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

Chapter 214: A Rotten and Filthy World (Part 4)

“Ugh… just kill me…” Ronald’s voice was filled with misery.

His reaction, like a frightened bird, surprised even Qin Chu.

Good heavens, what did this guy go through in the Demon Beast territory?

But then he remembered Lomond saying that he had arranged for a few thousand Demon Beasts to “entertain” Ronald… or rather, for Ronald to entertain a few thousand Demon Beasts.

It was understandable that he was completely broken, his reaction so extreme.

Although his diet had been…varied… Ronald was probably stuffed to the point of wanting to die.

Qin Chu wasn’t in a hurry to kill him. Although he knew that a quick death would be the most merciful, it wouldn’t be as satisfying.

When you possessed overwhelming power, you could afford to play with your food. And villains didn’t die from talking too much… He was probably considered a villain in this world, anyway.

He wasn’t a good person, not in this life.

In the human world, he had deliberately planted the seeds of rebellion in Barnal’s mind, repeatedly emphasizing the ninety-three thousand deaths caused by the nobles’ greed.

And O’Niens had been a helpful idiot, further fueling the soldiers’ resentment.

He hadn’t intended to incite a rebellion against the Auville Empire and overthrow the nobility. That was meaningless to him.

What he wanted was chaos.

The more chaos there was, the less attention he would attract.

It was the same with the Demon Beasts. Originally, the First and Second Princes were the strongest, and the Second Prince, recognizing the situation, had chosen to submit to the First. There wasn’t much conflict within the Demon Beast ranks.

Now, Qin Chu was deliberately supporting Lomond, creating ripples in the otherwise calm waters. If Lomond was capable enough, perhaps he could turn those ripples into a tsunami.

By then, the human world would be in chaos due to the conflict between the commoners and the nobles.

And the Demon Beasts would be fighting amongst themselves for the position of heir.

And yet, the leader of the human commoners would be grateful to Qin Chu for his help and guidance, while the nobles would rely on the Hero.

And Lomond would see him as his most important partner.

No one would know that this Hero was the one fanning the flames of conflict!

Just thinking about it was amusing.

But before that, he had to deal with Ronald.

The Noble Swordsman was curled up in a ball, trembling, his eyes wide and unfocused.

He seemed to be seeing something, countless ferocious, grotesque Demon Beasts lunging towards him. He screamed uncontrollably.

As if he were back in the depths of hell.

He screamed like a madman.

Qin Chu wasn’t in a hurry. He just watched silently, wanting to see how far Ronald would fall.

After a long time, Ronald seemed to finally realize that what he was seeing were just illusions, and his mind calmed slightly.

Then he realized that he was no longer in the cage, but in a forest.

And the leering Demon Beasts were gone.

Although he didn’t know why, it seemed that he had finally escaped.

A wave of sorrow washed over him.

He was a noble, a member of the Hero Squad! A person of high status and great power!

Those Demon Beasts used to tremble before him, fearing for their lives.

But now, he had been treated like a monkey in a cage, put on display for their amusement, subjected to their cruel torments. All his dignity, all his glory, all his pride, had been stripped away. Even the lowliest beggar in the Imperial City hadn’t suffered such humiliation.

And his Battle Qi had been completely shattered by that bastard Lomond, even his Battle Origin destroyed.

A lifetime of cultivation, gone.

For a swordsman, this was the most unbearable fate.

With his Battle Origin destroyed, it would be incredibly difficult to cultivate again, and even if he spent his entire life trying, he might never reach his former heights.

He had fallen from the pinnacle of heaven to the deepest depths of hell. The drastic change was too much to bear, and Ronald broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

At least there was no one here to witness his shame.

He hugged himself, his body shaking like a leaf.

His pathetic state even made the usually ruthless Qin Chu feel a twinge of… pity?

He kindly offered him a tissue, “There, there, don’t cry. It’s all over now. Wipe your tears.”

“Oh, thank you,” Ronald said instinctively, taking the tissue and wiping his face.

Then he suddenly realized that there was someone else here.

Without his Battle Qi, he hadn’t even sensed their approach.

He opened his eyes, his mind still muddled, and saw a slender, handsome young man standing before him.

Of course, in terms of looks, Ronald was confident that he was superior.

This mysterious young man puzzled him. Although he was in a sorry state, Ronald still tried to maintain his composure.

He smoothed his few remaining strands of hair, stood up, and bowed gracefully to Qin Chu, “Sir, did you save me?”

“May I ask which noble family you belong to? I will definitely visit you to express my gratitude.”

But he frowned slightly.

It seemed that he had escaped from the Demon Beast territory, but his problems weren’t over… His Battle Origin was destroyed, he was a cripple now.

But as long as he was alive, even without his power, as a former member of the Hero Squad, he could still enjoy the highest treatment in the Empire, his future secured.

However, if what he had endured in the Demon Beast territory were to be revealed, he would become a laughingstock.

People would even see him as a disgrace. As long as he lived, this shame would follow him, and then one day, he would suddenly die from an “illness,” or perhaps commit suicide…

As a native of this world, Ronald understood how rotten and filthy it was better than anyone.

Therefore, what he had experienced had to remain a secret, never to be revealed… If this person before him had saved him, then he must also know what he had endured.

To keep his secret safe, he had to kill him…

This world was rotten and filthy, and so was Ronald.

A surge of killing intent filled his heart, but then he remembered that he was a cripple now, powerless. And this man, who had saved him from the Demon Beast territory, must be quite strong, right?

He felt a sense of despair. He didn’t have the strength to kill this person, even though he didn’t sense any Mana or Battle Qi from him.

Qin Chu, noticing the change in Ronald’s eyes, sneered inwardly. As expected, even without the betrayal, Ronald was definitely not a good person.

Qin Chu suddenly felt that what Ronald had endured in Lomond’s territory wasn’t enough. He should let him enjoy it for a few more days.

Although he mocked him inwardly, Qin Chu’s face remained calm. He just tilted his head and smiled, “A noble? Ah, no, I’m not a noble.”

“I’m just a passerby.”

Not even a noble?

A hint of disdain appeared in Ronald’s eyes. After all, in this world, only nobles were considered human.

“And I didn’t save you. I just saw you lying in the forest and woke you up,” Qin Chu said.

Ronald was relieved.

Could it be that the Demon Beasts thought he was already dead and just dumped his body in the forest? It was very likely. Although humans were food to Demon Beasts, he had been so filthy and stinking at that time that even they might not have been able to stomach him.

Unexpectedly, that filth had saved his life.

So, this person wasn’t his savior at all. He hadn’t done anything.

Then he shouldn’t know what he had endured in the Demon Beast territory.

This reassured Ronald, but to be safe, he still had to eliminate this person.

A mere passerby, not a noble, with no powerful Battle Qi or Mana fluctuations… Although he was a cripple now, he still had his combat experience. Killing him shouldn’t be too difficult.

In short, Ronald wouldn’t leave any possibility of his secret being revealed.

As malicious thoughts swirled in his mind, he said, “Oh, is that so? Even so, I still have to thank you…”

His tone was unconsciously tinged with arrogance.

Qin Chu didn’t mind and just smiled faintly, “By the way, you just said you couldn’t eat anymore?”

Ugh!

Ronald’s face turned pale, and his stomach churned. He felt a strong urge to vomit. This damned guy had reminded him of some very unpleasant memories.

Then he suddenly saw something being tossed up and down in Qin Chu’s hand. It was his storage ring.

Jie Luo’s soul fragment was inside.

He suppressed his killing intent and narrowed his eyes, “Sir, that storage ring is mine. Can you return it to me?”

“Of course…” Qin Chu readily tossed the ring to Ronald.

Using a storage ring didn’t require Mana, and Ronald could still open it. But he immediately noticed that the Mana, Saint Quartz, magic scrolls, and other things inside were all gone.

Most importantly, Jie Luo’s soul fragment was also missing.

This made Ronald tremble. Could it be that everything had been taken by that bastard Lomond?

He remembered that Lomond had taken his storage ring immediately after capturing him… It seemed that his wealth and Lord Jie Luo’s soul fragment had all fallen into Lomond’s hands. Thinking that all his hard work and humiliation had been in vain, Ronald felt a deep sense of despair.

“Are you looking for this?” Qin Chu smiled and took out a crystal.

Seeing the thing in Qin Chu’s hand, Ronald’s pupils constricted, and he couldn’t help but scream, “Why is it in your hand?!”

Qin Chu didn’t answer. He placed his hand on his chest and bowed gracefully:

“By the way, esteemed… Cloudy Swordsman… ah, no, Noble Swordsman Ronald, I haven’t introduced myself. How rude of me.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Qin Chu.”

“I’m the Second Hero.”

Hum…

Ronald’s mind went blank, his face ashen.

The Second Hero?

Chapter 213: I’m Stuffed (Part 3)

After his rebirth, Qin Chu finally regained the power of a Champion.

This strength was enough for him to protect himself in the Heavenly Continent. Coupled with his various special abilities and powers, ordinary Champions were no longer his match.

He opened his status panel, admiring his current attributes.

Level: 73
Class: Hero
Strength: 1225
Stamina: 1366
Agility: 1471
Spirit: 2421
Defense: 1558
Charm: 7
Abilities: Greed, Rage, Forced Calm, Shapeshifting, Pseudo-Absolute Defense, Phantom Speed
Special Abilities: Lust, Holy Healing

Qin Chu strongly suspected that the small sapling in his body was stealing his experience.

This was why his level was increasing so slowly, only reaching level 73. But his overall attributes had already reached, even exceeded, the standard for level 80.

What surprised him the most was that his Charm stat had actually increased a bit… He didn’t know if it was because Dolgo had Succubus blood, which was considered incredibly charming among Demon Beasts, and after absorbing it, his own Charm had slightly increased.

He had also obtained Dolgo’s advanced ability, Phantom Speed.

This ability was very powerful. Even among the Dire Wolves, few possessed it.

It was similar to a combination of the Thief’s Shadow Clone and Gale Acceleration skills, allowing him to create several clones with his own attack power and incredible speed.

As expected of a complete Champion, the benefits of absorbing his energy were astonishing.

Even his Star Flame Battle Qi had reached the fourth level due to the forceful infusion of energy.

Qin Chu hadn’t expected Lomond to be so generous. He had just casually fooled around with Candice, and Lomond had actually sacrificed Dolgo.

Poor guy.

Qin Chu mourned for Dolgo for three seconds.

This unlucky bastard had been completely drained dry, his body reduced to a withered corpse.

His eyes were still filled with anger and unwillingness. He had sincerely pledged his allegiance to the Seventh Prince. Because he was a half-breed, although he wasn’t bullied by all Demon Beasts like Candice, he was still ostracized by his own kind among the Dire Wolves.

And because of his exceptional talent, he had also aroused the hostility of the Dire Wolf chieftain’s son, making it impossible for him to survive among them. That was why he chose to follow Lomond.

Who would have thought that this would be his end?

The tentacles that had covered Dolgo’s body finally retracted into Qin Chu’s after draining the last drop of his energy.

Lomond watched eagerly, scratching his head, but too embarrassed to urge him.

Candice smiled sweetly and said in her seductive voice, “Master Horus, how is it going?”

This made Lomond’s impression of Candice improve greatly. This half-breed, although not very strong, had good judgment, knowing when to speak for her master.

Lomond really wanted to keep Candice by his side as a strategist… It was a pity that her bloodline was too tainted. Keeping her around would be mocked by the other Demon Beasts.

Horus seemed exhausted, his body swaying slightly, his voice hoarse, “Of course, the loss this time was minimal. You’re very lucky, Your Highness… Seventy percent…”

“Only seventy percent?” Lomond was a little disappointed.

“No, no, seventy percent is the loss.”

Horus shook his head.

Candice almost burst out laughing, trying hard to maintain a serious expression, her lips trembling. This was too difficult.

Lord Horus was a good actor. Seventy percent loss? He had probably absorbed it all himself, maybe even more.

Lomond felt even more aggrieved. A Champion, and he could only absorb thirty percent?

He felt a bit cheated. Was this guy fooling him?

“Your Highness, you have to understand how difficult cultivation is,” Candice said at the right time, “Every bit of progress requires a hundredfold, a thousandfold effort.”

“To directly plunder the power of others and convert it into one’s own, this is defying the natural order. The loss is naturally quite significant.”

“If there were no loss at all, then wouldn’t it be possible to create a level 90 Heavenly King just by extracting the power of Slimes?”

Lomond nodded his furry head, thinking it made sense.

His reaction almost made Qin Chu and Candice laugh out loud. They felt like they were bullying an honest person.

“Then, Your Highness, please accept this power.”

Suppressing his laughter, Qin Chu pushed a ball of energy towards Lomond. Under his expectant gaze, it entered Lomond’s chest.

The next second, Lomond’s face flushed red, as if he had a fever.

His veins bulged, and his muscles tensed.

It seemed as if balls of energy were wriggling beneath his knotted muscles. A strange, hoarse growl escaped his throat, his face contorted.

Flames seemed to erupt from his eyes.

This process was extremely painful. Cracks even appeared on Lomond’s tough skin, a horrifying sight.

Qin Chu just watched calmly, as if he wasn’t surprised by Lomond’s reaction.

If Lomond could really digest this power, then it wouldn’t be a problem. He could continue to be a useful tool. If he couldn’t handle it, then he would just devour him before he died.

Lomond would provide him with even greater benefits than Dolgo.

It seemed that Lomond wasn’t destined to die yet. His roars gradually subsided after a few minutes, and the cracks on his skin began to heal rapidly.

After a few more minutes, Lomond suddenly roared towards the sky.

So loud.

His face was filled with excitement, “My level has reached 88! I’ve leveled up!”

Leveling up, how wonderful.

“Yes, congratulations, congratulations. Dolgo’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain,” Qin Chu said perfunctorily.

Candice also quickly added, “Congratulations, Your Highness Lomond, for your progress with the help of Master Horus. You’re one step closer to the Heavenly King level. Congratulations, congratulations…”

Under Candice and Horus’s flattery, Lomond felt a little giddy.

Although it was only one level, it was still a significant improvement at level 80+. If he cultivated on his own, it would take months, even years, to achieve this.

He didn’t know that seventy percent of the energy, the “slight loss,” had been pocketed by Qin Chu.

Lomond was still excited about his gains. He felt that cooperating with Horus was truly a great decision. He licked his thick lips, his increased strength making him even more greedy:

“Master Horus, thank you for your help.”

“If I find another suitable… ahem, energy source, can I ask for your help again?”

Qin Chu smiled faintly and bowed slightly, “Of course, we’re companions, we should help each other, shouldn’t we?”

“However, even for… consumables… please try to find those above level 80. As you can see, using this ability takes a heavy toll on me…”

I’m almost stuffed, he thought.

Lomond nodded, thinking about other potential targets.

After a brief hesitation, he spoke again, “Master Horus, you also mentioned that you had a suggestion for me…”

“Ah, that.”

Qin Chu nodded, “I will kill Ronald, soon.”

“However, you don’t have to announce his death immediately. You can say that you’re imprisoning him in a secret location, hoping to extract some valuable information from him.”

“Then, spread the word. I think some members of the Hero Squad might try to rescue him…”

Lomond’s eyes grew brighter and brighter, “Ah, as expected of Master Horus, you’re truly despicable and shameless… Ah, no, I didn’t mean to insult you. Among us Demon Beasts, this is a compliment.”

“Is that so? Then thank you for your praise. But if possible, I hope you can express it differently.”

After a pause, Qin Chu bowed again, his gentlemanly manners always impeccable:

“Then, Your Highness, I’ll take my leave. If there’s any important information, I’ll inform you through Candice.”

Lomond also bowed in return, mimicking Qin Chu.

But for a Demon Beast, this action seemed a bit awkward.

Qin Chu didn’t say anything more. He waved his hand, and a gust of wind lifted Ronald’s unconscious body, which gradually disappeared into the air.

Candice also bid farewell to Lomond, preparing to return to the human world and continue her work as an informant.

As for Lomond, he returned to his palace.

Today was a good day, he thought.

He felt that he had gained a lot: a valuable partner, a level up, information about his elder brothers, and even a suggestion from Horus that might allow him to capture more members of the Hero Squad.

A bountiful harvest, it was truly wonderful.

Although he had lost a Champion-level subordinate, it was completely worth it.

Meanwhile, after putting enough distance between them and Lomond, Qin Chu finally put Ronald down.

Looking at the pathetic former Noble Swordsman, Qin Chu splashed a handful of water on his face.

Stimulated by the cold water, Ronald’s body trembled, his eyelids fluttering as he seemed to be regaining consciousness.

At this moment, he suddenly felt a pat on his shoulder. The action startled him awake, and he was instantly filled with terror.

His body curled up into a ball, his face pale, trembling uncontrollably, his hands flailing as if trying to ward off something.

“No… Don’t…”

“Go away…”

“Ugh… I can’t eat anymore…”

Chapter 212: The Couple’s Con (Part 2)

The second soul fragment was in hand. Unfortunately, now wasn’t the time to examine it. Qin Chu hoped it wasn’t empty like the first one.

Lomond watched Horus’s expression. Although he appeared calm, Lomond could sense his satisfaction with the gift.

This was a win-win situation.

Ronald had made a small sacrifice, earning him a large sum of money and gaining the favor of the informant.

Lomond even felt a flicker of  fondness for Ronald.

He no longer looked as disgusting as before.

Actually, Lomond had also wanted to participate in Ronald’s entertainment… but considering his massive size, he had decided against it, worried that Ronald might not be able to handle it.

It seemed that both parties were satisfied with this meeting.

But Lomond wanted more. Everyone was greedy, even Demon Beasts.

However, Lomond also knew that Horus had already provided a lot of valuable information, and he didn’t know how to ask for more… It might make him seem greedy.

For their first meeting, Lomond wanted to leave a good impression on Horus.

He scratched his head anxiously, then looked at Candice for help.

Candice sneered inwardly. This prince, wanting more but too embarrassed to ask, looked like a clown. But she knew that, as his subordinate, she had to step up.

She smiled sweetly and said in a seductive voice:

“Master Horus…”

She used this title with practiced ease.

“His Highness the Seventh Prince has shown such sincerity, giving you such a wonderful gift. Shouldn’t you offer something in return?”

Yes, yes, that’s right! Lomond thought, overjoyed. But he pretended to scold her, “Candice, don’t be so rude before our esteemed guest. This is just the reward for Master Horus providing the information about Benson and Ronald’s whereabouts. How can you ask for more?”

Poor Lomond didn’t know that, except for Dolgo hanging on the tree, the two people before him were both actors, working together to con him.

Horus glanced at Lomond, who immediately looked up at the sky. “The moon is beautiful tonight, isn’t it…?”

Beautiful, my ass… Qin Chu thought. Coming from your sister, maybe. But you…

Come to think of it, Demon King Nagath’s daughters were quite beautiful. At first glance, you might even mistake them for goddesses.

Horus lowered his head, seemingly thinking for a few seconds, then smiled. “Indeed.”

“I’m very satisfied with Your Highness’s… hospitality… towards Ronald. I should offer something in return.”

Lomond’s eyes lit up.

This guy’s thoughts were practically written all over his face… This was precisely why Qin Chu had chosen Lomond as his trading partner.

“This time, I’ll give you a special piece of information, plus a suggestion.”

“This information is not about humans, but about the Demon Beasts.”

Lomond’s face fell.

He wasn’t interested in the Demon Beasts’ affairs. He was more curious about the humans, especially the Hero Squad and other top experts. That would help him gain more achievements and elevate his status.

Horus looked at Lomond, his gaze distant, making Lomond feel an inexplicable fear. This feeling made him uncomfortable. He was the seventh son of Demon King Nagath, how could he be afraid of a mere human?

After a long while, Horus finally spoke, his voice tinged with a strange sadness:

“Your Highness, your vision is too narrow.”

“Hunting members of the Hero Squad can indeed greatly increase your power and prestige, but the gains are limited.”

Hearing Horus call him short-sighted, Lomond felt a flicker of annoyance. His eyes were large, and he could see very far.

“The Demon Beast world is even more realistic than the vast forests and grasslands. The law of the jungle is taken to the extreme among us. You know this better than I do.”

“Among Demon Beasts, in the end, it’s all about strength.”

“No matter how great your prestige or how large your forces, if you fail, everything you have will vanish.”

“You have many subordinates now, a large number of Demon Beasts under your command, and you seem to be in your prime, but it’s all temporary, understand?”

“If I told you that your elder brothers, the First and Second Princes, have already broken through level 90 and reached the level of the Four Heavenly Kings, would you still be so carefree?”

Lomond froze.

His ugly face was filled with shock and disbelief.

The gap between level 90 and 89 was like a chasm.

Whether Demon Beast or human, it was a major hurdle.

Lomond’s current level was 87. He had always thought that his two elder brothers were still stuck at level 89. Even if they were stronger than him, he was still confident in his ability to fight them.

But now, hearing from Qin Chu that their strength had already broken through to level 90, that was a level Lomond couldn’t possibly reach, even if he risked his life.

Just as Qin Chu had said, if he was defeated by his elder brothers, then the Demon Beasts currently flocking to him would scatter, and he would be left with nothing.

He knew how serious this was, his face grimmer than ever. “Master Horus, is this true?”

“Of course, there’s no benefit for me to deceive you,” Horus shrugged, “With your current strength, you’re no match for them.”

Candice chimed in at the right time, “Come to think of it, I also heard from some Demon Beast informants that the First and Second Princes seem to have broken through recently.”

Candice’s confirmation made Lomond anxious.

He wasn’t confident that he could reach level 90 in a short time. It was too difficult.

“Actually, it’s not completely impossible,” Horus frowned, sighing as if reluctant, “Well, since I’ve chosen you as my partner…”

“This was originally a secret of mine, and I wasn’t planning to reveal it, but I think you’re quite to my liking, Your Highness Lomond. I’m willing to maintain a good relationship with you, and I hope we can become close comrades.”

Lomond’s throat twitched, his eyes gleaming, “Master Horus, you can rest assured, if I ever become the Demon King, even if I raze the human world to the ground, you will be my most esteemed companion, your status second only to mine, and millions of Demon Beasts will worship you…”

“Whatever you desire, I will grant it… wealth, beautiful human women, Succubi… you can have anything you want.”

Candice scoffed inwardly. Second only to you?

Lomond, you overestimate yourself. In her eyes, he wasn’t even worthy of carrying Horus’s shoes.

He was just a small pawn in Lord Horus’s plan.

But her words were completely different, “Lord Horus, His Highness has already made such a promise, are you still not satisfied? His Highness is never stingy with his rewards. If you wish, you can even ask him to give me to you.”

Lomond nodded repeatedly. As long as Horus could help him increase his strength quickly, what was a mere Candice?

Horus seemed deeply moved and thought for a moment, “Alright, I believe Your Highness will keep your word.”

“I have a special ability that allows me to extract the power of others.”

Lomond’s eyes widened, a flicker of fear in them.

He wasn’t very intelligent, but his combat instincts were sharp, and he sensed how terrifying this ability was.

“There’s no need to look at me like that. The power I extract can’t be converted into my own. Otherwise, I wouldn’t need to cooperate with you, Your Highness. I could just keep finding suitable targets and absorbing their power, and I would soon become invincible.”

Lomond paused. That made sense.

If the absorbed power could be converted into his own, then Horus would be much stronger than he was now.

“However, I can transfer the absorbed energy to others, and they can directly absorb and refine it, converting it into their own power.”

This was indeed feasible, but Qin Chu had never used this method to increase Angelica’s strength.

It wasn’t that he was unwilling. It was because Qin Chu could digest this foreign energy, but Angelica couldn’t. Forcefully infusing it into her wouldn’t be beneficial. Although her strength would appear to increase dramatically in a short time, this foreign energy would become a huge problem in the future.

“Simply put, this damned ability is just making wedding clothes for others,” Horus muttered, seemingly annoyed.

Lomond looked at Horus with pity. It was normal for him to be annoyed. Such an amazing and powerful ability, yet he couldn’t use it himself. Anyone would be frustrated.

But for him, this was definitely a great opportunity. Lomond couldn’t wait to try it.

His ferocious gaze turned to Ronald… Unfortunately, this guy was practically useless now, his energy completely depleted. There was nothing to extract.

Then, his gaze shifted to Candice, his eyes glowing crimson.

But this killing intent didn’t last long. Candice’s strength was too weak.

Even if he absorbed all her power, it wouldn’t be much of an increase.

Moreover, Candice was the intermediary between him and Horus. She had Succubus blood and could be given to Horus as a reward in the future, a useful tool to control him. Killing her now might jeopardize their cooperation.

As for Horus, he would be killed after his usefulness was exhausted… Even though they were partners now, this special ability could allow Horus to create another powerful expert at any time, becoming his greatest enemy. This was something Lomond absolutely didn’t want to see.

Then, there was only one option left.

Lomond’s gaze fell on Dolgo, the half-Dire Wolf hybrid, hanging on the tree.

The Dire Wolf race was naturally powerful.

And Dolgo had both Dire Wolf and Succubus blood. He was considered talented among both races. But for some reason, he had left the Dire Wolves and pledged allegiance to him.

He had already reached level 80, equivalent to a Champion in human terms.

Although he was his most trusted subordinate, Lomond had never truly trusted Dolgo. After all, the Dire Wolves served his elder brother. Dolgo’s defection was suspicious.

His gaze became increasingly ferocious, increasingly greedy.

If he could absorb Dolgo’s power, it would definitely give him a huge boost, right?

Lomond’s ferocious gaze made Dolgo tremble. The intelligent Dire Wolf immediately understood what the Seventh Prince was thinking, his eyes widening, his body struggling desperately, “Your Highness… what… what are you doing…?”

Seeing Lomond’s massive hand reaching towards him, fear exploded within Dolgo, “No, no, Your Highness, you can’t do this…”

“I’ve followed you for many years, through life and death, I’ve shed blood for you, I’ve been injured for you…”

“You can’t do this to me, you can’t…”

Dolgo screamed frantically.

He hoped that the memories of their shared battles would make Lomond remember their bond and spare his life.

But clearly, these memories were worthless to Lomond. He felt no affection for him.

Lomond didn’t care about Dolgo’s fate, he only cared about whether his own strength would increase.

“Don’t be like this, Dolgo. Aren’t you loyal to me? Then turning your strength into mine is the greatest form of loyalty, isn’t it?”

“Don’t worry, I will always remember your kindness,” Lomond’s voice echoed through the night.

Dolgo’s eyes filled with resentment. He struggled to free himself from the spear, but the strange spear, with its dark red chains, held him firmly.

No matter how hard he struggled, it was useless.

Lomond’s massive fingers closed around his small body, and with a ripping sound, he tore Dolgo from the tree, his body breaking free from the chains.

His body was mangled, blood gushing from his wounds.

His abdomen, chest, shoulders… everywhere was torn flesh and bone.

Even with his strength, Dolgo couldn’t struggle much in this state.

With a thud, Lomond threw him to the ground.

A crater appeared where he landed.

Dolgo spat out a mouthful of blood, his face contorted, his once green eyes now blood red.

“Master Horus,” Lomond said in a muffled voice, “this guy attacked you before. As punishment, I’ll leave him to you to deal with.”

Weren’t you just saying he was a child and you wouldn’t hold it against him?

Dolgo’s eyes widened, and he screamed with his last bit of strength, “Lomond, you bastard! You were the one who told me to test him…!”

Perhaps knowing that he was doomed, Dolgo no longer cared, cursing Lomond viciously.

“Shut up! Even at this point, you still want to sow discord between me and Prince Lomond? Do you think I’ll fall for it?” Horus shouted sharply, interrupting him.

This was a Champion…

The next second, the Devourer transformed into countless tentacles, quickly covering Dolgo’s body.

Then, Dolgo’s body rapidly shriveled up, visible to the naked eye.

Lomond could clearly feel streams of energy being extracted from Dolgo’s body and flowing into Qin Chu’s, gathering in his chest.

This eerie scene even made Lomond’s hair stand on end.

Compared to him, this human, Horus, seemed more like a demon.

Even while devouring Dolgo’s power, Horus still had time to talk to Lomond, “Your Highness, there’s one more thing…”

“Although I can devour his power, there’s a slight…loss… during the transfer.”

Lomond nodded, indicating his understanding. This was normal.

Such a powerful ability, it would be strange if there wasn’t any loss.

Horus’s eyes flickered with excitement.

Opportunities to devour a Champion weren’t common. The last time was Benson, but that guy had been so thoroughly… entertained… by Lomond that there wasn’t much energy left in his body.

But now, although Dolgo’s physical injuries were severe, his energy was almost completely intact.

This was a true super experience pack.

The so-called “slight loss” that Qin Chu mentioned was frantically surging into his body, transforming into his own power. The two emerald green leaves also seemed very pleased with this abundant energy, swaying gently.

The silver hair on his wrist shone brighter and brighter.

Anthea and Shaye, bathed in pure energy, also looked very satisfied.

Qin Chu’s stats were skyrocketing.

The feeling of surging power filled him with an unprecedented pleasure.

His body trembled.

And in Lomond’s eyes, this seemed like Qin Chu was paying a terrible price for using this ability.

After an unknown amount of time, Dolgo’s body had completely shriveled up, his bones showing through his skin.

Crack…

Qin Chu seemed to hear a crisp sound from within his body.

A certain barrier… had been broken.

At this moment, Qin Chu finally returned to the Champion realm!

Chapter 211: Jie Luo’s Second Soul Fragment (1)

Dolgo tensed like a drawn bow, the eerie light in his eyes intensifying. He was a predator, a top hunter in the forest, ready to strike.

The sound of snapping twigs echoed through the silent Pipes Forest.

Only one person.

The scent of a human, carried by the night wind, reached Dolgo’s nostrils.

Tonight, they were meeting with a mysterious human for a trade. There was no doubt who it was.

A faint smile played on Candice’s lips.

The sooner the trade was completed, the sooner she could leave Lomond’s territory.

Because of her importance as the intermediary, Lomond wouldn’t allow any harm to come to her, at least not within his territory. So, for now, she was relatively safe. But she still couldn’t stand the stench and the oppressive atmosphere.

She had glimpsed Ronald during his…entertainment… but the sight was so pitiful that she quickly turned away.

Lomond’s eyes gleamed with anticipation, barely able to contain his excitement. He couldn’t wait to meet this mysterious informant, to extract more valuable information.

Under the hazy moonlight, a slender figure finally appeared.

Seeing the small human, both Lomond and Dolgo were surprised.

They had expected the mysterious informant to be cloaked and masked, his identity hidden.

But this human youth… almost a boy…

…walked towards them with a gentle smile on his face, his features open and unconcealed, his handsome face and warm smile disarmingly charming.

He wore a simple yet elegant silver-white robe, covered in mysterious runes.

Candice’s smile widened. He had taken on the guise of Lord Horus.

Facing the monstrous Lomond, he showed no fear, not even a hint of hesitation, only slightly quickening his pace. This reaction confirmed his identity.

Lomond was even a little impressed. This human wasn’t afraid of him, even daring to show his true face. Such courage was admirable.

But Dolgo, the Dire Wolf hybrid, bristled, his green eyes glowing, the fur on his back standing on end.

Candice frowned. This was a sign that the Dire Wolves were about to attack.

As Horus took two more steps forward, a loud bang erupted beside Candice.

Bang!

The ground cracked.

Propelled by an explosive force, Dolgo shot towards Qin Chu like a phantom in the night. Dire Wolves were known for their speed, and Dolgo, having reached level 80 last year, was incredibly fast. A dark blur, moving faster than even Candice could clearly see, appeared before Qin Chu, the sound of tearing air lagging behind.

He leaped, a shrill howl ripping through the air, his sharp claws aimed at Qin Chu’s face.

Lightning fast.

But there was no surprise, no fear on Qin Chu’s face. Even his smile remained unchanged, only becoming slightly more mocking.

Just as the claws were about to tear his face apart, a black spear appeared out of nowhere.

No one saw where it came from.

Not Candice, not Lomond.

Not even Dolgo’s sharp eyes.

The mysterious black spear materialized, and then… Pfft!

The sound of flesh tearing.

The spearhead pierced through Dolgo’s back, exiting through his chest in a spray of blood.

Then, the spear’s powerful force exploded, sending Dolgo flying backwards. With another thud, his massive body was pinned to a tree.

He wasn’t dead yet.

A level 80 Dire Wolf possessed incredible vitality.

But he was in agony, his body writhing like a worm on the tree, blood and foam dripping from his mouth, his green eyes filled with hatred and madness, a suppressed growl rumbling in his throat. Pain wouldn’t frighten him, it would only fuel his rage.

Lomond’s large eyes narrowed.

As expected of the mysterious informant, no wonder Candice couldn’t find any information about him.

To defeat Dolgo so easily, such strength was rare among humans. And Lomond could sense that he hadn’t intended to kill Dolgo. Otherwise, the spear would have pierced his head, not his chest.

And the force behind the spear wouldn’t have just pinned him to the tree, but would have exploded his body.

Of course, this was Anthea’s doing.

But ordinary people couldn’t see it.

Qin Chu, disguised as Horus, smiled faintly, a hint of mockery in his eyes. He stopped and looked at Lomond and Candice, the night wind rustling his silver robe.

“Your Highness,” he said, his voice calm, “what is the meaning of this?”

“I came here with sincerity. Are you trying to sabotage our deal? If so, I will have to reconsider my opinion of you, Your Highness. Perhaps I should seek other partners.”

Lomond chuckled nervously. “How could that be? My subordinate was just being impulsive. He’s still a child. Please don’t mind him.”

He’s still a child…

Qin Chu’s lips twitched.

Where did this idiot Lomond learn that phrase?

A child? A three or four-meter tall monster, and he called him a child?

But from these words, it could be seen that Dolgo’s actions had Lomond’s approval. The Seventh Prince was testing Qin Chu’s strength, planning his next move accordingly.

If Qin Chu had appeared weaker, Lomond would have adopted a more aggressive, more oppressive approach.

But now, they were on relatively equal footing.

The smile faded from Lomond’s face, and he said seriously, “May I ask your name?”

“Horus,” Qin Chu replied without hesitation, using his prepared alias.

He seemed to be showing his sincerity for this trade.

It was just a fake name anyway. Let them investigate if they wanted. They wouldn’t find anything.

Lomond was satisfied with his apparent honesty. He nodded. “Master Horus, please don’t misunderstand. My subordinate was a bit impulsive.”

“But as you know, that’s how Demon Beasts are.”

“However, I, this ki… ahem, this prince, came here with absolute sincerity for our meeting and trade. First, please allow me to present you with a gift.” Lomond smiled and gave Candice a look.

Candice, unwilling to touch the filthy, stinking Ronald, waved her hand, and a whirlwind lifted his body, throwing the mangled form before Qin Chu.

Hiss…

Qin Chu gasped as he saw Ronald.

Was this the once handsome and elegant Noble Swordsman?

How had he been reduced to this state?

He knew that Ronald wouldn’t have an easy time in Lomond’s hands, but he hadn’t expected it to be this bad…

His face seemed distorted, his neatly combed hair almost completely gone, his scalp exposed, even patches of skin missing.

His shoulders, neck, face, lips… all bore the marks of Demon Beast bites.

His clothes were tattered, his body covered in bruises. His head lolled on the ground, lifeless, his mouth hanging open, drool dripping from his lips.

His legs and buttocks twitched and spasmed like a frog’s.

There wasn’t a single trace of his former nobility left. He was worse than a homeless beggar in the slums of the Imperial City… At least those people still had some life in them.

Miserable, pathetic, wretched… words couldn’t describe Ronald’s current state.

Seeing him like this, Qin Chu felt… a surge of satisfaction.

The more miserable Ronald was, the happier he felt.

He was very satisfied with Lomond’s gift. Even he couldn’t have done a better job.

If Loseweisse, Sylph, and the others saw Ronald like this, they wouldn’t believe this was their former comrade.

Lomond smiled smugly. “Ronald is unconscious now, but I assure you, he’s still alive.”

“I heard that you have a deep grudge against him, Master Horus, so I arranged for a few thousand Demon Beasts to… entertain… him.”

Even Qin Chu was shocked.

Although Lomond wasn’t very smart, he was truly ruthless. A few thousand Demon Beasts… Qin Chu shuddered, imagining the scene.

Good heavens.

That was brutal.

Even the merciful Qin Chu felt a twinge of… pity?

“So, how about it? Not a bad gift, right?” Lomond said smugly, then handed a storage ring to the mysterious Horus.

He had already checked this ring. Besides Mana and Saint Quartz, there was nothing special inside.

“This is Ronald’s storage ring. I haven’t touched anything inside,” Lomond emphasized.

Since this mysterious informant had already provided the clues about Benson and Ronald, and even suggested the strategy that led to Ronald’s capture, Lomond was being proactive this time.

Qin Chu took the ring, his consciousness sweeping through it, a faint smile appearing on his lips before quickly vanishing.

Inside the storage ring, he found Jie Luo’s second soul fragment.

T/N: “Daughter of Death” (死亡之女 – Sǐwáng zhī nǚ) and ” Silk Stocking Woman” or “Stocking Woman” (丝袜之女 – Sīwà zhī nǚ) sound similar.

Chapter 210: The Stocking Woman (5)

The Stocking Woman…

No, the Daughter of Death!

Qin Chu’s eyes widened.

He had heard this name from Shaye more than once.

Of the thirteen remaining Witches, the Stocking Woman… no, the Daughter of Death, was the most mysterious.

He always seemed to get her name wrong.

Shaye was known as the strongest Dark Witch, but even she wasn’t confident she could defeat the mysterious Daughter of Death.

Because the Daughter of Death was incredibly elusive, she almost never appeared before anyone, be it Demon Beast or human.

So why had this powerful and mysterious Witch suddenly appeared here?

The carnage surrounding him, the burning flames, the pervasive stench of death, provided the answer.

It seemed the Daughter of Death was absorbing the souls of the fallen soldiers?

But Qin Chu quickly realized that wasn’t the case. The souls were drawn towards her, but not consumed. They passed through her like a filter, cleansed of all impurities, transforming into pure motes of light, like fireflies.

Countless lights flickered above, illuminating the battlefield. They hovered for a moment, as if bidding farewell, then faded away.

A fleeting beauty, blooming and then vanishing.

The giant phantom disappeared as well, as if it had never existed.

The Daughter of Death had left without interacting with Qin Chu, or with the other Witches, Shaye, Violet, or even Gaia.

Just like the rumors, she came and went like a phantom, shrouded in mystery.

Qin Chu had been worried about a confrontation.

She seemed to wield the authority of death and souls, fulfilling her duty, unlike Violet, who had been driven mad by such power.

When Qin Chu came to his senses, everything had returned to normal. The soldiers still looked at him with reverence, O’Niens still glared at him with jealousy and hatred, and Carol remained silent, lost in thought.

It seemed that apart from himself, Violet, and Shaye, no one had noticed the Daughter of Death’s presence.

One couldn’t wallow in grief forever.

After mourning their fallen comrades, the soldiers began to relax, gathering around the approachable Hero.

Men together inevitably talked about women.

Naturally, the conversation turned to the beauties around Qin Chu: Angelica and Anastasia.

“A hero and beauties, a match made in heaven,” Barnal said, his face flushed, his breath reeking of alcohol. “With those two beauties, the Hero’s life must be very comfortable.”

“Boss, don’t forget Miss Norma. She seems gentler. And she’s so strong! She smashed several trolls with one punch!”

“But conquering Miss Violet is more impressive. She’s so tall! Not every man can handle her.”

“No, subduing the Crimson Valkyrie is more impressive. Miss Violet is gentle. The Crimson Valkyrie is a true wildcat…”

“Taming that proud elf is the most impressive… She’s an elf, after all!”

Their banter elicited laughter.

The names of the women close to Qin Chu were mentioned: Angelica, Anastasia, Norma, Violet… even Ekaterina, Sylph, and Athena. But not Loseweisse.

Jealousy gnawed at her. These bitches had stolen her glory. Her plan to use the Hero to elevate her status had failed.

She lowered her head, concealing her resentment, but her clenched fists betrayed her true feelings. She wanted to record these dark thoughts, like she used to when Sylph or Athena got close to Jie Luo. But her diaries were gone, stolen by Augustus.

She didn’t dare to keep a diary anymore. She had to find another way to vent her dark emotions.

The conversation continued, eventually turning to…intimate matters.

Qin Chu, pressured by the soldiers, finally relented. “About an hour,” he said.

Hiss!

The soldiers were shocked and praised his prowess.

An hour was truly impressive. Qin Chu had downplayed it.

Even O’Niens’s eyelids twitched. An hour? How is that possible? he wondered. The nuns said men only last a few seconds, a minute at most. He felt a strange sense of shame.

The soldiers eagerly asked for advice, and O’Niens, despite his disdain, couldn’t help but eavesdrop.

“Moonflowers… I hear they’re quite effective.”

Qin Chu returned to his tent.

The soldiers, still wanting to celebrate with the Hero, brought him several bottles of fine wine. But they were stopped by Violet and Norma.

“The Hero is touched by your enthusiasm, but he’s currently resting with Angelica and Miss Anastasia,” Violet explained with a smile.

The soldiers exchanged shocked glances. They admired the Hero’s stamina.

An hour at a time… he needs two women…

They wouldn’t disturb him and left with awkward smiles. They didn’t sense the Mana fluctuations from within the tent.

Even with the barrier, the spatial teleportation formation emitted a strong magical signature, which Loseweisse, Athena, and the others sensed. But seeing Violet guarding the entrance, they suppressed their curiosity.

They knew they couldn’t get past her.

…

Meanwhile, in the dark Pipes Forest.

The night was silent. Lomond’s powerful aura silenced all creatures.

There were three figures here… or four, if the broken form on the ground could still be considered a person.

Lomond, his confidant Dolgo, and Candice, the intermediary.

Ronald lay sprawled on the ground, unconscious, seemingly tormented by nightmares, his body twitching occasionally.

He had been tortured beyond recognition, his once delicate skin now rough and pale, covered in wounds. Even after being washed, the stench of filth clung to him.

Lomond and Dolgo were getting impatient.

They had been here since nightfall, but the mysterious informant hadn’t appeared.

“Candice, is he really coming?” Lomond asked, his lowered voice still a boom.

“Your Highness, don’t worry, he will definitely come,” Candice assured him.

Lomond felt slightly relieved.

He glanced at the “gift” he had prepared for the informant. He was satisfied with Ronald’s current state. Thousands of Demon Beasts had been “entertaining” him for days.

He must have had a very… enjoyable… time, Lomond thought. As expected of the Hero Squad, their endurance is extraordinary.

Suddenly, Dolgo sniffed the air, his eyes gleaming. His gaze turned ferocious, his body tensing as he stared into the distance. He had caught the scent of a human.

But none of them noticed the slender figure perched on a tree branch not far behind them.

Her black hair fluttered in the night wind.

Her slender body was clad in a black lace dress, her legs and feet encased in black stockings that accentuated their curves.

She wasn’t wearing shoes, and the outlines of her delicate toes could be seen beneath the stockings. Under the moonlight, the black stockings shimmered.

She looked stunning in stockings, the embodiment of the Stocking Woman!

Even her hands were covered in black lace gloves.

Her entire being blended seamlessly with the darkness.

She was waiting patiently for death to arrive, then she would reap a powerful, tainted soul.

Chapter 209: Daughter of Death (Part 4)

Alcohol was a good thing.

It could make people forget their sorrow, their fear, and their pain.

Although it was only a temporary anesthetic, at least for now, these soldiers were carefree.

The cheap, strong liquor burned as it went down, their bodies quickly warming, but some things couldn’t be drowned in alcohol.

The deaths of so many comrades had left indelible scars on their hearts.

They laughed and celebrated their victory, but tears welled up in their eyes, because who knew when they, too, would die here like their brothers?

Barnal seemed to have recovered his composure, unaffected by the deaths of his comrades or Qin Chu’s earlier words. He called for Qin Chu, Princess Carol, Saint Son O’Niens, and Loseweisse, these important figures from the Imperial City, to give speeches.

Qin Chu, never one for speeches, was about to decline when O’Niens stood up.

Perhaps accustomed to such occasions, O’Niens appeared poised and confident, not the least bit nervous.

He cleared his throat and stood before the assembled soldiers. Although they were comrades who had just fought a battle together, O’Niens clearly didn’t see them as equals.

A hint of disdain could still be seen in his eyes.

He was different from them. Even on the same battlefield, he was still more noble.

O’Niens cleared his throat and spoke slowly, in the characteristic tone of a cleric:

“This victory is due to the protection of the Goddess of Holy Light and the Earth Mother Goddess.”

“Without the goddesses’ protection, we would have no strength or courage to fight against the Demon Beasts. We would have been destroyed under their hooves. This victory strengthens our faith and guides us on the right path.”

“Those who died are regrettable, but it’s only because their faith wasn’t strong enough.”

“The Demon Beasts’ invasion is not a disaster, but a test from the gods. Only the most devout believers can survive this test.”

“Look, not a single member of our Church of the Earth Mother Goddess died in the attack. This is the best proof.”

Qin Chu stared at him, dumbfounded.

Was there something wrong with this guy’s brain?

So many people had just died, they had just won a hard-fought battle.

And he was saying that the victory was due to the goddesses? So all those soldiers died for nothing?

A deathly silence fell over the crowd. No one made a sound. Although the soldiers were drunk, they weren’t completely unconscious.

Their eyes flickered with anger. They had sacrificed so many comrades, endured months of hardship with insufficient supplies, and he was taking all the credit?

Yes, not a single member of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess had died.

Wasn’t that because, except for him and the Saintess, everyone else had been hiding in the corner, not even facing the Demon Beasts?

And he had the nerve to brag about it?

Did he have no shame?

Saint Son O’Niens spread his arms, as if expecting a round of applause.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Barnal was the first to react, clapping loudly. Led by him, scattered applause finally echoed through the camp.

O’Niens scoffed at their lukewarm response. They were truly uncultured.

After O’Niens left, it was Carol’s turn.

She was much smarter than O’Niens. She didn’t mention the royal family’s role in this battle at all, only informing the soldiers that Malta, the duke’s son who had deserted his post, and Marquis Bunyan, who had embezzled military supplies, along with seventy other nobles, had all been executed, paying the price for their greed.

This news brought a somber silence over the crowd, and many soldiers wept silently. If it weren’t for those greedy nobles, their brothers wouldn’t have died.

Although the execution of those nobles was a good thing, their dead brothers would never return.

Loseweisse had wanted to comfort the soldiers and then preach about the glory of the Goddess of Holy Light and her role as the Saintess, but she sensed the atmosphere wasn’t right and decided against it.

Qin Chu was the last to speak, the grand finale.

After a brief hesitation, he walked into the center of the crowd, a bowl of wine in his hand. The firelight danced in their eyes.

Silence.

A heavy, oppressive silence. Finally, Qin Chu spoke, his voice low and somber, filled with grief:

“Is this worth celebrating?”

“I want to ask you all, was this truly a victory?”

His words echoed in their ears.

Was this a victory? Was this worth celebrating?

Less than seven thousand remained out of a hundred thousand. What kind of victory was this? Were they celebrating the deaths of over ninety thousand of their brothers?

Qin Chu’s voice continued, carried by the wind.

“We lost so many comrades. They can no longer return home, embrace their wives and children.”

“Their lives ended here, their families left without support, to be bullied, even killed!”

“They shouldn’t have died. They didn’t die at the hands of the Demon Beasts, but at the hands of those seventy-six greedy nobles.”

“Even though those nobles have been executed, I still don’t think this is something worth celebrating, because the dead will never return.”

Soft sobs echoed through the crowd. These surviving soldiers knew that Qin Chu was right. This wasn’t a cause for celebration.

Those who died today were their comrades. Tomorrow, it might be other survivors, it might even be them… and their families would suffer the same fate.

Qin Chu took a deep breath and, without saying anything more, poured his wine onto the ground:

“To the fallen warriors!”

Crash!

He smashed his bowl against the ground.

A somber silence descended, their hearts heavy with grief, but their eyes shone with a newfound light.

Carol frowned, wanting to refute Qin Chu, but she didn’t know where to begin.

She knew that his words had struck at the heart of the Empire’s greatest weakness, but she was powerless to change it… A single noble’s greed could lead to the deaths of tens of thousands of commoners. This world wasn’t fair.

At this moment, O’Niens stood up, his face dark. “Hero,” he said, “what do you mean by those words? Are you criticizing the Empire’s nobility?”

“Don’t forget your place. You’re just the Hero, summoned here to fight the Demon Beasts. The Empire’s affairs are not your concern.”

As a beneficiary of the system, a noble and a cleric, O’Niens wouldn’t allow Qin Chu to besmirch the nobility.

Qin Chu smiled. To summon the Hero and treat him as a mere tool against the Demon Beasts was the thought of all the high-ranking officials in the Heavenly Continent, but O’Niens was the first to say it so bluntly.

“Even if those nobles did make some mistakes, they have already been punished. And the punishment was unprecedentedly severe, execution. This is enough to compensate for the lives of ninety-three thousand commoners.”

Inas frantically tried to signal O’Niens with her eyes, but the foolish man ignored her.

“Now, we are celebrating our victory. You shouldn’t be ruining the atmosphere, Hero.”

Atmosphere?

It seemed that O’Niens hadn’t noticed the atmosphere at all.

A small mistake? Was that a small mistake?

The lives of seventy-six nobles, and the lives of ninety-three thousand commoners.

In the eyes of a high-society person like the Saint Son, they were actually equal… No, they weren’t equal. From his tone, it was clear that the lives of ninety-three thousand commoners weren’t worth as much as the lives of seventy-six nobles.

Perhaps this was the true thought of the upper class of the Heavenly Continent?

As a commoner, it was truly tragic.

The people of this world didn’t care about their lives or deaths.

Only a Hero summoned from another world would grieve for the loss of so many lives.

There were rumors that the Hero was a divine emissary, a descending angel.

It must be true. Perhaps only a true angel could have such a benevolent heart.

The oppressive silence lasted for a long time.

Finally, Commander Barnal stood up.

Then, one by one, all the soldiers stood up, even the wounded, supporting themselves with their spears.

They raised their bowls of wine:

“To the fallen warriors!”

“To our fallen brothers!”

The voices of seven thousand men merged together, echoing like a tidal wave, deafening and earth-shattering.

Like an earthquake, like thunder…

O’Niens’s face paled. The light in their eyes frightened him.

The clerics and knights also instinctively shrank back, their throats dry, swallowing nervously.

They didn’t understand why a group of powerless commoners, just shouting slogans, could make them feel so terrified.

They didn’t even dare to look at them.

Crash…

Then, the sound of shattering bowls echoed, one after another.

Every member of the upper class shuddered, their hands and feet cold, their scalps tingling.

All the soldiers looked at Qin Chu with admiration, moved by his benevolence and kindness.

That gaze filled O’Niens with jealousy and rage. He didn’t understand why his speech, praising the glory of the gods, hadn’t moved them. Could it be that these lowly commoners couldn’t understand its meaning?

Every time he gave a speech at the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, it would elicit thunderous applause from the believers!

Seeing this scene, Carol suddenly sighed. She knew that the Empire was about to change!

At this moment, a gust of night wind blew past.

The bonfire before them, the distant flames from the burning corpses, all flickered and dimmed.

The world seemed to darken.

An indescribable coldness approached, and goosebumps appeared on Qin Chu’s skin. A deep darkness was enveloping everything.

Violet’s face changed, and she stood up abruptly, walking quickly to Qin Chu’s side.

A huge phantom seemed to appear in the sky, a beautiful, graceful silhouette, black mist trailing behind her like long hair.

Her face couldn’t be seen clearly, but there was a vague impression that she was a stunningly beautiful woman.

Her appearance was similar to the phantom of the goddess that had appeared behind Qin Chu before, but the color was completely different.

She spread her arms slightly, as if embracing something.

Faint, shadowy figures began to rise from the ground, from the flames.

Qin Chu’s pupils constricted. He saw them. They were souls.

The souls of the fallen soldiers, trapped in this land, now drawn towards the embracing figure.

Shaye’s voice, low and heavy, echoed in the depths of Qin Chu’s mind. He had never heard her sound so serious:

“Be careful.”

“That is one of the strongest among the existing Witches, the Daughter of Death!”

Chapter 208: Where is Justice? Where is Law? (Part 3)

“Are kings, dukes, generals, and ministers born or made?” 

The words echoed in Barnal’s mind.

He wasn’t educated, but he wasn’t stupid. He understood the meaning behind those words: kings, dukes, generals.

A wave of resentment, fueled by Qin Chu’s casual remark, surged through him.

Why was he just a commoner, while those incompetent bastards were born nobles? Why was fate so unfair? They were all human, why was there such a difference?

Legion Commander Malta, the eldest son of a duke, had abandoned his post when the Demon Beasts attacked, returning to the Imperial City with all the other nobles, leaving the commoners to fight and die.

Marquis Bunyan had embezzled the army’s supplies, pocketing the money meant for weapons, armor, and food, leaving his soldiers to fight with rusty swords and empty stomachs. Ninety-three thousand of his brothers had died because of that bastard!

Why? Why? Why?

Although Barnal didn’t feel the urge to rebel yet, anger and resentment festered within him, the seeds of rebellion sown.

They might wither… or perhaps, one day, they would sprout.

Carol, too, was furious, her chest heaving.

She saw the expressions on the soldiers’ faces, the resentment brewing in their hearts.

The Empire, because of these damned parasites, was rotting from within.

If this matter wasn’t dealt with swiftly and decisively, if these soldiers weren’t given justice, their discontent would grow, potentially erupting into a full-blown rebellion. This was something Carol absolutely didn’t want to see.

Taking a deep breath, she suppressed her anger and looked at Qin Chu and Barnal, “I’ll contact my father. Marquis Bunyan’s matter will be dealt with immediately. He will pay the price for his actions.”

Carol activated her Information Magic and informed Wadsworth of the situation.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial City.

Wadsworth, having just received his daughter’s message, hadn’t even had time to celebrate the Hero Squad’s victory when the news that followed darkened his face.

One hundred thousand soldiers, and less than seven thousand remained, including the wounded.

Malta Blaise, the son of a duke, had abandoned his post before the Demon Beast attack, returning to the Imperial City with all the nobles and a large amount of supplies, severely impacting the army’s morale.

Marquis Bunyan had sold military supplies, leaving the soldiers on the front lines without food, weapons, or armor…

Good… good… very good!

Wadsworth’s face was like that of a furious lion.

He hadn’t been this angry in a long time.

He had long known about the corruption and decadence of the nobles.

Usually, as long as it wasn’t too excessive, he would turn a blind eye.

After all, although there was conflict and competition between the nobles and the imperial power, they were also interdependent. But now, Wadsworth was truly enraged.

His face was twisted with fury.

It seemed that those foolish nobles had forgotten what he was called.

He was known as the Lionheart.

“Someone…”

A commander of the Imperial Guard immediately appeared before him.

“Arrest Marquis Bunyan and Malta Blaise.”

“And arrest all the nobles of the Empire’s 107th Legion.”

“Kill anyone who resists!”

Today, he would unleash his wrath.

With his order, the Imperial Guard, directly under his command, was mobilized, arresting all the nobles involved.

Such a large-scale mobilization of the Imperial Guard was rare, and everyone sensed that something major was happening in the Imperial City.

The nobles involved were arrested in panic and dragged screaming to the execution grounds. According to the Emperor’s orders, there would be no trial.

At this moment, Marquis Bunyan and Malta, the eldest son of Duke Blaise, were enjoying the company of beautiful women at the Fairy House.

Surrounded by the sweet songs of orioles and swallows, their soft bodies and seductive voices, they closed their eyes in pleasure.

They were waiting for the news of the complete annihilation of the soldiers on the front lines, so that the wealth they had embezzled would be safe.

The military supplies for a hundred thousand soldiers were a huge fortune, enough to tempt even nobles of their level.

But at this moment, the door was kicked open, and a group of soldiers burst into the room.

The women screamed in alarm.

“Who are you?! Who let you in?! Do you know who we are?!” Marquis Bunyan’s face changed drastically, and he roared, “Get out!”

“You can’t afford to offend us!”

But the Imperial Guard wouldn’t listen to his orders. The commander at the front just sneered, waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards rushed forward, arresting the two nobles and dragging them towards the execution grounds.

Such a commotion naturally attracted the attention of many nobles.

Upon learning that his son had been sent to the execution grounds, Duke Blaise, over seventy years old, mobilized his allies and put pressure on Wadsworth.

“Your Majesty, what crime has my son committed?”

“He guarded the Empire’s borders, fighting against the Demon Beasts, enduring hardships in the wind and sand. He only returned to the Imperial City for treatment because he was seriously ill, suffering from a cough.”

“And you want to execute him for this? Where is justice? Where is law?”

“I, Duke Blaise, have fought for the Empire for many years. I’ve shed blood for the Empire, I’ve been injured for the Empire. You can’t execute my son like this!”

At the execution grounds.

Duke Blaise, his hair and beard white with age, his voice still strong, confronted Wadsworth, surrounded by his supporters.

He was a duke, second only to a Grand Duke among the nobility, a powerful figure in the Empire, unafraid even of the Emperor.

Moreover, the Emperor was about to execute his only son.

Looking at the indignant duke, Wadsworth’s face darkened.

“Where is justice? Where is law?”

“Blaise, let me tell you, in the Auville Empire, I am justice, I am law!” Wadsworth roared.

“Do you think your son is being executed just for deserting his post?”

“If that were the case, I might have spared him.”

“But your son colluded with Bunyan, embezzling military supplies meant for the front lines. The weapons, armor, and food for a hundred thousand soldiers, all pocketed by them.”

“Because of this, the soldiers on the front lines had to fight against the Demon Beasts without proper equipment or food, desperately resisting for months, ninety-three thousand out of a hundred thousand dead. This is what your son did.”

“Tell me, doesn’t he deserve to die?”

His cold, hawk-like gaze swept over the seventy-six nobles on the execution platform. His voice was as cold as ice. “If I don’t kill them…”

“Then where is justice? Where is law?!”

Wadsworth’s words left Duke Blaise speechless.

He knew what his son had done, but he hadn’t expected Wadsworth to make such a big deal out of it.

“Ahem, Your Majesty…” Another noble, Duke Wyatt, stepped forward, “What these nobles did was indeed inappropriate…”

“But it was just the deaths of some commoners. There’s no need to execute a marquis and a duke’s son for this. It’s too much.”

“We can punish them severely, but there’s no need for execution.”

“How about a three-month salary deduction? That should be enough to appease those commoners.”

Duke Wyatt’s words were met with the approval of many nobles.

That’s right, it was just the deaths of a few commoners, what was the big deal? It wasn’t like it hadn’t happened before.

To execute them for this was too much. They couldn’t accept it.

Most importantly, they themselves weren’t clean either, and they were worried that the same punishment would befall them. They desperately pleaded for mercy for these nobles.

Seeing the support around him, Wadsworth’s anger intensified. “The soldiers on the front lines are fighting against the Demon Beasts.”

“Without those soldiers, could you enjoy your comfortable lives in the city?”

“Do you know how far the Demon Beasts would advance if that line of defense were breached? How many soldiers does the Empire have left? How long can they resist? Do you know?”

“You know nothing, you bunch of ignorant fools!”

“From today onwards, every noble family must send at least one person to the front lines to fight against the Demon Beasts. If you have no descendants, then hand over half of your family’s assets to support the war effort. Perhaps this will make you understand the cruelty of war on the front lines.”

The nobles fell silent, intimidated.

This was the first time they had seen the Emperor so furious. This time, he was serious.

The nobles awaiting execution also seemed to understand their fate. They struggled, howled, and begged for mercy.

But the Imperial Guard didn’t care. They dragged the nobles onto the platform.

This platform had a rather interesting name, given by the First Hero: The Happy Guillotine of Louis XVI. Few people understood the meaning.

After all, what was there to be happy about when you were about to be beheaded?

“Execute!”

With Wadsworth’s roar, the guillotine blade fell.

Thud, thud, thud…

Heads rolled.

Seventy-six nobles were executed, their headless bodies twitching.

Even with all their wealth, they no longer had the chance to enjoy it.

…

Meanwhile, at the front lines.

The surviving soldiers spent three days cleaning up the battlefield, the ground littered with corpses, many of them incomplete. Just finding and collecting them took a long time.

They burned the bodies of their comrades.

There were too many corpses to send back to their hometowns for burial.

Although many had died, and many more were injured, the survivors held a bonfire party. This was the custom after every victory.

Alcohol numbed their souls, making them forget the pain.

Chapter 207: Are Kings, Dukes, Generals, and Ministers Born or Made? (Part 2)

O’Niens had never felt such excitement, such a craving. A powerful urge surged within him, a desire to destroy everything he saw, to tear throats and bathe in the spray of crimson, to truly experience the thrill of death. No longer would he furtively strangle nuns in the dark; he would revel in slaughter, openly, like Qin Chu.

He was surrounded by the Holy Knights, priests, and nuns of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess. They were here to protect him, their Saint Son. Even Inas, the new member of the Hero Squad, who should have been fighting alongside Qin Chu, remained by O’Niens’s side, her eyes fixed on him alone.

The bloodlust within O’Niens became unbearable. With a bestial roar, he burst from the protective circle of knights.

Caught off guard, they called after him, but he ignored them, his focus on the carnage ahead. Inas, her face pale, followed close behind.

Consumed by a manic excitement, O’Niens charged into the fray. He raised his foot and stomped down with tremendous force.

The earth heaved, and giant earthworms, dragging soldiers into the ground, were flung into the air. O’Niens felt a perverse urge to bite into one of the writhing creatures.

He crouched, one hand pressed against the earth.

Sharp earth spikes erupted, impaling the earthworms, their bodies exploding in a shower of foul ichor. A strange satisfaction filled him. He trembled with excitement.

Inas watched him, a chill running down her spine.

Athena hovered in the air, her staff glowing, chanting a rapid incantation, her voice sharp. Dark clouds gathered, blotting out the sun, and a torrent of rain began to fall, each drop imbued with her magic, piercing the Demon Beasts like shards of ice, leaving bloody wounds. Yet, the same rain fell harmlessly upon the human soldiers.

Norma summoned the Wrath of the Earth Mother Goddess, a giant fist crushing countless Demon Beasts.

Natia, even more direct, unleashed a Meteor Shower, a fiery inferno consuming her enemies.

Angelica and Anastasia, although weaker, fought with newfound ferocity, their strength having grown considerably.

With the arrival of these powerful allies, the tide of the battle turned.

Tears streamed down the faces of the human soldiers. Reinforcements had finally arrived.

Qin Chu seized the opportunity, plunging into the heart of the enemy horde. The Devourer extended, its tentacles wrapping around the Demon Beasts, draining their power. Dozens fell victim simultaneously.

Even powerful Trolls were consumed in seconds.

Qin Chu moved like a reaper, leaving a trail of pristine corpses, their undisturbed surfaces somehow more terrifying than mangled remains.

He absorbed an immense amount of experience, yet his level increased at a frustratingly slow pace. He didn’t realize the parasites within him were feasting on his gains.

Violet also fought, but she killed few directly, instead herding them towards Qin Chu with powerful gusts of wind, increasing the Devourer’s efficiency.

With the sheer number of Demon Beasts, Qin Chu experienced an endless feast of experience points.

After a time, he felt a shift within.

His consciousness turned inwards, and he saw the small sprout within him had sprouted a second leaf. He was so moved he almost cried.

The roots now extended into his flesh and bone. Will it grow into a tree inside me? he wondered, a disturbing image flashing through his mind.

But the second leaf wasn’t without its benefits. The Devourer now absorbed not just energy and abilities, but also life force, most of which was consumed by the sprout, a small portion nourishing his body, replenishing his stamina, perhaps even extending his lifespan.

And his Star Flame Battle Qi broke through to the third level.

The soldiers, initially overjoyed by the arrival of reinforcements, had been disappointed by their small number. But they soon realized that these few hundred were incredibly powerful.

The Demon Beasts, though numerous, lacked any Demon Generals, and they couldn’t withstand the onslaught. Even ferocious beasts feared death, and seeing their companions fall in droves, they panicked and began to flee.

The battle, a bloody, muddy mess of severed limbs and corpses, was nearing its end.

Loseweisse, Shirley, and the nuns tended to the wounded.

A burly man counted the survivors, his armor gone, his body covered in wounds. He was a hardened warrior, but he broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, tears mixing with the blood on his face.

His cries echoed across the desolate battlefield.

The surrounding soldiers stood in silent mourning.

Only the knights and clerics from the Imperial City sneered and whispered, mocking his tears.

These pampered nobles, who had fought half-heartedly at the edges of the battle, now acted bravely, waving their weapons and boasting of their prowess, collecting trophies from the slain Demon Beasts.

And now, they mocked the commander’s grief.

Qin Chu sighed and approached him, squatting down and placing a hand on his shoulder.

The commander sniffed, suppressing his sobs, and looked up with a pained smile. “Hero…”

“How is the situation?”

The commander’s body trembled. “One hundred thousand brothers… now… less than seven thousand remain.”

Over ninety thousand dead. No wonder he grieved. They were commoners, mostly untrained, who had fought with only their strength and will.

Footsteps approached.

It was Carol, holding a black whip stained with Demon Beast blood. This girl was more capable than those knights.

Her face, however, was grim.

“Why are your weapons so damaged? Why are you wearing beast hides instead of armor? Why are so many soldiers emaciated?”

“What is your name?”

The commander looked at her, surprised by her questions. He didn’t know her identity, but he sensed she was someone of importance.

“Barnal Swift, acting commander of the Empire’s 107th Army, stationed at Nueva Vista.”

“Acting commander?” Carol was puzzled.

“I was originally just a chiliarch…” This was the highest rank a commoner could achieve. Higher ranks were reserved for nobles.

“But when the Demon Beasts attacked a few months ago, Commander Marta returned to the Imperial City with all the officers, appointing me acting commander.”

“We’ve been holding out for months, our supplies cut off. We sent messengers, begging for reinforcements and supplies, but they never arrived.”

“Our weapons are rusted and broken. Some of my men had to use the claws and teeth of slain Demon Beasts as weapons.”

“We can make weapons, but armor is more difficult. Some of my men had to use beast hides.”

Barnal explained. Wearing beast hides in this heat must be unbearable, but they had no choice.

“Our food and water supplies ran out weeks ago. We’ve been surviving on Demon Beast flesh.”

A truly barbaric existence.

And the taste… nauseating.

Carol’s face darkened, her fingers clenching. “That’s impossible,” she said, “Marquis Bunyan is in charge of logistics here. The Empire sends supplies every month. How could…”

Before she could finish, she, Qin Chu, and the experienced Barnal all understood.

Marquis Bunyan hadn’t delivered the supplies. He had sold them all…

Weapons to other countries, other nobles, bandits, and robbers. Food, at inflated prices, to starving commoners.

He had lined his own pockets, knowing that if the soldiers on the front lines all died, there would be no witnesses.

His ill-gotten gains would be safe.

Understanding this, Carol was furious. Humanity was teetering on the brink of destruction, and this bastard was profiteering, sacrificing ninety thousand soldiers. He didn’t care about humanity, about the Empire, only about his own wealth.

Barnal’s eyes were filled with sorrow. To the nobles, the lives of commoners were worthless.

At this moment, Qin Chu casually said, seemingly unintentionally, “It’s all because of that damned Marquis Bunyan. So many people died because of him!”

“If this were my world, there would have been a rebellion long ago. ‘Are kings, dukes, generals, and ministers born or made?’” 

Barnal’s eyes flickered.

Are kings, dukes, generals, and ministers born or made?

Chapter 206: Deserters Die! (Part 1)

The bright sunlight couldn’t pierce the blood mist that hung heavy in the air, staining the world a grim crimson. A palpable sense of dread pressed down on everyone like a suffocating weight.

The ferocious roars of the Demon Beasts merged into a cacophony of sound, rolling across the battlefield like thunder, making their scalps tingle.

There were many types of Demon Beasts: Ogres, Trolls, Minotaurs, Goblins, Dire Wolves, Werewolves, Mind Flayers, Marrowsuckers, giant cockroaches the size of a man’s forearm, enormous earthworms half a meter in diameter, winged Harpies soaring through the sky, demonic crows…

Their attack was chaotic, a disorganized horde without any semblance of strategy or coordination.

But their numbers were overwhelming. Tens of thousands of Demon Beasts surged forward like a raging ocean, a monstrous tsunami threatening to engulf everything.

Especially terrifying were the Trolls, though fewer in number. These hulking creatures, nearly ten meters tall, their bodies covered in festering boils, easily snatched human soldiers with their massive claws, devouring them in a single bite.

When had the noble knights from the Imperial City ever witnessed such carnage?

They weren’t like those lowly soldiers who were forced to fight. They were the clerics of Augustus and Saint Monique, the Royal Guards led by Morton.

Nuns, priests, and knights.

They were nobles, members of the clergy, the upper crust of society, accustomed to a life of comfort and privilege within the safe walls of the Imperial City.

War, to them, was a distant concept, something to be fought by the commoners while they enjoyed the peace.

They had heard tales of the battlefield’s horrors, but never experienced them firsthand. They even scoffed at the veterans, believing themselves superior, confident that they would perform better than those lowly commoners if they ever deigned to step onto the battlefield.

They hadn’t fought because they were nobles, above such filth and carnage, their delicate sensibilities offended by the stench of blood and decay.

But now, witnessing the true face of war, they finally understood how foolish their assumptions had been.

They hadn’t even engaged the enemy yet, but the sheer terror of the scene before them was enough to make them tremble uncontrollably.

All they could see was death, human and Demon Beast alike.

Blood flowed like rivers, staining the dry earth a muddy crimson.

Human strength was pathetic against these monstrous creatures. Rusty swords and spears couldn’t pierce their thick hides, while a single swipe from a Demon Beast’s claws could tear through their cheap armor, leaving them maimed or dead.

The sickening crunch of bones being crushed by Trolls made their scalps tingle.

And the terrifying Dire Wolves, fast as lightning, their sharp claws decapitating their victims with ease.

Giant cockroaches swarmed over their prey, devouring their flesh in seconds.

Giant earthworms emerged from the ground, and demonic crows circled overhead…

Death, death, death…

Ah…

Finally, a nun from the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, unable to bear the terror any longer, screamed and turned to flee.

By the Mother Goddess, this was too terrifying!

Did she really have to face such horrors?

No, no, no…

Her scream resonated with the others. They were nobles, clerics, members of the upper class! They shouldn’t be here, fighting alongside these lowly commoners.

Qin Chu’s face hardened.

He appeared beside the fleeing nun, a woman whose strength was actually quite decent, far greater than that of the average soldier.

His expression was icy cold as he grabbed her head.

Then, with a sickening crack, he crushed her skull.

This brutal act stopped the other would-be deserters in their tracks. They stared at the Hero in disbelief, shocked that he would turn on one of their own.

O’Niens and Inas’s faces darkened, and they shouted at him almost simultaneously, “What are you doing?!”

They were furious that he had killed a member of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess without their permission.

Qin Chu’s cold gaze swept over them. “Deserters who disrupt morale… die!”

“This is a battlefield, not a playground.”

“On the battlefield, there are no nobles, no clerics. Everyone has only one identity: soldier!”

“Don’t think of escorting the Hero to the front lines as some kind of gilded opportunity, a chance to brag to your colleagues about your bravery… Here, you must be prepared to fight for your lives.”

Qin Chu’s ruthless action, the execution of the nun, stopped the others from fleeing.

He scanned their faces, observing their reactions. The members of the former Hero Squad remained impassive, a hint of mockery in their eyes, seemingly disdainful of these pampered nobles.

These people had truly experienced war.

Natia’s expression was also calm. After all, for her, these Demon Beasts weren’t much different from the tens of thousands of Minotaurs she had faced before.

Inas and Shirley, the Saintess and Saintess candidate, clearly hadn’t experienced this before, their faces pale.

Angelica and Norma were slightly afraid, but they controlled their fear.

Anastasia, as the princess of the Ice Duchy, having been trained in hunting and combat since childhood, could handle the bloody scene, though it wasn’t pleasant.

The one who truly surprised Qin Chu was Carol, the princess of the Auville Empire, Wadsworth’s daughter, and a new member of the Hero Squad.

This girl, witnessing the carnage, showed no fear at all. On the contrary, there was a strange glint of excitement in her eyes. Qin Chu even noticed her rapid breathing and the fervent light in her eyes.

Her almost twisted expression made his scalp tingle. This girl’s personality seemed…disturbed.

Another person who seemed a bit strange was O’Niens. Qin Chu could sense a mixture of fear and excitement on his face.

O’Niens, having never experienced war, was instinctively terrified by the blood and gore, the severed limbs flying through the air. But the mysterious thread within him was also stirring a bloodlust, an urge to kill.

Although he wanted to study O’Niens more closely, now wasn’t the time.

Qin Chu took a deep breath, then roared, his voice like thunder:

“Kill!”

Hum…

The moment his voice rang out, a loud boom came from beside him.

Ekaterina’s crimson figure had transformed into a streak of light, charging forward with incredible speed.

She leaped into the air, her body arcing downwards, her hands raised. The Flame Extinguishing Heavy Sword materialized in her grip, wreathed in crimson flames, as she plummeted towards the ground.

Rumble…

The sword beam, carrying a trail of flames tens of meters long, descended from the sky with a deafening roar, the scorching impact sending shockwaves through the earth.

A large swathe of Demon Beasts was instantly cleared.

The stench of burning flesh filled the air.

Ekaterina grinned, revealing her pearly white teeth, then charged forward again, like a crimson blade, tearing through the dense ranks of Demon Beasts.

“Piercing Arrow…”

Sylph, who had been by Qin Chu’s side, also drew her bow, aiming at a massive Dire Wolf. Judging from its size, it was probably the leader of the pack.

Hum…

With Sylph’s cold command, the bowstring vibrated.

A sharp, blue-gray arrow shot forward.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The heads of several Demon Beasts exploded along its path.

The Dire Wolf leader seemed to sense the danger. Its large eyes widened, and it let out a low growl, its body darting to the side, trying to dodge the deadly arrow.

But the arrow, originally flying straight, suddenly curved in mid-air, piercing through the back of the Dire Wolf’s head.

Even its thick skull couldn’t withstand Sylph’s arrow, and it died instantly.

Airi’s figure appeared in mid-air behind a Harpy.

This Harpy was the commander of this group…

A cold dagger, appearing silently, rested against the Harpy commander’s throat. The powerful Demon Beast didn’t even notice, only goosebumps appearing on its neck.

It opened its mouth, about to unleash a gust of wind…

Pfft… A large wound appeared on its snow-white neck, blood gushing out.

Airi’s figure materialized, her cold gaze sweeping over the surrounding Harpies. The next instant, she multiplied into dozens of figures, charging in different directions.

Feathers rained down as the mangled bodies of the Harpies plummeted from the sky.

But what surprised Qin Chu the most was O’Niens.

This usually timid and even cowardly Saint Son seemed to be stimulated by the bloodshed, his face becoming more and more crazed and distorted, his eyes glowing with a ferocious crimson light.

His breathing became heavy and ragged.

The spurting blood…

The severed heads…

The crushed bones…

The burning flesh…

Despair, wails, death…

O’Niens’s body trembled.

He should be terrified, that was the normal reaction.

But now, his chest was filled with an indescribable excitement.

An invisible force was urging him, drawing him closer to the smell of blood, the aura of death…

His eyes had turned crimson at some point.

And deep within his pupils, the dark, X-shaped mark flickered faintly.

Chapter 205: Athena Wants to Hold Onto Happiness (Part 5)

What was going on?

This… This wasn’t right, was it?

Was Athena trying to frame him?

Qin Chu was dumbfounded by Athena’s sudden passion.

He couldn’t understand her reaction. If he couldn’t remember their shared past, shouldn’t she be angry and heartbroken? Shouldn’t she be yelling at him, You don’t even remember what happened between us! You never cared about me! You scumbag! We’re breaking up!

But the less he seemed to remember, the happier she became.

He couldn’t understand it!

However, although Qin Chu didn’t understand Athena’s thoughts, he at least understood one thing: he had to respond to such a passionate woman.

That was what a gentleman would do.

And tonight, Athena was more passionate than ever before.

If Jie Luo really existed, Qin Chu could even pat him on the shoulder and brag, I personally trained Athena, how about it, not bad, right?

Athena seemed to have abandoned all restraint, all dignity.

…

Athena collapsed against Qin Chu’s chest, completely exhausted.

She had a strange feeling, that being with Lord Jie Luo wasn’t that different from being with Qin Chu… It almost felt like they were the same person.

This thought made Athena feel a little silly.

Of course they felt similar, they were sharing the same body! Even if the person before her was Lord Jie Luo, the body was still Qin Chu’s.

No matter what, as long as she could confirm that the consciousness, the soul before her, was truly Lord Jie Luo’s, that was enough.

This was the biggest difference between Lord Jie Luo and Qin Chu.

When she was with Qin Chu, she only felt disgust, wanting it to end quickly.

But when the person before her was Lord Jie Luo, she felt only happiness, wishing the moment could last forever.

Lord Jie Luo’s gentleness was completely different from Qin Chu’s roughness. She had never experienced this kind of happiness with Qin Chu… although, occasionally, a little roughness seemed…

Athena felt a little frustrated and shook her head slightly, trying to banish the memories of Qin Chu from her mind, especially those she couldn’t help but compare to Lord Jie Luo.

It was an insult to Lord Jie Luo.

But the more she tried to suppress them, the clearer those memories became, tormenting her.

She adjusted her position, her cheek pressed against Jie Luo’s chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.

“Lord Jie Luo, how is your soul recovering?” Athena asked, catching her breath.

Her voice was a little hoarse.

Seemingly to reaffirm her feelings, she had been calling out Jie Luo’s name loudly, which sounded very strange to Qin Chu.

How should he put it… he didn’t… dislike it?

“These days, for you, I…” Athena bit her lip, unable to voice certain things.

But “Jie Luo’s” face was filled with sadness, and he gently stroked her hair, “Little Athena, you don’t have to say it, I know… You and Ekaterina have suffered a lot during this time.”

Hearing his gentle words, Athena’s nose ached, and tears welled up in her eyes.

These words were enough for her.

As long as Lord Jie Luo remembered their hardship and their sacrifices, as long as he could recover quickly, then she could endure any kind of sacrifice.

“Your soul…”

“It seems to have recovered a little,” “Jie Luo” said with a wry smile, “Little Athena, you know, this kind of soul injury takes years to fully recover, maybe even decades…”

“Even if it does recover, it’s hard to tell.”

Athena understood and nodded slightly, not saying anything more.

“By the way…” Athena was relieved, but Qin Chu still had many questions in his mind, “Little Athena, what was that about just now?”

“Why did you suddenly ask me so many questions…?”

He had to figure this out to avoid making the same mistake again.

Athena didn’t suspect anything and smiled shyly, “Because I was looking for ways to help your soul recover quickly at the library… I happened to meet Master Anthony, the President of the Mage Association.”

Now, she was completely certain that the person before her was Jie Luo, without a shred of doubt, and she answered his questions honestly.

“I learned some things about souls from Master Anthony. He told me that the amount of memory and soul a single soul fragment can contain is very limited, so when you seemed to know so much about my situation… I thought you knew everything…”

“It clearly exceeded the capacity of a single fragment, so I suspected that this might be a trap set by Qin Chu…”

Athena stuck out her tongue slightly, seemingly embarrassed by her suspicion.

Qin Chu’s body stiffened… God, he thought, that was the reason? He had been desperately searching his memories of reading Loseweisse’s diary, hoping to answer Athena’s questions.

If he had answered more questions correctly, Athena would have definitely become suspicious.

Fortunately, fortunately.

Because there were no records in the diary, he couldn’t answer, and he had accidentally stumbled upon the correct answer.

And that old man Anthony…

What grudge did he have against him? He hadn’t offended him, had he? Why was he trying to harm him?

But Qin Chu only complained inwardly.

He knew that Anthony was a magic fanatic. To him, wealth, power, and women were just distractions from his research.

Athena mistook Qin Chu’s stiffness for anger. She panicked, thinking that Lord Jie Luo was angry at her for testing him. She quickly propped herself up, her chestnut hair falling messily around her, a different kind of allure.

“Lord Jie Luo, are you… are you angry?”

“Jie Luo” suddenly smiled, “Little Athena, what are you thinking? How could I be angry at you?”

“You did the right thing. You know, Little Athena, you should always be suspicious.”

“Think about it, if I wasn’t Jie Luo…”

“If all of this was a scheme by that bastard Qin Chu…”

Cursing himself felt a little strange.

“How much pain would you have to endure? I can’t even imagine. It would be too cruel for you and Ekaterina.”

Hearing his words, Athena’s heart finally calmed down. Lord Jie Luo wasn’t angry.

“But, my Little Athena…”

“There’s one thing you must remember. Although I can’t appear often, at least when I’m before you, at least now, I am Jie Luo!”

“So, trust me completely. You can tell me anything that worries you, anything that troubles you.”

“Yes!” Athena nodded vigorously, remembering his words.

After a while, she blushed again.

She felt that it was a pity to end things so soon, now that Lord Jie Luo had finally appeared.

She wanted to hold onto this hard-won happiness.

It seemed that Lord Jie Luo could still hold on for a while longer. Perhaps she could help him recover a bit more.

…

Athena didn’t leave Qin Chu’s tent until the early hours of the morning.

She didn’t want Qin Chu to see her when his consciousness returned, worried that it would arouse his suspicion.

After this, the doubts that had been weighing on Athena’s heart finally disappeared, and a smile appeared on her face.

Qin Chu also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

A smart girl like Athena was truly difficult to deal with.

The slightest clue could arouse her suspicion, and a small mistake could expose him. This time, he had managed to deceive her, even making her more convinced that he was Jie Luo, but he might not be so lucky next time. He had to be more careful in the future.

As the morning sun appeared, the group, who had rested on the grassy plain for the night, set off again.

Along the way, they began to see corpses, soldiers who couldn’t withstand the terror of the Demon Beast attacks.

Lacking food and water, exhausted both physically and mentally, their bodies suffering from severe injuries, even if they escaped from the battlefield, they couldn’t run far. The scorching sun would quickly claim their lives.

The closer they got to the front lines, the more corpses they saw.

By noon, the ruined camp finally appeared before them.

Seeing the scene in the distance, everyone gasped, their expressions grim.

For those who had never been on the battlefield against the Demon Beasts, the sight before them was enough to shake their souls.

The ruined camp was full of Demon Beasts.

A dense, black mass, covering the ground.

The Demon Beasts roared and howled, surging forward like a tsunami. Human soldiers, unable to withstand their claws and fangs, were torn to pieces.

The sounds of magic spells, whistling arrows, the wails of the injured, the screams of the dying… all kinds of sounds mixed together, turning this place into a living hell!

The pungent smell of blood filled the air.

The ground ahead was a muddy mess.