Chapter 41: Self-Righteousness

Gong Kui looked intently at Xia Yan’s image on the holographic display and murmured, “Xia Yan, from beginning to end, I never doubted you. You are the most valuable, which is why I made this decision. Please do not disappoint my expectations. I truly did not deceive anyone; the cost has been unbearably heavy.”

Ten miles away from Xia Yan’s position, Emilia sat gracefully on an exquisite wooden chair, with Vivi having prepared afternoon tea for her.

Although they were not using the holographic interface to observe the battle, before them appeared a translucent curtain of liquid-like substance, within which Xia Yan’s image was projected.

“Milady, if Xia Yan is defeated, are we really going to intervene to save him?” Vivi asked hesitantly.

“After all, it’s my fault,” Emilia smiled softly. “If it weren’t for Number Seven’s betrayal of Xia Yan, things wouldn’t have turned out so disastrously.”

She sipped her tea, a hint of sarcasm crossing her face. “That winged girl is quite loyal, though. I wonder if the two purebloods of the Winged Tribe will be driven mad by her.”

Emilia chuckled softly, as if foreseeing the scene.

“But Milady,” Vivi hesitated, “last time you appeared in Fuxiang City and saved Xia Yan, it was barely justifiable. But this time, if you show up in the Free Zone to rescue him, there will be no way to clear his ties to us anymore.”

For a pureblood demon to rescue Xia Yan in the Free Zone—if one called that a coincidence, it would be more a joke.

In fact, when Xia Yan was saved in Fuxiang City, suspicion was already high. Although Gong Kui helped clear part of it, to those with intent, Xia Yan’s association with the demon clan remained doubtful.

This time, it would be impossible to deny.

“That’s why I gave him the chance,” Emilia said softly. “Kill that Level 6 mutated creature and get out of Wen Zhe’s sight. Then I wouldn’t need to appear before them.”

“Injecting the Mad Hell serum isn’t without a fighting chance,” Vivi pondered. “But I’ve never heard of a human surviving after such an injection. Even if Xia Yan is special, and Milady has the treatment abilities, it’s not certain he can be saved.”

“There’s no such thing as absolute certainty in this world. At least I have seventy or eighty percent confidence,” Emilia smiled. “Otherwise, I would have stopped Xia Yan from using the Mad Hell serum right now. I wouldn’t do such a foolish thing. If he really dies, then so be it. I can only admit my judgment was flawed.”

Vivi smiled wryly.

“Enemies meeting always breeds intense rivalry,” she murmured. It truly held true.

Xia Yan was about to make his next move—to put some distance between himself and the Free Zone. He disliked exposing himself to the eyes of the entire world. Unfortunately, at that moment, he saw his old nemesis—if someone who nearly killed you doesn’t count as an old enemy, then what does?

During the battle with the mutated creatures in Fuxiang City, just as Xia Yan was about to kill the Shadow Leopard, it was saved by a mutated creature—a bizarre man standing before him now.

At that time, Xia Yan was as insignificant as an ant in his presence. The strange man’s strength was a puzzle to Xia Yan, difficult to gauge his exact level.

But now Xia Yan knew—he was a Level 6 mutated creature.

Just a Level 6 mutated creature.

Not as formidable as imagined.

The strange man’s true form was a colossal ape, ten meters tall. After the battle, Xia Yan had researched the intelligence database and learned that his true name was Black Gold Ape.

Once a Level 4 mutated creature reached Level 5, its true form grew stronger. Reaching Level 6 was a geometric leap. The Black Gold Ape, originally four or five meters tall, had grown to ten meters at Level 6.

Yet the strange man had not transformed into his true form. He watched Xia Yan mockingly, as if Xia Yan were a lamb awaiting slaughter, his eyes full of sorrow.

A six-star ability user is defined by having over sixty percent brain domain development, while a Level 6 mutated creature is defined by physical strength exceeding sixty percent.

Before him stood the Black Gold Ape, with body development over sixty percent.

But between a six-star ability user and a Level 6 mutated creature, it wasn’t certain who would prevail.

Although higher physical strength should grant a significant advantage, logically allowing the mutated creature to dominate.

In reality, mutated creatures had a major weakness: if they fought in their true form, they couldn’t wield powerful weapons, and their bodies were less agile than humanoid forms. Against energy-based ability users, they were essentially sitting targets.

Their greatest flaw was their inability to use abilities.

Why could Level 4 mutated creatures evolve into humanoid form? It was because humanoid combat offered greater agility—a perfect battle form.

Compared to the massive mutated creatures, they had more options, even access to powerful firearms and equipment.

But even fighting in humanoid form, mutated creatures bore certain flaws. Their body development couldn’t match their true form, likely suppressed to some degree.

Take the strange man before Xia Yan—he could only muster just over fifty percent body development. Yet he made up for it with equipment and his primary ability.

As for his secondary ability, sadly, his brain domain development was still only seventeen percent, falling far short of unlocking it.

In truth, fighting in humanoid form offered higher overall combat strength and agility, but slightly weaker strength and defense.

Once mutated creatures gained intelligence, they preferred to fight with strategy rather than brute force.

Still, even without transforming into his true form, the Black Gold Ape’s physical strength greatly outmatched Xia Yan’s.

Xia Yan’s current body development was thirty-six percent. His demon ability was an all-around amplifier, perhaps bridging five percent of the gap. Adding the gray flame’s traits and winged mobility might add a bit more. But in any case, Xia Yan’s body development couldn’t exceed forty-five percent.

“Xia Yan,” the Black Gold Ape sneered, “when you killed my kin back then, did you ever imagine you’d end up like this?”

Xia Yan frowned.

The ape laughed gleefully. “I’m truly delighted, Xia Yan. One day, I’ll kill you before everyone’s eyes!”

“Really, I must thank Lord Wen Zhe. Though I’m not the top among Level 6 mutated creatures, he still gave me this chance,” the Black Gold Ape grinned. “Xia Yan, don’t you regret killing my kin back then?”