment: Ring of Misfortune]
Without a hint of hesitation, Wang Xiao bound the Ring of Misfortune.
“Activate Entwined Misfortune!”
Then Wang Xiao used Dispel.
A holy light radiated forth, making it hard for Wang Xiao to see the scene before him.
Do you believe in the light?
Strange thoughts suddenly popped into Wang Xiao’s mind.
“Excuse me, are you Diga?”
An ethereal voice sounded, neither male nor female. “I am the Divine Envoy. I can grant your wish.”
Wang Xiao felt a little disappointed.
“Are you disappointed?”
“Oh… oh, no, can you really grant any wish?”
The figure, pure and immaculate, bathed in holy light, smiled faintly. “Of course.”
Wang Xiao lowered his head, a bit embarrassed.
The figure approached him. “The gods will fulfill all your wishes. Speak boldly!”
Wang Xiao no longer hesitated. “Can you die?”
“What?”
The figure was stunned.
Wang Xiao lifted his head. “I said, can you die?”
A cold gleam flashed in the figure’s eyes. “I can. My Lord will take me to His side.”
[Wish granted!]
[The Wishing Bishop is dead!]
Wang Xiao was taken aback. “What the hell, that’s not how this is supposed to go.”
[You have sacrificed your soul to a demon!]
[You are about to die!]
A blaze appeared out of thin air, igniting at Wang Xiao’s feet.
Purple-black flames scorched at Wang Xiao’s soul.
Agonizing pain invaded his mind.
Gradually, Wang Xiao’s eyes started to lose focus.
A figure in a black robe appeared where the Wishing Bishop had stood.
Dense mist coiled around him, only a pair of eerie green eyes glimmering within.
A hoarse voice echoed by his ear, “You should feel honored, to become my Lord’s food!”
Wang Xiao slowly collapsed to the ground as the black-robed figure turned to leave.
Spit!
A thick glob of saliva cut through the mist, landing on the black robe.
The black-robed figure paused, inexplicably enraged.
He spun around to see Wang Xiao gripping a hammer the size of a human head.
“You’re not dead?!”
“Your father isn’t dead, does that shock you?”
The black-robed figure howled in fury, the mist around him swirling wildly.
A gust of wind swept up, and the black mist surged toward Wang Xiao, skulls appearing and vanishing within, eyes burning with resentment.
Like wrathful ghosts wailing, it closed in on Wang Xiao in an instant.
The black mist battered Wang Xiao’s body, engulfing him completely.
The black-robed figure nodded in satisfaction.
As the mist dispersed, Wang Xiao did not fall—his arms, raised to shield his face, were left with only shreds of flesh clinging to the bone.
This black mist was corrosive!
The black-robed figure stomped forward, approaching Wang Xiao.
“Let’s see how you keep up the act now!”
Wang Xiao, his face covered in wounds, curled his lips in a faint smile.
“That’s all?”
The green eyes of the black-robed figure narrowed sharply.
“Courting death!”
A skeletal hand shot out from the robe, grabbing Wang Xiao by the throat.
Wang Xiao chuckled.
The black-robed figure grew even angrier. “A mere ant dares to sneer?”
Blood dripped from the corner of Wang Xiao’s mouth.
“Do you know what art is? Art is explosion!”
Boom!!
The sudden blast left the black-robed figure with no chance to defend.
The skeletal hand was instantly blown to dust, and the black-robed figure was sent flying.
The tremendous impact nearly tore him apart.
His once-glowing green eyes now dimmed, as if they might flicker out at any moment.
Lying on the ground, the black-robed figure could barely move, a faint mist lingering around him.
He tried to recover, but the effect was minimal. Bitterness filled his heart.
If he’d known this was such a reckless lunatic, he never should’ve tangled with him.
Today’s luck was truly abysmal—stumbling upon such a maniac, no, a wolf in human skin!
After that blow, it would take months to fully recover.
“Oh dear, can’t move anymore?”
A cheeky voice rang out, making the black-robed figure shudder.
He tried to lift his head, but couldn’t—how infuriating!
Wang Xiao, holding his mighty hammer, walked up to him.
“What’s this? Can’t even lift your head? Tsk, tsk~”
Wang Xiao noticed one skeletal hand was missing, but the robe itself was unscathed.
He set aside his hammer and started rifling through the black robe.
“Heh, this is a good item! Mine now!”
The black-robed figure wanted to stop him, but his injuries rendered him helpless.
What terrified him even more was that this madman hadn’t been hurt at all!
After a chaotic tussle, Wang Xiao stripped the black robe away.
[Shadow Robe: Can alter appearance and simulate aura. Owner: Nightstalker. Appraisal: Want to try cross-dressing? It’s super realistic!]
Wang Xiao looked regretfully at the Nightstalker.
“Sorry, but I really like this garment. I can’t let it go, so I’ll have to let you go instead.”
The Nightstalker watched as Wang Xiao picked up his mighty hammer again, sizing him up with it, and started to panic.
“Ah bah ah bah!”
Wang Xiao paused, looking intently at the Nightstalker. “You don’t want this?”
The Nightstalker tried to nod but failed.
Wang Xiao knowingly said, “If so, blink your eyes.”
The Nightstalker felt Wang Xiao wasn’t so bad after all, and planned to give him a swift end once he recovered.
The Nightstalker’s eerie green eyes blinked.
Wang Xiao declared resolutely, “Alright! I was going to keep your skeleton as a trophy, but since you ask, I’ll grant your request!”