Chapter 186: The Deity Appearing in Mortal Form
Aside from Ritchie, both Claire and Emma looked at the Longsword of the Undying with eyes full of fear.
Jeremy said with a smile on his face.
"Weapons are meant to slay foes! Only a weapon that instills fear in the enemy can be considered truly worthy. Although you are not my enemy but my ally, the fact that this weapon can make you feel fear just proves how exceptional it really is, doesn't it?"
After listening to Jeremy's explanation, Ritchie nodded in acknowledgment.
Although Ritchie knew that Jeremy's explanation was mere nonsense, he chose not to dwell further on Jeremy's weapon.
After all, Jeremy had just mentioned that a formidable enemy, one they had never encountered before, was about to arrive.
"Didn't you just say that we are about to face an attack orchestrated by one of the planners of the apocalypse game? Shouldn't we be preparing for that? Do you have any plans?"
Ritchie hurriedly steered the conversation back to the imminent assault from the White Tower.
Jeremy nodded and spoke with an air of utmost confidence.
"Even though I only recently detected this information, I have already formulated a comprehensive strategy in my mind to counter the White Tower's attack."
Despite Jeremy's confident tone, Ritchie couldn't help but feel a tinge of worry.
After all, Ritchie had not accompanied Jeremy into The Iron Lair instance.
Thus, Ritchie was unaware that Jeremy had already acquired some critical information related to the White Tower during his venture into The Iron Lair instance.
The most crucial piece of information Jeremy now possessed was that the White Tower's power directly manifested as High-Dimensional Data. Therefore, in Jeremy's estimation, the impending attack by the White Tower would undoubtedly involve a massive swarm of mechanical monsters.
"I am fully prepared to swiftly annihilate numerous mechanical monsters." Jeremy declared, his voice resolute. After finishing his statement, he retrieved two data storage devices from his pocket.
"These two devices contain High-Dimensional Data. During the battle between me and the White Tower, you must find a way to use this High-Dimensional Data to obliterate all the mechanical monsters they summon."
Ritchie accepted one of the data storage devices from Jeremy's hand.
Claire and Emma, on the other hand, took the other data storage device from Jeremy's hand.
After receiving the data storage device, Claire, slightly worried, asked Jeremy.
"Will this really provide you with significant support? High-Dimensional Data shouldn't pose a threat to the White Tower, right?"
"After all, as you mentioned, High-Dimensional Data is the tangible manifestation of the White Tower's power. We can't possibly use its own power to defeat it."
Jeremy nodded gently, his expression softening.
"You're right. I can handle the White Tower on my own. You just need to neutralize the other threats."
Although Jeremy had never engaged in combat with the White Tower before.
Merely from their name alone, Jeremy could infer that the strength possessed by the White Tower was undoubtedly inferior to that of the Fool and the Sun.
Moreover, from the information Jeremy had gathered, it was quite evident that the White Tower was not a mastermind in the apocalypse game who excelled at direct combat.
Jeremy's words, instead of reassuring Ritchie and the others, only served to heighten their anxiety.
"I honestly believe that challenging the mastermind of the apocalypse game alone is bound to fail. We should contact Howard and Benjamin as soon as possible. They will certainly provide us with some assistance."
Ritchie suggested, immediately thinking of seeking help from others.
"You are correct. You can inform them right now. However, if you proceed with this plan, you won't be able to assist me in the imminent battle."
Jeremy responded, not dismissing Ritchie's strategy entirely.
Jeremy understood that Ritchie's plan was impractical given the circumstances. The moment Jeremy sensed the presence of the White Tower's power, it meant the White Tower was already very close.
Just as Jeremy finished speaking, before Ritchie could ask why, a familiar and despised figure appeared not far from the group.
Kean's lips curled into a cold sneer, his eyes fixed icily in the direction of Jeremy and the others.
Upon seeing Kean, Emma and Claire's faces twisted in disgust. However, knowing full well they were no match for Kean, they instinctively took cover behind Jeremy.
"You all don't need to worry! This time, he is coming for me, not for any of you!"
Jeremy, gripping the Longsword of the Undying tightly in his hand, murmured in a low voice.
"He speaks the truth. This time, my sole objective is to eliminate him, it has nothing to do with any of you. If you choose to leave now, I will grant you a reprieve."
Kean stated in an uncharacteristically gentle tone.
When Ritchie, Claire, and Emma heard Kean's words, their faces were marked with profound confusion.
"What is going on? To my knowledge, you are not a patient person. You should be eager to attack us right now."
Ritchie remarked, furrowing his brow as he scrutinized Kean closely.
Kean chuckled softly.
"People change. Since my previous attempt failed, I must seek alternative methods to achieve success. I believe my earlier failure was due to the sheer number of my adversaries.
Therefore, in this endeavor, I will consider Jeremy my only enemy. As long as you do not aid Jeremy, I will not regard you as my foes."
Kean's words naturally failed to convince anyone.
Upon hearing Kean's statement, Jeremy's expression grew more solemn.
"Stop wasting time. You are not Kean at all! You are the mastermind behind the Apocalypse Game, 'the White Tower'!"
Jeremy declared, directly naming 'the White Tower.'
At the mention of the White Tower, Kean burst into loud laughter.
"Did you make this deduction because I gave you a hint just now?" he asked, smirking.
"Even without your hint, I would have sensed your presence. Your appearance in the real world, as the mastermind behind the Apocalypse Game, would surely cause significant energy fluctuations." Jeremy retorted.
Kean nodded and, in an instant, dissolved into a torrent of High-Dimensional Data.
The stream of High-Dimensional Data, laden with information, surged rapidly toward Jeremy.
With Ritchie and the others unable to react in time, Jeremy calmly extended his left hand forward.
Immediately, a phantom-like unknown space materialized in front of Jeremy. As soon as the unknown space formed, Jeremy swiftly tossed the data storage devices held by Ritchie and Claire into the spatial void.
"The situation here is far too perilous! What you need to do now is leave immediately and let me handle this alone. I no longer require your assistance!"
Jeremy quickly instructed his friends.
Upon witnessing 'the White Tower' manifest in Kean's form, Jeremy had already gauged the circumstances he was up against.
The fact that 'the White Tower,' the mastermind behind the Apocalypse Game, could appear in the real world indicated that Kean had provided substantial assistance.
Moreover, based on Jeremy's understanding of Kean, he knew that Kean had the ability to allow a deity to descend upon him.
However, Kean's unique ability was not without its drawbacks. The greatest flaw of his ability was that when a deity descended upon him, the deity would also be constrained by Kean's physical limitations.
Kean had never possessed any skills capable of manipulating High-Dimensional Data before this moment.
This implied that once 'the White Tower' descended upon Kean, it could only transform Kean's body into High-Dimensional Data. However, it would be unable to use High-Dimensional Data to control other mechanical monsters.
Having made this precise judgment in the blink of an eye, Jeremy naturally urged the others to leave.
Ritchie followed Jeremy's instructions without hesitation.
As he departed, he made sure to drag Claire and Emma along with him, fearing that their reaction speed might not be quick enough.
Claire and Emma, caught off guard, failed to react in time.
They were both terrified by Kean's sudden transformation into High-Dimensional Data.
It wasn't until Ritchie had dragged them several meters away that Claire and Emma finally snapped out of their shock.
"Kean used a skill remarkably similar to that of The Mechanical Duke! We might be able to counter Kean the same way we countered The Mechanical Duke!"
Emma, ever the one for sudden inspirations, voiced her latest idea.
However, Claire immediately dismissed her suggestion the moment Emma mentioned it.
"The enemy we are facing is not Kean, our adversary is 'the White Tower.' Kean's own strength already surpasses that of The Mechanical Duke. And the power that 'the White Tower' possesses is even more formidable.
Your approach not only has no chance of success but might also plunge us into a perilous situation. We must ensure our own safety, only then can we avoid being a burden to Jeremy."
After delivering her stern warning, Claire promptly took out her phone.
She dialed Bonnie's number without hesitation. Despite her personal dislike for Bonnie, Claire understood that in this dire circumstance, only Bonnie could offer substantial assistance to Jeremy.