Chapter 721: The Evil Woman
“Please come this way, Mr. Fisher.”
Fisher’s gaze, fixated on the spot where Heidi Lin had disappeared, was brought back to reality by a remark from Hamon Hamon. He narrowed his eyes and continued walking forward. At the same time, he glanced back at Renee, and seeing her expression seemingly unchanged, he felt surprised.
Regardless, Fisher proceeded to provide an explanation.
“Heidi Lin was the maid who was previously with Valentina. After I went to the Northern Region, she suddenly disappeared, likely related to the external deity known as the Ocean.”
“The Ocean?”
Renee appeared doubtful, as the name “Ocean” was indeed too ethereal. Since Fisher returned to the past and formed a partnership with the gods, she had only heard it mentioned a few times by Ramastia.
“The Ocean is connected to you; why? Is it because of the Supplement Handbook on you?”
Fisher raised an eyebrow, looking at Renee as he asked, “Did Ramastia not tell you about my origins?”
Renee bit her lip in frustration and replied, “Of course, I don’t know much. I only started working with the gods after you left reality. Before that, we maintained a non-interference relationship. I don’t meddle in their affairs, and they don’t bother me. But I have a bit of a guess; it has to do with your ability to possess multiple Supplement Handbooks, right?”
“Mostly,” Fisher nodded, looking at his palm. “A Trans placed a precious attribute related to the Sea of Souls within me. That thing can make even a deity like Heow lose its mind and want to take me away.”
“So, that means the Ocean’s concern for you relates to this attribute within you?”
“Probably.”
The more Fisher learned about the Ocean, the more surreal he felt, especially when he connected with Hela.
If the Ocean was that powerful, one that even instilled fear in the gods, capable of making Heow vanish in an instant, if Hela was merely an agent of the Ocean, a conveyor of its will, or even an incarnation of its consciousness, did it still possess what is referred to as “emotion” in this minuscule world?
Fisher didn’t think he had any other reasons to attract the Ocean and didn’t believe it would come close to him for reasons like “love” typically found in humans or other beings.
Thus, the only possible reason left was that precious attribute in him.
It matched the description of the gods who had stolen its precious items, didn’t it?
Realizing this, Fisher sighed in relief but felt a heaviness in his heart.
The ease came from finally understanding Hela, who had been shrouded in mystery, as if she were an unsolvable puzzle before, which had kept a distance between them. Now he had an explanation for his unfounded affection towards her.
Yet the heaviness stemmed from the fact that Fisher had genuinely harbored feelings for that evil angel—at least, he once did. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have recklessly jumped into that chaos to save her.
However, for her, it was purely due to the precious attribute within him. This left Fisher with a complex feeling that couldn’t be entirely summed up as mere disappointment or anger.
Upon further contemplation, even those immensely powerful deities couldn’t escape the Ocean’s scrutiny. How could he, a mere mortal, expect anything different?
Sensing Fisher’s emotions towards the so-called “Heidi Lin” or “that woman” gradually cooling, Renee’s lips curled slightly.
Even Fisher regarded that woman as an enemy, so she felt there was no need to worry anymore. For now, leaving aside the Apocalypse Prophecy, she found her previous thoughts of war unnecessary.
Because that woman appeared to have no chance of winning!
Renee covered her mouth, her purple eyes revealing the joy of a victor, but her tone remained cautious as she consoled, “It sounds like that guy is truly evil.”
“Yeah,” Fisher hesitated before offering a neutral evaluation, “she is an absolute bad woman.”
“Humph! You used to say I was the bad one; now you see how good I am, right?”
Renee crossed her arms with a snort, and Fisher could only smile helplessly.
“Yes, you’re the best.”
“Hmm!”
Indeed, compared to the things Renee had done in the past, consuming his resources, secretly hiding his papers, teasing him mercilessly before fleeing—it all seemed childish.
Nothing bears comparison; with time, Fisher increasingly felt this truth.
“It’s him.”
“The core.”
“Fisher.”
“Authority. And him.”
As they passed by the Chaos Race standing on either side, their gleaming compound eyes scanning Fisher, most of their attention was on Fisher and Renee, while their companions, Gouwen and David, appeared to them as mere air.
Feeling the probing gazes beside him, Fisher’s eyes flickered and turned to look back. Many of the Chaos Race remained immobile, returning his gaze like sculptures yet emitting an ethereal “buzzing” sound.
“Hsss.”
“Hamon Hamon.”
Continuing onward, the few members of the Chaos Race led by Pisces saw Hamon Hamon approaching with Fisher and swayed their tentacles in front of Hamon Hamon, suddenly interrupting, “Previously, we brought this up. What do you think?”
Hamon Hamon halted, expressionless, responding, “Unfortunately, I have no desire to obey the Ocean’s command. But even so, please continue to enjoy the banquet; you’re welcome.”
“You dare defy the Ocean? Haven’t you seen what happened to Heow?”
Hamon Hamon glanced at Pisces, whose body froze at the sight. In that moment, Pisces felt more like a stone than a Chaos Race being or anything else.
It wasn’t until a moment later that Hamon Hamon withdrew his gaze, shaking his head softly, saying, “I saw it but did not feel fear. Whether my outer form is killed or I suffer tremendously, let the legendary Ocean do as it pleases.”
“.”
Hamon Hamon moved forward, and only then did Pisces seem to return from being a stone back into a Chaos Race. His tentacles began to tremble, yet he showed no overt signs of movement, clearly shaken.
Why? Could it be that Hamon Hamon’s chaos had surpassed the demigod level with the help of a Trans?
Theoretically, the edge of the chaos residing in a Trans would reach the level of forming an outer god’s authority, but throughout history, all Trans, even the few capable of causing tremendous destruction, had only reached the demigod level at best.
The Life Completion Manual’s bearer who killed the World Tree, the Soul Completion Manual’s bearer who severely injured the Dragon God.
Could it be because it was within the Spirit Realm that Hamon Hamon’s Trans had transcended the demigod level to reach godhood? But transcending to godhood implies forming authority; if there is Hamon Hamon’s authority here, then what about the authority of its true form outside?
Though Pisces was a demigod, it remained a being innately birthed from this world perspective, never having experienced the outer realms. At this moment, facing this external deity, it felt like a frog at the bottom of a well, utterly ignorant.
But deep down, it had confidence.
Because it had undeniably heard the voice of that Ocean.
It had heard it!
Pisces’s astonished consciousness, shaken by Hamon Hamon, gradually calmed down, filled with a sense of boundless confidence. It then lifted its eyes with its many compound eyes to look at Fisher and Renee as they passed by, Fisher just happening to make eye contact with many of its compound eyes.
Fisher ignored their intentions, and Pisces remained silent, merely watching them follow Hamon Hamon deeper into the base.
It wasn’t until they gradually descended that one of the Chaos Race behind Pisces moved closer and asked, “Pisces. What about Hamon Hamon?”
“We know far too little about deities; we don’t know their aims or hidden cards.”
“And what of the Ocean Lord’s will?”
“We cannot relent. We have barely earned the Ocean’s favor and found a glimmer of hope for liberation; we cannot let the Ocean Lord down.”
Pisces turned to gaze at the lively banquet, filled with many of its compatriots, yet not all Chaos Race were aligned with it, willing to serve the Ocean and outer gods.
Beyond the base, in the vast Spirit Realm, the Crimson Mist still lingered, filling Pisces with a thought.
“Hamon Hamon’s situation will be revealed through testing.”
Pisces floated up first, heading into the outer Spirit Realm.
At this moment, because Ramastia had previously acted to prevent the Spirit Realm pollution from advancing into the crevice, its activity had significantly decreased. The pollution that used to thrive on attacking living consciousness was now lethargically drifting like colored mist.
However, previously Elizabeth had informed the Chaos Race about how to expel pollution, which could activate this mist and drive it away from them. Conversely, using that incantation could also steer this pollution toward a specific direction.
Thus, Pisces and the others flew far into the languid pollution before heading back towards the base. Once they were at a suitable distance, Pisces began to chant the so-called spell.
“Mom. Mom.”
“Boom!”
As this curse-like incantation echoed through the Spirit Realm, the originally thin and calm pollution suddenly surged like a tide, fleeing from Pisces and the others.
With the excited pollution retreating further from them, it approached the base closer to Hamon Hamon. Once they stopped chanting the spell, they silently watched as the base gradually became enveloped by crimson.
Within that base, many of the Chaos Race not following Pisces in worshiping the outer gods remained inside the banquet hall.
“Rumble.”
“滴滴, 滴滴.”
The crisp sound of the mechanism within the core of the base became increasingly evident after Hamon Hamon led Fisher deeper. It felt as though it was gradually awakening from a dream from a thousand years ago, arriving at a place resembling the refuge David had previously occupied.
The surrounding mist thinned, and David couldn’t help but feel anxious, his pupils narrowing slightly, resembling Michael’s as he stared at the pathway concealed behind the mist, murmuring, “This… I’ve been here before.”
Fisher turned to him, noticing David’s expression growing more troubled. His pupils flickered with luminous lights, struggling to read his database, yet no matter how many times he tried, the results were always blank.
Ahead, Hamon Hamon swayed his tail, casually lifting a hand, and a door imbued with a sense of technology opened, revealing a darker, more oppressive passage inside.
“A thousand years ago, this was the first refuge built by the angels. All mechanisms have served here; you must have too.”
Looking at the dim passage ahead, Fisher couldn’t help but ask Hamon Hamon, “What does the Ocean want with Pisces and the others coming here?”
“To wage war against the gods, just as I did thousands of years ago.”
Hamon Hamon stated this so calmly, showing no signs of interest; he merely continued guiding Fisher and the others forward.
“But I have lost interest in that. Now, I only care about them and the problem they bring. This problem may only be something you can help me answer.”
‘Them? Problem?’
“Hmm.” Hamon Hamon nodded, hastening forward. “Follow me, and you will understand.”
“Boom!”
Just as they were about to move forward, the entire base shook violently as if something had crashed against its outer side.
“Boom!”
Gouwen and Renee’s expressions changed slightly. They had been in the Spirit Realm for a long time, their intuition regarding pollution nearly innate. However, as soon as that crash echoed, a prickly sensation rushed over them.
“Not good! It’s pollution!”
Fisher quickly turned to look, and saw the surging crimson mist had overtaken the entrance outside the base, blocking the way in. The pollution surged like a caged beast towards the rooted Chaos Race that froze in shock.
“Run! Quick!”
“It’s pollution!”
“Go!”
But the entrance was already blocked by the crimson mist. The shimmering Chaos Race could no longer exit in that direction and could only head towards Fisher and the others.
Fisher frowned and was about to turn back when a massive serpentine tail blocked the way between him, Renee, and Gouwen.
“Hsss.”
Hamon Hamon flicked his tongue and said to Fisher and the others, “Please hide inside. I will handle the residual dream power outside to prevent any unforeseen incidents from happening to you, Mr. Fisher. Once everything calms down, I will come to find you.”
“Zzzz!”
The once bright refuge began to grow dimmer as pollution encroached. Countless wires from among the mechanisms scrambled to breach the surface, turning into colorful fish flags in mid-air, before falling downwards.
“Thud!”
The once cheerful angels within the crimson mist suddenly had their heads balloon unnaturally, becoming figures resembling roly-poly toys, swaying and colliding around while shouting, “Happy New Year! Happy New Year!”
Hamon Hamon’s serpentine avatar finally ceased further explanation and charged into the ever-expanding crimson pollution.
“Fisher.”
“Fisher.”
Just as Fisher and the others watched Hamon Hamon’s retreating figure, an affectionate call suddenly rang out behind him. That voice was familiar; whose could it be if not Heidi Lin’s?
Renee and Gouwen turned to the direction of the crimson pollution, curious how Hamon Hamon would resolve the chaos and seemingly didn’t hear Heidi Lin’s call.
But Fisher turned back to see at the end of the dark passage, that Heidi Lin, dressed in servant attire, was smiling at him.
It was her that had instigated the Spirit Realm pollution.
Upon seeing Heidi Lin, Fisher realized everything that was happening now had to do with her.
His jaw clenched, and the confused Emhart in his arms wondered why Fisher had suddenly turned around, quickly peeking out. The sight of Heidi Lin instantaneously startled him, making him exclaim, “Baemon!! It’s that wicked Baemon! That bad woman!!”
He screamed, drawing Renee’s attention toward Fisher.
“Baemon? What Baemon…”
Before she could finish, Fisher was like a flash of lightning as he charged into that passage.
“Fisher!”
In Fisher’s unexpected, all-out sprint, the distance of over ten meters to the passage was nearly instantaneous, and Heidi Lin’s smiling figure expanded in Fisher’s vision until it almost filled his field of view.
He reached out, one hand grasping her shoulder while the other gripped her neck tightly.
At that moment, he truly had a firm hold on her!
Heidi Lin before him was real, not an illusion!
With a lightning-like burst of power, Fisher pinned Heidi Lin down, but just behind her was a wide space falling dozens of meters. This action sent both him and her plummeting downward.
For his rank, that drop was merely a small bump, but once he grasped Heidi Lin’s shoulder, Fisher realized that the figure before him was just as fragile as a human.
With such vast power, could she truly be just a human?
Fisher clenched his teeth, continuing to keep her pinned, seemingly intent on smashing her down.
It was easy to infer that under that considerable impact, a mortal’s body would be crushed to pieces, and Fisher was waiting for her to reveal her powers related to the Ocean.
But beneath him, Heidi Lin merely appeared slightly panicked as if out of weightlessness, her earlier grin now replaced with unexpected fear as her eyes trembled and eventually closed as if just waiting for the ground.
Fisher, firmly pressing on her, was momentarily surprised. Was she merely a disciple of the Ocean, her true rank only that of a human?
No, impossible. She had transformed back into Hela’s form according to Emhart, yet the body he held firmly indeed conveyed the feedback of human rank.
As the ground drew closer and Heidi Lin’s eyes remained shut, Fisher took a deep breath, suddenly biting down on his teeth, releasing his grip from pushing her into the earth to pulling her up.
“Bang!”
Fisher slammed hard against the ground. However, the Heidi Lin he held onto remained tightly in his grip, his force diminished.
“Ugh.”
Heidi Lin let out a whimper as if every part of her tensed up, and the anticipated process of being smashed into the ground never came, leaving her incredulous.
This reaction further puzzled Fisher, but he still did not release her neck.
Frowning, he looked down at the Heidi Lin pinned beneath him. Due to his previous powerful grip, a few strands of her neatly styled black hair had come loose, making her appear particularly vulnerable.
Heidi Lin’s skin tightened beneath him, but as Fisher scrutinized her, the Heidi Lin he held firmly bent her head down, delicately extending her tongue to lick the back of his hand gripping her neck, which caught Fisher off guard.
Looking up, gone was the tense and fearful expression. In her open eyes flickered a luminous blue-golden glow, replaced with profound mirth.
“It hurts so much, dear~”
This woman.
“You…”
“Fisher, how have you…”
Fisher’s heart skipped a beat, but nearby, Renee’s light figure landed on the ground, ready to inquire with concern, only to freeze at the sight of the woman pinned beneath Fisher.
“You, you, you… her…”
Sensing Renee’s gaze upon her, the pinned Heidi Lin seemed even more pitiful as Fisher refused to let her go, fearing she would escape again. He turned to explain to Renee, but where Heidi Lin had licked him suddenly felt warm and buzzing as if on fire.
“Slap!”
Immediately, the hand gripping Heidi Lin’s neck lost strength, as if the connection with his soul had severed. His physical hand slackened, while the tendrils of his soul remained tightly gripped around her. This feeling began to spread throughout his body, quickly inducing a sense of weakening and tingling.
This sudden onslaught was not powerful but rather struck unexpectedly and intricately. Fisher could only divert his attention to analyze why his physical body was temporarily out of his soul’s control.
With his physical strength waning, Heidi Lin broke free.
Fisher had initially thought she would flee, wanting Renee to restrain her movements. Yet the Heidi Lin beneath him did the opposite, smiling as she suddenly opened her arms, pulling the momentarily weakened Fisher into her embrace.
“Bang!”
At that instant, Fisher had just opened his mouth to call out to Renee. However, the very action was akin to opening the city gates, inviting the enemy inside.
Before Fisher could register, Heidi Lin’s arms wrapped around him, sealing his lips with a kiss while Renee stammered at the scene before her.
“Huh?!”
Fisher’s eyes widened, just as Renee’s jaw dropped. It wasn’t until a second later that her nearly blank brain began to react to what had just occurred.
That bad woman, right in front of her… like this?!
“Ah, ah, ah, ah! Let go of me! Fisher!! You’re kissing her?!”
“Mmm.”
Gouwen and David above still had their senses about them, watching Hamon Hamon deal with the pollution. But turning around, they discovered the two of them had vanished.
Everything that occurred took only moments, and just then they found themselves before the platform before falling, and upon reaching the high ground, they heard Renee’s furious and exasperated screams below, and instinctively covered their ears.
Why did it seem like the atmosphere below suddenly grew tense?
This sudden feeling made Gouwen hesitate, uncertain whether to go down.
“Hey, what’s happening down there?!”
Without choice, he could only inquire.
But the situation below was urgent; there was no leisure to address Gouwen’s external question.
“Pop!”
If that earlier lick was a poison severing Fisher’s connection between soul and body, then this sweet kiss was an antidote, sending shockwaves through Fisher as he suddenly broke free from that state of detachment, and his numb limbs regained strength.
Meanwhile, the smiling Heidi Lin withdrew a step like a ghost, looking content as she admired the fragrant mark left on Fisher’s lips.
She had applied lipstick, leaving behind a large, vivid red imprint.
Immediately, Heidi Lin pretended to be shy, teasingly murmuring, “Please don’t let the young lady find out, Mr. Fisher~”
Still pretending?
Did she think she was Valentina’s personal servant?
Fisher clenched his teeth, raising a finger to wipe the fragrant lipstick from his lips, but just as he was about to speak, the murderous glare from Renee had already shot towards him.
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(End of this chapter)
