A guttural roar tore through the room.
A beast lunged forward—
Carrying with it enough force to shatter stone.
The air screamed.
Its fist fell.
Before impact—
A tentacle shot upward.
BOOM!
The collision echoed.
The beast staggered back.
Seven steps.
Debris burst from the floor.
Li Mu's gaze sharpened.
So it can resist…
To his left—
Li Qian tightened her grip on her blade.
To his right—
Li Chen's grin widened.
Wild.
Unhinged.
Step!
Li Qian moved.
A blur beneath the crimson light.
Her golden mask shimmered—
Her blade unsheathed.
SLEESH!
A crimson arc split the air.
Space itself seemed to bend.
Tentacles surged forward—
Dozens of them.
Trying to intercept.
Sadly
"Too slow"
They were severed instantly.
Her blade returned to its sheath in one smooth motion.
Crack!
Li Chen stepped forward.
He removed the cigarette from his lips.
"You might think I'm a fighter…"
Snap.
Crimson flames ignited in his palm.
"…but I'm actually a variant."
The flames roared outward.
" A bloodfire mage."
The fire slammed into the grotesque creature.
Sizzle—!
Its body began to melt.
A scream tore from its throat.
Li Chen turned away.
Smiling.
Li Qian glanced at Li Mu.
A silent message in her eyes—
You did nothing.
Suddenly
A voice drifted through the room.
Soft.
Sultry.
"Darlings… don't leave so soon."
The air stilled.
"I still need his blood."
A pause.
"But you two…"
A faint laugh.
"…are welcome to stay."
Step!
Step!
Step!
From the crimson haze—
A figure emerged.
Long legs bloomed.
Flowing purple hair swayed
A face sculpted with unnatural perfection.
She walked as if the world itself existed to admire her.
She stopped before Li Mu.
"Will you come quietly…"
Her voice lowered.
"…or shall I break your legs?"
Her gaze shifted lazily.
"You two—kneel or die."
"The Everlight Church always has use for fresh blood."
Silence stretched.
Then—
Li Mu spoke.
"I give you permission…"
A pause.
"…to release it."
The woman blinked.
Confused.
Then—
From behind her—
Something moved.
A figure stepped forward.
A butler.
Pale and still
Perfectly composed.
His body cracked.
Split open.
From within—
A child emerged.
Small and Delicate.
She began eating the flesh.
Calmly.
Burp!
She stood.
"Papa."
Debris fell from above—
Straight toward her.
She waved her small hand.
Crack!
The stone shattered into fragments.
Li Chen's eyes widened slightly.
Strength like that…
The child walked toward Li Mu.
Blocked.
The purple-haired woman stepped in front of her.
"Move," the child said simply.
The woman smiled faintly.
"So this is your countermeasure?"
"A child?"
Her expression faded.
"I'm done with this farce."
Her hand shot forward—
Gripping Li Mu's throat.
Then-
Pressure.
Crushing.
Pressure.
Li Mu's body froze.
He couldn't breathe.
His vision darkened.
Blood dripped from his lips.
Thud.
To the side—
Li Qian dropped to one knee.
Thud.
Li Chen followed.
The pressure was absolute.
They couldn't move.
Not even a finger.
Li mu's thoughts slowed
Too careless…
Too arrogant…
His vision blurred.
The world dulled.
Taste vanished.
Cold spread through his veins—
Freezing his fingertips.
So this is…
Death?
A pause.
I don't want to die.
Crack!
"Papa is in danger."
A small voice.
Crack—!
The child's body twisted—
Then expanded.
"Threat must be…"
Her form burst outward—
"EXTERMINATED."
A massive centipede slammed forward
BANG!
The woman was sent flying.
She crashed into the wall.
Debris exploded outward.
The pressure vanished.
Li Mu collapsed to his knees.
Air rushed back into his lungs.
Cough—!
Cough—!
He gasped.
He had never been this close to death.
"I've been… arrogant…"
Sigh
"Thankfully… it worked."
A centipede crawled beside him.
"Papa… are you alright?"
A voice echoed in his mind.
Then—
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
The sound echoed slowly.
"You truly caught me off guard…"
A figure stepped out from the smoke.
Her arm—
Mangled.
Bleeding.
Her smile shifted.
Chilling to the bone.
"I won't play with my food anymore."