Chapter 243: Untitled

"Am I crazy? Sucking the blood of the Calamity Fire Dragon Maiden's secondary body?"

Kevin Neil retracted his fangs, which had already extended past his lips, and the red glow in his eyes gradually faded: "Just making an observation, don't be so tense, Cressy. I don't want to be burned to death by Her Highness's calamity fire."

"It's best if you understand that!"

Cressy Jakes snorted lightly, then looked around, checking the magical arrays on the surrounding walls: "Looks like it's done, right? Have you double-checked? We only have one chance; there can't be any mistakes in this ritual."

"Absolutely foolproof! Have you forgotten my nickname? Meticulous Kevin. I've already checked it three times by myself. But—"

Kevin paused: "Are you really going through with this? To be honest, at this time of year, I really don't recommend it. Her negative emotions, three days after reaching the threshold, have now fallen below it again. I don't know why, but her will has become exceptionally firm. Even our illusionist can't do anything with her. I'm a bit worried—"

"Worried about what?"

Cressy Jakes already knew the answer: "Worried that the Rebirth Egg won't hatch? Or that after it hatches, our princess won't be able to shatter the consciousness that replaces her?"

"I'm not worried about that. The power of a half-dragon maiden is no match for a mortal soul. But this body is still hers. I'm worried that if any residual will remains, it will affect Her Highness's control over the body. That could become a weakness in legendary or even half-god-level battles."

Kevin Neil frowned: "And the hatching is also a problem. Using the power of All Hallows' Eve can indeed lower the hatching threshold of the Rebirth Egg and greatly shorten the time. But if Hazel herself is still resisting her fate, it will affect the egg's absorption of energy from the blood pool."

"I can roughly guess these consequences."

Cressy Jakes sighed: "But Kevin, we're out of time now. As you know, that kid named Andre has put us in a bind. Under his command, he's gathered many people who give us trouble. Plus, I've received inside news that the New Church of Light and the FBI have both learned of our plan to resurrect the princess. So we have no choice. If we can't succeed in resurrecting Her Highness on Halloween, we might not have another suitable opportunity for three to five years. That means all our efforts so far will come to nothing."

Kevin Neil's expression grew serious: "Is the situation that dire?"

"It's worse than you can imagine."

A resolute look flashed in Cressy Jakes's eyes: "Kevin, to not affect the headquarters' subsequent plans, the resurrection of the Calamity Fire Dragon Maiden is imperative. She is one of our most important assets and combat forces. At this point, even if it risks flaws in Her Highness's body, we have to go ahead. At most, we'll find a way to fix it later. We still have ways to deal with the girl's residual will, right?"

"Alright~"

Kevin Neil looked resigned: "I'll use a set of Soul-Suppressing Nails on her. That can effectively suppress Hazel's soul and will. It's not good for the Rebirth Egg's absorption of blood pool energy, but it helps Her Highness control the body. However, we don't have Soul-Suppressing Nails in our inventory. I'll have to provide them personally, and afterward, you'll need to get the higher-ups to compensate me."

"Since there's a way, go ahead~"

Cressy Jakes laughed: "The Dragon Witch Cult never mistreats faithful contributors. But be careful not to lose control."

"It's dangerous. I'll try my best."

Kevin Neil's fangs at the corners of his mouth protruded again, and then his entire form turned into countless bats, flying to the central platform. He took out a set of twelve black nails and drove them one by one into Hazel's chest and abdomen. Five of them even entered through her head, skillfully avoiding the brain matter and embedding into her skull.

This caused the girl immense pain. Her delicate face twisted grotesquely. She struggled violently, pulling at the chains and nails in her limbs, causing more blood to flow.

But when the last black nail was inserted into her neck, Hazel's body suddenly stiffened. Her eyes became vacant and lifeless, as if she were dead, with no further movement.

"She's practically tempting me."

Kevin Neil looked greedily and reluctantly at the blood seeping from Hazel's body, then with great difficulty transformed into thousands of bats and returned to Cressy Jakes's side.

"Her blood is indeed sweet, testing my control—"

Just then, the door behind them suddenly swung open. Edwin Antonio entered with a group of people wearing black robes and various dragon-faced masks.

"Finally here."

Cressy Jakes smiled and stepped forward, then placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly: "Cressy Arman, High Priest of the Dragon Witch Cult, on behalf of the cult, welcomes all distinguished guests. As agreed beforehand, before the great Calamity Fire Dragon Maiden is reborn, we invite you to enjoy the Calamity Blood Feast."

"A bit sudden, Cressy, but I roughly understand your situation. That suddenly rising kid has put you in a tight spot, hasn't he?"

It was a man wearing a black dragon mask among the group: "I want to know, what are your chances now? You should understand that the FBI and the New Church of Light could act against you at any time. They may have already learned of this location."

"Because we anticipated that, we moved the plan up to Halloween."

Cressy Jakes smiled: "We should still have time. As long as everyone helps us delay according to the plan, then neither the New Church of Light, nor the FBI, nor any other government law enforcement agency can act immediately. We have to thank this country's bureaucracy; otherwise, my twelve years of effort would come to nothing."

"But besides that, there's Andre Lee Wittenstein."

The voice was hoarse and aged, coming from another black-robed person: "The Magic Tower Management Committee has authorized him to use the Magic Tower array. His subordinates have also gained a new seventeenth-level Holy Temple warrior. He could appear here at any moment, High Priest Cressy Arman."

"With all due respect—"

Professor Kevin Neil spoke with some displeasure: "That kid has pushed us to this point because all of you indulged him."

This remark drew no response. Several of the dragon-masked people looked at Kevin Neil with cold, mocking gazes.

Even Edwin Antonio himself, and Cressy Jakes, did not take it seriously. The 'distinguished guests' before them, though powerful figures in Atlanta, were not at the very top. With their own constraints and concerns about identity and consequences, they had indeed done their best to cover up the plan to resurrect the Calamity Fire Dragon Maiden until now.

"Don't worry, everyone. If it's just that lucky Andre, I think we can handle him."

Cressy Jakes was saying this when his expression shifted slightly, and he glanced upward: "Look, they're already here—"