Girl, you form the head.

Chapter 15 I Got You (5K5)

As the word "transformation" burst from Bai Chi's mouth, a semi-transparent humanoid spirit emerged from his body.

The spirit opened its arms and embraced the bewildered Ruri-e.

A jet-black mist burst forth from Ruri's body, instantly filling the entire freight elevator and blocking any prying eyes.

"what happened?"

All of this happened too fast, and Ito Kou couldn't see the spirit. From his perspective, Bai Chi just pounced on the girl who suddenly appeared and then hugged her leg like a pervert.

He stared intently at the freight elevator, but still couldn't see anything. He could only vaguely hear something shrieking in the fog.

"You're just playing tricks!" Ito Kou said. "You can't escape!"

Then he immediately controlled several puppets to rush in.

Ito Kou had already realized that the girl who had just come up was a special being, and most likely Bai Chi's support.

This guy hadn't resigned himself to his fate; he had simply been waiting for this girl.

Was it because he thought this girl could help him escape, or because she could help him turn the tables?

ridiculous!

No matter what that girl's special ability is, all I care about is killing you! The elevator is only so big, where can you run to?

Faced with the cockroach that Bai Chi hadn't been killed by him for half a day and seemed to always have a backup plan, Ito Kou hardened his heart and decided that he had to kill this troublesome guy no matter what!

However, when his puppet rushed into the elevator filled with black mist, it immediately lost contact.

Ito Kou was taken aback.

How is this going?

Ito Kou refused to believe it and controlled two more puppets to rush in, but the result was still the same; they stopped responding the moment they entered the elevator.

Ito Kou's face finally darkened.

He and the puppets he controlled could share a certain field of vision, but the puppets that rushed into the elevator did not bring back any images for him. The black mist was like a gaping maw from the abyss, devouring everything that came near, including light.

What kind of bizarre phenomenon is this?

Ito Kou finally began to feel uneasy, but he did not show any fear. Instead, he controlled the remaining puppets and shouted at the elevator.

"Officer, if you keep playing tricks here..."

Several puppets choked themselves in front of the elevator, just like the two dead boys earlier.

“I can’t guarantee their lives,” Ito Kou said viciously. “If that’s the case, the one who killed them won’t be me, but…”

Before he could finish speaking, the black mist inside the elevator suddenly burst outwards.

It was only then that Ito Kou realized that the black mist was not real fog, but rather a series of evil spirits huddled together!

They were charging wildly, they were screaming, they were pinning down one puppet after another controlled by Ito Kou.

"Breaking one's word is a bad habit." Finally, the black mist in the elevator dissipated, and a neutral voice came from within, "And you've already demonstrated it once."

Ito Kou stared intently at the elevator entrance, at the black knight who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

Behind the knight, there was nothing but the unconscious puppets; Bai Chi and the girl were nowhere to be seen.

"What...are you?"

"Twin Knights," the other party said, "Shadow Mist."

……

"Songki, we'll be there in five minutes." In the speeding police car, Sakura, the police officer who had interrogated Bai Chi as a criminal, said to Songki in the back seat with a smile, "The scene is all set up, and the reporters have been called. We're just waiting for you to show your skills."

Zhongji nodded slightly, clearly satisfied with the decision.

"If I had known I would encounter a criminal like this today, I wouldn't have rushed back to headquarters last night." Zhongji looked at the tall buildings in the distance and said with a smile, "I never expected that Hanguang District would be so full of hidden talents."

“It’s the suburbs, criminals love to flock here,” Sakura said. “But isn’t that better? Criminals that Hanguang District can’t handle can only be dealt with by you, so your importance is self-evident. In this way, the losses at Liang Rong’s place last night can be made up for, right?”

“It still won’t work.” Zhongji shook his head. “Ito Kou’s only problem is that he’s been on the run for a long time. He’s not as strong as Liang Rong at all. And the incident happened so suddenly that the General Administration didn’t issue a commendation order. Fortunately, Ito Kou made a big enough scene, which can slightly increase his not-so-high value. It would be even better if he could kill a few more people.”

Sakura smiled mysteriously: "You don't need to worry about that."

"Oh?" Zhongji looked at Sakura with interest. "What do you mean?"

"The policeman who ruined your good time last night is inside."

Song-ki was quite surprised: "Really? You arranged it so quickly?"

“No, I haven’t had time to make arrangements yet. He walked right into it,” Sakura said. “According to the report, he was the one who discovered Ito Kou and deliberately stayed behind to delay him.”

"Tsk, what a good cop," Chung-ki said with a light laugh. "I wouldn't want to see him die."

“But he probably won’t survive,” Sakura said with a smile. “He’s been inside for twenty minutes already, and I, in my capacity as headquarters, have issued orders prohibiting anyone else from taking action before you arrive, so…”

"Tsk tsk tsk, you really are something." Chung-ki shook his head with a smile, his eyes gradually becoming playful. "It's fine this way. A meritorious policeman who killed Leung Wing was murdered by a criminal on his way to receive an award."

“And you finished off that criminal,” Sakura added. “There couldn’t be a better story.”

……

Fortunately, we caught up.

Bai Chi felt the knight's body brimming with power and knew that his injuries had been fully healed.

Transformation can repair damage, meaning that even if he is beaten to the point of death, he can be fully revived by transforming.

So strong, too strong.

This is the body of a knight!
Bai Chi was very satisfied, but Liu Li Hui in his mind was not so satisfied.

"What happened to you? You were almost beaten to death!" Ruri asked, arms crossed.

"There was a slight mishap."

"Is this just a minor accident?" Ruri asked through gritted teeth. "What will I do if you die first?"

Bai Chi understood what Liu Li Hui meant. If he were to be killed first, and Liu Li Hui was unaware of it, then Liu Li Hui would be facing Ito Kou alone, which would also be suicide.

"It was my fault," Bai Chi admitted his mistake. "If this happens again, I will let you know in advance."

"I hope you can do it."

Ruri was indeed very angry because Bai Chi hadn't conveyed the urgency of the situation on the phone, making her think that all she had to do was come over and transform.

It wasn't until just now that she realized how dangerous the situation was. If she had been any later, both Bai Chi and she would have been killed. Thinking of this, Liu Li Hui couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine.

Bai Chi also directly sensed Liu Li Hui's unease, as it was displayed in the status bar.

Synchronization rate: 32%-37%

"Fused material incandescence (current state)"

"Integrated material glass painting (current status, low stability)"

Compared to the first transformation, this transformation started with a synchronization rate of nearly 40%, which is quite remarkable considering that Bai Chi was seriously injured and could only barely reach the "medium" level.

However, unlike the first transformation, the synchronization rate was unstable this time, with the percentage fluctuating between 32 and 37, which was obviously related to Ruri's fluctuating state of mind.

Therefore, Bai Chi felt that before the battle began, he should say something to calm Liu Li Hui down.

What should I say?

Bai Chi pondered for a moment, and the scene he saw before transforming reappeared in his mind, giving him an idea.

"Your socks were really nice," Bai Chi said. "They felt really good too. Did you buy them yourself?"

He paused for a moment, then his tone turned to one of doubt.

"But it seems like nothing is covered up."

Ruri's indignant expression suddenly froze, and then the synchronization rate fluctuated even more violently (30%-40%).

Bai Chi: "?"

Did he say something wrong?
Bai Chi wasn't quite sure, but he could only put that aside for now.

He didn't have much time left. Not knowing when his colleagues would rush up, he had to take down Ito Kou as quickly as possible.

The problem is that the difficulty in dealing with Ito Kou has never been in direct combat, but in finding his true form.

Blazing Knight's Eyes swept across the entire arcade once more. Within his gaze, about half of the people controlled by Ito Kou were under the control of his Shadow Mist Evil Spirit, while the remaining half were perhaps too frightened by Blazing Knight's bizarre and peculiar move to approach.

Where is this guy? Why can't I find him even with my enhanced Knight's Eyes?
Does that mean he's no longer here?
Bai Chi couldn't help but think in this direction.

Meanwhile, Ito Kou had recovered from his initial shock. He stared intently at Bai Chi with the remaining puppet: "So that's how it is. You're still that policeman from before. Although I don't know how you did it, your special ability must be an ominous one that's absolutely forbidden in Nanluo, right? Is it really appropriate for a policeman to use such an ability?"

It's no wonder he's a criminal who's been on the run for fifteen years without being caught; he managed to come up with so much in such a short time.

But Bai Chi did not answer Ito Kou. He simply walked forward slowly, continuing to search for Ito Kou's whereabouts in the arcade.

"Heh, are you still going to chase me? Your colleagues could attack at any moment, right? Have you thought about the consequences if they find out?" Ito Kou said. "How about this, you let me escape, and I'll keep it a secret. You don't need to worry about me lying to you, after all, I can't just let myself be caught, can I? Continuing to entangle us will only result in a lose-lose situation."

Bai Chi still ignored Ito Kou, and this attitude deeply provoked Ito Kou.

"You don't want to talk, huh? Then let's not talk!" All the puppets present, including those already controlled by the evil spirit, raised their heads and stared at Bai Chi with vicious and resentful eyes. "Let's see if you can find me!"

Bai Chi stopped in his tracks, but this did not mean he was going to compromise with Ito Kou. On the contrary, the more impatient Ito Kou became, the more it showed that he was indeed there.

In that case, some measures are needed.

You have to understand that he's not the same policeman who only knew how to fight and kill anymore.

He is the Shadow Knight. "I need your power."

In the space of consciousness, Bai Chi spoke to Liu Li Hui.

"Then use it, it's not like I won't give it to you." Ruri looked warily at the chest that was tightly covered by her arms. "You don't want more, do you? Not now, I can't let go, no matter what you say, I can't let go."

“No more is needed. Forty percent is enough, like last time,” Bai Chi said. “But I need you to maintain a stable forty percent.”

Only when the value is consistently above 40% can the first-tier ultimate skill, Shadow Mist Knight's Lance, be used.

"Like last time? Okay." Ruri knew her emotions were a bit unstable right now. "I'll give it a try."

“It’s not a try, it’s a must,” Bai Chi said. “We don’t have much time left.”

“…I understand.” Ruri-e was also able to distinguish between the urgency of the situation. “I will do it.”

"Is there anything I can say to help you...?"

"No! Just shut up!"

"Oh."

Ruri took a deep breath, then closed her eyes and began to recall how she felt yesterday.

To open up, to accept, to bestow.

I don't know if it's because I did it once yesterday, but the second time was much easier than the first.

She felt as if she had returned to Bai Chi's little house, back to last night, and recalled the reason Bai Chi had told her why he had been investigating all along.

"I want to find the truth, it's that simple."

This seemingly ordinary sentence made her lower her guard considerably.

So her tightly wrapped arms loosened considerably without her realizing it, and when Bai Chi's sun-like gaze fell on her, she no longer reacted as fiercely as yesterday.

Then she heard a notification tone.

Synchronization rate: 47% (stable)

"Unlocked Tier 1 Ultimate Skill, Shadow Mist Knight's Lance".

In reality, in his knight form, Blaze raises his right hand, and a jet-black spear is formed from the black mist that gathers from all directions.

Upon seeing the black gun, Ito Kou's heart instantly went on alert, and a strong sense of unease welled up within him.

But the next second, the black gun disappeared.

Kou Ito was stunned.

How is this going?

Failed?
……

This was not a failure, but rather Bai Chi actively deactivated the black gun.

After two transformations, Bai Chi had a basic understanding of what the special effect of Liu Li Hui's Shadow Mist was all about.

Simply put, shadow and fog are two different things; there is only one shadow, but there are many fogs.

When applied to the Shadow Mist Knight, the evil spirits that are attacking the puppet are "mist," the Shadow Mist Knight's servants, imps.

They can perform some simple commands, and can be directly commanded after the Blazing Transformation into the Shadow Mist Knight.

But "Shadow" is different; Shadow is the stand-in of the Shadow Knight, another version of himself.

It can act alone as a more powerful individual, becoming a shadow that binds Liang Rong in the battle, and also serving as the final weapon to end everything; it is a true shadow.

And to drive it, its approval is naturally required.

And now, it/she has accepted it.

The black gun dissipated, but it did not disappear; it merely transformed into the thinnest mist, which then scattered in all directions like a gust of wind.

There is no place it cannot enter, and it is concentrically connected with incandescence.

Then the entire arcade became clear in Bai Chi's mind.

He saw a mosquito hovering over a trembling conductive rubber key and heard the whistling sound of a sudden burst of electricity from the depths of the dark circuit board due to a short circuit.

In that instant, the entire arcade was within his "eyes".

"found it."

Ruri opened her eyes.

"over there."

The Dark Knight opened his eyes.

……

A strong sense of unease welled up in Ito Kou's heart.

Did that guy find me?
Ito Kou stared intently at the Shadow Knight, who had his back to him and made no move.

No, it's impossible, right?

Who would have thought he was hiding inside a claw machine?

Yes, Ito Kou didn't leave, nor did he pretend to be one of those he controlled. After being tracked by Bai Chi, he immediately stripped naked, creating the illusion of hiding in the crowd, but actually hid inside this not-so-spacious claw machine.

It wasn't spacious at all; his height of less than 1.6 meters meant he had to curl up like a snail to hide, making it a difficult and cramped place.

But so what? Who would have thought that this seemingly confident and highly intelligent superhuman criminal was actually like a dark maggot?

Yes, this was Ito Kou's scheme. He wanted everyone to believe that he would lead those he controlled on a grand escape. He would command the puppets to jump off buildings, to break through police lines, and to "disappear" despite the police's best efforts.

But no one would have guessed that he stayed in the arcade the whole time and never left.

He was also confident that no one would discover him.

But now, that confidence has been shaken.

Through the narrow gap of the claw machine, Ito Kou strained to keep an eye on the Shadow Knight not far away.

Will he find me?

No, that's impossible. He wasn't even looking this way.

Ito Kou kept reassuring himself.

But the next second, his pupils dilated instantly, and fear surged up like a tidal wave.

Because that strange knight has disappeared.

He blinked, and the other person was gone.

What happened?! That guy left?
Kou Ito nervously looked around, but before he could find Bai Chi, a crisp sound came from the machine above him.

That's the sound of a coin being inserted.

Before Ito Kou could even react to the sound of coins being inserted, the machine was activated.

Kou Ito's pupils narrowed slightly.

Could it be that……

He instinctively tried to run away, but it was too late. A hand smashed through the claw machine and grabbed his neck from above.

Ito Kou raised his head with difficulty, and then met those scarlet eyes that he would never forget in his life.

"caught you."

……

As soon as Song Joong-ki got out of the car downstairs in the mall, reporters immediately brought up their long lenses and microphones.

"Are you a police officer from the Special Affairs Division? Officer, what is your view on the current situation?"

"I heard the criminal is a special individual, and there are hundreds of hostages upstairs. What are the police's plans?"

"I heard there's another police officer trapped inside. Could you tell me more about the situation?"

Facing the gazes of reporters and colleagues, Song Joong-ki flashed his signature smile.

"Please rest assured," he said, seemingly casually facing the newspaper's security cameras, "No matter how rampant the criminals are, once I'm here, they can only..."

"boom"!
Before Song Ji could finish speaking, a loud bang came from the fourth floor.

Everyone instinctively looked up and were shocked to see a figure fall from the fourth floor and then crash into Song Joong-ki's car with a loud bang.

Song Joong-ki's smile froze instantly.

Despite being covered in blood and gore, he still recognized the other person.

It was Ito Kou.

Before anyone could react, a sharp-eyed reporter suddenly shouted, "Look over there!"

People looked up and saw a young policeman, covered in wounds, standing calmly by the broken window, blood still seeping from his fists.

After a brief silence, all the reporters did the same thing—they turned their cameras, which were aimed at Kou Ito, towards the young policeman.

Then he frantically pressed the shutter button.

(End of this chapter)