Saint Petersburg, Ursus.
This mobile city was the largest in all of Ursus, and even on a global scale, it ranked among the largest mobile cities.
As the capital, economic center, cultural hub, and important political nucleus of Ursus, nearly fifty percent of all the great nobles of the Ursus Empire resided in Saint Petersburg, including the true ruler of Ursus.
The Emperor of Ursus...
—The Ursus Royal Court
Upon the highest throne in the center of the hall sat a handsome young emperor.
However, unlike the image of an indomitable, world-beholding sovereign, the young emperor on the throne still possessed a hint of shyness. At this moment, he was in an extreme predicament. As the great nobles below argued, he, the emperor, didn't even know how to interject.
"Your Majesty! That insolent force of Infected has actually caused our Ursus to lose a full two Emperor's Blades!! I propose we dispatch an army group to encircle and annihilate them directly. The glory of our Ursus will not tolerate being provoked by a band of lowly Infected!"
A high-ranking military noble stood below. His gaze towards the young emperor held little respect or fear. It was less of a suggestion and more of a demand for the young emperor to do as he said.
"But...."
The Emperor Fyodor clenched his teeth.
"I do not agree!"
"The nation is already in chaos. If we do this, it will only deepen the conflict with the Infected..."
"Your Majesty!"
"Do not be merciful. Your servant knows that Your Majesty wishes to be a benevolent ruler for the ages, but Your Majesty must not forget that the glory and dominion of our Ursus today were won through the life-and-death struggles of the late Emperor and us soldiers! Mercy will not bring glory to Ursus. Mercy will only make these shameless Infected push their luck further, and it will only make the outside world think our Ursus is easy to bully~ Dispatch the troops, Your Majesty!! For the glory of Ursus, annihilate this organization!"
"I second the motion!"
"I second the motion!!"
More and more great nobles stood in opposition to the young emperor. The emperor was now in an impossible position. Looking down at the great nobles he so despised, the young emperor was powerless. Even though he sat on the emperor's throne, even though he was already the most powerful person in the world, he still had no choice...
Finally, Emperor Fyodor nodded.
————————————
Chernobog was not far from where the Reunion Movement was stationed. If Lucas Reeve and the others marched at full speed, it would take twenty hours at most, but by vehicle, it would only take three.
But...
For Talulah to have crushed the soul bead he left without hesitation, there must have been an emergency.
And Lucas Reeve couldn't wait.
He immediately summoned all the Yetis and FrostNova to the villa's basement, leaving two Yetis behind to accompany and protect Misha.
When they first arrived in Chernobog, to prevent any accidents, such as the shameless old Black Serpent launching a sudden attack, Lucas Reeve had left himself a fallback. He had early on used up one chance to exchange for an ability for wide-area spatial movement.
This ability seemed incredibly powerful.
In reality, the system wouldn't give him an ability that was too bugged without some cost. Even if there was an inherently bugged ability, it would come with numerous restrictions. Take the Holy Lance and Mirror Flower, Water Moon, for example: one was just a projection, though the projection was still strong; the other didn't come with the Zanpakutō, preventing Lucas Reeve from using its full potential.
This spatial movement was the same.
Lucas Reeve needed to set up a target point for the spatial movement in advance. Furthermore, to complete each teleportation, he needed to consume a massive amount of Prayer Power based on the distance and the number of people being transported. In short... this ability could be used as a critical escape or travel skill, but normally... Lucas Reeve wouldn't be so willing to use it. The cost of a single, not-so-distant transport could easily be in the four-digit range of Prayer Power. However, Lucas Reeve could also spend 1.2 million Prayer Power to extend and optimize it.
Having used this system for so long, Lucas Reeve had more or less figured it out. The system was forcing him to find ways to expand his number of believers. After all, any complete ability easily cost a million Prayer Power. Relying on himself alone, it would take forever to save up for even a small goal.
Lucas Reeve even suspected that the system didn't actually want him to accumulate 2 million Prayer Power to form a physical body too quickly. Although that divine statue was a cage for him, it was also a form of protection. After all, his main soul was trapped inside. Even if all the remnant souls outside were destroyed, at most, the main soul would just have to sleep for an unknown number of years to recover. But it would be completely different if he had a physical body. With a physical body, if Lucas Reeve was killed, he would be truly dead...
Everyone followed Lucas Reeve to the basement.
Along the way, Lucas Reeve also explained the situation.
FrostNova and the Yeti Squadron were already starting to worry.
"It's alright. I have an ability that can get us back to the Reunion Movement immediately, it's just a bit draining for me."
"Back immediately?"
FrostNova and the Yetis' eyes widened.
It was something they couldn't quite process.
What did "immediately" mean?
The distance from here to where the Reunion Movement was stationed wasn't that far, but it was still over a hundred kilometers. Even by aircraft, it would take half an hour. How could Mr. Lucas Reeve instantly cross a distance of over a hundred kilometers...
Although in the eyes of the Yetis, Lucas Reeve was no different from a god, omnipotent.
But instantly crossing a hundred kilometers was still beyond the comprehension of the Yetis and FrostNova.
After arriving in the basement.
On the floor, a massive and complex formation had been laid out at some point.
Everyone stood on the formation, somewhat puzzled.
Then.
Lucas Reeve's Prayer Power transformed into energy from his soul and continuously poured into the formation.
As the Prayer Power was injected, the formation on the ground instantly erupted in a dazzling and brilliant halo of light.
This process lasted a full five minutes.
To the shock of everyone present.
A white light flashed before their eyes, followed by a dizzying sensation, like riding a super-fast ascending elevator.
When the white light faded.
Everyone's vision finally returned.
The dim basement was gone, replaced by a vast, snowy landscape.
This!!!
In an instant.
FrostNova, the Yeti Squadron, and even Alina in her soul state stared with wide eyes, full of disbelief.
This!!
This is snow!!
And the cooking smoke rising in the distance and the familiar tents... could it be... we're back!!
Unbelievable!
Simply too unbelievable.
The Yetis thought they were dreaming. This wasn't Originium Arts, this was clearly a miracle!
Even FrostNova had never heard of any Originium Arts that could perform spatial transfer; it was just too incredible.
"Mr. Lucas Reeve, are you a god?"
Alina was completely dumbfounded. This move had just stunned her silly.
"Just a simple spatial teleportation."
Lucas Reeve quietly flexed.
In reality.
That single teleportation just now had cost him nearly ten thousand units of Prayer Power. What did that mean... ten thousand... just to teleport a few people over a hundred kilometers. A distance of over a hundred kilometers could be covered in less than two hours by driving at full speed...
The cost made Lucas Reeve's heart ache so much he never wanted to use it a second time.
Moreover, this kind of teleportation formation was only suitable for being set up in advance and couldn't be used as a temporary escape method. After all, setting it up required at least half an hour, and then activating the teleportation required five minutes... in that amount of time, the enemy would have had enough time to bombard them a thousand times.
If nothing unexpected happened.
Lucas Reeve didn't want to touch this ability a second time...
His heart ached.
Although shocked by Lucas Reeve's ability, everyone quickly snapped back to reality and hurried towards the settlement.
—Reunion Movement
Talulah's expression wasn't very good. It seemed her mood had been greatly affected by the events of the past few days. With Alina no longer by her side, and Patriot not being the comforting type, Talulah's suppressed emotions had no outlet. These days, she had even become somewhat dejected and had fallen into self-doubt.
Not long after FrostNova, Talulah, Lucas Reeve, and the others left the camp.
For some unknown reason.
A rather unpleasant rumor began to spread through the camp.
It was said that the Yeti Squadron, FrostNova, and Alina were living it up in Chernobog, completely disregarding their original mission. This bizarre rumor didn't cause much of a stir at first, however...
As the temperature dropped.
Another person froze to death in the harsh environment, and many others suffered from frostbite. Some of the bolder and naturally troublemaking Infected formed a group and requested that Talulah lead them back to a warmer place. This request was naturally refused by Talulah, putting aside all other considerations. If the army group's defensive line had completely cut off the Reunion Movement, they would have to find a way around it just to relocate, which would be tantamount to walking into a trap.
Talulah knew it was impossible.
But some of the Infected didn't care.
They just wanted to go somewhere warm; they didn't want to freeze in this place.
They were just like the difficult citizens in "Frostpunk." The current situation was already dire, yet these Infected seemed to have only a cerebellum, incapable of thought, only wanting to satisfy their own selfish desires at all costs.
At the time.
These Infected caused a disturbance, nearly giving some of the Shieldguards high blood pressure. If they had a more iron-fisted leader, the grass on these Infected's graves would be ten meters high by now. But Talulah was merciful enough, and it was precisely this mercy that made it easy for many of the Infected, whose qualities varied, to push their luck.
Seeing that Talulah wouldn't act.
Several Infected from the Reunion Movement fled that very day.
Seeing some flee, more and more people chose to leave. As for the kindness of being fed, that had long been cast aside. In just one month, the original force of over two hundred Reunion members had dwindled to just over a hundred, with nearly fifty people leaving. Those who remained were the comrades who were truly willing to advance and retreat with the Reunion Movement. Patriot was indifferent. For a former iron-blooded soldier, such betrayal in a military camp would have seen his long spear annihilate these people ten thousand times over.
However, Patriot and the Shieldguards' non-interference was already the greatest tolerance. For them, this was also a way of purifying the Reunion Movement; only those truly loyal could be considered comrades.
But Talulah was straightforward, very direct. For the past half-month, her mood had been extremely low almost every day, and she even began to seriously doubt whether there was a problem with her leadership.
And today...
According to reports from the frontline scouts.
A large contingent of regular army troops was charging towards them. The target was clearly... the current Reunion Movement. Talulah couldn't understand why these army groups would pursue them. They had already retreated deep enough, even entering the heart of the ice fields, extremely far from the Ursus heartland, yet these army groups still came after them.
Talulah also immediately crushed the small pearl Lucas Reeve had left for her. All the Shieldguards, Patriot, and the remaining Yeti Squadron entered an emergency combat state, while the other Infected hurriedly packed their belongings and tents, ready to flee with the Reunion Movement at a moment's notice.
However...
The marching speed of these army groups far exceeded Talulah's expectations.
Looking at the dark mass of the army in the distance.
From an army tempered by countless wars, a near-substantial aura of slaughter seemed to condense into a crimson cloud above their heads.
The other comrades who chose to stay were now utterly desperate.
And Talulah was even more anxious and furious.
She didn't understand...
Why were these army groups so bent on exterminating them, the Reunion Movement? Why, when she had already fled so far, far beyond the area managed by the army groups, did these damned troops still come after them? Talulah knew... they couldn't go any deeper into the ice fields. She could withstand the temperatures that followed, but it was absolutely impossible for her comrades. This was their limit...
Why!!
A hint of madness and fury flashed in Talulah's eyes. Raging flames seemed to scorch the earth. The pressure of being the leader of the Reunion Movement had left her almost breathless for so many days, and the doubt and departure of those who betrayed her were like sharp blades, stabbing deep into Talulah's chest.
Anger!
Resentment!!
These negative emotions had already occupied Talulah's mind.
Just then.
The seductive voice that had long since disappeared sounded in Talulah's mind once again.
At this moment.
The corners of the mouth of another Serpent's Scale within the army curved up slightly.
It's almost time!
Talulah's body would soon be his.
The Black Serpent knew Talulah's character all too well: straightforward... not tactful, prone to getting stuck on details, caring too much about what others think. And this type of person was the easiest to hurt through the betrayal of others... and the Black Serpent knew human nature all too well...
Talulah...
Human nature is just like this....
No matter how well you treat them, they just take it for granted!
Even if you show them ten thousand kindnesses, they won't be grateful, even thinking it's their due. But if you fail to satisfy their desires in just one thing, they will immediately raise the banner of rebellion. This is human nature!
The Black Serpent had been contemplating this plan ever since he saw Lucas Reeve in Chernobog. His ultimate goal was only Talulah's body. Since Lucas Reeve and Alina, the two biggest obstacles, were not present, wouldn't it be easy for Talulah to fall into his grasp?
Therefore.
The Black Serpent had spent these past days painstakingly spreading rumors within the Reunion Movement. He knew human nature too well; these rumors would definitely cause many Infected to defect. And the defection of these Infected would directly affect Talulah's state of mind. Of course... all those defecting Infected had already been captured by the army group and thrown into the mines. If they were lucky enough not to be dead by now, they were probably regretting it to their very core.
Clearly.
The Black Serpent's plan was a success.
In the half-month since many of her comrades had defected, Talulah had become almost depressed... constantly doubting herself.
And after that... the Black Serpent used another Serpent's Scale to have the great nobles request the emperor to dispatch troops to encircle and suppress the Reunion Movement, using military force to completely drive Talulah into a corner. Escape... no chance... go deeper into the ice fields, certain death. Heh heh...
The Black Serpent felt he had already won.
According to surveillance in Chernobog.
His biggest obstacle was still in the villa in Chernobog. Now... no one could stop him.
The Black Serpent was savoring the moment. The body of Talulah he had longed for was about to be his. He would use this nearly perfect body of dual dragon blood to lead Ursus to even greater glory.
Lucas Reeve...
Hmph!
In the end, you still lost.
Talulah's body belongs to me, and in the future... my first act will be to execute you on the spot!!
The Black Serpent was utterly certain.
With Talulah's unparalleled talent, her future strength would even, or rather, would definitely surpass Patriot at his peak...
Moreover, to prevent any accidents, he had already given orders that if Lucas Reeve left the city, he was to be stopped immediately... he was not allowed to approach the Reunion Movement.
"This time... I've won."
"Perhaps my spiritual strength is not as great as yours, but... in the end, this world is decided by intelligence..."
"Hmph."
The Black Serpent smiled faintly, beginning to declare his victory, even preparing to cheer for his impending triumph.
However...
Not far away, a very familiar spiritual power suddenly appeared within the Reunion Movement.
The Black Serpent's previously composed face changed dramatically.
"This spiritual power!! That person!!"
"No way! Wasn't he just in Chernobog?!!"