"You’re utterly exhausted. It’s time to leave and rest, Elisha..." Standing Black Hat advised, pronouncing the true name of the Netherworld Thunder God.
Upon hearing her true name, the Netherworld Thunder God’s face drastically changed, and she clenched her teeth tight.
"You said you’d only speak my true name on significant occasions!" the Netherworld Thunder God stressed.
"This is a significant occasion," Standing Black Hat patted the Netherworld Thunder God’s shoulder, "We advance and retreat together. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have made it to this day. If Farosa becomes an evil master, we’ll just oppose her!"
"Excuse me." Farosa moved to the side of the Netherworld Thunder God, "I will use your powers justly."
"’Use’! Listen to her words!" The Netherworld Thunder God felt displeased.
"I’ve heard you secretly praying to me, and now that I’ve come to you personally, you are rebellious?" Farosa gazed at the Netherworld Thunder God.
"You... you’re the Witch Goddess?" The Netherworld Thunder God frowned.
She took a deep breath. Farosa’s eyes seemed to possess a will-devouring power. Once locked in eye contact with Farosa, it was hard for her to keep her concentration.
"There will be time for surprise later. Now, we should go," Farosa nodded.
With both the Storm Princess and the Netherworld Thunder God, two Dominators, in her grasp, Farosa was quite pleased.
Both were witches with the power to wreak havoc on a grand scale in battle, and with a bit of guidance, they would become loyal subordinates.
After being brought up, the seemingly calm Storm Princess became even more irritable.
Especially after confirming the news that Black Fire Innovation was restructuring, she fell deeper into despair.
She ran around on the ground in disarray, like a frightened animal.
"Let her exhaust her scant energy," Farosa gestured to stop others from intervening.
"She is... confused..." Sally looked towards the Storm Princess from afar.
"Black Fire Innovation, by its nature, is a company, so once investors pull out, the soldiers below, the generals or the war machines have to come to a halt, and a Battle Witch like the Storm Princess would turn into a masterless wild beast," Farosa said softly.
The Storm Princess shrieked and ran about in the wilderness.
She was in tears, wailing and crying. Then, just as Farosa said, she exhausted her last bit of power and collapsed to the ground motionless.
"When she wakes up, she will regain her strength and return to that invincible state," Tsuchigumo called out.
Tsuchigumo knew how terrifying the Storm Princess could be, capable of suppressing an entire region alone.
"Then I’ll fight her again," the Netherworld Thunder God said as she got into the vehicle.
The nearly ten days of fighting had drawn out all their potential, resulting in a long battle of evenly matched powers that had never been experienced before. The Netherworld Thunder God felt she had gained a deeper understanding of magic power application, which was an extremely valuable chance for any witch.
She quietly recuperated, accepting a Soldier’s Ration Pill from Tsuchigumo.
"It’s not cake?" the Netherworld Thunder God raised an eyebrow.
"What? This is my most precious food," Tsuchigumo said, disappointed because every eaten Soldier’s Ration Pill was one less in her stock.
"Humph, let’s go buy food at Zanges," the Netherworld Thunder God sighed.
"Zanges has been flattened," Tsuchigumo said helplessly, "We’ll talk about it later."
"Zanges..." the Netherworld Thunder God was astonished and quickly caught up with the latest news.
On the other side, Standing Black Hat sized up the Storm Princess who had calmed down.
"By the way... Farosa, the Storm Princess is an important combat force under Black Fire Innovation, once your enemy, now taking her in as your subordinate, is that okay? Don’t you have any moral considerations?" Standing Black Hat leaned on his giant sword.
"I have no conscience." Farosa said.
"You’re badass." Standing Black Hat nodded.
After dragging the exhausted Storm Princess back to the Lake Shore Sanctuary, the first thing they did was to perform surgery to remove the chips and circuits from her body.
Even though the Lake Shore Sanctuary was newly established, it had been well planned, already equipped with clean operating rooms and wards. Corresponding facilities such as prisoner cells, slaughterhouses, open defense positions, a large dining hall, dormitories, warehouses, and livestock breeding areas were in place, ensuring comprehensive services.
"Most chips related to mind control are located in the frontal lobe of the brain, capable of precisely monitoring and controlling the secretion of specific neurotransmitters, thereby influencing decision-making; death can be induced under the stimulation of certain information." Cyber Specter personally took charge of the surgery.
As he could master the skills by downloading technical documents, Cyber Specter was capable of performing most cybernetic surgeries, and his other skills also far exceeded the average, ready to step in wherever needed.
As for the most intricate parts buried the deepest, they still needed to be taken to Jialong Slope for Nidelaide to handle.
"Could Xylophia have been subjected to a similar process?" Farosa said.
"Given the technical level of the Seven Seals, it’s very likely that they’ve already wiped out Xylophia’s consciousness, implanting a new intelligence program to control her body and Magic Power. This is the most advanced method of controlling a witch; in other words, now it’s just a robot wearing the skin of Xylophia." Cyber Specter said.
Farosa’s body trembled slightly.
"Please, don’t talk about these things any more. No matter how fearsome the enemy is, or how complex the situation, I won’t say anything, but my heart aches like it’s being cut by a knife when you speak of these things, almost to the point of tears." Farosa said softly.
"There is no other way to save Xylophia except by defeating the Seven Seals." Cyber Specter said.
The surgery lasted 5 hours.
The chips, coils, and parts totaling 3 kilograms were removed from the Storm Princess’s body. Several large and small holes had been carved into her, requiring time to fully heal. Cyber Specter wrapped her entire body in bandages and applied medicine.
The Storm Princess lay in the hospital bed, gazing at the lake scenery outside upon waking up.
"How is Black Fire Innovation now?" The Storm Princess said.
She was a bit wary of Cyber Specter, whose current appearance was intimidating.
"They’ve been delisted already, investors cashed out and left the scene, leaving a mess behind, and large and small upheavals and civil wars broke out throughout the Taiya Archipelago. Just like on the Hot Tree Continent, there isn’t any order to speak of." Cyber Specter said.
"Someone will take over." The Storm Princess said sullenly.
Someone will surely seize the military empire left by Black Fire Innovation, partitioning the remains of this huge arms dynasty. Its delisting was just the beginning of Black Fire Innovation’s curtain call; the real prolonged internal strife was yet to come.
"Yes, Nestor Corporation, Xia, and the forces from Jialong Slope are going to re-divide the Taiya Archipelago, acquiring the armies, warships, armored vehicles, and scientific researchers they left behind. Black Fire Innovation has become a big gift package."
"I thought I could do something to revitalize Black Fire Innovation." The Storm Princess’s voice was faint.
"Black Fire Innovation is not worth reviving."
"I’ve been there since birth, never thought about anything but loyalty, and now it’s dead."
"This is what happens when you’re entangled in corporate warfare, companies engage in fierce battles to expend excess capacity, ultimately partitioning the loser’s assets and market to maintain their own survival. Black Fire Innovation just happened to lose, if Black Fire Innovation had won, it would’ve used the same means to dismember other companies in the Eastern Hemisphere, establishing a dark new order." Cyber Specter said.
The Storm Princess said nothing. She knew Cyber Specter was right.
If Black Fire Innovation had won, what would have become of the whole Eastern Hemisphere?
She dared not think about it.