BXBX NOVEL Chapter 27: "You... you really hate him"
Chapter 27: "You... you really hate him"
The Snake Python's laceration mended with an unnaturally expeditious pace; the ghastly welts on his back and limbs ceased their blood flow as charred epidermis sloughed away and diminutive granulations writhed, revealing a layer of rejuvenated flesh.
As god blood permeated his skin, it began to transfigure his scarred and battered form. The highly refined and filtered god blood coursed through his limbs and extremities, endowing him with unparalleled vigor and an unprecedented exhilarating experience.
The Snake Python's strength recovered and soared to new heights, reigniting the sanguine flames upon its body, more fervent than before.
Yet, the first act upon gaining this newfound power was not to retaliate against Jonathan and others.
The Snake Python hurled a motorbike towards Jonathan to hinder his movements, then promptly wheeled about and fled. His robust form erupted with a speed more terrifying than that of the world sprint champion, vanishing nearly twenty meters in the blink of an eye.
Only a fool wouldn't run!
The Snake Python was well-acquainted with the Mechanical Dawn; Rose knew of his betrayal, and then Richguy and Fox came, which implied the entire organization was aware of his betrayal. They would send people to hunt him down; the core members of Mechanical Dawn had already arrived, and perhaps auxiliary squads lay in ambush nearby.
It was imperative to flee, lest he fell into the encirclement of the hunters.
In this situation, eliminating merely one or two would avail him naught, for the Snake Python could not kill everyone aware of his betrayal.
He would be caught in an endless cycle of pursuit, and the later he fled, the greater the chance he'd be executed on the spot.
Fox unfurled a water curtain to deflect the incoming motorbike, momentarily unable to prevent the Snake Python's escape.
As Jonathan was about to retrieve a magazine from his belt to reload his K80, the wily Snake Python dashed into a nearby building for cover, leaving Jonathan unable to pinpoint his location.
He abandoned the K80 and pulled a submachine gun from his lower back. The submachine gun lacked the penetrating power of the K80, but it made up for it with its rapid-fire and larger magazine.
Jonathan was uncertain if this gun could harm the Snake Python substantially. After ingesting an unknown elixir, his blood-burning ability appeared to have intensified; its muscles bulged and swelled as if on the verge of bursting, surpassing even the most formidable of world bodybuilders.
As Snake Python made his desperate escape, he burst into a shuttered small restaurant on the side of the road. Using his body to break through the wall, he tore open the natural gas pipe hidden within. With a clear mind, he activated the restaurant's ignition switch.
Amidst the deafening roar, the gas exploded, and raging flames masked the Snake Python's figure. Relying on the Flesh Regeneration ability granted by the god blood, he withstood the explosive impact and scorching heat to traverse the store, escaping through a hole it punched in the wall to the street beyond.
Jonathan tossed out a command, "Rose, stay here." Without hesitation, he and Fox pursued the Snake Python along his escape route.
The explosion left the bistro in disarray, with a fallen beam narrowly missing Jonathan, who dodged just in time. Waves surged, and both Jonathan and Fox crossed the sea of the fire unscathed, but the messy bricks, tables, and chairs delayed them by two seconds.
Every second was precious, as each second allowed the Snake Python to widen the gap between them.
Jonathan activated his mask's infrared thermal imaging mode, tracking the Snake Python's trail. His body temperature rose continuously in its blood-burning state, far exceeding that of ordinary people; he appeared as a dazzling red fireball in the infrared view.
Still running, the Snake Python charged into an open game house. The card-playing patrons were sent sprawling as tables overturned and cards scattered across the floor while onlookers screamed at the sight of the blood-flame-enveloped man.
With a sinister countenance, the Snake Python ignored the chaos, pushing through the crowd and shattering another wall. A sudden escape idea shot him---- diving into the sea!
Swimming away in the ocean, Fox's super water-controlling abilities would be insufficient to cover such a vast area. The seawater would cool his body, rendering him undetectable by thermal imaging devices.
Blessed with a vast lung capacity, the Snake Python could hold his breath for nearly ten minutes underwater, stealthily swimming to safety before emerging ashore and evading Mechanical Dawn's pursuit.
God's blood was indeed potent, but it could not compensate for the gap in ability level. God's blood required time to be absorbed and transformed, eventually granting greater enhancements to both the body and super ability. Merely a C-rank, the Snake Python, having just ingested god blood, dared not confront the nearly A-rank Fox or the enigmatic Richguy head-on.
Jonathan and Fox charged into the game house, where the sight of Jonathan's compact submachine gun sent the patrons scrambling aside, clearing a path for the duo.
The distance between them grew wider; the Snake Python's blood-burn ability after consuming the elixir had boosted its speed and strength.
Frustrated, Fox exclaimed, "He's too far away! My water can't reach that distance!"
"Red, where is the nearest squad?" Jonathan inquired, with no time to consult his wrist-mounted map.
"Five hundred meters away!" Red's voice was somber.
"Is there any surveillance nearby?" Jonathan inquired further.
"None on this stretch," Red answered promptly.
In a matter of moments, Jonathan and the Snake Python had widened their distance to thirty meters. As the Snake Python sprinted, he evaded possible incoming bullets, for although his skin was coarse and his flesh thick, he still feared pain.
Seizing the opportunity, Jonathan aimed for a brief gap before the Snake Python took cover. He fired his submachine gun at the foe's feet.
"Ah!" The bullet struck the Snake Python.
The forceful impact and pain of the wound momentarily slowed him.
Without stopping, Jonathan pulled a miniature bomb from his belt, tugging the pin free with his teeth. Instead of throwing it immediately, he counted silently for a second, then hurled it.
The bomb traced a parabola, flying accurately towards the Snake Python.
The Snake Python's pupils contracted as he rolled away, evading just before the bomb exploded, less than a meter from him. The shockwave forced blood from his mouth, and he could not rise for a while.
Jonathan took advantage of the situation and fired several bullets from his submachine gun. The Snake Python's body erupted in a mist of blood, the bullets lodging in his muscles. The pain made him wail incessantly, even without striking vital organs or bones.
Fox finally found an opportunity to use his powers, conjuring a water ball to bind the Snake Python's limbs. A large water sphere enveloped Snake Python, encasing him like a water capsule, submerging his entire body, including his head.
The Snake Python opened his mouth, releasing a string of bubbles. His violent struggle caused blood to seep from his wounds, tainting the surrounding water red.
Fox coldly controlled the water sphere, lifting it off the ground and leaving the Snake Python to tumble helplessly in mid-air.
Jonathan's submachine gun had run out of bullets. In two seconds, he reloaded, aiming at the water sphere. The Snake Python struggled to maintain blood-burn in the water.
The bullets only caused bleeding, having no substantial damage. More terrifying was the trend of the bullet wounds healing, the projectiles pushed out by his powerful muscles and dropping into the water.
Fox could imbue the water with properties it didn't naturally possess, such as tenacity. He could control water like a rope, granting it "strength." Fox manipulated the water, forcing it into the Snake Python's nose and mouth, causing his eyes to roll back and his struggle to weaken.
In truth, Fox could have killed the Snake Python more easily, but he chose instead to torment him slowly, prolonging his agony.
Jonathan reluctantly set down his submachine gun.
The Snake Python would suffocate before being killed by bullets unless he voluntarily deactivated his Blood-burn ability.
Jonathan was unwilling to let Fox kill the Snake Python in such a manner.
He wanted to shove the gun barrel into the Snake Python's mouth, knowing that his insides remained soft no matter how resilient his muscles and skin were.
But Jonathan held back for a moment, calming himself. Instead of raising his weapon, he grabbed another miniature bomb, pulling the pin. Under Fox's shocked gaze, he thrust his arm into the water sphere and deftly shoved the bomb into the Snake Python's gaping mouth before retreating to a safe distance.
"Boom!"
The water sphere and the Snake Python all exploded, scattering water, blood, flesh, and limbs across the ground.
Fox stared blankly, "You... you really hate him, huh?"
Jonathan's mask was covered in a mix of blood and water. He shook stand, dislodging the debris clinging to his body.
"You have killed the Snake Python."
"You have stripped the Snake Python of his super abilities."
"You have acquired the super ability: [Blood Burn - Class C]."
"You have acquired the super ability: [Flesh Regeneration - Class D]."
"[Blood Burn - Class C]: Use your blood as fuel in exchange for immense strength."
"[Flesh Regeneration - Class D]: Your wounds heal at a rate far exceeding that of an ordinary person."
"Red, mission accomplished. I don't want to touch this corpse. Have the auxiliary squad come to clean up the aftermath," Jonathan stated.
Compared to the disgusting Xenobiotics creature, the Snake Python's corpse was barely an appetizer, and although it disturbed him, he was surprisingly accepting of it.
Even Jonathan was amazed by his current state of mind, and he detached himself from his emotions and analyzed his thoughts.
During the pursuit of the Snake Python, his blood seemed to be on fire, hurdling obstacles and running as fast as possible, wanting to catch up to him and kill him.
It was a rare opportunity to strike; if he missed it, there might never be another chance. The Snake Python could escape disappear, and Jonathan would lose his opportunity for revenge.
Fortunately, he succeeded in killing the Snake Python, which brought Jonathan a sense of relief, joy, and a strange sense of accomplishment.
He had gained two super abilities. Although he had no chance to experiment with them yet, they undoubtedly served as life-saving assets for him.
Since arriving in the Second World, Jonathan had been learning and adapting, trying to find the right attitude to face such a passive and complex situation and seeking an opportunity to turn the tables.
Killing the Snake Python was his first step, and he would be more proactive in the future.
"Rose said the Snake Python took God's Blood," Red said in a bad mood. "His blood is contaminated and can't be used to extract memories."
Jonathan paused, realizing that the potion the Snake Python had taken was the "God's Blood" Martin had mentioned... it truly had an astonishing effect.
"Where did he get it?" Jonathan asked, pretending to be puzzled.
"Where else? Only a few forces are capable of refining God's Blood," Red replied. "I'm leaning towards the Investigation department. They're coveting the things on the Kraken, and they won't tolerate any unstable elements threatening the port... But they're just pawns, and the real people behind them are likelier to be..."
His voice trailed off, seemingly lost in thought.
Jonathan suddenly remembered that when he first met Fox, he had referred to the Investigation department as "the lapdogs of the Consortium."
"It's time to go," Fox said. "If we linger, the coastal security team will arrive."
"Right, use your water to wash away the dirt on me," Jonathan requested.
Fox manipulated a stream of water to gently brush away the bloodstains on Jonathan's mask, grumbling, "You should've stood farther away during the explosion."