"Alas, they draw near! Hasten, let us flee!" cried Monica in alarm. A bullet whizzed perilously close to her face, nearly shattering her composure. She couldn't help but urgently tap Barrett Walker's shoulder, urging him on.
Barrett Walker could sense the bullets flying around them. With Monica on his back, he suddenly accelerated, sliding down the steep mountain ravine. The speed became too intense, nearly throwing both of them off. Barrett Walker swiftly protected Monica against his chest, and they rolled uncontrollably. Barrett Walker landed on his back, bearing the weight of both of them. The impact left him momentarily dazed but eventually brought them to a halt.
Throughout this tumultuous journey, Monica was well shielded by Barrett Walker. However, her evening gown was torn by thorny branches, revealing patches of smooth, white skin. The two of them clung tightly together, and Monica could even hear Barrett Walker's strong and rhythmic heartbeat. Raising her head, she locked eyes with him, exuding a captivating allure. Barrett Walker, despite the pain that made him grimace, couldn't help but be taken aback by Monica's enchanting gaze. Gradually, his body responded, a fiery sensation ignited in his lower abdomen.
As they exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a hazy longing. Monica felt the heat emanating from Barrett Walker's body, especially when a sudden pang in her lower abdomen jolted her like a startled fawn. She leaped away from the source of pain, colliding with that fiery presence. Barrett Walker winced in agony, clutching it and letting out a cry.
"What happened? Let me see where you're hurt!" Despite Monica's knowledge of intimate matters between a man and a woman, she remained somewhat conservative when it came to men. She covered her nose, wrinkling it in response to the pungent odor that filled the air, and asked in a peculiar tone.
Barrett Walker wished he could find a hole to crawl into, angrily saying, "It's because you look so bewitching and dress so provocatively!"
Oops! It was only at this moment that Monica noticed her own appearance. She discovered a large expanse of snowy white skin exposed on her chest, with her bosom proudly displayed, undeniably tempting. Her long and slender legs were also bared, their fair skin strikingly visible in the darkness. Every expression and gesture she made exuded an astonishing charm. Monica gasped, driven by her instinct as a woman, and quickly reached to pull her dress back into place, covering her chest and securing her bosom. She completed these actions with a forceful kick aimed at Barrett Walker.
Barrett Walker wanted to protest, questioning why it was always the man who got injured, while women seemed to be justified no matter the circumstances. He rolled forward, and suddenly, the ground beneath them rumbled. Monica, being in the front, exclaimed and immediately crouched down, while Barrett Walker felt a void behind him. He flailed in the air, but with a loud thud, his back made intimate contact with the ground. Before the pain could fully register, a human-shaped object crashed onto Barrett Walker, almost knocking the wind out of him. Why did he have to experience this series of misfortunes? He hadn't even eaten anything at the banquet! Why was he repeatedly on the verge of vomiting?
Suddenly, as the air reached the interior of the cave, ancient oil lamps on the walls flickered to life, illuminating the distance. Standing in the cave, Barrett Walker felt sore all over, as if his body was about to fall apart. Looking at Monica, who wore a curious expression, he couldn't help but feel that he had endured all the misfortune for her.
"Can't you show a little sympathy? I became your shield, and yet you cast me aside like this!" Barrett Walker watched as Monica began to walk deeper into the cave and quickly scolded her from behind.
"Ah! My apologies!" Monica blushed slightly as Barrett Walker spoke. If she hadn't hit Barrett Walker earlier, she probably wouldn't be so lively and energetic now. It finally dawned on her, and she quickly turned around to support Barrett Walker. She wrinkled her nose and said, "Oh! So, this smell is coming from you. It's quite unpleasant. Did you fall into a toilet? Hurry up and wash!"
Barrett Walker made a wry face. He couldn't believe she described the smell as foul. He couldn't help but think, "What if someday a man asks you to endure it? Let's see how you handle it!" Barrett Walker never expected such impure thoughts to cross his mind. He muttered, "I'm losing it! Losing it!"
"Hmph! If you don't want help, I'll just go on my own! Good deeds go unrewarded!" Barrett Walker supported his almost broken waist and followed behind Monica, step by step.
The air in the cave was somewhat murky. It had only cleared a bit after they opened it, allowing some air to flow in. They looked at the burning flames on the wall, unconcerned about the accumulated marsh gas or lack of air. The two of them walked confidently in the deep and lengthy tunnel, gradually encountering a slightly stale air. The scent of mold and moss mixed in, concealing the strong odor emanating from Barrett Walker.
"Could this be a treasure left behind by a peerless master? Meant for someone destined to find it, in a place with cliffs and pursuers?" Monica suddenly became excited and unable to contain herself, turning around with anticipation.
"I wonder why you suddenly don't mind getting dirty today and don't have any cleanliness issues. So, this is the reason!" Barrett Walker couldn't help but wipe away a cold sweat. This woman's imagination was truly abundant. Based on what he learned in class, the torch's self-ignition wouldn't last much longer!
"Hmph! No social skills!" Monica lightly snorted. This man had no sense of humor and didn't know how to please her. She quickened her pace and walked deeper into the tunnel.
"Boom!" Suddenly, the entire tunnel trembled, and countless small rocks fell. Startled, Monica let out a cry and quickly hid behind Barrett Walker.
Seeing Monica's exaggerated reaction, Barrett Walker said, "Let's go! The sound came from behind. They must be firing at this cave!" He held onto Monica, with no intention of being inappropriate, and quickly ran deeper into the tunnel.
The two stumbled along with the light, and suddenly Barrett Walker stopped in his tracks.
"What's wrong? Keep moving! They're about to catch up!" Monica couldn't help but ask when he suddenly stopped.
"Have you noticed that as we follow the light, the air becomes increasingly murky and thin, with a sharp odor?" Barrett Walker closed his eyes and carefully felt his surroundings.
"Yes! I noticed it too..." Monica wasn't foolish. She instantly guessed what might be happening and couldn't help but feel excited. If it was true, then perhaps there really was a treasure!
Listening to Monica's tone, Barrett Walker realized how carefree she was. She was still thinking about the treasure. With his eyes closed, he continued walking forward. They walked for an unknown distance until he reached out into the darkness on the wall, only to find emptiness. Luckily, he had been cautious and quickly said, "Hurry! Let's take this path. It's well-ventilated!"
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"But I want to see what's inside!" Monica stood at the hidden fork, looking at where the light extended, reluctant to let go.
"Enough! It's already late, and you're still thinking about these things. Don't risk your life!" Barrett Walker pulled Monica's outstretched hand and squeezed into a narrow passage that only allowed one person to pass. Soon, there was no light inside the narrow passage. The slippery moss on both sides made Monica very uncomfortable. Several times, she wanted to turn back, but Barrett Walker held her hand, leaving her no choice but to squirm in protest. Whenever this happened, Barrett Walker couldn't see Monica's expression. He could only grip her hand tightly and whisper, "Protests are futile!"
At that moment, Monica would chuckle softly, easing the tense atmosphere between them.
"Behold, have you laid eyes upon it?" Suddenly, a sense of emptiness filled their bodies as the narrow passage widened before them, revealing a surprising light. Barrett Walker pointed ahead with excitement in his voice.
"Yes, I see it! Hurry, let's go and see what it is. Could our luck truly be this fortuitous?" In an unexpected turn, Monica reached out and grabbed Barrett Walker's hand, swiftly running towards the source of the light.
Hiss! As they beheld the sight before them, both of them involuntarily gasped in astonishment. The vast expanse, almost hollowed out from the mountain's depths, was filled to the brim with skeletal remains. Ghostly flames and luminescence dancing upon the bones illuminated everything, creating a scene of utmost horror.
"What is this?" Monica couldn't hold back and vomited on the spot, the sound echoing loudly. A chilling breeze blew, carrying a fresh and crisp air. Despite the accumulation of corpses in this grave, there was not a trace of decay. However, the scent carried by the wind intensified Monica's vomiting.
Barrett Walker felt his stomach churn, devoid of anything. He wanted to vomit but dared not do so. He suppressed the nausea, his stomach occasionally convulsing, causing great discomfort. He reached out to pat Monica's back, but she screamed and evaded his touch. Realizing it was Barrett Walker, she nervously continued to bend over and retch.
After a considerable time, the two finally regained their composure. However, the sight of the mountain filled with countless dry bones still made them uneasy. Monica asked, "How could so many people be buried here?"
"I don't know. Let's go down and take a look!" In Barrett Walker's mind, thoughts of imperial burial practices arose, a cultural custom he deemed embarrassing to mention. He held Monica's hand and led her down into the deep pit, carefully walking along the edge. They gazed at the decaying mass of bones, their garments long turned into mud.
"Quick, look! What is that?" Monica pointed at a brilliant, round, and green pearl amidst the pile of corpses, exclaiming in astonishment. The green pearl was truly exquisite, emanating a captivating radiance. One glance at it and their eyes couldn't be torn away. Monica was immediately drawn to its beauty.
"Think carefully! This is something nurtured within the corpse heap. Though it may be beautiful, the thought of it is truly nauseating." Barrett Walker had no concept of such beautiful objects, even though he could casually produce intact high-energy crystals like the fiery red and icy white pair. The idea of something nurtured by the dead didn't sit well with him.
Upon hearing Barrett Walker's words, Monica's enthusiasm waned. She asked, "What is this thing, then?"
"Alas, I know not, but surely it must be something remarkable," Barrett Walker gazed at the heap of lifeless bodies, fixated on the luminous, round, green orb floating inexplicably. "Let us depart! This place reeks of malevolence!"
As Barrett spoke, faint footsteps suddenly echoed from all directions. In an instant, the footsteps transformed into the cries of a colossal infant, reverberating through the air. Barrett's entire body bristled, cold sweat trickling down his back. He instinctively pulled Monica behind him, even bowing slightly, akin to a tightly strung bow.
Monica screamed in terror as the infant's cry seemed to caress her body, a chilling sensation penetrating her mind, leaving her in a state of blankness save for the rapid pounding of her heart. Truly horrifying!
"Quick, let us flee!" Barrett yanked Monica's hand, the unease within him almost materializing. They dashed away from the mound of corpses.
Wails! The piercing cry of the infant abruptly intensified as a crimson tongue emerged from the pile, swiftly swallowing the green orb. A colossal insect-like creature burst through the bones.
"Mother Empress!" Barrett's mind exploded. The Mother Empress, an entity unheard of even during the apocalypse. Barrett only learned of her existence after being reborn. There was a report discussing the Mother Empress and the origin of these monstrous insect creatures, but it was dismissed as mere nonsense, a pessimistic threat meant to stir human nerves, a mere spectacle! At that time, Barrett had merely been a curious bystander, but now, witnessing the emergence of the Mother Empress, his mind was filled with the horrors described in the article.
With the cries of an infant and the body of a snake, the Mother Empress possessed nine tails and countless legs, impervious from head to toe, resembling a steel-armored tank. She thrived in cold and damp places, akin to an ancient mythical beast of the Far East.
Barrett couldn't fathom the implications. The fact that the Mother Empress resided outside the imperial capital meant an unimaginable disaster for its inhabitants. A thunderous roar shook the earth, leaving Barrett helpless. He clung to Monica and crashed into a wall, his body battered.
Despite being battered, Barrett managed to keep himself intact. He grabbed Monica's hand and sprinted towards a narrow passage. The Mother Empress's colossal strides swept past them, and they both instinctively bent over as the sharp giant foot effortlessly cleaved through the mountain wall like tofu, without hindrance.
"What shall we do?" Monica's mind remained blank, overwhelmed by the sheer terror of the creature. After the strike, her body felt weak, almost devoid of strength, as Barrett dragged her forward.
"Hold on!" Barrett could sense the lack of strength in Monica's soft body. The short distance of a dozen meters seemed like an insurmountable chasm in his eyes. If he let go of Monica, he might save himself.
Whoosh! Clearly, in the eyes of the Mother Empress, the two were nothing more than food. She didn't rush to devour them but rather played with them. A sharp foot slashed towards them.
"Run!" In the end, Barrett chose not to escape alone. He firmly grasped Monica's hand, his muscles bulging all over, veins resembling scurrying mice. Barrett's body grew by thirty centimeters, reaching over two meters, like a small giant. However, in the face of the Mother Empress, he remained minuscule as an ant. With a furious roar, brimming with confidence, akin to the roar of a lion, the members of the War God Clan relied on their comprehensive development.
To the Mother Empress, Barrett at this moment resembled an intoxicated mouse, brandishing a knife in search of a cat. Having endured the monotonous cultivation here for so long, she rarely encountered such an interesting little creature. The fist-sized green eyes of the insect were filled with mockery as one of its sharp feet lazily struck towards Barrett.
Though Barrett Walker exudes confidence, it is better left unspoken, for his gracefulness is far from sufficient.
Barrett Walker is akin to an unbreakable copper pea, battered to the point of bone-deep weariness, yet he persists, suppressing the pain that rivals the anguish of his mother's demise. It seems the Queen herself grows weary of this game, as her blade descends upon Barrett Walker. Oh, how he yearns for a sniper rifle in this moment, as thoughts of life's allure consume his mind, leaving only the silhouette of a gun.
"Beast! I am here, come and slay me!" Monica emerges from the narrow passage, disheveled and exposing swathes of flesh, now stained with blood, devoid of radiance. Yet, in her frenzied state, she evokes even greater compassion.
Barrett Walker's vision blurs, his gaze fixed upon Monica, who disregards her appearance and screams with abandon. His mind becomes a muddled mess: "You foolish girl!"
Indeed, Monica, drenched in blood from head to toe, possesses a magnetism surpassing that of Barrett Walker. The fierce gaze of the Queen turns towards Monica. Could it be true, the allure of a fragrant woman and a putrid man?