Chapter 7: The Daughter of Dark Blood

Nio’s target was the central part of the southern district of Solis City. Members of the dark forces were active there frequently, forcing Nio to change his route repeatedly to avoid encounters.

Nio noticed that the dark cultists mostly operated in pairs. Unfortunately, he had no time to act. These cultists would communicate from afar, and even if Nio managed to launch a surprise attack, it would surely alert others. Without the advantage of striking instantly, he would be trapped in a fierce battle, which would be tantamount to seeking death.

Through observation, Nio also found that the pairs usually consisted of one soldier and one civilian. Both wore masks of various designs. The simplest and most common type was a small black pouch with three holes, worn over the head to expose only the eyes and mouth.

The masks served to conceal their true identities. Given this, Nio easily deduced that these men could also blend in among ordinary people and pretend to be innocents when necessary.

Although he knew the demons didn’t pursue total annihilation not out of sudden kindness but because they had even more evil and insidious plans in the works, Nio still felt relieved. No one with a shred of conscience or courage could remain unmoved by such bloody acts of mass slaughter of innocents.

Nio guessed that these dark cultists were likely the lowest-ranking members within the dark forces. Due to their tasks, they didn’t wear armor but only carried weapons. As for what these tasks were, while searching for suitable infiltration routes, Nio witnessed some scenes and concluded that the dark cultists were collecting supplies and using burning to cover up their actions.

Like cults throughout history, the members of the Dark Cult were present in all walks of society.

For such an organization, aside from secrecy, what was more crucial was its organization, discipline, and clear objectives—these were the true dangers of cults. Compared to it, even a sudden uprising of 100,000 people was less terrifying than the terrorist activities orchestrated by a cult of 5,000.

Nio’s knowledge of the Dark Cult was still very superficial. But he could imagine that the supplies collected and burned by these cultists would, through certain channels, be circulated and utilized to become another form of weapon—silent yet powerful. An invincible army on the battlefield might be defeated or even turn against its own side because of such supplies. There were countless examples of this throughout human history.

However, Nio felt that saving the world was too far-fetched for him. Though fighting the demons required the efforts of everyone, what Nio saw in reality was that in the current supergroup fighting against the demons, the biggest problems lay among the middle and upper ranks, not the lower ones.

Just like the disaster that had struck Solis City, the public trials, from another perspective, were nothing more than gathering people legally and then allowing the demons to surround and capture them using their limited forces. It would be strange if no powerful figures from Solis City were involved.

Thus, in a rigorous system architecture, one negative element at the middle level means 100 people at the lower levels are at a loss; one defector at the higher level means 10,000 people at the lower levels work in vain. And this sense of loss and futility is often associated with the term “victims.”

The revolutionaries of the Free Fray Alliance once chanted during their marches: “Our hearts are passionate, but we only have one life. We abandon everything without hesitation—just for something that’s worth it.”

In contrast, Neo once heard a bard sing a ballad about the Light Forces: “Destruction is approaching; once-pillars of strength are now decaying. The cradle that birthed many heroes now lacks glory, its days are numbered…”

“Sigh…” Thinking of being betrayed, captured, and ultimately executed, Neo felt darkness surround him. He let out a soft sigh, rarely revealing his true feelings.

The enemy of “the mundane world” was far stronger than he had imagined. Unbreakable emotions, intertwined with his beliefs, created extremely complex contradictions—like a knot made of countless inseparable threads, seemingly impossible to untie…

Even someone like him, raised by humans since childhood, familiar with human ways of thinking, social culture, and traditions, was constrained in every way and unable to integrate into human society. How could he expect other races, who were originally strangers or even hostile, to get along harmoniously with humans? How could he expect the three kingdoms to truly unite to fight against the forces of darkness?

Especially this time, the demons chose a path of destruction through subtlety, using every cunning trick at their disposal…

In the darkness, or under the cover of the flames, Neo moved stealthily, crouched low.

A few dozen meters ahead, amidst the crackling of flames, the wild laughter of the Dark Cultists and the pleas for mercy of their victims were particularly harsh. Through the flickering light, Neo could even faintly see that naked figure forced to dance in the snow and cold wind, enduring the torment of the Dark Cultists’ shoves and twists.

His emotions told him that such evil demons, who shamelessly abused even innocents from their own race, should be killed one by one. But reason told him that rushing out now wouldn’t save that woman and would only cost him his life!

“If I can’t do it, then shouldn’t I not do it? What if it’s Mireille who’s being abused?”

That poor woman reminded Neo of Mireille’s gentle, sweet smile, her tender eyes untouched by the mundane world…

Thures Manor was less than 50 miles from Solis City. Neo was very worried that the manor might be caught in the chaos. Moreover, the guards hired by Lord Manmoris were no good—once they heard any disturbance, they might dare to harm Lord Manmoris’s family.

Gripping his teeth, Neo moved silently, bypassing those Dark Cultists. The brutally abused woman had successfully drawn their attention, giving Neo a chance to break into the heart of the commercial district. Yet he chose to ignore her. The guilt tormented him, causing unbearable pain.

Yet, in Neoh’s final glance back, a sarcastic and chilling scene unfolded…
“Alright, I’ve confirmed that guy is a little pervert—no need to act anymore.” The woman who had been pushed around suddenly spoke up. The dark cultists immediately stopped what they were doing, and the noisy shouting and lewd laughter ceased.
Only one of them remained, still staring greedily at the woman’s private parts, chuckling foolishly. At that moment, he stood out sharply.
Someone handed over a fur coat, and another brought a pair of short boots with silver-metallic heels and tips. Clearly accustomed to being served, the woman stretched out her arms and legs, put on the boots and the coat, then strode over to the still-chuckling dark cultist.
“Am I beautiful?” she asked, opening her fur coat to expose her private parts shamelessly.
“Beautiful… truly beautiful!” The dark cultist, still unafraid, stared at her with lustful eyes, drool glistening at the corners of his mouth.
Pfft!
In her hand, wrapped in dark light, now appeared a throbbing heart. She skillfully drank the blood pumped out by the heart, then licked her lips. “Mm, the blood from the heart—quite delicious.”
Thud! The dark cultist, with a hole in his left chest, collapsed to the ground, his body twitching from time to time.
The group of dark cultists fell silent as if struck by fear.
Without explaining anything, the woman swayed her hips and walked over to another dark cultist.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please forgive me, my lady!” the cultist knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.
“What did you do wrong?” she asked casually as she walked, casually tossing the heart from her right hand. The dark light around her hand faded, revealing her delicate, blood-free fingers again.
“Um… eh…”
“If you don’t speak, I’ll dig out your heart too.” Her voice and tone remained soft, as she stared at her fingernails, as if each tip bore a stunningly beautiful flower.
“I shouldn’t have touched… that part of you…” the cultist replied nervously.
“Giggle, giggle, giggle…” The woman let out a series of bell-like laughs, then suddenly stopped and said coldly, “Use which hand? Chop it off yourself!”
“Huh?”
“Think the punishment is too mild? Cut off your whole arm!”
The cultist didn’t dare hesitate anymore. With grit and determination, he drew his sword, tucked it under his arm, and swung it upward, severing his left arm. With a pained groan, he nearly fainted.
“Mm, you do have some courage after all.” The woman walked over to the cultist, who was trembling either from pain or fear. She gently touched the wound with her delicate fingers. The blood glowed, and the wound shrank, forming clusters of blood vessels that resembled plant roots yet moved like tiny snakes.
“Pick up your severed arm.” Her voice remained soft, but to the cultist’s ears, it sounded like heavenly music.
He clumsily picked up his severed arm. With another gentle touch from her, the cut healed, blood vessels forming and intertwining. With a flash of red light, the arm reattached, moving freely—except for a blood-red scar.

“Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord!” the Dark Cultist hurriedly expressed his gratitude.
The woman, who had played the trick of thunder and rain with a smile on her face, suddenly leaped forward at incredible speed, leaving a trail in the air. By the time she landed, she had already jumped nearly 30 meters away.
She scanned the surroundings for a while before suddenly laughing and murmuring, “Little thing, quite clever…”
Nio, who had watched the whole scene from over a hundred meters away, had no idea he had been called a “little thing.”
Thud, thud, thud! Heavy footsteps echoed in the darkness. Soon, the Burning Evil Fire Puppet turned around from a street corner. To the woman’s surprised gaze, the puppet walked straight to where Nio had stood, paused for about 30 seconds, then continued on its way, never giving the woman or the Dark Cultist a second glance.
Watching the puppet fade into the distance, the woman tightened her fur coat, her eyes gleaming with astuteness. “If it can catch Lady Dantestine’s interest, this ‘little thing’ might just be quite useful…”