‘I’m not dead? I’ve already seen my life flash before my eyes, so why am I still not dead?’
‘Did the evil demons use some filthy, ugly method to resurrect me?’
Hmm, she dared to think that.
In this world, magic that can resurrect people does exist, but the conditions for its use are usually more stringent and come at a greater cost.
However, one thing was certain—the genuine reality around her gradually convinced Linka that she was alive.
It hurt so much.
Besides the excruciating physical pain, even the air was scorching, as if she were inhaling chili powder, making every breath a torment.
But Linka held on.
Despite cold sweat beading on her forehead and her limbs trembling uncontrollably, she did not let the pain loosen her clenched jaw or allow the loathsome Demon Dragon before her to hear her moans.
As for this, Ka Xiya couldn’t care less.
Although she was a worthy opponent, that didn’t change the fact that she was ultimately an arrogant and foolish human.
Breaking into the Old Demon City and attempting a reckless prison break in the central city of the demons was utterly unforgivable.
It was only because her mother had given orders to treat prisoners well that Ka Xiya didn’t—otherwise, even if she let them live, she would have thrown these two humans into the harshest cells.
Those cells held prisoners who had committed similarly grave crimes.
Of course, there was also a mysterious area at the very bottom of the Black Prison Dungeon that only the Demon King had the authority to unlock.
It was said to hold someone who had nearly brought Yilisi to ruin.
But since her mother had spoken, Ka Xiya naturally wouldn’t act on a whim.
However, the hostility and defiance in this woman’s eyes inside the cell were far too obvious—it was practically a provocation.
‘Is she trying to make me angry~’
‘Looks like she doesn’t want to undergo demonic corruption~’
‘What a pity~’
Therefore, upon sensing Linka’s intent, a hint of mockery curled at Ka Xiya’s lips as she chose the most direct way to strike her opponent’s sore spot.
“If you can’t curse, then don’t force yourself.”
“Once you become a low-ranking demon retainer in a while, I think your speeches as a loser will become more polite.”
With that, Ka Xiya vanished, completely leaving the prison cell sealed with lava, indifferent to what the other might be feeling at that moment.
But credit where it’s due—her words had already dealt a significant mental blow to Linka.
Demonic corruption!
No!
That absolutely cannot happen!
Once corrupted, no matter how powerful a human is, they become a slave to the demons—no freedom, no dignity as a human, only eternal depravity and darkness.
Why did this have to happen to me!
Generally speaking, demonic corruption is not a high-probability event.
All told, there are three cases: first, winning the lottery—any non-demon life form, after being injured by a demon, has a tiny chance of being gradually assimilated.
The second is corruption caused by demon crystals, and the third is intentional conversion via magic—for example, Fei’ouna was infected by Yilisi and turned into a Demon Dragon.
Linka’s case essentially fell into the third category—due to the influence of dark healing magic, her body had begun to undergo demonic mutation.
Fei’ouna had already anticipated this.
Although causing her beloved disciple to undergo demonic corruption without her consent was very rude and disrespectful.
But compared to being turned into a marionette-like undead by Yilisi, this was already a good outcome.
Moreover, her intention from the start was to drag Linka into the mire, to completely sever ties with the Church and the Holmud Empire—forcing her corruption was an inevitable step.
Even if it was cruel, there was no choice—because that was the fundamental logic of this world.
For those who choose to place themselves in the vortex, how could there be any peaceful days?
As for Linka, there was another reason she didn’t want to be corrupted: on the first day she established her master-disciple relationship with her teacher, the teacher told her never to give up easily, to protect her heart like a stubborn stone—only then could she become a qualified shield-bearer.
At this moment, surely the teacher who was trapped in the same prison as her must not have yielded either…
Then as a junior, she must not bring shame to the Shield Hero!
But in reality, had Linka’s most revered and respected teacher truly not yielded?
If she knew that Fei’ouna had completely abandoned her former identity, not only falling in love with the Demon King but also bearing two adorable daughters for her, she would probably have a shattered heart and face a restructuring of her worldview.
However, Fei’ouna’s rechoice of life wasn’t simply due to experiencing the Demon King’s powerful education and reform—mainly, during her “imprisonment,” she understood many truths she had never considered before.
To be fair, back then she had indeed become a discarded pawn.
Slandered, set up, and not even granted a quick death.
And her name—when she became a traitor to the empire, it was used for propaganda for a while.
Besides that, Fei’ouna was like a nobody in the party—no one cared, no one paid attention.
As a saint blessed and recognized by the gods, she should at least have had a certain level of fame and popularity.
But the reality was that she had been a bothersome side character from start to finish.
Even when Fei’ouna found a technique to counter the Demon King and became the one the enemy feared most.
And what was the result?
Not only was she still sidelined, but her efforts and breakthroughs became her own death warrant.
Before being captured and taken away by Yilisi, Fei’ouna’s mentality was absolutely unshakable.
Even when treated unfairly, she always believed that everyone in the party was a loving family with no distinctions.
Of course, the initial party was indeed like that, but later, in order to form an all-saint party, the composition underwent some changes, and thus the naive and innocent Fei’ouna embarked on a path of pressure like a frog being boiled alive.
To be honest, it was already very hard for her to have survived all the way through.
And that was exactly what Yilisi said to Fei’ouna~
“You don’t really think the Demon King brought down the Shield Saint with just that little whip, do you?”
“Confirming each other’s kinks was just a pleasant surprise—the most important thing was communication and exchange.”
Although Yilisi’s manipulative analysis seemed deliberately seductive, what she said was also a big truth that could stand verification.
What did humans bring to Fei’ouna…
A life where pain far outweighed joy—was it really worth continuing?
But by her side, Fei’ouna could be a carefree fool.
In the end, the two of them, with complementary kinks and drawn to each other in battle as love-hate rivals, ended up together by chance.
Of course, the Demon King’s words couldn’t be completely trusted.
For example, now Fei’ouna had been forced into the role of governor of the Old Demon City.