novelraw Chapter 23: Sea of Darkness - (23)
Chapter 23: Sea of Darkness - (23)
Ball Python’s wounds rapidly healed at an abnormal speed. The menacing whip marks on his back and arms stopped bleeding, and the charred, burnt skin peeled off, revealing small granulations that wriggled as new flesh grew beneath.
As soon as the Divine Blood entered his body, it began transforming his battered physique. Highly purified and filtered alien creature blood flowed through his limbs, granting him strength and providing an unprecedented, exhilarating sensation.
With his power restored, even surpassing its previous level, scarlet flames reigned around him, burning more fiercely than before.
However, after gaining this newfound strength, the first action Ball Python took was not to retaliate against Kui Xin and her allies.
He hurled the motorcycle at Kui Xin to hinder her movements, then swiftly turned and fled.
Explosively faster than even the world’s top sprinter, Ball Python’s robust body covered nearly twenty meters in the blink of an eye.
Only fools wouldn’t run!
Ball Python understood Mechanical Dawn’s modus operandi. Once Thorny Rose discovered his betrayal, followed by Rich Lady and Silver Mask appearing… it meant the entire Mechanical Dawn Organization now knew he was a traitor! They would send people to encircle and eliminate him. The core members of Mechanical Dawn were already present, and the extraneous squad might be lurking nearby, ready for an ambush.
He had to run; if he ran too slowly, he would fall into the hunters’ encirclement.
In this situation, killing just one or two individuals was utterly useless because Ball Python couldn’t silence every single person aware of his betrayal. The longer he delayed his escape, the more likely he was to face immediate execution.Silver Mask created a water barrier, deflecting the incoming motorcycle and temporarily unable to hinder Ball Python’s escape.
Just as Kui Xin was about to draw another magazine from her belt to reload the K80, the cunning Ball Python darted into a nearby building. With cover now available, Kui Xin could no longer pinpoint his exact location.
She abandoned the K80 and instead pulled out a compact submachine gun from behind her waist.
The submachine gun lacked the penetration power of the K80 but excelled with its rapid firepower and larger magazine capacity.
She wasn’t certain if this weapon could inflict substantial damage on Ball Python. After consuming some unknown substance, his Burning Blood ability seemed enhanced—his muscles bulged intensely, appearing ready to burst. Even world-class bodybuilders don’t possess such terrifying muscle mass.
As Ball Python fled desperately, he crashed into a small, closed restaurant by the roadside. Using his body, he smashed through the wall, rupturing the concealed natural gas pipes within it. With clear presence of mind, he then activated the restaurant’s ignition switch.
Amidst the deafening sounds, the gas exploded, and raging flames completely obscured his figure. Leveraging the exceptional regenerative power bestowed by Divine Blood, he withstood the blast’s impact and intense heat, traversing through the inferno. With a punch, he shattered a wall to escape onto the adjacent street.
Kui Xin shouted, “Thorny Rose, stay here.”
Without any hesitation, she and Silver Mask followed Ball Python’s escape route, pursuing him relentlessly.
Inside the small restaurant, debris was scattered everywhere due to the explosion. A beam crashed down, narrowly missing Kui Xin, but fortunately, she dodged just in time. Amid surging waves of water, Kui Xin and Silver Mask emerged unscathed from the sea of fire, but the chaotic rubble of bricks and overturned tables momentarily hindered them for two seconds.
Every second counted; one second could allow Ball Python to significantly widen the gap between them.
Kui Xin activated the mask’s infrared thermographic vision mode, successfully tracking Ball Python’s trail.
In Blood Ignition mode, Ball Python’s body temperature continuously increased, soaring much higher than that of an average person. Under infrared vision, he resembled a dazzling red fireball.
He continued running, entering an open poker club.
The patrons playing cards were thrown into disarray as tables toppled over, scattering cards across the floor. People screamed in terror upon seeing Ball Python engulfed in blood flames.
Ball Python’s expression, menacingly indifferent, ignored the chaos around him. He recklessly pushed through the crowd and smashed through another wall.
A sudden realization struck him, revealing an escape plan—jump into the sea!
By leaping into the sea and swimming away, Silver Mask’s superhuman ability, although capable of controlling water, would be overwhelmed due to the vastness of the ocean. The seawater could cool down Ball Python’s body temperature, making it impossible for thermal imaging devices to track him.
With a large lung capacity, Ball Python could hold his breath underwater for nearly ten minutes. By stealthily swimming to a safe location and emerging from the sea, he could successfully evade this wave of pursuit by the Mechanical Dawn.
While Divine Blood was undoubtedly potent, it couldn’t fully compensate for the gap in ranks. After consuming Divine Blood, its effects need time to gradually assimilate and transform the body; over extended periods, both physical attributes and superhuman abilities significantly improve. Ball Python himself was only C-ranked, and having just ingested the Divine Blood, he dared not arrogantly confront Silver Mask, who was close to A-rank, nor Rich Lady with her unknown rank head-on.
Kui Xin and Silver Mask charged into the poker hall. When they saw Kui Xin’s submachine gun, the patrons shrieked and hastily moved aside, clearing a path for her and Silver Mask.
The distance between them widened rapidly. With the blood-boosting agent consumed, Ball Python’s Burning Blood seemed almost cheat-like, exponentially increasing his speed and strength.
Frustrated, Silver Mask exclaimed, “That guy is too far away; my water can’t reach that distance!”
“Red, where’s the nearest off-duty squad?” Kui Xin didn’t have time to consult her bracelet map.
“Five hundred meters away!” Red’s voice sounded grimly somber.
By the time the off-duty squad arrived, it would be too late.
“Is there any nearby surveillance?” Kui Xin asked again.
“No surveillance on this current stretch,” Red replied promptly.
In no time, the distance between Kui Xin and Ball Python shrank to thirty meters. Ball Python continued running with erratic, serpentine movements to evade potential incoming bullets. Despite his tough skin, he still feared pain.
Kui Xin seized an opportunity, taking advantage of a brief moment before Ball Python could seek cover. She raised her submachine gun and fired at his legs.
“Agh!” Stumbling, Ball Python was struck by the bullets.
The powerful kinetic energy and the pain from his wounds slowed down his movements.
Without pausing, Kui Xin swiftly pulled a micro-grenade from her belt, using her teeth to pull the safety ring. However, she didn’t immediately throw the grenade; instead, she silently counted for one second before launching it.
The grenade arced through the air, specifically heading towards Ball Python.
Ball Python’s pupils contracted as he instantly rolled on the ground to dodge. The grenade exploded before touching the ground, within just a meter of Ball Python. The shockwave from the blast caused him to cough up blood, making him temporarily unable to rise back to his feet.
Seizing the opportunity, Kui Xin raised her submachine gun and unleashed a barrage of fire. Blooms of blood mist erupted from Ball Python’s body as bullets lodged into his muscles. Even without striking his internal organs or bones, the impact made him wail incessantly.
Silver Mask finally found his chance to exert his abilities. A water ring materialized out of nowhere, encircling Ball Python and restraining his limbs. Then, a larger sphere of water coalesced, enveloping him like a watery capsule and completely submerging his entire body, including his head.
Ball Python opened his mouth, releasing a stream of bubbles. His intense struggles caused fresh blood to seep from his wounds, tinting the surrounding water red.
With cold precision, Silver Mask lifted the water sphere off the ground, causing Ball Python to tumble helplessly within it, deprived of any leverage.
Kui Xin emptied the magazine of her submachine gun, taking two seconds to reload. She then raised the gun again and fired at the water sphere. Despite maintaining Burning Blood even underwater, each bullet strike on Ball Python only resulted in more bleeding, with no significant effect.
More terrifyingly, the gunshot wounds continuously healed themselves. The bullets were squeezed out by his powerful muscles, falling back into the water and, subsequently, onto the ground with clinking sounds.
Silver Mask could bestow properties that water inherently lacked, such as resilience. He controlled water like manipulating ropes, infusing it with “strength.” Silver Mask directed the water into Ball Python’s nose and mouth, causing his eyes to roll back, and his struggles gradually weakened.
In truth, he could have made Ball Python’s death much easier, but instead, he chose to slowly torture him, prolonging his suffering.
Kui Xin reluctantly lowered her submachine gun.
Before Ball Python would succumb to bullet wounds, he would choke to death first, unless he voluntarily ceased Burning Blood.
Kui Xin was unwilling to let Ball Python off so easily, preferring to have Silver Mask kill him.
Aiming the gun directly into Ball Python’s mouth could result in an instant fatal shot; no matter how resilient his muscles and skin were, his internal organs remained soft.
However, after a moment of calm deliberation, Kui Xin did not raise her submachine gun. Instead, she reached for a micro-grenade. Pulling the safety ring under Silver Mask’s horrified gaze, she swiftly plunged her arm into the water sphere. With quick reflexes, she stuffed the grenade into Ball Python’s gaping mouth and then darted backward to a safe distance.
“Boom!”
The water sphere exploded, along with Ball Python.
Water, blood, flesh fragments, and severed limbs were scattered across the ground.
Stunned, Silver Mask exclaimed, “You… you truly hate him.”
Kui Xin’s mask became smeared with a mixture of blood and water. She shook momentarily on the spot, dislodging the filth from her body.
“You have killed Ball Python.”
“You have deprived Ball Python of its superhuman abilities.”
“You have acquired the superhuman ability [Burning Blood – C Rank].”
“You have acquired the superhuman ability [Flesh Regeneration – D Rank].”
“[Burning Blood – C Rank]: Fueling yourself with your own blood to unleash immense power.”
“[Flesh Regeneration – D Rank]: Your healing speed from injuries far surpasses that of ordinary humans.”
“Red, mission accomplished. I don’t want to touch this corpse; send the auxiliary squad over to clean up,” Kui Xin said.
Compared to the revolting alien creature specimen, Ball Python’s body was merely a light appetizer. While her emotions weren’t entirely unaffected, she accepted it well.
Even Kui Xin herself was surprised by her current mindset. Indifferently, she detached from her feelings and analyzed her inner thoughts.
During the pursuit of Ball Python, it felt as if her entire bloodstream was on fire.
She hurdled obstacle after obstacle, running relentlessly, driven by the desire to catch up to him and kill him. This was a rare opportunity for assassination—if missed now, when would the next chance arise? Perhaps there wouldn’t be one; he could escape and vanish without a trace, leaving Kui Xin devoid of any further opportunities for retribution.
Fortunately, she succeeded and managed to kill Ball Python.
This brought immense relief to Kui Xin, even a hint of joy, as within her emerged a peculiar sense of accomplishment.
She had acquired two more superhuman abilities. Although she hadn’t yet had the chance to experiment with them, they undoubtedly served as her lifeline.
During these days since crossing over into the Second World, Kui Xin has been continuously learning and adapting. She sought to find the right approach to confronting such complex and passive situations, looking for an appropriate opportunity to shift from being reactive to proactive.
Killing Ball Python marked her first step towards achieving this goal.
In the future, she would become increasingly assertive.
“The thorny rose mentioned that Ball Python consumed Divine Blood,” Red said grimly. “His blood is now tainted; it can no longer be used to extract memories.”
Taken aback, Kui Xin realized that the substance Ball Python ingested was indeed the “Divine Blood” Shu Xuyao had spoken about… Its effects were truly astonishing.
“How did he get his hands on such a thing?” Kui Xin feigned confusion and inquired.
“Where else could it have come from? There are only a few entities capable of refining Divine Blood,” Red said. “I lean towards the Investigation Department; they’ve been incredibly covetous of what’s on The Kraken and wouldn’t tolerate any destabilizing factors threatening the port… Hmph, they’re merely pawns themselves. The ones more likely behind this are…”
His voice gradually softened, as if he were shinking in contemplation.
Kui Xin suddenly recalled her first encounter with Silver Mask, when he had disdainfully remarked—
“The Investigation Department, the consortium’s lapdogs.”
“It’s time to leave,” Silver Mask said. “If we linger longer, the coastal security forces might arrive.”
“Hmm, use your water to wash away the filth on me,” Kui Xin requested.
Silver Mask gently manipulated the flow of water to cleanse the bloodstains from Kui Xin’s mask, mumbling, “You should have stood farther during the explosion.”