Category: Dear, it’s time for your medicine!

Chapter 262: Sylph Betrayed

Three figures moved like ghosts through the forest.

Eileen and Airi, the Twin Thieves, and Sylph, the magic archer, all possessed incredible speed, gliding through the trees like a gentle breeze.

Airi cast an invisibility spell on Sylph, and the three of them moved undetected through Lomond’s territory. Even passing Demon Beasts couldn’t sense their presence.

Just as Sylph’s reconnaissance had revealed, there were no guards patrolling near the imposing palace, while the dungeon teemed with Demon Beasts.

They knew they didn’t have much time. No matter how well they concealed themselves, the traces of their presence would eventually be discovered. They had to find Jie Luo’s soul fragment and Ronald quickly.

They held their breath, their heartbeats slowed, their footsteps silent.

Many Demon Beasts had keen senses, and they couldn’t risk being detected. Even with their skills, they couldn’t afford to be careless in this place. They hid in the shadows as patrolling Demon Beasts passed.

They silently approached the dungeon, the stench of Demon Beast filth almost overwhelming, making them gag. As Sylph had reported, thousands of Demon Beasts guarded the entrance, as if to advertise the importance of the prisoner within.

Meanwhile, Lomond sat smugly on his throne, waiting for the Hero Squad to infiltrate his palace.

A classic case of misdirection: one side overthinking, the other underthinking…

The three women waited patiently outside the dungeon, and finally, during a shift change, they slipped inside.

The stench intensified, almost unbearable, especially for Sylph, with her sensitive elven nose. Her face paled, and she fought back the urge to vomit.

The dungeon was filthy, prisoners’ waste littering the floor, a normal condition for Demon Beasts, perhaps, but a hellish scene for humans.

A wide corridor led to the cells, each one made of metal, the walls above carved with images of the Demon King, his massive form seated on his throne, a crimson axe by his side, a constant reminder of his power and authority.

Compared to the thousands of guards outside, the inside of the dungeon was sparsely guarded. The cells held Demon Beasts who had offended Lomond, their roars echoing through the corridor.

Although large by human standards, the cells were cramped for some of the larger Demon Beasts, their bodies curled up, the thick chains binding their limbs rattling with every movement.

This made the three women frown. Their plan seemed to have gone awry.

They quickened their pace, reaching the end of the corridor.

Nothing. Ronald wasn’t there.

“What’s going on? Could there be a hidden cell?” Airi asked, looking at Sylph.

Sylph shook her head.

“No Mana fluctuations, no magic barriers, no hidden cells… There’s nothing here,” she said, her gaze fixed on Airi, “We’ve been tricked.”

The implication was clear: Eileen and Airi’s judgment had been wrong. They had underestimated the Demon Beasts.

Eileen and Airi couldn’t accept this. They felt a surge of frustration and anger at being outwitted.

Just then, a group of Pig-headed Men, their ranks disorganized, approached.

The Twin Thieves, without even exchanging a glance, moved as one.

Their bodies blurred, becoming phantoms.

With a series of hisses, thin, cicada-wing-like blades flew from Eileen’s hands, slicing through the air and embedding themselves in the foreheads of the Demon Beasts in the cells.

Hundreds of Demon Beasts died instantly.

Meanwhile, Airi moved through the approaching Pig-headed Men like a venomous snake.

They felt a gust of wind, then a strange tightness around their necks.

Airi materialized, her small hands manipulating thin, nearly invisible metal wires, specially forged for their flexibility and sharpness.

The Twin Thieves weren’t just proficient with daggers; they mastered any weapon that could easily end a life: poisons, crossbows, daggers, short swords, thin wires, hidden weapons…

The Pig-headed Men froze, staring at the barely visible wires around their necks.

“Who are you?” their leader growled.

“Too loud,” Airi said, a cruel smile flickering across her face. She flicked a wire with her fingernail.

With a hiss, the leader’s head was severed, rolling across the floor.

Blood spurted from his neck, his headless body collapsing. The stench of blood filled the air.

The other Pig-headed Men were terrified, not daring to move.

Airi’s voice, cold and hard, echoed in the dungeon. “Where is Ronald being held?” she asked.

The Pig-headed Man she addressed trembled, his eyes flickering with hesitation.

Ronald’s imprisonment was a closely guarded secret. If he revealed it, the Seventh Prince wouldn’t spare him.

As he hesitated, Airi flicked her wrist, and another head rolled.

Although they were Demon Beasts, she showed no hesitation, the blood splattering on her white dress and stockings, creating a strangely beautiful contrast.

She moved to the next Pig-headed Man, her voice still sweet and innocent, “Now, you’ll tell me, won’t you?”

Seeing the fate of his companions, and the thin wire around his own neck, he didn’t hesitate.

Betraying Prince Lomond might mean death.

But not answering this girl’s question meant certain, immediate death.

“I’ll… I’ll tell you…”

“Ronald is being held in the Seventh Prince’s palace,” he blurted out.

Although this was what Sylph, Eileen, and Airi had suspected, it was good to have confirmation.

But he wasn’t a good liar, his shifting eyes betraying him. Airi frowned and flicked her wrist, and another head rolled.

“My patience is wearing thin,” she said coldly, “I want to know everything about Ronald. Whoever tells me, lives. The rest… die.”

She twisted her wrist slightly, and the wires around the Pig-headed Men’s necks tightened, drawing blood.

Finally, unable to bear the fear of death, they screamed, “I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!”

As the first one spoke, the others chimed in, eager to save their own lives.

What Ronald had endured was revealed, bit by bit.

“Prince Lomond captured Ronald… He’s being held in a cage, put on display for all the Demon Beasts to see.”

“He… entertained… thousands of Demon Beasts. He’s practically broken…”

“Any Demon Beast, as long as they pay, can have their way with him.”

“Even Demon Beasts from other territories have come to… taste… him.”

“He kept begging for mercy…”

“It was so pitiful, even I, a Demon Beast, couldn’t bear to watch.”

“It seems Prince Lomond made a deal with someone named Horus. It was all done according to Horus’s instructions…”

Lomond, a braggart, had told some of his subordinates about the deal, and their loose lips had betrayed him.

Hearing this, Eileen, Airi, and Sylph trembled, their faces pale. They finally understood what Ronald had endured.

It was the cruelest torture, a hellish nightmare.

For a nobleman like Ronald, so concerned with his dignity and appearance, this was a fate worse than death.

Horus, that damned bastard, who was he?

What grudge did he have against Ronald to torture him so cruelly?

“Where is he now?” Eileen asked, her voice cold and hard, her small body trembling with rage.

Thinking of Ronald sacrificing himself so she could escape, only to suffer such torment, she wanted to slaughter every single Demon Beast.

These filthy creatures didn’t deserve to live.

“Dead…”

“I heard he’s already dead, his body dumped in the forest.”

“Probably eaten by wild beasts by now.”

The three women’s faces turned ashen.

Ronald… was dead?

Eileen’s mind reeled, her heart aching, a murderous rage surging within her.

“Prince Lomond told us not to reveal his death, to pretend he’s still alive, to lure the other Hero Squad members into a trap…”

So… it was all a trap.

From the very beginning.

When had that idiot Lomond become so cunning?

“What about his belongings? His storage ring?” Airi asked, her voice trembling.

Even if Ronald was dead, they had to at least retrieve Jie Luo’s soul fragment.

“All his treasures naturally belong to Prince Lomond now.”

Silence.

Eileen and Airi, their gothic dresses seeming strangely out of place in this grim setting, their faces pale as death, their auras like vengeful spirits.

Ronald had been tortured, his body discarded, his soul fragment stolen.

And Lomond, powerful and surrounded by elite Demon Beasts, was beyond their reach. They had gained nothing, only the tragic news of their comrade’s death.

Airi couldn’t accept this. With a low, mournful cry, she lashed out.

Swish, swish, swish…

Dozens of heads rolled, the floor awash in blood, the headless bodies twitching.

Although Sylph also felt a pang of sadness, it wasn’t as intense as the twins’. She took a deep breath. “Let’s go back,” she said, “we need to reconsider our plan.”

Eileen and Airi agreed and followed Sylph out of the dungeon, moving as silently as they had come.

Everything seemed normal.

But suddenly, a Demon Beast sensed something, a flicker of movement, a faint human scent.

Its large eyes widened, and its claws lashed out instinctively.

Rip!

At the same time, Sylph materialized.

Her clenched hands suddenly opened.

Chapter 261: Sylph’s Longing

Lomond’s face was alight with triumph and excitement. Among the many princes, he was now the most likely successor, his influence growing rapidly.

And most importantly, he had the mysterious Horus as his ally. He could almost see the Demon King’s throne within his grasp.

Patience, he reminded himself. That was another lesson Horus had taught him. He could have ambition, but he couldn’t act prematurely. The Demon King was still too powerful.

He would bide his time, increasing his prestige and power, gathering more followers, until he was strong enough to challenge his father.

It might be a long process, but Lomond could wait. He was more patient than his elder brother, who had been the First Prince for sixty years.

The report of human activity in his territory meant that members of the Hero Squad had infiltrated his lands. He just didn’t know who they were, how many, or how strong.

“Continue the investigation,” he ordered, “and reinforce the security around the prison.”

“Deploy all the guards from the Demon… ahem, from my palace to the prison as well. Don’t let anyone in, understand?”

“As you command, Your… ahem, Your Highness,” the Kobold scout replied with a fawning smile.

Lomond chuckled, pleased. This slip of the tongue showed that, in the hearts of his followers, he was the true Demon King.

Horus had advised him not to actively search for the intruders. If they had come here, they were skilled in stealth and could disable traps and barriers. Finding them would be difficult.

It was better to let them come to him.

By deliberately increasing security around the prison, even deploying his own palace guards, those cunning humans would think it was a trap, that Ronald was actually being held in his palace!

Unfortunately for them, Lomond had already laid a trap within his palace. Once they entered, they would have no escape.

This strategy wasn’t from Horus, but from the Goblin Chieftain.

Although weak, that Goblin was one of the few with some intelligence among his subordinates.

Unfortunately, even if they captured these intruders, he would have to hand them over to Horus.

And according to their agreement, he had to treat them… differently… from Ronald, who had earned him a considerable fortune.

This displeased Lomond slightly.

…

Meanwhile, in the forest, Sylph stood on a tree branch, her figure blending seamlessly with the leaves, her emerald eyes scanning the distance.

Lomond’s territory was swarming with Demon Beasts.

With her elven eyesight, she could see clearly for miles, observing the Seventh Prince’s palace, the dungeon, the camp, everything.

After memorizing the layout, she moved swiftly through the forest, concealed by the dense foliage.

Finally, she stopped at the edge of Lomond’s territory.

She easily spotted two hidden figures and headed towards them.

As expected, Eileen and Airi materialized.

“Sister Sylph, how is the situation over there?” Eileen asked immediately, her concern for Ronald evident.

“I’ve seen the general layout,” Sylph nodded, “There are no traps or mechanisms on the path from here to Lomond’s palace.”

Eileen and Airi exchanged puzzled glances.

This was unexpected.

“And there are no patrols near the palace. All the Demon Beast soldiers have been deployed to the dungeon,” Sylph continued.

“So, Ronald should be imprisoned in the dungeon,” Eileen’s eyes lit up, “Once we know his location, the rest will be easy.”

With their strength, they could easily infiltrate the dungeon and rescue Ronald. Their only concern was the magic barriers and traps within. Triggering them would alert the guards.

Even with their strength, being surrounded by a large number of Demon Beasts would be dangerous.

But Sylph shook her head, her face filled with suspicion, “No, I don’t think it’s that simple. It feels too deliberate, as if…”

“How should I put it… as if they want you to know that Ronald is imprisoned in the dungeon,” she said, searching for the right words.

Eileen and Airi frowned. “You mean he’s not there? The dungeon is just a trap to lure us in?”

“And Ronald is probably being held in Lomond’s seemingly unguarded palace?”

Sylph nodded. “That’s what it seems like.”

The twin sisters exchanged glances, then burst into laughter, their cheerful voices echoing through the forest.

But Sylph was annoyed, “What’s so funny?”

“Sister Sylph,” Airi said, after her laughter subsided, “you’re thinking like a human, not a Demon Beast. Do you really think they’re capable of such elaborate schemes?”

“To them, it’s probably just that Ronald is imprisoned in the dungeon, so they’re guarding it heavily.”

“As for Lomond’s palace, everyone knows his personality. He’s impulsive, arrogant, and overconfident. It’s not surprising that he wouldn’t bother with guards around his palace.”

Airi’s words made Sylph feel foolish.

She had been thinking like a human.

Most Demon Beasts were simple-minded, their intelligence inferior to a child’s… and Lomond’s subordinates were mostly low-ranking, their intelligence limited.

They probably weren’t capable of such a complex plan.

She had been interacting with humans for too long, overthinking things.

After a pause, Airi continued, “Now that we know his location, let’s rest and make sure we’re in top condition. We might have a tough battle ahead. Be careful, we can’t afford any mistakes.”

Sylph nodded slightly and leaped onto a tree branch, leaning against the trunk, her eyes scanning the distance.

She wasn’t eager to rescue Ronald.

Most of the Hero Squad members had close relationships with each other… For example, Loseweisse was close to everyone, Karsus, Benson, and Muse were like brothers, and Eileen and Airi were inseparable twins.

But Sylph was different.

Even within the Hero Squad, she had always been an outsider.

Apart from Jie Luo and Karsus, she didn’t have any deep connections with the others. And now, those two were dead…

She didn’t care about Ronald’s fate.

She was a selfish woman… always had been.

Perhaps she was inherently cold and uncaring. Back then, in the Hero Squad, she had been completely infatuated with Jie Luo, her world revolving around him, no room for anyone else.

She had been heartbroken after his death.

But unlike Loseweisse, Ekaterina, and Athena, although she had also mourned him, her feelings for Jie Luo seemed to be gradually fading, although very slowly.

And this process had accelerated after she met Qin Chu…

Now, she was more concerned about her own problems. Even Jie Luo’s soul fragment, she wasn’t as eager to obtain it as the others. It would be nice to have it, but she wouldn’t risk her life for it.

She touched the spot on her collarbone where the X-shaped mark had been. Since Qin Chu had extracted three of the threads, the mark hadn’t reappeared, and she felt… lighter.

This was a good sign.

But as long as those threads remained, she wouldn’t be able to rest easy.

They might erupt at any moment, corrupting her body, turning her into Karsus… no, into something even more terrifying.

The thought of Karsus’s monstrous form made her shudder, waking her from her sleep countless times.

Only when she was with Qin Chu did she feel a semblance of peace.

That man possessed a mysterious power that could suppress the fear in her heart, his presence a strange comfort.

A faint blush appeared on Sylph’s cheeks. After Qin Chu’s repeated treatments, her body seemed to have undergone some strange changes.

Whenever she thought of him, she felt a warmth spreading through her.

Her cheeks burned, and she bit her lip, her eyes glazing over.

She suddenly felt a longing for more of his treatments.

Sylph understood her true feelings. Her body craved him, and the so-called treatment was just an excuse.

Could it be that she had transferred her love for Jie Luo to Qin Chu?

She was ashamed of these thoughts.

“Hey, Sister Sylph, what are you doing?” A voice suddenly came from beside her.

It was Airi.

Her small hand waved in front of Sylph’s face.

“What are you thinking about? Your face is all red…” Airi looked at her suspiciously, then grinned mischievously, “I know, you must be thinking about your lover, right? Tell me, tell me… who is it? Is it Ronald? Among the Hero Squad, besides Big Brother Jie Luo, he’s the only one who’s… presentable. You must be happy that we’re about to rescue him, right?”

Ronald…

The thought of that pretentious, self-absorbed man made Sylph’s stomach churn.

She slapped Airi lightly on the head, “What are you thinking about? I was just thinking about when Big Brother Jie Luo will be resurrected.”

“Are we ready to go? Let’s move!”

As she spoke, Sylph jumped down from the tree.

Thinking about Big Brother Jie Luo? Airi’s eyes narrowed as she watched her go.

He’s our big brother. I won’t let you have him, you half-breed elf!

Come to think of it, after Big Brother Jie Luo was resurrected, they, along with Ekaterina, Loseweisse, Athena, and Sylph, would become rivals again.

A sweet, innocent smile appeared on Airi’s face. It would be fun competing for Big Brother Jie Luo’s attention.

But…

Anyone who tried to steal from them usually didn’t end well.

Chapter 260: The Urge to Be a Cao Thief

Qin Chu had always assumed that Shaye was also a human girl.

After all, although she was a Witch, Witches were still human… well, most of them weren’t exactly normal humans anymore.

Violet was a body formed from magic elements, Phil was just a soul, Gaia was even worse, just a remnant soul residing within Norma, and Ireta, the Daughter of Death, had been a cold corpse before he met her.

Although he hadn’t encountered the other Witches, they were probably in similar states.

After all, a thousand years of torment was enough to wear down even the strongest wills.

He had thought that Shaye was the same, just younger, further away from the brink of madness. But now, her reaction seemed… strange.

Her consciousness born in a dense darkness?

Could it be… in a womb? Had she already been conscious in the womb?

If so, her talent was truly astonishing. But Qin Chu quickly realized that he had underestimated her.

Shaye seemed to be struggling to recall her past, a troubled expression on her face. “It was a dark, yet vast place,” she said, her voice distant, “My consciousness drifted in that dense darkness for a very long time.”

“I don’t know how long.”

“Then, one day, I opened my eyes.”

“I saw light, I saw the earth, I saw trees, I saw mountains…”

Qin Chu was stunned. He had never heard of such a bizarre birth.

“The darkness that had enveloped me was gone, and I was alone. I don’t know if I have parents, or who they are,” Shaye said, her face slightly troubled as she played with her silver hair.

Then she smiled and shook her head. “But it wasn’t so bad. There was plenty to eat in the forest. Some Demon Beasts and wild animals tried to hurt me, but they were so weak, they died just from my glare.”

“I’ve never experienced it, so I don’t understand that feeling in your heart.”

“But even if you can’t understand it, living a good life is the best way to honor their memory, right?”

Qin Chu smiled slightly. He knew she was trying to comfort him, but for the Dark Witch, this was probably the first time she had done such a thing, so it seemed a bit clumsy.

“Thank you,” he said.

Shaye blushed and turned away, ignoring him.

He heard faint footsteps approaching.

Looking down, he saw Florence and Inas. Florence’s neck wound had healed.

O’Niens’s death had clearly taken a toll on her, mainly mentally.

Her face was still filled with sadness, though not as intense as before.

Under the moonlight, Florence’s face seemed strangely beautiful. She wasn’t wearing her usual clerical attire, but a simple, dark dress.

After a brief hesitation, Qin Chu jumped down from the tree and landed before them.

“Lady Florence,” he asked, “are you here for revenge?”

Florence smiled wryly and shook her head. “Revenge?” she said, “If I wanted revenge, I should probably kill myself first…”

Perhaps, at first, seeing him beat O’Niens, she had felt a surge of hatred towards him.

But now, she knew that she should hate herself most of all.

“O’Niens died bearing the weight of his sins. That was the punishment he deserved.”

“But even though he’s dead, the evil he committed still remains. So, for a while, I will try to atone for his sins, to cleanse the taint he left behind…”

“Inas and I, perhaps we’ll go hunt some Demon Beasts, or explore some ancient ruins related to the Evil Gods, to see if we can find a way to fight against them.”

“So, we came to say goodbye.”

“Thank you for your rescue and your… teachings… Hero. I will always remember them,” Florence said quietly.

Teachings?

Did she mean the “if you lose a son, just make another one” thing?

Qin Chu’s face flushed with embarrassment. That was just something he had said casually in the heat of the moment. She hadn’t taken it seriously, had she?

After a pause, Florence continued, “And before we leave, I have one more thing to tell you, Hero.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Beware of Saint Monique,” she said, her voice strangely ominous in the night.

Qin Chu’s eyes narrowed.

“Perhaps you think I’m trying to sow discord between you, seeking revenge but knowing I’m not strong enough to face you directly…”

“Believe it or not, it’s up to you.”

“I’m just here to warn you. Saint Monique wasn’t that strong before, just talented, her progress rapid. When I was the Holy Maiden, I did intend to groom her as my successor.”

“I believed she could reach level 90 with her talent, but it would take twenty, thirty years.”

“But she went from level 80 to 90 in just two years.”

Level 80 to 90, in two years?

Even Qin Chu was surprised.

Perhaps this rate of improvement wasn’t much compared to his own, but he was a special case, a cheater.

Even Augustus and Wadsworth, both incredibly talented, hadn’t achieved such a rapid breakthrough.

Wadsworth had taken fourteen years, Augustus twelve.

And Zimmerman had been stuck at level 89 for decades…

It was impossible for Saint Monique’s talent to be six or seven times greater than theirs.

Two years was simply too fast.

Florence, seeing his shock, gave him a moment to process it, then continued, “One day, I discovered that Saint Monique no longer worships the Earth Mother Goddess, but another deity.”

The Holy Maiden of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess worshipping another god?

This news would cause a huge uproar.

“Who?” Qin Chu asked instinctively.

Florence shook her head. “I don’t know. I only know that it’s not a benevolent deity.”

“That’s all I can tell you. Please be careful, Hero. And… the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess received an oracle recently. I don’t know the details, but it seems to be related to you.”

With a slight nod, Florence and Inas turned to leave.

But after taking two steps, Florence stopped. “Hero,” she said, “I will remember your words. If I ever have another child, I will raise him right.”

“We will meet again.”

Under the moonlight, her figure, her receding back, hips, and legs, formed a beautiful silhouette.

Wait, what’s the point of telling me that? Qin Chu thought. I’m not going to have a child with you.

If Cao Cao were here, he would have used any means necessary to keep her. But Qin Chu wasn’t Cao Cao. He was more interested in what she had said about Saint Monique.

He knew that she wasn’t a good person, but he hadn’t expected her to be hiding such a secret.

The Holy Maiden of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess worshipping another deity?

Interesting!

Could it be one of those seven in the Void?

If so, which one?

And although he had just insulted Florence, calling her desperate… she was truly beautiful.

For a moment, he felt a surge of… Cao Cao-like impulses.

But he did nothing, just watched her leave, pondering her words, their implications far more important than her body.

…

Meanwhile, in the Demon Beast territory, at the Demon King’s Palace.

Nagath was in a good mood.

His deal with the mysterious informant had been very fruitful.

His second brother, Eldritch, had disappeared without a trace. May the Demon King bless his soul, he was probably dead, one less rival to worry about.

As for his elder brother, Diabolique, some Demon Beasts had seen him being carried into the Demon King’s Palace by their father. He had been dead, his heart ripped out. He didn’t know who did it.

He hoped his father wouldn’t revive him.

The Demon Beast territory was in a state of unease.

And the remaining princes were more active than before.

With Diabolique and Eldritch gone, the other princes were no longer as restrained. Even that mysterious Horus had instructed Candice to tell him to submit to the First Prince, to avoid being targeted before he grew stronger.

Lomond had thought it was good advice and had intended to follow it. But then… this had happened. It was… wonderful.

Having captured two members of the Hero Squad, Lomond was now a rising star among the Demon Beasts, his power and influence growing rapidly.

Just as he was enjoying his newfound prestige, a Demon Beast rushed into the palace, “Your Highness…”

“We’ve found traces of human activity within our territory.”

Lomond’s eyes lit up.

That Horus was truly remarkable.

Everything had gone according to his plan. The members of the Hero Squad had come to rescue Ronald, who was already dead.

Since they were here, they wouldn’t be leaving!

Chapter 259: Shaye’s Past

“If you lose a son, just make another one.”

Damn it, Wadsworth has so many sons, he wouldn’t even care about losing one or two, Qin Chu thought. His words echoed in Florence’s ears, and she froze, then broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Even if she had another son, it wouldn’t be O’Niens.

Her O’Niens was gone.

And even if she wanted another child, with whom?

Actually, Florence knew. The moment she saw those strange scales appearing on her son’s body, she knew he was lost. She just hadn’t wanted to accept it.

Now, jolted awake by Qin Chu’s slap and his cruel words, she had to face the brutal reality.

O’Niens wasn’t dead yet. His wounds were slowly healing.

Although both of them had transformed into monsters, O’Niens’s strength was far inferior to Karsus’s. Even Augustus, Saint Monique, and Wadsworth combined had struggled to defeat Karsus… although those old foxes had been holding back.

And now, even Qin Chu alone could easily suppress O’Niens.

A surge of Holy Light enveloped O’Niens’s body, the holy light cleansing the taint within him.

Qin Chu chanted softly, his hands raised above O’Niens’s head, “In the name of the Goddess of Holy Light…”

The silver Sword of Judgment appeared in his hand.

O’Niens struggled beneath his foot, his eyes filled with madness.

The next instant, the Sword of Judgment pierced his head.

Holy Light, flowing from the blade, spread through O’Niens’s body, cleansing the corruption from within.

And as Florence wept, O’Niens’s body turned to ash.

A deathly silence fell, only Florence’s sobs echoing in the air.

Qin Chu glanced at her, then shook his head and turned to leave. He didn’t kill her here.

Although the onlookers disapproved of her obsessive love for her son, they still felt pity for her. Killing her now wouldn’t improve his reputation, it would only make him seem cruel.

Killing a grieving mother in front of thousands of people would ruin his image as the Hero.

Besides, he couldn’t use the Devourer with so many eyes watching.

O’Niens’s end was unexpected.

Inas bit her lip. She had wanted to help, but Ekaterina had blocked her way.

Only after O’Niens had been purified did Ekaterina step aside.

With heavy steps, Inas walked towards Florence. She wanted to comfort the woman who had raised her, who was like a mother to her, but she didn’t know what to say.

She knew better than anyone how much Florence loved her son.

After a long time, as night fell, Florence’s sobs subsided, though her face was still streaked with tears. She looked up at Inas.

“Inas…”

Her voice, hoarse and raspy, startled Inas. Her throat must be raw from crying.

She shook her head and extended her hand towards Inas.

The next moment, with a surge of Mana, Inas’s body tensed, and she let out a pained groan. Chains, marks of the power that had been branded onto her very being, seemed to peel away from her body.

Then, with a snap, they shattered and vanished.

The pain disappeared, replaced by a sense of freedom she had never known.

Inas looked at Florence in confusion, unsure what had just happened.

“I’m sorry…” Florence said softly, her gaze fixed on the ashes where her son’s body had been.

Actually, she had known. Her son wasn’t as outstanding as others claimed.

He was just an ordinary child.

She touched the ashes, as if she could still feel his warmth, and a wave of regret washed over her. If she had just raised him like an ordinary child, without such high expectations, without such pressure, would he have lived a happier life?

If she hadn’t sheltered him so much, would he have understood the dangers of this world sooner?

He wouldn’t have met such a tragic end.

It wasn’t Qin Chu who had killed her son, it was her, his own mother.

She finally understood, but it was too late.

“I took you in because of your talent, knowing your potential was limitless. I just wanted someone to take care of O’Niens after I died, so I placed a restriction on your body and soul, making you obey, protect, and care for him…”

Inas’s face paled, and her body trembled.

“Now, O’Niens is dead, and you’re free. Do what you want… You can resign as the Saintess. I know you never wanted that position.”

“You always liked adventure, right?”

A faint smile appeared on Florence’s lips, “You can become a mercenary, or an adventurer… Live your own life, freely.”

“I’m sorry for suppressing your true nature all these years.”

“You must hate me… You can curse me, hit me, even kill me, I don’t care.”

She heard footsteps approaching. It was Inas.

She expected Inas to be angry, to slap her, but instead, a gentle Holy Light emanated from her hand, healing the wound on her neck.

Florence looked up. Inas was holding a magic scroll.

She bit her lip. “Hate?” she said, “Perhaps.”

“But… at least I know that without you, I would have starved to death long ago.”

…

Meanwhile, Qin Chu sat alone on a tree branch, watching the two moons in the sky.

A peaceful smile touched his lips. Apart from there being two of them, they were just like the moon back on Earth.

Shaye sat quietly on his shoulder, her legs dangling.

“This isn’t like you…” she said after a long while.

“What do you mean?” Qin Chu raised an eyebrow.

“With your methods, you could have easily arranged for O’Niens’s death and devoured Florence’s power. It wouldn’t have been difficult for you,” Shaye said.

After a pause, she continued, “I don’t believe you couldn’t have done it.”

“So, why?”

Qin Chu didn’t answer immediately, his gaze fixed on the moons. After a long silence, he said, “Shaye, in my hometown, there’s a famous saying: ‘I raise my head to gaze at the bright moon, and lower my head to think of my hometown.’”

Shaye tilted her head, puzzled. “I don’t understand. Why would looking at the moon make him think of his hometown? Does he live on the moon? Is he the Moon Goddess’s husband?”

Qin Chu sighed, defeated.

This kind of cultural sentiment wasn’t something someone from another world could understand.

He tried to explain it in a simpler way, “Simply put, everyone has a mother.”

He, too, had a mother, a middle-aged woman who wasn’t highly regarded by their neighbors.

She was petty, always calculating and comparing him to other children, constantly nagging him about their achievements.

She would complain about him spending too much time on his phone, telling him to go outside and get some exercise.

When he brought gifts back home, she would complain that they were unnecessary, a waste of money…

Whenever someone they knew got married, she would call him and ask when he was going to bring a girlfriend home, even having consulted a fortune teller about his marriage prospects…

She was nagging and annoying.

But she was his mother.

He reached out towards the sky, as if trying to grasp something, then his hand fell limply to his side. He had been trapped in this world for so long, even reliving his life once…

He wondered how his parents were doing back home.

Shaye seemed unable to comprehend his emotions. After a long while, she said softly, “I don’t have a mother…”

Qin Chu was surprised. “Are you an orphan? I’m sorry…”

“An orphan?” Shaye didn’t seem particularly sad. She tapped her cheek thoughtfully.

Come to think of it, he knew very little about her.

He only knew that she was a powerful Witch, who did as she pleased. He knew nothing about her family, her parents.

“I’m not really an orphan. An orphan is someone who lost their parents, but I never had any, to begin with.”

“It’s been so long, I can’t remember clearly, but my consciousness seems to have been born in a dense darkness…”

Her voice echoed in the night.

Qin Chu suddenly realized that Shaye’s origins might be even more extraordinary than he had imagined.

Chapter 258: If You Lose a Son, Just Make Another One

Again, Qin Chu wasn’t a “Cao Thief.” He wasn’t interested in other men’s wives. Really.

He even found Florence repulsive, a different kind of aversion than the hatred he felt for Ekaterina, Loseweisse, and Athena. He didn’t even feel the urge for revenge against her.

She loved O’Niens.

But she was also largely responsible for his current state. Her excessive pampering had turned him into an arrogant, spoiled brat.

Looking at Florence’s self-sacrificing expression, as if she would endure anything to save her son, Qin Chu’s voice dripped with mockery, “Lady Florence, I admit, you are a beautiful woman…”

“But please, open your eyes.”

“Just look at all the beautiful women around me.”

“Angelica, Violet, Norma, Anastasia… are any of them inferior to you?”

“Please don’t overestimate yourself. Your charm isn’t that great. I’m not that desperate.”

Florence shuddered.

His words were more insulting than any physical violation.

This damned bastard dared to call her desperate?

She had always been confident in her beauty and figure. Even after her husband’s death, despite having a son, she had been pursued by countless men, all of them powerful and high-ranking. And in this man’s eyes, she was someone he would only consider if he was desperate?

She glared at him.

Qin Chu’s expression, however, was indifferent. “Tell me,” he said, “what is that ability of yours, to travel through the earth? Is it magic?”

Florence frowned, suppressing her rage. So, this Hero was after her ability.

She sneered, “Want this ability? Sorry, that’s impossible. It’s not magic, it’s my inherent power. I can’t teach it to you.”

“Perhaps you can ask for something else.”

No, nothing else about you interests me, Qin Chu thought. He was about to offer her a deal: her ability in exchange for O’Niens’s life, but before he could speak, a strange sound came from the side…

“Aaargh…”

It was a mournful cry, like a wounded beast.

Qin Chu and Florence turned their heads and saw O’Niens, his legs charred black, his body trembling, his face covered in strange, red, spiderweb-like patterns, even his eyes filled with those eerie threads.

Dark red, metallic flesh was growing over his burned skin, covered in small scales.

This transformation seemed incredibly painful, his body convulsing, his howls filled with despair.

O’Niens seemed to finally understand his fate.

He could feel a violent, bloodthirsty consciousness taking over his body and soul, transforming him into a monster.

No, no, no…

He didn’t want to become a grotesque creature like Karsus, to be purified by Holy Light. But he couldn’t stop it.

His howls were more like pleas, begging someone to kill him before he completely transformed.

Qin Chu’s face darkened. So, the corruption had finally begun.

This scene was eerily similar to Karsus’s transformation.

He didn’t immediately kill O’Niens, but stepped back.

The surrounding onlookers pointed and whispered.

Evil God.

Corruption.

Erosion.

Monster…

Their words echoed around him.

The scenes from the arena, from outside the Sykes Hotel, flashed through the minds of the clerics and knights, their faces paling.

O’Niens, the Saint Son of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, had also been corrupted by the Evil God?

Good heavens, this was terrifying.

Even the battle-hardened soldiers shuddered at the sight.

Only Florence seemed oblivious to her son’s transformation. Although many of his bones were broken, she suddenly found a surge of strength, and as Qin Chu stepped back, she lunged forward like a madwoman, embracing O’Niens, ignoring his bloody, mangled form, kissing him, holding him close.

She saw only her son.

After her husband’s death, he was all she had left.

She didn’t care what he became, even if he turned into a monster, he was still her son.

O’Niens’s consciousness was fading, his legs already transformed into monstrous limbs, his feet claws with sharp nails, scales covering his lower body, spreading upwards.

Perhaps because of his weak strength and talent, his transformation was slower than Karsus’s.

He still clung to a shred of sanity, his clawed hands gripping Florence’s shoulders, pushing her away.

Florence’s face was streaked with tears as she looked at her son in agony, “O’Niens, what… what’s wrong with you? It’s me…”

O’Niens gasped for breath, the scales reaching his neck, his face contorted in pain, tears streaming from his crazed eyes.

He didn’t say a word to his mother, his gaze suddenly turning to Qin Chu, a few meters away.

This once arrogant and conceited man, now showing astonishing willpower, struggling to control his transforming body, suddenly fell to his knees before Qin Chu, his head bowed to the ground.

He, who would never lower his head before Qin Chu, the man he despised most, was now kneeling, abandoning all his pride and dignity.

His voice was hoarse, each word a struggle:

“Hero…”

“Please… spare my mother…”

“She… is different… She hasn’t committed any sins…”

He had been arrogant and conceited, indifferent to the lives of others, killing them as if it were nothing. But his mother was the most important person in his life.

Florence shook her head, sobbing uncontrollably.

At this moment, she was no longer the former Holy Maiden, but just a mother watching her son’s demise.

“And then… kill me… please.”

Qin Chu, watching the man he once despised kneeling before him, begging, his body twisting and transforming, lowered his eyes, a bright Holy Light emanating from him.

Florence, seeing this, seemed to understand what was about to happen. Her hair disheveled, tears streaming down her face, she threw herself in front of her son, like a madwoman.

“No, please…”

“There must be another way…”

“There must be…”

She abandoned all dignity, all pride.

She knelt in the sand, begging Qin Chu, “Please, don’t hurt my son! He can still be saved! Please, I’ll do anything…”

But before she could finish, O’Niens’s will finally broke.

Qin Chu was almost impressed by his resilience. He had surpassed his limits.

Even Karsus, under the Evil God’s complete control, hadn’t lasted this long. He was far weaker than Karsus, yet his love for his mother had given him the strength to endure.

But even such unwavering devotion couldn’t change his fate.

The transformation was complete.

O’Niens suddenly raised his head, his face now a grotesque mask, three twisted horns sprouting from his skull, his skin covered in reptilian scales, his mouth open, revealing rows of sharp teeth like a shark’s.

His crimson eyes stared at Florence’s back.

She was the person closest to him.

And now, transformed into a monster, he would start with her, driven by the insatiable urge to kill.

Roar…

He lunged at her, his fangs sinking into her neck.

Florence’s body shuddered.

But she didn’t seem to feel the pain, a twisted smile on her face as she gently caressed his scaled cheek, letting this monstrous creature devour her flesh and blood.

But at this moment, a silver-white sword of light shot through the air.

With a thud, it pierced through O’Niens’s head.

He screamed and fell backwards.

Florence’s face turned pale, and she screamed, “No! Don’t hurt my son!”

Her crazed demeanor irritated Qin Chu, and he didn’t know why, but he felt a surge of anger.

O’Niens had brought this upon himself. He had been the one to break the seal, releasing the thread that had corrupted him.

But he was still irritated.

He stepped forward, grabbed Florence by the hair, and slapped her, hoping to bring her back to her senses.

“Shut up!” he snarled, “He’s no longer your son! Your son is your son, but what about the others he killed? Weren’t they also someone’s children?!”

“Or do you think that idiot O’Niens would want you to be devoured alive like this?”

“If you lose a son, then just make another one!”

“And this time, raise him right, damn it!”

Chapter 257: You Want My Body?

Florence’s return didn’t surprise Qin Chu.

With her obsessive love for her son, she would undoubtedly do anything to save him, no matter the cost.

That was why, despite her seemingly leaving, Qin Chu’s hand hadn’t left O’Niens’s head.

However, he hadn’t expected her to reappear in such a bizarre manner.

What was that? Earth Walking Technique? Some kind of earth movement technique?

Although he wasn’t interested in Florence herself, he was interested in her ability, whether it was magic or a special power.

And Florence had thought that her sneak attack would definitely sever Qin Chu’s arm, even his entire body, allowing her to rescue O’Niens.

She had already planned everything. Once she succeeded, she would take her son and flee, abandoning her position as Holy Maiden. After all, having injured, or even killed, the Hero, Wadsworth and Augustus wouldn’t let her go, and even Saint Monique would have a reason to eliminate her.

She would take her son and disappear, the world was vast enough for them to find a place to hide.

But she hadn’t expected her attack to be blocked.

Damn it! she thought.

She tried to sink back into the earth, but the ground beneath her trembled violently, as if an earthquake had struck. The earth rippled like waves.

People stumbled and fell.

Barnal, although not particularly strong, was experienced in fighting Demon Beasts and sensed the danger immediately. This conflict was beyond their level. Although he had boasted before about supporting Qin Chu, he immediately ordered his men to retreat, leaving the battlefield to the true powerhouses.

Compared to the soldiers’ organized retreat, the Royal Knights were less disciplined, scrambling back in a less-than-graceful manner.

And the clerics of the Holy See and the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess were even more pathetic, a panicked mob trampling each other as they fled.

After all, this was a battle between level 80+ experts. If they didn’t run, they would die.

Florence’s face paled. She tried to burrow deeper into the earth, but a powerful Mana fluctuation erupted beneath her.

Her son’s head was still in Qin Chu’s grasp. She couldn’t abandon him. And with the new threat below, she had no choice. Gritting her teeth, she burst from the ground.

A geyser of lava erupted where she had been, almost engulfing her.

Although Florence was unharmed, O’Niens wasn’t so lucky. The flames engulfed his lower body, turning it into charred black.

He screamed in agony, his body convulsing.

Qin Chu, however, was protected by his Holy Light.

Tears streamed down Florence’s face as she saw her son’s suffering, but she knew this wasn’t the time for grief. She spread her arms, and an earth-yellow magic shield appeared around her.

Rock Armor!

A high-tier Earth magic defensive spell.

It could be large enough to protect the entire body, or small enough to just shield the heart.

It was the fastest and strongest defensive spell of the Earth element.

Florence knew that as a mage, she had to protect herself. If a powerful enemy got close, her frail body would be torn apart.

Her mind raced, searching for a way to save her son, no matter the cost, even if it meant her own life.

Although there were many other powerful opponents, that hateful Qin Chu was the greatest threat.

He was the one holding her son hostage. If she couldn’t defeat him, she would never be able to rescue O’Niens.

But she didn’t have time to think. A tall figure, moving with incredible speed, was approaching her.

Florence’s face paled, and she tried to dodge, but the figure was too fast.

It appeared before her in a blink of an eye.

“True Word Spell!”

It was Violet.

With a cold command, whirlwinds erupted around her leg as she swept it through the air.

Bang!

Her powerful kick slammed into Florence’s Rock Armor.

The impact made Florence’s ears ring, and she realized just how strong this tall woman was.

A single kick had cracked her powerful Rock Armor.

And Violet didn’t stop. Her fists, like a relentless rain, pounded against the barrier.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The continuous blows made the cracks spread rapidly.

Florence’s face paled, and she clutched her staff, chanting a spell at an incredible speed.

With a wave of her staff, two massive, earth-yellow chains, like giant pythons, erupted from the ground, coiling around Violet’s legs.

The Embrace of the Earth Mother Goddess.

Violet, without even looking back, leaped into the air, spinning gracefully, and then, with a whoosh, her leg slammed down on one of the chains.

Crack!

The chain shattered.

She spun again, her other leg sweeping out, and the remaining chain also shattered.

The Storm Witch…

She didn’t need weapons, a staff, armor, or robes. Perhaps it was because of her berserker-like fighting style that no one in the Auville Empire, not even those old foxes, suspected her true identity as a Witch.

What mage fought with their fists and feet?

This woman was clearly a warrior.

With the two chains shattered, Violet, without pausing, summoned a whirlwind beneath her feet and soared into the sky.

Boom!

With a thunderous roar, she punched a falling meteor, shattering it into pieces.

The battle between these two powerful beings was a breathtaking spectacle.

The ordinary soldiers, unable to follow their movements, could only watch in awe.

But for experts like Morton and Loseweisse, it confirmed their suspicions. Violet was incredibly strong, easily dominating Florence.

She was on the same level as Saint Monique, Augustus, and Wadsworth.

Florence’s face darkened. She knew that this kind of aerial combat was disadvantageous to her. As an Earth mage, her power was greatest when she was grounded.

And the situation was unfavorable. Only this tall woman was attacking her now, but the other experts, the other War Gods and Grand Mages, hadn’t joined the fight yet. If they attacked together, she would be overwhelmed.

As she pondered, she began to descend.

And O’Niens’s cries in the distance distracted her.

Distraction during battle was a fatal mistake.

There was a momentary lapse in her concentration, a fraction of a second, but that was all Violet needed.

She was the Storm Witch, after all.

She simply didn’t like using magic, it didn’t mean she couldn’t.

Whoosh…

She appeared before Florence in a flash, her right fist clenched, the blue-gray aura of the True Word Spell flickering around her wrist, wind Mana swirling and compressing around her fist.

The next moment, her fist slammed into Florence’s Rock Armor.

The barrier, pushed to its limit, shattered like ice.

The impact sent Florence tumbling downwards. Seeing the ground approaching, she felt no fear, even accelerating her descent. As long as she could reach the earth, she could still launch a sneak attack and save her son.

Saving her son was her only priority.

Her speed increased as she neared the ground.

Just as her head was about to be buried in the sand, Heloise, urged by Iyeta, finally acted.

The Snow Woman squatted down, the loose white dress she wore outlining the curves of her thighs.

She pressed her hand against the ground.

“Ice!”

The next moment, ice spread rapidly across the sand, appearing beneath Florence just as she was about to burrow.

With a sickening crack, Florence, the former Holy Maiden of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, slammed headfirst into the solid ice.

It seemed as if her neck, or perhaps her skull, had been broken.

She writhed on the ice like a snake, her mouth open in a silent scream, stars flashing before her eyes.

Many of the onlookers instinctively rubbed their own heads, feeling a phantom pain.

“Heloise, you should have created a sharp ice spike beneath her,” Iyeta said, instructing her, “right where her head would land.”

The Snow Woman was strong, but she was also… soft.

Not just her body, but also her personality.

Heloise nodded blankly, memorizing Iyeta’s advice. She wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

But Iyeta was actually quite satisfied. They were defectors from the Demon Beast side, and although they had been coerced by Qin Chu, they had to prove their worth.

Violet descended from the sky and kicked Florence in the side, sending her sliding across the ice towards Qin Chu, the force perfectly controlled.

“Miss Florence…” Qin Chu said, his face still wearing a gentle, gentlemanly smile, his gaze lingering on her disheveled yet still alluring figure.

He was beginning to understand Cao Cao’s… preferences.

This kind of woman did have a unique charm.

After Qin Chu called her name several times, Florence finally regained consciousness, her eyes filled with hatred and rage as she looked at him.

“Please, Miss Florence… no, I should call you… ma’am…”

“Please believe me, I never provoked your son. I don’t understand why he’s so hostile towards me, repeatedly causing me trouble…”

Qin Chu was telling the truth.

He hadn’t actively provoked O’Niens. Even that Evil God’s thread, O’Niens had put it into his own body.

“But your family has truly disappointed me…”

“I knew about O’Niens’s crimes, but I kept it a secret. I’m not a gossipmonger, but he forced me to reveal everything.”

“And you, Lady Florence, you disappoint me even more. I thought you would be more mature… but it seems only your body is mature.”

“Or have you become so accustomed to your high position that you don’t know how to compromise?”

After a pause, Qin Chu continued, “Of course, I’m magnanimous, and I’m still willing to give you a chance. We can make a deal…”

A deal?

Florence was momentarily stunned, then, recalling the rumors about the Hero, she instinctively pulled at her disheveled clothes, covering her exposed skin. “You want my body?” she asked coldly.

No, what are you thinking?

Qin Chu’s gaze swept over her, and Florence felt as if his rough hands were caressing her delicate skin.

She hadn’t felt this way since O’Niens’s father died.

Well, Qin Chu had to admit, she was alluring, but that wasn’t what he wanted.

He wanted her ability to travel through the earth.

Of course, he could use the Devourer.

But the Devourer could only guarantee the absorption of Mana and Battle Qi, not abilities or magic. He couldn’t be sure that he would obtain that ability after devouring Florence.

But if she cooperated willingly, the success rate would be much higher.

Florence frowned. She hated Qin Chu and didn’t want to be defiled by him… But to save her son, she would endure any humiliation.

Her plan to rescue him by force had failed. She had no choice but to accept a humiliating agreement:

“As long as you can save my son…”

“My body… you can do whatever you want with it,” she said, her voice cold and hard.

As long as her son lived, nothing else mattered.

Qin Chu was speechless. Couldn’t this woman let him finish?

Before he could respond, O’Niens, seemingly triggered by his words, began to tremble violently, the X-shaped mark on the back of his hand becoming more prominent.

Crimson threads, like veins, spread from his hand to every part of his body.

Chapter 256: You Wouldn’t Want Your Son’s Head Crushed, Would You?

Qin Chu hated pretentious displays of power. This woman, arriving with such a dramatic entrance, her voice booming with self-importance… who did she think she was?

He backhanded O’Niens across the face, the blow splitting his skin and sending teeth flying.

The surrounding onlookers were impressed.

Florence was a renowned expert, her strength comparable to Zimmerman, second only to the three strongest humans.

And Qin Chu hadn’t shown her any respect, not only slapping her son but also, in a way, slapping her own face.

As expected of the Hero.

Such courage, such audacity, was rare.

But seeing Violet standing beside him, Morton, Barnal, and the others nodded knowingly. With such a powerful protector, anyone could act boldly.

Florence, arriving with the intent to cause trouble, had walked into a trap.

Violet, whose strength had been greatly diminished in her half-mad state, had recovered under Qin Chu’s… ministrations… and the nourishment of the Holy Light. She was regaining her full power, now rivaling even Augustus and Saint Monique.

And Florence was no match for her.

As for O’Niens, he was stunned by the slap, momentarily frozen, unable to react.

Then, the humiliation intensified, his body trembling, the X-shaped mark flickering on the back of his hand as he clutched the sand, blood dripping from his wounds.

And in the distance, the figure in the swirling sandstorm, seeing her son being beaten, cried out in anguish.

A sharp rock spear, propelled by her rage, shot towards Qin Chu’s face.

It was incredibly fast, arriving in the blink of an eye. Just as it was about to pierce his skull, a hand reached out and caught the spearhead.

The spear stopped, and with a casual flick of her wrist, Violet shattered it, the fragments raining down on O’Niens’s head.

Then, Qin Chu smiled, placing his hand on O’Niens’s head, his fingers curving slightly like claws.

The message was clear: You wouldn’t want your son’s head crushed, would you?

The sandstorm intensified, rushing towards them, threatening to engulf them, then stopped abruptly.

As the dust settled, a woman, dressed in attire almost identical to Saint Monique’s, appeared before them.

She was elegant and imposing, her figure voluptuous, exuding mature charm. She was a beauty that would make even Cao Cao envious…

But Qin Chu wasn’t Cao Cao. He wasn’t interested in other men’s wives. And as he had expected, Phil wasn’t interested in Florence’s body either.

This was Florence, the former Holy Maiden of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess.

Beautiful, powerful, and devoted to her son.

Her face, as smooth and fair as a peeled egg, was now contorted with rage as she glared at Qin Chu.

She wanted to kill this bastard who dared to hit her son, but she couldn’t, she didn’t dare.

Because his hand was on her son’s head, his fingers like claws, ready to crush his skull like a watermelon.

No matter how furious she was, she had to suppress her rage.

Qin Chu bowed slightly, feigning politeness, but his hand remained on O’Niens’s head. “You must be Lady Florence,” he said, “it’s a pleasure to… ”

His habit of making inappropriate remarks almost got the better of him.

” …meet such a beautiful and elegant lady.”

If they were alone, he would have pursued this line of thought. With Florence’s obsessive love for her son, she might even be willing to make a… deal… to save him.

But unfortunately, Qin Chu cared about appearances.

Thousands of eyes were watching.

Florence’s eyes narrowed as she looked at her son, her heart aching, then she glared at Qin Chu, her gaze filled with venom.

After a moment, she looked away, her gaze sweeping over the others: the royal family, the Holy See, Sage Mountain, the soldiers…

Her anger intensified. “So…” she said, her voice cold and hard, “you’ve all ganged up on my son.”

Qin Chu almost choked on his own spit.

Was this a case of “like mother, like son”?

No matter what, her son could do no wrong. It was everyone else’s fault…

She didn’t even glance at the nine corpses on the ground.

“Lady Florence…” Loseweisse stepped forward.

When Qin Chu had tossed her the ring, she knew she had no choice. Not revealing its contents immediately had already damaged her reputation, so she had to seize every opportunity to redeem herself.

She was smart, and her stance became increasingly righteous.

“Your son, O’Niens, has committed a heinous crime. He defiled and murdered six nuns of our Church, hiding their bodies in his storage ring.”

“The Hero uncovered his crimes,” she continued, unwilling to give Qin Chu too much credit, but unable to completely erase his role in this, “and confiscated his ring. I revealed the contents of the ring before Miss Natia from Sage Mountain, Princess Carol, and Mr. Morton.”

Florence finally noticed the corpses.

But she didn’t care. She just scoffed, her brows furrowed in disbelief. “You’re lying!” she said. “My son is kind and gentle, he would never do such a thing!”

“You’re all colluding to frame him!”

Florence wasn’t stupid… normally. She could distinguish right from wrong, as long as her son wasn’t involved.

But if it concerned him, then he could do no wrong.

Those nuns couldn’t possibly have been killed by her son… Evidence? She didn’t want to see it, it must be fabricated.

Even if he had killed them, it must have been self-defense.

Her love for her son was obsessive, bordering on madness.

Loseweisse sighed, her voice tinged with sarcasm, “Are you saying that Sage Mountain, the Holy See, and the royal family are all colluding to frame your son?”

“Lady Florence, do you think your son is that important? He’s not worth the effort.” Even Loseweisse was losing her patience with this ultimate “mama’s boy,” “He’s not worthy.”

It was impossible to reason with Florence. Anything unfavorable to her son was dismissed as a conspiracy.

But these words enraged her.

He was her precious son, her only son.

This damned little bitch dared to insult him?

Her fingers clenched, her eyes turning icy. Seeing her son’s bloodied face, his tears, his trembling body, her heart ached, and tears welled up in her own eyes.

O’Niens looked at her with pleading eyes, his lips moving silently. He wanted to beg his mother to save him, but Qin Chu’s slap had knocked out his teeth, and the pain in his face made it impossible for him to speak.

His pathetic state further fueled Florence’s rage.

As for the corpses, she ignored them completely.

They were just a few nuns. Their deaths were insignificant compared to the humiliation her son had suffered.

A murderous glint flickered in her eyes as she scanned the surroundings… the Hero, Loseweisse, Ekaterina, Morton, Norma… two women with a faint demonic aura…

And that tall woman.

At least eight War God level experts.

She was confident she could defeat any of them individually, but against all of them together… even Florence, with her immense power, wasn’t sure she could win.

Especially Ekaterina, whose ferocity in battle was legendary, and Morton, a seasoned War God with exceptional combat awareness.

She still had some rationality left, and she took a deep breath, suppressing her rage and lowering her eyes. “The truth of this matter has yet to be determined…” she said, her voice cold and hard.

“Hand O’Niens over to me. I will investigate this thoroughly. If my son is truly guilty, I will discipline him accordingly. Neither the Holy See nor the Hero has the right to judge the Saint Son of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess.”

Discipline him? For killing six nuns?

Loseweisse frowned, not knowing how to respond.

At this moment, a young woman with a whip stepped forward. It was Carol, the princess of the Auville Empire. “Lady Florence,” she said, “we can’t hand O’Niens over to you.”

“Although he is the Saint Son, neither the Holy See nor the Hero has the right to judge him, but… these crimes were committed within the Auville Empire. He is a citizen of the Empire, and the Empire has the right to judge him.”

“If you trust the Empire’s laws, then hand him over to me. I will ask my father to investigate this matter thoroughly. If he is guilty, he will be punished according to Imperial law. If he’s innocent, I will clear his name. How about that?”

Florence’s face turned cold. Whether or not her son was guilty, it was just the deaths of a few nuns. Did they really expect her to let him be executed for that?

Although she was furious, she didn’t show it.

She even nodded agreeably, “Very well, I trust the royal family’s integrity.”

She gave her son one last look, ignoring his cries, and turned to leave.

Her easy compliance surprised everyone. It wasn’t like her, but they were relieved. After all, she was Florence, one of the strongest humans in the world. It was better to avoid a conflict.

As O’Niens wailed, the crowd dispersed.

Carol walked towards Qin Chu to take custody of the prisoner.

No one noticed Florence’s figure dissolving into the sand in the distance.

Then, she reappeared behind her son, grabbing his shoulder with one hand, a sharp rock blade materializing in the other…

With a hiss, she slashed at Qin Chu’s arm, the one holding O’Niens.

She wouldn’t let her son fall into their hands. These bastards would definitely fabricate evidence to frame him.

She didn’t care if the Hero was injured, or even killed.

Not even the lives of everyone in the Heavenly Continent combined were worth as much as her precious son’s.

The rock blade tore through the air.

A swift, ruthless sneak attack.

No one reacted in time, not even Violet.

Just as the blade was about to sever Qin Chu’s arm, a golden light erupted from it.

Not Pseudo-Absolute Defense, but a high-tier Earth magic spell, Rock Armor, cast by Norma.

Clang!

The rock blade struck the Rock Armor, leaving a white mark, but it couldn’t penetrate it.

Norma, also wielding the power of Earth, her senses sharper than Violet’s in this domain, had saved Qin Chu’s arm at the last moment.

Seeing her attack fail, her son still trapped, Florence’s face was filled with shock. Qin Chu, his expression unchanged, as if he had anticipated this, smiled and snapped his fingers:

“Violet, kill her!”

Chapter 255: Who Dares Harm My Son? I Dare!

Qin Chu’s move was truly shameless, dragging the unwilling Loseweisse into the conflict.

Although her influence had waned, she was still the Saintess of the Holy See, her words carrying considerable weight.

He knew she wanted him to fail, but he was forcing her onto his side.

If he opened the ring, O’Niens might accuse him of planting evidence. After all, they were enemies, and he had the motive.

But with Loseweisse, what could he say?

Even if O’Niens’s mother hated someone, she wouldn’t only hate Qin Chu.

Loseweisse, trapped, looked at the ring in her hand, feeling its weight.

Thousands of eyes were on her, an immense pressure. She enjoyed being the center of attention, but not like this.

She didn’t want to be involved, but she had no choice.

She opened the ring, and her face paled.

This was bad. Damn you, Qin Chu, she thought.

She swallowed nervously, forcing a smile. “Hero,” she said, “I think it’s best to give this to Saint Monique. This is an internal matter of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess. Let them handle it.”

But her reaction only fueled their curiosity. Clearly, there was something incriminating inside O’Niens’s ring.

“Saintess, open it…”

“Let us see what’s inside.”

The crowd urged her on, increasing the pressure.

“Sister Loseweisse, if you don’t want to open it, let me,” Carol’s voice came from the side, “I can guarantee, on behalf of the royal family, that whatever is inside will be revealed to everyone.”

“If you don’t trust me, Sister Loseweisse, then Sister Natia can do it. Sage Mountain is also a reputable institution.”

Carol’s words left Loseweisse with no escape. If she refused, it would imply that she was inferior to Natia, even to Carol, a mere princess.

“No, I’ll do it…”

Loseweisse took a deep breath. She knew she was now bound to Qin Chu, forced to take his side. In that case, she had to make herself look good.

“I apologize, everyone, I was just… startled by what’s inside.”

“I never imagined that O’Niens, the Saint Son of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, could commit such a heinous act. I even doubt if he’s even human,” she declared righteously, then revealed the contents of the storage ring.

Corpses appeared on the ground.

All of them nuns from the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, the ones who had served O’Niens.

Their clothes were disheveled, their faces frozen in expressions of fear and pain, their necks clearly broken.

Six corpses in total.

A deathly silence fell over the crowd.

A wave of horror washed over them.

These were the most beautiful among the nuns who had served O’Niens. They had supposedly returned to the Imperial City, unable to bear the hardships of the journey. Who would have thought they would find their corpses here?

Even an idiot could understand what had happened. O’Niens, the Saint Son, had defiled these nuns and then murdered them to cover up his crimes.

This wasn’t the behavior of a Saint Son.

O’Niens’s face was ashen, his mind reeling. He couldn’t understand how Qin Chu knew about this. He had been so careful, so secretive…

Before everyone’s eyes, Qin Chu removed the ring from his finger and tossed it to Loseweisse. Then, the Saintess of the Holy See, revealed the corpses inside.

Now, how could he deny it? Even blaming Qin Chu for framing him was impossible.

The Saintess’s word carried weight.

He was finished.

Qin Chu’s smile widened. This was the easiest way to deal with Heloise and Iyeta… deflecting attention.

As long as there was something more sensational to distract them, this matter would be forgotten.

He tossed O’Niens’s body beside the corpses, then stepped forward and placed his foot on his face, “O’Niens,” he said, his voice cold and hard, “you have the nerve to question Heloise and Iyeta? They killed the Second Demon Beast Prince, and you? You killed six nuns.”

“You’re worse than a Demon Beast.”

He emphasized Heloise and Iyeta’s role in killing the Second Prince. This was their ticket to survival in the human world, and also the chain that bound them to him.

Even without the rings, they couldn’t return to the Demon Beast territory.

“Defiling and murdering nuns, and you call yourself a Saint Son?”

“Saintess Inas, if I remember correctly, the Saint Son of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess must remain pure, right?”

The clerics of the Church whispered amongst themselves, distancing themselves from O’Niens. The nuns, their faces pale, clutched their chests and prayed silently, terrified. If it weren’t for the Hero and the Saintess revealing this, they might have been the next victims.

They were grateful to the Hero.

How could such evil exist within the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess?

But Morton, Barnal, and the other shrewd observers saw this differently.

Qin Chu’s move was ruthless, publicly exposing O’Niens’s crimes, leaving him no room for escape, condemning him to death.

Otherwise, they might have made a deal behind the scenes to cover it up. After all, such things weren’t uncommon among the upper class. In fact, the Hero might have originally intended to do so, since he hadn’t exposed O’Niens immediately. But now, he had closed off all avenues of escape.

With the Hero, the Holy See, the royal family, and Sage Mountain all witnessing this, no matter how powerful O’Niens’s background, he was finished. No one could protect him.

This Hero, when he struck, he made sure you were completely destroyed.

Not just physically, but also your reputation, your name dragged through the mud, your memory cursed for eternity.

But O’Niens had brought this upon himself. The Hero had given him several chances, but he had continued to provoke him. He deserved his fate.

And Qin Chu was now the hero who exposed his crimes, while Loseweisse, forced to reveal the evidence, had also gained some benefit… If O’Niens knew that his death had further elevated Qin Chu’s reputation, he wondered how he would feel.

Qin Chu’s smile vanished. “Everyone,” he said, his voice grave, “thankfully, we have captured this vile demon.”

“But O’Niens is still the Saint Son of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess. Let’s bind him and hand him over to Saint Monique. I believe she will uphold justice.”

Inas wanted to save O’Niens, but Violet blocked her way. Her face was filled with anxiety.

And O’Niens, playing the role of the clown to perfection, screamed, “Qin Chu, you bastard! I won’t let you go! Do you know who my mother is?! She’s the former Holy Maiden!”

“You want me dead? Haha, I won’t die! My mother will save me! You’re the one who’s dead! Hahahaha…”

His antics made everyone shake their heads. What a clown.

If it weren’t for his powerful and influential mother, someone like him would have been dead long ago.

Morton, Qin Chu, Carol, and even Loseweisse, these clever people, looked at him with pity.

O’Niens’s mother, Florence, was the former Holy Maiden, level 89, stuck at that level for almost as long as Zimmerman, the Grand Mage. But Saint Monique, a rising star, had surpassed her, reaching level 90 first.

Florence had been forced to step down. After all, the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess also needed a leader who could rival Wadsworth and Augustus, to maintain their position.

Saint Monique became the new Holy Maiden, but there were still many within the Church who were loyal to Florence. They paid lip service to Saint Monique but secretly disobeyed her. Florence also often interfered in Church affairs, especially in the appointment of her son and Saintess Inas, which had been rushed through before Saint Monique took over, ensuring that all the important positions were filled by her own people.

Saint Monique, constantly undermined, had long seen Florence, Inas, and O’Niens as thorns in her side. She would definitely use this opportunity to deal with them.

Whether or not Florence would survive was uncertain, but O’Niens was definitely doomed.

Although Saint Monique appeared gentle and kind, she could be ruthless when necessary.

And this idiot O’Niens was completely oblivious!

At this moment, the ground suddenly trembled violently, as if an earthquake had struck.

A powerful surge of Mana, like a tsunami, approached from afar.

Everyone’s gaze turned towards the source of the disturbance. O’Niens, after a moment of confusion, seemed to recognize the figure in the distance, amidst the swirling dust and sand, and his body trembled, his voice a shrill, almost hysterical cackle, “Hahaha… she’s here… My mother is here…”

“Qin Chu, you’re dead! You’re dead, do you hear me?! Hahahaha…”

It was as if he could already see the tables turning, Qin Chu kneeling before him, begging for mercy.

But Qin Chu, ignoring the clownish O’Niens, his eyes fixed on the approaching storm, heard a cold, furious voice echoing from the sky:

“Who dares harm my son?!”

Even before she arrived, her voice, like rolling thunder, washed over them.

Damn it, what a drama queen, Qin Chu thought, his face darkening. He turned and slapped O’Niens hard across the face, sending teeth and blood flying.

“I do!” he snarled.