On the other side, far from the mining area, our contestant Tian An was still relentlessly searching for that fleeting figure.
Although she couldn't see anything right now, she was certain someone had been observing them just moments ago.
Because she also had experience with peeking (not really).
She had strong anti-surveillance awareness.
Tian An dashed through the alleys, searching intently between breaths.
"Little Tian An, stop." Theresia's voice suddenly came through. Tian An immediately obeyed without hesitation.
Unexpectedly, beside a pillar just around the corner, a sharp blade silently appeared, pressing against her chest the exact moment Tian An stopped.
Good thing I stopped... Although even if I hadn't, FrostNova wouldn't let herself get hurt...
"Sarkaz, who are you?" FrostNova questioned the girl before her, her voice icy, her eyes filled with a mix of hostility and confusion.
Unexpectedly, FrostNova already knew her race. If I'd known, I would have covered myself with a cloth to hide.
"Call me Theresia, just Theresia." Although she knew FrostNova might not recognize Theresia's face, she should know the name.
"This isn't our original world anymore. Only the two of us, outliers bearing our racial traits, are here," the pink-and-white-haired girl's tone seemed to have changed slightly. This time, it carried more composure.
Correct, Xiao Te had suddenly taken over.
"Theresia... I heard Father mention... you," FrostNova was about to ask more when Theresia interrupted her.
"FrostNova, in a sense, by becoming a Rhodes Island operator, you've already come under my jurisdiction, you know," Theresia smiled, turning around, calmly facing the somewhat hesitant FrostNova.
"You know?" This unique aura made FrostNova even more certain of the person's identity before her.
"Mm, I have always known," Theresia saw through FrostNova's doubt.
Okay, actually Tian An told her.
Well, continuing this standoff here wouldn't solve anything. FrostNova had no choice but to temporarily lower the blade in her hand.
"You said we're not in our original world anymore. What do you mean?" FrostNova seized upon the crucial point mentioned earlier.
"Literally what I said. Meaning, this is no longer that Terra. The things we knew have left us behind."
Though cruel, it was the truth.
FrostNova looked at the Sarkaz woman before her, who seemed to possess some kind of halo, feeling a sense of dissonance.
In her past understanding, the Sarkaz race was always belligerent and hateful. Although they fought for the survival of their group, their methods of combat still made FrostNova shrink back in fear.
Like that crazy woman who always wanted to blow people up at the slightest disagreement, the American Great Scythe, those who were always elusive like dragons showing only their tails...
"I need to calm down..." FrostNova still needed some time to process these things. The sudden resurrection only to lose everything left her feeling a bit lost.
"It's alright, I'm here," Theresia stepped forward. Just as she was about to sneak an embrace while FrostNova wasn't paying attention, she tripped over her own skirt on the ground again.
"Ah..." This time, she fell forward.
"Are you.... really that Demon King...." FrostNova looked at this somewhat unreliable appearance, feeling a bit apprehensive herself.
Ignoring her state, FrostNova walked to a corner of the building, squatted down, and looked up at the dark, shadowed dome ceiling.
"Theresia can be clumsy sometimes too," Tian An was quite surprised by Theresia's fall. Such a figure could also trip over her own skirt and fall. Although she herself wasn't much better.
"After all, I'm just an ordinary person too," Theresia replied.
This 'ordinary person'..... refers to the 'ordinary person' who could turn Terra upside down?....
FrostNova's eyes always held a sense of distance, but those familiar with her knew she also deeply longed for embraces, hoping someone could touch her.
But you're facing the omnipotent Teacher Te.
"Look, what's that?" FrostNova pointed towards a silver trash can not far away.
"A trash can?"
"Of course, I know it's a trash can. What I mean is, that trash can..."
You couldn't tell from afar, but getting closer revealed that the silver trash can was trembling violently, its entire body rattling from the shaking.
"Isn't that the same trash can from when we first arrived?" Tian An recognized the unique trash can instantly. She hadn't expected FrostNova to notice it too.
"Seems like it." Theresia walked over, not letting her guard down. FrostNova just sat behind watching, but her hands were already poised with her weapon.
The closer Theresia got, the more violently the trash can shook, until she stood right in front of it and opened the lid.
Still nothing.
Wait.
Theresia turned her head to look at FrostNova walking over, then looked back at the trash can beside her.
"Miss FrostNova, could you perhaps stand there for a moment?" Theresia requested.
Although FrostNova was puzzled, she stood still.
The moment FrostNova stopped, the trash can stopped moving. Theresia looked inside the trash can again....
No! It's a mask!
Alarm bells rang wildly in Tian An's mind. They might not know what it was, but Tian An certainly did. Wasn't that a Mask of the Fool?
Has Sparkle attacked Belobog? Or perhaps....
Following Tian An's thoughts, Theresia focused her attention on the trash can.
But before she could react to the situation, a powerful suction force suddenly emanated from within the trash can, pulling both of them violently towards it.
Theresia, being closest, remained rooted to the spot. Her right hand clenched into a fist, and she punched the trash can, sending it flying. The point of impact was instantly caved in with a huge dent.
As expected of Theresia. If it were Tian An, she would have been sent flying long ago.
Your commentary is a bit much.
"Jie jie jie jie jie jie, useless, useless! You guys are just too much fun!" The trash can, now sporting a large dent, grew legs and stood up.
Why can a trash can become a Masked Fool? Did I eat too many mushrooms?
"Jie jie jie jie jie jie—" Before the trash can could finish laughing, another impact struck it squarely on its.... face? It blasted the trash can straight into the sky, embedding it in the ceiling.
"You shrew!"
But in the blink of an eye, the scene before the two completely changed.
However, they couldn't see the ground.... This was.... the sky?
How did we fly up into the sky?