bioinnovel Chapter 434 [3 Chapters Combined] Riley Suffers a Setback, the Evil Dragon Escapes
Chapter 434 [3 Chapters Combined] Riley Suffers a Setback, the Evil Dragon Escapes
"Um?"
Normally, when the opponent reveals their true form so completely unguarded, it usually means the battle is over.
But looking at the face in front of her that seemed strangely familiar, Xiaoyu narrowed her eyes.
The alarm bells in my mind didn't go away; instead, they rang softly.
She and her father exchanged a quick glance.
The old man nodded knowingly, the dried pufferfish in his hand still pointing at the target. He remained highly vigilant, the light representing his magical energy swirling around him.
Xiaoyu took a deep breath and began to tiptoe closer to the stiff figure, while intently observing even the slightest movement of the other person.
One step, two steps...
Even when Xiaoyu got close enough to see the coffee stains and ash on the other person's white coat, the other person still didn't react.
Xiaoyu then mustered her courage, quickened her pace, and moved closer, standing on tiptoe to carefully examine the face.
Behind thick lenses were a pair of completely unfocused eyes. A familiar hooked nose, slightly messy brown hair…
Such a unique design made Xiaoyu's eyes widen instantly, and she exclaimed in disbelief:
"Kopler... Kopler?! How could it be you?!"
That's right, the person revealed beneath that jet-black suit is none other than Kopler, a scientist from the research department of District 13. He has a somewhat eccentric personality but is not a bad person. He was the scientist who accidentally caused Jade to travel through time due to an experimental accident (a laser shot hitting the Rabbit Talisman).
This also explains why "Fake Riley," after donning a fake suit of armor, was able to easily pass through District 13's identity verification and enter the core area of District 13...
Since Kopler is a member of District 13, he naturally wouldn't trigger District 13's security mechanisms!
Upon hearing Xiaoyu's exclamation, the father, who had been focusing most of his attention on Kopler and using his Qi magic to sense his energy state, finally confirmed that the surging, eerie magic within the body before him had vanished completely. Only a faint, life-force fluctuation belonging to Kopler himself remained, now mired in deep stupor.
The old man then took a few steps forward, habitually extending one hand to subtly protect Xiaoyu behind him, while his other hand used the tip of a dried pufferfish to very cautiously and gently touch Kopler's shoulder.
Unexpectedly, it was just this light touch...
"Thump!"
Kopler's stiff body, like a puppet whose support had been removed, fell straight backward and crashed heavily onto the cold ground with a dull thud.
Even as he fell, he maintained that blank expression and stiff posture, like a fallen, comical sculpture.
"I never expected that you, Kopler, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, would betray District 13!"
Seeing that the other party was completely powerless to resist, Xiaoyu's tense nerves finally relaxed a lot.
He then stepped out from behind his father, squatted down, and curiously poked Kopler's unresponsive cheek with his finger, pouting and muttering.
"Dad, I'll go inform Sheriff Blake right away and have him properly interrogate this 'traitor'!"
"Oh dear! Things might not be that simple, Xiaoyu!"
However, compared to Xiaoyu who had relaxed, her father's brows furrowed even more.
He crouched down, suspended the dried pufferfish above Koppler's body, and slowly moved it around. After scanning it with emerald light, he continued in a serious tone.
"My father couldn't sense any of the evil magical fluctuations from him before; all he felt was the mental trauma left behind after being forcibly invaded and controlled."
He raised his head, his sharp gaze sweeping across both ends of the empty passageway, his voice lowered.
"This means that the person we were talking to and fighting with just now wasn't Kopler himself at all! It was someone skilled in magic, especially in mind manipulation and disguise, who somehow controlled and possessed Kopler's body, using him as a human shield and a pass to infiltrate District 13!"
"Just now, the real intruder pretended to fight us to the death, drawing all our attention. In reality, its true form, along with most of its magic power, detached itself from this 'host' body and escaped! What lies before us now is nothing more than a pathetic creature, drained of its usefulness, now in a deep coma, and branded as an 'intruder'!"
Xiaoyu gasped instantly at her father's analysis, and the feeling of relaxation she had just felt vanished.
"Now, the true form of that dangerous intruder may have transformed into an invisible mass of energy, or it may have disguised itself as someone else, or it may have even transferred to the body of another unfortunate soul in District 13..."
"But no matter what, the intruder is lurking around us! And there's a high chance they can see us, hear us, and we have no idea who they are, what they look like, or where they are right now!"
My father speaks very fast, but every word is clear and forceful.
"So, Jade, don't just stand there! Go find Sheriff Black right now! Tell him to sound the highest level of magical intrusion alarm! And you must pay attention to these points."
He pulled Xiaoyu up and quickly and clearly explained the situation.
"First, the intruder's abilities, based on preliminary assessment, include mind control, possession, and disguise—extremely dangerous! Ordinary people have no chance of fighting against them!"
"Second, immediately activate all the anti-magic and anti-mental interference defensive arrays left by Riley!"
"Third, everyone inside, including Blake himself, must immediately undergo a rigorous psychological examination and identity verification! Use all available magical and technological means!"
"Huh? Is that really necessary? Sheriff Blake is..."
"Oh dear! What did I just tell you! She could turn into anyone! Or control anyone's body! We can't afford that risk! Also, don't interrupt me when I'm speaking!"
"Eh! Okay...okay..."
"Fourth, impose a complete lockdown on District 13! All entrances and exits, ventilation ducts... every possible route in and out of District 13 must be heavily guarded! Furthermore, mobilize all trusted and tested operatives, in groups of three, to conduct a thorough, cross-verification search of every corner!"
"Fifth, and most importantly, immediately increase security in the area where Riley's parents live—at least triple...no, five times! Send the most reliable, vetted people there! They've just been attacked and are one of the most likely targets for the intruders!"
"Finally, we need to contact Riley immediately, tell him everything that's happened here, warn him to be extremely careful, and urge him to return as soon as possible to take charge!"
Father took a deep breath, his face more grave than ever before: "This enemy can control our personnel silently and break through layers of security. Her threat... is comparable to, or even surpasses, the previous Skrull infiltration! If she fully launches her operations within our ranks, the damage will be catastrophic! Go now!"
"Understood! I'll be right there!" Xiaoyu's face was tense, devoid of any hint of jest. She glanced one last time at the unconscious Kopler on the ground, then turned and sprinted towards the Sector 13 command center at top speed, her footsteps echoing rapidly through the empty corridor.
Inside the passage, only the old man and the unconscious Koppler remained for the time being.
Instead of immediately treating Koppler (he needed to ensure the environment was safe first), the old man held the dried pufferfish and slowly turned his body, the emerald light sweeping through every shadowy corner and vent of the passage like a searchlight. His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, his ears twitching slightly as he caught any unnatural sound or energy ripple.
He gazed at his unresponsive colleague on the ground, then looked at the pufferfish staff in his hand, which had been with him for many years and was used to ward off evil spirits. He muttered to himself, his voice filled with worry and doubt:
"Of all times, they've chosen this moment and this method to target Riley and District 13..."
"The runic rhythm mixed in that magic just now... although it was deliberately distorted, Dad wouldn't mistake it. That lofty yet somewhat 'barbaric' aura is indeed a variant of the Asgardian magic system... But those self-proclaimed gods, didn't they just reach a cooperation agreement with Riley and the others? Why would they suddenly attack Section 13..."
"Tsk, the fog is thick and the undercurrents are surging... It seems that my plan to live a few days in peace and study the new tea is completely ruined."
At the same time, as the highest-level magical intrusion alarm sounded in District 13, the once peaceful and orderly secret base was instantly enveloped in an atmosphere of tension that was almost frozen in place.
As the red lights flashed, the piercing alarm echoed through every corridor.
All non-essential passageways were blocked by heavy alloy gates. The concise and urgent commands of Sheriff Blake echoed continuously through the internal communication channels.
At this moment, the members of District 13 felt a sense of unease.
However, they only maintained a certain distance from each other, being wary and cautious, but did not fall into complete chaos as a result.
This was thanks to the Skrull invasion, which served as a psychological warning to District 13 about this kind of fake invasion, and also demonstrated Riley's foresight.
After all, in the Marvel Universe, there are quite a few villains who can change their appearance at will or even use mind control.
To prevent a repeat of the Skrull infiltration crisis, Riley, after resolving the incident, invested significant resources with Sheriff Black's approval. Utilizing all his knowledge, from technology to magic, he constructed a multi-layered, comprehensive internal security verification and defense system for District 13.
At this moment, the system is fully activated.
All personnel on duty and on standby, whether scientists, agents, or support staff, were required by Sheriff Black to assemble at a designated safe point for rapid and rigorous double testing.
First, there's the technological aspect.
Retinal scans, real-time comparison of DNA fragments, verification of neural reflex waveforms, and microscopic mass density scans to determine the possibility of a "substitute".
All collected data will be carefully compared with the pre-recorded original files, which are protected by both magic and artificial intelligence.
Secondly, there's the magical aspect.
The investigation team was formed by a temporary group of trustworthy agents who believed in and were interested in magic, led by the father.
Holding specially made dried lizards and pufferfish mixed with a formula of air magic powder, they scanned each person with Old Man's signature incantation to determine whether a hidden spiritual imprint had been placed on their soul, or whether control of their body had been taken over.
With prior rehearsals, the entire process was efficient and solemn.
Soon, exciting news arrived: all personnel in District 13 were themselves, and no signs of replacement or being mind-controlled by the enemy were found.
This result allowed Sheriff Black, who had been holding his breath, to breathe a slight sigh of relief, though his brow remained furrowed.
"No internal personnel were replaced or controlled... That guy infiltrated alone, then used Kopler's body to move around, and now he's abandoned that 'shell'... This means that the other party no longer needs to pretend!"
Sheriff Black watched the live feed on the screen, showing Koppler lying unconscious on a hospital bed, being carefully examined by medical staff. His mind raced, and he muttered to himself.
"Regardless, Riley's parents remain the highest-risk targets! Their safety must be the top priority!"
In his words, just like his father's concerns, Sheriff Black immediately and logically pointed to the intruder's motive as the assassin who replaced Sandman and continued to carry out the mission of "killing the Parker couple"!
The thought of the terrible consequences if anything happened to this couple sent a shiver down Sheriff Blake's spine.
Even if reason tells Sheriff Black that this could be a coincidence, that the other party may not necessarily be after the Parkers, or even that they may not know of the Parkers' existence.
But Sheriff Black, who dared not gamble with the lives of the Parkers, and even less dared to take the risk, still issued an order without hesitation to mobilize most of the available security forces in District 13 to protect Ben Parker and May Parker's VIP suite in layers.
Before long, the area around the room where the Parker couple was located was filled with laser sensors that were barely visible to the naked eye. The air was filled with a faint fragrance from the sandalwood incense that the old man had hastily prepared to interfere with malicious spellcasting.
It can be said that the level of protection has been pushed to the limit under the existing conditions!
"...Who is it!?"
Just as this tense deployment was nearing its end, a strong hand landed on Sheriff Blake's shoulder.
As Sheriff Black was startled and shouted, instinctively drawing his sidearm and turning to aim, he saw the symbiote suit recede like a tide, revealing Riley's true face, who appeared out of thin air behind him.
Spider-Man is back.
Holding the Rabbit Talisman, Riley returned to District 13 the instant he stepped out of the dimensional barrier, using the astonishing speed amplified by the Rabbit Talisman.
Upon hearing the sirens blaring within District 13, Riley instantly realized an intrusion had occurred and didn't hesitate. Pushing himself to the limit, becoming a blur indistinguishable blur, he rushed to the command center to rendezvous with Sheriff Black.
"Railley!"
The appearance of the familiar figure immediately put the previously uneasy crowd at ease, as if they had found their anchor.
Just as Sheriff Black breathed a sigh of relief and put his pistol back into its holster, Jade took three steps in two and jumped into Riley's arms.
Before Riley could ask any questions, he quickly recounted the events of the past few days to Riley. Remembering his father's teachings, he emphasized the invaders' capabilities, Kopler's condition, and the current blockade and protective measures.
"...You did a great job. I'm relieved to see you're all safe and sound."
Riley listened calmly, but his eyes, which always exuded wisdom and a touch of languor, now flashed with a cold and sharp light.
He patted Jade on the shoulder to comfort her, then turned to look at Sheriff Black.
"I understand the situation. Take me to see Dr. Kople first, and then... I want to personally inspect the entire District 13, especially the areas with the weakest magical defenses or the most complex structures."
Without much small talk, Riley immediately got into the swing of things.
He first went to visit Koppler, who was still unconscious and receiving standard treatment.
Riley gently placed his hand on Kopler's forehead. He projected his mental energy, carefully sensing the remaining traces of magic within Kopler's body.
That familiar aura convinced Riley that, just as he had guessed, the enemy who had invaded District 13 was the same person who had controlled Max!
But what's interesting is...
In this magical aura, all traces of personal style were completely erased, leaving only the magical runes of Asgard.
This made Riley withdraw his hand and begin using the magic of the Horse Charm to heal Kople, while a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.
This is because the magic the opponent is using is based on the Asgardian magic system, making it impossible to conceal further...
Or did they already know about the relationship between Riley and Asgard, and deliberately leave this "evidence" to sow discord between them?
But regardless, the primary task at hand is to determine the intruders' whereabouts and what their objective is.
So, after the treatment was completed and it was confirmed that Kopler would only need a short rest to wake up on his own, Riley left the infirmary. Holding the Rabbit Charm once more, he immediately began a comprehensive and meticulous search of District 13.
With this near-time-stopping, extreme speed, Riley's search was able to be completed in just a few breaths.
But Riley's expression grew increasingly serious as the scope of the examination expanded.
The good news is that the unique, Asgardian-style magical residue was not found anywhere except inside Kopler's body, the location where Kopler fought with his father and Jade, and the nearby ventilation ducts.
Following the trail, the only clear clue showed a decreasing trend pointing towards a backup exit in District 13. Combined with the small defensive array at the exit, which had clearly been damaged by external force, Riley could basically confirm that the intruder's main body had most likely already left District 13.
But the bad news is...
A vague unease began to linger in Riley's mind.
The invaders meticulously planned and orchestrated this invasion, but was it all just to take a stroll around District 13?
Or is it simply to create panic?
This small gain is clearly not worth the price the other party paid.
So, what is the other party's real goal?
As Riley pondered the matter, he felt something was amiss, as if he had forgotten something.
If, as Dad and Sheriff Black fear, the other party is indeed after their parents' murderous intent...
After successfully infiltrating District 13 while controlling Kople, the other party clearly had a chance to escape. Why bother fighting with Jade, causing such a commotion, and ultimately alerting the enemy and attracting the attention of the powerful Father?
unless……
Just like how Max's loss of control was used to distract Riley...
The other party's real goal is to lure away my father, the current master of Qi magic, so that we can have a chance to achieve our goal!
As this thought emerged, an overlooked possibility, like an icicle, instantly pierced Riley's mind.
He abruptly stopped, looking back at Sheriff Blake and his father who were joining him. His voice, low and urgent, betrayed the suspicions surfacing in his mind: "Something's wrong! Something's definitely happened to the vault! We have to get there!"
Sheriff Blake was taken aback: "The vault? But we didn't receive any alerts about a breach. And there's nothing valuable in there, only Holy Lord's... wait, you mean...?!"
"That's right! They might be after the Holy Lord!"
With a loud shout, Riley had already turned and was heading full speed toward the vault, the power of the Rabbit Talisman making him a blurry afterimage. He only had time to use the communication channel to explain further to the two of them.
"The other party may have used some method that could be 'approved' by our security system to gain access! For example... the 'access' granted to internal personnel!"
Sheriff Black instantly understood Riley's implication, his face turning deathly pale: "My God... Kopler's clearance! As a senior researcher, he has special research privileges! He can freely enter certain high-risk containment zones to conduct 'non-contact observation'!"
"That's right! That's why they specifically targeted Kopler!"
As they spoke, Riley, who had been running at breakneck speed, used his personal authority, second only to Sheriff Black, to urgently open the vault door located in the deepest part of District 13, a vault forged from a solid alloy and magical runes.
But even though he had prepared himself for the worst, Riley was still deeply shocked by what he saw behind the vault door.
Inside the vault, all the monitoring instruments were still flashing their normal green lights.
Temperature, humidity, and energy field readings remained stable. The complex magical confinement array continued to operate slowly, emitting a soft glow.
Everything seemed orderly and without any abnormalities.
Except for... that ferocious dragon-shaped statue located in the very center of the vault, bound and entangled by countless chains and fiber optic cables.
The statue still stands there, its stone material gleaming with a dull luster under the cold light.
However, Riley, and his father who arrived shortly afterward, could clearly sense...
Inside that statue, the soul of a wicked dragon, which was originally firmly sealed within, was constantly emanating waves of resentment and hatred...
Missed.
Without a doubt, the soul of the Holy Lord had been quietly "released" or "taken away" by the intruders from one of the world's most secure magical prisons without anyone noticing.
Of course, under normal circumstances, there would be a large number of agents stationed and patrolling around the vault. Even if an intruder had Kopler's access privileges, it wouldn't be that easy to sneak in.
But this time was different. With Ben and May's arrival, everyone would naturally assume that the intruder's target was the couple's lives, thus diverting most of the security forces!
This undoubtedly created an excellent opportunity for the invaders to save the dragon!
In this confrontation, Riley was led by the nose by his opponent from beginning to end, and suffered a complete defeat!
"...Heh...Interesting. Not so easy to fool after all...Things have been going smoothly lately. I thought I'd managed to exploit a bug during my 'darkening' phase. Turns out, I'd been holding back a lot of dark energy, waiting for me to get away with it?"
Riley stood before the statue of the Holy Lord and slowly closed his eyes.
When I opened my eyes again, a cold storm was churning inside.
"Dad, get Uncle Dragon back to Section 13 immediately. I'll be in charge of contacting the Ancient One. Commissioner Black, could you please inform Nick Fury?"
His voice was eerily calm, yet it contained an immense pressure that threatened to bring a storm.
"Tell them that for the next period of time..."
"We might be in big trouble."