Darkness staggered a few steps, clutching the gash on her shoulder, her face twisted as she glared at Sistem.
She felt this was the worst day of her life.
Why was she so unlucky?
She had left her homeland and endured humiliation to lurk within the kingdom for the revival of the Demon Race, only for a traitor of the Demon Race to ruin everything.
In the end, it was still Darkness who underestimated the enemy.
She hadn’t paid enough attention to Liyakade.
Back when she decided to have Alice release Magic to check the hall during Liyakade’s test, Darkness should have prepared more for Liyakade’s sharp perception.
Because of Darkness’s slight oversight, Liyakade was able to catch the information and see through Darkness’s plan.
“It seems you’re at the end of your rope.”
Sistem looked down at Darkness from above.
Darkness’s Magic could only be released beside shadows or herself, so Sistem had been using Wind Element to float in midair.
Even though Darkness was already seriously injured, Sistem still gave her due respect.
But…
If Alice wasn’t eliminated and Lord Minotauros came to lead the Demon Race, how could they ever unify and revive?
The Magic and Souls she had secretly gathered over the years hadn’t even been given to Minotauros to consume.
If she fell here, the Demon Race would be finished!
“Die.”
With Sistem’s command, the Giant Sword of the Wind Giant swept toward Darkness like a rainbow.
However, at that moment, Darkness revealed a strange smile.
“The revival of the Demon Race is not yet complete. I will never die here!”
As Darkness’s words fell, several massive purple tentacles erupted from the surface of the Lake.
A pale blue curtain of water rose before Darkness, blocking her, and the tentacles wrapped around the arm of the Wind Giant.
“What?”
Sistem hurriedly looked toward the Lake.
A giant purple octopus had emerged, half its head above the surface, an overwhelming aura surging forth.
She recognized the type of monster at a glance.
It was a Purple Abyss Demon Octopus, which only survived in vast bodies of water.
Normally, it could reach LV.50 in its juvenile stage, and once it matured, it would be above LV.60.
The Purple Abyss Demon Octopus before her, judging by its size, had clearly reached adulthood.
From the thickness and length of its tentacles, it had already reached LV.70—just slightly lower than Sistem and Darkness.
“Cough…”
Darkness covered her mouth and coughed up a mouthful of black blood.
“Purple Abyss Demon Octopus, stop her for me!”
With that, Darkness slipped back into the shadows.
This was one of the common innate skills of the Demon Race.
Just as Liyakade had controlled rats earlier to cause trouble for Eric, the Demon Race possessed the power of Domination over low-tier monsters and creatures.
As long as a monster lacked intelligence or was less intelligent, and its level was below Darkness’s, it would be subject to her Domination.
Of course, the number she could control was limited.
For low-level Shadow Wolves and Swarms she released earlier, due to the significant level gap, lack of intelligence, and their shared attribute with Darkness, they were easier for her to Dominate, allowing her to control large groups at once.
But for monsters like the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus, whose level was close and attribute differed, Darkness could generally only control one at a time.
Moreover, Darkness was already severely wounded.
Controlling the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus was an even greater drain on her.
She had discovered the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus at the bottom of the Lake earlier, but thinking herself safe, she hadn’t wanted to disturb it.
After all, the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus would be much weaker away from the water.
Even if Darkness used Domination to attack Liyakade and the others with it, it would be useless, only wasting her own mental strength and Magic, and slowing her wound’s recovery.
But thankfully, there was such a monster in the Lake, allowing Darkness to escape at such a critical moment.
“Don’t even think about running!”
Wind Blades surged around Sistem, shooting toward Darkness.
Purple bubbles continued to rise from the tentacles.
With several loud pops, water bubbles burst one after another, blocking all the Wind Blades.
At the same time, purple gas kept emerging from the shattered bubbles.
Poison.
“Damn it.”
Sistem flashed backward.
With both purple poisonous mist and purple bubbles interfering, even with the Eagle Eye Scroll, Sistem couldn’t track Darkness’s position.
The purple poison mist was highly paralyzing.
A single breath would immobilize a human, and even the Demon Race wouldn’t last long inside it.
Only Light Element could completely purify the toxic mist.
The tentacles of the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus were also extremely poisonous and adhesive.
If entangled, one would be drained dry by its suckers.
At this moment, Darkness had already released her Domination over the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus.
She was no longer able to control it, but her purpose was achieved.
She used the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus to protect herself, and when Sistem attacked it, Darkness released her control, causing the monster’s hatred to focus entirely on Sistem.
Even without further Domination, the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus would now attack Sistem.
“Tch.”
Sistem had no intention of continuing the fight.
Originally, Liyakade’s mission for Sistem wasn’t to execute Darkness herself.
As a high-ranking Demon Race, Darkness had too many abilities.
If Darkness had any tricks left, Sistem would be in danger.
Her task was only to restrain and locate Darkness, dealing as much damage as possible.
The real execution depended on Alice.
Therefore, after exchanging a round with the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus, Sistem considered retreating.
Such a monster was too dangerous, and even if its level was lower, Sistem didn’t want to risk fighting it.
Besides, the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus couldn’t leave the Lake for long.
As long as she avoided battle and waited for Alice, it would be fine.
However, when Sistem turned to leave, she discovered that four tentacles, along with purple poison mist and bubbles, had already blocked the path behind and above her.
“…What a pain.”
“Ka –“
The other four tentacles that had ensnared the Wind Giant tightened and contracted with the force of the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus.
With a cracking sound, the green body disintegrated instantly.
Then, eight tentacles—four in front and four behind—whipped toward Sistem from all directions with a roar that tore through the air.
If struck by such an attack, Sistem would be killed by the immense force even without being drained by the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus’s suckers.
The poison mist and bubbles continued to constrict Sistem’s space, making it nearly impossible to avoid both inhaling the toxic gas and the tentacle strikes in such an area.
However, in terms of restraining poison mist, aside from the purification of Light Element, the next most effective was Wind Element.
A fierce wind pressure spread instantly from around Sistem.
That’s right.
Wind Blades formed from compressed Wind Element would only cut through bubbles, releasing more toxic gas, but what if it was just a gale?