Chapter 1756 Resentment Engulfing the Vast Plains <TOC> Chapter 1758 Hayley's Collapse
Translator: SumTLMan
By the time Hayley sensed that something was wrong, her emotional defenses had already suffered a dent. Just as when a dike bursts, negative emotions came flooding in like a torrent.
It was fortunate that Hayley noticed early, enabling her to exert utmost effort in reining them in. Nevertheless, mending this emotional breach thoroughly might demand a considerable amount of time.
Hayley forced herself not to succumb to any fleeting impulses. She was aware that this magical creature wasn’t just brutish in nature but could also manipulate human emotions, and one must be extremely cautious when dealing with it.
While Hayley was wrestling with her inner turmoil, Toby wouldn’t pause. He took control of the Gravity Lines, as if pulling back a massive slingshot, sending Hayley flying unexpectedly due to the immense force.
Subsequently, Toby’s gaze shifted to others… But as he glanced around, he spotted something that displeased him.
Where are the others?!
The surroundings were deserted except for an unsealed spatial rift. Clearly, while he was preoccupied with Hayley, the remaining hooded figures had fled! The yawning spatial rift resembled a mocking smirk, greatly irritating Toby.
He tumbled about, causing quite a ruckus for a while before grudgingly accepting the situation. He couldn’t possibly tear through the rift in pursuit.
Toby was no fool. He was all too aware of what lay beyond that spatial rift. Causing chaos in Sky Mechanical City, even if Angel could cover for him, was not something he desired.
He no longer wished to act impulsively. In the past, during the auction at Twilight Deep Well, it was his impetuousness that nearly cost Angel his life. Since that day, Toby’s mindset had started to transform. He put in so much effort to improve himself, aspiring to be a support for Angel, rather than a burden on him.
In a moment of impulse, he dashed toward Sky Mechanical City. In the end, it was Angel who tidied up the aftermath of his impetuous actions.
With that thought in mind, Toby shook his head, deciding to ignore the spatial rift for the moment. Right now, he should first rendezvous with Angel and Gloria, and while at it… express his grievances from the challenges he faced during the tribulation.
Toby looked around, now facing the burning question: Where exactly are Angel and the others?
While Toby was pondering this, a piercing gust of wind emanated from the depths of the void. Turning to see what caused it, he was met by a bizarre creature standing before him.
It was a being with a human face, but the majority of its body morphed into that of a hawk — a woman with raptor-like features.
Dark velvety feathers reached her face, yet they couldn’t conceal her visage, which radiated a restrained beauty as if she were part of some sacred ritual.
At first glance, Toby didn’t recognize this bird-human from its appearance, but he was deeply familiar with the unnamed fire that ignited in its heart.
Not long ago, he had manipulated its emotions.
It was Hayley, who he had once repelled using Gravity Lines. But whereas previously only Hayley’s hands had transformed into those of a raptor, now she seemed to have almost fully transformed into a beastly state.
It was clear her bloodline abilities had fully awakened.
When faced with the black-robed individuals who had previously attacked him, Toby had hardly held back, using his immense strength to hurl them deep into the void. Undoubtedly, some suffered severe injuries or even met their demise, but there were likely survivors.
For those who perished, Toby felt no pity. As for the survivors, he remained indifferent. Most of them were probably paralyzed by fear, with bleak futures, merely eking out a living. However, those who clung to life generally knew better than to seek vengeance against Toby.
Only this individual, named Hayley, seemed resolute in her determination, as if she had made up her mind to battle it out with Toby till the end.
Toby, with his vertically slitted pupils narrowed, gazed at the Hayley opposite him, her wings flapping. Even though he had initially decided to lay low, seeing her stirred something inside him once again.
Before this, Toby’s approach had been to vent his dissatisfaction simply through the sheer might of his physical prowess. But now, with much of his anger having dissipated, he found this recklessly bold bird-woman an excellent opportunity to test out some moves.
Beyond just defense and speed, Toby possessed many abilities characteristic of the Serpent-Bird that he hadn’t yet utilized. For instance, that vivid crimson comb atop his head wasn’t just for show. Furthermore, the venom sac situated near his upper jaw, which often gave him a tingling sensation, had yet to be employed.
Seeing someone so eager to court displeasure, Toby wasn’t inclined to let things slide so easily either.
As the eye contact between Hayley and Toby intensified, an invisible surge of energy began to escalate.
Reaching its peak, Hayley made the first move. Not because she seized the initiative, but rather because she could no longer bear the intense pressure exerted by Toby. If she didn’t act now, she feared she might collapse under its weight.
As Hayley lunged at Toby, a blinding Crimson Radiance suddenly emanated from Toby’s skull. It didn’t come from Toby’s eyes but rather from the fleshy lump atop his head, resembling a crown.
At that moment, the fleshy lump seemed like a heated red crystal, radiating a brilliant glow.
When this light appeared, Hayley felt as if she had plunged into a bizarre world bathed in red. She could no longer see Toby’s massive form. Surrounding her was a swirling, dizzying red. Amidst the chaos, vague silhouettes seemed to emerge and recede.
“What is this?” Hayley frowned, pondering, “Is this some kind of illusionary realm?”
It felt somewhat like an illusory world, yet it seemed to lack certain elements that define such realms and, at the same time, possessed an added depth of meaning.
While Hayley was still trying to figure out the exact situation, a shadowy figure suddenly appeared behind her, so close that she could feel the warmth of its breath. Without immediately turning around, Hayley sped forward a short distance before glancing back.
In front of her, at the very spot she once stood, there was a nebulous silhouette of a person.
This figure seemed strangely familiar. Hayley searched her memories, attempting to place this growing sense of recognition. After a brief hesitation, she asked, “Mortar?”
Mortar was a member of their association that had ventured into this void.
As Hayley shouted his name, the indistinct silhouette rapidly came into clear focus.
It was unmistakably Mortar’s likeness. However, the typical calm demeanor on Mortar’s face was replaced with profound resentment and malice.
“Mortar, is that really you?” Hayley was uncertain whether this was the real person or merely an illusion.
His eyes were bloodshot, filled with rage as he glared at Hayley, “It’s you. All because of you!”
Hayley responded, “What happened to you?”
He declared vehemently, “I despise you! If it wasn’t for you, she wouldn’t have been affected by the mark and wouldn’t have joined under Massaro’s banner.” Mortar stared at Hayley with eyes full of hatred, asserting, “I won’t let you go. I’ll kill you!”
Hayley couldn’t ascertain if this Mortar was real or imaginary. But anyone challenging her authority was absolutely intolerable. Without hesitation, she swiftly released a dark feather. With a flash of black light, Mortar was cleaved in two right down the middle.
His voice abruptly ceased, and his figure slowly dissipated.
“It was an illusion,” Hayley quickly realized. However, she was still perplexed. If it was merely an illusion, why would he say such words? That level of hatred didn’t seem feigned.
Hayley was also aware of whom Mortar referred to as “she”. Occasionally, when she locked eyes with Mortar in the past, she could sense his discontent towards her.
How could an illusion know of these underlying feelings and events?
As Hayley pondered in uncertainty, more silhouettes began to materialize in this blood-red world. And all of them… were people she had previously been with. Now, they all stared at her with the same intense hatred that Mortar had exhibited.
Chapter 1756 Resentment Engulfing the Vast Plains <TOC> Chapter 1758 Hayley's Collapse