Hesitation clouded that consciousness. In an instant, he had taken over most of the flesh mechanisms and mechanical devices within the Hanged Tower.
Mech-Demon was his most trusted subordinate. This was why he had granted him the highest authority within the association, allowing him to handle all matters, big or small.
However, this didn't mean everything could be carried out without his authorization. After all, such a massive personnel movement was no trivial matter. Almost immediately, he remotely accessed Mech-Demon's communicator.
"Mech-Demon, what on earth is going on?! How could you allow such a massive mobilization of the bio-troops?! I demand a reasonable explanation!"
That somber voice rumbled through Lynne's communicator.
Lynne paused briefly, then quickly realized: the only one who'd dare speak to Mech-Demon in this manner must be the true boss of the Demonfolk Association.
Without any hesitation, Lynne smiled faintly, once again altering his vocal cords to mimic Mech-Demon's tone and intonation, replying: "Mr. Chairman, I've encountered some major issues here. Once I've dealt with them, I'll report to you immediately."
A brief silence ensued. No response came from the other end of the communicator.
Yet, in merely a few seconds, that voice sounded again, now infinitely colder than before.
"You are not Mech-Demon; you've taken his communicator."
Just as Lynne was about to respond, the signal abruptly cut off. And almost simultaneously, the relentless stream of arriving machines and flesh army also halted.
Lynne instantly understood. It must've been that boss who took over the authority of the Demonfolk Association.
Lynne smiled faintly. After all, he had never truly believed he could deceive that boss with his own voice. For those who genuinely controlled an organization from the top, they were not so easily fooled.
…
Meanwhile, inside the Hanged Tower of the Demonfolk Association.
That consciousness spoke icily, "It seems Mech-Demon has met an unfortunate end. You useless creatures wasted so many of my troops, and yet let someone play you for fools! You've thoroughly disgraced the name of the Demonfolk Association!"
The deep voice echoed throughout the Hanged Tower. The liaison officers of the communications structures trembled, their faces pale, as they immediately knelt.
In an instant, he remotely took control of all the armies outside Wandering Soul Lane. This included the Hunters, the Mechanical Swarms, and the Raiders.
His will descended instantly. Through their perspectives, he quickly zeroed in on Mech-Demon, who lay unconscious and bleeding profusely, and the skull wreaking havoc everywhere.
"Origin level?" His gaze was cold, analyzing swiftly. "So that's it. Seems I've been played. They intended to use an Origin-level creature to put my association in its place?"
His expression was indifferent. He quickly grasped the situation on the battlefield. He wasn't distressed about the loss of the mechanical creatures. After all, they were merely products of the bio-factory. As long as the Hanged Tower stood, given time, he could rapidly replicate an identical army. What really concerned him was the Origin-level entity currently devouring his creations.
At a glance, he could tell: while the skull was indeed of Origin level, compared to those that truly embodied fear and catastrophe, it still fell short.
His mind began to race. The life or death of Mech-Demon was inconsequential. One vice-chairman could be replaced by another. However, an Origin-level entity, particularly one of this kind, was a rare find.
His eyes narrowed. If he could capture this Origin-level being… Even without gathering all the components of the Colossus, wouldn't its power still be substantial?
"Unseal my No.2 body, and initiate the warp jump. I intend to meet this creature personally."
His eyes narrowed further, glinting with a cold light.
...
Almost at the same time, Lynne, who was swiftly hunting down the remaining forces of the Demonfolk Association atop Little, abruptly looked up. He immediately sensed the oscillations in the surrounding space.
Compared to previous tremors, this one was far more intense. A sense of unease instantly filled Lynne.
"Little! Are you full yet?" Lynne asked immediately.
Little (ω) replied, "Eighty percent full—I—want more—delicious—"
But hardly a moment after she finished speaking, a deep blue ring of light descended from the sky, instantly crushing dozens of mechanical bugs on the wasteland below.
A massive figure, emanating a terrifying power, slowly came into Lynne's view. Almost instantly, a panel with details of the figure appeared before him.
[Hunter God Puppet]
[Race: Flesh Creation]
[Level: ???]
[Alignment: None]
[Combat Power: Power surpassing King-level]
[Description: One of the Demonfolk Association's cutting-edge flesh constructs, a destroyer derived from the Colossus project. It's the Association's top-tier defensive weapon against king-level and origin beings. Due to the massive power derived from the Colossus project, only one individual in the entire Association can control it. If you encounter it, pray it's not targeting you...]
Buzz—
Lynne's gaze went blank.
This is just too much! Is this the Demonfolk Association's big boss?
[Warning! Warning! Crisis level 100%, please evacuate immediately!]
[Warning! Crisis level 100%, please evacuate immediately!]
But just as the system alert sounded, from the massive flesh giant, a skinless, gigantic fleshy hand sprouted and swept directly towards Little. Without a word, it launched its emotionless attack.
"Little! Dodge it!" Lynne shouted.
But it was too late. The giant hand reached them in an instant, slamming onto Little's cheek with a loud crash.
The tremendous force shook the ground, and Little's body was thrown dozens of meters away.
Titan Skull: "!!!"
Female Skull: "!!!"
Unihorn Ghost King: "(ΩДΩ)!!!"
The flesh giant paused and, upon seeing Little had only been moved a few meters, narrowed its eyes, its expression growing serious.
Clearly, this probing strike gave it a rough estimate of the power of this origin being.
As the dust settled, Little, who was biting into a hunter, stood still in shock. Subconsciously, she removed her eyeball to look at her cheek.
There was a slight cracking sound. A small piece of her tooth fell to the ground.
"..."
"..."
In an instant, Little's eyes filled with tears, turning a shade of deep red. An overwhelming feeling of hurt welled up in her.
"Little... are you... okay?" Lynne asked, extending a hand in disbelief.
"Wha—"
With a loud wail, Little burst into tears, pointing at her broken milk tooth, saying: "Doctor— my tooth— my pretty tooth is cracked— waaahhhhh— it's cracked— wuuu—."
Lynne dangled upside down in shock as Little, with an exaggerated expression, opened her mouth to show the cracked front tooth.
"It's broken— it's really broken— now when I talk— it sounds windy— waaahhhhh," Little cried loudly, overwhelmed by her sadness.
Behind a distant hillock, the Unihorn Ghost King watched the scene unfold, his mind buzzing. Almost instinctively, he turned his head to look at his elder brother and sister-in-law. His face contorted into a (((;꒪ꈊ꒪;))))expression.
The two gigantic skulls, larger than hills, sat side by side. Dark clouds gathered ominously above them. From the back, their expressions were hidden, but their silent, looming presence exuded an intimidating aura as if a storm was brewing.
This was bad. Really, really bad! For he knew all too well the extent of their doting love for their daughter. She was their treasure; they would hold her gently for fear she would shatter, watch over her from a distance whenever she went out, secretly following her, always worried that something might befall her...
And now... There was a big fight looming!
Swallowing hard, Unihorn Ghost King said, "Elder brother, sister-in-law... about that..."
Cracks suddenly spread from beneath the two giant skulls.
Unihorn Ghost King (ΩДΩ): "Waaahhhh!"
The Titan Skull narrowed its massive eyes, asking, "Did you— see clearly— just now?"
The female skull responded with a malicious grin, "I saw— very clearly."
At this moment, these two skulls, which had been at odds for thousands of years, united for the first time with a synchronized intent.
The Titan Skull solemnly stated, "I am— very angry now—"
The female skull ground her teeth, replying venomously, "So am I—"
"..."
"..."
The silence was short-lived. And in the next moment, under the stunned gaze of Unihorn Ghost King.
Boom—
A loud noise echoed. The two giant skulls leaped into the air, soaring thousands of meters in the blink of an eye.
Unihorn Ghost King (((;꒪ꈊ꒪;))).
It's over! Absolutely over! He swore, anyone who dares to make their niece cry in front of them, even if it's a deity, couldn't save them! How reckless can that creature be? Not even bothering to check who they're dealing with before recklessly attacking! They could have just lost some minions. But now, it's truly over!
...
Meanwhile, on the battlefield.
Controlled by that overwhelming consciousness, countless remaining hunters and the mechanical bug army swiftly gathered around the massive Hunter God puppet. Standing tens of meters tall, it resembled a skinned giant with vivid, crimson tendons exposed.
The Hunter God puppet, with an indifferent expression, emitted a terrifying aura. He flexed his wrists, looking down at the sobbing Little and the comforting Lynne who kept patting her head and saying, "Baby, don't cry," he commented coldly: "You must be the human who destroyed one of my flesh puppets a few days ago. An Origin-level creature, impressive. With such power, you can indeed walk arrogantly in this Dark World. But of all the mistakes you made, provoking the Demonfolk Association was the worst. Today, after destroying so many of my creatures, I don't think you'll be leaving!"
[Warning! Crisis level 100%]
[Warning! Crisis level 100%]
Lynne abruptly lifted his head, maintaining a calm demeanor. He swiftly jumped off Little's head.
Click—
In a split second, he raised his revolver with one hand, pointing it at the distant massive hunter puppet, and squinted, saying: "Do you have any idea the psychological damage you're causing to such a young child with a slap?"
Behind him, Little's cries grew louder and more heart-wrenching.
"..."
The Hunter God puppet sneered, his neck creaking as he moved, "You seem brave, eh? Do you think so highly of yourself? Planning to challenge me with that toy in your hand?"
He laughed dismissively, "I would advise you to run while you still can. You might survive for a while before I take out this Origin-level creature. Cherish your remaining time."
Bang—
A shot rang out.
A demon-hunting bullet instantly hit the puppet's forehead, erupting in a tiny electric spark before dropping to the ground.
But Lynne didn't stop.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang—
He kept firing, emptying all the bullets in his revolver.
The onlookers within the Vision were all stunned by this scene.
"Has he lost his mind?!"
"It's obvious that creature is tough! Just from that brief clash earlier, even the Origin-level being might not match up to that giant!"
"This guy, he's gone mad!"
That slap alone had sent the Origin-level skull flying dozens of meters away. Wasn't that warning enough? This man was too brave!
"How dare you shoot at me?" The Hunter God puppet narrowed its eyes, effortlessly crushing the bullet that had fallen into its hand.
Lynne calmly stared back, the dark muzzle of his gun aimed at its head, "Well, it's a bit weak. But seeing someone bully the patient in front of her doctor, no matter how I look at it, I find it extremely displeasing!"
Behind him, Little's cries grew louder.
[Ding! Little's Favorability towards you +10]
[Ding! Little's Favorability towards you +10]
[Ding! Little truly believes you are a reliable and worthy partner to lean on!]
[Ding! You've achieved an Epic accomplishment: Origin's Close Friend. You've gained 200 Experience]
[Origin's Close Friend: An Epic Accomplishment. Achievable when an Origin-level creature's affection for you reaches "Trust". Achieving this means you've earned the trust of an Origin-level friend. Strive for a deeper friendship. You've obtained a permanent bonus: Favorability from Origin-level creatures +5, Charisma +5, Physique +5, Caring +1.]
Lynne turned, flashing Little a crooked grin and a thumbs-up. With a twinkle, his teeth emitted a brief sparkle. His expression seemed to convey: Don't worry. I've got this covered! No tears now.
Little (‸) wiped her tears, murmuring, "Hmm..."
[Ding! Little's trust in you increased by +1]
"At a time like this, he still remembered to act cool?!"
The spectators in Vision World all wore an incredulous (ΩДΩ) expression.
Outrageous! Absolutely ludicrous! Was he truly fearless, or was his mind truly askew? It was as if facing an incoming nuclear missile, not only did he stand his ground, but he also audaciously gave it the finger, all while ensuring he looked suave for the little girl behind him. Such audacity!
Hesitation clouded that consciousness. In an instant, he had taken over most of the flesh mechanisms and mechanical devices within the Hanged Tower.
Mech-Demon was his most trusted subordinate. This was why he had granted him the highest authority within the association, allowing him to handle all matters, big or small.
However, this didn't mean everything could be carried out without his authorization. After all, such a massive personnel movement was no trivial matter. Almost immediately, he remotely accessed Mech-Demon's communicator.
"Mech-Demon, what on earth is going on?! How could you allow such a massive mobilization of the bio-troops?! I demand a reasonable explanation!"
That somber voice rumbled through Lynne's communicator.
Lynne paused briefly, then quickly realized: the only one who'd dare speak to Mech-Demon in this manner must be the true boss of the Demonfolk Association.
Without any hesitation, Lynne smiled faintly, once again altering his vocal cords to mimic Mech-Demon's tone and intonation, replying: "Mr. Chairman, I've encountered some major issues here. Once I've dealt with them, I'll report to you immediately."
A brief silence ensued. No response came from the other end of the communicator.
Yet, in merely a few seconds, that voice sounded again, now infinitely colder than before.
"You are not Mech-Demon; you've taken his communicator."
Just as Lynne was about to respond, the signal abruptly cut off. And almost simultaneously, the relentless stream of arriving machines and flesh army also halted.
Lynne instantly understood. It must've been that boss who took over the authority of the Demonfolk Association.
Lynne smiled faintly. After all, he had never truly believed he could deceive that boss with his own voice. For those who genuinely controlled an organization from the top, they were not so easily fooled.
…
Meanwhile, inside the Hanged Tower of the Demonfolk Association.
That consciousness spoke icily, "It seems Mech-Demon has met an unfortunate end. You useless creatures wasted so many of my troops, and yet let someone play you for fools! You've thoroughly disgraced the name of the Demonfolk Association!"
The deep voice echoed throughout the Hanged Tower. The liaison officers of the communications structures trembled, their faces pale, as they immediately knelt.
In an instant, he remotely took control of all the armies outside Wandering Soul Lane. This included the Hunters, the Mechanical Swarms, and the Raiders.
His will descended instantly. Through their perspectives, he quickly zeroed in on Mech-Demon, who lay unconscious and bleeding profusely, and the skull wreaking havoc everywhere.
"Origin level?" His gaze was cold, analyzing swiftly. "So that's it. Seems I've been played. They intended to use an Origin-level creature to put my association in its place?"
His expression was indifferent. He quickly grasped the situation on the battlefield. He wasn't distressed about the loss of the mechanical creatures. After all, they were merely products of the bio-factory. As long as the Hanged Tower stood, given time, he could rapidly replicate an identical army. What really concerned him was the Origin-level entity currently devouring his creations.
At a glance, he could tell: while the skull was indeed of Origin level, compared to those that truly embodied fear and catastrophe, it still fell short.
His mind began to race. The life or death of Mech-Demon was inconsequential. One vice-chairman could be replaced by another. However, an Origin-level entity, particularly one of this kind, was a rare find.
His eyes narrowed. If he could capture this Origin-level being… Even without gathering all the components of the Colossus, wouldn't its power still be substantial?
"Unseal my No.2 body, and initiate the warp jump. I intend to meet this creature personally."
His eyes narrowed further, glinting with a cold light.
...
Almost at the same time, Lynne, who was swiftly hunting down the remaining forces of the Demonfolk Association atop Little, abruptly looked up. He immediately sensed the oscillations in the surrounding space.
Compared to previous tremors, this one was far more intense. A sense of unease instantly filled Lynne.
"Little! Are you full yet?" Lynne asked immediately.
Little (ω) replied, "Eighty percent full—I—want more—delicious—"
But hardly a moment after she finished speaking, a deep blue ring of light descended from the sky, instantly crushing dozens of mechanical bugs on the wasteland below.
A massive figure, emanating a terrifying power, slowly came into Lynne's view. Almost instantly, a panel with details of the figure appeared before him.
[Hunter God Puppet]
[Race: Flesh Creation]
[Level: ???]
[Alignment: None]
[Combat Power: Power surpassing King-level]
[Description: One of the Demonfolk Association's cutting-edge flesh constructs, a destroyer derived from the Colossus project. It's the Association's top-tier defensive weapon against king-level and origin beings. Due to the massive power derived from the Colossus project, only one individual in the entire Association can control it. If you encounter it, pray it's not targeting you...]
Buzz—
Lynne's gaze went blank.
This is just too much! Is this the Demonfolk Association's big boss?
[Warning! Warning! Crisis level 100%, please evacuate immediately!]
[Warning! Crisis level 100%, please evacuate immediately!]
But just as the system alert sounded, from the massive flesh giant, a skinless, gigantic fleshy hand sprouted and swept directly towards Little. Without a word, it launched its emotionless attack.
"Little! Dodge it!" Lynne shouted.
But it was too late. The giant hand reached them in an instant, slamming onto Little's cheek with a loud crash.
The tremendous force shook the ground, and Little's body was thrown dozens of meters away.
Titan Skull: "!!!"
Female Skull: "!!!"
Unihorn Ghost King: "(ΩДΩ)!!!"
The flesh giant paused and, upon seeing Little had only been moved a few meters, narrowed its eyes, its expression growing serious.
Clearly, this probing strike gave it a rough estimate of the power of this origin being.
As the dust settled, Little, who was biting into a hunter, stood still in shock. Subconsciously, she removed her eyeball to look at her cheek.
There was a slight cracking sound. A small piece of her tooth fell to the ground.
"..."
"..."
In an instant, Little's eyes filled with tears, turning a shade of deep red. An overwhelming feeling of hurt welled up in her.
"Little... are you... okay?" Lynne asked, extending a hand in disbelief.
"Wha—"
With a loud wail, Little burst into tears, pointing at her broken milk tooth, saying: "Doctor— my tooth— my pretty tooth is cracked— waaahhhhh— it's cracked— wuuu—."
Lynne dangled upside down in shock as Little, with an exaggerated expression, opened her mouth to show the cracked front tooth.
"It's broken— it's really broken— now when I talk— it sounds windy— waaahhhhh," Little cried loudly, overwhelmed by her sadness.
Behind a distant hillock, the Unihorn Ghost King watched the scene unfold, his mind buzzing. Almost instinctively, he turned his head to look at his elder brother and sister-in-law. His face contorted into a (((;꒪ꈊ꒪;))))expression.
The two gigantic skulls, larger than hills, sat side by side. Dark clouds gathered ominously above them. From the back, their expressions were hidden, but their silent, looming presence exuded an intimidating aura as if a storm was brewing.
This was bad. Really, really bad! For he knew all too well the extent of their doting love for their daughter. She was their treasure; they would hold her gently for fear she would shatter, watch over her from a distance whenever she went out, secretly following her, always worried that something might befall her...
And now... There was a big fight looming!
Swallowing hard, Unihorn Ghost King said, "Elder brother, sister-in-law... about that..."
Cracks suddenly spread from beneath the two giant skulls.
Unihorn Ghost King (ΩДΩ): "Waaahhhh!"
The Titan Skull narrowed its massive eyes, asking, "Did you— see clearly— just now?"
The female skull responded with a malicious grin, "I saw— very clearly."
At this moment, these two skulls, which had been at odds for thousands of years, united for the first time with a synchronized intent.
The Titan Skull solemnly stated, "I am— very angry now—"
The female skull ground her teeth, replying venomously, "So am I—"
"..."
"..."
The silence was short-lived. And in the next moment, under the stunned gaze of Unihorn Ghost King.
Boom—
A loud noise echoed. The two giant skulls leaped into the air, soaring thousands of meters in the blink of an eye.
Unihorn Ghost King (((;꒪ꈊ꒪;))).
It's over! Absolutely over! He swore, anyone who dares to make their niece cry in front of them, even if it's a deity, couldn't save them! How reckless can that creature be? Not even bothering to check who they're dealing with before recklessly attacking! They could have just lost some minions. But now, it's truly over!
...
Meanwhile, on the battlefield.
Controlled by that overwhelming consciousness, countless remaining hunters and the mechanical bug army swiftly gathered around the massive Hunter God puppet. Standing tens of meters tall, it resembled a skinned giant with vivid, crimson tendons exposed.
The Hunter God puppet, with an indifferent expression, emitted a terrifying aura. He flexed his wrists, looking down at the sobbing Little and the comforting Lynne who kept patting her head and saying, "Baby, don't cry," he commented coldly: "You must be the human who destroyed one of my flesh puppets a few days ago. An Origin-level creature, impressive. With such power, you can indeed walk arrogantly in this Dark World. But of all the mistakes you made, provoking the Demonfolk Association was the worst. Today, after destroying so many of my creatures, I don't think you'll be leaving!"
[Warning! Crisis level 100%]
[Warning! Crisis level 100%]
Lynne abruptly lifted his head, maintaining a calm demeanor. He swiftly jumped off Little's head.
Click—
In a split second, he raised his revolver with one hand, pointing it at the distant massive hunter puppet, and squinted, saying: "Do you have any idea the psychological damage you're causing to such a young child with a slap?"
Behind him, Little's cries grew louder and more heart-wrenching.
"..."
The Hunter God puppet sneered, his neck creaking as he moved, "You seem brave, eh? Do you think so highly of yourself? Planning to challenge me with that toy in your hand?"
He laughed dismissively, "I would advise you to run while you still can. You might survive for a while before I take out this Origin-level creature. Cherish your remaining time."
Bang—
A shot rang out.
A demon-hunting bullet instantly hit the puppet's forehead, erupting in a tiny electric spark before dropping to the ground.
But Lynne didn't stop.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang—
He kept firing, emptying all the bullets in his revolver.
The onlookers within the Vision were all stunned by this scene.
"Has he lost his mind?!"
"It's obvious that creature is tough! Just from that brief clash earlier, even the Origin-level being might not match up to that giant!"
"This guy, he's gone mad!"
That slap alone had sent the Origin-level skull flying dozens of meters away. Wasn't that warning enough? This man was too brave!
"How dare you shoot at me?" The Hunter God puppet narrowed its eyes, effortlessly crushing the bullet that had fallen into its hand.
Lynne calmly stared back, the dark muzzle of his gun aimed at its head, "Well, it's a bit weak. But seeing someone bully the patient in front of her doctor, no matter how I look at it, I find it extremely displeasing!"
Behind him, Little's cries grew louder.
[Ding! Little's Favorability towards you +10]
[Ding! Little's Favorability towards you +10]
[Ding! Little truly believes you are a reliable and worthy partner to lean on!]
[Ding! You've achieved an Epic accomplishment: Origin's Close Friend. You've gained 200 Experience]
[Origin's Close Friend: An Epic Accomplishment. Achievable when an Origin-level creature's affection for you reaches "Trust". Achieving this means you've earned the trust of an Origin-level friend. Strive for a deeper friendship. You've obtained a permanent bonus: Favorability from Origin-level creatures +5, Charisma +5, Physique +5, Caring +1.]
Lynne turned, flashing Little a crooked grin and a thumbs-up. With a twinkle, his teeth emitted a brief sparkle. His expression seemed to convey: Don't worry. I've got this covered! No tears now.
Little (‸) wiped her tears, murmuring, "Hmm..."
[Ding! Little's trust in you increased by +1]
"At a time like this, he still remembered to act cool?!"
The spectators in Vision World all wore an incredulous (ΩДΩ) expression.
Outrageous! Absolutely ludicrous! Was he truly fearless, or was his mind truly askew? It was as if facing an incoming nuclear missile, not only did he stand his ground, but he also audaciously gave it the finger, all while ensuring he looked suave for the little girl behind him. Such audacity!
