BTTH: Starting from Capturing the Goddess

As Die watched Queen Medusa battling Chen Mo in the sky, her mind suddenly became hazy.

She realized that Queen Medusa's appearance bore an uncanny resemblance to her own.

A fragmented memory surfaced in her mind.

In a dimly lit, eerie hall resembling an ancient altar, her hands were bound by two thick chains of ice. Surrounding her were snake-human soldiers, all wielding spears and sharp blades.

At the top of the grand hall stood three elders of the Snake Tribe, their faces concealed behind terrifying masks, their bodies draped in black robes.

One of the elders slightly bent forward, his tone both respectful and commanding as his voice echoed through the hall:

"She has relinquished her position. From this day forth, you shall be the new Queen Medusa of the Snake Tribe."

"The Snake Tribe can have only one Queen Medusa. Your Majesty, you must kill her!"

The scene shifted.

A graceful silhouette slowly approached Die.

Die raised her head cautiously. Just as she was about to make out the person's face, a sudden gust of wind brought her back to reality.

She snapped out of her trance to see the man called the Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong, reaching toward her with an outstretched hand.

But before he could grab her, a figure descended like a celestial guardian, accompanied by a domineering voice.

"You can't take her away!"

Then, with a palm imbued with thunder and blood-red flames, Chen Mo struck at Hai Bodong.

"You… You're injured again…"

To Die, nothing else mattered.

What mattered was that Chen Mo had yet another wound—this time, his left shoulder was marred with a deep, blackened injury. The sight of it made her heart ache.

[Ding! Favorability +2. Acquired Youth Retention Pill.]

Chen Mo had no time to respond to Die; he was locked in battle with Hai Bodong.

"Boom!"

The collision of their blows sent waves of yellow sand flying into the air. A heavy thud resonated across the battlefield as both men were knocked backward, carving deep trenches over five meters long into the sand.

Hai Bodong's sharp eyes focused on Chen Mo, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

From his aura, Chen Mo was only a one-star Dou Huang. Yet, he had managed to clash evenly with a five-star Dou Huang like himself.

Noticing Queen Medusa approaching, Hai Bodong spoke up.

"If I'm not mistaken, both of us have been hired by the same employer. Rather than fighting, why don't we work together? Let's drive Queen Medusa away first. You can take the entire reward—I only care about completing my mission."

His words caused an uproar among the onlookers. Even Mo Ba Si, who had just struggled to his feet, paled at the implication.

Queen Medusa's figure stiffened slightly. Her frosty gaze shifted toward Chen Mo and Hai Bodong, her expression darkening.

Had it not been for the need to maintain her authority as queen, she might have outright exposed her true allegiance.

Die's pupils contracted in shock, her delicate hands covering her mouth as she stared at Chen Mo in disbelief.

What if… Hai Bodong was telling the truth?

[Ding! Favorability -1.]

Hearing the system's prompt, Chen Mo's expression changed instantly. He blurted out, "I have no idea what you're talking about! Hired? I don't know anything about that! But let me make this clear—she is not going anywhere with you!"

[Ding! Favorability +2. Acquired 2 Favorability Coins.]

A rush of relief washed over Die. Her worried frown melted into a bright smile, though guilt lingered in her heart—how could she have doubted him?

"???"

Queen Medusa was utterly baffled by what was happening.

Hai Bodong frowned, his expression souring, but he knew he couldn't take on both Chen Mo and Queen Medusa at the same time.

After giving Chen Mo one last deep look, he flapped his ice-blue Dou Qi wings and soared into the sky.

"Fine. I'll leave her to you!"

With those parting words, Hai Bodong vanished into the moonlit night.

Mo Ba Si did not pursue him.

Neither did Queen Medusa.

And naturally, neither did Chen Mo.

Queen Medusa's bewitching eyes turned cold as she fixed her gaze on Chen Mo. Her voice was detached and regal.

"Human, hand her over, and I will spare your life."

Chen Mo hesitated. He knew that, deep down, Queen Medusa intended to protect Die. But at this point, she had not yet fully turned against the elders of the Snake Tribe.

In other words, Queen Medusa still had to abide by the will of her tribe.

Judging from Mebas's earlier attempt to execute Die on the spot, Chen Mo couldn't risk handing her over.

Die, watching the scene unfold, felt a pang of sorrow. After spending so many days together, had the time for parting finally come?

Yes… She had to leave with Queen Medusa. She couldn't bear to see Chen Mo getting hurt for her sake any longer.

Her eyes trailed over the numerous wounds on his body, and her heart clenched.

Just as she was about to say she would go with Queen Medusa, Chen Mo's resolute voice rang out.

"Not a chance!"

[Ding! Favorability +2. Acquired 2 Favorability Coins.]

Queen Medusa's expression darkened, her eyes flashing with murderous intent.

"You dare defy me? Then you will die!"

With a sudden burst of speed, she became a streak of crimson light, closing the distance between them in an instant. Her fiery red blade slashed down toward Chen Mo's head.

Chen Mo flapped his wings, retreating skyward.

At the same time, he retrieved a Xuan-rank Intermediate Dou Technique—"Sword Fall from the Nine Heavens" from his system storage.

A flood of knowledge surged into his mind.

The seven forms of Sword Fall from the Nine Heavens flashed before his eyes, and within moments, he had fully grasped them.

Clenching his hand, a black-and-white Dou Qi sword materialized in his grasp.

"Seventh Form—Falling Nine Heavens!"

As Queen Medusa's blade neared him, Chen Mo's sword trembled violently.

A torrent of energy surged from the heavens, pouring into his sword.

In an instant, a dazzling, vast brilliance erupted, resembling a celestial river cascading down from the sky.

Even the very space around them trembled.

"Boom!"

The radiant energy clashed with Queen Medusa's blade, shattering it instantly. Her long eyelashes quivered slightly before the sword light slammed into her body.

"Bang!"

A deafening explosion echoed across the sky, blooming like fireworks.

Moments later—

A streak of light shot downward, piercing into the sand below.

All eyes turned toward the fallen object.

It was a crown.

"T-That's Queen Medusa's crown!"** a snake-person gasped, staring in disbelief.

Did this mean… the Queen had lost?

The crowd turned their gazes skyward.

As the dust settled, a figure was sent hurtling backward.

When they saw it wasn't Queen Medusa, Mebas and the others let out a collective sigh of relief.

"Human, you have truly angered me!"

As the storm cleared, a graceful silhouette flashed forward, chasing after the falling figure of Chen Mo.

It was Queen Medusa.

Aside from the slight tears in her elegant robes and her slightly disheveled hair, she was completely unharmed.

In contrast, Chen Mo's face was pale, his body visibly weakened.

At this critical moment—

"Stop!"

A surge of brilliant purple energy erupted from Die's body, shooting straight into the sky!

****

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