Chapter 299: The Farmer and the Power Thief (VI)
A dark shadow swept straight over Gideon's head.
After another close encounter with the Nurse Butcher, he had already grasped the rhythm of her abilities.
He dodged two more short-range blinks, and just like that, she entered a brief period of exhaustion.
Gideon seized the moment and lifted the bloodstained hem of her dress.
There was a strange anticipation in his eyes—at first glance, it almost looked like he was about to do something improper.
After a quick search, he pulled out another item—
An ancient-looking amulet.
The pattern on it resembled the dome of a sacred temple. But in Gideon's eyes, it shone with a brilliant golden light.
At that moment, the Nurse Butcher recovered from her weakened state.
Without hesitation, Gideon switched on his flashlight, aiming the beam directly into her eyes.
He had deliberately waited for this exact moment—so that the blinding light would chain perfectly after her exhaustion, maximizing the delay.
But that wasn't his only goal.
Gideon glanced to the side.
A roaring chainsaw was already closing in, its spinning chain emitting a sharp, acrid smell.
With the enhancement of The Preacher, he had been precisely calculating the distance between himself and the Bubba Butcher.
Just as the chainsaw was about to come down—
Gideon sidestepped, circling to the Nurse Butcher's flank.
The next second—
Clack, clack!
The chain jammed abruptly.
"So scavengers can't harm each other…" Gideon thought, a hint of regret flashing through his mind.
Without lingering, he immediately sprinted off in another direction.
The two scavengers roared in place for a moment before giving chase like maddened beasts.
---
Rustle… rustle…
Two heads popped out from the corn stalks nearby.
"…That's strange. When we were getting chopped earlier, they didn't seem this clumsy."
Austin stared in disbelief.
"Hey, when you say 'we,' don't include me. I let myself get hit on purpose."
Luen quickly distanced himself from the statement.
Earlier, after Austin rescued him, he had also used a medkit to treat Luen's injuries.
The two had come to check if Gideon needed help—
Only to witness him handling the situation with ease.
The sight left them stunned.
Especially Austin. Having encountered scavengers multiple times, he knew exactly how dangerous they were—which made Gideon's composure all the more impressive.
Before long, Gideon circled back.
"Take this. Follow behind us," he shouted from a distance.
Luen, confused, still reached out.
Something appeared in his hand.
"This is—?!"
His eyes widened.
Beside him, Austin was still wondering who Gideon meant by "us"—
Until the answer revealed itself.
Gideon ran at the front, with the Nurse and Bubba close behind.
Even as they passed right by Austin and Luen, the scavengers didn't switch targets.
"…What's over there?" Luen asked, bewildered.
Austin thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up.
"The gate! The exit gate for this area is over there—and there's a generator nearby!"
He glanced at the sacred item in Luen's hand.
"Don't tell me… Father Gideon has already gathered them all?"
Realizing this, the two quickly crawled out of the cornfield.
---
Not long after—
Gideon spotted the grimy gate ahead.
Beside it, a lever was mounted on the wall—clearly some kind of switch.
A generator stood just a few meters away.
He ran straight toward it.
Click.
The machine slowly roared to life.
At the same time, the two scavengers stopped.
They glanced at Gideon—
Then immediately turned and headed in another direction.
Gideon knew exactly what lay that way.
Each area only had three generators.
Once two were activated, the scavengers' objective became obvious.
Soon, Austin and the others arrived.
Gideon said little, only instructing them to stay put—they would be able to leave soon.
Then he followed the direction the scavengers had gone.
---
Vrrrr—
Graaah—!
After some time, Gideon reached the final generator.
The two scavengers were already there, blocking the way.
At a glance, it almost looked as if the butchers had become its guardians.
Gideon pulled out a cross from his pocket, radiating powerful holy energy.
He smiled faintly, waving it in the air in blatant provocation.
At the same time, his other hand quietly produced a purple stone seal.
The two scavengers growled—
But didn't move.
"Pretty disciplined," Gideon muttered as he stepped closer to the generator.
Bubba and the Nurse immediately raised their weapons.
"The fact that you're here means… the previous generator really did light up within your field of vision."
He spoke casually, not caring whether they understood.
"But as guardians of this area, I suggest you take a closer look."
Pop.
The nearby campfire flickered.
The scavengers were still staring at him—
But in the next instant, both turned their heads.
---
Meanwhile, near the gate—
Clack… clack… clack…
The once-bright lightbulb dimmed.
Gears slowed.
Pistons fell silent.
"It stopped!"
"So the one just now wasn't a century-grade holy artifact."
"Father Luen—what about the item Father Gideon gave you?"
Luen stepped forward into the group and took the item out of his pocket.
Everyone lowered their heads to look.
It was a amulet engraved with the image of a domed sacred temple—and the power it radiated left no doubt. This was a century-grade holy artifact.
No one needed to say anything.
They all knew what to do.
Luen immediately placed the relic into the generator's slot.
The moment it clicked into place—
The lightbulb flickered back to life.
"Come… to me…"
Luen suddenly clutched his head. As his strength returned, that voice echoed in his mind once more.
On the other side—
The instant the second generator lit up, Gideon already knew.
The two scavengers, however, froze for a brief moment.
"Now!"
Gideon narrowed his eyes.
Seizing the moment when their attention was diverted, he activated the stone seal in his hand with his consciousness.
[Burst Start]
Effect: When you begin running, your speed increases to 150% of normal for 3 seconds.
Spirit's Whisper: Three seconds may be short—but for you, it's enough, isn't it?
This was the item Gideon had obtained after activating the generator near the gate.
Earlier, after retrieving the relic from the Nurse Butcher, he had also gone to a nearby burial site containing another century-grade artifact.
Along the way, he even found an 80-year-grade relic—and it was that very item that powered the generator by the gate.
Now—
Back to the present.
Ignoring the cryptic whisper, Gideon moved instantly.
The next second—
He became a blur.
His base speed was already comparable to the scavengers. With the seal's boost, the two butchers didn't even have time to react.
Click.
The generator roared to life.
Bright light burst forth, instantly dispersing the surrounding fog.
That act enraged the two scavengers.
Without hesitation, they swung their blades toward Gideon.
But—
He had already vanished.
When he reappeared, he was dozens of meters away.
"If you'd like to see me off, come to the gate."
Gideon waved casually at the two monsters.
Then he activated [Holy Step] once more, disappearing into the cornfield.
---
"Look! The gate's powered!"
Lynn pointed excitedly at the lever.
The others followed her gaze—and sure enough, the exit was now operational.
Morale surged instantly.
Austin's face lit up with shock and admiration.
"He actually did it… in just one day!"
Without hesitation, he pulled the lever.
A series of mechanical sounds rang out as the gate split open, revealing a passage leading into the mist.
Everyone quickly moved inside.
"Wait! Father Gideon isn't here yet!"
Lynn's voice was filled with worry.
"The last generator is pretty far from the gate…" Austin frowned.
Luen gently set Vera down, anxiety flickering in his eyes.
But soon—
A figure appeared in the distant cornfield.
After a few rapid flashes, it arrived before them.
Gideon.
"That's… Holy Step. Just as I thought—he has exceptional physical talent."
Austin narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Father Gideon, are you alright?!"
Lynn hurried forward.
"I'm fine," Gideon replied calmly. "Let's go. Those two should be here soon."
As if on cue—
A rapid, pounding heartbeat echoed in everyone's ears.
The group immediately rushed toward the passage.
Gideon was the last to enter.
At that exact moment—
The two scavengers reached the gate.
Without hesitation, they swung their weapons at him.
But just as the blades fell—
They were blocked by a mass of thorny vines.
And in front of them—
Gideon was already gone.
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