264 Star Abyss Child (Part 2)

Long Yuqiong's eyes shone with a deep blue like the ocean, and a smile appeared on his lips, "It's obvious that someone helped you a lot, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to touch a single hair on my head."

"Ah—don't get too cocky, Ou Shen."

Caramel Snail reached out and grabbed Long Yuqiong's hand, slowly standing up, straightening its back, its eyes gleaming green:

"It's only because it was recovered early that it's so lucky. It won't be so lucky next time we meet."

"Is that so? Jio Zeiou, then I must say, you have some kind of ambiguous connection with our executor, His Lord Lioz..."

Long Yuqiong nodded, and slowly stepped back, drawing his Battle Blade with his other hand.

Caramel Snail twirled the blade, gripped the Tsu・Shadow Edge upright, and placed her index finger on the spine, engaging in some kind of private conversation with Long Yuqiong without any restrictions:

"Really? I don't think he even realized who we were."

"You need to be careful of that guy, be careful of [Society], but be even more careful of Lioz," Long Yuqiong warned.

"That's an exaggeration. Isn't Lioz your boss?" Caramel Snail said dismissively.

"It is precisely because I know his background that I feel fear."

Long Yuqiong took a deep breath and said, "Even among us gods from beyond the abyss, Lioz is the purest god. He has no humanity or personal feelings whatsoever. I suspect that when Lioz ascended to power, he made some kind of deal with Star Abyss."

"A deal?" Caramel Snail asked in surprise.

Long Yuqiong nodded. "Otherwise, it is impossible to explain how a cannon fodder born from chaos could gradually become an agent who holds the creator hostage to command the gods."

The Caramel Snail shook its head and said in surprise:

"Oushen, you've become more humane—is it because you were taken back earlier?"

"... I don't know."

Long Yuqiong raised the sharp blade in his hand, somewhat bewildered. "I originally intended to return to the path of [Dominator], but my human side chose to embark on the path of [Destruction]. Perhaps it's not just me influencing the reclaimed body, but also the other party influencing me."

"There's no difference."

"... Yes, no matter which side you look at it from, it's still us."

Long Yuqiong raised his Battle Blade, unleashing a burst of blue-purple energy.

"Mortals have never understood that they have been living in the prison of the gods all along, and they are still complacent about the success of the narrative."

"You have to let them be happy for a few more days."

Caramel Snail sheathed his sword with a backhand motion, assuming an iaido stance, his entire body radiating a silver-red aura.

"Narrative and society will eventually bow down at our feet."

Crackling! Whooshing! Lightning and flames burst forth, and a holy radiance faintly emerged from the remains of the Biohazard Giantgod.

"Those mortals who think they can attain true enlightenment—they are wrong!"

The shadows of the two were distorted under the light and flames. In the shadows, they seemed to be wearing porcelain armor and supremely holy crowns.

"In any dimension, only we are... the rulers from the From the Star Abyss!"

The next moment, deep blue and silver-red collided.

[WARNING: Cognitive filter is unstable]

[Network instability detected: Sending code 1011-ZPTT...]

[Failed to access the "Lai Anding Medical Protocol" - Cognitive filter cooling down, time remaining: 30, 29...]

[Live stream has been interrupted...]

"Jiaozi... Niu?"

Xia Yubing covered her mouth, a faint pink tinge appearing in her eyes:

"Jiao Zi... Jio Zeiou."

The camera slowly zoomed out, panning across the audience.

Whether the audience came from the Colonies or from their home planet, they were all enveloped in an eerie silence.

They slowly raised their heads and looked ahead.

Various colors of light shone in their eyes.

"Star Abyss... calling..."

"Reclaim, recycle, and set off again."

"Gaia! Gaia!!! I'm going to eat you, skin you alive, tear you apart! Devour you whole!"

[Recognition Filter, Cooling Down Complete]

[You have been reconnected to the live stream.]

Welcome back to Star Abyss

The commentator in the commentary booth regained his composure, the red in his eyes fading. He gripped his headset and nervously announced the final result, "The winner is—Dragon! Royal! Sky!"

Long Yuqiong stood firmly on the ground, facing the decapitated body of Caramel Snail, raised his fist and pounded his chest, then gave a thumbs up:

"Absolutely brilliant."

"Oh! What a pity... Jiao Ziniu was so close to winning the championship."

"The final showdown was absolutely spectacular! Did you hear their conversation?"

"This is the spirit of esports!"

Xia Yubing didn't say anything.

She quickly climbed over the obstacle, jumped off the stands, and ran towards the contestants' room. As Caramel Snail exited the competition link, Xia Yubing pounced on it and hugged Jiao Ziniu tightly.

"Okay! Ziniu!"

Xia Yubing said excitedly:

"You're the runner-up! The runner-up! You did a great job! You did a great job! To be the runner-up in your first competition is amazing!"

"Slightly inferior... Ah!"

Jiao Ziniu belatedly exclaimed, "Is it over? It's over, isn't it?"

He held his forehead, his brain still overheated, not yet recovered from the intense battle.

"I have to face at least fifteen attacks every second, and with all sorts of tactical skills, positioning, and intelligence gathering, I'm completely outmatched..."

"But you're the runner-up! Now the whole world, no, the entire universe knows that Jiao Ziniu came in second place right from his debut. His future is limitless!"

"...Yes." Caramel Snail finally realized, clenching her fist excitedly. "I'm three years younger than Long Yuqiong, I still have many opportunities to catch up with him!"

"Right?"

Xia Yubing patted the other person on the shoulder and said with a grin, "You did so well this time, Jiao Ziniu, what kind of gift do you want? Anything is fine with you!"

"Really?"

Upon hearing this, the Caramel Snail's eyes lit up. "Really? Anything is fine?"

"Hmm~"

Xia Yubing, hands behind her back, smiled with satisfaction, "Yes, whatever your conditions, I will fulfill them—"

Glug—

Jiao Ziniu swallowed hard, his heart pounding as he gazed at the striking woman before him. He opened his mouth, but felt his throat was dry, and he stammered:

"Since that's the case... I... I went a bit too far... Is that alright?"

"Hmm." Xia Yubing puffed out her chest and smiled.

"Then, then I... I want you..."

Jiao Ziniu said nervously and expectantly, "I want you to buy me Cold Drink Machine!"

Xia Yubing's smile froze.

"I'm so thirsty during this competition. I've only been able to drink the bottled water provided by the organizers the whole time. I really want some iced cola, and it would be even better if there were some French fries too." Jiao Ziniu asked cautiously, "Is that okay?"

Xia Yubing raised her head, revealing a murderous and ruthless look in her eyes:

"... Go to hell."