章節 90: Outside the Pyramid
Fierce winds and swirling sands howled across the boundless desert, obliterating all obstacles in their path. The tempestuous dust storm had shrouded the sun and stars, plunging the vicinity of the colossal pyramid into a somber twilight.
Before the towering structure, amidst the raging sandstorm, three figures stood undeterred by the abrasive grit that could shred an ordinary person to pieces.
They were scattered casually, sitting or standing in front of the great pyramid. As the tumultuous sands approached, an invisible force emanated from them, repelling the swirling dust.
A tall man clad in black iron armor sat with his eyes half-closed. His once lustrous black hair was now flecked with white frost. His imposing presence exuded a heavy aura of authority and the unmistakable bloodlust of a seasoned warrior. A crimson cloak billowed behind him, and despite the tempest around him, he maintained an upright posture, embodying a meticulous poise that, combined with his towering stature and the massive battle axe by his side, instilled a profound sense of intimidation.
Not far behind him leaned a strikingly beautiful woman against the pyramid's lofty wall. Her deep, dark eyes possessed a languid, feline grace, while her long, flowing red hair cascaded down her back. She wore fitted black leather pants that accentuated her perfectly sculpted legs, paired with a matching cropped leather jacket that left her slender waist exposed to the air.
Lazily reclining against the pyramid, the red-haired woman named Katarina gazed into the distance, idly tossing a sharp throwing knife in her right hand.
"Giggle… Ek'at likes you, giggle… Don't run away… Ek'at likes you." Nearby, a small circle of sand seemed impervious to the fierce winds, with all the debris blown by the storm held at bay by an unseen barrier. Within that tranquil enclave, a peculiar figure excitedly burrowed through the sand like an exuberant puppy.
If one could indeed classify this as a person...
His massive form resembled that of an extraordinarily overweight individual, yet he bore no excess flesh; instead, his body was a tapestry of well-defined black muscles, marred by countless crisscrossing stitches—like a doll that had been mended time and again. These grotesque seams traversed his entire being, rendering him a nightmarish creature that seemed to have emerged from the depths of a horror.
At this moment, the bizarre man pressed his head into the sand, enthusiastically crawling about like a child with a newfound toy. "Don't run… giggle… don't run… Ek'at likes you, don't run… giggle…"
What he pursued was a highly venomous desert viper, a creature whose venom could incapacitate even a ninth-tier practitioner, a fearsome low-tier beast of the desert. Yet, this dim-witted serpent now appeared utterly wretched.
Its serpentine body was marred by numerous gaping wounds, exposing tender flesh beneath, while green blood oozed from the injuries, leaving a gruesome trail across the desert as the snake writhed in agony.
"Giggle… don't run… don't run… Ek'at likes you… giggle…" Like an excited puppy digging in the sand, the monstrous man crawled after the viper, which, sensing the presence of a terrifying pursuer, fled in a panic, too frightened even to turn and resist.
At last, the viper was overtaken by the peculiar giant…
"Giggle… Ek'at likes you, Ek'at likes you… giggle…" With a grotesque grin, the stitched monstrosity opened its mouth wide and sank its teeth into the viper, tearing away a chunk of flesh stained with its toxic green blood.
Like a child rewarded for good behavior, the strange man joyfully chewed the snake's flesh, swallowing both the venomous blood and the meat before placing the viper back onto the sand. "Giggle… Ek'at likes you, Ek'at likes you, let's play again, let's play again!"
With the innocent glee of a child, the man covered in stitches eagerly watched the viper he had returned to the sand, anticipating further play with his newfound toy.
However, this time, the once-vibrant viper lay motionless on the silver sand, allowing the expectant creature beside it to gaze upon it, yet it remained utterly still.
"Uh…" Gently lifting the now stiffening viper, Ek'at's twisted face bore a look of disappointment. He turned away, clutching the lifeless serpent like a child mourning a broken toy, crying, "Giggle… it's dead, my favorite friend is dead… giggle… Sister Katarina, my friend is dead…"
Katarina, watching the two-meter-tall giant with a mixture of exasperation and sympathy, replied, "Stop playing, Ek'at; we have guests arriving."
"Giggle… Friends? Can they play with Ek'at too? Wonderful! Ek'at loves friends!" Clapping his hands in delight, Ek'at turned his gaze toward the swirling sands filled with dust.
Sensing the presence of strangers, the previously silent middle-aged soldier slightly opened his eyes. Soon, through the obscuring tempest, the figures of the guests gradually emerged before the trio.
Coldness, silence, despair...
An aura as harsh as the fiercest blizzards of Freljord washed over them.
Before them stood a man, abandoned by the world, cloaked in a tattered gray mantle. His hair, a mix of gray and white, lent him an air of weariness that belied his youthful handsomeness.
Most striking were his deep, dark eyes; within their icy depths lay the weight of profound sorrow and despair, akin to a stagnant pool of hopelessness, untouched by even the slightest ripple.
Like Katarina and her companions, the man stood in a space where the ceaseless winds and sands dared not encroach.
Perched upon his shoulder was a small fox, no larger than a fist, its lustrous silver fur shimmering as it blinked its curious eyes at the trio who had arrived at the pyramid.
A red-haired girl, appearing around eight years old, clung to the man's arm, occasionally casting hostile glances at the silver-haired woman beside her. Meanwhile, a plush creature resembling a raccoon trudged behind the trio, burdened by a pack that seemed disproportionately large for its size.
Noticing the three ahead, the man halted, his gaze icy as he scrutinized the intruders.
However, the middle-aged soldier, leader of the group, merely cast a fleeting glance at Xiaomu Yu before shifting his attention to the girl clinging to her arm. With a resigned tone, akin to an elder addressing a wayward child, he remarked, "Little Annie, so you've come here. No wonder your father's efforts to locate you within the kingdom have proven fruitless... Do you have any idea how worried your mother has been since you ran away?"
"Uh… Uncle Darius," the girl, still clinging to Xiaomu Yu, blinked in surprise as she recognized the three familiar figures. Suddenly, she shrank back, retreating entirely behind Xiaomu Yu. "I… I'm not Annie! I don't know you! Who are you?"
"…" Darius's mouth twitched in exasperation. "Alright, alright, I won't drag you back. Play outside as long as you like, but… it would be best if you returned home. Your mother is quite anxious about you."
Peeking from behind Xiaomu Yu, the girl cautiously regarded the middle-aged man, puffing out her cheeks defiantly. "I… I don't know you, so don't try to get close."
"Alright, alright, you don't know me; that's fine, isn't it?" With a resigned sigh, Darius turned to Xiaomu Yu. "You must be… Mr. Xiaomu Yu, correct? Ha… Ever since I heard of your appearance in Tianxin City, I've longed to meet you. However, it seems… heh… it appears Annie has caused you quite a bit of trouble. Since she's reluctant to return home for now, I would appreciate it if you could look after her in the meantime. After all, her status is noble, and she has never faced hardship; she's quite a cause for concern."
"…" Meeting the cold gaze of the soldier, radiating an aura of boundless bloodshed, Xiaomu Yu held his stare for a few seconds before nodding coolly. "Understood."
However, in stark contrast to Xiaomu Yu's aloof demeanor, the demon within his consciousness was in a state of agitation.
(Hey! Human boy! This guy dares to threaten you! Can't you hear it? His mention of the girl's noble status and sheltered upbringing means—watch yourself, little Annie's background is extraordinary; if you dare to bully our little princess, you're as good as dead…)
(This is utterly intolerable! He, a mere lowly mortal, an insignificant existence, dares to offend our great Lord of Winter's Embrace! Dares to threaten our powerful King of Loli! This is simply unacceptable! Ahhh! Human boy, what are you waiting for? Charge forth and unleash a massacre, let this contemptible creature pay for his transgressions with his blood!)
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票