"How is this possible..."
No, how could this be?
Yes, haha, hahahaha!
How could this be!
That demon! Azicat!
How could she not be dead! Hahahaha!
Staring with vacant eyes at the pink-haired woman before him who held the divine artifact, the Blood Demon named Azicat.
For the first time, Imperial Emperor Modrek had the thought of retreat.
So everything he had done, abandoning his identity as a human, even willing to poison the entire Empire and entire kingdom to grasp that power.
This entire process, all his desperate efforts, were they all under her gaze?
"Heh, hahahaha! Hahahaha!"
Terrifying yet sweet laughter interrupted his thoughts. He saw Azicat grasp Blood Scythe's long handle with one hand, then drive it into the ground. The blood-colored scythe planted in the palace floor looked exactly like a sinister monument, announcing her return to the world.
"Say, Emperor of the Empire, do you know why you couldn't gain this weapon's recognition?"
"Why?"
Why? If this weapon truly belonged to no one but her, then why wasn't he enough, even after offering so much?
"Because you're not bad enough."
"What?"
Modrek began to carefully ponder these words. What did she mean? What did she mean he wasn't bad enough?
He wasn't stupid, and understood just how inhuman his actions were.
But could it be that even having gone this far, his actions were still within the category of ordinary people in this demon's eyes?
"I said, not enough."
"When did you?!"
In the instant Modrek blinked and opened his eyes again, Azicat was already before him.
"You have the face of someone destined to become a historical criminal."
As soon as she finished speaking, Azicat made a move Modrek couldn't understand at all—she actually grabbed his chin, the smile at her lips growing thicker.
"Heh, hehehehe, before you die, let me tell you something. The famous Dragon King Catania and I, Blood Demon Azicat, have always been the same person!"
"What are you saying?!"
How was that possible! Did that mean the catastrophe that swept across the entire continent was just one person's self-directed game of house?!
Heh, hahaha, this was impossible, absolutely impossible, right? Impossible.
"Now, do you believe it?"
As her pink hair turned white and her red pupils became golden vertical pupils, Azicat briefly transformed to look like Catania.
This wasn't Lily actually switching forms, of course, but Blood Demon Azicat's ability to casually change her appearance.
"You mean to say... to say!"
"So many people died, all just because you alone were?!"
"I was just playing a game. You're right."
"You... you..."
Modrek wanted to retreat, but at some point, a large group of blood-formed tentacles had bound his hands and feet completely. He couldn't even turn his neck.
"Olesha! Save me! You saw too! This is a real demon! We should! We should set aside our previous grudges and face her together mmph!"
Blood-scented tentacles rose from the ground and covered Modrek's mouth, leaving him only able to make muffled sounds.
"Stop calling her. She's been unconscious since earlier."
"Hehehe, look, look at that puddle of water beneath her. Am I that frightening?"
"Probably not. Look, you're still able to look me straight in the eye, which means I'm not that terrifying, right?"
"Mm, alright, self-introductions are over."
"Emperor, Mr. Modrek, has anyone ever told you that using other people's things carelessly comes with a price?"
"But me, I'm relatively lenient about such things."
"How about this—you just need to atone with death. How about it? Isn't that nice?"
"Be grateful."
"Mmph! Mmph mmph!"
No! How could! How could he! How could he just give up like this! That power! That power was right before his eyes!
Just a little more! Just a little more!
Modrek used his will to draw out his own blood, forming it into a blood-colored spear behind Azicat again. The spiral spear, like thorns, shot toward Azicat's back.
Ding!
But afterward, there was no sound of flesh tearing as Modrek had imagined.
He widened his bloodshot eyes, the shock on his face becoming tangible.
The attack he had unleashed with all his strength, at the cost of his own blood—a spear that could easily pierce dragon scales.
Was actually caught by Azicat with a turn of her head, using her teeth.
Crunch.
And as she closed her jaw, that spear shattered in her mouth just like that.
She chewed bit by bit, then swallowed the entire spear, and the blood overflowing from her lips also flowed into her mouth of its own accord.
"Ah, filthy blood, inferior low-grade stuff, but not bad. Just like those mongrel civilians you spoke of—exactly the same."
Exactly the same...
Hehehe, exactly the same...
He had struggled for half his life... only to end up with "exactly the same"...
Heh, hehehehe hahaha!
"Ahhhhh! Monster! You monster!"
"I'm a monster? Oh, yes I am. Hehehe hahahaha! I am a monster! You didn't just figure that out today, did you!"
Azicat laughed until her whole body shook. If you ignored her words, she really did look like a girl in the bloom of youth.
"Hahahahahaha! So you fundamentally have no power! You didn't think that after doing so much, you could escape being a weak human, did you!"
"And me! Whatever I want to do! No one in this world can stop me anymore!"
"Of course I'm not in a hurry to kill you. After all, your death is already decided—it's the fate I've pronounced upon you."
"You bastard! Do you think you're a god!"
"Of course I'm not a god. I just happen to, just happen to, be a tiny bit strong, just happen to be a tiny bit stronger than you."
"Alright, alright, you can go die now, Emperor."
"Wait! Don't! Stop!"
"What? You want to beg for mercy?"
"Yes! I'm willing to offer everything I have! To serve you! In exchange for my survival!"
As the tentacles binding him loosened, Modrek joyfully kowtowed.
Of course he wouldn't truly submit. He just needed to take a roundabout approach. In the future, he would definitely find a chance to eliminate this monster!
"Of course I accept your surrender."
"Thank you! Thank you! I! I'm eternally grateful!"
"Mm."
Without warning, Azicat turned around. A blood-colored tentacle appeared behind Modrek in an instant, its end spiraling and quickly forming a sharp point.
"Eternally grateful! I will definitely..."
"Hiss."
What? What happened? Why was his chest...
The tentacle pierced through Modrek's chest, puncturing his heart. His skin began to shrivel as the tentacle absorbed his blood.
Before him, Azicat turned back again, her lips once more spreading into that cruel smile.
"Haha! Hahahaha! You didn't really think I would spare you, did you?"
"Die! Suffer more! Scream louder! Look more desperate, more unwilling!"
Azicat showed an intoxicated expression, her hands gripping Modrek's now breathless neck.
"Although you're a man, Modrek, at this moment..."
"I have to admit, you die beautifully."