Shoooooosh-

Rain poured down like a flood, as if intent on drowning the world in water. Floodwaters surged as if to annihilate everything in their pathsawdust, bowls, wheels, water buckets, all swept away in the torrent. Within the confines of the room, everything churned violently, caught in the maelstrom.

And in the midst of it all stood Vikir.

Truth and falsehood. Disclosure and silence. Amidst the crossroads of choice, Vikir made a dry judgment no different from any other time.

I am night hound.

Those words marked the beginning of all change. It was a declaration that would alter much in the days to come.

The first change was evident in Sinclaires expression.

Astonishment. Distrust. Confusion. Suspicion.

All these intricate emotions stirred up a storm in her usually serene eyes.

Around that time

Clang!

Vikir flipped his Picaresque mask inside out, transforming into a dog, and in an instant, utilizing the sudden change in size, he slipped free from the grasp of the Demonic Dragons fist.

Whizz

Baby Madam, riding on Vikirs shoulder, spat out a strand of web.

Snap

Returning to his normal form, Vikir wrapped Sinclaire around his waist in the blink of an eye and leaped into the air, just like in the old Belial days.

Sinclaire, hanging onto Vikirs waist, murmured with hollow eyes.

Why, why Vikir? Why did you Why did you save me? Back then and now

Then why did you treat me kindly?

Raindrops finally fell from Sinclaires brimming eyes.

But Vikir couldnt simply stand by and watch her in that state.

Amidst the pouring rain and raging torrent, with everything being swept away at this very moment!

An opportunity to escape. This is the last chance.

Suddenly, the rising water overflowed into the middle of the room.

Splash! Clatter

Vikir rode atop a floating wheel, exerted all his strength to jab it, and pulled the spider thread wrapped around his left wrist.

Splash! Gurgle

The wheel, which had served as Vikirs foothold, broke apart, sinking into the water. High waves rose, completely engulfing the nearby piles of debris.

By a hairs breadth, Vikir narrowly dodged the wave and, pulling with all his might on the spider thread around his wrist, propelled himself vertically along the translucent wall.

And then, in an instant, he jumped once more.

Thud!

Since the height was slightly lower, Vikirs knees hit the edge of the room. Vikir felt a sinking sensation of pain and the gradual relief as he somersaulted in mid-air, then landed outside the mating room, still holding Sinclaire.

Thud!

Vikir landed on the ground, cradling Sinclaire. Simultaneously, a status window appeared before his eyes.

[Mission Complete] Escape from the Demonic Dragons Lab!

Surprisingly comfortable inside the Demonic Dragons room. With water, food, and a mate all provided. Is there really a reason to leave here for the harsh world outside?

A world where everything is provided except freedom, and a world with nothing but freedom. The choice solely lies in the challengers hearts~

Finally, the mission was cleared. It was indeed a harrowing escape drama.

Vikir gently lowered Sinclaire, whom he held at his waist, onto the black stone floor.

Eventually, Vikirs and Sinclaires gazes met.

After a brief silence, Sinclaire spoke first.

Familiar gaze.

A goal, and willing to make any sacrifice to reach it.

For a moment, Vikir was taken aback. There had been a similar conversation with Sinclaire before.

Ive only seen one other person with eyes like yours. My father.

A person like me, an ordinary one, moving forward toward a grand goal unimaginable to most. I can tell by your eyes. Youre the same kind of human as my father.

Tears welled up in Sinclaires eyes, trickling down her cheeks.

Vikir pondered whether to wipe away those tears or let them fall.

But then, the status window that appeared before Vikirs eyes swept away such considerations.

[Special Mission] Pursuit of the Enraged Demonic Dragon

If you think escaping means its all over, arent you being a bit naive?

Usually, when you try to escape, youll try to catch the escapee again, wont you?

If the escapee manages to hide somewhere Uh-oh!

Lets run away well until the gate opens! Good luck!

Simultaneously, something huge fell from above.

Roar!

The Demonic Dragons fist fell like a blue lightning bolt. Not content with turning the mating room into a sea and letting them escape, it also delivered a stinging blow, making it impossible for Vikir to leave the spoils of victory unclaimed.

Crash! Squeak!

Vikir had to withstand this heavy thunderbolt with his bare hands.

Ugh!?

Overwhelming weight. Shock beyond imagination. It was the fist of the Dragon Clan, once the strongest ruling species, now imbued with demonic power.

For Vikir, who couldnt exert his original strength, it was undoubtedly beyond his capacity to bear.

WooshCrack!

Skin tore, muscles ripped, bones broke. It felt like all the skin outside his body was burning, and his internal organs were melting away.

The pressure inside his body surged.

Mana veins connecting throughout his body were severed, and the mana, now directionless, spread out in all directions.

If it werent for the basilisks regeneration, mana eruption might have occurred long ago.

Then

!

Vikirs eyes narrowed.

Tssss

He saw the gate opening behind Sinclaire, leading downstairs.

It was a black oval gate, likely a one-person gateway leading to different places judging by its size.

*Ding!*

[Youve discovered Paradise on the 10th floor underground]

An escape route leading downstairs.

It indicated to Vikir and Sinclaire that they were almost there, right in front of them, just one step away.

But Vikir, currently bearing the Demonic Dragons fist, couldnt enter the gate.

Big brother!

Sinclaire quickly got up from her position.

And with what little mana remained, she drew a magic circle.

Flash! Boom

Sinclaires golden hand protruding from her hat began to support the ground and the Demonic Dragons fist. The pressure on Vikirs body slightly lessened. As the veins in his eyes receded, Vikirs vision also began to return to some extent.

At that moment

Vikirs and Sinclaires gazes met once again.

In that fleeting moment, Sinclaire saw it.

The wavering in Vikirs gaze.

And then, that gaze was soon obscured by a giant shoe.

Shoe?

In that instant when Sinclaires vision was completely covered by the puzzling sole

Whack!

Suddenly, Vikirs sole struck Sinclaires face.

!?

With a scream, Sinclaires head was thrown backward. But for Vikir, it was an inevitable action. In the situation where both his hands were occupied with the Demonic Dragons fist, Vikir had few options. He could only kick Sinclaire towards the gate on the other side.

!!!

Sinclaire was pushed backward and flew through the air, landing on the gate on the ground.

Gradually, the darkness inside the gate began to engulf Sinclaires body. Yet, even amidst this, Sinclaire desperately tried to rise and extended her hand.

Once again, the gazes of Vikir and Sinclaire met.

That moment was extremely brief, yet the silent conversation between their eyes, like fleeting moments, was much faster than that.

The demon is pure evil. An ignorant child wouldnt be foolish enough not to know that, right?

Treating you like a childConsidering your age, it doesnt seem like theres much of a difference

Although its not necessarily being on the side opposing absolute evil, at least in the moment of decision, I believe youll know which side to stand on.

What to see, what to believe, what choices to make, its entirely a personal matter.

The sting Vikir received from the Demonic Dragons fist, the power of defiance, and even the choice to risk his life to save Sinclaire at the last momentall of it was Vikirs decision, borne from his own beliefs.

Ah, no No!

As Sinclaire struggled to push through the suffocating pressure on her back

Thud!

The Demonic Dragons fist fell completely to the ground just in front of Vikir.

Everything underneath was obliterated beyond recognition.

Blood

Was the last thing that passed through Sinclaires vision as she fell into darkness through the gate.