Invasion - Chapter 130

Chapter 130

Night fell, and the stars filled the sky.

The scorching heat on the earth subsided, and beautiful flowers bloomed again, covering the land.

A sentinel in black sprinted across the wilderness, his figure a blur as he swept through the flower sea, countless petals flying.

A giant orca floated in mid-air, following him, Lin Yuan, riding on the whale’s back, flew under the boundless starry sky.

She couldn’t help but look at the sentinel running ahead.

At the flower petals crushed beneath his feet, at his back as he ran, at his strong, supple waist.

Fairy tales often spoke of good fairies and bad fairies.

People also often categorized guides into good guides and bad guides.

The good ones, of course, were gentle, kind, and considerate. The bad ones had many undesirable qualities, such as liking to bully beautiful princesses, torturing and playing with others.

Lin Yuan thought about it and felt that perhaps she was essentially a “bad guide.”

The moment Ni Ji had willingly cuffed his hands, something she had always suppressed had burst free.

She wanted to be gentle with him, yet also couldn't resist wanting to bully him.

Not just satisfied with touching, she wanted to leave her mark, everywhere.

Ni Ji was someone who was good at restraint and endurance. But the more he restrained and suppressed himself, the more she wanted him to lose control, the less he spoke, the more she wanted to hear those soft, uncontrollable sounds from his throat.

And so, she had become incredibly proficient at this, increasingly unrestrained.

The sentinel ran in front of the orca, very close, yet never looking back at her.

Lin Yuan could even clearly see the bruise around his wrist.

His body contained powerful, explosive strength. He looked incredibly beautiful running through the flower sea.

He was a beautiful person. He was beautiful in battle, beautiful when running. And yesterday, in that dim, underground cave, he had also been incredibly beautiful.

Yesterday had been their first time; she really shouldn’t have been like that.

Perhaps her true nature was a beast. With fangs and tentacles that liked to bind, with a heart that lurked in the darkness, that liked to control everything.

Biting his skin, licking the blood with the tip of her tongue, staring at him, observing every one of his reactions.

Watching him completely ignite, uncontrollably trembling and shivering.

In the end, his voice had become terribly hoarse, his eyes unfocused, he had repeatedly said things that he would never normally say.

She knew at that time that she should stop. But just like how she usually couldn’t control the tentacles, she couldn’t control herself.

The wet sounds of the tentacles writhing and his broken gasps mixing together, everything spiraling out of control.

It was all because of that damned bonding heat.

Fortunately, she was a Guide, she could know his truest thoughts every moment.

She knew that the words of plea from his mouth weren’t his true desire. She knew that he, like her, was completely lost in pleasure.

It was all because of that damned, easily triggered bonding heat. It made them spend such a ridiculous time together.

At this moment, every part of her body and mind felt incredibly good, even the strange stars and the flower sea of the Contaminated Zone became a beautiful sight.

Lin Yuan felt a change in herself, that first taste, their merging, had turned her mental body into a true mature form.

The Kraken, which had always been hidden, hazy, its full form unseen, finally, with the rising and falling tides, slowly extended all of its tentacles from the vast void.

Its form becoming clear, its tentacles plump, stable and mature.

The bonding between Sentinels and Guides was always spoken of mysteriously among Sentinels. It was said to be very beneficial to Sentinels, and Lin Yuan felt that perhaps, for Sentinels, there was an even more wondrous feeling.

But just from her own experience, it was something mutually beneficial, something that made both incredibly happy.

What she received wasn’t just physical pleasure, but also a mental satisfaction, a replenishing of her mental energy.

This made her feel calmer and more composed when facing the road ahead.

They started from the midway point this time, and their speed was very fast. While the sky was still dark, they saw the colorful stones of the bunker’s roof in the distance.

Only, amidst the endless sea of flowers, before the roof that represented temporary safety, there was a huge, magnificent pirate ship.

The City of Mantis was a strange and beautiful contaminated zone, like an amusement park. Giant amusement park rides stood amidst the vast flower sea, their colors still bright even after being repeatedly scorched by fire.

The huge pirate ship, with its vibrant colors, its bright lights, its body gently swaying under the starlight, creaking.

Only, at the very top of its tall frame, an empty shell hung upside down.

Very similar to the one hanging from the Ferris wheel before, it was like the shed skin of a giant creature.

Only, this one looked more human-like, with a pair of human legs.

Dried, translucent, a complete shed skin, swaying high above.

From a distance, it looked like a giant human figure hanging upside down. Having endured the scorching sun and flames of the day, it still hung there eerily.

They didn't know if a giant, troublesome Deviant still slept beneath the earth.

Ni Ji and Lin Yuan, as before, didn't hear any sound, didn't sense any emotional fluctuations.

The flowers there bloomed intensely, the beautiful pirate ship swaying.

Only, what deadly danger was buried beneath that sea of flowers?

Ni Ji and Lin Yuan stopped at a distance, looking at it, and opened the map in their hands.

If they wanted to take their planned route, they would almost inevitably pass by the pirate ship.

To avoid unnecessary, dangerous battles, they had to change to another bunker.

They had enough time, but they wouldn’t be able to catch up with Nicole and the others.

From afar, there weren’t any signs of battle in that area, which meant Nicole and the others had most likely also bypassed this place. But they didn’t know which route they had taken.

Ni Ji and Lin Yuan exchanged a look.

This was the first time their eyes met since leaving the underground cave. Their gazes briefly touched before quickly looking away.

It was as if an electric current had run through her body, making her skin tingle, Ni Ji quickly looked away, his finger pointing at a spot on the map.

"If it were me, I would change to this route. There’s an experienced veteran like Rachel in their team, I think they'll most likely take this path too, now we can only guess."

Lin Yuan accepted his suggestion.

The two gave up the closer bunker, and ran towards the further one.

The earth, having been scorched by the flames of day, had regrown grass and flowers.

Even if Nicole and the others had left any traces last night, they were now impossible to discern.

Having changed their planned route, in this vast land, they could only pray that luck would bring them together again.

Ni Ji ran ahead of Lin Yuan.

He suddenly stopped in a low-lying area, crouched down, and his hand, reaching into the grass, touched the ground.

"What's wrong?" Lin Yuan, on the orca, circled back.

"It’s Du Yuanyuan," Ni Ji said after thinking for a moment, “They fought here.”

Du Yuanyuan had a simple and crude but incredibly effective skill, she could increase the weight of her mental body — the panda — several times over.

The giant, ultra-dense panda would suddenly be released from the void, falling from the sky, destroying everything with its weight, instantly suppressing the enemy.

She called this move "Overwhelming Force”, it looked simple, but incredibly destructive, impossible to defend against, it could almost rival the power of Ni Ji’s gravity gun.

Beneath Ni Ji’s feet, there were several large depressions in the ground. Although they were covered with flowers, looking like ordinary changes in terrain,

The observant Ni Ji still recognized them, they had been caused by Du Yuanyuan using her special skill in this area.

They had passed through here last night, and had encountered something, a fierce battle breaking out.

Lin Yuan's heart was filled with a mixture of joy and worry. Joy, because they hadn’t taken the wrong route, her companions had passed through here last night.

Worry, because, after changing their route last night, they had still encountered a difficult battle here. She didn't know whether they had been able to safely enter the bunker.

Lin Yuan stood up on the whale's back, the orca, its black back and white belly, its eyes shining with a purple light. The girl and the whale, like a shooting star chasing the moon, swept across the flower sea.

Ni Ji, stepping on the shadow cast by the orca, followed closely behind.

They quickly reached the next bunker and opened its roof.

Ni Ji entered first, then poked his head out, nodding at Lin Yuan,

"They were here, but…"

Judging from the situation inside the bunker, Nicole and the others had been here last night, even resting in this bunker for the entire “day”.

But when night fell, and the temperature dropped, they had left, setting off again.

They were a step too late.

A blinding light appeared on the horizon, a scorching daytime arriving once again.

They could only close the bunker roof, temporarily resting in this small underground shelter, hiding from the scorching sun.

They carefully searched the small space.

Blood-stained bandages and opened medicine bottles were on the ground. Clearly, among those who had come here earlier, someone had been seriously injured.

Lin Yuan found a letter left for her, she opened it and saw that it was from Nicole.

Dearest Yuan Yuan:

You must have realized that we had to change our route and come to this bunker.

I don’t know which path you and Sentinel Ni Ji chose, whether you’ll be able to see this letter I left for you.

The Sentinels all say I’m being delusional, so many bunkers here, it's very unlikely we would happen to enter the same one.

But I feel like we have such a deep connection, and that you'll definitely have a chance to see it (smiley face).

Yuanyuan is injured, quite seriously, and I almost cried again, but I'm the only Guide left in the team, I have to be responsible for soothing the Sentinels' emotions.

So I didn’t cry this time. Aren’t I amazing?

I gave Yuanyuan mental guidance, and bandaged her wound, and as I'm writing this, she seems much better.

Only after you left the team did I realize how difficult it is to coordinate with multiple Sentinels in battle, and manage everything at the same time.

Fortunately, everyone is very capable, they give me a lot of support and encouragement.

The Sentinels’ battles are exhilarating, and after a lot of hard work, we luckily made it here safely.

I believe that you and Ni Ji are also safe by now, right? It must be so.

Yuan Yuan, I admire your strength again, and finally understand how much you must have gone through to get where you are, how many battles you must have fought.

But now, I'm no longer satisfied with just standing still, admiring you from afar, cheering you on.

I want to be as brave as you, you’ve shown us the way, there will be more and more guides like me in the future.

The road ahead may be dangerous, but after discussing with the Sentinels, we decided to continue.

This is a choice we made, and we hope you understand and cheer for us.

No matter which path we choose, I think we will all meet at the end.

You once said you wanted to find the gem that held the secrets of this world.

Now, you’re not alone, we also want to solve this mystery, the one related to every single one of us.

Hee hee, so let's have a competition then.

We might even find the stone before you.

Hurry up and catch up, Yuan Yuan, my friend.

Don't make me wait for you too long at the end.

A crooked little snake was drawn where the signature should be, it wriggled its thin body as it crawled forward, a bandaged panda rolling after it, a lion and a unicorn following them.

Lin Yuan read the letter twice.

Although the words seemed lighthearted, the remaining emotions on the letter were filled with unease and worry.

There were bloodstains, medicine, and the scent of her companions in the cave. But they had already left, during the last change between day and night.

Lin Yuan tightly gripped the thin sheet of paper.

If she hadn’t told them about her final destination before they left, if she had, like before, hidden it from everyone, come here alone,

They wouldn’t be traveling like this now, injured, and she wouldn’t be so worried and anxious.

"She said, ‘I don’t want to just stand there and admire you from afar’," Ni Ji’s head turned slightly, reading out the sentence from the letter.

He only read that one sentence, but it comforted Lin Yuan’s heart.

Lin Yuan looked up at the sentinel beside her.

The sentinel's gaze was gentle, yet firm.

Under that gaze, Lin Yuan thought of the night before their departure.

That night, in her garden, Lin Yuan had brought down the small Truth Box, showing it to all the companions traveling with her.

The small, wooden box shimmered, a faint light radiating.

The Maria cruise ship, the phantom image of the Golden Tree, the eyeless eye symbol, virtual images appearing one after another above the box.

Finally, a mantis, floating in mid-air.

“So, the reason you’ve been risking your life, repeatedly entering contaminated zones, is to light up this box?”

“The City of Mantis, does this image mean that we can get the gem we want in the City of Mantis?”

Lin Yuan nodded.

Her companions had been incredibly shocked, sighing repeatedly.

Surprise, shock, astonishment.

The Truth Box.

It was said that once all the grooves on the box were filled, the one holding the box would be able to see the truth of the world.

Where did this world come from, how did it begin, and it was even rumored that one could see the future of humanity.

The greatest secret of the entire world, something that all humans should know.

It also contained some things the empire and the White Tower desperately wanted to keep hidden.

They had always been able to sense Lin Yuan’s uniqueness, but they hadn’t expected her, alone, to be exploring such an incredible secret.

"How many stones are left?” It was Ni Ji, the last one to join, who asked.

"Two," Lin Yuan answered, "If we can successfully obtain the gem in the City of Mantis, then only one will be left."

Success seemed within reach. But Lin Yuan knew very well that every groove lit up on this box was a result of overcoming great difficulties, of facing incredible danger.

"Have there been other people looking for these gems?”

"There were… but they’re all gone now, they died at the very beginning."

Whether there had been other teams trying to light up the Truth Box before, Lin Yuan didn't know.

She only knew that her mother and father had obtained a gem and tried to light up this box.

But her mother, her father, and their powerful companions at that time, they were all gone, sacrificing their lives for the truth.

Before, she had been alone, holding this precious treasure, carrying this secret, planning to take it as far as she could.

Now, having so many trustworthy companions, she wanted everyone to see this box.

If she fell along the way, perhaps someone else would be willing to take over this box.

On the last night before their departure, Lin Yuan had told them everything she needed to do.

The risks, the secrets, the place they were going to, the secrets she kept, she told them everything.

Everyone still had time to make their own decision.

It was very difficult to turn back after stepping onto this path, a path filled with thorns, and at its end, who knew what kind of monster awaited?

Lin Yuan lowered her head, feeling apprehensive for the first time.

In her line of sight,

She didn’t know whose hand reached out first, then a second, a third…

Her companions’ hands clasped tightly together on the small Truth Box.

Many years ago, a little girl had lost her parents in a fire.

She had inherited the secret left by her parents, alone, walking on the long, dark road.

There were thorns on the path, and also roses blooming in the night.

Unknowingly, more companions had joined her along the way.

…

The scorching sun rose again in the sky, its heat burning.

Lin Yuan and Ni Ji hid in the underground shelter.

Lin Yuan, holding a pen, after the row of cute mental bodies drawn by Nicole, added a round orca and a chubby Kraken.

The little Kraken, riding the orca, was trying its best to catch up to its companions ahead.

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