Stranger Danger

Chapter 1019: Bone Rakshasa, Three Axes of Confusion

“Please answer my call, Mister Kalasa...” Duan Pofeng said while praying to the kalasa.

An old man with white hair and a long beard appeared above the kalasa. He let out a lazy yawn and asked, “What is it this time?”

Duan Pofeng said in a respectful tone, “Mister Kalasa, please perform the Fiend Suppressing Mind Returning Spell, suppress their Stranger bloodline, dispel their anger, and restore their minds.”

“Same old, huh? Oh my, it looks pretty serious this time.”

The old man spun the kalasa around to check out the soldiers fighting each other at the distance and lifted his beard. “This isn’t going to be easy, man. It’s going to empty me to dispel their anger and suppress their bloodline. No, no, I can’t do this... unless...”

“Unless?” Duan Pofeng asked in a hurry.

“Unless... you pay me an extra girl!” Mister Kalasa declared.

“No problem. You can have as many as you want.” Duan Pofeng was very familiar with the artifact spirit’s personality and so did not try to haggle with it.

The kalasa’s full name was the “Kalasa That Speaks Of Willow Branch”. A Disaster-class Strange Artifact, it was both intelligent and sentient. Although it possessed no offensive capabilities whatsoever, it had two powerful Magia known as Sweet Rain of Rejuvenation and the Evil Suppressing Mind Returning Spell.

Sweet Rain of Rejuvenation summoned a rejuvenating rain capable of healing one’s wounds, restoring severed limbs, and bringing someone back from the brink of death. It could heal anyone below the Spirit Master stage back to full health in a short time so long as their injury wasn’t fatal.

On the other hand, the Evil Suppressing Mind Returning Spell could dispel one’s anger, focus one’s mind, and suppress the backlash of a Stranger bloodline.

That was why the Kalasa That Speaks Of Willow Branch was not inferior to some offensive-type Strange Artifacts. In fact, it was even named on the “Strange Artifact Register”.

For the Barbarian Slayer Army, the Kalasa That Speaks Of Willow Branch was practically a second life. Not only could it be used to heal one’s injuries, it could suppress the backlash of a Stranger bloodline on a large scale. In that sense, it was even more useful than their Ancient-class Strange Artifact, the Heaven Destroying Jar.

That was why everyone in Barbarian Slayer treated the Kalasa That Speaks Of Willow Branch and its artifact spirit like a living deity or Bodhisattva. They did not hesitate to fulfill Mister Kalasa’s every whim.

Luckily—or unluckily, depending on one’s perspective—the Kalasa That Speaks Of Willow Branch’s artifact spirit was eccentric. And how was he eccentric, exactly? Long story short, he was a lecher.

No, Mister Kalasa did not like exquisite bottles or containers despite his true form. He adored beautiful women.

Every time it used its power, the army had to gather a bunch of beautiful women—three or five were usually enough—and have them hug him for several days straight. They couldn’t just find a random woman with above average looks either. They must be stunning above a certain standard.

Long story short, Mister Kalasa was a pure lecher.

Still, considering that the price one usually paid to use a Strange Artifact was the wielder’s health, life, or everyone’s lives, Mister Kalasa was definitely one of the friendlier artifact spirits out there.

“As many as I want? It’s a promise!”

Saliva poured out of Mister Kalasa’s mouth like a waterfall as he daydreamed, “Hahaha... wait for me, dearies! I’m coming!”

“People are dying, Mister Kalasa. Please save them already!” Duan Pofeng urged, unable to wait until Mister Kalasa was done with his daydream.

“Fine, fine. Ugh, youngsters these days have no idea how to respect their elders!” Mister Kalasa grumbled under his breath. Then, a pair of thin, long elbows grew out of the kalasa’s sides and grabbed the willow branch.

Mister Kalasa raised the willow branch and prepared to cast his spell when suddenly, he froze in mid-air as if he just saw something unbelievable.

“What’s wrong?” Duan Pofeng asked in puzzlement.

“By the bubbliest butt!”

As if Duan Pofeng’s question had jolted him out of his shock, Mister Kalasa abruptly grew two legs underneath the kalasa, jumped off Duan Pofeng’s palm, and ran.

At this point, it became clear to Duan Pofeng that he was in danger. He abruptly became so thin that he was skin and bones and grew countless bone spikes out of his back. Then, he launched himself backward.

Duan Pofeng’s Stranger bloodline originated from the Bone Rakshasa[1] The Bone Rakshasa was a Disaster-class Stranger, and it loved nothing more than to wear human skin and dismantle human bones. Wherever it traveled, the bones piled like mountains, and the blood ran like rivers.

One of the most defining characteristics of the Bone Rakshasa was its ability to control the growth and shape of its bones. If even one bone in its body was still intact, it could never die.

As the Strangerkin of the Bone Rakshasa, Duan Pofeng too possessed the ability to control the shape and growth of his bones. That was how he was able to transform his bones into spikes and extend them out of his body.

The bony spikes were white and translucent. Bones were usually associated with horror and fear, but not these ones. In fact, they looked rather beautiful.

Of course, anyone who was stupid enough to underestimate these spikes because they were beautiful would not live to regret their mistake. Not only were they sharp enough to rival some of the best-forged weapons out there, it was coated in deadly poison as well. If the spike managed to pierce one’s skin, then they would immediately melt into a pool of fleshy goo and an ugly skeleton in less than an hour.

Therefore, this back throw could kill most enemies upon impact.

Bang!

Unfortunately, it was Duan Pofeng who turned as pale as a sheet. It was because he felt as if he had thrown his back against a mountain. Forget pushing them off balance or skewering them where they stood, he was the one who was sent reeling from the impact. He could feel that some of his bone spikes were cracked or broken as well.

Despite the failed assault, Duan Pofeng did not panic. Instead, he pivoted on his feet and swung his right arm at his enemy like it was an axe.

In fact, Duan Pofeng’s right arm had burst out of his flesh and blood and grown to the size of a pillar as it swung toward his attacker. At the same time, the bones of his hand stretched forward and grew into a millstone-sized axe head.

Right now, his arm was as thick as a pillar, and it was about three meters long. The axe was as big as a millstone, and the edge was jagged and sharp like many rows of teeth. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

As the giant axe cut through the air, haloes of power rippled out of its surface and conjured many illusions that seemed to describe the fall of deities and the death of Buddhas.

It was an axe that could slay a celestial. Hence, it was named the Celestial Killing Axe.

THANG!

However, when his axe finally landed on his attacker, it elicited a loud, potent impact that could only be described as metallic. At the same time, the shockwave cracked the ground within a radius of tens of meters, injuring or killing the unfortunate soldiers who failed to dodge out of the way in time.

For a moment, Duan Pofeng could only stare at his attacker with wide, shocked eyes.

The reason was simple. His attack... was blocked.

He could understand why his bone spikes were blocked. It was a reactionary attack executed in haste after all. But this was the Celestial Killing Axe, one of the greatest techniques he knew of!

The Celestial Killing Axe was one of the key techniques of the “Three Axes of Confusion”. A man named Cheng Tianyang had created the “Three Axes of Confusion” a hundred years ago. Supposedly, a celestial had taught Cheng Tianyang the axe art, and that the axe art originally boasted thirty six techniques. Unfortunately, he was stupid and untalented, so he only remembered three after he awoke back to reality.

Although he only knew three axe techniques, the power they boasted were no joke. Thanks to them, he came to earn the moniker “Demon King of Confusion[2]” and made quite the name for himself. The three axe techniques were eventually named the “Three Axes of Confusion”, and they were Demon Slaying, Buddha Ending, and Celestial Killing respectively.

It was absolutely possible that the stories regarding Cheng Tianyang and his axe techniques were exaggerated, distorted, or outright fabricated in some cases. However, the “Three Axes of Confusion” was definitely powerful.

The “Three Axes of Confusion” boasted no exquisite skill nor unnecessary variation. Their principles were very simple, and that was an overwhelming strength that could cut even celestial or Buddha.

As a Strangerkin of the Bone Rakshasa, Duan Pofeng cultivated his bones and not his flesh and blood. Even so, he was strong enough to rival Grandmasters who specifically honed the body. Therefore, the “Three Axes of Confusion” was very compatible with him.

He dared not say that he could actually cut a celestial or kill a god with an axe strike, but he dared say that not even a Half-Sage would dare to take his attack head on.

This time though, his opponent had blocked his attack. This sounded whiny, but the problem was that his opponent had caught the blade of his axe with his bare hand as if he was an adult male gently stopping a child from flailing his toy weapon dangerously. It was definitely humiliating and even more frightening.

1. If you guys remember, this guy was once on display at the Ghost Tower all the way back at chapter 300+. ☜

2. An official term btw. Not exactly the most accurate translation in my opinion but it’s good enough. ☜