It was like the final straw that broke the camel's back.
Talulah's right hand suddenly—and uncontrollably—flung the greatsword away. Then her arm bent back at an impossible angle, and her fingers clamped tight around her own throat.
It happened so fast that even Koschei didn't react in time.
"Cough… so this is… your scheme?"
The choking pressure made veins bulge along Koschei's neck. Clear saliva spilled from the corner of her mouth as she glared viciously at the Draco in front of her. Her left hand strained desperately, trying to pry her right hand off her throat—
But that right hand was like a steel vise. It locked down harder and harder, refusing to let go.
The strength even increased.
The inferno around them had faded considerably now, and at last, pale moonlight slipped through the dying firelight and fell across both of them.
In response to Koschei's accusation, Chen Mo only shrugged.
"Yeah. Though honestly, I didn't think it would actually work."
So his sister really did care about him—one decent line, and she immediately reacted.
After Chen Mo figured out what that system value truly meant, his original plan had been to win by trading injuries—hurting Koschei even if it meant getting hurt himself.
Now it seemed that wouldn't be necessary.
Talulah's body was still convulsing. Her right hand kept tightening. Koschei couldn't even speak anymore.
All Chen Mo got in reply was a muffled, strangled whimper.
Looks like Talulah genuinely intended to take that old Black Snake down with her—right here, right now.
Chen Mo scratched at one of his horns.
"Can't do that. If you die here, Patriot over there is absolutely going to come looking for trouble with me."
"Now's not the time to go looking for death, Talulah. Someone's still waiting for you to come back."
Watching Talulah drop to one knee—her face twisted with pain—Chen Mo bent down and wrapped his arms around her trembling body.
Silver hair tangled with silver hair.
His massive tail wound around her long, slender dragon tail.
Two nearly identical, striking faces crossed past each other, resting against opposite shoulders.
Warm breath brushed Talulah's ear, and a gentle, pleasant male voice murmured softly beside her.
"That old man Koschei's already been beaten by me. You can do it too."
"Patriot, FrostNova—they're watching from afar. Don't embarrass yourself in front of your own people."
"Come on, big sister. When you wake up, I'll treat you to Shangshu hotpot."
The words faded, and Talulah's vision blurred into a haze.
This wasn't the first time the white-haired Draco had resisted her "father."
Everything he had taught her was part of his conspiracy. And conspiracies were never subtle—they were nakedly declared.
Even knowing that, she still couldn't stop herself.
In the snowfield, she had cradled her closest friend, helplessly watching life drain away in her arms.
In that great fire, she had watched tragedy unfold before her eyes, letting her body and mind sink further and further into the abyss.
Until the photograph of that figure—so nearly identical to her—was thrust in front of her by a reckless Feline.
"You think you can escape my fangs?"
Like a hallucination.
In a howling, knife-cold snowstorm, Talulah in a military uniform stood opposite Talulah dressed in ornate finery.
"I taught you everything, Talulah. You cannot escape anymore. You are the Black Snake of this generation."
"Why do you resist? Haven't you seen enough—"
"Enough. I've heard enough of your honeyed poison."
A black greatsword appeared in the military-uniform Talulah's hand. Without hesitation, she drove it straight through the other Talulah's chest.
Just like in Koschei's Ursus domain—just like the first time she stabbed her through.
"Your curse ends here. My hatred will no longer be used by you."
"You will never stoke my rage again—not even once."
"My brother has prevented even more innocent deaths."
"Your scheme ended before it even began."
"You've lost, Koschei."
Slash—
Talulah coldly yanked the blade free.
Koschei raised a hand, watching her body fall away like drifting snow—fragmenting, dissolving, vanishing. With a low snort, she let her arm drop.
"So be it. There will always be another Chernobog, another puppet who wakes up, another Talulah."
"I'll acknowledge this defeat."
"Celebrate your grand achievement, Talulah. Enjoy it."
In the final moment before she disappeared completely, Koschei looked at Talulah's resolute bearing—and laughed.
"To think I'd lose to what I deemed weakness: emotion."
"What a dramatically fitting ending."
"Heh. How ridiculous."
The illusion shattered like a mirror.
Talulah felt darkness swallow her whole—and then she lost consciousness completely.
The white-haired Draco went limp and collapsed against Chen Mo.
Looking at Talulah—sleeping deeply now, breathing steady and calm—Chen Mo thought for a moment, then finally knelt down and placed her head in his lap.
"Does this count as giving her some… fan service?"
Talulah's hair tickled his thigh, making him squirm in discomfort.
But whatever.
She was his sister, after all. Without her interfering from the inside, he probably would have had to go all-in, trading blood with Koschei until one of them dropped.
And his HP really was flimsy—one cut and he lost five percent.
It had already recovered enough that it didn't hurt anymore, but if they'd truly fought it out to the end… who knew which of them would have lasted longer?
Neither of them feared pain. At best, his advantage was that even with a fatal injury he could still swing back like he'd been injected with adrenaline.
Chen Mo squinted at the rising sunrise, lifting a hand to block the harsh glare, and muttered under his breath.
"Those people don't seriously think we're putting on some touching sibling reunion scene, do they? Why aren't they coming over already? My leg's going numb."
…
Rhodes Island.
With Chernobog now completely still, Amiya immediately turned to Kal'tsit beside her.
"Dr. Kal'tsit—please allow me to lead a team and bring Mr. Chen Mo back!"
"No."
Kal'tsit's reply was cool and flat.
"Reunion has fully gathered around the 'Mr. Chen Mo' you mentioned. Going now carries too high a risk. I will not let you gamble with your life."
That cold refusal made Amiya anxious at once. She hurriedly tried to argue—
"Please don't worry, Dr. Kal'tsit, I—"
"Let the little rabbit go."
A voice cut in abruptly.
"With us in the shadows, you don't need to worry."
Amiya froze. Following Kal'tsit's calm gaze, she looked toward several figures who had appeared behind them at some point—each wearing a straw raincloak.
"You are…?"
"Lungmen's Governor Wei's Black Cloaks."
Kal'tsit's tone stayed sharp and indifferent.
"If that's the case, why don't you go bring your young master back yourselves?"
The lead Black Cloak scratched at his cheek beneath the brim of his hat, then raised an arm—revealing a burn scar left from when he had tried to stop Chen Mo back in Lungmen.
"After meeting Young Master Chen, we've learned exactly how stubborn he can be."
"We're worried something might happen again. A third party needs to intervene."
"Besides, Patriot and his daughter FrostNova have also received our 'consideration.' With us present, they won't harm you."
"Afterward, you can rest and regroup in Lungmen for a time. Governor Wei has already made it clear—he welcomes your visit."
Amiya nodded rapidly, relief and excitement flooding her face.
"Dr. Kal'tsit, is that okay? Can I go now?"
"…Go. And return as quickly as possible."
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