The Second Descent

It actually worked!?

Talulah finally managed to sort out the mess that had happened today. She looked at Oute and asked, "Sorry, what you said just now was a bit hard to understand: the Black Snake is still alive?"

Oute nodded, then shook his head, and said, "The one you know should be dead long ago."

"But individuals who share the same ideals and beliefs, the same way of doing things, and even share the same power..." He put one hand in his pocket, stopping the slipping scroll between his forearm and his clothes, and then said, "Especially this snake we're facing right now, she's still alive."

It's just that I'm a little close to death.

Chapter 193 The Second Arrival

The loss of a large amount of blood left Black Snake somewhat dazed. She struggled to move her hand from the wound on her chest to her eyes. Looking at the bloodstains drying rapidly in the fire, she felt her "own" mind becoming increasingly muddled.

Damn it...

In hindsight, what should have been abandoned was the spiritual aspect.

That psychic, that pretentious freak!

His target was only Talulah, not the entire Black Snake...

No! Cheer up!

Since he used my other half as nourishment to reshape Talulah's personality, he has no reason to destroy this body!

There's still a chance!

Clearly, the body's physiological functions had deteriorated to a certain extent— the Black Snake wasted more than a second before realizing it was wallowing in self-pity.

Driven by an intense will to survive, the Black Snake disregarded the Originium bullets still embedded in its body and burned its wounds to regain its strength.

As the Black Snake brandished its longsword, flames raged once more, and many operators were burned on the spot.

Fortunately, Ace reacted quickly. He charged forward with his shield, engaging the Black Snake, closing the gap, and buying time for the medical unit.

It looks more like a cockroach than a snake.

This guy is incredibly tenacious!

No matter how many times, you have to grit your teeth, hold on to your last breath, and keep struggling... In this way, I look like the villain who keeps pushing the protagonist to the brink of despair!

However, it was of no use.

I do need to capture this body, which will inevitably lower the upper limit of the encirclement intensity.

But that doesn't mean I'm holding back until you can escape.

Oute raised an eyebrow and said to W beside him, "We don't need your reinforcements here anymore. Go back and organize the refugee rescue operation."

The "real" American cockroach looked at FrostNova and Patriot in disbelief, about to point and "ask" Oute why they were allowed to stay, when it saw Talulah.

Okay, I'm not familiar with this female dragon, so I can't do that... end-of-life care?

Who cares!

The Sarkaz girl clicked her tongue, snatched Oute's free hand, and placed it on her soft breasts.

She closed her eyes and shouted, "Come on!"

Oute tilted his head, and the ear feather, which was already intended to be misleading, fell to the ground completely.

"Come...?" He made no attempt to withdraw his hand. "Returning you to reality doesn't require physical contact."

"The word 'expulsion' is also..." Before he could finish speaking, W woke up in the Deepwinter Soldiers' command post, indignantly saying, "... That's too hurtful!?"

Only a lingering, alluring smell of gunpowder remained in Oute's palm.

Oute readjusted the scroll's position and glanced at it.

FrostNova continued explaining everything to Talulah, while Alina, seemingly having touched something, also joined in the explanation with tears in her eyes.

Bohdrokasthim stared silently at the dragon girl, the tail of his power halberd leaving a nasty trail on the ground.

He was suppressing, suppressing his own urge to kill Talulah.

Whether it was out of a soldier's self-awareness or a father's forbearance, he ultimately controlled his murderous intent.

Oute walked slowly toward him.

"Liberi?" Patriot's cloudy red eyes glanced at the ear feather on the ground.

"How are the new organs functioning?" Oute avoided the topic.

"Pain."

"I'm pretty sure my question is 'how it works'."

Patriot closed his eyes, his large, calloused hand pressed against his abdomen, and gave the same answer, "It hurts."

"Understood."

The functionality meets the requirements, and even exceeds them.

Oute nodded, blocking Patriot's view, and began asking some detailed questions.

In reality.

The Black Snake mustered its last bit of strength to produce a single flame, like a lighter Ignition for the last time.

The black, Triangle White Castle gradually cornered the wounded and trapped beast, but despite this, she did not give up the struggle.

Or perhaps, she still firmly believes that she is still alive?

It's unbelievable... that they really went to this extent?

Even if I escape with this body, its active Originium Infection will diminish most of its value... I'm... useless now?

Excessive blood loss, overuse of Originium Arts, and the blow of losing most of his "soul" have made this Black Snake, born from Talulah's personality, exceptionally vulnerable in every sense.

Ultimately, a small problem that she had rarely considered in the past shook her mental defenses:

Even if the entire Black Snake remains unharmed, even if the title of "Grand Duke of Koschei" is still inherited... that is only the Black Snake in the general sense.

To outsiders, they may have been dealing with a cunning, treacherous, and unscrupulous Phidias, but what about the many individuals who make up this "evil god"?

Previously, Talulah was the most anticipated among all the Black Snake.

Noble bloodline, formidable skills, exceptional talent, stunning beauty (at least in Black Snake's hands), and a hidden claim...

The Originium Infection slightly diminished her value, but with proper care, as Draco, she still possesses an astonishing lifespan. If the Black Snake can truly master this body, there's even a tiny possibility that she could rule over the kingdoms of Ursus, Victoria, and Yan!

However, this body, now pushed to its limits, gave Talulah the illusion that Originium clusters were growing within her flesh.

Unable to continue down this path of tragedy, the Black Snake staggered and collapsed to the ground, making a final desperate attempt.

Come, capture me and return my body to Talulah.

This way, I'll at least get a breather...

All was silent.

This time, Scout's bullet hit the heart.

A reassuring electronic voice said on the channel, "Thank you for your hard work. The original setup for Ace will remain largely unchanged; I will adjust the details to the individual level."

As Oute continued his planning, the operators covered each other, keeping a close eye on the motionless body on the ground while continuing to clear the dragon fire.

That's so intimidating!

A slight mishap could result in being burned to a crisp!

Their instructions were so precise, it was like walking a tightrope!

It's unbelievable that we were actually able to defeat this humanoid natural Catastrophe -like monster? Even though we were involved firsthand, it didn't really feel real...

With everything seemingly settled, despite the clear instructions given to them by Oute, many operators unconsciously lowered their guard.

Talulah's body, which had already collapsed completely, suddenly stirred.

The movement of her joints affected the movement of her limbs. She slowly rose up like a marionette, her torso swaying like a rag doll for a long time before finally stabilizing.

Finally, those lifeless eyes slowly opened.

They can even do something like this!?

Just as the operators were in a panic, Ace and Scout exclaimed in shock, "... All units, take note! Do not attack!"

"Repeated! Attention all units!"

"Don't attack!"

Ace swallowed hard, a hint of instinctive fear involuntarily flashing in his eyes behind his sunglasses. But he steadied himself and rolled the Originium Prime he had prepared earlier from the ground to Talulah's side.

"Very good."

Talulah awkwardly knelt on one knee to pick up the Originium, completely oblivious to the fact that the Black Snake's elegant little dress was still stained with the dust of the calamity.

Draco's eyes gradually regained their focus as he stared intently at his burning fingers and positioned himself in front of him.

Pfft.

The dragon claws brutally tore open the charred wound, rummaging aimlessly amidst the aroma of protein.

The bullet landed on the desolate ground with a dull thud.

"Hah." The dragon girl stretched her beautiful neck, her brows furrowed, and a slight pain slipped through her pearly teeth.

Frustrated, she called out to one of the operators by name, "Patricia, lend me your coat."

"... Huh?" The operator was startled before she realized what was happening.

She glanced around, and everyone whose eyes met hers looked away.

"Me, me!?"

"Okay, okay!" She nodded frantically, then hurriedly crumpled her coat into a ball.

"Hand it over yourself," Draco said languidly, his nobility and elegance undiminished despite his dusty appearance.