"Merka..."

Like a child caught doing something wrong, Samael hesitated and stopped what she was doing.

But to her surprise, as soon as she let go, Manchester's head tilted back and she passed out.

"Samael, do you want to make a clean break?"

Blushing with embarrassment, Samael looked away, unsure of what to say.

"Merka, I am not..."

"Who is she? Is she one of Oedipus' henchmen?" Merka brushed off Samael's complex emotions and walked over, briefly checked Manchester, who had no signs of life.

"That's right, but she's unconscious. In this state, I cannot retrieve her memories."

The shadow beside them regretfully informed Merka.

"Samael, listen carefully."

"We have only one chance."

Merka's seriousness startled Samael, who folded her wings, composed herself with a touch of sadness, sat down, and perked up her ears to listen to Merka's words.

"Next, bring this woman with us."

"I have two tasks for you."

"First, no matter what method you use, you must temporarily wake her up."

Merka grabbed the almost completely naked woman by the hair, wound a small rock in her hair, and tightly tied a knot.

"You're leaving yourself alone to face them. Aren't you afraid?"

Seeing through Merka's intentions, the shadow's unexpected concern caused Merka's hands to pause momentarily.

"Afraid... of course I am."

Samael noticed that even Merka's knuckles were trembling slightly.

"But it is something I must do."

"If I don't come to Erisburg, then Turing will be the one to bear these trials."

"If I don't do it, then Turing will suffer from the consequences."

"I... won't let that happen."

Merka's expression became resolute as she took out a walkie-talkie she had hidden in her clothes from the Curseborn outpost.

"And there is one more thing, I hope Samael can destroy something for me."

Merka turned to the shadow and spoke.

"Shadow, you know what I'm about to do, right?"

The shadow nodded, took the walkie-talkie from Merka, and using the same technique as before, turned it into a mechanical duck.

"The Mulan people will be here soon."

"In my vision, they are already very close."

"But with his cautious nature, he will surely leave some people near the syringe station."

"If something happens, they will most likely contact the people on the other side of the mountain using the walkie-talkie, and wake up Jade."

"Which means there will definitely be a walkie-talkie at the syringe station."

"Once we know the direction of the signal, Samael can use this mechanical duck to locate the syringe."

"And destroy it."

Merka took the little duck from the dark shadow and handed it over to the oblivious Samael.

"What are you talking about...?"

"What have you been through during our time apart?"

Samael couldn't see the dark shadow, so Merka's actions seemed a bit confusing.

With a hint of fatigue, Samael's tone became softer and gentler. Merka couldn't help but smile inwardly, as she never expected the tough Samael to have such a side.

"In short, didn't Samael pretend to be a demon before?"

"Just keep pretending to be a demon."

"While pretending to be a demon, help me wake up the lady who will fight alongside you. It shouldn't take long, just a moment."

"And help me destroy a giant machine. The little duck will show you its location."

"Any other questions?"

In the midst of the blazing fire, Merka's glass face mask turned red from the heat, and the flickering colors of the fire resembled dancing fire clouds on her porcelain-like fireproof suit.

Merka's obsidian eyes were hidden beneath the glass shield, shining with a breathtaking radiance amidst the vibrant hues of fire.

Samael couldn't help but be amazed.

Samael was truly desperate, really, really desperate.

During the ten plus years of captivity in Erisburg, she could only vent her grievances with Mammon day after day, her every moment suffused with hatred and resentment. When she saw the adorable Turing being born, she was genuinely afraid that Turing would end up in the same situation as them in the end.

But somehow, every time she saw this boy who could face any difficulty and overcome it with determination, she regained a bit of hope.

What kind of flavor does life have... exactly?

That rich, creamy taste seemed to be right under her tongue.

Samael couldn't wait to taste it.

"But... I really have no magic left."

Samael's eyes dimmed once again.

"I can't transform into a demon anymore. My true form is just a monster covered in tentacles."

Merka chuckled softly and reached out her hand towards Samael, who was sitting on the ground.

"I thought it was something serious."

"Come here, get closer to me."

Merka pulled Samael up and began to silently recite a spell with her lips.

"What is this...?"

"Power is surging endlessly!"

From the soles of her feet to the tips of her hair, white crystalline formations began to condense, one by one, on Samael's body. It didn't take long for Samael to transform into a white sculpture.

A flawless halo appeared above her head.

"Descent of the Holy Son, this is a magic designed specifically for angels."

Merka smiled and let go of the hand she was holding with Samael.

"Hey, hurry up! The flames are burning most intensely over here. That demon is likely to be here!" The voices of various searchers were intermittently heard, as if several of them were only separated from Merka's location by a layer of fallen logs.

"That...you need to come with me quickly, it's very dangerous here!"

Samael once again activated his dropback ability, controlling his withered yellow tentacles, intending to transform into a dragon and fly away.

Merka shook her head and said, "No, I have to stay."

"What..." Samael gasped.

"I have to stay and dispel Miss Diana's suspicion," Merka explained.

"I have very little magic left."

"If Miss Diana continues to believe that 'Turing is not participating, the current Turing is an impostor'."

"During the closing ceremony, I definitely won't be able to sustain dropback until the end of the competition."

"I also need to meet Miss Diana formally."

Watching Merka's pained smile, although Samael couldn't fully understand, he felt that things shouldn't be like this.

It was too risky, too forced.

Why do both Turing and you always want to sacrifice yourselves?

Always wanting to sacrifice themselves to fulfill something.

"That's too..."

Sensing someone approaching, Samael, now transformed into a dragon, finally took off amidst the flames, leaving behind Merka, who had transformed into Turing, in the midst of the fiery destruction.

"Turing!" a voice called out, stopping the stunned Merka.

Merka turned around to see a proud and unrestrained figure standing in the distance.

She was also wearing a fireproof suit, but she wasn't wearing a glass headgear, as if this sea of flames was nothing to her.