'This is troublesome. Was I influenced by that monster?'

Being awakened yet again meant the dinosaur body could no longer operate purely on instinct. Lin Ye could only attempt to actively control the Instinctive State.

But this wasn't something that could be achieved in a short while. Fortunately, Xivia could still hold on for some time; otherwise, they would have already been overwhelmed by the monsters swarming into the base. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Xivia continuously released compressed spiritual energy piercing attacks. However, these monsters were clearly stronger than the previous ones. While her attacks remained effective, their efficiency was gradually declining.

Mia anxiously observed the situation. Those monsters were closing in on the base, and Lin Ye still showed no signs of movement. If Lin Ye couldn't support Xivia soon, they might all die here.

Faced with this situation, Xivia instead entered an abnormally calm state. She was like a precise instrument, continuously clearing the monsters approaching the base.

Unlike Lin Ye, she did not enter an Instinctive State. Instead, she actively controlled the Piercing attack. This ability had already integrated into her body; she could use it normally even without relying on memory.

As Xivia entered this state, the precarious situation quickly stabilized. Piercing attacks spread out around the base, clearing swathes of surrounding monsters.

"You are strong, but it's a pity that no matter how much you struggle, it's meaningless. I can integrate with and utilize the forces in these areas to attack you. This place is practically my home turf. I don't even understand why they chose to hold the ritual here. Was it out of trust in him?"

That voice sounded in Xivia's ear.

Xivia did not speak, instead focusing her mind on clearing the surrounding monsters.

A massive abandoned cruise ship was approaching the shore. The ship was covered in thick blood vessels that continuously dilated and contracted, as if large amounts of fluid were flowing within them.

The abandoned cruise ship stopped at the shoreline. Those thick blood vessels extended onto the coast, inserting themselves into the bodies of nearby monsters. In less than a second, they would suck the monsters dry of their contents, leaving only a shriveled epidermis behind.

Those blood vessels indiscriminately attacked all nearby creatures, but this did not alleviate the pressure on the base, because the vessels were spreading towards the base.

Xivia tried to attack those blood vessels, but her Piercing attacks could only puncture and tear them, unable to completely destroy them.

Moreover, the torn vessels would detach from the main vascular trunk, then burrow underground, disappearing from Xivia's perception.

Xivia could not stop those blood vessels from approaching the base. She hesitated for half a second, then retrieved from her item space a longsword inlaid with numerous gemstones. A feeling warned her that it was time to use this sword.

Just then, the base suddenly shook slightly. A large number of plant Root Tendrils surged from underground, completely occupying the base's first floor.

Some plant people ascended the stairs, moving towards the base's second floor.

Xivia could only put away the precious sword and launch Piercing attacks at the base's first floor. Using the sword required complete concentration, and it was also an indiscriminate attack. She had already missed the opportune moment to use her trump card.

The plant Root Systems on the first floor seemed endless as they surged from the ground. Even Xivia couldn't clear them all.

Those plant people formed from the root systems pressed forward under Xivia's attacks and ascended to the base's second floor.

"Xivia, just thinking about you dying here makes me so excited I could die!"

"It's all your fault! If you weren't so strong, we wouldn't have ended up like this!"

"Go to hell!"

"Don't rush. Soon she'll become one with us."

...

These plant people were all transformed ritual participants. They continuously vented the anger from the depths of their hearts and eagerly anticipated seeing Xivia fall to the same fate as them.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know who any of you are."

Facing those angry plant people, Xivia only responded calmly and politely. That utterly indifferent attitude sent all the surrounding plant people into a frenzied state.

They hurled all sorts of foul language, trying to make Xivia waver even slightly.

But they all failed.

Apart from the temporary violent means they had acquired, they had nothing left.

So they all charged at Xivia together.

"...So noisy."

Xivia turned her head to look at the dinosaur that had been standing there like a corpse earlier, finally showing an emotional fluctuation.

"Can you understand instinct?

It seems you cannot."

Lin Ye watched the plant people charging over. The flesh and blood on the corpses surrounding the base began to burn intensely. A large amount of ash flickering with dark red flames descended from the sky, falling upon those plant people.

The plant people began to burn violently, their screams rising one after another. Lin Ye closed his eyes, listening to the pleasant sounds. All the plant people turned to ash amidst the screams.

The plant Root Tendrils that had entered the base also began to turn to ash. The drifting ash spread around the base. After the corpses surrounding the base were burned, those blood vessels also lost their momentum to approach the base.

The monsters closing in on the base, driven by instinct, all moved away from the base, retreating to the areas they originally occupied.

"I finally understand why they held this ritual. They wanted me to become the sacrificial offering. This ritual was for you."

That voice suddenly became exceptionally calm.

"This is their trust in me. I am deeply honored."

Lin Ye expressed agreement.

"You are indeed strong, capable of this even without your memories. But they underestimated me."

The voice echoed within the base. Colorful mist enveloped the base, and Lin Ye and the others once again entered the other side's world.

"This is your method? Trying to deal with us over here?"

Lin Ye used the power of the Rule Fragments of instinct to control the base. He no longer needed the dinosaur body now.

"Of course not. My power here is far from as strong as over there. But you still don't understand the state of these two sides well enough. While you deal with the monsters over here, I'll be making preparations over there, waiting for you to come."

After saying this, the voice disappeared.

A flesh and blood giant monster occupying an entire city block was approaching the base. A massive shadow loomed over the base. It was a Giant Plant covered in vines.

"Are we about to be finished?"

Mia unwrapped a lollipop and put it in her mouth.

"Pretty much. We can only take it one step at a time."

Lin Ye said in a low voice.

"I still have one trump card over there..."

Xivia had absolutely no intention of giving up. Even if death approached, she would persist until the very last moment.

"Officer Xivia, only a card that hasn't been revealed is a trump card."

Lin Ye picked up that pale purple suitcase, opened the lid. Inside were some materials for making tea snacks and a packet of black tea.

"Care for some afternoon tea?"

Lin Ye revealed a somewhat gloomy smile.