A race deeply bound by ancient traditions, where a single queen—Medusa—reigned supreme in every generation.
These queens, blessed with unparalleled talent, led the Snake Tribe in repelling foreign invasions, ensuring the survival of their people. The fearsome reputation of Queen Medusa had spread across the entire continent.
Each generation's Medusa was born from an egg, inheriting a powerful legacy that was passed down through this unique cycle.
But this time, the Medusa born from the egg was an anomaly—an identical twin.
"I remember now... I finally remember who I am!"
Die suddenly appeared between the two fighters, her violet Dou Qi wings spreading open.
Both Chen Mo and Queen Medusa gasped in surprise before simultaneously shouting:
"Get out of the way!"
Queen Medusa immediately tried to pull back her attack, but her speed was too fast. Even though she retracted most of her power, thirty percent of its force still remained.
At that critical moment, Chen Mo flapped his wings and wrapped Die tightly in his arms, shielding her with his own body.
The sheer impact sent both of them hurtling through the sky like a meteor before crashing deep into the desert, leaving behind a massive crater.
For a brief moment, silence fell over the battlefield.
Queen Medusa stood in stunned silence. She hadn't expected that a mere human would go this far to protect her sister.
Mo Ba Si signaled to his warriors, leading a group of Snake Tribe soldiers toward the crater.
The moonlight bathed the now still desert, but the tranquility was soon shattered by a heart-wrenching scream.
Inside the deep crater, Die knelt in the sand, cradling Chen Mo in her arms. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face, falling onto his pale, blood-streaked cheeks.
Chen Mo's breath was weak, and fresh blood continued to trickle from his lips.
Die gently touched his face, sobbing as she whispered:
"Why... Why are you so foolish?"
"Cough... I told you... I would protect you..."
Chen Mo's voice was weak, his words interrupted by ragged breaths, but a faint, reassuring smile remained on his lips.
For a brief instant, Die's tears stopped. Then, as the weight of her memories crashed down on her, she wept even harder.
She recalled the first time she had met Chen Mo—how he had smiled and said:
"I've come to take you away."
She remembered how he had carried her despite his injuries.
How he had given her the best portion of their food.
How he had always told her to run while he stayed behind to face danger.
How he had repeated, time and again, that he would protect her—only to end up wounded each time.
Those memories flashed through her mind, and in that moment, she realized something.
Somewhere along the way, without even realizing it, she had fallen for this human.
[Ding! Favorability +2. Acquired 2 Favorability Coins. Triggered Intimacy Bonus: Gained one incense stick's worth of Enlightenment Time.]
[Ding! Favorability +2. Acquired 2 Favorability Coins. Triggered Intimacy Bonus: Gained a bottle of Amethyst Essence.]
[Ding! Favorability +8. Acquired a Spirit-grade Lower-tier Flying Sword. Triggered Intimacy Bonus: Gained a Xuan-rank Advanced Dou Technique—Senluo Death Seal.]
"Cough... Don't cry. You look prettier when you smile..."
Chen Mo tried to lift his hand to wipe her tears away, but the pain from his injuries surged through his body, making his arm go limp and drop back down.
Suddenly, Die grabbed his hand and pressed it against her cheek.
The surrounding Snake Tribe warriors immediately straightened and stepped aside as Queen Medusa approached.
Expressionless, she walked up to the edge of the crater. With a simple flick of her wrist, she summoned her crown from the sand, catching it effortlessly.
Die gently laid Chen Mo down, still holding his hand as she whispered:
"You've always protected me. Now... it's my turn to protect you."
She stood up, spread her arms wide, and positioned herself in front of Chen Mo. Her expression was firm.
"Sister, you cannot hurt him!"
Queen Medusa slowly placed her crown back on her head, her bewitching gaze fixed on Die. Her scarlet lips parted slightly as she spoke.
"Come back with me, and I will spare him."
Mo Ba Si wanted to protest, but before he could finish, Queen Medusa shot him a sharp glare.
The sheer intensity of her gaze made him instinctively step back in fear.
"Thank you, Sister. I will go with you."
Die turned to Chen Mo, forcing a smile.
"Cough... No, Die. You can't go with them. They'll kill you."
The Dou Huang experience card's effect had not yet worn off, and Chen Mo tried to force himself up using Dou Qi. But his injuries were far worse than he had imagined. He coughed up a fresh mouthful of blood.
"Do you have a death wish?"
Queen Medusa frowned, her gaze colder than ever.
Die hesitated, looking back at Chen Mo.
"Don't worry. My sister won't hurt me."
"She might not, but what about your people? They just tried to kill you!"
Chen Mo lifted a trembling finger, pointing at Mebas. Then he added, "I told you—I will protect you. If you're really going back, then I'm going with you."
Beneath his sincere words lay his true intentions.
[Ding! Favorability +1. Acquired 1 Favorability Coin.]
Mo Ba Si' face darkened. "You brat! Do you have a death wish?"
Die was deeply moved by Chen Mo's words. She turned to Queen Medusa, her eyes filled with silent pleading.
But before she could speak, Queen Medusa interrupted.
"That is impossible."
Her gaze was cold and indifferent as she looked down at Chen Mo.
"Protect her? In your current state, how do you intend to protect anyone?"
Then, as if seeing through his disguise, she added:
"If I'm not mistaken, your real cultivation level is not at the Dou Huang stage. Your current state won't last much longer."
The entire battlefield fell silent.
All eyes turned toward Chen Mo.
His expression stiffened slightly, but he remained composed.
"So what?" he replied. "And, Your Majesty, there is one thing you are wrong about. I can protect her. You saw it with your own eyes, didn't you?"
Queen Medusa's face darkened. She knew he was referring to the moment when he had shielded Die from her own attack.
As a proud queen, she couldn't bring herself to admit anything to a mere human. But the icy aura around her seemed to soften just a little.
She scoffed. "Little one, you are the first human who has dared to speak to me this way."
Chen Mo remained silent, waiting for her next words.
Die, as Queen Medusa's twin sister, could sense the shift in her tone. Seizing the opportunity, she pleaded once more:
"Sister, please... His injuries are too severe. Take him back to the palace for treatment."
Queen Medusa listened to her sister's plea, and a plan suddenly formed in her mind.
She smirked. "Little one, humans love making slaves out of us snake-women, don't they?"
"Very well. From this moment forth, you shall serve me as a slave!"
"Take him back to the palace."
"Silence, Mo Ba Si! You grow bolder by the day."
Mo Ba Si immediately swallowed his protest, though a flash of murderous intent flickered in his gaze as he looked at Chen Mo.
"I would never dare, Your Majesty!"
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