Chapter 189
by fanqienovelChapter 189: Whoever Jumps First, Eats First!
When the Chaos Demon God’s mercenaries rushed in, they saw…
“So many mortals!”
“Kill!”
In this strange, long cave entrance, hundreds of mortal battleships were clinging to it.
But these battleships looked very odd.
They had flat bodies covered in armor and big bellies.
They seemed clumsy.
Also, they didn’t seem to have strong weapons.
The legendary claws that could crush lower deities’ heads weren’t seen.
“Ha!”
“Do they think these can beat us?”
“Are these mortals crazy?”
Seeing the mortal battleships scatter and flee, the etheric serpents and etheric worms rushed deeper into the Cave.
Since they saw so many battleships, there might be even more deeper in the Cave!
Maybe mortal battleships were gathering!
They would destroy these reckless mortals who didn’t know their place!
But…
“Bang!”
“Whoa!”
After a few tail swings and little progress, the etheric serpents and many etheric worms got stuck!
Threads hidden in the murky etheric liquid trapped them!
“Damn those mortals!”
“Don’t think this can hold me!”
“How could a mortal creation…?”
“Hey!”
“Eh!?”
“What the heck!?”
“Why is it so strong!?”
The etheric serpents and etheric worms roared, twisting their bodies in frustration.
They were tightly bound!
“Damn it!”
“What’s with these webs!”
“They’re everywhere!”
“Damn it, can’t break free!”
“Ah!”
“I’m trapped!”
Truthfully, these "silk threads" secreted by the Trilobites lacked mucus and had minimal stickiness.
Yet when densely gathered, even weak-adhesion threads could ensnare prey if sufficiently strong—much like many spiders’ non-sticky silk.
No matter how the etheric worms and etheric serpents thrashed, the slender but resilient threads held them fast.
Meanwhile…
“Hah…”
Suddenly, swarms of "mortal battleships" surged from a City of Dimensions.
Most numerous were compact vessels with swollen bellies—
The "engineer ships."
Poorly armed with scant firepower, these ships proved pivotal in this "net path battle."
They’d rapidly deployed the dense silk traps earlier.
Now they received new orders.
“All units!”
“To the breach immediately!”
Through the Soul Network, Sulya issued the command.
Female voices then coordinated precise directives:
“Ships 4231, 4232, 3322, 1323, and Ship 300: deploy to Sector D3 per plan!”
“Seal the net path entrance now!”
“Ships 4215 and 3516, as reserves: secure the unassigned Sector A14 entrance!”
“Ship 2857, move to…”
Clear, methodical orders cascaded as hundreds of engineer ships swarmed the net path breaches like worker ants.
They swiftly spun crisscrossing threads across every gap.
Soon, the narrow breaches were overlaid with fibrous grids.
Though sparse enough for human-sized objects to slip through, the gaps remained impassable for etheric worms stretching hundreds of meters or kilometer-long etheric serpents.
Yet defiance persisted.
“No—!”
“I’ll escape!”
The last few etheric worms struggled desperately, finally freeing themselves from the "silk threads."
Positioned at the rear of the formation, they had been least entangled; only by exerting all their strength did they manage to break loose.
These panic-stricken creatures frantically fled toward the cave entrance, attempting to smash through the newly laid threads with their massive bodies.
However…
“Thud——!”
“Crash——!”
One after another, the etheric worms slammed into the entrance, becoming ensnared once more in the threads. Instead of escaping, they became materials sealing the opening.
At that moment…
“Hehe, Lady Sulya foresaw this would occur!”
Within the Soul Network, Lady Sulya’s permanent secretary issued new commands.
“Ship 8823, immediately lead the fifth engineering team to re-seal the net path breach. Trap those intruders within the ‘magic cables’ bestowed by the Giant God.”
“Ships 114, 512, and 1919, mobilize the teams concealed beyond the net path perimeter. Apply another layer of camouflage using Primal Mud!”
“Once complete, return via the pre-excavated frigate tunnel. Destroy the passage immediately!”
“Let these arrogant evil gods become sealing materials for our barrier!”
“Bet you never imagined!”
“Your downfall came not from mighty battleships, but these unassuming engineer ships!”
…
Only when retreat became impossible did the etheric worms and serpents grasp their fatal miscalculation.
But what use was regret now?
Too late…
“Thud… thud… thud…”
Etheric liquid pulsed through the net path, hammering against the abdomens of etheric worms and serpents like a death knell!
A colossal, crocodilian creature slowly emerged from the City of Dimensions.
Etheric serpents were dominant powers—capable of manifesting as mid-tier Order Gods within a Bubble World. Though weaker among deities, etheric worms still ranked as calamity-class entities.
Yet now, they lay immobilized like dishes at a banquet, awaiting consumption.
“Hrrrm…”
A deep roar reverberated through the etheric liquid.
The giant beast slowly contemplated its first course.
Whoever moved first would surely be devoured.
Yet at that precise moment, one defiant presence surged forward.
—-
“Perish!”
"We will all be devoured by the evil god, hahahaha…"
Kongyu Yangying laughed wildly as he plunged into the bottomless gullet of the etheric serpent.
Though he was also a "Chaos follower," the etheric serpent wasn’t strictly a chaos deity—it devoured demons and mortals alike as snacks.
"Die!"
"Evil reaps its reward!"
"Spit!"
Angna’s face twisted fiercely.
Forced by irresistible power into becoming a killing gladiator, her kind and peaceful nature held no pity for the Triton Empire and Trinitum Clan that had brought her to this hell.
Loving and hating with clear boundaries defined Angna’s character.
Sylvia and her First Paratroopers deeply admired this trait.
Yet what these "Chosen Warriors" revered most was her astonishing willpower!
It was this will that kept her from descending into cursed madness through endless slaughter, unlike her predecessors.
Now, that steel-like will helped its owner survive the hardest trial of Angna’s life—remaining alive inside the etheric serpent’s maw!
"May the merciful and mighty Giant God shield me."
"Grant me strength against the devouring darkness!"
She prayed while jamming her hands against the serrated edges of the serpent’s teeth.
These structures proved effective against deities or mortal creations near the serpent’s size, but offered less threat to microscopic mortals.
Angna thrust out her powerful arms, gripping the jagged ridges as she endured with gritted teeth.
*CRUNCH—*
The etheric serpent’s giant jaws slammed shut!
Its colossal form plunged downward before beginning violent twisting motions.
As if drilling furiously through some substance.
Soon, the acrid stench of Primal Mud reached her—even its micro-particles seeped through the serpent’s teeth, swirling in the air.
"Ugh…"
Angna gasped sharply.
A stone scraped her cheek, leaving a shallow cut.
Blood welled forth.
"Hold! Just hold!"
Clenching her jaw, she channeled the newly learned Holy Light from the Sun. Warmth flowed through her limbs, fortifying mind and resolve.
After an eternity, the prolonged "digging" finally ceased.
The etheric serpent swam freely once more.
But soon…
"Bang——!"
The etheric serpent was trapped by something, unable to advance further.
"Roar——!"
An angry roar echoed as the etheric serpent twisted its body, struggling to break free.
The violent shaking threw Angna off balance.
"Damn it!"
"I haven’t repaid the Giant God’s grace yet, haven’t freed my people yet. I can’t…"
Gritting her teeth at the thought…
"Hey——!"
Perhaps due to her strong affinity for "Holy Light from the Sun," Angna quickly mastered this basic "divine art." Beyond simple "balls of light," she learned her first spell—the spear of light!
"Zing——!"
A golden-glowing spear materialized in her grasp.
"Whoosh——!"
The spear stabbed fiercely upward!
Angna never expected light condensed from Holy Light from the Sun to pierce the etheric serpent’s hide—even though this was its mouth cavity, theoretically lined with mucous membrane, not skin.
Yet the "divine mucous membrane" wasn’t easily breached.
Angna tried it purely as a desperate measure.
But her "deity" granted her an astonishing surprise!
"Pshhh——!"
The sound of sharpness piercing flesh rang out. The radiant spear plunged into the etheric serpent’s oral membrane with barely any resistance.
"Great is the Giant God!"
To anchor the spear firmly, Angna viciously twisted it.
This move was downright reckless.
Light burrowing into the serpent’s tooth pulp radiated the Giant God’s power, constantly scorching and unraveling its "divine meridians!"
Excruciating pain erupted.
"Roar——!"
The etheric serpent howled in agony, thrashing wildly. It whipped its head, gaping its maw, trying to dislodge the searing torment trapped within!
This backlash placed Angna in graver peril.
"Ugh…"
"Damn it!"
She clung desperately to the spear, body flung violently by the serpent’s convulsions, her full chest heaving.
But then…
"Roar——!"
The etheric serpent’s pained, furious cry abruptly shifted to terror.
Its struggles intensified!
Yet the bindings held fast. However fiercely the wretched serpent fought, escape proved impossible!
Finally…
"Boom——! Boom——! Boom——!"
Etheric liquid hammered against its body, making it quake. The dreadful aura of a predator enveloped it.
This was the predator that hunted gods, the hunter of the dragon clan.
It seemed the "Great Devourer"—devouring all things equally!
Yet this terrifying, indescribable mist only warmed Angna.
Power within her leaped and resonated, as if "returning home."
"So… this is it…"
"Has the Giant God descended?"
"A pity… trapped in this vile dragon’s maw, I can’t witness…"
Angna’s regret vanished mid-thought.
For the Giant God’s miracle had arrived!