Free Web NovelChapter 35: Chapter 35: The Sky That Watched Them Bleed
Yue Yue stood frozen on the building platform, her fingers digging painfully into Lulu’s hand as she lifted her head anxiously, her wide eyes fixed on the violent battle tearing through the sky above, where the hawk and the black-winged serpent collided again and again with terrifying force.
The wind howled madly, and all the reinforcement shields that are installed in the city became useless in front of these S-level orcs.
Every impact made her heart jolt violently, her breath turning shallow as fear crawled up her spine while she watched Mu Jian’s massive hawk form barely stabilize itself in midair.
The winged serpent was merciless.
Its enormous black wings flared sharply, scales glinting with a cold metallic sheen under the bright lights, and without hesitation it slammed its long tail straight into the hawk’s chest, the force so brutal that Yue Yue gasped as the hawk was sent spiraling backward.
"No...please..." She almost screamed, but she shut her mouth at the end because she knew she would only become a distraction for him.
And she dares not distract him when he has clearly told her to hide.
She snapped back as a sharp cry tore from the hawk’s throat.
Mu Jian almost spat blood midair, his massive body convulsing as the impact crushed the air from his lungs, and Yue Yue felt her own head snap back violently, nausea surging up her throat as if that crushing pain had transferred directly into her body.
Her legs weakened.
For a terrifying second, she truly thought the hawk would crash straight down onto her.
But just as despair clawed at her heart, the hawk twisted sharply, forcing its wings open with a screech that echoed across the city, using the remaining momentum to flip backward and slash its talons viciously across the serpent’s wing.
Black scales flew everywhere, making the sky look even more ominous.
HISS!
The winged serpent hissed furiously, its tail lashing through the air as it reeled back slightly, though the injury barely seemed to slow it down, and the fight resumed once more, violent and relentless, neither side showing any intention of retreating.
Yue Yue swallowed hard, her chest tight.
She watched closely now, fear sharpening her vision, and slowly, painfully, she realized the truth that made her heart sink like a stone into deep water.
Mu Jian... had no real chance.
The hawk was brave, loyal, and skilled, but the black-winged serpent moved with terrifying precision, every strike calculated, every dodge cruelly efficient, and Yue Yue’s fingers trembled as she noticed something that made her breath hitch sharply.
That serpent looked almost exactly like Han Soi.
The same sharp structure. The same cold, predatory eyes.
The same overwhelming pressure that crushed the air around him.
But where Han Soi’s presence felt dominant and protective, this one radiated something far darker, far colder, a cruel viciousness that made Yue Yue’s skin crawl, even though she could sense that his power was slightly weaker than Han Soi’s.
And this one enjoyed the hunt.
Her heart pounded painfully as she reached out blindly and grabbed Lulu’s arm, clutching the robotic maid tightly as if anchoring herself to reality, her voice trembling as she whispered, "Lulu... I feel scared."
Lulu stiffened.
The maid stood perfectly straight, her usually gentle expression tense and rigid, her eyes glowing faintly as she scanned the battlefield rapidly, though her hand tightened around Yue Yue’s protectively.
"Young Miss," Lulu said softly, though her voice carried a slight mechanical tremor, "please do not be afraid; everything will be fine."
But even as she said it, Lulu’s stiff posture betrayed her uncertainty.
She did not know what to do.
She could protect Yue Yue from weapons, shields, explosions...but not from something like this. She is powerless in front of S-level Orcs.
She couldn’t protect her young miss from a monster like that serpent.
Before Yue Yue could even steady her breathing, the winged serpent roared suddenly and slammed Mu Jian downward with terrifying force, smashing the hawk straight into the platform in front of them with a deafening crash.
The ground shook violently.
Yue Yue screamed and stumbled backward, her legs nearly giving out as dust and debris flew everywhere, her heart slamming against her ribs when she saw the hawk’s massive body crash down only a short distance away.
Before Mu Jian could even rise properly, the black-winged serpent descended slowly from the sky, its massive form casting a dark shadow over them as it hovered menacingly above the platform.
Its eyes locked onto the hawk.
"You filthy bird," the serpent hissed, its voice deep and dripping with contempt, echoing unnaturally as it spoke, "get out of my way."
It lowered its head slightly with a sharp and mocking gaze.
"Where is your duke?" it demanded coldly. "Tell him to come meet me himself."
The hawk struggled to rise, wings trembling as blood dripped onto the platform, yet Mu Jian forced himself upright, his eyes blazing with fury as he screeched sharply in response.
"My duke," Mu Jian shouted hoarsely, his voice strained but defiant, "does not waste his time on useless people like you, who wander around attacking citizens in broad daylight!"
The words struck true.
The serpent’s pupils narrowed sharply as Mu Jian suddenly lunged forward despite his injuries, his beak aiming straight for the serpent’s neck in a desperate counterattack. freēwēbnovel.com
The serpent hissed violently, twisting away just in time, though the strike grazed his scales, drawing a thin line of blood.
At the exact same moment...
Somewhere far away.
A civilian hover-cam tilted upward. And the entire empire went silent.
Without anyone on the battlefield realizing it, the fight had already been broadcast live onto the empire’s largest communication channel...the starnet, the screen suddenly filling with the image of a hawk and a black-winged serpent locked in violent combat.
The stream exploded instantly.
"What is this?!"
"Isn’t that the second son of the Winged Serpent Clan?!"
"Why is he attacking inside the empire in daylight?!"
"Wow...he’s terrifying; I can feel the pressure through the screen!"
"I heard the Duke Crescent has even bigger wings, but he’s never shown his beast form before!"
"Isn’t this illegal?! Where is the Federation of Primal Stability?! These high-level Orcs are making chaos in the empire."
"YES...WHERE ARE THEY?"
"ARREST THEM!!"
Comments flooded the screen wildly, numbers skyrocketing as millions tuned in within seconds, the empire collectively holding its breath as the scene escalated before their eyes.
Then someone recognized the hawk.
"Wait...ISN’T THAT MU JIAN?!"
"The Duke’s right-hand man?!"
"So they’re really fighting?!"
"Does that mean... the brothers have turned on each other?!"
The comments went insane.
Speculation exploded like wildfire.
And still...on the battlefield none of them knew.
The winged serpent suddenly pulled back and shifted midair, black scales dissolving into light as his massive form transformed smoothly into a tall human figure, landing heavily on the platform with a dull thud.
Mu Jian, badly injured, was forced to transform back as well, collapsing onto one knee as he coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips.
Yue Yue’s heart clenched painfully. She wanted to go and help him.
She took a step forward instinctively, but Lulu’s grip tightened sharply, pulling her back behind the shield.
"You must not move, Young Miss," Lulu said firmly.
The man laughed.
It was a low, mocking laugh filled with cruel amusement as he looked down at Mu Jian, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve.
"So," he drawled lazily, "I heard my dear brother has brought a female with him."
