Chapter 23

Chapter 23 The Sea Without Light Part 23

The wounds of the Python Sphere were healing at an abnormal speed; the vicious whip marks on his back and arms stopped bleeding, burned skin fell off, and new flesh buds wriggled, sprouting a new layer of flesh.

As soon as Divine Blood entered his body, it began to transform his scarred physique. Highly purified and filtered xenomorphic blood flowed through his limbs, granting him immense power and an unprecedented sense of ease.

With his strength restored and even improved, flames ignited anew in his veins, more intense than ever before.

However, the first thing the Python Sphere did after gaining his newfound power was not to kill Kui Xin and company.

He threw a motorcycle at Kui Xin to hinder her movements, then turned around to make a run for it.

In a burst of speed that even surpassed that of a world champion sprinter, his robust frame darted away, covering nearly twenty meters in mere seconds.

Only a fool wouldn’t run!

The Python Sphere understood the modus operandi of Mechanized Dawn. Once Thrush Rose exposed his betrayal, Lady Fortune and Silverface quickly appeared… This meant the entire Mechanized Dawn organization knew he had turned traitor! They would send people to hunt him down. Core members of Mechanized Dawn had arrived, so it was possible a covert team was lurking somewhere nearby.

He had to run; if he slowed down, he would fall into the hunters’ trap.

In this situation, killing one or two people wouldn’t be useful—he couldn’t silence everyone who knew about his betrayal. He’d be endlessly pursued. The later he ran, the higher the chance he’d be captured and executed on the spot.

Silverface deployed a water barrier to deflect the incoming motorcycle but did not have time to stop the Python Sphere’s escape.

Kui Xin was about to reach for an ammunition magazine to reload her K80, but the Python Sphere cleverly slipped into a building by the roadside where cover could shield him from her tracking. She dropped her K80 and retrieved a micro submachine gun from her back.

Though inferior in penetration compared to the K80, the submachine gun could hold more rounds.

She wasn’t sure if the micro submachine gun could inflict substantial damage on the energized Python Sphere. His muscles bulged ferociously, more fearsome than any world muscleman.

The Python Sphere fled into a shut-down restaurant on the outer edge of the street, shoving aside a wall to expose the concealed natural gas pipe behind it. With clarity, he triggered the ignition switch in the restaurant.

The explosion shook the ground, and fiery flames enveloped him. Leveraging the extraordinary regenerative abilities from the Divine Blood, he withstood the blast’s shockwave and searing heat, punching through another wall to the opposite street.

Kui Xin said, “Thorn Rose, you stay here.”

Without hesitation, she and Silverface pursued the Python Sphere along his escape route.

The inside of the small restaurant was chaos, with beams nearly collapsing on Kui Xin, barely avoiding them. As waves surged, they crossed the flames unscathed, albeit slightly delayed by the mangled bricks and furniture.

Every second was precious; each moment prolonged gave the Python Sphere more distance.

Kuixin activated the infrared thermal imaging mode on her mask and pinpointed the Python Sphere’s location.

Under the influence of Burning Blood, his body temperature rose significantly, appearing as a glowing red fireball against the infrared lens.

He continued running, entering an operating card-playing establishment.

The card players and game tables were knocked over, scattering cards everywhere. People stared in horror at the Python Sphere covered in blood flames.

The Python Sphere ignored them, barging through the crowd and breaking another wall in his wake.

Lightening up an idea—swimming out to the sea!

Diving into the sea would work perfectly; Silverface might control water, but oceans were too vast. Cold seawater could obscure a thermal signature.

The Python Sphere was a skilled swimmer, capable of holding his breath for nearly ten minutes underwater; he’d be able to evade the pursuit by hiding safely ashore.

Divine Blood was indeed powerful, yet it wasn’t enough to close the level gap instantly. After ingesting it, it required time to digest and transform the body, eventually yielding significant gains. The Python Sphere, currently only a C-grade, was wary of confronting A-grade Silverface and undefined Lady Fortune head-on.

Kui Xin and Silverface burst into the card room. The card room guests stepped back in alarmed fright as Kui Xin and Silverface took their positions.

Their distance grew, and with Burning Blood, the Python Sphere’s speed increased exponentially.

Agitated, Silverface said, “That guy is too far! My control can’t reach him!”

“Where’s the nearest rogue squad?” asked Kui Xin without checking her armband map.

“Five hundred meters!” replied Red, his voice somber.

By the time a rogue squad got there, it’d be futile.

“Are there any nearby surveillance cameras?” Kui Xin asked again.

“No current footage,” answered Red promptly.

Minutes passed, and the distance between Kui Xin and the Python Sphere widened to thirty meters. As Python Sphere evaded bullets mid-run, his thick hide still hurt from pain.

Opportunistically, Kui Xin aimed the micro-submachine gun at the Python Sphere’s legs just before he entered cover.

“Aah!” The Python Sphere stumbled, hit.

Pain and bullet force slowed him down.

Kui Xin continued running, pulling off a micro-bomb attached to her belt with her teeth. She didn’t throw it immediately but silently counted to one before letting it go.

A trajectory formed by the bomb targeted the Python Sphere accurately.

Python Sphere’s eyes narrowed; rolling on the ground, he avoided the bomb as it exploded just short of a meter away. Coughing blood, he struggled to stand.

Seeing this opportunity, Kui Xin kept firing. Blood blossomed on the Python Sphere’s body as bullets lodged into his muscles. Even not hitting vital organs, agonizing roars escaped him.

Finally, Silverface found a chance to use his ability. A water ring emerged, imprisoning the Python Sphere, binding his limbs. Larger water orbs collected around him, resembling a water capsule enclosing his entire body.

Python Sphere opened his mouth in a series of bubbles, struggling fiercely, blood oozing from his wounds and staining the surrounding water.

Controlled by Silverface, the water lifted, suspending Python Sphere mid-air, rendering him helpless.

Kui Xin’s weapon depleted ammunition, switching it swiftly with two seconds. Raising the emptied gun, she shot into the water. Python Sphere resisted Burning Blood within, yet the shots proved meaningless.

Worse, the gunshot wounds healed rapidly, as if his powerful muscles expelled the bullets into the water and onto the land.

Silverface manipulated the water, giving it rigidity, controlling it like rope, making the water strong. He poured water into Python Sphere’s nose and mouth, causing him to thrash uncontrollably.

Yet Silverface prolonged his suffering; he could’ve simply ended Python Sphere’s struggle but chose to torment.

Kui Xin lowered her gun reluctantly.

Before the Python Sphere died by gunfire, he would suffocate unless breaking the burning state himself.

Kui Xin refused allowing it—letting Silverface eliminate the Python Sphere was unacceptable.

Jamming the gun barrel into Python Sphere’s mouth to fire would’ve been fatal, but considering his resilient flesh, she remained hesitant.

Regaining composure, she pulled out a micro-bomb from her belt. Pulling the pin under Silverface’s horrified gaze, she stretched her arm into the water orb, forcefully stuffing the bomb into Python Sphere’s gaping mouth before retreating.

BOOM!

The water, blood, meat, and limbs splashed onto the ground.

Silverface was stunned: “You… You really hate him.”

Blood and water mixed on Kui Xin’s mask, and she shook herself off, shedding debris.

“You killed Python Sphere.”

“You dispossessed Python Sphere of his 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]: Empower yourself with formidable strength using your own blood as fuel.”

“[Blood and Tissue Regeneration·Level D]: Your wound-healing rate exceeds ordinary levels.”

“Task complete. We don’t need this corpse anymore. Send the rogue squad here to clean up the mess,” Kui Xin said.

Compared to xenomorphic specimens, the Python Sphere’s body seemed trivial. Kui Xin felt no significant disturbance but felt composed.

Even surprised by her calm, she detached emotional reactions from her core emotions in pursuit of Python Sphere.

Her blood had felt like fire, overcoming obstacles, pursuing and hunting. This was a rare chance; missing it might never come again. If he escaped, she’d lose the chance for revenge.

Thankfully, she succeeded.

Exhilarated with relief, a joyous pride surfaced.

She acquired two new extraordinary abilities. Though she hadn’t tested their full potential, these abilities were her life-saving assets.

Over these past days in the Second World, Kui Xin had learned, adjusting to her new reality. She sought a proper stance to manage such chaotic circumstances and transform passivity into action.

Killing Python Sphere marked the first step.

Future days will bring increasing proactivity.

“Thorn Rose reported the Python Sphere had taken Divine Blood,” said Red, sounding grim. “His blood is polluted, unusable for memory extraction.”

Kui Xin was startled—the drug he consumed was indeed the ‘Divine Blood’. The results were incredible.

“Where did he get this?” Kui Xin pretended to ask.

“Where else?” Red replied. “Few factions could refine Divine Blood. I suspect it’s the Investigation Bureau, they covet everything on Kraken… But they’re merely agents. Behind the scenes lies someone else…”

His voice lowered as if he pondered deeply.

Abruptly remembering that the first time she saw Silverface, he disdainfully declared:

“Investigation Bureau, lapdogs of financial powers.”

“It’s time to leave.” Silverface said. “Coastal Security will be here soon.”

“Hmm, wash my body with water,” said Kui Xin.

Silverface used his water control gently, washing off blood on Kui Xin’s mask while muttering, “You should’ve stood further away during the explosion.”