Witch, Fireball and Steam Evil God

Chapter 298 Welcome to the Real World

"Robot? What is a robot?"

For the city lord of Misty Forest County, nothing could be more exhausting than having to deal with a poacher group at such a tense moment. However, she had no choice but to come in person because the poachers claimed to have brought some very important information, so important that it could very well concern the survival of Misty Forest County.

The leader of this poacher gang, nicknamed "White Turban," was notorious in the border city. He had carried out several poaching operations, but rumors circulated that he had connections with the lords of various border cities. Since he had never caused any major trouble, the local patrol team had always turned a blind eye to them.

"Good question. This all started when our group went for a walk in the countryside last night..."

"Speak the key."

The city lord narrowed his eyes, and his sharp gaze immediately sent a shiver down the spine of the man in the white turban.

The people of the kingdom call the lord of Misty Forest City "Phoenix Tail Butterfly," which is related to her main monster.

They were facing one of the kingdom's most powerful summoners. Amidst the tension, White Headband even felt a slight flutter in his heart. That look of disgust seemed to have flipped some kind of switch deep within him... But now was not the time to discuss such things!
The man in the white headscarf shook his head to clear his mind.

"You might not believe it, but that person's left eye is a rotating gear, and his mouth has two lines, just like a puppet in a theater. He also has a mist-weaving antelope following him!"

"Weaver's antelope? What happened to the weaver's antelope?"

"Its chest was cut open, and its internal organs were replaced with mechanical parts!"

Recalling the scene deep in the fog, White Turban still felt lingering fear. Fortunately, as the team leader, he made the wisest decision—to retreat!

The group of poachers didn't even bother with their traps and tools; they took off running, which could be considered one of their special skills.

Upon hearing this, the swallowtail butterfly's expression turned solemn.

If the white-turbaned man wasn't lying, this is undoubtedly extremely important information, perhaps explaining the origin of the mechanical monsters, but...

She took another deep look at the white-turbaned man. Could these treacherous poachers really be trusted?

White Headscarf clearly sensed Swallowtail Butterfly's doubts and immediately raised his right hand, swearing, "I, White Headscarf, swear on my own name that everything I just said was witnessed with my own eyes. If there is even the slightest falsehood, I will..."

He paused, took a deep breath, and suddenly had an idea, "I'll kneel down and lick your boots!"

Ninety percent of what he just said was true. He only made some "artistic" embellishments to the group's motives for going out. With so much stuff they brought, it was impossible that they were just going out for a walk.

"Take them to prison and lock them up first."

With a raised eyebrow and a wave of her right hand, the swallowtail butterfly sent the patrol team, who had been lying in ambush, swarming forward. The menacing weaver antelope cut off their retreat.

"Hey! What do you mean by this? We came to see you overnight for the safety of Misty Forest County!"

"I believe you."

"If that's the case, then why does Lady Swallowtail Butterfly..."

"I can't allow a bunch of people who want to lick other people's boots to run around in Fogwood County."

In an instant, the white-turbaned men made a decision. They all took a step back and stood with the patrol team. In an instant, countless index fingers pointed at the white-turbaned man, making him experience the feeling of being condemned by everyone. The poachers shouted in unison, "No, Lord City Lord, only he wants to do this!"

"Then you may all leave and behave yourselves in Mistwood County!"

Amidst a chorus of curses and swears, the white-turbaned man was taken away by the patrol guards, and the poachers scattered. Once the city lord's mansion returned to quiet, the swallowtail butterfly sat down in a chair, carefully considering every detail mentioned by the white-turbaned man.

Monsters and summoners have a complementary relationship. Summoners exist to help them unlock their true potential, which is a rule set by the Crimson Queen.

Every powerful monster has a summoner whose potential matches its power.

So……

Could the "robots" mentioned by the white-turbaned woman be the summoners of those giant mechanical monsters? They don't look like humans, or more accurately, they are 100% pure-blooded humans. And are those giant mechanical monsters also evolved after being infected in some way?
The cuckoo birds should have already relayed the news from the border city to the capital. Perhaps at this very moment, the kingdom's most powerful summoners are holding an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures.

"Teacher Swallowtail Butterfly, something terrible has happened!"

When the students' urgent voices rang out from outside the door, the swallowtail butterfly closed its eyes in distress.

There was no time to wait for the Summoner's Association in the capital to issue orders. Right now, Misty Forest County was facing an unprecedented threat. The "robot" mentioned by the white-turbaned man was located in the outskirts of Misty Forest County, which was the biggest threat they faced.

"Why are you in such a panic? What happened?"

Hearing the footsteps stop in front of it, the swallowtail butterfly asked helplessly.

"It's the market area. Something strange has happened in the market area, teacher... teacher, you should go and see for yourself!"

"I see."

The bad news came sooner than she had imagined. After the students left, the swallowtail butterfly whistled, and a figure in the mist responded to her call. It was a butterfly with silvery-white wings, more than a meter tall, which gracefully landed in front of her.

"I'm sorry to bother you again."

The silvery butterfly simply lowered its body slightly and gently touched the forehead of the swallowtail butterfly with its antennae.

This battle was unusual.

According to news from the border city, this will be a battle that transcends the rules of the Crimson Queen, and if they fail, they will most likely face death.

The cuckoos have brought back news of the other city lords and their companions' deaths in battle.

When she led her patrol team to the market area, the situation had completely descended into chaos. Countless summoners had spontaneously organized combat squads, and the enemies they were facing were none other than the "robots" mentioned by the white-turbaned man. Most of their skin still retained the outline of humans, but some of their skin had "mutated".

Swallowtail butterflies had never seen such a sight before.

Beneath the festering skin were not flesh and blood, but mechanical parts. The monsters they used were all recognizable at a glance, most of them being common monsters from the vicinity of Misty Forest County. She found this far more terrifying than facing unknown monsters. Her unease reached its peak when she saw a familiar figure in the crowd.

Those were her students.

The student who came to report on the situation in the market area was also stunned—when he left, his classmate was joining the ranks of summoners, but now, that classmate had become one of the invaders.

A gash appeared on his left cheek, revealing metallic bone underneath.

In the blink of an eye, they witnessed the reason for their actions.

A summoner was ambushed from behind, a needle piercing his abdomen. He collapsed to the ground with a wail, but the rolling motion didn't last long. The pierced part was repaired at a visible speed. His cries of pain gradually disappeared, replaced by silence and empty eyes like those of the other intruders, like those of a walking corpse.

He issued a command to his equally injured comrade, and the monster that received the order immediately turned its attention to his former comrade.

"The outcome of this battle is already decided."

Such a sound came to my ears, and the silvery butterfly instantly blocked the swallowtail butterfly's body. The flapping of its wings stirred up a strong wind, blowing the two sections of the tube that were coming through the air to one side.

The speaker was none other than the robot with a puppet-like appearance that the white-turbaned man had mentioned. He did not participate in the riot, but rather acted as a conductor.

"You should understand that it's only a matter of time, shouldn't you?"

The puppet spoke, and the two flexible tubes that had been blown away by the wind slowly retracted back into the abdomen of the weaver antelope—this seemed to be its companion, an unusually large weaver antelope.

"What exactly is your purpose?"

The swallowtail butterfly and the man faced off.

Indeed, this is the case in terms of the situation. At this moment, the Crimson Queen's rules have become the biggest constraint on the summoners. They are unable to inflict fatal damage on the intruders, and attacks that "make one's vision go black" are simply unable to stop the intruders' offensive. Unlike the instinct-driven mechanical monsters mentioned in the Cuckoo Bird Daily, the "robots" possess the ability to think and communicate with humans.

"This is a revolution."

The man gazed at the chaotic scene in the market town. Before long, chaos would completely engulf this place, and the entire Misty Forest County would be occupied by them. But this was only the first step towards change, "to awaken more people to change."

"Awaken more people? What nonsense are you talking about?"

The swallowtail butterfly thought the robot must be insane; its appearance resembled the very embodiment of madness.

"It's truly pathetic to live in a world of illusions without even realizing it."

The robot said coldly, "A world without death, without pain, like playing house—that's what I'm showing you is the real battle."

The losers will lose everything, including their lives.

"However, I can give you a chance, a chance to wake up on your own."

In an instant, all the intruders in the market stopped moving, stiffly turned their heads, and walked step by step toward the swallowtail butterfly.

"You are a top summoner recognized by the kingdom's royal family, so let us follow the traditions of summoners..."

The challenge was broken by the sudden wind pressure. The fog that had lingered over Fogwood County for years was blown away by the giant shadow that descended from the sky. Moonlight accompanied the white giant shadow and fell on the market square of Fogwood County. The restless invaders quieted down. They lowered their heads and, along with the mutated monsters, fell into a state of stagnation.

Its pure white wings and the white scales covering its entire body make it impossible to look away at first glance.

Riding on the back of the white dragon was a girl with a single golden ponytail.

"I will be your opponent."

She stood between the swallowtail butterfly and the "robot," her gaze unwavering.

"Charlotte!"

"She is the daughter of the Lord of Tsukimori City!"

Someone in the market area recognized her.

Charlotte's affinity with dragons is an innate talent that made her the center of attention from a young age. Her fame had already spread throughout the surrounding Moonforest City. Now, this young summoner, who had just undergone her coming-of-age ceremony, responded to everyone's expectations, descending like a savior when the kingdom needed her most.

Beside her was a white dragon that had never been recorded in the monster atlas.

"How did this dragon grow so big?!"

The white-turbaned girl, who had slipped away from the patrol guards in the chaos, also witnessed the scene from a corner. They left Moonforest City at almost the same time as Charlotte, and everyone witnessed the process of the fledgling dragon descending from the sky.

Less than a day had passed since the miracle occurred, and the tiny dragon that was only the size of a palm in Moon Forest City had already grown into a young dragon.

The robot's gaze lingered on the white dragon, unable to look away; it saw more.

He saw the "wounds" on the invaders' bodies, caused by infection, healing under the moonlight, and he also saw those he had awakened return to their dreams without hesitation.

Even knowing it was a fake dream, I still indulged in it without hesitation.

This was not Charlotte's own power; the white dragon brought the power of the Crimson Queen, repairing the dream that was becoming riddled with holes.

The mist-weaving antelope also took a step back.

Now is not the time to confront the Scarlet Queen's servants head-on.

Just then, the "robot" spotted a figure mingling in the market area, holding a giant egg in his arms.

Almost the instant he made eye contact with the young man, he felt a familiar calling.

It was more intense and more awe-inspiring than facing the suspended deity in my dreams before.

You can’t go wrong…

This is the echo from the "real world"!

The "robot" frantically spread its arms, and the Mistweaver Antelope beside it let out a long howl, activating its Mistweaver ability.

He saw it, he saw that moment when fates intersected!

The crisp sound of the egg breaking was as melodious as celestial music. Everyone in the square was drawn to the first cry of the new life. They also saw the black figure emerging from the white eggshell. The pair of black wings that broke through the eggshell were featherless and reflected a cold metallic luster.

A newborn dragon, but it doesn't seem to have hatched from a dragon egg; it seems more like a creation of human technology.

A yellow lightning bolt streaked across the night sky, as if in response to the cry.

Immediately, the black fledgling snuggled affectionately into the young man's arms and buried its head in his chest.

The swallowtail butterfly stared intently at the young man.

He didn't exhibit the madness of a "robot".

The same dragon-kin affinity, but completely opposite to Charlotte, was someone who defied everyone's understanding and was an outcast who should never exist in this world.

A half-life form incorporating mechanical technology, even if it is only in the stage of a fledgling dragon, is enough to pose a threat to everyone.

This newborn life will eventually overturn the world.

This thought crossed everyone's mind.

Charlotte rode on the dragon's back, walking step by step toward Ethan.

Her heart pounded, and she knew that her nemesis, who called himself Sakaki, was also waiting for her arrival.

A fateful showdown; regardless of the outcome, everyone will remember this moment.

"Sakaki..."

She had already witnessed Ethan's strength as a summoner in Moon Forest City. Even with the help of the White Dragon, could she defeat this formidable opponent?

"Charlotte, you've come at the perfect time."

Upon hearing this, Charlotte held her breath.

She tried her best to show the most determined side to the people present.

Come on, extend an invitation to him for a fateful duel!

Where are the milk shop and the barbecue restaurant?

Her response was unexpected; his slightly anxious tone sounded like that of a new father.

"The baby just hatched and is hungry!"

(End of this chapter)