Chapter 377 - 42: The Giant Dragon Reappears, Bizarre Plot Development

The second was a fundamental difference in values and perspective. Kukudar was more focused on His own feelings and habits, viewing problems only from His own point of view. During this process, the weak were unable to empathize with Him, and He even possessed a cognitive bias based on Race.

And this was the true reason for Kukudar’s betrayal.

Thus, having grown a great deal, Kukudar had long understood why He had been betrayed.

So, for this very reason, the instant He saw Lince appear, the Giant Serpent God Kukudar’s eyes held no fear. Instead, they were filled with a brilliant light.

His pupils reflected the image of the Flame Giant Dragon, and His soaring emotions seemed to merge with the flames.

And so, when Lince looked back at Kukudar, he instantly saw an incomprehensible excitement in the Giant Serpent God’s eyes.

This excitement was not greedy.

Instead, it was the teary-eyed emotion of seeing an old friend after many long years!

This time, it was Lince’s turn to be stunned.

In fact, the creature’s intense gaze—as if afraid he would run away—was so fervent it gave Lince goosebumps.

For some reason, he felt a strange sense of dread.

But the Giant Serpent God Kukudar was completely oblivious.

The entire snake was in a state of euphoria.

Originally, He had simply discovered the Star Gate built by the Star Empire. Curious, He had decided to embark on a spontaneous journey to leave the Square World.

But who would have thought that He would actually discover another of His kind in this unknown region of the Star Sea.

Just like that, the depression that had made Him suicidal had largely healed on its own.

Ultimately, He was still clinging to a desperate hope—a hope that He would no longer be alone, a hope that He could find a reason to keep living in this world.

His home world was gone. Everything familiar was gone.

A single, lonely serpent roaming the Star Sea... Only He knew how this feeling of having no place to belong could drive a snake to madness.

And so, in the very next moment...

As if clutching at a final straw, Kukudar took the initiative, sending an excited yet apprehensive query to Lince.

"Your Excellency?"

"May I ask, is this world under your protection?"

"I, Kukudar, have no intention of causing conflict. This was all an accident. If I have caused any offense, I ask for your forgiveness."

"And how may I address you, Your Excellency?"

Kukudar’s nervousness and excitement left Lince utterly baffled.

’Did he just back down the moment he saw me?’

’An Ancient Life? Shouldn’t he be an Overlord of his own world?’

’We haven’t even fought, and he’s already acting this subservient?’

’Or does he have some kind of ulterior motive?’

’Buying time? Looking for reinforcements?’

Lince carefully studied the Giant Serpent God Kukudar’s eyes, but that didn’t seem to be the case at all.

Instead, seeing that fervent gaze, reminiscent of a Blue Star simp, Lince inexplicably thought of another possibility.

’This snake isn’t... female, is it?’

’The spiritual voice is pretty androgynous, too.’

The mere thought sent a wave of revulsion through Lince!

But as the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling man.

In the end, Lince suppressed his revulsion and spoke in a low voice.

"You can call me Nigredo."

"Kukudar, I do not know where you come from. But since you claim to have arrived here by accident, do you have any proof?"

Lince’s voice was utterly indifferent, carrying a coldness that kept others at a distance.

But to Kukudar, it sounded as if Lince was still displeased by His sudden arrival and the chaos it had caused.

Therefore, He hurriedly replied:

"Lord Nigredo, please do not be angered."

"I may not have any proof, but if Your Excellency does not mind, we could engage in a direct Spiritual interaction."

"Once you know my past, you will know whether or not I am lying!"

Within the Star Sea, the Giant Serpent God and the Giant Dragon faced each other.

They stared at one another, seemingly in silence.

But to the onlooking Deities, they knew, of course, that this couldn’t possibly be a simple staring contest.

Obviously, the terrifying Ancient Giant Snake God was conversing with the Giant Dragon.

As for what they were discussing, the Deities had no idea, but judging from the situation, it was rather strange.

"Why does the atmosphere feel a little off?"

"Holy shit, you guys, look! I get the feeling that the way that terrifying Giant Serpent is looking at the Chief... it’s a look of pure longing!"

"Fuck, that Giant Serpent isn’t female, is it?"

"Besides, we’re talking about the Dragon Race. You know how it is... those powerful hormones and their appeal to other species of the opposite sex..."

Not the Tea Monarch said via a telepathic message, watching the scene with a strange expression, as if he had just discovered a new world.

Brother Cheng Takes Off and the others were instantly stunned to hear this.

Now that he mentioned it... if they focused their Divine Power into their eyes and looked closely, there really was something in the way the Giant Serpent God was looking at Lince’s dragon form.

"No way..."

"The plot can actually develop this way?"

At this moment, even Brother Cheng Takes Off couldn’t help but state blankly.

"I don’t know if it’s female, but I do know that this Giant Serpent God really seems to have no intention of attacking the Chief."

"I get the feeling there’s definitely an inside story here that we don’t know about."

Logical Genius analyzed with a serious expression.

"An inside story? What inside story could there be? Look, the guy’s wagging his tail in excitement, for crying out loud!"

The moment Logical Genius finished speaking, the Player Deity ’I’m Just a Little Ordinary Person’ exclaimed, pointing at the suddenly wagging serpent tail.

"N-no way..."

"Is this Giant Serpent God really fe...female?"

At this moment, even Sweet Little Cookie, who had been skeptical before, couldn’t help but cover her mouth with an incredulous expression.

At this point, it wasn’t just the seven Player Deities.

Even the Storm Goddess and the Sea Race Main God were exchanging looks of disbelief.

However, the Sea Race Main God—a Giant Whale who had undergone Ascension to Divinity—dared not gossip about such matters.

His gaze was focused more on the terrifying manifestation of Mighty Power that Lince was displaying.

"So, Gwyneth, this is the real reason you compromised?" the Sea Race Main God, Ludovico, asked, his voice heavy.

"You could say that."

"But what I saw was his immense potential! The possibility that he could lead us out of our predicament and toward a glorious future we could never have imagined."

The Storm Goddess’s voice was composed and tranquil.

"Ludovico, you’ve seen it for yourself."

"His Majesty’s growth Potential is completely beyond comparison to the previous generation of the Dragon Race!"

"Furthermore, he has the favor of the mysterious True Creator."

"I think, for a being such as him, receiving his protection is already a great blessing, is it not? So, what more could we possibly ask for?"

Ludovico was silent.

But his eyes remained fixed on the terrifying deity in the Star Sea, who shone like a small Sun. Finally, he spoke in a heavy tone.

"Ultimately, strength reigns supreme. There’s nothing more to be said."

"However, to a being like that, it’s true. Whether we’re a Main God or have Weak Divine Power, there really isn’t much of a difference."

At this moment, the Sea Race Main God Ludovico finally abandoned all illusions he held in his heart.

After all, Lince’s existence aside... the shock brought by the Giant Serpent God alone reminded him of the Black Flame Creatures.

The fear of death they brought shattered all of his ridiculous notions.

Therefore, Ludovico now completely abandoned the idea of making any claim on the status of the True Creator’s Deputy from Lince.

’The Power of a Main God is still too weak!’

’Especially when compared to these Ancient Life forms!’

’Are the Dominator and Star God Tiers enough?’

Ludovico asked himself.

’Not enough!’

’Still not enough!’

Compared to an Ancient Life form, an ordinary Lower-Rank Creature might as well be from a different dimension right from the start.

Their starting points are different, so the gap in Power at the same Tier will only grow larger and larger.

Thus, at this moment, Ludovico finally, truly abandoned all of his unrealistic fantasies.

However, what the Deities thought at this moment no longer mattered.

Because at this very moment, Lince was carefully experiencing Kukudar’s entire past through His perspective.

It had to be said, after witnessing everything Kukudar had been through, Lince was left speechless.

’Tragic!’

’Truly tragic!’

’Tragic with a capital T!’