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Xiao Ying looked at them with a puzzled expression, instinctively recoiling. “W-what’s wrong, elder sisters?”
“What did you just say?” Lilia’s tone was rather cold, a stark contrast to her gentle demeanor from moments before.
“Ugh… D-did I say something wrong again?” Xiao Ying’s little heart couldn’t handle such distress, and a hint of a whimper immediately crept into her voice.
However, Lilia’s tone did not soften in the slightest. Her gaze, burning with intense hostility, fixed on Xiao Ying, her cerulean eyes brimming with animosity. “You just said Gern is like family, didn’t you?”
“Ugh… Big Sister treats me so well. I… I don’t have any other family, so… I want to think of Big Sister Gern as my family.”
Upon hearing this, the chill emanating from Lilia dissipated considerably. She had worried this little one was also trying to contend with her for Gern’s affection.
‘Hmm, what a strong scent of jealousy. Surely no one is squabbling with a little girl over affection, are they?’
Watching from the side, Aivia finally found her chance and began to taunt Lilia.
Lilia snorted coldly, rolling her eyes at Aivia, as if to convey that she wouldn’t bother with a blood-drinking simpleton.
Aivia’s jab landed softly, leaving her thoroughly exasperated by Lilia. She decided to ignore the annoying woman from then on.
She turned her head, glancing to the side, intending to admire the scenery, only to be met with a desolate landscape.
Her eyes slowly widened. Even as a Blood Clan princess, she had never witnessed such a horrific sight.
Across the land, where black miasma endlessly spread, the yellow sands gradually lost their original luster, as if something vital had been drained from them.
Anything that came into contact with the black miasma withered away instantly.
Compared to these regions tainted by Chaos power, even the barren desert seemed vibrant.
The land was a scene of deathly desolation and decay, and the sky mirrored its grimness.
The birds and beasts that once thrived here had now mutated into horrifying, grotesque monsters.
The creatures that had miraculously survived desperately tried to flee this place.
Yet, behind them lurked Chaos creatures, empowered by Chaos energy, effortlessly pursuing those that had not yet transformed.
Everything within sight was being mercilessly devoured and twisted by Chaos.
Aivia stared at the unfolding horror before her, unable to snap out of her daze for a long time.
For some unknown reason, she felt her bloodline subtly showing signs of losing control.
It was as if a voice incessantly whispered in her ear.
“Go down there. That is where your world truly lies…”
Aivia clutched her head, attempting to force the voice from her mind.
However, it was futile. She felt something persistently burrowing into her head, as if trying to invade her very thoughts.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Lilia, still intent on annoying Aivia, suddenly noticed her companion’s terrifyingly grim expression.
Sensing something amiss, she reached out and patted Aivia’s back. Aivia jolted, as if awakening from a dream.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“I…” Aivia, meeting Lilia’s gem-like eyes, defiantly turned her head away.
“I’m fine…”
Lilia frowned, her gaze following to where Aivia had been staring blankly. She, too, beheld the hellish scene below, and instantly abandoned any thought of bickering with Aivia.
Even she was profoundly shaken by the apocalyptic vision.
The rate at which the Chaos power was spreading was several times faster than she had ever imagined.
“Why is the Chaos power spreading so rapidly here? Could it be that members of the Chaos Divine Cult are at work?”
Lilia’s brows furrowed into a deep ‘川’ shape. She was all too aware of the dangers posed by the Heretic God Cult and the Chaos power.
Ignoring the strong winds whipping across her face, Lilia quickly moved to Gern’s head, settling down to ask in a low voice.
“Gern, what’s happening down there?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen Chaos power spread this quickly either.”
“I see…”
Lilia pondered with a frown. Gern had previously claimed to be a traitor from the Heretic God Cult. If even she hadn’t seen such rapid spread, then it was highly unlikely the Heretic God Cult was behind it.
“Gern, at a time like this, aren’t you going to tell me about your mission?”
“Ugh…”
Gern pondered for a moment, then finally let out a helpless sigh. “All I can say is that there’s something very important located at the battleground between the Serpentmen and the Fox race. I need to delve into that secret realm.”
“A secret realm, just like the one in the Klett Kingdom before?”
“Yes, but I’ve heard that Chaos creatures often appear within this secret realm. I suspect the current spread of the Chaos Land is also due to this very secret realm.”
Hearing this, Lilia’s expression turned grim. According to Gern’s words, she would have to venture deep into these contaminated regions next.
Even if Gern was a traitor from the Heretic God Cult, there was no guarantee she would emerge from this place alive.
“Gern… can you really go?”
Lilia’s voice trembled slightly. She truly didn’t want Gern to put herself in such peril.
That was the Chaos Land, where anything would be assimilated by Chaos power, gradually transforming into a Chaos creature.
Even with the Heretic God Cult’s techniques, there was no absolute guarantee of Gern’s safety.
Gern, hearing this, offered a helpless smile. Judging solely by the sound of her voice, Gern could already envision the pitiful expression on Lilia’s face.
Since she was currently in her dragon form, she couldn’t see Lilia’s appearance. Otherwise, she would have truly wanted to pinch Lilia’s soft cheeks.
‘Ugh? No… no, how could I have such a thought? If I actually did that, Lilia would definitely kill me.’
Unable to shake the thought from her mind, she forced herself to concentrate on continuing her flight.
“Gern?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“Please don’t go, okay?”
“You know the dangers of Chaos better than I do.”
“Why does it have to be you?”
Gern offered no reply to Lilia’s words, for she knew this immense mission could only be undertaken by her.
It wasn’t just about the Kindling; she possessed more than a single life. While others might face certain death in this endeavor, her chances were, at best, fifty-fifty.
At that moment, Gern noticed something unusual appearing not far ahead of her.
Upon closer inspection, she saw traces of old campfires, suggesting cooking had taken place there. Now, however, the area was deserted, with only some uncollected supplies remaining—likely the former encampment of the Fox race army.
The remaining tracks on the ground indicated a retreat westward. Concluding they hadn’t gone too far, Gern flapped her wings, carrying everyone upward until they were concealed above the clouds.
She gazed toward the sun’s position, using it as a navigational point, and continued flying west.
Throughout the journey, Lilia remained silent, speaking little to Gern. She understood the gravity of the situation, but she truly did not want Gern to take such a risk.
Gern flew swiftly, and before long, she spotted the overwhelming numbers of the Fox race army in the distance.
From their high vantage point, they appeared no larger than ants crawling across the ground.
Seeing them, a smile finally graced Gern’s face.
She had previously arranged with Mina that Mina would wait in the military camp for Gern to bring news about the Serpentmen.
This arrangement would save Gern some effort. She intended to leave the three girls on her back with Mina, then venture into the Chaos Land alone.
As Mina had been Lilia’s wife in a previous life, Gern felt at ease entrusting Lilia to her care.
Still… a tiny, almost imperceptible pang of discomfort stirred within her heart.
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