Chapter 207: Big bad snake
Aviel reacted instantly, taking Nina with him as he shot forward in pursuit. Odian and the others followed close behind.
They soon spotted Yosan and his group in an open clearing.
Just as they were about to close the distance, Yosan turned back and flashed Nina a smug, taunting smile. With a flick of his hand, a formation activated beneath him. In the blink of an eye, he vanished—taking Momo and several Black Crow clan members with him.
Nina stood frozen for a heartbeat, then fury blazed in her eyes like wildfire.
That damned Yosan. She would kill him.
Her voice was tight with urgency. "We leave for Barbarian City immediately."
Worry gnawed at her chest—Momo was still in his hands.
"Nina, don’t panic," Odian said gently. "He took Momo to use him against you. That means, for now, Momo should be safe."
Nina nodded, though her brows remained tightly drawn. "What kind of formation was that? How could they disappear like that?"
Odian was right—Momo wouldn’t be harmed immediately. But the longer this dragged on, the greater the danger. And worse... what if that monster used some kind of curse on him?
They had to act fast.
"It was most likely a directional teleportation array," Odian said, his expression serious. "He’s probably already back in Barbarian City."
He paused, thinking. "Teleportation arrays consume a massive amount of energy. I can attempt one myself, but I haven’t set a fixed anchor point in Barbarian City. I can only send us in the general direction, not precisely there."
His gaze darkened slightly. "And this would be my first time constructing one over such a long distance. I can’t guarantee success."
"How far is Barbarian City from here?" Nina asked.
"Very far," Kith answered. "Even at full speed, it would take at least ten days."
"A teleportation array would be much faster," Odian said. "But I’ll need some time to set it up."
He glanced at the ground. "We can build it here. This place still holds traces of their teleportation—those residual energies might improve accuracy."
"Alright. We’ll wait," Nina said without hesitation.
Anything was better than losing time traveling on foot.
Odian immediately got to work, while Ming and the others assisted him.
Nina turned inward, calling out softly,
"Little Bun, do we have any long-distance teleportation items in the shop?"
[Host, we do have teleportation items, but their range is limited, and they also require activation time.]
After checking, Little Bun added,
[As for long-distance teleportation tools... our current level isn’t high enough to unlock them yet.]
Nina let out a quiet sigh. Then it would have to be Odian’s array.
Sal and the others gently clasped her hands. "We’ll get Momo back, don’t you worry."
"...We will," Nina replied.
The cubs huddled quietly in her arms, unusually silent.
Mother will save Momo. She always does.
Nina lifted her gaze toward the distant direction of Barbarian City, worry clouding her eyes.
Meanwhile, Yosan and his group had indeed returned.
He held the still-unconscious Momo in one hand, clicking his tongue in mild disappointment.
"Such a hassle... and we only caught one cub."
Those children were stronger than expected—two had even managed to escape on their own, and the others had been rescued by Taru and the rest.
"Master Shaman, what should we do with this one?" Gon asked.
"Throw him into the underground stone prison," Yosan replied coldly. "And summon Zena."
"Yes."
Gon carried Momo into the depths below. He descended layer after layer of dark, damp stone steps until he reached a massive iron door.
The guards on either side opened just enough of a gap for a single person to pass through.
Gon stepped inside.
The moment he entered, a pair of blood-red eyes snapped open in the darkness.
Chains rattled softly—metal against stone.
Idir’s heart jolted violently.
That aura...
Bloodline.
His child... had been brought here too.
Idir strained violently against the chains, the metal clinking sharply as he tried to get closer to Momo.
Gon’s heart pounded in fear. He hurried forward in long, uneven strides, reaching the nearest stone platform by the door. Without hesitation, he tossed Momo onto it and immediately fled.
Even though this Teng serpent’s power had been suppressed by the great shaman’s dark sorcery, Gon still feared him deeply.
After all, his abilities were terrifying—so much so that even the shaman had expended tremendous effort and sacrificed a clone just to capture him.
Who knew if he might suddenly break free again and strike?
Even in his weakened state, Gon doubted he could stand against him.
The moment Momo hit the platform, he stirred and woke.
He blinked, looking around.
Everything was pitch-black, save for a faint glimmer of light in a distant corner.
"Caught too, are you?"
A deep, smooth voice echoed through the darkness.
Momo switched on the small light hanging from his neck—the one Nina had given him to play with—and turned toward the sound.
A massive serpent.
Just like him.
A strange sense of familiarity stirred within him.
Could this be... his useless father?
Momo ignored Idir entirely. Instead, he flicked his little tail and activated the locator device to contact Nina.
Idir frowned.
This brat was actually ignoring him.
***
Back outside, Nina was waiting as Odian continued setting up the array when the device on her wrist suddenly chimed.
She answered immediately.
Momo’s voice came through, trembling and tearful. "Mom... it’s so dark here. I’m scared..."
Nina’s heart clenched. She softened her voice at once. "Don’t be afraid, Momo. I’ll come get you soon. Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I’m okay, Mom. I’m not hurt."
Hearing her voice calmed him instantly. The fear that had gripped him began to fade.
Nina let out a quiet breath of relief.
Good. He was safe—at least for now.
"Momo, where are you? Is there anyone else around you?"
If he could still communicate, then Yosan and the others likely weren’t nearby. She needed to understand his surroundings.
Momo looked around again. "It’s really dark... there’s just one other beastman here. He’s chained up. I don’t know him."
"Turn on the viewer. Let me see," Nina said.
Maybe that prisoner could provide useful information.
Momo activated the viewer and fluttered around, showing her the surroundings.
Idir watched in surprise as a soft, gentle female voice came through the device.
This little cub actually had something like this?
So his name was Momo?
A simple name... but easy to remember.
But what was that "viewer" thing? He had never seen anything like it.
When Momo flew close, Idir suddenly moved, appearing right in front of him.
Nina, watching through the screen, jumped.
That was one enormous snake head.
Momo immediately darted back, glaring at him. "You big bad snake! Why did you suddenly come so close?!"
Through the screen, Nina saw the massive black serpent—his body bound in countless chains. Behind him stretched a pair of wings, just like Momo’s.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Another Teng serpent?
Could he be from the same lineage as Momo?
"Momo, is he the one you mentioned?" Nina asked.
Momo was about to answer when Idir spoke first, his tone displeased. "What do you mean ’big bad snake’? I’m your father."
Calling him a stranger was one thing—but this brat dared insult him too?
Nina froze.
...What?
He’s Momo’s father?