Chapter 787

"Since Hulei has already appeared, what should we do about Jiaoqiu, Moze, and Xueyi? They seem not to be a match for Hulei..." Lili Lukka's face full of worry.

Weiruf heard and his face sank: "Mokze escaping should be no problem, but Xueyi and Jiaoqiu… they'll likely become sacrifices for Hulei's prison break."

——

"Quickly go."

Jiaoqiu calmly glanced back at Mokze; they understood, and with a flash they quickly left the area.

Xueyi gripped her weapon tightly; she knew Hulei's escape was inevitable, and now she only wanted to sacrifice herself in a strike, hoping to severely wound Hulei.

She leapt up, her expression cold and fierce, shooting straight toward Hulei's chin like an arrow released from a bow.

In an instant dust rose again, but when the smoke cleared, Xueyi's weapon had turned dark like cast iron, stuck slantwise in the ground, and she herself lay unable to move, her body crackling with electricity.

"I've waited… too long…"

Hulei half‑squatted, lifted Xueyi's head and held her aloft: "The first meal of my newfound freedom… is actually the flesh of my kin, truly sorrowful."

He clenched his fist hard; with a muffled groan from Xueyi, her mechanical body was crushed to pieces, and he tossed it aside casually.

"Long time no see, Battle Chief. We've come to welcome you home."

——

Overlord.

(Xueyi, is that it??)

(What happened in the instant Xueyi stabbed him just now?)

Ainz didn't see it clearly at all.

Although he hadn't used magic to enhance his sight, the truth was he simply hadn't had time to react—everything happened too fast. This Hulei was far larger than Cocytus in size and strength, yet his agility seemed to overwhelm every guardian present.

"Cocytus, did you see Hulei's movements just now?"

"Movements..."

Cocytus lowered his head, silent for a while. Whether from shame or self‑reproach over his inadequacy… but since he showed this attitude, Ainz already understood that this guardian, famed for close‑combat, also hadn't seen clearly.

"Please forgive my inadequacy, Your Supreme Majesty, I—"

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Cocytus." Ainz raised his hand, cutting off Cocytus's speech; instead of dwelling on self‑blame and repeated self‑denial, he was more curious about the secret of Hulei's immortality.

If he could be captured alive by Mirukage, he certainly isn't a monster of the Abundance Emissary type. Yet just from what he showed earlier, Ainz could be certain that in close combat this monster could only be captured again if a general personally intervened—otherwise it was impossible.

Could he have some connection with the emissary?

Although he had Sebas and Demiurge pose as Abundance Emissaries to control the human kingdom's high ranks, a pretense remains a pretense—no amount of drilling makes it real. If possible, he truly wishes to catch a trace of anything related to "Abundance".

——

"The howls of the Step‑less people echo in the Prison of Confinement."

""How many times has Qingqiu turned since our last hunt? (How long has it been?) You blue‑spawn! Tell me your name!""

"Faced with Hulei's inquiry, Modu bowed respectfully: 'Great Hulei Khan, enemy of the fox‑people, hunter of all beings. I am merely a minor strategist of the rhino‑dog hunting band, perhaps one of the most insignificant offspring born from your bloodline. My name is Modu.'"

""It has been… at least seven hundred years since you last led our tribe across the Star Sea hunting grounds. Seeing you still as cunning and agile as before fills me with boundless joy.""

""Seven hundred years… seven hundred years have passed, why, you blue‑spawn, have you grown into this form?" Hulei's gaze swept over him, his tone tinged with displeasure: "Answer me, Modu—why have you taken on the shape of our most despised slave and enemy, the fox‑people?""

"A bead of cold sweat trickled down Modu's cheek; he dared not lift his head, merely stammering in reply: 'I was sent to free you from that hateful prison. This is fate's decree. For this I had to take the magic potion, don the lowly beast's skin, and use disguise to counter their deceit.'"

"Since you have an escape plan, tell me—how do we get off this boundless sky‑ship?"

"We brothers will seal the prison's gate and suffocate the guards inside. That will buy us a brief respite." Modu said, "Those of us who are similarly disguised will prepare a vessel for your escape. According to the plan, we have a total of two hours to leave here."

——

Ne Zha: The Devil Boy Stirs the Sea

"Pah!"

Ne Zha sprang up from his chair, spitting out the blade of dog‑tail grass far away, pointing at Modu on the heavenly canopy and began to curse:

"What bullshit 'hunter of all beings'—a bunch of sneaky cowards who only dare play dirty tricks! If you've got guts, fight for real—what's killing someone by suffocation? In this Prison of Confinement there's no Mirukage, but there's a reincarnation of one of the Five Valiants from the Cloud‑Upper… uh, Danheng! He can still slice you to death! If you've got the ability, duel him—see if I don't impale your heads on spears to use as chamber pots!"

Taiyi Zhenren's ears rang from the noise; he quickly gulped a mouthful of wine to steady himself, waving a hand: "Oh dear, Ne Zha, can't you calm down?" He wiped the wine stain from his lips, pointing at the gloomy Prison of Confinement and said: "Take a look, really look—is there even a drop of water there? Sure, the prison lies beneath the Scales Abyss, but in this place not even a bird drops droppings—it's practically smoking!"

"Dragons summon wind and rain, they're adept at water magic—I get that. But a clever wife can't cook without rice, right? Sending Danheng out to duel—isn't that putting us at a disadvantage?"

Ne Zha also seemed to realize the issue, sticking out his neck: "When I said duel, I meant Hulei taking on Danheng and Xing together… don't get it wrong!"

"Actually, whether we lose or gain doesn't matter; once Hulei leaves the Prison of Confinement, he'll have to duel the three generals, and then we'll see how he 'escapes' the Celestial Vessel."

——

"I originally planned to rescue you tomorrow, but they intend to send you to the Yaoqing Celestial Vessel for confinement, so I must seize this chance to free you."

"Upon hearing that, Hulei drew a deep breath and snapped: 'A reckless plan, idiot! Even with a ship, our odds of escape are far lower than a fox‑person slipping past my claws.'"

"To save you we have no choice! The angel sent by the Lord of Longevity said, 'Only your return can end the Step‑less people's endless division.' All the brothers on this mission have braced themselves for sacrifice—as long as you can leave here."

"Hearing that, Hulei also slightly eased his anger: 'A deceitful, survival‑seeking weakling like you, showing near‑foolish bravery in the plan—you'll get what you deserve… all you blue‑spawn will get what you deserve.'"

"Then, my lord, we should go."

"Hulei: 'Before we leave, give me one of the magic pills you've taken.'"

""You… you actually want to don the lowly beast's skin? That disgraces your great stature…""

"Idiot, greatness without freedom is worthless! Once I leave this place I need a skin that at least looks less suspicious." Having given these orders, Hulei slowly turned his gaze toward the onlooking Jiaoqiu.

"Is that fox‑person slave meant to be my rations?"