A dozen or so light spheres came whistling from all directions.
Lilia’s mind went blank.
Dodge?
The Magic Rope around her neck was tightly held by Lucia.
Her range of movement was only three meters around her—there was nowhere to hide!
She could only brace herself!
“Meow!”
She screamed, raising her hands to fire energy blasts in a frenzy.
The instinct to survive overpowered everything.
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Energy bullets shot from her palms—she couldn’t even aim.
All she could do was fire wildly at the approaching light spheres by instinct.
The first light sphere grazed her cheek, the scorching heat burning her skin.
The second, by luck, she hit, and it exploded into sparks midair.
The third, the fourth—
Lilia flailed, turning into a frenzied firing turret.
Her Spirit Force drained at a terrifying speed.
“Too slow.”
Lucia’s cold voice rang out behind her, and the rope yanked tight.
Lilia staggered, losing her balance.
At that moment, a light sphere struck from her blind spot, hitting her square in the back.
“Bang!”
She felt as if struck by a hammer, flying forward and landing heavily on the carpet.
“Ugh… It hurts, meow…”
Lying on the floor, she felt like her bones were about to fall apart.
“Get up.”
There wasn’t a hint of sympathy in Lucia’s voice.
Lilia struggled to rise.
But her back burned with pain—she couldn’t muster any strength.
“I said, get up.”
The rope pulled again.
She coughed as it choked her.
She could only support her upper body with her arms, kneeling on the floor in humiliation.
She glared up at Lucia, tears shimmering in her eyes.
“You… demon! Meow!”
“You can’t even withstand this level of attack—how do you intend to resist me?”
Lucia looked down at her.
“With your pitiful pride?”
Lilia choked.
Right.
With what, exactly?
With her weak Fireball Spell?
Or with the so-called Hero’s Soul, already long gone?
A sense of helplessness washed over her.
“If this is all you’re capable of, then this Game should end.”
Lucia’s voice was tinged with disappointment.
“I’ll strip away your consciousness and turn you into a true Pet who only eats, sleeps, and begs for affection.”
Strip away her consciousness?
Lilia’s pupils shrank.
No!
She didn’t want that!
She didn’t want to become a mindless, soulless doll!
Fear instantly crushed her pain and exhaustion.
“I… I can still go on! Meow!”
She gritted her teeth, forcing herself upright on trembling arms.
She stood tall, chest heaving with ragged breaths.
But in those heterochromatic eyes, the fire of defiance blazed anew.
“Again! Meow!”
Lucia looked at her stubborn figure.
A flicker of approval flashed in her blood-red eyes.
“Very good.”
She snapped her fingers again.
This time, over twenty light spheres appeared in the air, faster and with even more unpredictable trajectories.
Lilia took a deep breath, focusing to her utmost.
Her brain went into overdrive.
The paths of over twenty light spheres were quickly analyzed and broken down into countless data points in her mind.
Speed, angle, predicted impact—
She moved.
No longer firing wildly, but executing precise, rhythmic shots.
Within the confined space, she weaved and dodged, minimizing movement while evading attacks.
Each shot struck down an incoming light sphere perfectly.
Her actions were filled with a dangerous, lethal beauty.
Lucia held the rope, watching in silence.
She didn’t interrupt again, only observing the small figure unleashing astonishing potential amid the barrage.
This little one always managed to surprise her in desperate situations.
Just then, the study door was gently knocked.
“Your Majesty.”
Lilith’s voice.
“Come in.”
Lilith entered, carrying a tray with Lucia’s Night Snack.
When she saw the scene in the study—
Her purple eyes trembled violently.
What did she see?
Her Majesty, using a Magic Rope to leash the Silver-haired Little One like a dog.
And that little one wore a Collar with Ring around her neck, radiating shame.
She was battered and bloodied, dodging and countering a barrage of magic attacks.
Her dress was torn, face and arms covered in burns from the light spheres—utterly wretched.
But her eyes shone fiercely.
Lilith’s hand trembled on the tray.
She had served Her Majesty for three hundred years and had never witnessed such… an absurd sight.
Her Majesty—what on earth was she doing?
Was this training?
Or simple torment?
Lilia also noticed Lilith’s arrival.
When she saw Lilith’s shocked expression—
Her cheeks burned hot.
She’d been seen!
By the Head Maid, no less!
At her most miserable, most humiliating moment!
“Head Maid! Don’t look! Meow!”
Lilia shouted instinctively.
She wanted to hide, but the rope around her neck held her fast.
She could only remain exposed in her wretched state under Lilith’s gaze.
In that instant of distraction, a light sphere broke through her defense and slammed into her shoulder.
“Meow!”
She cried out in pain, collapsing to one knee.
All the light spheres vanished at once.
Silence returned to the study.
Only Lilia’s ragged breathing on the floor remained.
And the faint clink of the silver ring around her neck, trembling.
“Jingle.”
That clear “jingle” echoed sharply in the deathly quiet room.
Lilia knelt on the floor, head bowed low, silver bangs covering her eyes.
She could feel two gazes upon her.
One from behind, laced with amusement and scrutiny—Lucia’s.
The other from the doorway, full of shock and confusion—Lilith’s.
Shame drowned her like a tidal wave.
She’d rather be struck dead by those light spheres.
Anything but let Lilith see her like this.
This hurt worse than death.
“Lilith.”
Lucia finally spoke, breaking the suffocating silence.
“What do you think of my new Pet’s performance today?”
Lilith’s body stiffened.
Her Majesty was asking her opinion?
How should she answer?
Praise her performance?
That would be admitting to this outrageous “training.”
Say she performed poorly?
But she had just witnessed the little one’s explosive potential and fighting spirit under pressure.
It was a trap either way.
Lilith lowered her eyes, setting the tray on a nearby table.
Then she walked over to Lucia and bowed.
“Your Majesty, the young lady’s progress… is beyond imagination.”
She chose the safest, most objective answer.
Sticking to the facts, free of personal feelings.
“Is that so?”
Lucia smiled faintly.
“I thought so too.”
She tugged the Magic Rope in her hand.
Lilia was forced to lift her head, meeting Lilith’s gaze.
Seeing Lilith’s complicated expression—
Lilia’s face turned even redder, and she quickly looked away.
“Progress alone isn’t enough.”
Lucia’s voice came again.
“She needs more… discipline.”
At those words, Lilith’s pupils shrank.
More… punishment?
“All right, you may leave now.”
Lucia waved her hand, unwilling to continue the topic.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lilith bowed and turned to go.
As she passed Lilia, her steps faltered, but she said nothing, hurrying out.
The study door closed softly.
Once again, only the two of them remained.
Lucia held the rope, walking over to Lilia and squatting down to meet her eyes.
“What’s wrong? Embarrassed that Lilith saw you?”
Lilia turned her head away, silent.
But her trembling body and tail clamped tightly behind her said everything.
“You need to learn to get used to it.”
Lucia reached out, gripping her chin.
She forced Lilia to turn and face her.
“As my Pet, everything about you will be displayed before my servants.”
“Your obedience, your resistance, your joy, your humiliation……”
Her fingertips traced gently along Lilia’s chin.
“All of it exists solely to please me.”
Lilia bit her lip, her heterochromatic eyes full of defiance and anger.
“It seems today’s training wasn’t enough.”
Lucia released her and stood.
“Your stamina is as stubborn as your mouth.”
She pulled the rope, dragging the kneeling Lilia to her feet at her side.
“Tomorrow, we’ll change locations for our lesson.”
Lilia’s heart leapt to her throat.
Change locations?
To where?