Chapter 16 Chapter 16 The Immortal Black... Snake?
Chapter 16 The Immortal Black... Snake?
Noon. Today's lunch was exceptionally sumptuous.
The Shieldguards were discussing news of uncertain veracity amongst themselves, while others were puzzled: why was Lemontov, usually so stingy and miserly, being so generous today?
But whenever someone familiar approached Lemontov to ask, they would always receive this irritable reply from the stingy yet respectable quartermaster:
"Mr. Kevin is leaving. If I Ursus profanity still scrimp on things now, am I even human?"
Since Kevin arrived, although he didn't often go out with them, the casualty rate of the guerrilla force had indeed decreased significantly during this period. He could be called their savior.
Even though he seemed difficult to approach at first and even beat them up initially, the Shieldguards all clearly understood in their hearts that he was an extremely good person. He never made excessive demands of them and had helped so much.
As an ancient saying from Yan goes, what was it called? "No discord, no concord."
"Actually, there's no need to make it too grand."
"It was... they... organized it... spontaneously."
Patriot's helmet glowed with red light as he explained haltingly.
Before long, everyone's lunch was ready.
Above the bonfire, the lid was lifted from the boiling thick soup, sending white steam straight into the sky. Captured bread, alcohol, and even some refrigerated beast meat were brought out by Lemontov.
This meal, though not exquisite—and something many nobles wouldn't even deign to glance at, considering it garbage—was the best these rough-and-tumble guerrilla fighters could offer.
Though Kevin wasn't skilled at socializing, he didn't refuse those who came to share a drink with him. So, he was soon surrounded by Shieldguards.
Talulah watched Kevin at the center of the crowd with complex emotions. Because she had helped the Snowsquadron, she had been invited along as well. Of course, it was just incidental.
Pozëmka chatted softly with FrostNova, occasional light laughter drifting over.
No one mentioned the departure. Everyone tried their best to enjoy this moment of peace and joy.
——
Around 2 PM, Kevin and Pozëmka, who was carrying a backpack, finally reached the outskirts of the camp.
Not many came to see them off: Patriot, FrostNova, Quartermaster Lemontov, and... Talulah?
"No need for words."
Kevin tried his best to soothe the little rabbit's emotions, but as he didn't have much experience in this area, he could only gently pat Yelena's shoulder.
Two pairs of eyes met: one brimming with tears, the other calm and gentle.
"This parting is not without the day we meet again. Face the future with your head held high, Yelena. You know you can believe in yourself."
Having received her teacher's parting words, Yelena could no longer hold back her emotions. She threw herself into Kevin's arms and began to sob.
She was only in her teens. Though a bit stronger than other children, how could she withstand such a scene?
Then, Kevin looked at Patriot and extended his hand toward him. Thread-fine Honkai energy entered his throat. Patriot didn't put up any defense, merely examining the purple energy with a serious gaze.
What is this? Dissolving?
Although Patriot's sensitivity to his own body wasn't what it used to be due to Originium, he could still feel changes occurring within.
"What is this?"
"......?"
"!"
Though not entirely fluent, words without any sense of obstruction finally spilled from Patriot's mouth. His eyes beneath the helmet widened slightly. The Originium in his body... disappeared?!
No. Fifty percent disappeared. At least the vast majority.
As Kevin withdrew every last trace of the slightly amplified Honkai energy from Patriot's body, the entire process was complete.
Understanding what this act truly meant, Patriot didn't make a fuss. He nodded to Kevin.
"Thank you."
"......Just a small gift. Your condition was truly too severe."
"This is enough."
Unlike Yelena, whose symptoms weren't deep-seated, Patriot's Oripathy had reached a terminal stage. To some extent, it had even replaced parts of his flesh and bones, becoming one of the supports of his body.
So a complete cure wasn't possible; only symptom relief.
"Well then, goodbye, everyone."
"Goodbye, Yelena, Mr. Patriot."
After bidding farewell,
Kevin and Pozëmka's figures gradually receded into the distance. Talulah stared blankly at the two of them.
In an unknowable, hidden corner within her body, a sinister consciousness slowly manifested without her noticing.
That ancient, chilling gaze slowly settled on Kevin's retreating back. He... no... "It."
Ursus's evil god, an immortal consciousness entrenched upon this land.
"The Immortal Black Snake"!
It shouldn't have awakened at this time, but the aura emanating from Kevin was far too lethal, almost instantly startling this evil god lying in wait for its opportunity.
What in the world is that guy?
The Black Snake was terrified! Its pride in its knowledge, its long-lived experience—all seemed so pale and powerless upon encountering Kevin.
That guy... merely a certain quality naturally emanating from his spirit made it tremble with fear.
But why would someone's will make even it feel fear on Ursus soil?
Would he affect Ursus's continued existence?
Various questions took root and sprouted deep within the Black Snake's heart. Harboring such thoughts,
and sensing Kevin's aura gradually moving away, the Black Snake hidden in gloom finally mustered its courage to steal a distant glance at Kevin's retreating back.
Boom!
A golden stream of light surged violently into "its" world along the Black Snake's spiritual connection.
A pure, flawless sky; a white, towering church; a statue of a deity holding a blood-red jewel, entwined with thorns.
[Through me you enter into the city of woes...]
[Through me you enter into eternal pain...]
Beneath the statue, a nun's dim gaze swept over the Black Snake.
Horror! Fear! These were the only emotions remaining in the Black Snake's heart at this moment!
The nun looked up. The Black Snake's spirit completely lost control. No matter how much it tried to hint to itself or resist, it couldn't stop itself from following the nun's gaze upward.
There were countless figures hidden within the mist! Unclear!
Suddenly, one of them seemed to notice something. It turned its head and met the Black Snake's gaze. As its gaze fell, the terrifying will contained within instantly shattered the Black Snake's spirit.
" alt
"Aaaaaah——!!!"
For the first time, it felt the agony of having its spiritual will crushed. Why? Why would someone be stronger than it in terms of spiritual will—it who was equivalent to Ursus's concept of "continued existence"?
The Black Snake's shrill scream echoed from the void. But a spiritual entity's wail is soundless. Its questions would ultimately remain unanswered.
That terrifying guy... who exactly is he?!
......
"Kevin? What is it?"
Pozëmka's delicate nose was slightly red from the cold as she looked curiously at Kevin who had suddenly stopped walking.
"It's nothing."
Just a peeping dark rat. It wouldn't affect his upcoming journey.
Kevin nodded to Pozëmka, and the two continued forward.
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