"Is this all it takes?"
Katarina asked.
"Yes, that's what the experimental research report says!"
Tang Xiao'en said with a sheepish grin, projecting a report filled with dense formulas and text in front of them.
"Then... we can only try it this way!"
Katarina nodded hesitantly, then shouted to Moyan in the distance,
"Moyan, retreat for now and hand it over to Xiaobai, she has a solution!"
Although Moyan was in a tense battle, his senses were sharp enough to perceive the surrounding movements.
Upon hearing this, he immediately retreated, summoned four earth spider guards, and then rode on Roid, quickly backing away.
The four earth spider guards could only delay the World Destroyer for a few seconds.
However, for Roid, a few seconds was enough to retreat behind Xiaobai.
In an instant, everyone retreated more than a hundred meters behind Xiaobai.
Katarina had initially wanted to stay closer, to provide support if anything happened.
But then she thought that if she stood too close, she might become a target for the World Destroyer, which could interfere with her fusion with Xiaobai... and even if something did happen, she and the group behind her wouldn't be able to help much.
It was just unnecessary worry.
"Uh..."
The World Destroyer quickly slaughtered all the spiders blocking its path and slowly walked towards Xiaobai.
Although she was no longer wearing clothes, she was covered in spider fluids and organs, making her appearance indistinguishable.
Xiaobai, in a daze, also slowly walked towards the World Destroyer.
It was as if a powerful force was attracting the two of them.
Tang Xiao'en hid behind Katarina, Qing Feng, and Prince Hao, quietly activating the camera equipment on his armor and zooming in on Xiaobai and the World Destroyer.
At this moment, the World Destroyer had also calmed down from its previous berserk state, its eyes blank as it walked towards Xiaobai.
The two drew closer, stopping within a meter of each other.
Then, Xiaobai and the World Destroyer, in unison, slowly raised their arms again, index fingers pointing at each other.
The moment their index fingertips touched, the World Destroyer burst into a cloud of ash, scattering across the ground.
The speed was beyond anyone's imagination.
Everyone had expected some sort of process for energy transfer or consciousness transfer, but no one had anticipated it would end so abruptly.
Afterward, Xiaobai's body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground.
Katarina rushed over and caught Xiaobai in her arms.
"Is this considered... successful?"
She asked Tang Xiao'en.
"This... I'm just repeating what the experimental report said. I'm not a researcher, I don't understand these things!"
Tang Xiao'en dared not take responsibility, waving his hands frantically.
After all, Xiaobai was Zhang Chen's nominal daughter.
If anything happened to this little girl... for example, if it wasn't Xiaobai absorbing the World Destroyer, but the World Destroyer's chaotic consciousness transferring into Xiaobai's body...
Then their group would likely be annihilated by Zhang Chen before they even returned home, and in a most gruesome manner.
"You don't understand? Why didn't you say you didn't understand earlier? Now that the transfer is complete, you're telling me you don't understand?"
Katarina said furiously.
"Don't... don't be angry... I was just looking at the dangerous situation earlier and, out of consideration for everyone's safety, I helped by offering a solution!"
Tang Xiao'en quickly explained.
"If anything happens to Xiaobai, you and your team..."
Katarina's words trailed off.
But this was more intimidating than directly stating the punitive measures.
Tang Xiao'en and the others involuntarily imagined various gruesome tortures, sending shivers down their spines.
"Um..."
Seeing Katarina about to carry Xiaobai into the high-walled city, Tang Xiao'en, mustering his courage, said softly again.
"What? Do you have any other ideas?"
Katarina asked with a cold expression.
"Well... what if... I'm just saying, what if the experimental data was flawed..."
"After all, it's an experiment, as everyone knows, there's no 100% certainty..."
"What if the person you're holding isn't Xiaobai, but the World Destroyer... I'm afraid we'll all be finished."
"So I suggest setting up a simple camp here. Once she wakes up and we're sure it's indeed Xiaobai, then we can let her return to the city. This would be best for everyone!"
Tang Xiao'en suggested quietly.
"Hmm..."
Katarina glanced at Qing Feng and Prince Hao. The latter nodded slightly, agreeing with the idea.
Indeed, they couldn't gamble the lives of the entire city.
Everyone had seen the strength of the World Destroyer; it was virtually invincible.
"Alright, who is willing to stay and protect Xiaobai?"
Katarina asked, holding the person named Zhang Mo.
She would definitely protect Zhang Mo, and would not allow Zhang Chen's biological child to be at risk here.
Qing Feng took a step forward and said slowly,
"Leave this to me. I guarantee no monster will harm the sleeping Xiaobai!"
Prince Hao also said,
"I have a responsibility in this matter as well. I'll have my mercenary group stay here too, so we can look out for each other, Brother Qing Feng!"
"Good!"
Katarina nodded, then turned to Tang Xiao'en.
The man desperately wanted to hide in the crowd, fearing eye contact with Katarina.
"Captain Tang, you and your native team should also stay here. You are more familiar with the apocalypse than we are. With you here, we can be more at ease! What do you think?"
Katarina deliberately emphasized the phrase "more familiar with the apocalypse," subtly reminding Qing Feng, Prince Hao, and the others that they had come to the apocalypse thanks to these natives, and they shouldn't be allowed to slink away from such risky tasks.
Qing Feng and Prince Hao understood the implication.
With agile movements, Qing Feng quickly appeared beside Tang Xiao'en, firmly gripping one of his arms and placing the other on his lower back.
Inch Punch: Even with his hand touching Tang Xiao'en, it could unleash immense destructive power at any moment, with the damage directly impacting the body through the armor.
If Tang Xiao'en made any wrong move, Qing Feng would unleash this killing blow.
Under a glance from Qing Feng, Prince Hao's mercenary group, with perfect coordination, had two men each flanking a native, standing beside them.
"I... I think... you're right. We will also stay here and provide information intelligence support and experimental data support!"
Tang Xiao'en said with a grimace.
"Very good, then thank you!"
Katarina said, and then, with Moyan riding on Roid, they slowly walked towards the high-walled city.
Roid was clearly injured, moving much slower than before. Several wounds on its body were oozing fluids, almost submerging the remaining city on its back.