“There’s still more.”
Sovinia said, hiding behind the shattered ice shield, precisely blocking the Succubus Heavenly King’s claws piercing through the ice crystal debris with the blade of the Moonlight Sword.
The clash of blade and keratin produced a dull sound.
She sidestepped to deflect the force, her face expressionless as she continued speaking in that cold, clear voice: “Perhaps my chastity is providing the mana.”
The Succubus Heavenly King was stunned.
By this time, Wohard had also recovered his movement.
He let out a low roar, gripped his greatsword, and charged forward in large strides.
His footsteps echoed through the empty side hall, faster than before.
“You two dogs!” the Succubus Heavenly King shrieked, knowing there was no retreat left.
Her face twisted with madness and desperation.
“I still have one last move!”
With that, she inhaled sharply, her chest heaving high, then let out a piercing roar:
“Oh oh oh hoh hoh hoh!”
The sound was less a roar and more like… some kind of inappropriate moan.
Accompanying the scream, the entire side hall was flooded with dazzling pink light.
Countless mirror illusions appeared out of nowhere, repeatedly refracting everyone’s figures, creating a kaleidoscope of chaos.
A thick, sweet fragrance filled the air, and countless bright red rose petals rained down like a luxurious blood rain.
“What a ridiculous scream…”
Sovinia had dropped to the ground on instinct the moment the light burst forth, her face pressed against the cold stone bricks.
‘This move’s sound effects are truly indecent,’ she cursed inwardly.
Her vision was completely blocked by pink light and swirling petals.
She only heard Wohard’s roar rising through the storm: “Divided Self! Guard the entrance! Use Holy Slash on anything that approaches!”
‘What a useful tool,’ Sovinia thought.
‘This stupid dog’s Divided Self is incredibly useful—can be a meat shield, a cannon turret, and even guard the house. Once this storm passes, if that woman tries to escape through the entrance, she’ll run right into Holy Slash. Perfect!’
The “Oh Hoh Hoh” storm came and went quickly.
As the pink light faded, Sovinia immediately leaped to her feet.
Her first glance went to the entrance.
Wohard’s blurry-faced Divided Self was still faithfully standing there, holding aloft its illusory greatsword, tip pointing forward in a vigilant stance.
It hadn’t swung, proving the Succubus Heavenly King hadn’t tried to break through the main entrance.
Good.
Sovinia’s gaze then swept across the side hall, searching for the Succubus Heavenly King.
She found her.
The woman who had been so arrogant moments ago was now kneeling half-upright before a wall on the side of the hall.
That solid stone wall had been clawed into a half-man-high pit by her sharp claws.
Fresh scratch marks and fading pink mana embers lingered at the pit’s edge.
But she hadn’t broken through.
Her body seemed completely drained of strength.
The claw that could tear through air moments ago hung limply, a few long fingers twitching unnaturally.
The pink glow at her fingertips had already dimmed.
She panted heavily, sweat soaking the black hair on her forehead, a few strands sticking to her wheat-colored cheeks.
The Succubus Heavenly King reached out unwillingly, scraping her nails against the wall in futile effort, producing a piercing scratching sound.
“Wha… what’s happening…”
Her voice trembled with weakness, filled with incredulous terror.
“Why… are my muscles… paralyzed… can’t muster strength…”
Finally, the Manticore venom had taken effect.
Sovinia felt a surge of joy inwardly, but her face remained the same cold, unchanging mask.
She waved her hand, pointing the tip of the Moonlight Sword at the kneeling Succubus Heavenly King, and directly ordered:
“Wohard, attack.”
Her tone was flat, completely different from before when she hid behind Wohard’s Divided Self and called out “Lord Hero.”
Wohard didn’t hesitate.
He roared and charged forward, raising his Demonic Greatsword high.
Aiming at the Succubus Heavenly King’s back, he activated [Holy Slash] .
Holy light flashed!
“No!”
The Succubus Heavenly King felt the lethal threat from behind and let out a desperate scream.
She twisted her body with all her might, trying to activate her ever-reliable “Supernatural Charisma” to deflect this attack.
She used her last ounce of strength to position herself in the most tempting pose that could provoke male desire.
Her long legs wrapped in black stockings curled, outlining a breathtaking curve.
But this time, Wohard’s blade didn’t deviate much.
The power of Holy Slash pierced through her back irresistibly.
The Succubus Heavenly King let out a miserable shriek.
She was sent flying forward like a ragdoll by the immense force, rolling several times before stopping.
She leaned against the wall in disgrace, one hand clutching her left arm, which was leaking pink blood, and the other supporting her body on the ground.
She lifted her head with difficulty.
The once-beautiful face was now etched with fear and pain.
“Don’t… don’t kill me…”
She panted, tears welling in her golden eyes.
She looked pitifully at Wohard, who was approaching step by step with his greatsword.
“Lord Wohard… Lord Hero… I… I can be your slave… you can do anything to me… truly… anything you want…”
To survive, she had completely abandoned her dignity as a Heavenly King.
She tried her best to arch her chest, making her body curves more alluring.
Under the torn long dress, the black stockings were even more damaged from rolling around.
The lace-trimmed stocking tops at her thighs were faintly visible.
A section of smooth thigh was nearly completely exposed to the air, creating a strong visual impact against the black silk fabric.
Her voice carried a crying tone, full of temptation and pleading.
If only the other party nodded, she would immediately offer everything and more.
She continued crying: “I… I don’t want to die yet.”
“Fine then,” Wohard’s voice was ice-cold.
“Sovinia, you deliver the finishing blow. I’ll watch.”
With that, he walked to the Succubus Heavenly King’s side, his greatsword at the ready.
His posture clearly said that if she made any move, he would immediately cut off her head.
Sovinia nodded inwardly.
‘This stupid dog really is experienced in battle. Too bad his intelligence is far beneath mine, so he can only be a dog.’
She didn’t approach immediately.
Instead, she gripped her sword and advanced slowly, step by step.
She needed time.
One turn had ended.
The discard pile was being reshuffled.
‘Come on, come on, give me a [Blazing Strike+3].’
The final blow must be delivered by her, so she could get the card and treasure chest.
The Succubus Heavenly King watched the cold expression on Sovinia’s face, saw the undisguised killing intent in her eyes, and her expression slowly shifted from pleading to despair.
She knew begging was useless.
As Sovinia’s sword drew closer, she suddenly let out a series of hysterical laughs:
“Hehe… hehehe… You want to kill me? You… impostor!”
Her gaze darted between Sovinia and Wohard, venom filling her eyes.
“Lord Hero, aren’t you curious? This woman knows the paths of the Demon Castle better than anyone, even better than me, a Heavenly King!”
“She says she wants to escape the Demon Castle, but she’s heading toward the area where Kimi’s head might be hidden!”
Wohard’s eyes flickered.
“Kimi’s head? The one I cut off? Does it—”
Sovinia suddenly accelerated her steps.
The Moonlight Sword in her hand turned into a silver flash, thrusting straight at the Succubus Heavenly King’s throat.
Seeing Sovinia’s sudden attack, the Succubus Heavenly King quickened her speech, firing off words like cannon fire: “Kimi’s head must contain all his power and secrets—”
Ptuh.
Sovinia’s sword arrived, wreathed in flames.
The sharp tip precisely pierced through the Succubus Heavenly King’s neck, cutting off her remaining words.
The Succubus Heavenly King’s eyes flew wide open.
Her golden pupils were filled with unwillingness and hatred.
“Heh-heh” sounds came from her throat, as if she wanted to say more.
“You… how… Kimi the Coldhearted’s… ability…”
These were the last words she left in this world.
Sovinia mercilessly twisted the blade, yanked it out, then sent an explosive burst of flame toward the wound.
The fire burned away the light purple veil on the Succubus Heavenly King’s face, revealing her even more bewitching features beneath.
She didn’t leave a corpse.
At the moment of death, her body began to burn, turning into ethereal pink flames.
But suddenly, she let out a piercing wail:
“Mother—!”
Sovinia swung her sword again, beheading her.
Her head rolled off her neck and hit the ground.
Even through the open mouth, she was still crying “Mother!”
Sovinia’s eyes were quick.
She swung her sword again, splitting the still-screaming head in two.
The pink flames surged high, then completely extinguished.
The corpse vanished entirely.
All that remained was a pile of tattered court dress fabric and two similarly shredded black thigh-high stockings.
Sovinia cursed inwardly.
‘She knows something.’
Her heart guilty, she immediately turned to face Wohard.
He looked thoughtful, muttering something about Kimi’s head.
Sovinia quickly said:
“Succubi are best at sowing discord.
They love to spout nonsense before death, saying half-truths to shake people’s resolve.
Making lovers turn against each other and brothers kill each other is their favorite game.”
“Hm.”
Wohard nodded, seemingly accepting this explanation.
Sovinia breathed a silent sigh of relief.
“But,” Wohard continued, “if you hadn’t said that in the Demon Race language, it might have been more convincing.”
Sovinia’s heart leaped.
She only then realized that in her panic, she had explained herself in fluent Demon Race language.
“I… I was imprisoned for too long…”
She quickly lowered her head and said, “Speaking it for so long, I unconsciously…”
“I understand.”
Wohard sighed.
‘Dodged that one again,’ Sovinia sneered inwardly.
‘This stupid dog’s brain really isn’t that sharp.’
Crisis averted.
Now was time to tally the spoils.
First, the cards.
She reached out and touched the golden question mark card’s phantom, which hovered above the Succubus Heavenly King’s remains.
Three golden card phantoms appeared before her.
[Unwavering Stand] : 2 Cost, Skill, Gold Card.
Gain 8x Defense this turn.
[Greater Elf Form] : 3 Cost, Ability, Gold Card.
Gain 2 Mana at the start of each turn.
[Moonlight Blessing] : 0 Cost, Skill, Gold Card.
Draw 3 cards, gain 2 Cost.
This card disappears after use and does not enter the discard pile.
Sovinia didn’t hesitate.
She directly chose [Moonlight Blessing] .
Zero cost activation, instantly replenishing three hand cards and two cost.
This was a strong opening card.
She selected [Moonlight Blessing] .
Then, she crouched down to search through the remains.
Apart from a pile of rags, there were only the two torn black stockings.
Sovinia picked up a stocking and glanced at it.
An involuntary thought sprang into her mind: ‘With my long, slender legs, I’d look very seductive in these.’
But she immediately suppressed that thought.
‘Are you kidding? These are a dead person’s belongings. There’s no need for me to wear such provocative things. Besides, my current surface identity is the noble Elven Princess. How could I wear something so corrupted?’
More importantly, that stupid dog was watching.