Chapter 133: Meeting the Cocoon Witch Again!

Chen Qi felt a drop of cold sweat trickle down.

According to the previous text, the Witch of the Cocoon was no ordinary soul; she was not merely a doctor of exquisite skill, but a monster who crafted human puppets.

[You look forward to see the Witch of the Cocoon, her white physician’s coat drenched in fresh blood.]

[The Witch of the Cocoon licks her crimson lips, eyeing you like a python stalking its prey.]

[You grip your long blade, and black runes begin to manifest upon the steel.]

[Witnessing the Witch of the Cocoon, Weaver the Conductor remains skeptical, shouting in anger: "Doctor, are you researching puppets? Did you create these Calamity Puppets?"]

["That is that man’s lie..." The Witch of the Cocoon places a finger to her lips and silently sheds her heavy white coat. "Though I would love to say that, I have no desire to lie now. I also do not know why someone from the Tribunal would be on this train. If I do not act today, it will be too late. Perhaps tomorrow, the Prisoner Hunters will come aboard to capture me and judge me for the sin of believing in a god... no, the sin of believing in Calamity!"]

[As the Witch of the Cocoon discards her heavy coat, spiritual power surges from her body. You gaze at her, noting the spiderweb patterns emerging on her pristine skin—this is her battle attire from when she was still a true witch.]

[The Witch of the Cocoon exhales; her skin turns deathly pale, and a white, spiritual mist gathers over her snow-white flesh like frost.]

[The passengers in the carriage recoil, reminded of the terror of the witches. In ages past, witches were monstrous beings that surpassed even the Prisoner Hunters in dread.]

["Please step back, guests. You have descended into madness, Doctor! We saved you, and you promised not to conduct any more experiments while on this train." You see the figure of Weaver the Conductor blur into an afterimage. Countless threads dance from her hands, coalescing into a blade of silk!]

[The silk threads, sharp as a thousand blades, carve countless marks into the carriage!]

[Slash! "Song of Silk!"]

[Weaver the Conductor delivers a terrifying blow! Countless threads dance in a display both magnificent and brutal, relentlessly assaulting the Witch of the Cocoon! The Witch is hammered against the carriage structure, her powerful body lacerated by the threads as a massive hole is punched through the ceiling. Her blood drips steadily down.]

["Starting with your ultimate move, how typical..." The Witch of the Cocoon descends through the hole, twisting her shattered joints as her body heals at a terrifying speed.]

["It hurts! Little Weaver, am I not a good doctor? Everyone inside my cocoons is free from the troubles of physical illness and the burdens of the heart; they no longer have to worry about anything. They need only dream and provide me with a bit of spiritual power to live a life free of sorrow." The Witch of the Cocoon continues, "Weaver, your technique is good, but it cannot kill me. My body has begun to undergo Calamification! No, this is not the power of Calamity. This is a forgotten power, the power of another world—the power of gods." The Witch of the Cocoon weaves blades and silk together, instantly stitching her wounds, and looks back at you all: "My apologies, everyone. You must undergo surgery today, otherwise you shall die from the disease of 'disobedience'!"]

[Powerful puppets emerge from behind the Witch of the Cocoon, each one wielding masterful skills!]

[The Witch of the Cocoon looks at Weaver the Conductor and adds, "Do not attempt to seek help from the Trainmaster; it is useless. This train is now a one-way passage. Weaver, it is too late for you to realize that I created these puppets. I have already gained a glimmer of hope to control this train!"]

That monster!

Chen Qi ponders for a moment, then clicks the skill bar to unleash his strongest technique: the Domain of Black Fire!

[Weaver the Conductor gasps for air; she cannot defeat the Witch of the Cocoon. The Witch possesses a legendary Calamity power! It is not merely spiritual energy; in her madness, her power is terrifying. She tells you that on this train, apart from the train itself, no one can defeat this monster—not even the aged Trainmaster! They must find the Trainmaster and have him activate the train’s internal defense system!]

[The Witch of the Cocoon spreads her slender hands, eyeing the crowd; there is no one left on this train to stop her! Tonight, everyone shall become a part of her puppet project!]

[Pfft!]

[As the Witch of the Cocoon breaks into a smile, black flames surge toward her like a dark flood!]

["The fire of the Black Prison? Why is this here?" The Witch of the Cocoon drops her elegant posture, darting backward like a startled snake. Driven by an instinctual fear, she flashes away, desperate to escape the black fire.]

Chen Qi is startled. Judging by the text, the Witch of the Cocoon seems to recognize this black fire and appears to fear it.

He immediately clicks the skill bar, summoning the Mist Swordsman and the Soul of Shadow to weave through the black flames. He wonders if this black fire can interfere with the Witch’s spiritual vision.

Chen Qi checks the map. If he wants to escape this place, he must take an unconventional path. With the appearance of the hole, the option to access the roof of the Weaving Train appears on the map. Since the carriage is a trap, he will go via the roof.

[The cold black fire incinerates the carriage. What kind of technique is this? Weaver the Conductor stares at you in disbelief; you are completely different from what she imagined! The others scramble to escape the black fire as it consumes the carriage!]

[Then, something even more shocking happens to the Conductor: she can no longer sense your presence! Her perception is sharp enough to track monsters in the mist, but now, you have vanished from her senses entirely. Under her powerful perception, you have disappeared into thin air! You possess a high-level technique to conceal your aura! Where on earth do you come from? Weaver the Conductor suppresses her guesses and gathers her silk blade once more. The Soul of Shadow and the Mist Swordsman advance through the flames, charging toward the Witch.]

["Black fire..." You hear the Witch of the Cocoon’s voice tremble with fear!]

[You seize the moment. The instant the Soul of Shadow and the Mist Swordsman attack, you activate Black Fire Walk and dash toward the hole! Weaver the Conductor vaguely guesses your intent, and the Soul of Shadow and Mist Swordsman follow your lead, charging the Witch.]

[In the final moments, you faintly hear the Witch’s trembling voice return to normal as she mutters to herself: "Night Watchman! To think you could master this power. Did you steal the book from the forbidden prison? Fortunately, you have not yet passed through the gate..."]

[The sounds of battle on the train gradually fade...]

Passed through the gate...

The Book of Black Prison mentioned that to master greater power, one must pass through the gate. However, that is knowledge for later pages, irrelevant to his current situation. Right now, he must find a way to survive and deal with this Witch of the Cocoon!

Chen Qi looks at the text. He has successfully used Black Fire Walk to reach the top of the train.

[Your form emerges from the black fire. You stand atop the train, gazing out into the abyss of white fog!]

[Under the thick white mist lie mountains that block the sky, looking like a giant maw swallowing the train. Massive spiders crawl over the train, launching wave after wave of attacks. The train is riddled with holes, as if on the verge of death! You look into the distance; thousands of Furnace Spiders wait, watching for the moment the train stops its "escape."]

[You can hear the roars of the people inside. They fight desperately against the Furnace Spiders, but from within their own ranks, the "puppets" have emerged, deepening the chaos!]

[More Furnace Spiders appear from the abyss. Without the puppets, these warriors from the various districts of New City might have been able to fend them off, but these terrifying puppets leave the combatants wailing in despair.]

Chen Qi shakes his head. This is no time for lamenting tragedies; he must press forward.

Chen Qi exhales and clicks the pet menu!

Fox!

[A small Lamp-Shadow Fox emerges from the Traveler’s Box, instantly snapping to attention!]

[It is time for the master to call upon it. Without needing a command, the little Lamp-Shadow Fox understands your intent and activates Giant Shadow Form!]

[You leap onto the back of the Lamp-Shadow Fox.]

["Master, Master! Where have we come to? This is so exciting!" The Lamp-Shadow Fox looks at the hostile Furnace Spiders, baring its giant crimson fangs in its shadow form, radiating the oppressive pressure of a Calamity Beast’s bloodline!]

[You ride the Lamp-Shadow Fox, racing across the roof of the Weaving Train!]

[The Lamp-Shadow Fox gathers black fire in its maw and fires a Shadow Beast Cannon, incinerating a wounded Furnace Spider flying toward you!]

[Your little Lamp-Shadow Fox has leveled up; Agility increased.]

[You speed toward the Forging Carriage where the Trainmaster resides...]

Chen Qi exhales. It seems the Witch of the Cocoon is not pursuing them onto the roof.

[Moving forward...]

[You arrive at the Forging Carriage! Most of the experts who boarded the train, along with the Trainmaster, have gathered inside.]

[Atop the Forging Carriage, a Furnace Spider King, fifteen meters tall, spews blazing flames at the structure.]

[The Forging Carriage is the center of the conflict; you are shocked to find that its outer shell has already been incinerated.]

["Fox, hide inside." The Lamp-Shadow Fox leaps from your back, skillfully slipping into the shadow of your clothing.]

[You arrive before the Forging Carriage.]

[You look at the situation inside the carriage with astonishment, the cold, tearing black fire igniting upon your long blade once more!]