The guy called Harry was lucky.
If Robert could comment, he would say this: the reason he ended up as a gruesome pile of flesh was simply because he gave Lin Xi a sinister smile through the metal hatch…
Harry even shot Lynn.
If Number One wanted to, it could easily turn that guy who dared to yell at Lin Xi into a pile of minced meat. Moreover, for a creature like it, killing based on instinct is far easier than controlling its emotions and actions.
In fact, there has almost never been a similar precedent.
It is a powerful killing machine by nature, and killing machines don't need a stop button.
Not to mention, Lin Xi's identity is so special.
But at that very moment, Number One used astonishing willpower to control the bloodthirsty desire that was making its mind boil.
It stopped, its forelimbs still stained with blood.
But it obeyed Lin Xi's voice... and stopped its killing spree.
Unfortunately, no one present realized what a miracle this was.
"Oh my God... what is this...?"
Sorian raised his gun the moment "Number One" appeared, panting heavily and his fingers trembling slightly.
The aftereffects of Scripps' appearance were still severe, to the point that for a moment he almost thought what he saw was a hallucination caused by his intense pain—or that he was actually already dead, which was why he saw this creature that had just crawled out of hell.
"Solian, stop, if you don't want to die!"
Lin Xi's face was taut. He looked at Solian with unusual tension and spoke. As he spoke, he didn't even dare to look away from "Number One"—he wasn't worried about the gun in Solian's hand, but rather that "Number One" might be provoked and smash the mercenary, who was already pale with fright, to pieces.
He needs Solian to stay alive, especially in the current situation.
"Number One..."
Lin Xi murmured the name of the insect.
He struggled to overcome his fear and timidity, forcing himself to suppress the urge to scream and observe the unusually terrifying monster's movements.
Its forelimbs were held erect defensively in front of its chest, its wings were almost red, and the occasional flashes of black markings showed that "Number One" was extremely agitated at this moment. Its tentacles were taut, almost straight, and were swinging back and forth behind its head. The teeth on its mouthparts were bared, and some corrosive venom was flowing out from hidden venom glands.
Even though she had prepared herself mentally, Lin Xi still felt a chill when she saw what "Number One" looked like now.
"Monster, you really are a monster—"
Having miraculously survived, Harry could only lie half-reclined in the corner, muttering to himself due to blood loss.
This time, however, before Lin Xi could even speak to take control of the situation, Solian preemptively stopped Harry.
"Don't speak, Harry... now is not the time..."
Because of clenching his teeth so much, the muscles in Solian's cheeks twitched, and fine beads of sweat made his face shiny.
Upon hearing Solian's instructions, Harry quieted down, though he kept staring intently in Lin Xi's direction with that terrifying gaze.
The atmosphere in the hall became exceptionally heavy with the accompanying silence.
This is not a good sign. Continuing the stalemate will only cause the wariness and tension between them to explode completely. At this moment, Lin Xi could even faintly feel the gunpowder smell in the air, which seemed to sting his skin.
Considering their current situation, Lin Xi's last wish is to fall out with Solian as well.
"Number One" could certainly sense the tension that permeated the air—and the murderous intent of the two fragile humans in front of him towards Lin Xi.
It desperately wanted to eliminate anything that might harm Lin Xi.
The anxiety hidden within it was gradually escalating, the bloodstains on its wings were becoming more and more obvious, and its gaze toward Solian and Harry was becoming increasingly cruel.
An aura of slaughter emanated from it without restraint, as if it could materialize into a ferocious form.
Upon seeing this "Number One", Lin Xi's forehead twitched slightly.
To be honest, he could understand Solian's nervousness. In fact, even Bryce and Elisa, who were next to him, were in a state of shock.
Before this, they had only seen "Number One" trying to please Lin Xi, and they thought that was terrifying enough. But when they actually faced "Number One" in a state of rage, they realized what true terror was.
Lin Xi swallowed hard. He felt a burning pain in his throat, as if it had been burned by hot coals, and his palms were covered in cold sweat.
“Get out of there…” he said tentatively to “Number One.” He wasn’t sure if the extremely lethal killing machine would obey his orders (it had been quite unruly when it was still a Star Butterfly), so after a brief pause he added, “Come to me, okay?”
Sure enough, after hearing the last sentence, "Number One's" extremely furious state relaxed slightly.
It suddenly turned its head and stared at Lin Xi for a few seconds.
"Come."
When Lin Xi met "Number One's" eyes, which were so similar to Savile's, she felt a slight pang in her heart, and her voice was tinged with a subtle emotion.
"Number One" still maintains the posture of its forelegs raised.
At that moment, Lin Xi almost stopped breathing.
Fortunately, the next second, "Number One" moved—it smoothly took a few steps back, one step, and then another, until it moved to a spot not far from Lin Xi's side.
"Lin Xi".
"Number One" suddenly spoke.
"call--"
Upon hearing the monster in front of him speak human language, Solian gasped sharply, while Lin Xi, before noticing anything amiss, raised her voice: "Don't speak, damn it—"
Solian's lips trembled for a long time before he forced the scream back down his throat, producing an almost laughable gasp. Then he stood there, frozen in place, staring in horror at "Number One's" maddening blue eyes.
Oh my god, blue eyes!
Why does this monster have a pair of human eyes on its face?!
And it can even speak human language!
Only God knows the terror that exploded in the mercenary's heart at that moment.
"Number One" waited until Solian stopped all his movements before slowly taking a few steps back.
It was a little cautious at first... The few times Lin Xi had shot it earlier made it somewhat hesitant, and it deliberately kept some distance from Lin Xi.
However, it soon seemed to realize that the atmosphere was completely different from before.
It observed Lin Xi's expression out of the corner of its eye, and slowly took a few more steps toward Lin Xi.
After stopping, it carefully sensed the aura emanating from Lin Xi's direction, and then it was pleasantly surprised to discover that perhaps... perhaps it could get closer...
And so, Lin Xi watched as the deformed and terrifying body of "Number One" slowly crept up to her side.
This is the first time he has been so close to "Number One" since its transformation.
He could even smell the damp, bloody odor emanating from "Number One".
It also restored the surge of airflow caused by the unconscious, gentle fluttering of its wings.
Only then did he tentatively murmur his name.
"Good...good boy..."
Cold sweat had gathered on the back of Lin Xi's head and was slowly trickling down his neck. He didn't know if "Number One" still retained the habits it had when it was a star butterfly larva.
In his memory, that cute little bug loved being praised.
However, the individual standing next to him now is completely different from the one he remembers.
Fortunately, Number One adapted well to being called "good boy"—it still retains its original memory of it.
"Lin Xi".
Then it mumbled something softly, in a sticky, affectionate tone.
It suddenly moved closer to Lin Xi and nuzzled against her shoulder.
Lin Xi was so startled by the indescribable face that suddenly appeared in front of him that he held his breath. "Number One" was clearly unsure of the strength of his coquetry (if it could really be called coquetry), and he was almost knocked to the ground by "Number One".
However, before he could even sway slightly, "Number One" suddenly extended its forelimbs and accurately braced Lin Xi with the inside of its forelimbs—the skin covering the insect's skeleton was cold and icy, like the back of a dead person's hand.
Lin Xi's goosebumps instantly rose from her heels all the way up to the back of her neck.
"Lin, Lin Xi—"
Lin Xi heard Bryce's trembling voice behind him. He quickly suppressed all his fear, put his hands behind his back, and signaled Bryce and Elisa not to make any rash moves.
"You can control the insects."
Meanwhile, Solian's eyes remained fixed on the interaction between Lin Xi and "Number One."
It's obvious he misunderstood something.
"...You...you really can control the bugs, just like John said before."
"That's the star butterfly I raised."
Lin Xi took a deep breath, looked at the man, and then said.
"What?"
"The reason it listens to me is because I raised it. Taran gave the Star Butterfly's egg case to Dr. Ando, and Dr. Ando gave this Star Butterfly to me... You know about this, don't you? After all, many rumors about me arose because of this."
Lin Xi said, half-jokingly.
"Star Butterfly? Wait—you actually said this damned monster is a Star Butterfly? Its monstrous appearance clearly is—"
“Solian, it understands.”
Lin Xi watched in alarm as Number One's tentacles, hanging behind its head, slowly straightened as Sorian spoke. He quickly interrupted Sorian before he could say anything more blunt.
Solian immediately pursed his lips.
Author's Note: Solian: ...Is it too late for me to say it's cute? qaq
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