Chapter 86
"When!!!!"
The sharp teeth and blade produced a piercing screeching sound and sparks!
"How... is this possible..."
She stared at the other person in disbelief; their clothes... sprouted mouths, and then bit down on her own powerful slash?!
And... her longsword seemed to be welded into her body; no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn't budge...
"So powerful... Damn... Did it evolve again...?"
Of course, out of Skadi's sight, the opponent was clearly not as relaxed as she appeared.
Beneath Laurentina's feet, a scarlet structure seemed to burrow into the ground like roots, fixing her in place like a pile.
Otherwise, she would have been able to withstand the blow, and the force of the impact would have slammed her against the wall.
That would be too embarrassing...
[... Is this the companion you mentioned who could flatten a small mountain with a single sword strike?]
'Sigh, after all this time, her absurd strength hasn't diminished at all... in fact, it seems to have gotten even stronger.'
[Although it doesn't pose much of a threat, you'd better hurry, or I'm worried your giant whale companion will tear this street down.]
'Don't worry, Orca wouldn't do something like that. There are residents nearby; she wouldn't just vandalize something in such a confined space.'
So~
Laurentina smiled slightly.
[Please don't say things that sound like something a villain would say!]
Skadi was giving it her all, but she couldn't budge the giant maw on her clothes that was biting her longsword!
However, the next moment, Laurentina suddenly pressed her body against hers, so fast that Laurentina didn't even have time to react.
"Long time no see, Orca."
After saying that, she raised her crystalline arms to her cheeks.
"?!!!"
Skadi broke out in a cold sweat. Without hesitation, she abandoned her weapon and jumped back to create distance between them.
Damn it.
Their weapons were taken away.
She then took out another standard-issue longsword with the Flame Kingdom- style design from the box behind her...
Although, to the enemy before him, this longsword was far inferior to his own weapon in terms of performance and everything else.
But... it's still better than fighting bare-handed.
Then, she stared intently at the other person while whispering something to herself.
"I'm sorry... sir, I might break this sword..."
"Sigh, Orca, you're still the same as always. But that's good, I'm relieved to see you're still the same."
Laurentina shook her arms, seemingly as if she were loosening her joints.
"What..."
Skadi was puzzled; the other person's demeanor... it was as if they had disengaged from the battle.
"Sigh, I was hoping to spend more time catching up with you, but considering that causing too much commotion in this area wouldn't be a good thing, so it's a real shame."
What are you... saying?
Skadi gripped her longsword and growled in a low voice.
"Then it's up to you, Zuo Jian... Don't do anything strange."
After giving her instructions, Laurentina waved her hand and leaned against the wall.
"What--"
Skadi finally realized something was wrong. She looked down sharply and discovered that her ankles were being gripped by the two severed arms she had just cut off!
Those two arms lying on the ground?!
When did they get here...? No, it was right when I jumped back to create some distance and landed right next to them?!
There was no time for her to think further. Her two "arms," along with the severed fabric sleeves, transformed into crimson blood clots, writhing and sprouting tentacles that, like several agile blood snakes, crawled up Skadi's legs and onto her body!
He slipped inside her clothes, pressed against her skin, and clung tightly to her, giving her no chance to resist.
"The strength is immense, ridiculously strong, but unfortunately, it only works on humanoid creatures—"
Who is it?!
Skadi heard the voice beside her and shouted alertly.
"Any humanoid creature that can exert force is only less than one-tenth of its original strength after its joints are locked and its points of leverage are restricted."
She felt the cold, slippery touch spreading across her body, and at the same time, an arm emerged from her collar, with a single eye and a mouth growing from its tip.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Orca, or rather, Laurentina's friend. My name is Zuo Jian."
"Shut up, Seaborn!!"
Skadi struggled, trying to swing her longsword at the tentacles on her body.
However, in the next instant, all the wrists and feet tightened instantly, binding both wrists tightly!
Clang!
The longsword slipped from his hand and landed on the spot.
"Damn it, I can't get any strength in me..."
"Sorry, Orca, you definitely won't listen to my explanation, so I'll just have to ask you to put up with this for now."
[Are you planning to do this?]
Zuo Jian asked Laurentina had stepped forward.
The latter squatted down, looked at Skadi who was lying motionless on the floor, and reached out to pinch her cheek.
However, the latter's eyes seemed to look like he wanted to devour her in anger.
"Hmm, let's take him back to the hotel first and then talk about it more."
[Are you going to take it back like this?]
"Isn't this what we need you for?"
After pondering for a moment, Zuo Jian continued to grow the outer layer of flesh, which then covered Skadi's entire body, transforming into a long, red box that enveloped her.
"Ugh! You—"
Skadi tried to resist, but the next moment, the tentacles from the flesh-filled box were pressed against her mouth.
"Yes, that makes things much more convenient."
Laurentina clapped her hands, then picked up the red box.
(Tears welled up in my eyes. I've been busy with the Lunar New Year these past few days, and I've also had to help my family with chores every day... I feel like my updates have slowed down quite a bit -- but it's okay! I can do it! I want to be a successful and hardworking author!)
Chapter 44, Misunderstanding Cleared Up
"Phew... does the Orca seem to have gotten heavier?"
Laurentina, panting heavily, placed the large box on her back into the cramped single room of the hotel.
Should we release her?
On the surface of the box, a single eye appeared on the Zuo Jian, looking at Laurentina and asking her a question.
"Hmm... that should be about right. Orca aren't stupid and can't see their situation; they should be able to have a proper talk with us now."
[...I'll take precautions first.]
What? Are you worried about me?
Laurentina touched the eyes on the box and smiled slightly.
[... I'm worried that if something goes wrong, you two might break through the roof or the floor.]
[The compensation will be a real headache.]
"Tsk, okay, okay, anyway, let's release the Orca first."
Laurentina sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the flesh and blood box in front of her, and spoke.
[OK.]
As Zuo Jian answered, the box's hard outer shell quickly turned into blood plasma and dripped out, soon releasing Skadi, who had been tightly secured inside.
The latter even lost his footing and fell to the ground.
"Cough cough... cough cough..."
She coughed uncomfortably, then opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Laurentina sitting gracefully by the bed with a smile on her face.
"Hey, are you awake now, Orca?"
"Shark... no... Seaborn!"
Skadi's eyes cleared, and she then saw the weapon case that had been brought back with her.
The weapon lay there quietly.
Without any hesitation, she turned around and reached for her longsword!
However, the moment she made a move, she suddenly felt a strange tension throughout her body.
Several tentacles instantly locked her joints, binding her tightly in place.
[Miss Orca, I suggest you don't rush things. This is a hotel in Victoria, the kind that costs 150 Lungmen Coins a night. If you cause any damage here, the compensation amount will be very difficult for us.]
"What's that sound?!"
[Let me reintroduce myself, Miss Orca. My name is Zuo Jian, Laurentina's travel companion, and I've been accompanying her throughout this time.]
[I know you have many questions, but it's clear that I'm different from those creatures you know called "Seaborn." I speak clearly and am very rational.]
Why can't we sit down and talk?
"Why should I believe you... that Seaborn can also evolve--"
[If the level of intelligence you're talking about, the evolution of Seaborn, is the same as mine, then it's probably not just Aegir will perish on this land.]
The words from the Zuo Jian seemed to make Skadi realize something, and then she gestured for Laurentina to open the curtains in the room.
The midday sun streamed through the room's glass windows, revealing to Skadi the view of Victoria, a tranquil, Mobile City.
[It's still peaceful here, there are no monsters, nothing else.]
[Of course, Laurentina brought your things back too. If you feel uneasy and want to retrieve your weapons, I won't object, provided you don't make any big fuss.]
Zuo Jian tried his best to appear benevolent, and at the same time, he used his tentacles to pick up the greatsword next to him and place it on Skadi's lap, who was kneeling on the ground.
[Besides, you can't beat us, can you? If we were Seaborn, we probably wouldn't be here having this long-winded conversation with you, would we?]
[Furthermore, even if we take a step back and assume the worst, now that you're in our hands, you have virtually no chance of resistance. What can you do right now besides talking to us?]
Whether she realized her predicament or felt that Zuo Jian's demeanor was not like Seaborn's, Skadi relaxed slightly, but the wariness in her eyes remained.
She stared at the ominous, fleshy tentacles before her, and the single blue eye on them, and asked.
"Why did the Shark turn into that... that shape?"
[Well, that's a long story.]
Zuo Jian finished speaking, he fiddled with his tentacles, lifted the water from the kettle next to him, and then poured it into the cup he had brought from the hotel. At the same time, he also put in the black tea bag he found in the drawer.
Is it fair to say that Victoria have an outrageous love for tea? Fortunately, they provided inexpensive tea bags for their hotels.
Hot drinks and a realistic setting can always lower someone's guard.
Especially...
Skadi stared in disbelief as the fleshy tentacles methodically arranged a kettle and other items on a nearby table. A moment later, they returned with two cups of freshly brewed black tea to Skadi and Laurentina.
[Would you like some tea? Let's chat while we drink; this story might be a little long.]