Knowing a Mother Best Is Her Son
Meanwhile, on the other side of Singapore.
Rita Rossweisse wore a grave expression as she faced off against the black-clad figure before her, not daring to act rashly.
She was a young woman, yet her strength was terrifying. If she had not held back, Rita would likely have already been defeated.
Who would have thought that this person had not been assigned as a reserve to deal with Durandal, but had instead come directly to intercept her?
Fortunately, her opponent did not seem to have much fighting spirit. Otherwise, this would have been truly troublesome.
"Miss, may I ask what exactly your purpose is? Why do you insist on stopping me?"
The black-clad figure rubbed her chin in silence and pondered. "Those are both such difficult questions. Let me think..."
After a while, she snapped her fingers. "Right! I'm supposed to hold you back and stop you from saving someone!"
"Then I'm afraid Rita has a reason she must save him—excuse me!"
"Huh?"
The black-clad figure blocked Rita with her spear, her voice full of confusion.
"I thought you had already realized that you couldn't beat me at all."
"Even if I cannot defeat you, I can't waste time tangling with you here!"
As she spoke, Rita went all out. Her massive scythe carved one deadly arc after another through the air, each strike fiercer than the last.
The throat, the heart, the crown of the head, even three inches below the dantian—she struck with every intention of ending a life.
"What a surprise. You're clearly as beautiful as a flower, yet your attacks are so terrifying."
The black-clad figure complained in an exaggerated tone, but she effortlessly evaded Rita's attacks, occasionally meeting her with a thrust of her own spear.
The two fought for over ten minutes, but Rita had already grown impatient.
Bai Yan and the others had lost contact. This operation was on the verge of failure.
Most importantly, Bai Yan's fate was still unknown.
If Bai Yan came to harm because of her momentary oversight, Rita could hardly imagine how guilty and devastated she would be.
Her scythe swung faster and faster, even becoming somewhat hysterical, fully revealing its owner's anxiety.
Seeing this, the black-clad figure sighed as she parried. "Then I have no choice. If I don't get serious, I might actually lose."
The moment she finished speaking, the black-clad figure's aura abruptly changed.
Alarm bells rang in Rita's mind. She swiftly retreated dozens of steps, her crimson eyes fixed firmly on her opponent.
A dense pale-purple radiance erupted around the black-clad figure, and the terrifying energy fluctuations within her underwent Ultimate Ascension!
Rita's expression darkened. She knew her opponent was about to get serious, and she was no match for her at all.
She clenched her teeth. Even before this invincible foe, she showed no intention of retreating.
I'll stake everything on this!
Just as she was about to resume the battle, Rita seemed to sense something, and delight flashed across her face.
The next instant, like a meteor piercing the atmosphere, a black-and-purple lance came flying from afar. It shrieked through the gale as it shot straight toward the black-clad figure!
Without hesitation, the black-clad figure gripped her spear with both hands and struck the incoming Black Abyss White Flower with all her strength.
A sharp collision rang through the night sky. Black Abyss White Flower flew back like a kite with its string cut, but was quickly caught by a fair hand.
The black-clad figure's hands went numb from the impact, and she looked up ahead.
Durandal descended like a meteor. Her expression was stern as she carried Black Abyss White Flower in one hand and slowly approached as though it weighed nothing.
At that moment, even the pale-purple halo around the black-clad figure's body seemed to freeze, as though intimidated by Durandal's overwhelming fighting spirit.
The distance between them gradually narrowed, and they stopped only when they were ten steps apart.
"Leave this to me. Rita, keep moving forward," Durandal said without looking back.
"Yes." Rita bowed slightly, then immediately withdrew.
Only the two of them remained in the field, quietly facing one another.
Upon receiving the order, the lab-coated personnel immediately got to work and prepared the experiment.
They casually removed all the jewelry from Bai Yan's head and set it aside, but did not immediately undo his clothes.
Good. I haven't been exposed yet.
Bai Yan breathed a sigh of relief, though not much of one.
What did Cocolia want to do? Stuff the Gem of Desire into his body!
This was bad!
Cocolia walked over and looked at Bai Yan lying on the operating table, smiling. "If the experiment succeeds, you will gain unparalleled power. You will be completely different from the frail person you are now."
After a brief moment of thought, Bai Yan immediately put on a terrified expression, forcibly squeezing a tear from the corner of his eye as he struggled desperately.
He was just as anxious inside, but his mental fortitude was strong enough that he was already trying to think of a way out.
"There's no need to panic so much. Panicking won't change what is about to happen," Cocolia said indifferently.
After World Serpent's sudden ambush, she had no better way out.
Her forces had been ambushed, the secret base holding a massive amount of assets had been looted, and even Bronya had been used by them!
Her hatred for World Serpent made her teeth itch.
But fortunately, the secret base in Singapore had yet to be discovered. She still had time and a chance to turn things around!
Bai Yan struggled for a while, then took several deep breaths as though forcing himself to calm down.
Finally, he stared at Cocolia. "I—I have one request!"
"You are not qualified to make requests."
"I am!"
"Oh?"
"What you want is a Herrscher. But if I become a Herrscher and am still willing to listen to you, wouldn't that better suit your wishes?
"As long as you agree to this request, I'll listen to whatever you say afterward.
"Of course, except for anything involving dealing with my companions and my brother!"
Bai Yan's gaze was resolute, as though he would die before backing down.
Cocolia watched him for a while and could not help thinking of the boy she had adopted long ago.
He had been adorable, sensible, and exceptionally good at pleasing adults. Otherwise, she would not have let down her guard around him back then.
She had not expected him to still have a relative.
After hesitating for a moment, Cocolia said, "Go ahead. But I can't promise I'll fulfill it."
Bai Yan's eyes lit up, and excitement gradually surged within him.
But he quickly calmed down again.
I need to play this safe!
He hurriedly said, "Before the experiment, I want to eat a super sundae. Strawberry flavor!"
"What do you need that for?!"
"Hey, it's my lucky charm. Every time I eat one, I become lucky. Don't you want the experiment to succeed?"
"Where am I supposed to find that at a time like this?! Pick something else!"
At those words, Bai Yan's heart settled completely.
His guess had been right. Cocolia was already trapped in a difficult situation, perhaps even a desperate one.
She was desperate to turn things around!
People in such circumstances tended to have a gambler's mentality. Whenever they heard words that might benefit them, they could not help but dwell on them.
Bai Yan changed his request. "Then I'll choose something else. My hometown has a blessing ritual that only requires a few incense sticks."
Cocolia said impatiently, "Where am I supposed to find incense? You're such a troublesome girl!"
"I have some on me! Just take it out, light it, and place it thirty centimeters to my left."
"Tch, what a hassle."
Though she complained, Cocolia did as he said. When she touched the mosquito coil, her expression froze.
"A mosquito coil?"
"Yes, that's it!"
Cocolia thought this was probably some strange local custom. After all, Shenzhou had always been a mysterious place.
It was only lighting some incense. There was no harm in it.
Could this mosquito coil really help this little girl turn things around?
She roughly used a blowtorch to ignite the mosquito coil in an instant.
Wait a Second?!
The mosquito coil ignited, and wisps of bluish smoke drifted upward.
Bai Yan could not help revealing a smile that said everything had gone according to plan.
Hold it in. I can't laugh yet.
Hahahaha...
A song called "Sucker" dedicated to Cocolia.
That familiar sensation descended again. For the first time, Bai Yan felt that he could empathize with Jingliu.
Hyperdimensional Space was amazing!
Cocolia set down the mosquito coil. "Like this?"
"Yes."
"I hope it really brings you good luck."
With that, she signaled for the lab-coated personnel to begin. They responded and started busily working.
In truth, she was gambling as well. If she lost, she could only keep running away—no, relocating.
Later, she might find a way to save Seele first, but that was equally uncertain, no less difficult than gambling on producing a Herrscher of Wind.
Cocolia turned and left the laboratory, intending to keep watch over the surroundings and prevent the enemy from discovering them.
She had to be careful now, because she was facing encirclement from both sides.
Thinking of that made Cocolia furious again.
But it did not matter. As long as this experiment succeeded, everything would get better.
Then she would have a Herrscher by her side...
She could not help quickening her pace.
Inside the laboratory.
Bai Yan looked at the lab-coated personnel, then began to focus his senses.
Entering Hyperdimensional Space could not change the fact that he was restrained in the real world, but it could buy him thirty minutes.
Moreover, it was already close to midnight. Once the time passed, he would be able to activate Hyperdimensional Space again.
That added up to one hour!
From the communication Rita had sent earlier, Schicksal Headquarters had also deployed forces in Southeast Asia this time.
At the very least, he could call the Snow Lotus Squad over to hold the line nearby.
Alright, start sensing.
Before you continue