The underground ruins of the hospital grew colder.
The surviving adventurers trembled as they stood under Neisa Jeremy's Domain. Their bodies moved against their own will, their minds trapped inside helpless shells.
Neisa sat lazily upon a broken hospital bed, watching them with amusement.
The ruined room was illuminated by countless crimson veins spreading across the walls like living roots. The air smelled of blood and medicine.
The adventurers knelt before her.
Without hesitation, they began licking the blood flowing from her wounds.
Neisa closed her eyes and smiled.
"Ahhhh..."
"I feel wonderful."
Her voice carried genuine pleasure.
"Good job."
"My little dogs."
The adventurers wanted to stop.
They wanted to scream.
But their bodies refused to obey.
The Domain controlled them completely.
Black ViSage stood several meters away, silently watching.
His tiger-shaped black mask revealed nothing.
Neisa slowly opened her eyes.
A dangerous smile appeared on her face.
"Now..."
She pointed at Black ViSage.
"Go."
"Attack that man."
The controlled adventurers immediately turned toward Black ViSage.
Step.
Step.
Step.
They approached him like puppets.
Then—
Something horrifying happened.
Their skin suddenly began turning crimson.
Veins burst from their flesh.
Blood poured from their eyes and mouths.
The adventurers screamed in pain.
"Aaaaah!"
"What is happening?!"
"My body!"
"My body is burning!"
Neisa laughed.
"Transformation complete."
Within seconds their entire bodies became red.
Their humanity disappeared.
Their eyes lost all emotion.
They had become Blood Soldiers.
Black ViSage remained silent.
The Blood Soldiers immediately charged toward him.
Government Laboratory — Jeslork Research Division
Far away from the ruined hospital, another conversation was taking place.
Inside a heavily guarded government laboratory, Qwini Nanmaniverb sat across from an elderly scientist.
The scientist's name was Gariol Maxle.
Countless glass containers filled with strange specimens surrounded the room.
Inside some containers floated organs belonging to Marrowbanes.
Others contained unknown biological samples.
Qwini crossed her legs.
"Hey."
"Mr. Gariol."
The old scientist looked up.
"Miss Qwini."
"What brings you here today?"
Qwini leaned forward.
"I've spent years collecting Marrowbanes for the government."
"I've risked my life countless times."
"I've delivered more samples than anyone else."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Yet nobody tells me anything."
Gariol adjusted his glasses.
"What do you mean?"
Qwini scoffed.
"Don't play dumb."
"I want information."
"I want to know about Marrowbane types."
The scientist smiled slightly.
"Interesting."
"How did you realize Marrowbanes have classifications?"
Qwini rolled her eyes.
"Huh."
"Do I look stupid?"
"I've traveled outside the city for years."
"I've seen dozens of different Marrowbanes."
"Different appearances."
"Different behaviors."
"Different abilities."
"It's obvious they have types."
She leaned back.
"So stop asking questions."
"Just answer mine."
The scientist chuckled.
"Hmm."
"You've become rather rude."
Qwini stared at him.
Gariol continued.
"When we first met..."
"You were respectful."
"You chose your words carefully."
"You behaved like a proper young woman."
"But now..."
"You've changed."
"The government praises you."
"They reward you."
"They respect you."
"And you've become arrogant."
The room became silent.
Qwini slowly looked at him.
Then she laughed.
A cold laugh.
"I don't fucking care."
The smile vanished from Gariol's face.
Qwini placed both elbows on the table.
"I came here for information."
"Nothing else."
Gariol sighed.
"You have a son, don't you?"
"Little Cherid."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Before he could continue—
BANG!!
Qwini's kick struck him directly in the chest.
The scientist crashed against a cabinet.
Glass shattered everywhere.
Gariol collapsed onto the floor.
"Cough!"
"Cough!"
He struggled to breathe.
Qwini stood up.
Her expression was terrifying.
"I never gave you permission to say my son's name."
The laboratory door suddenly opened.
Several armed guards rushed inside.
"Miss Qwini!"
"Do you need assistance?"
Without even looking at them, Qwini shouted:
"How many times must I tell you?"
"KNOCK."
"BEFORE."
"ENTERING."
The guards immediately lowered their heads.
"Sorry, Miss."
"We apologize."
"Get out."
"Now."
The guards instantly left.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Qwini slowly walked toward Gariol.
The scientist instinctively crawled backward.
Fear appeared in his eyes.
Qwini looked down at him.
"Do you know why I respected you before?"
Gariol remained silent.
"Because I thought you were a decent scientist."
"But then I learned the truth."
Her voice grew colder.
"You secretly collected my photos."
"You attempted to blackmail me."
"You even considered using my child against me."
"Huh."
"What a great scientist."
The old man's face became pale.
Qwini crouched in front of him.
"You're lucky."
"Very lucky."
"The government still finds you useful."
"Otherwise..."
She smiled.
"...you would already be dead."
Gariol swallowed.
Even after all these years, he still feared Qwini.
Not because of her authority.
Not because of her beauty.
But because he knew exactly what she was capable of.
Years ago, his son Vaigen had bullied Cherid.
The incident should have ended there.
But Qwini had found out.
And her retaliation had been merciless.
The boy spent six months in a hospital.
Even now, Vaigen suffered permanent psychological trauma.
Whenever he saw a beautiful woman resembling Qwini, he panicked.
The memory had destroyed him.
And Gariol knew it.
Qwini placed one foot on the scientist's shoulder.
Then slowly pushed him back to the floor.
"Listen carefully."
"You have two options."
She smiled.
"Option one."
"You stay silent."
"I make you my slave."
"Then I start educating your son."
The scientist trembled.
He knew exactly what that meant.
Qwini's smile widened.
"Option two."
"You tell me everything about Marrowbanes."
"Everything."
She slowly removed her foot.
The scientist immediately nodded.
"I'll talk."
"I'll tell you everything."
Qwini sat back down.
"Good."
"Now start."
Gariol sighed heavily.
Then he began speaking.
"The truth about Marrowbanes..."
"...is far more dangerous than most people realize."