One More Thing / A Hunter's Nature

What is this?

Nian carefully approached Maria's side, his expression gradually becoming serious.

Although incomprehensible monsters and madmen roam the Terra, something like this still gave her quite a shock.

Originium has become a spirit?

This thing... it's making me a little uneasy.

After all, almost all of Terra's development today is based on Originium, the energy source.

If anything happens to Originium, the entire Terra will be plunged into unpredictable chaos!

"I don't know, but it should be Originium."

Maria spoke calmly, looking at the still convulsing Golem. After a moment of silence, she kicked out.

"Bang!"

This time, the Golem's body was completely destroyed, and the rhomboid crystal inside shattered into crystals of varying sizes, scattered all over the ground.

Even so, the thing was still twitching at a very weak frequency.

Its tenacious vitality is astonishing.

After Maria for a while, Maria didn't dwell on it too much and simply took the weapon Nian had given her and examined it.

"There was no damage whatsoever... its strength is astonishing."

Seeing that the sharp blade remained unchanged, Maria's face broke into a rare smile, a faint smile like the delicate fragrance of flowers.

It is refreshing and invigorating.

Nian stared at that smile for a moment, stunned.

In an instant, she felt she understood why her younger sister was so persistent in pursuing Maria.

A beautiful woman under the moonlight, her face beaming as she strokes her sword.

The violent stance he took during the battle and his current serene and graceful demeanor created a strong contrast in Nian's mind.

For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

Fortunately, at that moment, a pair of hands suddenly covered her eyes.

"Don't look!"

It was a cool, clear female voice.

Nian quickly realized that it was her younger sister's voice.

However, she didn't have any other thoughts; she just found it somewhat ridiculous.

"Looking at it won't cost you anything."

"No means no!"

A traditional beauty appeared behind Nian at some point, and she covered the eyes of this nominal older sister with her hands, her face showing some displeasure.

She didn't know why she was feeling this jealousy.

But... if she could, she only wished that she was the only one who could see Maria's current appearance!

She knew that her feelings were too childish.

But... sometimes, feelings are something that really can't be described by reason.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but turn her head and look at Maria.

Maria, noticing this, subtly lowered the brim of her hat in acknowledgment.

"Waaah..."

Xi didn't speak, but simply turned her head slightly away, not wanting to look at Maria.

But her hands were unconsciously tense.

But this caused them a year of hardship.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Let go of me! Are you trying to gouge my eyes out?! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"

Nian waved her hands wildly, and Xi's clenched fingers filled her with fear.

No... although Xi and I often joke around and play pranks on each other.

But there's no real deep-seated hatred involved, is there?

Xi actually wanted to gouge out her own eyeballs?!

After finally managing to grab Xi's hand and take it off, Nian looked terrified.

She glanced at Xi behind her, her face showing no anger.

Yes, but it was a deep-seated fear.

No... what did I do?

Xi actually went to this extent?

Is possessiveness really such a terrible thing?

Isn't this a little too scary?

"It's nice to see you again, Miss Xi."

Maria didn't seem to have any objections to the two clowns.

She simply greeted them and then looked up at the moon in the sky.

Is there still a little time left?

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Maria didn't explain much, and after saying a few simple words, she looked at Nian and the others again.

"Regarding the weapon's performance evaluation, I should be able to provide an answer by today, and I will write down all the information then... It's not safe here right now, and it's not suitable for your friends to stay in a place like this for long; it would be better if they left as soon as possible."

As Maria spoke, she helped Leizi, who was almost kneeling on the ground, to her feet.

From the moment the disease spread from Yharnam, the girl had been in a state of complete distraction.

Her exceptional talent allowed her to learn everything with ease, but at the same time, this talent also led her to come into contact with things she shouldn't have.

For example... she discovered Maria's secret about Yharnam.

Yharnam doesn't have a moon; it only has Moon Presence...

After handing the uneasy girl over to Nian Sha, Maria didn't talk to the two girls much. Once she confirmed that they were ready to leave, she turned around and continued cleaning up the surrounding Golem.

Although she appeared very cold-blooded in front of the Black Snake, Maria actually knew that killing tens of thousands of people in one go was indeed a pipe dream.

Even if there are tens of thousands of pigs, once they are mobilized, she cannot possibly eliminate them all in one day.

It will take at least a week.

But clearly, given the current situation, she doesn't have a week left.

So she chose a very clever method.

She summoned Doll and had it propel New Yharnam toward this side.

Since the platform itself is now an enemy, they have no reason to hold back.

The Doll expanded Yharnam's domain, enveloping this area as well, while simultaneously channeling its power... It didn't do anything special, simply spreading its aura outwards to touch each Infected.

While interfering with these Infected, Maria also wanted to see if her presence would turn them into the beasts she knew.

As for the outcome... well, it's a 50/50 chance.

Maria did indeed feel a familiar sensation during the transformation... that unsettling and nauseating atmosphere permeated the entire city.

However, similarly, after the transformation was completed, these human and beastly auras disappeared.

It's as if... Originium absorbed that part of it and then transformed it into itself.

Specifically, these people were drained of all their life force by the Originium was growing wildly within their bodies, turning them into crystal statues.

But some of them transformed into the Crystal Golem that Maria had just killed.

The danger posed by these Golem goes without saying, but for Maria, dealing with a group of crazed Golem is far easier than dealing with a group of runaway people.

At this point, only one thing remains to be done...

Chapter 203 The Hunter's Nature

Maria walked through the ruined streets.

All around her were fragments of Golem, and the area was empty, with no sign of any living person.

This is also the scene Maria hoped to see.

The crisis Reunion Movement itself is now largely resolved. As for these immortal Golem, Maria actually intends to bring them into New Yharnam.

After all, this thing can be considered immortal to some extent... If it were to be released carelessly, who knows what kind of impact it would have on the world.

Staying in Yharnam is actually the best option.

After all, Yharnam, devoid of monsters, was somewhat unfamiliar to Maria.

Of course, that's a story for later. Right now, there's a problem that Maria needs to solve.

"Mobile platforms... haven't stopped yet?"

Maria looked up and around.

A faint breeze was still flowing past her face, indicating that the mobile platform had not yet stopped.

This puzzled Maria.

Does it really take this much effort to shut down a mobile platform?

Maria was puzzled.

But she kept going.

But after walking for a while, Maria frowned again...

"Fragments?"

She bent down and picked up the broken pieces from the ground.

Before her lay a large expanse of shattered crystals.

They resembled the aftermath of an explosion, scattering outwards in all directions from the center.

It's clear that this thing is a fragment of those Golem...

But... Maria clearly remembered that she had never been this way before?

Is it Lappland and the others?

No... that's not right.

There was an atmosphere here that made Maria uncomfortable.

Maria closed her eyes, and after a moment, slowly opened them.

Around her, wisps of black mist had begun to rise...

The pitch-black fog, like thin streaks cut through the air, drifted restlessly around.

After only a few glances, Maria identified the messenger controlling these things.

That was a terrifying man.

He stood ramrod straight, his distinctive black military uniform making him appear exceptionally tall. A strange device on his back extended several tubes that connected to his mask, and he breathed softly.

This makes him look like a person with an octopus on his head.

He remained unmoved when Maria turned her gaze towards him, until Maria pulled out the unfinished Blades, at which point he finally realized that the person before him had noticed him.