Chapter 23: Sea Without Light 23
The wound on the Python Sphere was healing at an abnormal speed. The gruesome whip marks on its back and arms stopped bleeding, the charred skin peeled away, and small flesh buds wriggled as a new layer of flesh grew.
As soon as the Divine Blood entered its body, it began to transform this scarred physique. The highly purified and filtered xenomorph blood flowed into its limbs and bones, giving it strength and providing an unprecedented thrill.
The Python Sphere’s strength recovered and even soared to new heights, blood-red flames reignited on its body, burning even more fiercely than before.
However, the first thing the Python Sphere did after regaining power was not to retaliate against Kui Xin and the others.
It threw a motorbike at Kui Xin to disrupt her movement, then turned and ran.
The Python Sphere’s robust body erupted with terrifying speed greater than that of a world sprint champion, covering nearly twenty meters in the blink of an eye.
Only a fool wouldn’t run!
The Python Sphere understood the style of Mechanized Dawn; Thorn Rose knew of its betrayal, and then Lady Fortune and Silverface also showed up… This meant the entire Mechanized Dawn organization knew it was a traitor! They would send people to hunt it down, and the core members of Mechanized Dawn were already there; an external team might be lying in ambush somewhere nearby.
It had to run; if it slowed down, it would fall into the hunters’ encirclement.
In this situation, merely killing one or two people was useless, as the Python Sphere could not silence everyone who knew of its betrayal. It would fall into an endless spiral of pursuit, and the longer it delayed, the higher the chance of immediate execution.
Silverface conjured a water curtain to block the incoming motorbike, momentarily unable to free a hand to stop the Python Sphere from escaping.
Kui Xin was about to draw a magazine from her belt to reload the K80, but the Python Sphere slyly dashed into a nearby building, where it had cover, making it impossible for Kui Xin to lock onto its position.
She discarded the K80 and pulled out a compact submachine gun from her lower back.
The submachine gun lacked the penetration of the K80, but it made up for it with overwhelming firepower, allowing the magazine to hold more bullets.
She wasn’t sure if this gun could inflict substantial damage to the Python Sphere; after taking the unknown drug, its Burning Blood ability seemed to have strengthened, its muscles bulging as if they were going to explode—no world bodybuilding champion could boast such terrifying muscles.
As the Python Sphere fled, it smashed into a small, closed restaurant by the roadside, using its body to break through the wall, tearing open a gas pipe hidden within the wall, and with a clear mind, turned on the ignition switch of the restaurant.
In a deafening roar, the gas exploded, and the roaring flames completely obscured its figure. Relying on the super high recovery ability brought by the Divine Blood, it endured the shockwave of the explosion and the scorching heat, breaking through the wall to escape to the other side of the street.
Kui Xin shouted, “Thorn Rose, you stay here.”
Without hesitation, she and Silverface pursued along the Python Sphere’s escape route.
The items inside the small restaurant were blown apart, beams falling that nearly struck Kui Xin, but fortunately, she dodged in time. Waves of water surged as Kui Xin and Silverface passed through the sea of fire unharmed, but the wreckage from the explosion blocked them for two seconds.
Every second was precious; a single second could widen the gap between the Python Sphere and them significantly.
Kui Xin activated the infrared thermal imaging mode on her mask, tracking the Python Sphere’s trail.
The Python Sphere’s body temperature would continuously rise in the Burning Blood state, much higher than that of an ordinary person. Under infrared vision, it appeared as a dazzling red fireball.
It was still running, having dashed into an open poker hall.
The customers inside were knocked over, tables flipped, cards scattered everywhere, and people screamed as they saw the blood-flame-covered Python Sphere.
With a sinister expression, the Python Sphere ignored the chaos, pushing through the crowd, crashing through another wall.
Suddenly, it had a flash of inspiration for an escape route—jump into the sea!
By jumping into the sea, it could swim away. Although Silverface’s extraordinary abilities allowed him to control water, the sea’s vastness would make it impossible for him to exert control. The seawater could cool the Python Sphere’s body, making it undetectable by thermal imaging devices.
Having great lung capacity, the Python Sphere could hold its breath underwater for nearly ten minutes. If it quietly swam to a safe place and surfaced, it could successfully evade this wave of pursuit from Mechanized Dawn.
Divine Blood is strong, but it cannot make up for the level difference. After taking Divine Blood, it needs time to digest and gradually transform the body. Over time, its body and extraordinary abilities would see significant enhancement. The Python Sphere itself was only Level C, and having just taken Divine Blood, it dared not recklessly confront Silverface, who was close to Level A, and the unknown-level Lady Fortune head-on.
Kui Xin and Silverface charged into the poker hall, where the customers backed away in fear at the sight of the submachine gun in Kui Xin’s hand, clearing a path for her and Silverface.
The distance between them widened; after taking the drug, the Python Sphere’s Burning Blood was like a cheat, its speed and strength skyrocketing multiple times.
Silverface, frustrated, said, “That guy is too far away; my water can’t reach that far!”
“Red, where’s the nearest external team?” Kui Xin didn’t have time to check her wrist map.
“Five hundred meters away!” Red’s voice sounded grim.
By the time the external team arrived, it would be too late.
“Is there surveillance nearby?” Kui Xin asked again.
“There’s none on the current stretch,” Red replied quickly.
In just a moment, the distance between Kui Xin and the Python Sphere had widened to thirty meters. As it continued to run, the Python Sphere expertly weaved to evade possible bullets. Its skin was tough, but it still feared pain.
Looking for an opportunity, Kui Xin raised her submachine gun and fired at its legs just as the Python Sphere ducked into cover.
“Ah!” The Python Sphere stumbled, struck by a bullet.
The bullet’s powerful kinetic energy and the pain from the wound slowed its actions.
Without missing a beat, Kui Xin pulled a micro bomb from her belt, using her mouth to pull the pin. She didn’t throw the bomb immediately; instead, she counted silently for a second before tossing it.
The bomb arched through the air, accurately flying toward the Python Sphere.
Seeing it coming, the Python Sphere’s pupils constricted, and it rolled away to evade, but the bomb exploded before it could hit the ground, less than a meter away. The shockwave knocked it down, causing it to cough up blood, unable to get up for a moment.
Kui Xin seized the opportunity to spray fire with her submachine gun, causing bursts of blood to erupt from the Python Sphere’s body. Bullets lodged within its muscles left it howling in pain despite not hitting its organs and bones.
Silverface finally found an opportunity to unleash his abilities. A water ring appeared out of thin air, trapping the Python Sphere and restraining its limbs. Then, a larger water ball condensed around it, engulfing its entire body, including its head.
The Python Sphere opened its mouth to release a stream of bubbles. Its frantic struggles caused its wounds to secrete blood, dying the surrounding water ball a shade of red.
Silverface coldly controlled the water ball, lifting it off the ground and forcing the Python Sphere to float helplessly, losing its leverage.
With her submachine gun out of ammo, Kui Xin took two seconds to reload, then raised her gun to shoot at the water ball. The Python Sphere, struggling in the water, fought to maintain its Burning Blood state; the bullets only drew blood without inflicting significant damage.
What was even more terrifying was that the gunshot wounds were rapidly healing. The powerful muscles of the Python Sphere forced the bullets out, dropping them into the water and clattering onto the ground.
Silverface could impart properties to the water that it normally lacked, like resilience. He was able to control the water as if it were a rope, endowing it with “strength”. He forced water into the Python Sphere’s nose and mouth, making it roll its eyes back and slowing its struggles.
He could have easily ended the Python Sphere’s life, but he chose not to, instead opting to torment it slowly and let it suffer.
Reluctantly, Kui Xin put down her submachine gun.
Before the Python Sphere could be killed by bullets, it would suffocate first unless it voluntarily released its Burning Blood state.
Kui Xin was unwilling to let the Python Sphere be killed by Silverface.
Pointing the barrel of her gun into the Python Sphere’s mouth could deliver a fatal shot; no matter how tough its muscles and skin were, its insides were soft.
However, after a calm moment, Kui Xin did not raise the submachine gun but instead reached for a micro bomb. She pulled the pin and, under Silverface’s horrified gaze, plunged her arm into the water ball, swiftly stuffing the bomb into the Python Sphere’s open mouth, then quickly retreated a safe distance.
“Boom!”
The water ball exploded, and so did the Python Sphere.
Water, blood, flesh scraps, and severed limbs scattered everywhere.
Silverface was stunned. “You… you really hate him.”
A layer of blood and water mixture splattered on Kui Xin’s mask. She shook herself to remove the gunk that had splattered onto her.
“You killed the Python Sphere.”
“You deprived the Python Sphere of its extraordinary abilities.”
“You acquired the extraordinary ability [Burning Blood·Level C].”
“You acquired the extraordinary ability [Blood and Tissue Regeneration·Level D].”
“[Burning Blood·Level C]: Use your own blood as fuel to gain immense power.”
“[Blood and Tissue Regeneration·Level D]: Your injury recovery speed far exceeds that of ordinary people.”
“Red, the mission is complete. I don’t want to deal with this corpse; have the external team come and clean up the mess,” Kui Xin said.
Compared to the disgusting xenomorph specimens, the Python Sphere’s body was merely an appetizer. Deep down, she felt something but accepted it well.
Even Kui Xin was surprised by her current mindset; she coldly detached her emotions and analyzed her inner self.
While pursuing the Python Sphere, her blood felt as though it was on fire.
She leaped over one obstacle after another, running desperately to catch up, to kill him. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to kill him; if she missed this chance, when would the next one come? Perhaps there wouldn’t be another opportunity; he might escape, vanish into thin air, and Kui Xin wouldn’t get another chance for revenge.
Fortunately, she succeeded; she managed to kill the Python Sphere.
This brought a sense of relief to Kui Xin, even a touch of joy, revealing a strange sense of accomplishment deep within her.
She had also gained two extraordinary abilities. Though she hadn’t had the chance to experiment with her newfound powers, they were undoubtedly her insurance for survival.
In the days since crossing into the Second World, Kui Xin had been learning and adapting. She wanted to find the right attitude to face this complex and passive situation, hoping to find an appropriate opportunity to turn the passive into active.
Killing the Python Sphere was her first step.
In the days to come, she would become more proactive.
“Thorn Rose said the Python Sphere took Divine Blood,” Red said with a grim tone. “His blood was contaminated and cannot be used to extract memories.”
Kui Xin was taken aback; the drug the Python Sphere took was indeed the “Divine Blood” that Xueyao Shu had mentioned… It truly had remarkable effects.
“Where did he get this stuff?” Kui Xin asked, pretending to be confused.
“Where else? There are only a few factions capable of refining Divine Blood,” Red replied. “I suspect the Investigation Bureau; they’ve been itching to get their hands on what’s on the Kraken and wouldn’t tolerate any unruly factors threatening the port… Heh, they’re just foot soldiers; the real puppeteer behind them is more likely to be…”
His voice gradually dropped, as if lost in thought.
Suddenly, Kui Xin remembered the first time she met Silverface; he had contemptuously said—
“The Investigation Bureau, the dogs of the consortium.”
“We should go,” Silverface said. “If we delay any longer, the Coastal Security Team will arrive.”
“Yeah, use your water to wash off the dirt on me.” Kui Xin replied.
Silverface controlled the water to gently sweep away the bloodstains on Kui Xin’s mask, muttering, “You should have stood further away when the explosion happened.”
