Chapter 78: Qin Chu Couldn’t Possibly Control Ekaterina
It was akin to a terrifying curse.
It warped her mind, twisting her thoughts, her emotions. Now, only Qin Chu remained. She still possessed her intelligence, her memories of past battles, of the camaraderie she had shared with her comrades, but… those memories now seemed insignificant.
Her love for Jie Luo had been completely transferred to Qin Chu. He was her everything. She loved what he loved, hated what he hated…
Her comrades, their bond, their shared experiences… they no longer mattered.
Qin Chu’s image in her mind was idealized, her memories embellished with fabricated moments of shared intimacy, of whispered promises, of passionate embraces.
Loseweisse, the woman who hated her beloved, who plotted to use him, to discard him, to resurrect the First Hero…
Anyone who threatened Qin Chu was her enemy.
Ekaterina’s eyes blazed with murderous intent, crimson flames dancing within their depths.
She summoned Flame Extinction, its crimson blade humming with power.
“Ekaterina…” Loseweisse, arriving at the doorway, called out, her voice laced with urgency. Before she could explain her purpose, a blazing arc of fire, its roar deafening, tore through the air, hurtling towards her.
The mansion trembled.
The heat was intense, the air shimmering with distortion, the metal lock on the door glowing a dull red.
Loseweisse’s face paled. “What are you doing?” she shrieked, stumbling back.
She flung out her hand, a milky white light enveloping her.
Holy Light Barrier, a defensive spell.
The fiery blast slammed into the barrier, its impact sending shockwaves through the mansion. The front door shattered, its splintered wood igniting.
Loseweisse, thrown back by the force of the attack, slammed into a wall, the stone crumbling behind her. Her barrier, riddled with cracks, flickered precariously.
This was Ekaterina.
The Crimson Valkyrie.
Her greatsword, each swing a symphony of destruction, was a force to be reckoned with.
Loseweisse, her face pale, quickly regained her composure. Seeing Ekaterina charging towards her, her sword raised, she shouted, her voice sharp and commanding. “Ekaterina, stop! It’s me, Loseweisse!”
Loseweisse…
Yes, you’re the one I’m going to kill!
You want to kill my beloved? You deserve to die!
Ekaterina’s killing intent intensified. But as she was about to strike, a sharp pain pierced her head. Qin Chu’s words echoed in her mind.
“From tomorrow onwards, act normally around Loseweisse and the others. Don’t let them suspect anything. Understand?”
She cursed herself. She had promised to remember, but the sight of Loseweisse had triggered her rage, her desire for revenge overwhelming her.
She forced her anger down, her grip on her sword loosening.
Loseweisse, sighing in relief, dispelled her damaged barrier. What had gotten into Ekaterina? That attack had been unleashed with full force.
She was a berserker, her love for battle unmatched. She might not be the strongest member of the Hero Squad, but she was the most ferocious, the most skilled in combat. None of them could claim to be her superior in a fight.
Loseweisse, though powerful, her magical abilities surpassing even some of the Sages, was still young. She was no match for Ekaterina in a direct confrontation.
Seeing Ekaterina’s frustrated expression, Loseweisse realized that the attack hadn’t been intentional. She had mistaken her for someone else.
She glanced at Ekaterina’s attire, her clothes torn and stained, the evidence of their night of passion clear.
She smiled inwardly. Her mental suggestion had worked. Ekaterina had followed her instructions.
She deduced the situation…
Ekaterina, though struggling to maintain control, had reached her breaking point. She had momentarily mistaken her for Qin Chu, triggering her attack.
Ekaterina, clenching her fist, tapped her forehead lightly. “Sorry, I… lost control…”
Her response confirmed Loseweisse’s suspicions. Ekaterina, if not for her… episode… wouldn’t have attacked her so recklessly. She was brilliant.
But she still needed to warn Ekaterina. She couldn’t allow her to kill Qin Chu.
After all, if Qin Chu became infatuated with her, even fell in love with her, their plan would be so much easier. And Ekaterina, with her position by his side, would become their most valuable asset, a spy within the Hero’s inner circle…
“Ekaterina,” she said, her voice soft and sympathetic, “I know you’ve sacrificed so much. It must be… difficult…”
Not at all, it was incredibly pleasurable…
Ekaterina thought, but she kept her thoughts to herself.
Loseweisse, unaware of her true feelings, continued. “But please, be patient. This is all for Jie Luo. If you act rashly, our plan will fail. He won’t be resurrected. You wouldn’t want him to remain dead, would you?”
“Remember, everything you do, you do for him.”
She reinforced her mental suggestion.
Mentioning Jie Luo’s name, reminding her that her sacrifice was for his sake, would ensure her obedience.
After all, Loseweisse knew the depth of Ekaterina’s love for him.
Ekaterina scratched her head, a wave of irritation washing over her. Jie Luo, Jie Luo, Jie Luo… Did that bastard’s fate even matter to her? She didn’t care if he was dead.
And what did she mean, “be patient”?
Her love for Qin Chu surpassed her previous feelings for Jie Luo… by a significant margin.
It was a shame that her master, though he loved her, seemed to favor Angelica. Yes, that maid was her rival.
She had to find a way to steal his heart.
Of course, she wouldn’t resort to violence. She wouldn’t harm Angelica. After all, her master cared for her. If she died, he would be heartbroken.
Yes, that was the right approach!
Ekaterina nodded, her future course of action decided.
Loseweisse, seeing her nod, felt a wave of relief. Her mental suggestion was working. Ekaterina was reflecting on her actions. This was good.
She patted her chest, her heart still pounding from the near-death experience. “Ekaterina, you really scared me. I thought… I thought Qin Chu had somehow… taken control of your mind…”
She cringed inwardly. What had she been thinking? Qin Chu controlling Ekaterina? Ridiculous.
She composed herself, her expression turning serious. “Ekaterina, we have a problem…”
“Benson… he’s been attacked.”
Ekaterina blinked. What did Benson’s fate have to do with her?
They were comrades, but she wasn’t close to him. In fact, wouldn’t his death be… beneficial…?
After all, everyone in the Hero Squad, except for her, wanted to kill Qin Chu.
But she remembered his instructions. She couldn’t reveal her true feelings. She frowned, her voice concerned. “Who attacked him?”
“Lomond, the Demon King’s seventh son. Even traveling at full speed, it would take at least two days to reach him from the capital. We have to leave immediately.” Loseweisse’s voice was laced with worry.
She wasn’t concerned about Benson’s strength. His defenses and regenerative abilities were formidable. He could endure prolonged battles.
But Lomond was powerful, and he had an army at his disposal. Could Benson hold out for three days? His death would be a major setback for the Hero Squad, for their plan.
“Loseweisse might contact you tomorrow. You’ll be leaving the capital. I want you to bring me along.”
Qin Chu’s words echoed in Ekaterina’s mind… He had anticipated this?
Ah, her beloved was truly brilliant.
She didn’t know why he wanted to go, but she would obey his every command.
“Of course. But I need to change first,” she said.
It was a reasonable request. Loseweisse, though eager to depart, couldn’t deny that Ekaterina’s current appearance was… unsuitable… for travel.
After an agonizing wait, Ekaterina finally descended the stairs, clad in her crimson armor, her long hair, now neatly tied in a ponytail, swaying behind her. Qin Chu had mentioned that he preferred her hair like this.
“Let’s go,” Loseweisse said, her voice urgent.
She reached for Ekaterina’s hand, but the Valkyrie subtly evaded her touch.
“I know you’re worried.”
“I’m concerned about Benson too, but there’s something we need to do before we leave,” Ekaterina said, her voice firm.
Loseweisse frowned. “What is it?”
“We’re bringing Qin Chu with us,” Ekaterina said, her gaze unwavering.
Loseweisse stared at her, her face paling. “Eka… Ekaterina, why? What are you planning?”
“Are you going to… to kill him… outside the city?”
She truly believed that Ekaterina intended to take Qin Chu to a secluded location and eliminate him. After all, her… episode… had been quite severe. She had even mistaken her for him.
If she hadn’t been so strong, she might have been killed.
But she couldn’t allow that to happen. Not because she cared about Qin Chu, but because his death would ruin their plans.
“Ekaterina, I know you hate him, but please, be patient. Don’t kill him yet…” She chose her words carefully. “We can’t eliminate him until the Demons are defeated, until we’ve found all of Jie Luo’s soul fragments…”
“Don’t worry, your suffering won’t last much longer.”
“Ronald is already searching for the fragments… He has a lead…”
Jie Luo’s soul fragments? That was information Qin Chu would be interested in.
Ekaterina’s eyes brightened. “Where?”
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