But now, those eyes were no longer shining.
Dim, as if the clearest jade in the world, having been permeated by the wickedness of existence, had become murky and lost its color. Now, in her embrace, her heart, like his temperature, was gradually fading.
"This world is not important at all. What does the life and death of this world have to do with me? It's only because he wants to protect them." Asmodeus pressed his cheek against Brahma's forehead, and tears of blood, glowing with faint purple light, dripped down. "Really, you can't even take care of yourself, so why pretend to be great and play the hero? They don't care about you."
"Damn it, what does it matter to me whether this world exists or not? But he wants to protect this world and create a pure land. I actually believed him. This guy is clearly a naive... little brat."
"I should have taken you away from the start, without regard for your opinion." Asmodeus said to Brahma's ear, as if cursing or sulking, with fierce resentment. "This world is not beautiful at all, and it will never have a pure land."
Athena and Jupiter exchanged glances, at a loss for what to do. If they were truly disheartened, they might have considered it, and as guardians, they would have cared about the innocent people of this world. But Asmodeus, as a demonic dragon, clearly had no such qualms.
A host is a restraint, a dragon is power. A dragon without restraint is terrifying.
Whether it's an Ancestral Dragon or an ordinary dragon, in the end, they don't have much attachment to the mortal world. They are not human, they did not grow up in human society, experiencing the world in a petri dish. Their deepest bonds might be with the people they resonate with.
Some dragons might develop deep feelings for the mortal world through their interactions with humans. But for the profession of people like Bai Cha and Brahma, the possibility of establishing such deep emotional connections with the mortal world is indeed slim.
They are assassins, guardians. They do not excessively participate in the lives of human society, so it is natural for their dragon nature to lack a sense of belonging.
Dragons have no parents, no blood relatives. Brought into this world halfway by humans, if they lose their hosts, they are truly no different from abandoned children.
"Is it really beyond saving?" Athena felt a pang of heartache, for Brahma and Asmodeus, and also a chill of disappointment.
Although their current situations were different, their experiences were surprisingly similar. Thinking of Bai Cha being handcuffed and taken away, Athena couldn't help but feel a sense of shared misfortune.
"There's nothing we can do. We can't let her destroy the city," Jupiter gritted his teeth.
If Asmodeus's destruction were to continue to expand, then several nearby cities would be in danger, and at that time, it would truly be a scene of widespread devastation.
Athena sighed lightly and gritted her teeth, just as she was about to raise her scepter, her shoulder was forcefully pressed down by a hand.
Athena turned her head in astonishment and found that Jupiter's shoulder was also being held down. As they both turned around, they saw Bai Cha standing behind them, her silky long hair slightly disheveled, clearly looking a bit disheveled from rushing over.
"Step back." Bai Cha gasped for breath, her expression somewhat grim.
"Bai..." Athena immediately understood what Bai Cha intended to do, and her expression changed drastically. Just as she was about to retort, Bai Cha shot her a fierce glare that made her flinch back.
"Be obedient." Bai Cha looked at Athena, then at Jupiter. "Don't forget, where our real enemy is."
The two fell silent.
Yes, of course, they knew who their enemy truly was; their real enemy was the Dragon Mother, deep in the cosmos, far beyond the sky. But in the current situation, could they really hold out until then?
"At least there should be an order. Don't lose your composure." Bai Cha softened her voice as if to comfort them. However, she didn't say any more. Instead, she ascended into the sky and rushed towards Asmodeus.
Above the sky, the dark red sea of blood, upon its appearance, rivaled the black-purple sky, with the two powers in a state of mutual resistance.
Asmodeus was astonished to find that the power she unleashed, despite her desperation and nearly burning her life force, seemed to be like waves crashing against a mountain, returning in vain.
"Asmodeus, come back with me. Brahma's life force hasn't completely dissipated yet." Bai Cha stood calmly before the demonic dragon, trying to persuade the currently enraged succubus. "The Holy Dragons are all our acquaintances. Freya herself was on the brink of death and relied on the power of the Holy Dragons. If we gather all the Holy Dragons, there will still be a chance. If it doesn't work then, you can still go berserk!"
"What if I say no?" Asmodeus looked at Bai Cha and suddenly smiled.
She was already blessed with a beautiful and captivating face, and such a smile was more enchanting than any legendary fox spirit. It was enough to make men breathe heavily, and even women would feel their hearts race at the sight.
"Asmodeus, it's still not too late to save Brahma, don't be impulsive." Bai Cha persuaded in a loud voice, forcefully steering the conversation back to normal. "Protecting the common people is also our responsibility. If you continue to cause destruction, we cannot stand idly by."
"Bai Cha, don't you think you're just comforting yourself?" Asmodeus laughed mockingly, but anyone could hear the endless sorrow in her laughter. "You protect them, you save them, and what good does it do you? They won't thank you, nor will they be moved. They don't even know you exist. Aren't all your pain and sorrow brought about by them?"
"Bai Cha, ask yourself, aren't you disheartened!" Asmodeus questioned loudly.
"...More people are innocent. We can't implicate innocent people because of those scumbags!" Bai Cha was almost choked, but her explanation sounded weak even to her own ears. "I just don't want to fight you from different positions. I don't want to hurt you. Brahma and I are friends, so you and I..."
Before Bai Cha could finish speaking, a beam of light, trailing a magnificent fiery tail, sped towards them, and there was more than one.
Bai Cha's expression immediately turned grim. The bloody sea churned, and a portion flew into Bai Cha's hand, condensing into a long whip. Bai Cha gritted her teeth, her face hardening, and with a fierce swing of the whip, she shattered all the beams of light that approached them.
Immediately, the surroundings erupted with roaring sounds. These were not mere lights; each beam was a cannonball of varying power.
"Get lost!"
Bai Cha was already in an exceptionally bad mood. Seeing someone interfering made her even more furious. If Bai Cha's self-control wasn't world-class, she would have already joined forces with Asmodeus to annihilate these people.
"Bai Cha! Are you protecting a demonic dragon that has lost control?" A voice suddenly boomed, someone speaking through a loudspeaker.
"As the owner of the demonic dragon, you are also subject to investigation! Please suppress the enemy in front of you as soon as possible and cooperate with the investigation!"
Hearing these shouts, Asmodeus let out a snort and burst into laughter, covering her stomach and laughing heartily, almost to the point of tears. Her laughter was mocking and sorrowful.
"Bai Cha, oh Bai Cha, look at you. I told you you were just comforting yourself. Look at who you're protecting." Asmodeus laughed until she was out of breath, her laughter finally turning into sobs. "I'm really curious, how do you hypnotize yourself and convince yourself? Don't you feel disheartened and ironic?"
"Those people are just fair-weather friends. When you were at your peak, how much did they support you? Look at who is still on your side now?" Asmodeus sneered loudly.
"I don't need fame or glory. I simply want to protect my country." Bai Cha said solemnly. "There are more people in this world who quietly do their jobs well, just to live ordinary lives. They don't even ask for wealth or status, only to grow old normally, with their families happy and healthy!"
"There are more people who are ordinary. They just want to live their lives well and accomplish what they want to do. They might just want to watch a movie with their partners, or even just have a meal with their parents. They just want to take a leisurely stroll in the park. They shouldn't be dragged into this!"
Bai Cha looked steadily at Asmodeus, finally speaking the words she had never uttered before.
"I have a subordinate named Gu Mingze. He's not exactly a lucky kid. He doesn't want to be a hero, nor does he want to be successful. He just wants to live an ordinary life. He wants to play games or become an actor. He just wants to stay in his room, sit on the balcony, bask in the sun, and count the climbing ivy outside the window. That's all."
"Most people in this world are ordinary. They just want to see their parents and children healthy. Even when they travel or go out drinking with friends, they are happy." Bai Cha said with a serious expression. "It's just that some things are beyond our control."
"It's beyond your control. Everyone is the same, like a spinning top, being whipped faster and faster, not even knowing if they should stop. Brahma used to say the same things to me," Asmodeus smiled sarcastically and lightly kissed her beloved's lips. "I used to naively believe these things with him, but now I've changed my mind."
"Asmodeus, I don't want to be your enemy." Bai Cha frowned. "Don't be so pessimistic. Take Brahma and..."
"There's no saving him." Asmodeus shook her head gently, her eyes filled with despair. "Do you remember the toxin we discovered before, the powder we named White Datura?"
White Datura, Bai Cha, Bai Cha certainly remembered. This powder was extracted from a type of mineral. It was accidentally discovered to be poisonous, and it was an extremely rare, chronic, and deadly poison. Because this powder, although white, had crystalline forms that appeared colorful and flower-shaped under the sun, it was given such a beautiful name.
This toxin was colorless and tasteless, but it was inevitably fatal. The time of death was determined by the dosage, making it a chronic poison. It dissolved into the blood and had no antidote.
"But, we can try..." Bai Cha's voice was a little choked. At this point, even her heart was sinking. "If we combine the strength of the Holy Dragons and the Demonic Dragons, no one has ever tried this before. Perhaps..."
"Xiao Bai!" A clear voice approached rapidly. Bai Cha immediately became alert. Whenever she was on a mission and Mo Ziye was involved, it was never good. If he disrupted things again this time, Bai Cha would definitely act without hesitation.
To her surprise, when Bai Cha turned around, she saw Mo Yuntian.
Mo Yuntian, accompanied by Uriel, stood behind Mo Ziye, his eyes darting away. Bai Cha suddenly felt like laughing. She hadn't expected Asmodeus's words to hit home so accurately.
Aren't you disheartened? Of course, she was disheartened. But why was it like this? Her parents had sacrificed themselves, so why wasn't it enough? What level was required?
Did she have to die? Or was the entire Shadow organization to be annihilated?
"Xiao Bai, hurry back! That's a demonic dragon out of control!" Mo Ziye shouted at Bai Cha. "Xiao Bai, come back with me, okay? Don't do these things anymore. I'll protect you."
Bai Cha glanced coldly at Mo Ziye and remained silent. Instead, she looked at Mo Yuntian beside him.
"What, are you here to crusade against me?" Bai Cha's voice was bone-chillingly cold. "What a coincidence."