Chapter 67 Dark Continent 02 Affection Level 100%
A glint of triumph flashed in Isaac's eyes, as if he had already anticipated her choice.
"A wise decision. The airship will pick us up at the airport outside the city in an hour. We need to travel light. Apart from the necessary weapons and survival equipment, everything else is a burden."
Ayana nodded; she didn't have much to carry anyway.
Everything about the Monzado family was just a shackle to her.
She took one last look at the luxurious yet cold room, then turned without hesitation and followed Isaac into the night.
The two evaded the patrolling guards like ghosts, scaled the high wall, and disappeared into the shadows.
An hour later, they boarded a small, unremarkable cargo airship on time.
The interior of the airship has been modified to be compact and practical.
Besides Isaac and the driver, there were three other team members.
A burly man in charge of mechanical maintenance, a sniper carrying a long gun, and a bespectacled biologist.
“Welcome to our squad, Ayana.” Isaac briefly introduced the members. “We’ll discuss the specific intelligence and objectives on the way.”
The airship's engines roared as it climbed above the clouds, heading towards the legendary continent shrouded in taboo and danger.
The voyage lasted for several days.
The airship finally passed through a raging, relentless thundercloud and descended, revealing a scene beyond the comprehension of ordinary understanding.
The earth was dark red, as if it had been soaked in blood.
Twisted and bizarre plants grow rampantly, some resembling wriggling tentacles, others emitting an alluring yet deadly fluorescence.
In the distance, the rugged mountains appeared in a spiral shape that defied gravity, and the air was filled with a strange smell that was a mixture of humus and some unknown energy.
The "qi" here, or life energy, is so dense that it is almost tangible, yet it is also full of chaos and malice.
“We’ve arrived.” Isaac said gravely. “Remember, nothing here can be judged by common sense. Every blade of grass, every tree, even a stone could be deadly.”
They chose to land on a relatively flat red gravel area.
The first few hours went smoothly; the group collected samples of some plants and minerals they had never seen before and carefully avoided some creatures that looked menacing.
However, the malice of the Dark Continent far exceeded expectations.
The attack occurred without warning as they were attempting to cross a woodland covered with giant, white fungi that resembled bones.
The attack did not come from visible beasts, but from the ground beneath their feet.
The ground churned violently, and countless pale tentacles covered in viscous liquid burst forth from the earth, instantly wrapping around the legs of the mechanic in the group.
The tentacles were covered with suckers, and inside the suckers were countless sharp teeth like files.
The mechanic only had time to let out a short scream before he was violently dragged to the ground by a tremendous force.
He struggled desperately, hacking at the tentacles with his axe, but the blade only left shallow white marks, unable to cause any effective damage.
"Save him!" Isaac roared, and instantly sprang into action.
The sniper's bullet also whistled out at the same time, accurately hitting the main body of the tentacle, but only causing it to pause slightly.
Ayana reacted extremely quickly, instantly activating [Powerful Amplification]. Her figure transformed into a blur, and she drew her longsword, slashing towards the tentacles that were binding the mechanic with a piercing sound.
"Clang!"
But the longsword, which used to be able to cut through iron like mud, seemed to have struck some kind of extremely tough, high-density rubber this time, getting stuck after only cutting halfway in.
Even more terrifying, the slashed tentacles sprayed out a highly corrosive, transparent liquid, which hissed and emitted white smoke as it landed on the blade.
At the same time, more tentacles surged in from all directions, their target no longer just the mechanic, but the entire squad.
These tentacles seem to have no fixed body, or rather, the entire land beneath their feet is their body!
The biologist cried out in horror, "These are earthworms! These worms live in groups, have extremely high physical resistance, and super regenerative abilities. Their weaknesses are fear of light and high temperatures! But ordinary light and fire are useless against them!"
Although Isaac's attack could blast some tentacles apart, the fleshy buds at the blasted ends wriggled wildly and regenerated almost completely within seconds.
The sniper's attacks were even less effective.
The mechanic had been dragged down until only his upper body remained on the ground, his face filled with pain and despair.
Ayana gritted her teeth and tried to use [Biomanipulation].
[Target confirmed, instructions confirmed.]
The mental shock was sent out, but what returned was only a chaotic collection of consciousness driven solely by a desire to devour.
Her mind felt as if it had crashed into a thick, sticky, and malicious wall. Not only was she unable to give commands, but she was also countered by the chaotic thoughts. Her brain throbbed with pain, she groaned, and her face turned pale instantly.
The creatures on the Dark Continent are completely different from those in the outside world.
She was unable to control this so-called "earth-eating worm".
As the mechanic was about to be dragged underground, Isaac's eyes turned bloodshot, and his entire body erupted with even stronger Nen energy, preparing to unleash some kind of high-cost ability.
[Warning! Host has been detected facing an unmanageable survival crisis!]
[System forced wake-up! Energy reconnection!]
[Connection successful!]
A cold, mechanical voice that Ayana thought she would never hear again suddenly rang in her mind.
She was both surprised and astonished.
[Host, you really can't do without me.]
However, the situation is critical, so I'll keep it brief.
The system's voice remained steady, but carried a hint of urgency unlike anything before.
The rules of the Dark Continent are different from those of the previous world, and the effects of some abilities are limited.
Based on the scanning analysis, the core of the Earth-Eating Worm colony is located fifty meters underground. Conventional physical attacks are extremely ineffective. It is recommended that the host directly locate and attack the core of these Earth-Eating Worms to eliminate them.
[It is recommended that the host use the special seeds sold in the system store to allow the seeds to quickly take root and sprout underground, forcing the core of the Earth-Eating Worm colony to emerge from the soil.]
The screen popped up instantly, locking onto a seed-shaped item emitting a soft white light, with the exchange button flashing continuously.
Ayana had no time to think about why the system had reappeared or what its purpose was.
Her only thought right now is to save people.
[Redeem successful. Points deducted. Item transferred to host.]
A white seed, smooth and lustrous like jade, appeared in Ayana's palm.
"Isaac! Cover me! I have a way to create an opportunity!"
Ayana shouted and used [Powerful Amplification] to its fullest extent, rushing towards the location where the mechanic was being dragged.
Although Isaac didn't understand, he immediately chose to believe her.
He roared, transforming all his Nen into a ferocious attack that temporarily cleared away the tentacles in Ayana's path like a storm.
Ayana rushed up to the mechanic and pressed the seed in her hand to the ground without hesitation.
The moment the seed touches the ground, a soft white light ripples out like waves on water.
Wherever the light passed, the wildly waving pale tentacles instantly became sluggish and stiff, as if bound by an invisible force.
White light patterns, resembling circuit boards, appeared on the ground and quickly seeped into the ground.
"Now! Attack fifty meters underground!" Ayana shouted hoarsely.
"Roger that!" The sniper was the first to react. He quickly switched to a specially made explosive round, roughly determined the core location based on the trajectory of the white light, and pulled the trigger.
At the same time, Isaac concentrated all his strength in his hand and slammed his fist into the ground.
A deafening explosion rang out, blasting a deep crater in the ground. At the bottom of the crater, one could vaguely see a huge, charred, and still twitching mass of flesh.
An indescribable, acrid stench of burning permeated the air.
With the core severely damaged, all the tentacles instantly lost their vitality, collapsing like snakes with their bones removed, and then rapidly withered and decomposed, turning into dark red dust.
The mechanic, still in shock, was pulled from the loose soil and rocks by Isaac and Ayana. His legs were mangled and bloody, but he had managed to survive.
The team members collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, their faces filled with lingering fear.
Just now, they truly felt the approach of death.
Only then did the system slowly speak.
[Host, it's a pleasure to connect with you again.]
[You have been detected to be in an extremely dangerous situation. The system has automatically activated the awakening function. However, please rest assured that the system will not issue any further tasks to you, and you are free to explore the current environment.]
[This system's awakening is solely for your safety, host. When necessary, it may take unusual actions to protect you.]
The system paused for a moment, then continued.
[In addition, host, this system's database is also passively receiving a large amount of unparseable local information streams, and the shop list is also being updated, with some redeemable items labeled 'Dark Continent Specialties' appearing.]
The light screen unfolded before Ayana's eyes, and sure enough, a new category shimmering with a dark purple light appeared in the corner of the shop list.
Inside are some items and materials whose names alone are enough to send chills down your spine.
[Geocerebral Worm Larvae], [Psychedelic Spore Replicas], ...
As Ayana looked at the newly appeared items and felt the strange and dangerous land beneath her feet, a storm of emotions surged within her.
The return of the system does not guarantee safety; on the contrary, it means greater unknowns and challenges.
The Dark Continent not only devours life, but also seems to influence beings like the System.
Ayana raised her head and looked into the depths of this dark red continent, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
Isaac quickly took out hemostatic gel and bandages from his medical kit and deftly treated the mechanic's deep, bone-exposing wound on his leg.
The gel made a slight "sizzling" sound the moment it touched the wound. The mechanic's forehead veins bulged with pain, but he clenched his teeth and didn't scream.
“The bones aren’t broken, but the muscles and ligaments are severely damaged, and he can’t walk for the time being.” Isaac gave him another injection of a strong painkiller and antibiotics. “Nader, you have to hang in there.”
The mechanic named Nader was pale and covered in cold sweat. He glanced at his bloodied legs, then at the concerned looks on his teammates' faces, and nodded with difficulty: "I'm fine, I won't hold you back."
After a brief rest, the team had to leave the area where the battle had just taken place immediately.
The heavy stench of blood and the lingering effects of the energy explosion acted like a lighthouse on the dark continent, potentially attracting something even more terrifying at any moment.
The sniper and biologist made a makeshift stretcher and carried Nader onward.
Isaac led the way, while Ayana covered the rear. Her senses were maximized with the help of [Powerful Amplification], keeping a watchful eye on any movement.
The system's relaunch was like a pebble thrown into a still lake, creating ripples and also bringing a deeper fog.
Ayana tried to communicate with it in her mind: "System, you said you awakened to protect my safety, what exactly do you mean? Also, what are the uses of these Dark Continent specialties?"
[Host, the core protocol of this system contains the highest priority clause guaranteeing the host's survival. The environmental rules of the Dark Continent are abnormal, and the threat level far exceeds expectations, triggering the forced awakening mechanism.]
Regarding specialty items, their specific effects require the host to explore independently or provide samples for in-depth analysis.
[Preliminary assessment suggests they may possess unique abilities that could be used for enhancement, manufacturing, etc. Other unknown uses should be approached with caution.]
This explanation is equivalent to no explanation at all.
Ayana frowned and stopped asking questions.
She brought her attention back to reality, where the dark red gravel beneath her feet was gradually replaced by a slippery rock covered in dark green moss.
The air grew increasingly humid and sultry, and towering, umbrella-shaped fungi began to appear all around, their enormous caps obscuring the already dim light and making the environment as hazy as dusk.
A faint, cloying sweetness tinged with a rotten smell permeated the air.
"Be careful of these spores," the biologist said, pointing to the powdery particles faintly visible beneath the cap. "Try to avoid inhaling them."
They cautiously made their way through this eerie fungus forest.
Nader, on the stretcher, fell into a deep sleep due to the effects of the drugs, but even in his sleep, his brows were tightly furrowed.
His previous experience clearly left him with a deep psychological scar.
However, the malice of the Dark Continent never diminishes with caution.
Just as they were passing through a small depression surrounded by fungi, the mutation occurred again.
The seemingly calm water in the center of the depression suddenly exploded, and a black shadow as swift as lightning shot out, its target being Nader, who was being carried on a stretcher and was completely unprepared.
The thing was moving faster than the naked eye could perceive; even Ayana, whose vision had been amplified a hundredfold by the [Powerful Amplification], could only see a blurry trail.
"Pfft!"
A soft sound, like a ripe fruit being punctured.
The dark shadow pierced Nader's chest precisely, emerging from behind him.
It was a black branch with a mouth-like tip.
Nader's body convulsed violently, his eyes snapped open, and his pupils dilated instantly, filled with extreme pain and disbelief.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out; only blood gushed from it.
"Nader!" Isaac roared, his eyes wide with rage, as he lunged forward, his hand, imbued with ferocious psychic energy, slashing fiercely at the terrifying mouthpiece connecting Nader to the depression.
At the same time, Ayana moved as well, her longsword wielding the strongest power she could muster at that moment, slashing towards the same spot.
"Clang!!"
Sparks flew everywhere.
Those branches were harder than the tentacles of the earthworm.
Isaac's aura chop only left a deep mark, while Ayana's longsword was deflected, her hand split open and blood gushing out.
But their combined attack seemed to have angered the creature underwater.
A sharp, piercing screech came from underwater.
The branch that had pierced through Nader suddenly snapped back, pulling him and his body toward the water!
"No!!" The sniper tried to grab the stretcher, but the strength was too great, and he couldn't resist it at all. The stretcher slipped from his grasp instantly.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
Nader's body was quickly dragged into the water that was filled with an eerie black mist.
The water surface churned violently, and a huge shadow with countless slender segments could be vaguely seen stirring underwater.
Blood stained the water as quickly as ink, accompanied by the crunching sound of bones being crushed and swallowed.
Within two or three seconds, the churning stopped, and the water returned to its calm state, only now its color had become darker.
Nader's body, along with the makeshift stretcher, vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.
The mushroom forest was deathly silent.
Only the heavy, suppressed breathing of the team members remained, along with the dripping sound of Ayana's blood falling onto the rocks.
The sniper remained frozen in place, his outstretched arms extended forward, his face deathly pale.
The biologist slumped to the ground, his eyes behind his glasses filled with fear and bewilderment.
Isaac stood by the water's edge, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, and blood dripped from between his fingers. He stared intently at the water that had swallowed his teammates, his chest heaving violently, his eyes churning with anger, grief, and a barely concealed lingering fear.
This was not an evenly matched battle, or even a battle at all.
This was a perfect and ruthless annihilation.
It strikes a fatal blow, then devours the corpse along with it, leaving no trace.
The Dark Continent proclaimed its laws to them in the most direct and cruel way.
Here, weakness itself is the original sin, death is ever-present, and it may be utterly meaningless.
“…Let’s go.” After a long silence, Isaac’s hoarse voice broke the stillness. He didn’t turn around, his voice carrying a forced, suppressed tremor. “Get out of here immediately!”
No one objected.
The sniper silently picked up the gun that had fallen to the ground, while the biologist staggered to his feet.
Ayana tore off a strip of cloth and quickly bandaged the wound on her hand, feeling the stinging pain in her palm and the ever-spreading chill in her heart.
Nader is dead.
They didn't die in a fierce battle, but rather died so abruptly and so easily.
The system's voice echoed softly in her mind.
The monster "Shadow Scythe Leech" has been detected. It attacks stealthily and its weak point is the organ where its mouthparts connect to its body. However, given its attack speed and defense, it is extremely difficult to approach and attack its weak point.
It is advised not to engage in combat.
A sense of powerlessness welled up in Ayana's heart.
She gritted her teeth and followed the group forward.
The team silently sped away from the deadly fungus forest depression.
It felt like a huge rock was pressing on everyone's heart.
Nader's death was not just the loss of a teammate; it was more like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing any lingering hope they might have had when they first entered the Dark Continent.
Here, every step could be the last.
And they've only just begun.
*
The oppressive atmosphere of the Dark Continent and Nader's tragic death seeped into everyone's bones like a cold poison.
The team marched in silence for several days, everyone on edge and exhausted.
Ayana's hand wounds had long since healed under the system's healing potions, but the chill in her heart and the awareness of her own insignificance lingered.
One night, while she was on duty at the temporary camp, gazing at the moon in the sky, which was tinged with an eerie purple by the distorted atmosphere, a strong sense of longing and an indescribable weariness welled up in her heart.
[Host, would you like to change your mood by going somewhere else?]
The system seemed to sense her low spirits and spoke up.
Although the missions in each world have ended, we can still return to previous worlds, but this will consume a lot of energy and the stay time will be limited.
“I want to go back to Meteor City,” Ayana said after thinking for a moment. “Right now, even if it’s just for a little while.”
[Received. Host will now be transported to the first world.]
[Additionally, this transfer is temporary, with a maximum stay of 12 hours. Is this confirmed?]
"confirm."
Without alerting anyone in the camp, Ayana's figure gradually blurred in the shadows of the night watch, and then disappeared.
After the familiar feeling of weightlessness, I felt a solid sensation under my feet.
The air was filled with the unique scent of Meteor City.
She's back.
Ayana exhaled, the tension in her body relaxing.
The furnishings inside the cabin were exactly the same as when she left, and there was even a transaction list that she had half-finished compiling on the table, the ink of which didn't seem to be completely dry yet.
She looked around the familiar yet unfamiliar little space when she suddenly heard very faint footsteps behind her.
Ayana turned around abruptly.
Kuroro stood in the doorway, moonlight streaming in from behind him, outlining his slender and upright figure.
His eyes remained as deep and still as an ancient well, but at this moment, something seemed to be slowly turning at the bottom of that well, shimmering with an elusive light.
"Ayana," Kuroro called her name, his voice low and steady.
Ayana was about to say something when she saw Kuroro walk into the house, close the door, and shut everything out.
There was only a small oil lamp in the room, emitting a dim and warm glow that dispelled a small patch of darkness and illuminated the faces of the two people who were so close together.
Kuroro slowly approached, the dim light dancing in his deep eyes.
His expression was very serious, his gaze tracing Ayana's features.
“Ayana,” he spoke again, his voice lower than before, making it particularly clear in the quiet little house, “have you been here all this time?”
Kuroro's question was calm, but Ayana felt a strange sense of guilt, as if he could see right through her.
"I..." she tried to explain, opening her mouth but then closing it again, unsure of what to say.
After all, she couldn't reveal anything about the system, nor did she intend to.
Kuroro gently shook his head, indicating that she didn't need to say anything more.
He stopped in front of Ayana, so close that she could feel his cool, refreshing scent, mixed with the dust and old paper smell unique to Meteor City.
“You know what,” Kuroro raised his hand, but didn’t touch her. He simply pointed his fingertips lightly at her heart, “Ayana, you are unlike anyone I’ve ever met before.”
His gaze remained fixed on her, allowing her no chance to look away.
"Meteor City taught us to plunder, to be suspicious, and to survive. Emotions are a luxury, a weakness, and I have always believed that, and I have used that as my guiding principle."
Kuroro's voice was as calm as if he were stating a fact unrelated to himself: "But you appeared, with a stubbornness and light that I cannot understand."
He tilted his head slightly, as if thinking about how to describe it accurately.
“You built the farm not for yourself, but for those children who have nothing to do with you. You fought against outsiders not for power, but to protect some ridiculous sense of fairness.”
"You are powerful, but you do not abuse your power; you have been vulnerable, but you have never truly surrendered."
He paused, a look of confusion in his eyes: "Ayana, you are a miracle that shouldn't exist in Meteor City, yet you have truly taken root here."
Ayana held her breath as she listened to him speak in such a calm tone, words so different from what she had come to know.
Kuroro's fingertips slowly moved down, finally landing gently on the back of her hand, which was placed at her side.
His fingertips were slightly cool, and with just a touch, Ayana felt as if her skin had been burned.
Just then, she suddenly heard the system's voice.
[Detected that the affection level of the adorable [Kuroro] is 100%.]
...No way.
At this point, the favorability rating reaches 100%?
Ayana had a vague idea in her mind.
“Ayana, I’ve found that I can no longer see you the same way I see everyone else.”
Kuroro continued, "When you're out of sight, I worry, even feel anxious. When you're in danger, I worry about whether you'll get hurt."
His fingers tightened slightly, taking Ayana's cool hand into his palm.
The force wasn't heavy, but it carried an undeniable firmness.
"This feeling of being out of control is very unfamiliar." Kuroro looked directly into her eyes, and those eyes, which were always filled with detachment, now clearly reflected her somewhat dazed face.
He leaned forward, and the two were so close that their noses almost touched, their warm breaths mingling.
“Ayana, I need you, not as a companion or ally.”
He paused for a moment, then clearly said, "Ayana, actually, I liked you from the very first time we met."
"And you?"
Ayana…Ayana…
Ayana's mind was about to explode.
She felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest, almost bursting out of her throat.
Ayana looked at Kuroro, who was so close to her, and stammered, "Ah... ah?"
Kuroro sighed, as if he had expected her to react this way.
He held Ayana's hand and continued.
“Ayana, I have never been a kind person.”
"I give you bread because I like you, and I act obediently in front of you because you like it when I do."
His tone was more serious than ever before: "Ayana, and you?"
The light from the oil lamp cast their shadows on the wall, where they blended together seamlessly.
Ayana looked at the boy's face, its contours softened by the lamplight, but couldn't utter a word.
Ayana felt a wave of heat rush from her feet to the top of her head, her cheeks so hot they could fry an egg on them.
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, making her eardrums buzz, and her mind went blank, as if all her thinking ability had been blown away by Kuroro's confession.
The amount of information was too much, and the impact was too strong, causing Ayana to completely lose her composure.
Her mouth was agape as she stared at Kuroro's face, which was so close to hers. His eyes held nothing but a pure, unwavering focus as he awaited her response, which only fueled her panic.
"I...I..." she stammered, her voice barely audible, unable to form any complete sentences.
It was as if countless versions of her were screaming and running or rolling around in fear, but none of them could stand up and give a decent answer.
Seeing her looking like she was about to burst into flames and wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground, the faint confusion deep in Kuroro's eyes seemed to dissipate, replaced by a knowing look and a very shallow smile.
He didn't urge her, but waited quietly, his grip on her hand remaining steady, as if he had endless patience.
But for Ayana at that moment, this silence and gaze were nothing short of torture.
No way!
We can't hold on any longer! We have to get out of here immediately!
She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would overheat and crash!
Ayana abruptly pulled her hand back, stammering, "I...I suddenly remembered I have something to do! I'm leaving now!"
Before she could finish speaking, she didn't even dare to look at Kuroro's expression. With her hands and feet moving in an extremely stiff posture, she turned around, slammed the door open, and darted out like a startled rabbit, instantly disappearing into the thick darkness of Meteor City.
All that remained was the still-shaking door of the small house behind him, and Kuroro standing there inside.
[Host, are you... shy?]
The system's voice carried a subtle hint of mockery.
"Shut up!" Ayana shouted in her mind, filled with shame and indignation.
She ran wildly until she was far away from the cabin, then leaned against a dilapidated wall, panting heavily, trying to calm her heart which was pounding in her throat.
Ayana practically fled, having the system immediately teleport her back to her camp on the Dark Continent.
When she returned, the camp was still quiet, as if she had only been gone for a moment.
But the still-beating heart in her chest and the lingering heat on her face reminded her that what had just happened was not an illusion.
The adventures on the Dark Continent continued to be fraught with unknowns and dangers over the next few days.
They traversed a sea of purple flowers that emitted enchanting whispers, avoiding the eerie creatures lurking in the shadows that could mimic the voices of their companions.
Every day is a tense moment, every step feels like walking on thin ice.
The shadow of Nader's death had not yet faded, but the instinct for survival compelled them to keep going.
In this high-pressure environment, Ayana actually had enough time and space to calmly sort out her chaotic thoughts.
She kept recalling Kuroro's words, the warmth of his fingertips, and the unusual focus in his eyes.
As she peeled away the layer of panic caused by shock and shyness and examined her own heart, a clear answer gradually emerged.
Ayana recalled the days they fought side by side in Meteor City, his support in helping her build her farm, and every day and night they spent together.
And what about her?
After traveling through a series of worlds and meeting all sorts of people, she feels very at ease when she's with Kuroro, which is quite rare.
More importantly, when she imagines a future world without Kuroro, an indescribable emptiness wells up in her heart.
The boy who supported her in the darkness had, without her noticing, occupied a unique place in her heart.
Yes, Ayana likes Kuroro.
Perhaps from the very beginning, when he handed over that piece of bread, the seed of that unusual feeling had already been sown.
She just never dared to, or rather, couldn't face it.
Having figured this out, Ayana felt much more relaxed, and even the oppressive environment of the Dark Continent seemed less unbearable.
She even began to look forward to returning to Meteor City as soon as this exploration came to an end, and to seriously reciprocating Kuroro's feelings.
However, the Dark Continent never heeds anyone's expectations or plans.
On this day, the group entered an area filled with huge, transparent crystal pillars.
These crystals emitted a soft glow, illuminating the surroundings in a dazzling and surreal way, as beautiful as a fairyland.
But having learned from past lessons, no one dared to let their guard down.
Biologists have detected a strange energy fluctuation in the air that resonates with crystals and can slightly interfere with a person's mental energy and perception.
He warned everyone to speed up and get through the area as quickly as possible.
Ayana walked in the middle of the group, still pondering how to tell Kuroro when they got back.
Should I say "I like you too" directly, or be a little more subtle?
Thinking about Kuroro's possible reaction, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.
Just then, something unexpected happened.
Beside her stood a giant, still, transparent crystal pillar, whose internal light suddenly became blinding.
Immediately afterwards, the surface of the crystal pillar rippled like water, and a giant python monster shimmering with seven-colored light shot out from it without warning.
Its target was none other than Ayana, whose vigilance had been at its lowest due to distraction.
The monster had no physical form and was incredibly fast; Ayana didn't even have time to hear the system's warning.
The giant python swallowed her whole.
"Ayana!!"
Isaac's exclamation seemed to come from the distant horizon.
Ayana's consciousness was swallowed by endless darkness, her vision rapidly dimmed, and her senses were rapidly fading away, as if she were about to be completely melted into this beautiful yet deadly crystal light.
Is she going to die?
Before Ayana could react, the system spoke urgently.
[Host vital signs detected as disappearing!]
[Immediate enforcement measures will be taken to protect the host's life!]
The system's voice became more urgent and almost human-like in its anxiety than ever before.
An energy far more powerful than ever before erupted from the depths of Ayana's body, forming a solid cocoon that forcefully enveloped her.
A blinding white light erupted from Ayana, causing the giant python to clutch its stomach and howl in pain.
Isaac and the others were so shocked by the sudden change and the bright light that they could barely open their eyes and could only see the giant python writhing in extreme pain.
The white light lasted for about two or three seconds, and then abruptly went out as abruptly as it had appeared.
Immediately afterwards, the giant python's body seemed to lose its support, and its entire body began to dissipate, turning into countless scattered points of light that dissolved into the air and eventually disappeared completely.
All that remained was the tranquil crystal forest and the empty ground.
Ayana has disappeared.
“…Ayana?” The sniper’s voice trembled with disbelief as he rushed to the spot where Ayana had just stood, looking around in vain.
The biologist, his face ashen, adjusted his askew glasses and said in a hoarse voice, "Both the python and she are gone. She's probably..."
He couldn't continue, but the conclusion was already obvious.
Isaac stood frozen in place.
Ayana died a more swift and decisive death than Nader, and it was also more despairing.
The Dark Continent has once again declared its absolute dominance in ways that are beyond its comprehension.
Isaac closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was a deathly stillness.
“…Go.” He uttered the word hoarsely, turned away from the empty ground, and continued forward with heavy but firm steps.
But that silhouette looked more desolate than ever before.
The sniper followed silently, gripping his gun tightly until his knuckles turned white.
The biologist staggered, taking one last look at the empty space, his eyes filled with fear and bewilderment at his own fate.
The team set off again, a deathly silence enveloping everyone.
Ayana's death, in its complete disappearance, is deeply etched in everyone's hearts, becoming yet another wound that can never heal.
Everyone was convinced she was dead.
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