ICAWZ Chapter 228

Lin Kong had always thought he had arrived at the beginning of creation, or perhaps to the end of the world. Earth could only exist in his distant dreams, yet unexpectedly, he could still see a familiar moon.

“Whoosh…”

A soft sound of water echoed, unusually clear in the silence of the forest. Lin Kong pressed Hermes against a large rock and kissed him, breathing heavily, his lower body submerged in the trickling stream. The air was slightly stuffy, but every now and then, a cool breeze would pass by, bringing a brief moment of clarity to their chaotic minds.

Lin Kong asked softly, “Why isn’t the moon turning red anymore?”

Hermes clung tightly to him, his eyes lost and unfocused. Upon hearing the question, his mouth moved soundlessly, as if trying to say something, but his wet, silver hair was tangled and clung to the sides of his face, making his words difficult to hear.

Lin Kong leaned slightly forward. “What did you say?”

He would always pay the price for his curiosity, because the next moment, Hermes viciously bit his earlobe, and with a splash, pulled him back into the water. His body twisted, more agile than a mermaid in the cold stream.

[It has nothing to do with you.]

Hermes’ voice was husky, still as cold and impatient as ever. He gripped Lin Kong’s nape tightly, dissatisfied with how the other still asked such irrelevant questions in this situation, not paying attention at all.

[Whether it’s the red moon or the silver moon, it has no effect on you.]

The only promise was with those of their Zerg tribe.

Lin Kong thought to himself, Hermes is so proud in bed, does he really think I won’t take care of him? “How could it not have an effect? If it’s all silver moons from now on, we won’t have to run to the caves every day to hide…”

To do it~

“You agree, right?”

Hermes understood his hint but didn’t feel embarrassed. Instead, he lazily murmured, [It’s more comfortable in the water.]

Lin Kong thought to himself, Of course it’s comfortable for you, I’m the one doing all the work. He wasn’t sure if it was because Hermes had transferred so much life force to him, but Lin Kong felt like his physical condition had improved a bit. He couldn’t quite pinpoint how, but he felt stronger in some way.

Because it had been so long, their time of intimacy this time was particularly prolonged. By the end, Hermes was somewhat weary from it. He narrowed his eyes, comfortably resting his head on Lin Kong’s shoulder, like a wild beast that had sheathed its claws, allowing himself to be massaged and teased.

Lin Kong put on his clothes by the shore before pulling Hermes out of the water. He instinctively draped his jacket over the other’s head, then quickly realized that there was no need to block the moonlight anymore, so he pulled it off again.

“Let’s go, back to sleep.”

The night was dark, and the path was rough. Lin Kong simply picked up Hermes and carried him on his back, stepping carefully as he headed toward the temple. “Let’s move everything back to the cave tomorrow. The temple is in such bad shape, what if it collapses?”

Hermes had never been carried this way before, and the position felt somewhat strange to him, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. He lowered his gaze to look at Lin Kong, reaching up to flick his black hair, showing no concern for such matters. [Whatever.]

Lin Kong suddenly turned his head, as if remembering something. He asked, “Hey, how was that temple built? Can we build a similar one? That way, we won’t have to sleep in the caves anymore.”

Hermes replied calmly, [That is the remains of the gods, it has existed since the beginning of all things. We cannot build it, and after it collapses, it will cease to exist.]

The implication was clear: you’d better just stick to sleeping in the caves.

Lin Kong raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t it just building a house? Who can’t do that?”

With so many skyscrapers on Earth, aren’t they all better than this broken temple? After all, they were all built by humans.

Hermes countered, [You can?]

Lin Kong was momentarily taken aback by the question but quickly regained his confidence, saying, “Of course… I can. Why not? Next time, you can call the Zerg tribe members over, and I’ll teach them how to build houses.”

He might not be able to build skyscrapers, but a small wooden house was within his capabilities.

Lin Kong had said he would move back to the cave, but for the next few days, nothing happened. He remained comfortably settled in a corner of the temple. The reason? Hermes’ energy actually allowed him to charge his phone!!!

It was something Lin Kong discovered by accident while packing his things that day. His phone had long since run out of battery and shut off. But when he checked it the next day, he was surprised to find that one of his phones had suddenly gained 80% of its battery charge. After asking around, he learned that Hermes had tried to transfer energy into it.

Lin Kong was so overjoyed that he almost rolled on the ground. Heaven knew how bored he had been staying in the dense forest. Even though his phone couldn’t connect to the internet and only had simple games like “Candy Crush” on it, it was enough to keep him entertained for several months.

Lin Kong felt like a traveler who had been parched in the desert for a long time, finally finding a spring. For the next week, he couldn’t let go of his phone. He either took selfies in the forest or snapped pictures of the scenic wonders. At night, he would lie in bed playing games, secretly lamenting that he couldn’t connect to the internet. Otherwise, he was sure that if he did a livestream, he’d definitely become a hit in the entertainment industry.

Hermes was very displeased with this, so when Lin Kong asked him again to help charge his phone, he outright refused. [Take it away.]

Lin Kong was momentarily stunned by the response. “Why? Is your energy running low?”

Hermes’ energy was more than enough, but he simply disliked the feeling of being ignored. Coldly, he retorted, [What’s so fun about this black box that you’re holding onto it every day without letting go?]

Lin Kong finally caught on to what Heremes meant. Was he jealous? He smiled and leaned closer to Hermes, gently nudging him with his arm. “Hey, I’m just playing a game for a bit. I’m really bored staying here all the time. You can go hunting, but I can’t do anything.”

Hermes furrowed his brow. [I’ll take you hunting.]

Lin Kong coaxed him, “Alright, I’ll go with you in a couple of days. But first, help me charge my phone so I can play one more round.”

Lin Kong, after playing for a while and feeling the phone heat up, eagerly handed it over to Hermes, his eyes shining with anticipation.

Hermes was burning with frustration. With one forceful grip, he nearly crushed the phone. Just then, a noise suddenly came from outside. A few low-ranking Zerg tribe members, wearing animal skins, had arrived. They respectfully knelt outside the temple, bowing their heads and placing a hand on their shoulders:

[Your Majesty, we found the whereabouts of Gayan on Blackstone Mountain, but unfortunately, we let him escape. We’ve come to report to you.]

Hermes had not placed a psychic imprint on his subjects like the previous Zerg King had. As a result, after Gayan’s defection to the northern lands, his whereabouts became hard to trace. They could only rely on the lower-ranked Zerg tribe members to conduct a large-scale search through the dense forest.

Since Lin Kong’s death, Hermes had been almost inseparable from him, staying by his side to maintain the formation. He hadn’t had the time to deal with Gayan, but upon hearing that Gayan had been spotted in the north, his expression turned cold, and he immediately rose to leave the temple.

Lin Kong had a bad feeling. He quickly set aside his phone and hurriedly followed.

Hermes stepped outside and saw three or four low-ranking Zerg tribe members kneeling on the ground, all bearing varying degrees of combat injuries. He asked, his voice emotionless, [Did you engage with him?]

One of the Zerg tribe members, trembling, replied, [Your Majesty, we are useless. We couldn’t defeat Gayan, and he managed to escape.]

Gayan, after all, was a divine attendant. These low-ranking Zerg tribe members were no match for him, so it was no surprise that he had escaped.

Hermes narrowed his eyes coldly, his voice sharp like it was laced with shards of ice. [Are you sure he’s at Blackstone Mountain?]

The Zerg tribe member lowered his head even further. [Yes, we’re sure. He’s in the largest cave in Blackstone Mountain.]

Blackstone Mountain was located in the north, a desolate place where few zergs ventured. Not only were ordinary Zerg tribe members unlikely to go there, but even birds wouldn’t fly over. Gayan hiding there was indeed a clever choice.

[Understood. You may leave.]

Hermes finished speaking, and with a flap of his wings, a strong gust of wind swept through the air, seemingly preparing to go after Gayan personally. Lin Kong, seeing this, instinctively stepped in front of him. “Hey, where are you going?”

Hermes paused, turning to look at him. [Blackstone Mountain. Do you want to come?]

Lin Kong had once been injured by Gayan, and it wouldn’t be a bad thing for him to witness how the other would pay the price.

Hermes finished speaking and didn’t wait for Lin Kong to respond. He immediately grabbed his shoulder and flew upward. Lin Kong let out a frightened cry, but the speed was so fast that his voice was swallowed by the rushing wind. He could only nervously close his eyes and brace for landing.

It was already midsummer, but as they flew north, Lin Kong could clearly feel the temperature dropping, becoming chilly. Below them, the ground was covered with mutated black vines and trees, the air heavy with death. At a glance, it seemed as though they had entered a haunted forest.

Hermes had been using his psychic power to search for creatures beneath the dense forest, and after a while, he seemed to have found something. He changed direction and dove down, taking Lin Kong into a valley surrounded by dark mountain peaks.

“Woo—”

The area was teeming with countless Kasyapa Serpents, which liked to make their nests in caves. The nearby mountains resembled a honeycomb of coal, corroded by their venom, full of holes. When the wind blew, the sound was like the wailing of ghosts, creating an eerie, unsettling atmosphere.

When Lin Kong landed, the wind was so strong that he couldn’t even open his eyes. Struggling, he tugged at his open jacket and looked around before asking, “Are you sure Gayan is in a place like this?”

This place didn’t look like it could shelter anyone. There were no prey, just poisonous insects, rodents, and ants everywhere.

Hermes closed his eyes, silent. He stood at the peak of the mountain, his black robe rustling in the wind, as if using his mental power to search for something. A few seconds later, his eyes suddenly snapped open, and with one powerful strike, he shattered the cave on the right:

Boom—!

A deafening explosion rang out as shattered rocks from the mountain flew in all directions. A black figure shot out from within and landed lightly on a nearby mountain ridge. With red hair and green eyes, it was unmistakably Gayan.

[Hermes, so you really did manage to find this place!]

Gayan was dressed in a tattered black robe, his expression grim. He clutched his right arm tightly, blood seeping through his fingers—it was clear he was injured. No wonder he’d been hiding out in such a desolate place.

A mass of ghostly blue psychic energy had already gathered in Hermes’ right hand. His gaze was dark as he stared at Gayan, his voice calm but brimming with murderous intent: [I want your heart.]

Hermes always fought with the same cold precision. Gayan had once stabbed Lin Kong through the heart—now returning the gesture was only fair.

Only then did Gayan notice Lin Kong standing behind Hermes. His pupils contracted in shock as he exclaimed: [You’re actually still alive?!]

Lin Kong peeked out from behind: “Obviously. If you’re still alive, why wouldn’t I be?”

Gayan’s grip on his wound tightened, cold sweat dripping down his face. He gritted his teeth and said, one word at a time: [I didn’t mean to kill you back then—it was just to save my own life.]

[I don’t mean to kill you either—just settling the score.]

When it came to being infuriating, Hermes was no worse than Lin Kong. He never liked wasting words in a fight—without another word, he lunged at Gayan, moving so fast he left only a blur in the air.

Gayan was startled and had no choice but to dodge in a panic. But he hadn’t been Hermes’ match even before—now, badly wounded, he stood no chance. After only a few dozen exchanges, he was struck mid-air by a powerful blow and slammed hard into the ground.

“Pfft—!”

Gayan suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, the taste of iron filling his throat. He struggled to his feet, trying to flee, but Hermes had already caught up from behind. His right hand’s nails elongated sharply, and he drove them straight into Gayan’s heart—

[Aaaahhhh!!!]

Gayan screamed in agony, his eyes nearly bursting from the pain. At the same time, the sun above abruptly dimmed, and a thick mass of dark clouds rolled in overhead, a violent wind howling through the mountains.

Hermes ignored it, his gaze fierce and murderous. He was just about to rip Gayan’s heart out when a sudden boom cracked through the sky— A muffled thunderclap struck down from above, landing with perfect precision right at their feet, as if the heavens themselves were subtly trying to stop what was about to happen.

Lin Kong’s eyes widened in shock. “Hermes, it’s dangerous! Get back here!”

Something about that lightning felt off to him, like it hadn’t come by chance. He ran forward, trying to pull Hermes away. But Hermes was unwilling to let it end like this—his right palm came slashing down toward the top of Gayan’s head, intent on seizing his psychic energy.

“Rumble—!!”

The thunder roared even louder now, lightning streaking across the sky in rapid succession. Another blinding bolt shot straight at Hermes—he barely dodged in time. Had he been a moment slower, he might have been struck directly.

[Damn it, what the hell is going on?!]

Hermes cursed through clenched teeth, glaring down at his scorched, blackened palm. His expression turned darker than the storm clouds above—furious, but also shaken.

Gayan clutched his chest and dragged himself forward with great effort, coughing up another mouthful of blood. His eyes were bleak as he stared at Hermes, forcing a faint smile onto his lips: [Hermes… have you forgotten? There was a prophecy on the temple walls…]

[If the Divine Attendants disappear, the Zerg race will perish as well…]

[Dongning is already dead. If I die at your hands too, then only you and Xue Po will remain. But you’re now the new Zerg King—if Xue Po becomes the sole Divine Attendant, it will break the divine law of duality…]

Hermes narrowed his eyes coldly: [It has nothing to do with me!]

Gayan, with difficulty, spoke in fragments: [I knew you didn’t care about these things, otherwise, you wouldn’t have killed the Zerg King…]

[Anyway, the Zerg King is already dead. Without zergs to lay eggs and reproduce, in a few years, we’ll be extinct… If you want to kill me, go ahead. The law of the jungle—it’s because I’m weaker than you…]

He closed his eyes as if resigned to his fate, quietly awaiting the arrival of death. The clouds above churned, and the thunder roared, as if the heavens were giving a silent warning to Hermes.

Lin Kong felt an inexplicable sense of unease. He placed his hand on Hermes’ and pulled him back behind himself, saying, “Forget it, Hermes. Let’s go. We shouldn’t stay here.”

Hermes looked at his empty right hand, unwilling to relent: [I said I wanted his heart.]

Lin Kong thought to himself, Your hand is practically charred, and you still want his heart? He sighed, “His heart can’t be eaten or drunk, what do you even want it for?”

Hermes furrowed his brow in frustration, his tone cold: [He hurt you!]

Lin Kong was surprisingly easy to reason with. “Yes, he hurt me, but you already beat him back just now. Let’s call it even.”

Lin Kong didn’t want to be the big-hearted martyr, but he was more worried about Hermes being struck by lightning. He’d just gotten out of the single life not too long ago—he wasn’t ready to start mourning yet.

Hermes fell silent, his gaze lifted towards the sky. The swirling dark clouds and fierce winds seemed to mirror the murderous intent in his heart, surging in tandem with his rising anger.

The walls of the temple had indeed foretold it: reproduction must occur in pairs, and the divine attendants could never be solitary. After the death of the Zerg King, the thousands of eggs in the deep pit would never hatch. Aside from the lower-ranked Zerg tribes, the only remaining strong ones were Gayan and Xue Po.

After much contemplation, Hermes was forced to relinquish the thought of killing Gayan. His wings spread wide behind him, and he suddenly flew into the sky, holding Lin Kong in his arms. Looking down at Gayan from above, he spoke heavily, his voice cutting through the howling winds:

[I can spare your life, but the consequences of your actions are inescapable.]

[Gayan, the cold and desolate North will become your hiding place. You are never allowed to step beyond it. The blackened skin, stained by venom, will be your mark, and it will never fade. The false betrayal will follow you for the rest of your life, and it can never be undone!]

[You will walk alone in the dark, curled up in the cold, leading your tribe to the North. That will become your new domain!]

 

 

 

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