Category: Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 82 – “Hope”

The alarms abruptly stopped.

Like the sudden fear before, all anomalies vanished in an instant, without a trace.

As if everything they had experienced was just a collective illusion.

Was the crisis… truly over?

No one knew for sure, so Yan City remained on high alert.

The civilian evacuations continued. Thankfully, as a relatively new mega-city, the memory of the hardships during its pioneering days was still fresh in the minds of its citizens, preventing widespread panic and chaos.

In older, more established mega-cities, the mere threat of a disaster could cause widespread panic.

Meanwhile, Lin Cheng and Rhine returned from the “Ember’s” space.

The unconscious Qin Wen was taken for treatment. Her consciousness had suffered severe trauma, the lingering influence of the “Witch of Envy” clinging to her soul.

Even Yan City’s best hospital could only stabilize her condition; they couldn’t, and didn’t dare, awaken her.

As for the Sword Saint Sect Master, Lin Cheng and Li Ping were too busy to notify him for now.

Upon leaving the “Ember’s” space, Lin Cheng immediately summoned all the Yan City higher-ups.

He also invited representatives from the other mega-cities that had sent aid, including the Holy Knight-Captain, representing “Noah,” for a secret meeting.

The Holy Knights usually only answered to the Noah Holy Church, dealing with disaster-related matters, rarely interfering in secular politics.

Meanwhile, Rhine and the remaining Dawn members hurriedly left Yan City.

A force composed entirely of “Ruin” and “Peril” level ability users couldn’t be easily stopped, unless Yan City was willing to pay a heavy price.

But they couldn’t afford such a gamble, having just faced a war and now another major disaster.

Yan City could only focus on its own survival, settling the score with Dawn later.

Unnoticed, from the quiet beginning at dusk, when Dawn launched their attack, to now, an entire night had passed.

The first rays of dawn broke through the darkness, a new day beginning.

One night.

Just one night.

Yan City’s core district was completely deserted, only a path of destruction cutting through it, an eerie silence, yet everything else seemed normal.

The Ember Furnace still stood tall, its shadow stretching across the land under the faint sunlight.

Everyone in the secret meeting stared at the Ember Furnace, waiting.

Waiting for the dawn… or perhaps… for another disaster.

…

Within the chaotic void.

Here, time and space had no meaning.

Someone could be lost in the void for an instant, yet centuries would pass in the real world.

Someone could wait in solitude for millennia, yet only a few seconds would pass outside.

This chaos was amplified within the void’s turbulent currents, everything a jumbled mess, defying all logic and comprehension.

The desolate void shimmered with a purple hue, flames descending from the sky, monstrous roars echoing, then instantly transforming into flying flesh and grotesque growths.

Here, a physical body might remain intact, but the mind and soul, unable to withstand the chaotic onslaught, would drag the body down with them.

No matter how powerful, any living being who entered the void’s turbulent currents would be annihilated, body and soul.

But Luo Yan… was an exception.

Within the turbulence, she saw nothing, her vision a blank canvas, not even darkness.

But then… something appeared.

A pair of crimson eyes materialized, a graceful figure gradually solidifying, its form indistinct.

She had finally arrived, yet she was trapped in the endless void.

“Long time no see… no, we’ve been meeting constantly,” Luo Yan exhaled, looking up at the alluring figure, the embodiment of all seductive fantasies. “—’Witch of Envy’.”

The Witch of Envy’s black pupils slowly turned, fixated on Luo Yan.

She looked at Luo Yan calmly, and unlike her frenzied followers, Luo Yan saw a terrifying gentleness in her eyes.

…Similar to Mrs. Natalie.

This thought startled Luo Yan.

The Witch of Envy seemed to be scrutinizing her, but Luo Yan felt… as if she was looking through her, at someone else.

Finally, she spoke.

“Still struggling?”

Her voice was soft and gentle, filled with a sorrowful lament.

But it shocked Luo Yan.

“That’s… Mrs. Natalie’s voice…” Luo Yan tried to see the figure clearly, but its form was shrouded in an ethereal mist. “Could Mrs. Natalie be the Witch of Envy? No, that’s impossible…”

“Even though your efforts have failed, Luo Yan, you still try to salvage this?” she continued. “You’ve already seen the truth, yet you refuse to join us…”

Although the Witch of Envy had spoken her name, Luo Yan knew she wasn’t talking to her, but to another “Luo Yan.”

…A savior who could no longer speak.

The Witch descended, her movements graceful, and stood before Luo Yan.

Her terrifying crimson eyes, now soft, met Luo Yan’s icy blue gaze. She finally looked directly at Luo Yan, then, a flicker of long-buried resentment appeared in her eyes.

“Why do you exist?”

“Why do you refuse to leave?”

“Why… as civilizations rise and fall, as eras end… do you remain?”

“Why…?”

Luo Yan blinked. “…Are you talking to me?”

The Witch of Envy’s barrage of questions stunned Luo Yan. She had intended to drag the Witch into the void to fight, to prevent irreversible damage to Yan City.

Since her awakening, the Witch of Envy’s influence and the disasters she caused hadn’t ceased.

The best way to end this was to eliminate the source.

One’s sacrifice had given Luo Yan this chance, and Absolute Death and “Luo Yan’s” plan had made it possible.

But now… what was happening?

“Of course, you are our god,” the Witch of Envy’s eyes flickered with mockery. “The ‘Malicious God’ who imprisoned the entire world—”

“The root of all disasters… is your existence.”

She finally shed her ethereal form, appearing in the void’s turbulence in a form comprehensible to mortals.

Just as Luo Yan had anticipated, her face was identical to Mrs. Natalie’s, but she wore a crimson strapless gown.

Intricate, otherworldly patterns adorned the long, flowing skirt, small ornaments hanging from its folds, which, upon closer inspection, were crimson eyes.

There was no wind in the void, yet the crimson skirt fluttered, the eyes clinking together, a seductive, mesmerizing sound.

Although her face was identical to Mrs. Natalie’s, the terrifying crimson eyes gave her a different, more sinister aura.

Unlike her followers, the Witch of Envy wasn’t frenzied or distorted, not a grotesque monster.

She was the embodiment of seduction and allure, yet also gentle and serene, a lingering mist in her clear eyes.

Witnessing such a being, it was difficult to imagine that she was the “Witch of Envy” from the “Malice of All Worlds.”

Compared to a demon, she seemed more like… a goddess from religious texts.

“I… am called the ‘Witch of Envy’ by this era’s civilization,” she said softly. “I’ve had many names, ‘Witch of Malice,’ ‘Demoness of Envy and Defilement,’ ‘Terror of the Shifting Eyes’…”

“But these are not my true name.

“My true name is—”

The Witch of Envy uttered a series of strange syllables, unlike any human language, yet strangely harmonious.

A conceptual being’s true name was different from a mortal’s name or title. It contained their essence, their totality, completely unmasked.

Luo Yan had never heard such sounds before, but she instantly understood the meaning of the Witch of Envy’s true name.

—”Hope.”

Incredibly ironic.

As a member of the “Malice of All Worlds,” one of the culprits behind the world’s destruction, the most terrifying Primordial Demon, the Witch of Envy’s true name was… Hope.

She represented hope.

“Luo Yan—I shall address you by that insignificant mortal’s name,” she looked directly at Luo Yan, a hint of sorrow in her misty eyes. “My name is ‘Hope’ (true name), yet I cannot resist the endless despair you bring to this world…”

“…It sounds like… I’m the one destroying the world,” Luo Yan frowned slightly.

“No, how could that be… Luo Yan, you’re not ‘Destruction’ (true name). His descent… is the true destruction of the world,” the Witch of Envy sneered.

“His appearance brought countless ‘Divine Descents’ over millennia, even the strongest world will, the ‘First Ancestor’ (true name), couldn’t escape destruction, left to watch over a desolate, extinguished world, for the sake of a laughable, pathetic ‘God Slaying’ plan.”

“And you… merely imprisoned us.”

“…Merely.”

The Witch of Envy’s mockery was evident, but even stronger were her helplessness and sorrow.

Her gaze never left Luo Yan, as if cherishing every moment.

“How fortunate I am… to be the first to converse with a god,” a faint smile appeared on the Witch of Envy’s lips. “After all these cycles, through savagery and civilization, you have never appeared like this before.”

“…I don’t understand what you’re saying,” Luo Yan said helplessly. “Even if I was a god in a past life… aren’t I just a human now?”

She had undergone a thorough examination upon arriving in Yan City, even her soul and consciousness.

She was a living being, albeit with some anomalies, but all within the realm of human understanding.

…Except for everything related to the void.

“When you finally understand… it will be the arrival of true disaster,” the Witch of Envy chuckled softly.

“Do you remember ‘Ghost Town’? Aren’t you curious why you appeared there, and why Mrs. Natalie looked exactly like me?”

“Why?”

Luo Yan blurted out.

“Because Mrs. Natalie was my first follower. She possessed a Demonic Offering closest to my essence, although it has been corrupted over time, leaving only a twisted fragment of my will,” the Witch of Envy explained.

“Luo Yan—the other one, she declared war on the ‘Malice of All Worlds.’ Using the traitor Absolute Death’s power, she forcibly imprinted herself upon our memories and our source of power.”

“But… even she didn’t expect that the mark she left, meant to defeat us, would become your chance to escape. And so, a girl named ‘Luo Yan’ appeared in Ghost Town.

“As for why ‘Ghost Town’ reappeared in the real world… I don’t know, but anything I don’t know… can only be related to ‘Absolute Death’.”

Luo Yan was silent, recalling the “Ghost Town” files. The first record was from centuries ago.

The same time as the “Witch of Absolute Death” war.

She had never considered a connection between the two, but now… it seemed more than just a coincidence.

“I don’t trust anyone, not Luo Yan, not Absolute Death, not you,” the Witch of Envy looked at Luo Yan calmly. “I resent Absolute Death’s betrayal, I’m angered by Luo Yan’s actions, and as for you… I only feel fear.”

“When Absolute Death betrayed us for this era’s civilization and for Luo Yan… allowing this doomed civilization to continue… your appearance in this form was inevitable.”

“Rejoice, yes, Luo Yan, Absolute Death, you haven’t failed yet, although it is but a temporary reprieve before the inevitable.”

“When everything reaches its end… we, and this world, will lose all hope of escape.”

“—This is… a god’s… prison of despair.”

The Witch of Envy raised her hand, her slender finger pointing at Luo Yan, her voice filled with defiance.

“Remember, Luo Yan, Absolute Death, I will not surrender.”

“I will disappear, but ‘Hope’ (true name) will remain.”

“Civilizations may fall, eras may end, but this world… will never give up its struggle.”

As her words faded, the figure, identical to Mrs. Natalie, the “Hope” known as the “Witch of Envy,” vanished into the chaotic void, in her most beautiful form.

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 81 – The War’s End

Meanwhile, outside the Ember Furnace, in Yan City.

The alarms, which had blared repeatedly, sounded again, signaling another appearance of the “Witch of Envy’s” consciousness.

But this time, it was more intense, more persistent.

A primal fear gripped everyone in Yan City, panic spreading rapidly.

The Holy Knight team, having finally arrived, knelt beside Elise, but her gaze was fixed on the Ember Furnace.

The fear she had once been subjected to resurfaced, but her expression remained calm.

“Saint…”

The Knight-Captain said nervously.

Even he, a veteran of countless missions against Devil’s minions and Apostles, had never felt such a powerful demonic aura.

It was beyond human comprehension, a primal, instinctive fear.

“Call me Elise. I am not a Saint,” Elise whispered, her gaze still fixed on the Ember Furnace.

The resurgence of this fear brought fleeting glimpses of erased memories.

In these memories, a small figure overlapped with the girl she had recently met.

Their faces were identical, but they were completely different.

“Luo Yan…”

Elise murmured, then closed her eyes. “After this is over, I want to meet her in ‘Noah’.”

“Yes, but… why?”

The Knight-Captain had, of course, heard of this mysterious girl who had played such a crucial role in Yan City’s defense.

But was that really enough to warrant a personal invitation from a Saint to “Noah”?

“Just follow my orders, Knight,” Elise said calmly.

“Very well,” the Knight-Captain hesitated, then asked, “Shouldn’t we do something?”

Yan City seemed to be facing a greater threat than Dawn’s invasion, a threat from a Primordial Demon.

This was an enemy of all humanity; they should intervene.

“No, it would be pointless interference,” Elise said. “And besides, she has already resolved it.”

…Did this look like it was resolved?

The Knight-Captain, listening to the still-blaring citywide alarm, felt his eyelid twitch.

“If you truly want to do something, then save people,” Elise glanced at the Knight-Captain, whose anxiety was barely concealed by his helmet. “Use your strength to evacuate the civilians in Yan City’s core district, maintain order.”

This order seemed strange. These Knights, even the weakest among them, were elite “Ruin” level ability users, usually on the front lines.

Rescuing people… wasn’t their usual task.

But this was the Saint’s command…

The Knight-Captain sighed.

“As you wish, Saint.”

“Call me Elise.”

This Fourth Saint, “Illusion,” still enjoyed playing roles…

“…Yes, Lady Elise.”

…

Meanwhile, hearing the alarm, Li Ping knew that those inside the Ember Furnace had encountered the Devil’s minion.

Although he didn’t know what was happening inside, he had to handle the situation outside.

“Everyone, evacuate the core district immediately.”

Li Ping issued the order. All troops and personnel began to retreat.

The civilian evacuation had already begun, and although it wasn’t complete, two-thirds of the population had already left the core district.

However, if a Primordial Demon truly descended, they might need to evacuate even further.

The arriving reinforcements joined the evacuation efforts, and even a few Dawn teams, after some hesitation, led by Grifres, began assisting the civilians.

…This scene was strange. These reinforcements and Dawn teams, originally meant to fight each other, were now working together to save civilians.

Even in the New Era’s history of “internal conflicts,” such a scene was rare.

Even during cataclysms, both sides usually continued fighting, humanity’s internal struggles no less destructive than natural disasters.

Of course, this temporary ceasefire didn’t mean they would forgive Dawn.

But a disaster was imminent, possibly even the descent of a Primordial Demon, a “Cataclysm” level event.

And if not, it was at least “Destruction” level.

A “Destruction” level disaster could wipe an entire continent off the map.

If it fully erupted, not just Yan City, but the entire region, would be threatened.

Both Yan City, the other mega-cities sending aid, and even Dawn, understood the gravity of the situation.

And so, a rare display of human unity unfolded in Yan City, even the arrogant Holy Knights joined the evacuation efforts.

…

Back inside the “Ember’s” space.

Even Yan City, outside, felt an uncontrollable fear, and Lin Cheng and Rhine, inside, were even worse.

A pair of eyes seemed to be slowly opening in their vision, malevolent black pupils twitching restlessly. This terrifying scene appeared after Luo Yan finished her prayer.

Their feet were rooted to the spot, a voice screaming in their minds to escape.

But at the same time, these eyes held a strange allure, a desire to embrace them, to surrender.

Such a bizarre thought, appearing while they were still conscious, amplified their terror.

This fear was independent of their strength. Even Rhine, far stronger than Lin Cheng, was just as terrified.

However, this didn’t mean they were weak.

On the contrary, even while facing this, even with Luo Yan subtly shielding them with her aura, they still maintained their sense of self and their rationality. Their willpower was incredible.

And this was all because Luo Yan had completed the prayer.

“What… are you doing…?”

Lin Cheng, realizing the meaning of Luo Yan’s words, his voice trembling, forced the words out through gritted teeth.

Rhine stared at Luo Yan’s back and said, each word deliberate,

“You… are not… the Eldest Mister…”

“I’m not One,” Luo Yan glanced back at Rhine, nodding apologetically. “I’m sorry, but she’s dead.”

“You dare desecrate the Eldest Mister’s remains…”

Rage burned in Rhine’s eyes, but the fear kept him rooted to the spot.

Both their minds were in turmoil, but they shared the same question.

What was she planning?

Why had she stopped “Qin Wen’s” prayer, only to continue it herself?

Did she want the “Witch of Envy” to descend, or was she trying to prevent it?

Her contradictory actions confused them, but they didn’t have time to think.

As the eyes in their vision solidified, terror consumed their minds, paralyzing them.

This was the terrifying power of a Primordial Demon; even the thought of escape was suppressed by fear, let alone resistance.

However, Luo Yan was completely unaffected, even though she was closer to the eyes, as if they shared a common origin.

“But… I’ve seen the truth.”

Luo Yan took a step forward, standing before the Ice Coffin.

The coffin slowly opened, revealing the slumbering silver-haired girl within.

Seeing herself from this angle… was strange.

But Hua Qiling and Qin Wen had been right.

She… was beautiful.

Luo Yan opened her arms and gently embraced the body.

Just like One had embraced her.

Cold lips met, and a chilling wind swept through the Ember Furnace, momentarily dispelling the intense heat.

And freeing Lin Cheng and Rhine from the grip of fear, allowing them to move, albeit stiffly.

Before their eyes, the bandaged girl dissolved into shimmering particles, leaving behind a faint, pale blue mist.

Then, a small, white hand emerged from the Ice Coffin, gently cupping the mist.

—”Dream Eater.”

This was the Demonic Offering of the “Witch of End,” a dream, a dream from which one could never awaken.

The silver-haired girl sat up in the Ice Coffin. Luo Yan was back in her own body.

She had seen everything One wanted her to see.

Now… it was her turn.

The pale blue mist enveloped Luo Yan, her long silver hair tinged with icy blue, shimmering.

She opened her eyes, her crimson eyes now faintly blue, her form becoming translucent, as if she were no longer part of this world.

—She was in a dream.

For some reason, this strange yet undeniable thought crossed both Lin Cheng and Rhine’s minds.

“Qin Wen can still be saved, take her outside,” Luo Yan looked at Lin Cheng and said calmly, then turned to Rhine. “Perhaps… Dawn… should walk its own path.”

This was One’s final message to Dawn, relayed through Luo Yan to Rhine.

Rhine was silent for a moment, finally understanding what had happened.

Had Miss Luo Yan and the Eldest Mister… made a deal?

But…

What was Luo Yan planning?

This question resurfaced, but Luo Yan didn’t answer.

She summoned a spatial spear, her gaze cold as she looked at the solidifying crimson eyes in her vision, a sneer on her lips.

“…Failure?”

“No, this isn’t failure.”

Behind her, countless figures seemed to stand.

A small, dark figure, a tall, silent figure, and several small, yet resolute, figures…

They were all living beings.

This was their defiance against fate.

She was their defiance.

Why had Luo Yan completed the final prayer?

Because only then…

“Could I drag you out… and beat you up…”

She swung the spatial spear, and a rift opened, revealing the chaotic aura of the void, even more violent than the void Lin Cheng and Rhine had experienced.

Because Luo Yan had opened the rift directly within the void’s turbulent currents, a forbidden zone for all living beings.

Even spatial ability users, even those capable of void traversal, avoided it, including One.

Only Luo Yan could enter such a place unprotected.

She would fight the Witch of Envy, carrying everyone’s hopes, and end this nightmare called “Envy.”

The spatial rift closed, the terrifying aura of the void and the fear of the “Witch of Envy” dissipating.

Only Lin Cheng and Rhine remained, standing silently, and Qin Wen, lying unconscious on the ground.

“So, you came to Yan City to retrieve the Eldest Mister’s remains?” Lin Cheng finally broke the silence, looking at Rhine. “And the Eldest Mister… is our ‘Yan City’s’ Ice Coffin Weapon?”

Having witnessed the previous scene, even Lin Cheng could guess who had been in the Ice Coffin.

“…Yes,” Rhine didn’t deny it.

But even if Yan City had known beforehand, they wouldn’t have handed her over.

She was their weapon, their protection against disasters.

But now…

“Heh, in the end, both the ‘Ice Coffin Weapon’ and the Eldest Mister’s remains you sought… are gone,” Lin Cheng chuckled wryly, lifting the unconscious Qin Wen onto his back. “Leaving only… a mess to clean up.”

Rhine, recalling Luo Yan’s cryptic words before she left, also chuckled softly.

“But we still… haven’t found our answer.”

Dawn had lost Mister, but they had also lost their direction.

Perhaps, after this war, Dawn’s continued existence… was uncertain.

And Yan City had also suffered heavy losses: the Ember Furnace damaged, the “Ember’s” energy depleted, a tenth of the core district destroyed, and countless casualties, both ability users and civilians.

The war had ended silently, but both sides… had gained nothing, only lost.

Was Dawn right?

Or was Yan City right?

Perhaps both, perhaps neither.

They had acted according to their own beliefs, their own choices.

This wasn’t about right or wrong.

Because this… was war.

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 80 – Prayer

This scene shocked everyone present.

“Qin Wen” hadn’t expected to be interrupted at the very last moment.

After placing the “Eye of Malice” within the “Ember’s” space, all she had to do was pray, to draw the Lord’s gaze here.

Even the “Ember,” which could suppress demonic power, couldn’t withstand the Lord’s gaze.

In an instant, it would be corrupted, its energy transformed.

And with the “Eye of Malice,” the Lord could directly descend into the real world.

Even if “Qin Wen” perished, unable to withstand the “Ember’s” burning energy, her mission would be complete.

But now…

The unexpected arrival stunned “Qin Wen,” interrupting her prayer.

Who could have entered this space through a spatial rift…?

This was the “Ember’s” space, not ordinary space!

Normal teleportation couldn’t reach here; otherwise, the Ember Furnace’s outer wall would be meaningless, any spatial ability user could bypass it.

This meant… the intruder had used void traversal!

The chaotic aura emanating from the spatial rift confirmed this, and the small, bandaged foot hadn’t yet retreated…

…Wait, how was that possible?

That foot had been lingering between the void and reality for several seconds!

“Qin Wen’s” eyes widened in disbelief.

Some spatial ability users could traverse the void, but they were incredibly rare, blessed with an innate affinity for the void.

And spatial ability users themselves were rare; even Ling Qi, with her limited teleportation, was highly valued by Dawn.

Spatial ability users with void affinity, in the thousand years of the New Era, could be counted on two hands.

Their greatest advantage was their ability to completely mask the spatial fluctuations of teleportation, moving without a trace.

However, even those capable of void traversal were still human.

No mortal could remain in the void for long. Even without encountering the turbulent currents, the void’s aura itself was enough to drive a person mad.

Therefore, void traversal was known as “dancing on the blade of space,” each step incredibly dangerous.

…Deadly.

“Qin Wen” looked up at the owner of the small foot and met a single, pale blue eye.

The eye blinked, a hint of surprise in its gaze.

Then, the figure reached out, grabbed the edge of the spatial rift, and pulled it open wider.

…Could a human even do that?!

Even with the “Witch of Envy’s” influence, granting her access to forbidden knowledge, “Qin Wen” had never heard of such a thing…

And then, something even more shocking happened.

After widening the rift, the bandaged girl pulled two figures from behind her and tossed them out.

Was this… void traversal with passengers?

“Qin Wen’s” face twisted in disbelief.

If void traversal was dancing on the blade of space, then this… was some kind of acrobatic performance!

No, it wasn’t even a dance; it was a full-blown circus act!

The fastest way to reach the depths of the Ember Furnace was, of course, spatial displacement.

Luo Yan, realizing that void traversal could bypass the “Ember’s” spatial restrictions, didn’t hesitate and dragged the bewildered Lin Cheng and Rhine into the void.

However, Luo Yan hadn’t considered that entering the void without protection was incredibly dangerous for living beings.

She had brought Sun Biwu through before, but he had been unconscious, unable to even scream…

The moment Lin Cheng and Rhine entered the void, the chaotic aura assaulted their senses, their souls reeling as if struck by a hammer.

Luo Yan didn’t dare delay. She quickly moved towards the corresponding node within the void that connected to the “Ember’s” space.

Having stumbled into the “Ember’s” space before, she was familiar with it and quickly found the node, opening a spatial rift to escape the void.

…And then she stepped on her own face.

It was… a strange experience.

After pushing the near-unconscious Lin Cheng and Rhine out of the void, Luo Yan also emerged from the rift.

Of course, she didn’t step on her face again, landing beside the Ice Coffin.

Luo Yan looked at the coffin, then at the familiar yet unfamiliar “Qin Wen,” her single eye narrowing.

She recognized that this wasn’t the real Qin Wen.

Crimson eyes with black pupils, although filled with shock, Luo Yan recognized them instantly.

—The other Devil’s minion, as expected.

Perhaps she had somehow taken control of Qin Wen’s body. Luo Yan didn’t believe that Qin Wen, a demon slayer, would be a Devil’s minion.

But this… complicated things.

Although this “Qin Wen” was a Devil’s minion, she was still using Qin Wen’s body.

Luo Yan didn’t want to harm her friend, not unless absolutely necessary.

“The Witch of Envy is truly troublesome…”

And this Ice Coffin…

Luo Yan finally knew where her body was. It was inside the coffin, having switched places with One.

But why was the coffin in “Qin Wen’s” possession, and why had she brought it here?

As Luo Yan pondered this, “Qin Wen” recovered from her initial shock.

She gritted her teeth. Since she had been discovered, she would sacrifice this body and draw the Lord’s gaze to the “Ember”!

As Lin Cheng and Rhine recovered slightly from the void’s disorientation, “Qin Wen’s” body ignited with demonic flames.

“The Unseeable Lord… He is the one, and the all… His malice… will spread across the earth… every inch…”

She chanted in a strange tongue, each word draining her life force.

A prayer offered with her life, to hasten the “Witch of Envy’s” descent.

It all happened so fast. Luo Yan barely had time to process the situation, while Lin Cheng and Rhine were still recovering.

Seeing “Qin Wen’s” prayer, Luo Yan summoned a spatial spear.

The most direct way to stop her was to kill her, which Luo Yan could easily do now.

But she hesitated.

This was Qin Wen’s body…

If she killed the Devil’s minion possessing it, Qin Wen would also die.

As Luo Yan hesitated, “Qin Wen’s” prayer neared its end.

Her expression was fanatical, her demonic power even resisting the surrounding “Ember’s” aura.

“Great Lord, please hear your follower’s plea. I offer you all souls, flesh, and life…”

Her shrill voice was inhuman, as if a cold gaze, transcending time and space, was upon her.

“—To atone for… all sins.”

Luo Yan knew this was the final line; she had uttered the same prayer in Ghost Town.

Unfortunately, the “Witch of Envy” hadn’t seemed to favor her; even after the prayer, no miracle had ever descended.

However, “Qin Wen” couldn’t finish the final line. Her voice choked, and she stopped abruptly.

“Ugh… ah…”

A few drops of foul blood dripped to the ground, instantly incinerated by the “Ember.”

“Qin Wen” looked down slightly.

A sword pierced her throat, interrupting her prayer.

“This is… my sword…?” “Qin Wen’s” eyes widened in disbelief. “How… My other self… should have been… annihilated by the Ember…”

Without this strong physical body, how could her demonic tentacles, formed from pure demonic power, have reached the “Ember’s” space?!

“Because… I am you, and you are me,” a weak voice echoed in “Qin Wen’s” mind. “My consciousness… even tainted by a demon… will never surrender!”

Qin Wen’s last shred of consciousness had been waiting for this opportunity.

She hadn’t tried to regain control of her body, knowing it was impossible.

If she couldn’t reclaim it… she would destroy it.

She was prepared to die.

As “Qin Wen” prayed, completely focused on summoning the Primordial Demon, she hadn’t noticed her other self’s actions.

A sword materialized, piercing her own throat.

Unfortunately… a pierced throat wasn’t fatal.

This last shred of consciousness was too weak. Even a slash wouldn’t have been able to penetrate this body’s natural spiritual defenses.

But… it seemed to be enough.

Qin Wen looked up at the unfamiliar yet somehow familiar bandaged girl, her eyes filled with pleading and hope.

She seemed to be saying,

“Kill me.”

Kill Qin Wen.

Luo Yan gripped the spatial spear, seeing Qin Wen’s consciousness flicker and fade.

Qin Wen was still alive, her consciousness still alive, although incredibly weak.

Lin Cheng and Rhine rushed over, stunned by this bizarre scene.

A Sword Saint successor with a demonic aura, “Miss Luo Yan” slumbering in an Ice Coffin, and the suddenly silent “Eldest Mister.”

And then, Luo Yan acted.

She swung the spatial spear, unleashing the power of “End.” Countless tiny spatial rifts opened around “Qin Wen’s” body.

Seeing this, a look of relief and release appeared in Qin Wen’s eyes, instantly replaced by “Qin Wen’s” boundless rage.

How dare she?!

She was so close! The great Lord was about to descend!

And now… a lowly insect… was ruining everything…

Unwillingness and rage burned within her.

But it was too late. The spatial rifts, emanating the aura of the void, instantly shattered her consciousness.

Both the corrupted and the original consciousness were consumed by the void, the deepest fear of all living beings unleashed, and everything fell silent.

Luo Yan hadn’t killed Qin Wen, only plunged her into a near-death state.

The spatial rifts closed, the void’s aura dissipating.

This breathtaking display of spatial control stunned Lin Cheng and Rhine.

Containing “Qin Wen’s” consciousness in such a way had been incredibly risky, even Luo Yan was slightly shaken.

A single mistake, and Qin Wen would have been completely annihilated, lost to the void or the spatial rifts.

“Is it… over?”

Lin Cheng asked hesitantly.

He and Rhine hadn’t done anything; void traversal was still beyond their capabilities.

Rhine, however, looked at Luo Yan in the Ice Coffin, then at the Eldest Mister, his confusion returning.

He recognized the Ice Coffin, and the silver-haired girl inside.

It was this girl who had helped defend the western front line, who had stalled Dawn’s attack and caused them heavy casualties.

But why was she… in the Ice Coffin?

Could it be…?

Luo Yan, ignoring the two behind her, stood beside the coffin, looking at herself within, silent.

Perhaps distance brought clarity. Having left her original body, Luo Yan felt… different.

She stared at this beautiful, silver-haired girl, a body forged from the lives of Absolute Death and Luo Yan, and she saw countless gazes.

Countless malevolent… gazes.

These gazes peered outwards, restrained by some force, unable to escape.

And the source of this restraining power… was Luo Yan’s consciousness.

This wasn’t just a body, but a cage, containing all the malicious gazes that sought to pry into the world, and Luo Yan held the key.

“The Eye of Malice…”

This term, mentioned by both the crimson figure and “Qin Wen,” referred to Luo Yan’s body.

She was the eye through which the Malice of All Worlds peered into this world, all disasters and malice converging upon her.

“Is this… the other truth… that One wanted me to see…?”

Luo Yan sighed, then her gaze hardened.

Before the shocked eyes of Lin Cheng and Rhine, she closed her eyes, her hands clasped together in prayer.

Just like in Ghost Town, she whispered the final prayer.

“Great Lord, please hear your follower’s plea. I offer you all souls, flesh, and life…”

“—To atone for… all sins.”

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 79 – Stepped Right on My Face

This was an unavoidable conspiracy.

Even with Luo Yan’s sensitivity to demonic auras, she couldn’t have detected the anomaly on the Ember Furnace’s outer wall in that situation.

Only after the crimson monster, Frick’s transformed form, was defeated, could she sense the presence of another Devil’s minion.

Luo Yan recalled the crimson figure’s mocking words before its death:

“…It’s not… over…”

So that’s what it meant…

Twisted by the “Witch of Envy,” these Devil’s minions lost all traces of their humanity.

They would do anything for the Witch, even sacrifice their own lives.

This went beyond fanaticism; it was an instinctual devotion. Sacrificing themselves to serve, or even just to please, their Lord wasn’t uncommon.

Judging from the corroded piece of the Furnace wall, the other Devil’s minion, under the cover of the crimson figure, had likely already infiltrated the Ember Furnace.

Even worse, it might have already begun to corrupt the “Ember.”

Once the corruption was complete… Yan City would be doomed, and the “Witch of Envy” would have enough energy to fully descend, not just a mere fragment of her will.

This had to be stopped.

However, against a Devil’s minion, numbers weren’t an advantage, but a liability.

Especially inside the Ember Furnace… space was limited; they needed a small, specialized team.

Luo Yan pondered for a moment, then pointed at Lin Cheng and Li Ping.

“You, and you, come with me.”

Before they could respond, she turned and pointed at Rhine.

“You too.”

“…As you command, Eldest Mister,” Rhine bowed slightly, his expression serious.

He also sensed the danger. This wasn’t just Yan City’s problem anymore.

Once this demonic breeding ground was complete, all of humanity, even Dawn, would be threatened.

“Forgive my bluntness, Eldest Mister,” Lin Cheng stepped forward, frowning. “I’m willing to trust you, but the other one…”

He looked at Rhine warily, who remained expressionless.

“You understand the importance of the Ember Furnace to Yan City,” Li Ping added. “Allowing outsiders to enter is already a risk, let alone… a Dawn Cadre, especially now, during a war.”

“I’m here,” Luo Yan glanced at Li Ping indifferently, then quickly looked away.

“Besides, can Yan City handle a Devil’s minion who might have already partially corrupted the ‘Ember’ on its own?”

…It was still awkward to make eye contact with acquaintances, even in this situation.

Fortunately, Luo Yan’s face was covered in bandages, hiding her embarrassment.

Li Ping paused, then nodded.

“…I have no objections.”

“I… am also willing to trust Mister’s judgment.”

Lin Cheng also agreed, emphasizing “Mister.”

He trusted Mister, not Dawn.

With Luo Yan’s intervention, a temporary truce was established between Yan City and Dawn.

And Yan City now needed Dawn’s help to protect their city’s heart.

Reinforcements from other mega-cities were arriving, but they wouldn’t be able to participate in this sudden crisis, only assisting with evacuations.

Tension filled Yan City as the core district’s residents were evacuated to other districts.

With the threat of the “Witch of Envy’s” descent and the potential corruption of the Ember Furnace, Yan City was even considering deploying the “Ice Coffin Weapon.”

Of course, they didn’t know that their “Ice Coffin Weapon” was standing right before them…

Due to strict secrecy and to avoid panic, only those involved in the retrieval process had ever seen the “Ice Coffin Weapon’s” true form.

Unfortunately, besides Hua Qiling, all those involved had died over the years.

Not because of a curse…

Yan City, being on the edge of civilization, closer to the depths of the Endless Wasteland, frequently faced disasters.

Therefore, their ability user casualty rate was unusually high, constantly over five percent.

Meaning, on average, every year, five out of every hundred ability users were either killed or permanently incapacitated, a shocking statistic to other mega-cities.

Yan City was now in its most critical state ever, even worse than during the war.

The preparations before entering the Furnace didn’t take long. Just a minute after Luo Yan decided to confront the Devil’s minion, Yan City adjusted its strategy.

Li Ping remained outside to oversee the overall situation, only Lin Cheng accompanying Luo Yan and Rhine into the Ember Furnace.

Luo Yan hadn’t considered this carefully. Yan City couldn’t afford to send both its top leaders into such a dangerous situation; someone had to remain in command.

Li Ping had wanted to enter, as Director-General of the Anomaly Management Bureau, disaster events fell under his jurisdiction.

However, his injuries were more severe than Lin Cheng’s, and this mission could involve a dangerous battle. In his weakened state, he would be a liability.

Therefore, City Lord Lin Cheng went in his place.

Time was of the essence, and with no further preparations needed, Rhine and Lin Cheng quickly joined Luo Yan, ready to enter the Ember Furnace.

They maintained a distance from each other, wary, Luo Yan standing between them, feeling their gazes like daggers on her back.

“…”

The pressure was immense.

Luo Yan shifted uncomfortably, grateful for the bandages… otherwise, her blushing face would have betrayed her.

After all, how could the Eldest Mister, who had weathered countless storms, show such shyness?

However, thinking of the situation inside, Luo Yan calmed herself.

This disaster… had to be stopped.

And perhaps… she was the only one who could do it.

Luo Yan believed that One’s actions before her consciousness faded had a purpose.

“Let’s go.”

Luo Yan exhaled, casually forming a spear of spatial energy in her hand, then walked towards the Ember Furnace.

Lin Cheng and Rhine followed immediately, but as Rhine saw the spear in Luo Yan’s hand, a sense of familiarity washed over him.

That spear… looked familiar…

…

Just as Luo Yan had predicted, the other Devil’s minion, “Qin Wen,” had successfully breached the outer wall and infiltrated the Ember Furnace.

Although her earlier outburst, triggered by touching upon a forbidden memory, had almost caused her to lose control, along with the crimson figure outside…

It wasn’t all bad news.

“Qin Wen” and Qin Wen were one and the same; the pain she felt, Qin Wen also felt.

Qin Wen’s consciousness had been struggling against “Qin Wen,” but overwhelmed by the frenzy, she could no longer restrain the crimson tentacles.

Human materials were no match for this demonic power, and the outer wall had been quickly corroded, a large hole appearing.

The entire outer wall of the Ember Furnace, including the buried portion, was a single, continuous structure.

The only entrance was at the top, highly visible and heavily guarded.

“Qin Wen’s” chosen path was the fastest way to reach the Ember’s core.

But it was also incredibly risky. The outer wall was just the first layer of defense.

The true danger lay within the “Ember” itself. “Qin Wen” was essentially throwing herself into a volcano.

Just as demonic power eroded living beings, the “Ember’s” energy eroded demons. The sanctuary Noah used to seal the “Witch of Absolute Death” was powered by multiple “Embers.”

Unless the “Ember” was completely corrupted by demonic power, and before that happened, this body might not be able to withstand the burning energy.

But what did it matter?

As long as it allowed the Lord to descend…

What was death?

A strange smile appeared on “Qin Wen’s” face as she moved through the Ember Furnace, approaching the core.

Almost all the crimson tentacles were incinerated by the “Ember’s” aura the moment they entered.

Qin Wen, using her remaining consciousness to control half of the tentacles and try to prevent this disaster, had vanished along with them.

The “Witch of Envy’s” influence now completely dominated this body, twisting Qin Wen’s heroic features, adding a touch of seductive charm.

“Almost… almost there…”

“The great Lord… will return through the ‘Eye of Malice’!”

Although her pace slowed as she approached the “Ember,” her fanaticism didn’t waver.

A rhythmic pulse, like a heartbeat, echoed in the air, intricate machinery surrounding a crystal-clear gem.

This small gem pulsed with a faint heartbeat, traces of the “Ember’s” aura leaking through the gaps in the machinery.

The “Ember’s” aura washed over “Qin Wen,” causing blood to trickle from her orifices, but she didn’t stop.

This wasn’t her target; her target was… the space within the “Ember.”

This gem was merely the entrance, a small gem couldn’t possibly contain such endless energy.

Only by entering this gateway could one reach the “Ember’s” inner space, to directly access its power.

Whether to trigger the “Ember’s” eruption or suppress its energy, it had to be done from within.

With sufficient preparation and protection, even a Devil’s minion could safely approach and enter the “Ember.” Although risky, it was manageable.

But “Qin Wen” didn’t have time for preparations. This war was an opportunity, and currently, there was no one within the Ember Furnace who could enter the “Ember’s” space.

“Qin Wen” didn’t know what was happening outside. She couldn’t communicate with the crimson figure, Frick’s transformed form; their cooperation was based on their shared fanaticism for the “Witch of Envy.”

Therefore, she didn’t know about the “Eldest Mister” or the ceasefire. She only knew that Sun Biwu had attempted to trigger the “Ember’s” eruption (although he had failed), and the Ember Furnace should be at its weakest now.

“It’s terrifying… even at its weakest, being this close… I can feel my consciousness being eroded…”

“Qin Wen” shuddered, feeling the burning pain in her soul.

If the “Ember” hadn’t just attempted to erupt, she would have been annihilated the moment she entered.

But thankfully, she had succeeded.

Having reached this point, no one could stop her…

The entrance to the “Ember” was right before her. “Qin Wen” forced her weakened body forward, smashing the surrounding machinery.

With her consciousness half-gone, she reached out and touched the “Ember” crystal.

A blinding white light flashed, and a wave of dizziness, like being tossed around in a chaotic spatial current, washed over her.

As her consciousness was about to be consumed by the white light, “Qin Wen” felt her feet touch solid ground.

“I did it!”

She almost cheered, but quickly suppressed her excitement. She didn’t have much time left.

She had to hurry and retrieve the “Eye of Malice”…

She could die, but only after the “Lord” descended!

“Qin Wen” waved her hand, and a coffin, seemingly made of ancient ice, appeared, radiating a chilling aura.

Within the transparent coffin, a beautiful, silver-haired girl lay peacefully, as if asleep.

“Lord…”

“Qin Wen” murmured, about to begin her prayer.

But just then, a spatial rift opened beside her, and a small, bandaged foot stepped out, landing directly on the coffin.

“Qin Wen” gasped in shock.

Luo Yan looked down and almost retracted her foot.

“…Did I just step on my own face…?”

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 78 – It’s Not Over Yet

Luo Yan glanced back, noticing Yan City mobilizing.

Troops retreated, and a few elite teams cautiously approached the crimson monster.

Thankfully, Yan City wasn’t foolish enough to attack Dawn now; that would be suicidal.

This was Yan City’s core district, not Dawn City’s.

“Die—”

The crimson monster’s shrill roar echoed, its gaze fixated on Luo Yan.

Even battered and bruised by Yan City and Dawn’s combined attacks, it ignored everything else.

All its tentacles were aimed at Luo Yan.

Luo Yan effortlessly sliced through the tentacles with the spatial energy in her hand.

The uncontrolled spatial fragments surrounding her shredded any tentacles that got too close, raining down gore.

Logically, the crimson monster should have recognized the power difference and retreated.

In its current state, it couldn’t harm Luo Yan (One), even with all its might.

However, Luo Yan’s words had enraged it, driving it into a frenzy.

Despite its injuries and the futility of its attacks, it relentlessly pursued Luo Yan.

Under the “Witch of Envy’s” influence, her resentment amplified her follower’s rage.

Once triggered, it became an uncontrollable frenzy.

Ordinary words wouldn’t have this effect, but mentioning “Absolute Death,” a name that held deep significance for the “Witch of Envy” and all Primordial Demons… was different.

Especially since Luo Yan had spoken knowing Absolute Death’s actions, her words further enraging the crimson monster.

Even “Qin Wen” was affected.

As its frenzy neared its end, the crimson monster weakened.

Its roars became less coherent, its tentacles fewer.

The surrounding “Soul Eater” mist thinned, no longer affecting even “Ruin” level ability users.

Finally, after the combined assault from Yan City and Dawn, the crimson monster shrunk back to its original size.

But it still hid within the crimson mist, frantically trying to reach Luo Yan.

In the end, it succeeded, but… it was Luo Yan who approached it.

The small, icy-blue figure walked towards the giant, weakened crimson shadow. Luo Yan looked up, her gaze meeting the monster’s distorted eyes.

Finally, in its final moments, the crimson monster seemed to regain a sliver of sanity.

Its weary gaze met Luo Yan’s, its orifice-like mouth twisting into a mocking smile.

“It’s… not… over…”

The crimson shadow vanished.

A figure fell to the ground.

Compared to Red Butterfly, this crimson monster had been stronger.

If it hadn’t been driven mad, it might have been a tougher fight.

Unfortunately, in its frenzy, it had only focused on Luo Yan, its attacks predictable, allowing Yan City and Dawn to attack freely.

Under the combined assault of multiple “Ruin” level and nearly ten “Peril” level ability users, the crimson monster hadn’t lasted five minutes.

The surrounding mist dissipated, revealing the figure within.

With its twisted consciousness gone, the figure returned to its original form.

Dawn didn’t recognize it, but Yan City did.

“Frick…”

Li Ping looked at the man lying on the ground, his expression strange.

The beautiful woman… was actually Frick?

Recalling the end of the Flower Street incident, it wasn’t entirely surprising…

But he hadn’t expected Frick to be a Devil’s minion.

Li Ping felt a wave of fear.

No wonder this crimson monster had been able to infiltrate the Ember Furnace undetected, despite Yan City’s heightened security.

If it weren’t for that mysterious girl…

The Ember Furnace was the heart of Yan City. If it were corrupted by demonic power, the entire city would be doomed, the tainted energy unusable by ordinary humans.

This would be far worse than Dawn’s invasion.

After all, the worst-case scenario of this war was the destruction of the Ember Furnace, a significant reduction in energy output, halving Yan City’s size and setting back their development for decades.

Dawn, however, wasn’t interested in the man on the ground. After defeating the crimson monster, Rhine led his team away from Yan City’s forces, standing behind Luo Yan.

They were still at war; Rhine couldn’t be sure that Yan City wouldn’t attack them after the crisis was resolved.

Yan City didn’t attack, but not out of any sense of honor… they simply couldn’t win.

Without the pulse cannons, their few remaining elite teams were no match for Dawn.

Even with the pulse cannons, Dawn’s Cadres were still at full strength; the cost of such a battle would be too high.

Dawn’s reason for not attacking was simple: they were here to retrieve the Eldest Mister.

And the Eldest Mister was right here… For Dawn, the war was over.

As the crimson mist dissipated, leaving only Frick’s mangled corpse, the sudden disaster seemed to have ended.

Both Yan City and Dawn breathed a sigh of relief.

Only Luo Yan’s expression remained serious, her gaze fixed on Frick’s corpse.

More precisely, on the twisted consciousness within.

“Logically, the ‘Witch of Envy’s’ will, attached to the soul, should have dissipated with the body’s death, but why…?”

Just like Mrs. Natalie and Red Butterfly, their consciousness hadn’t lingered after their deaths.

But Luo Yan could still sense the “Witch of Envy’s” malevolent aura, still lingering…

“Could there be… another Devil’s minion?”

Luo Yan followed the aura, her small figure walking towards the Ember Furnace.

Instantly, all eyes were on her.

After all, at the end of this war, the most striking figure was this icy-blue haired girl who had appeared out of nowhere.

Her bandaged appearance, and her powerful spatial ability…

“Eldest Mister, what do you see?”

Rhine took a step forward and asked in a low voice.

These words reached the Yan City forces, their expressions turning to shock.

“Eldest… Mister…?”

They were all ability users, raised on stories of Dawn’s nine legendary Misters.

The nine Misters, who had shown humanity the true potential and humanity of ability users, preventing them from being treated as monsters and calamities.

Even though Dawn and the Free Federation were on opposing sides, even engaging in war, the Misters were still respected.

However… the last Mister, Nine, should be dead. Why was there suddenly an Eldest Mister?

Feeling the countless gazes upon her, Luo Yan shifted uncomfortably. She wasn’t used to being the center of attention.

Especially while impersonating someone else…

Luo Yan coughed awkwardly, then her expression turned serious (although it was difficult to tell through the bandages).

“Everyone, it’s not over yet.”

She stared at the Ember Furnace. Indeed, although the surrounding malevolent aura was dissipating, a lingering trace of the “Witch of Envy’s” presence remained near the Furnace.

Faint, yet persistent.

Luo Yan walked towards the Furnace, towards the heart of Yan City.

Li Ping and Lin Cheng watched nervously, not sensing any unusual aura, as the icy-blue haired girl approached the Ember Furnace.

Should they stop her?

Logically, they were still at war with Dawn, and the Eldest Mister, no matter what, was a member of Dawn.

Unlike Nine, who had lived for so long, no one in this world knew the Eldest Mister’s true nature.

They couldn’t be sure she shared Nine’s benevolent view of humanity, that she wouldn’t be concerned about the “internal conflict” between Dawn and the rest of humanity.

They had allowed Nine to approach the Ember Furnace because everyone knew he wouldn’t harm anyone.

But the Eldest Mister…?

Li Ping and Lin Cheng exchanged glances, seeing the hesitation in each other’s eyes.

But in the end… they didn’t do anything, letting Luo Yan pass.

The reason was simple.

…They couldn’t stop her.

Of course, that was only part of the reason. There was also Sun Biwu, whom she had just saved.

His injuries were mostly superficial; the burning of his spiritual energy had been stopped by some force, and he was no longer in mortal danger.

The Eldest Mister had saved Sun Biwu, returning him to Yan City despite being surrounded by Dawn.

This alone might not be enough, but… both Li Ping and Lin Cheng had the same intuition.

Everyone made way for Luo Yan, watching nervously as she reached the Ember Furnace and placed her bandaged hand on its outer wall.

Before their eyes, the Furnace’s outer wall, made of mythril and reinforced steel, a structure second only to the “Wall of Resentment” in terms of durability, shrieked as a large chunk of it was torn away.

Luo Yan’s hand, covered in spatial energy, had effortlessly ripped through this high-strength material, one of the strongest in the New Era.

A hole large enough for a child to pass through appeared in the nearly meter-thick wall.

Gasps echoed through the Yan City ranks, Lin Cheng and Li Ping staring in disbelief. They hadn’t expected the “Eldest Mister” to do this.

…Wait…

Li Ping, seeing this, seemed to realize something, his lips twitching.

Could it be that the Eldest Mister was doing this… to enter the Ember Furnace?

But the Furnace had a door… there was no need to create one…

Lin Cheng’s heart bled. This kind of damage couldn’t be easily repaired.

Tearing a hole in the outer wall meant the entire section would have to be replaced; otherwise, a critical weakness would remain.

Dawn, seeing this, immediately assumed defensive positions, wary of Yan City attacking the Eldest Mister in anger.

But Yan City remained rational, at least for now.

Luo Yan, oblivious to the reactions behind her, didn’t enter the Ember Furnace after tearing the hole.

…She hadn’t been trying to create an entrance.

Her gaze fell to the ground, or rather, to the part of the Ember Furnace’s outer wall that was embedded in the ground.

It was corroded, severely.

“Just as I thought…”

Luo Yan’s eyes narrowed. She channeled her spatial power, tore away a large chunk of the buried wall, about two meters high and three meters wide, and tossed it aside.

Li Ping now understood that she hadn’t been trying to create an entrance. Looking at the severely corroded section of the wall, both he and Lin Cheng were shocked.

“How… how is this possible…?”

Remnants of crimson flesh, still wriggling slightly, clung to the piece of the Furnace wall Luo Yan had torn away.

This disgusting flesh seemed to be parasitizing the wall, slowly devouring the alloy, expanding and multiplying.

It was feeding on the alloy!

They had never heard of any creature capable of consuming such a high-strength material; this defied all logic.

Clearly, this was the power of a Primordial Demon…

And it was still active.

“The Ember Furnace is in danger!”

Li Ping exclaimed, and Lin Cheng, grabbing his sword, was about to rush towards the Furnace.

But Luo Yan shook her head and sighed.

“It’s… too late.”

Indeed, it was too late.

These remnants of flesh were just… leftovers. The main body had already infiltrated the Ember Furnace.

How could Luo Yan not understand now?

The crimson figure’s appearance had been a diversion, to cover another Devil’s minion’s infiltration of the Ember Furnace.

Whether she went berserk or not, her purpose had been to buy time, even at the cost of her life.