Rein carefully shaped a bottle using her Mental Force Manifestation. She placed one of the newer, freshly grown tentacles inside, sealed the bottle immediately after cutting it off. In such airless, confined conditions, the tentacle would curl up and enter a dormant state, waiting for a suitable environment to revive.
After this, I still need to find a real bottle… Rein silently reminded herself to avoid forgetting. The Mental Force container was only temporary. If she forgot, the fate of these girls trapped on the walls would become hers too.
But Rein had no intention of saving them. Their bodies had been altered by the tentacles, turned into breeding grounds. Theoretically, females violated by tentacles were beyond saving. Cells secreted by the tentacles would overrun their wombs, multiplying uncontrollably. Neither medicine nor magic could eliminate them. Even one surviving cell would keep reproducing. The girl would only meet a tragic end, drained of all nutrients.
So rather than watch them die slowly, Rein preferred a quick death. At least it was a release.
"Careful!" Sophia shouted. But the distance was too great, and tentacles blocked the doorway, stopping her approach.
Rein glanced down at the sticky floor. Several tentacles crept cautiously toward her. They paused when they noticed her gaze, observing. Seeing no resistance, they lunged forward recklessly.
But no soft flesh met them. Instead, every tentacle touching Rein instantly burst into flames. Their roots sensed the fire and severed the connections immediately. The severed tentacles fell, their pink surfaces charred black, emitting a smell like grilled squid.
As a collective organism, the tentacles shared awareness. A single tentacle had a simple neuron, but together they formed a primitive brain. They instantly classified Rein as untouchable and retreated as she moved.
Rein ignored them. She touched one unconscious girl, her eyes rolled back. Torn clothes mixed with translucent liquid made Rein uncomfortable. This liquid was a potent aphrodisiac. In Gloria, underground black workshops often used it to make forbidden elixirs—a dangerous substance.
Sensing the danger, the tentacles withdrew instantly from the girl, letting her drop to the ground.
The girl regained slight consciousness but immediately began convulsing.
"Kill… kill me…" she mumbled through white foam.
"Mm." Rein nodded, covered the girl’s eyes, and manifested a Mental Blade. She thrust it straight through the girl’s chest. The girl shuddered a few times, then stopped breathing.
"Little Rein…" Sophia now pointed her short sword at Rein.
One teaching of the Holy See was: all humans are worth saving! Rein’s actions clearly violated her oath as a Holy Knight. But seeing the girls, Sophia felt it might be the most reasonable choice.
With that thought, Sophia stepped back several paces and turned away.
"Thank you for understanding, Sophia…" Manifested Mental Blades instantly filled the room, piercing through the chests of all the girls under Rein’s command.
