Just minutes before, in the Bellflower Courtyard at the heart of the lost city of Vessas, a pink octopus was curling up in a corner of a familiar cave, trembling incessantly and always keeping a wary eye on the two little lolitas who were still curiously staring at her.
At that moment, Ling Xi's heart was unexpectedly filled with a sense of fear.
Clearly, she had just been tormented by these two young girls to the point of nearly developing a psychological shadow.
Kids are truly terrifying...
Fortunately, it seemed that little Aeria, perhaps to prevent her sisters from provoking the pink octopus into retaliation, took the initiative to pull her sisters back and held them in her arms.
Seeing the two 'demons' restrained by Aeria, Ling Xi finally took a deep breath in relief.
For some reason, at that moment, Ling Xi felt that little Aeria wasn't so bad after all.
Then, to comfort her wounded soul, the pink octopus quickly ate a dozen apples to calm her nerves. Although Aeria seemed to be pacifying her sisters, her attention was always on Ling Xi.
As she watched the other party continuously pull apples from seemingly nowhere, Aeria thoughtfully bit her lip.
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After a long silence, Aeria asked curiously:
"So, where do you keep pulling those apples from? It's magical!"
"Even though you're so small, you keep pulling out apples! Is it magic?!"
— "Of course not, I disdain using such low-level stuff as magic." —
"Then how do you do it? It seems amazing!"
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Normally, Ling Xi would not disclose her abilities to humans, especially since Severine had given them instructions before.
However, listening to the little one's praise and feeling her curiosity and excitement, Ling Xi's crimson eyes slightly narrowed.
She had a different idea.
Well, since she's just a little kid and so weak, showing her a little bit wouldn't hurt. Besides, she did help me control those two little demons; I owe her a little something.
Thus, the pink octopus haughtily placed her tentacles on her hips and proudly lifted her head,
— "Of course, the power granted to me by the Earth Evil God is related to space!" —
"Space?!!"
Aeria covered her mouth with her hand in shock, unable to believe she was looking at the pink octopus.
"Space attribute? That's the second most powerful of the twelve attributes after the holy attribute... Oh my."
— "That's right~" —
Ling Xi nodded in satisfaction.
Honestly, at that moment, the pink octopus felt a sense of fulfillment. Her abilities had never been recognized by those dead cats, always mocking her as 'Transportation Captain'...
Now, feeling the admiration in the little girl's eyes, Ling Xi felt quite pleased.
"Space abilities, do you really possess such rare powers?"
Hmm?
Seeing some doubt still in her eyes, the pink octopus frowned and waved a tentacle as if to prove her power.
The next moment, as Ling Xi's tentacles danced and a wave of dark pink curse power rippled, a massive spatial rift appeared behind her. Behind this rift was a huge warehouse filled with apples.
Right in front of Aeria, Ling Xi reached through with a tentacle, grabbed an apple, and started munching on it.
While munching, she didn’t forget to boast by lifting a sign.
— "See, this is my power~" —
"Wow!! It really is space power! So amazing!"
Seeing this, Aeria praised with shock and excitement.
Not just Aeria, Mia and Vya also stopped their antics, watching curiously what had just happened like curious babies.
"Ying~"
Collecting the reactions of the three little ones, Ling Xi nodded in satisfaction. Showing off in front of humans was quite gratifying.
However,
After contemplating for a bit more than a minute, Aeria hesitantly raised her hand.
"Um, could you please help with something?"
— "What?" —
"Can you open a space rift at the border of the Enigmatic Abyss, where our caravan was attacked before?"
Aeria spoke softly.
However,
As soon as she said it, Aeria quickly shook her head,
"No, never mind... that place is too far... even the strongest space-series Heaven's Decree Knights can't build a space corridor that far..."
As she finished speaking,
The pink octopus frowned displeasedly and quickly lifted a sign to emphasize:
"Don't compare those trash humans with me. Just because they can't do it doesn’t mean I can't."
Saying this,
The pink octopus suddenly raised a tentacle, again mobilizing curse power as if to prove something to Aeria.
However,
Just as she lifted her tentacle, Ling Xi frowned, sensing something off, and her movement stopped.
— "Open a space rift? What do you want to do?" —
"I want to find a doll."
Aeria spoke softly.
— "A doll?" —
"Yes, one stored in a delicate silver box. I want to bring it back; it's very important to us."
— "Why should I help you find a doll with my powers? Just because you ask me to open a rift, I should do it? That would be too humiliating." —
Ling Xi decisively chose to refuse.
Hearing this,
Little Aeria pouted, looking down sadly.
"That doll was personally made by our mother, Mia and Vya really love it, they always hold it dear. It's the only thing mom left us."
— "So what?" —
"If we don't have that doll, Mia and Vya will have nothing to play with... In that case, I'll just have to let my sisters play with you."
Aeria blinked her watery large eyes, looking innocent yet simple as she spoke.
Uh?!
However, this cute voice directly made the pink octopus shiver.
Glancing at the two little girls held in Aeria’s arms, looking excitedly at her, and noticing Aeria’s hands beginning to loosen, Ling Xi instinctively swallowed.
The next moment,
A brand new plank was hurriedly lifted by her.
— "Fine, whatever. I'm generous, let me show you my great power. And I'll help you look for your toy. Be grateful." —
Humph~
Raising the sign, the pink octopus pouted coldly.
Forget it,
Just a few kids, what's the big deal even if I open a channel?
They can't possibly escape right under my nose, can they?
"Really?!!"
And upon receiving this response from the pink octopus, little Aeria immediately lit up, her cherry-colored eyes filled with excitement and gratitude.
"Ying~"
After proudly raising an eyebrow, the pink octopus turned her tentacles into wheels and rolled toward the wider part of the cave.
"Whoosh~"
With surges of air flowing around,
Under Aeria’s admiring gaze, rich curse power began to condense and gather on one of Ling Xi's tentacles. As the tentacle waved and the pink light surged in Ling Xi's eyes, the space in front of her visibly began to twist.
— "Abyssal Curse Technique—Gate of the Rift." —
Just as Ling Xi executed her signature skill, a spatial rift suddenly appeared in the cave.
Seeing this, Aeria's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Because,
On the other side of the spatial rift was a scorched earth still stained with blood, with remnants of blood and broken vehicles scattered everywhere. Yes, on the other side of this spatial rift was where little Aeria first encountered the Earth Evil God...
And where her mother and teacher lost their lives.
Unlike before, since the location was where the caravan was attacked, it had been sealed off by the forces of the Western Siwa Alliance, with various types of combat mechs standing guard.
Staring at this land of sorrow, little Aeria’s fists slowly clenched.
At the same time,
The little one took a deep breath, holding her two sisters, and walked forward cautiously. While walking, she also asked anxiously:
"Did, did you find it?"
Anxiousness tinged with a trace of tension.
However,
To avoid becoming the twins’ toy again, Ling Xi was concentrating through the rift looking for the toy Aeria mentioned, and did not notice Aeria’s unusual tone.
Hmm,
A toy box?
Where is the toy box?
Taking advantage of the mechs not noticing her rift yet, Ling Xi widened her eyes, quickly searching, her gaze sweeping past one wrecked car after another. Finally, next to a discarded tire, the pink octopus noticed a box somewhat similar to what Aeria described.
Hmm?
Seems like this is it?
Hehe,
Found it~
The pink octopus immediately turned her head, smugly preparing to confirm with Aeria. However, just as Ling Xi turned to lift the sign, Aeria's expression darkened, and she hugged her two sisters tightly, leaping into the space rift summoned by Ling Xi.
Eh??
In that moment, Ling Xi stood frozen, her crimson eyes blinking rapidly in shock and disbelief.
It took her a few seconds to fully process what had just happened.
These three little rascals,
They escaped?!
Darn it! They dared to trick me!
"Ying ying! Ying ying!!!" (You little brats! You, you, you come back here aaaaahhhh!!!)