Although Jackal was drunk and seemed a bit unclear, the guy was actually very shrewd.
He certainly knew where he was right now, and knew how dangerous this place called [Death Domain] indeed was. Even with his prosthetic body, he might not make it out alive.
So, of course, he aimed to become the Leader, so he could then command others to scout ahead and take risks, thus greatly reducing his own risk.
As for whether this show of force might cost a woman's life... Who would care about such a thing?
The most worthless thing in Nest City is a civilian's life.
Regarding this wanton disregard for human life, Yun You was actually a bit indignant.
Because her parents were killed this way by an Apprentice Death God, and before dying, they had always taught her, hoping she could retain the most basic human nature that a person should have...
But despite being angry, she did not have the thought or capital to intervene now.
Pawns with prosthetic body equipment from the gang were not something she could handle unprepared.
Appearing rashly would just send another head...
She could only keep silent, like everyone else.
...
"Seems like everyone wants to see your belly explode into fireworks."
Jackal smiled, stretched out his hand, mimicked a "shooting" gesture, aiming at the woman's belly.
"Then, good luck~"
As he finished speaking, the hacker chip on his neck lit up again, restarting.
But just as he was about to utter the trigger word "Die," there suddenly came two dull sounds from the corner nearby, interrupting his words.
"You..."
"Keep talking nonstop, it's annoying."
With this remark, the entire alley fell into a dead silence.
The people turned their heads dumbfoundedly towards the corner, only to find that the black figure who had been leaning against the wall was now slowly walking out.
He wore a large black robe with a hood, covering his face and body, so his expression was unseen.
Yet in every move, he displayed a sense of calm and indifference, seemingly ignoring Jackal's warnings.
The person who just spoke out to stop Jackal was him.
And at the moment he stood up, the long-haired child sitting behind the middle-aged woman also suddenly lifted their head, gazing at the man in the black robe with a look devoid of emotion, as if recognizing him...
But since everyone's attention was focused on the black-robed man and Jackal, no one noticed the child's actions.
"..."
Jackal's fake smile slowly disappeared.
He frowned, irritatedly looking at the black-robed man, and cursed, "Where did this conspicuous fool come from?"
"Tired of living? Want me to help you reincarnate?"
Saying this, Jackal silently chanted the word "die," utilizing the hacker chip's full power.
"Zzzz---"
The bluish arc manifested on the chip's surface.
It instantly condensed into an invisible electronic sword, targeting the black-robed man's head.
But just at the moment it "unsheathed," the black-robed man also moved.
"Whoosh~"
The black-robed figure shimmered, transforming into a gust, swiftly arriving beside Jackal...
He then casually stretched out a finger, lightly looping it across Jackal's neck.
"Splurt!"
With a light sound, crimson blood burst forth from Jackal's neck like a fountain, soaking his clothes.
It was only then that Jackal finally reacted.
His face stiffened, he tried to cover the wound on his neck, but as he pressed his hand against it, he horrifically discovered that the air pipe, esophagus, vocal cords... even the hacker chip on his throat, were all gone!
Half of his neck was hollow, with everything inside vanished, leaving only torn flesh...
Jackal staggered, collapsed to the ground, wanting to say something, but even with all his strength, he could only utter "glug glug" noises.
He didn't know what happened, nor did the others present understand.
Only Yun You, with decent eyesight, managed to vaguely comprehend his actions through the remaining blood stains and flesh on the black-robed man's fingertips.
This unremarkable man really cut through Jackal's neck just with a finger, harshly pulling out Jackal's blood and flesh...
His actions were devoid of any skills, purely fast... purely ruthless, with no unnecessary words or actions, aiming directly for the other's life.
Even gang members couldn't match these means.
"Could he also have prosthetic body equipment?"
Yun You bit her lip gently, considering a possibility.
But she quickly dismissed the notion.
"The prosthetic body equipment for physical enhancement is quite large; if he truly installed such equipment, his black robe should not conceal his arms."
"But if it's not prosthetic, how can human strength be so formidable? That's a human neck, not cockroach jelly..."
"Could it be..."
Suddenly, the girl thought of a more crucial possibility.
She clenched her fist, her face darkening gradually, fixing an icy gaze on the black-robed man...
The black-robed man flicked off the blood on his hands, releasing the bits of flesh from his fingertips, glancing at his palm.
The hacker chip, which Jackal cherished, was lying quietly here.
To others, it was a dream treasure; once secretly sold, they wouldn't have to work again for life.
But for the black-robed man, it seemed worthless.
"Trash."
The black-robed man casually gave his judgment, whether critiquing the chip or Jackal.
He discarded the chip on the ground, without even a second glance, while calmly addressing Jackal beneath him, who, due to excessive blood loss, was too weak to struggle: "Since your mouth can't utter any good words, don't speak again in this lifetime."
"Also, you seemed to just say this Bottom District belonged to your Witch Demon Gang?"
"Let me correct you a bit."
He removed his hood, revealing his face, more defiant than Jackal's, with a pair of pitch-black eyes, lacking any mercy and goodwill.
He was a man in his early thirties, with a cropped haircut, his expression calm and serene, yet his demeanor was fierce.
"In Nest City, no one has the right to claim that here or there is their territory."
"Except [us]."
"Only we have the right to say everything here is our property."
As he finished speaking, a breeze blew across the man's clothes.
On his forehead, lifted by the wind, a Three-Phase Diagram composed of "books," "scythes," "roses," faintly appeared...
"...!"
Seeing this emblem, Yun You's pupils contracted beneath the robot wreckage, realizing her guess was true.
She recognized this emblem.
In the entirety of Nest City, only one lofty kind of person possesses this unique Three-Phase Diagram.
That is to say, an [Apprentice Death God]...
This black-robed man is a genuine... Apprentice Death God!