Chapter 103: I Suggest Surrendering
Inside the main painting world, within the reception hall on the first floor of the ancient castle.
The young lady sat alone on a high stool before an easel. Her demeanor toward others could not be described as indifferent; "cold" was a more fitting term, treating everyone with equal detachment.
Perhaps accustomed to solitude, the young lady silently painted. The dull clatter of armor echoed, yet she did not look toward the source of the sound. She merely dipped her brush in paint and continued to depict her artwork.
"Knight Grandpa, you've arrived."
The young lady's voice remained clear and cold, though a hint of emotion now colored it.
The newcomer did not speak, standing silently in place. His armor was worn and battered, a great sword stained with blood hung across his back, and his graying beard was tied with a faded red string.
Aged, towering, silent, and exuding immense pressure—just the sight of him would make ordinary people tremble, frozen in fear.
"Do you want to take back your heart? I placed it with the Sun Church. If you wish, I'll have them return it. I saw Little Firebird not long ago; I'll send it to retrieve it."
The young lady's tone remained flat, as if commanding the Sun Church to obey was an ordinary matter.
"No need. I no longer... require that thing. The ancient city has fallen; only you and I remain."
"The ancient city..."
The young lady's hand holding the brush paused. She wanted to continue speaking but ultimately fell silent.
"Are you now the Painter, or Rosa Egg?"
The old knight's tone grew more distant.
"I am Rosa Egg. I am still Rosa Egg, you know."
The young lady's name closely resembled that of the first Painter, whose name was Rosa Nie.
"That's good."
The old knight's gaze toward the young lady softened considerably, as if looking at a family member.
"Knight Grandpa, you don't have to do this. Everyone has their own fate. Why must you bear so much for us? You are someone who should have long rested in peace. You owe no one anything. You repaid the dynasty's kindness, saved many who cried out in the darkness, and gave hope to the people of the ancient city. Even if the outcome was bad, they died with hope—isn't that far better than dying in despair?"
After speaking, the young lady's expression showed a hint of melancholy.
"You will become the Painter."
The old knight's voice suddenly grew hoarse but resolute. He stepped toward the corridor, ascended to the second floor, and stopped before the door to the castle's ward.
Click, click, click~
The lock on the metal ward door turned on its own, and with a loud bang, it swung open. The old knight stepped into the darkness ahead, marked by purple light spots, entering the Nightmare: Ancient Castle Ward.
The old knight passed through the curved corridor, main hall, and patient rooms before entering the storage hall.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Lamp Sister approached from ahead. When she was still nearly ten meters away, she stopped.
Lamp Sister felt fear. She recognized this aura. It was this very aura that had nearly killed her years ago, almost shattering this nightmare entirely.
...
At the bottom of the sea, Shelter City No. 6, Inner District.
The temperature inside the small building soared. The Porous Divine Envoy, weighing at least six hundred jin, wore an extremely grim expression.
"They've found us after all."
The Porous Divine Envoy strode out of the small building. His reaction was understandable—it was Zuiyasi's doing.
As soon as Su Xiao, Wude, and Zuiyasi arrived at Shelter City No. 6, a powerful enemy struck. Unless someone had water in their brain, they'd realize it was their fault.
At times like this, a scapegoat was needed. Was anyone more suitable than the Porous Divine Envoy? No. He took the blame, subtly implying that the powerful enemy was actually here to retaliate against him. That would cause no issues—Shelter City No. 6 was his territory. Who dared to object?
That was precisely why Su Xiao and the others had risked attacking the Porous Divine Envoy as soon as they arrived at Shelter City No. 6—time was of the essence.
Now, it was clear this decision was incredibly wise. No sooner had they succeeded than the powerful enemy struck.
The Porous Divine Envoy was about to receive a new pot to carry. It was easy to imagine that any broken pot from now on would be dumped on him. It was all Porous's fault.
Su Xiao leaped out of the small building's window and looked upward. Above Shelter City No. 6 was originally an inverted semicircular light membrane and a millstone-sized, impure sunstone that provided light for the crops within the shelter to grow normally.
The "sky" of the shelter city was originally beautiful. The sunlight reflected the seawater above into a light blue, hiding the darkness of the deep sea.
But now, the sunstone above had dimmed, looking no different from ordinary rock. The sunlight it emitted had been absorbed.
Gurgle, gurgle...
The seawater above the light membrane bubbled and churned, dyed a golden-red. A massive ball of flame plunged downward. Remember, this was tens of thousands of meters below the sea. Even the most advanced submarine would be instantly torn apart by the water pressure or compressed into a solid tin can.
Under such terrifying water pressure, a giant bird dove straight down without any protection.
Did the sea suppress flames? No, the flames caused the seawater to boil, evaporating into steam that rose as countless bubbles. The sight was both horrifying and spectacular.
Inside Shelter City No. 6, the usual clamor ceased. Whether poor, citizens, or nobles, everyone looked up. The nobles, usually full of arrogance, now felt their feet go weak and their teeth chatter in fear. This was something they could not resist.
The Sun Bird: Taihakak, a divine creature born from the Sun Church's millennia of fanatical faith, had arrived. The faith energy it absorbed was too paranoid and intense, granting it unparalleled power and obsession.
Any prey targeted by the Sun Bird: Taihakak, even if they fled to the ends of the earth or tens of thousands of meters beneath the sea, it would find them and burn them to ashes.
Within the descending giant fireball in the seawater, the shape of a giant bird was clearly visible. Its tail feathers were like ribbons of flame, its eyes sharp, fierce, proud, and merciless.
Splash!
The sound of breaking water became piercing. The Porous Divine Envoy looked up at the Sun Bird: Taihakak, swallowed hard, and felt intense confusion. His thought was: 'Am I an idiot? Why did I provoke such an existence? If I apologize now, would it be too late?'
It wasn't that the Porous Divine Envoy was a coward. Anyone with a shred of reason would have the same reaction upon seeing the Sun Bird: Taihakak.
"Porous, gather everyone and fight outside the shelter city."
After saying this, Zuiyasi quickly rushed toward the outer city, leaving the shelter as fast as possible.
The Porous Divine Envoy shouted, and several sea clan guards appeared, following his orders to gather people.
They absolutely could not fight inside the shelter city. That would be certain death. The Sun Bird: Taihakak's ability was Solar Flame. If it charged through the water-blocking light membrane into the air-filled shelter city, its combat power would increase by at least sixty to seventy percent.
Although the shelter city was large, about the size of a city, for a solar divine creature, it was a natural furnace. The Solar Flame it released would soon fill the area, burning all enemies to ashes.
Fighting in the seawater was different. Although the Sun Bird: Taihakak would cause the surrounding seawater to boil, it wouldn't be roasted to a crisp.
Judging by the golden-red color of the seawater above, the Sun Bird: Taihakak was already very close. Su Xiao leaped across rooftops at full speed.
When he reached the outer city, not far from the city gate, he could already see the Sun Bird: Taihakak above.
Splash~
Su Xiao passed through the light membrane at the city gate and charged into the seawater, activating the Sea God Statue.
Due to Su Xiao's movement, the Sun Bird: Taihakak also changed direction. Originally diving straight into the shelter city from above, it sharply turned and came straight for Su Xiao in the sea.
As the powerful enemy approached, Su Xiao released the Apostle's Eye and attempted to detect the Sun Bird: Taihakak's information.
[Comparing both parties' intelligence attributes... Only 6.75% of the enemy's data detected.]
Name: Sun Bird: Taihakak
Category: Divine Creature
Health: 100%
Solar Energy (Divine): 107,519/113,000 points
Strength: ??? (True Attribute)
Agility: ??? (True Attribute)
Stamina: ??? (True Attribute)
Intelligence: ??? (True Attribute)
Charm: 249 (True Attribute)
Skill 1, Sun Divine (Passive, Lv.82): Health +69,000 points, Physical Defense +51 points, Physical Damage Reduction 26.7%, Energy Damage Reduction 32%, Immune to all Fire, Flame, and Solar damage.
Skill 2, Faith Monster (Passive, X): Health +82,000 points, Immune to all control effects, possesses Undying and Rebirth traits.
Note: Within this main painting world, the Sun Bird: Taihakak's Undying and Rebirth traits prevent normal death and death from instant-death effects, but cannot negate death from Execution effects (all instant-death abilities, Execution is the highest tier).
Skill 3: ???
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Skill 18, World-Burning Karma Fire (Ultimate Ability): ???.
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