Death…

Facing death, wailing was the most useless thing—yet also the best way to vent fear and pain.

Of course, if injuries were so severe that even screaming was impossible, that was truly tragic.

Sen was fast, but this airship was neither too big nor too small—he had nowhere to hide.

Guided by the blood mist, Yuri stood on the third floor of the airship after casually crushing a few Carrion Eaters.

To be precise, the so-called noble district.

Compared to the chaos below, this place was almost excessively tidy.

The carpet still gleamed; oil paintings on the walls looked brand new. Bright lights gave an air of luxury and decay.

But this was just an illusion. Beneath the calm surface lurked dark, murderous intent!

As Yuri walked through the corridor into the central hall, a different scene greeted her.

Shattered carpet. Collapsed tables and chairs. Walls scorched with burn marks.

Nearby, a young man—just as described—was impaled by a long spear!

He wasn’t dead yet. Yuri sensed his flickering life force, too weak for even a scream.

Come to think of it, she faintly remembered him.

The noble youth who’d drawn attention boarding the airship.

Who knew who he’d offended? His state was utterly pitiful.

And whether intentional or not, the steel spear pierced a non-fatal spot—ensuring endless agony.

The blood oozing out steadily drained his life.

Yuri glanced at him once, then calmly looked away.

Save him? Sorry, she only wanted to kill now.

Casually scanning her surroundings, her brows furrowed slightly.

She suddenly turned back…

Maria and Zuo Yuan hadn’t followed!

She’d left them behind chasing Sen.

But with Maria’s abilities, she should’ve caught up by now.

And… when had they vanished?

…

After a silent moment, Yuri raised an eyebrow—no worry at all.

Unclear situations meant enemy tricks.

Sen’s sudden appearance and escape now seemed highly suspicious.

Like he’d deliberately lured her away.

Of course, she trusted her maid’s strength.

If Maria died easily, she wouldn’t deserve to follow Yuri.

As for Zuo Yuan…

Yuri’s face showed a trace of uncertainty. She barely knew that man.

“As that guy’s descendant, staying alive… shouldn’t be hard. He’s got cockroach-level vitality.”

Nodding to herself, the complexity on her face vanished.

She stretched lazily. The eerie air thickened. Below… would she act alone?

“Alone? How… wonderful. Then…”

Hiss!

A flash of crimson light—her pale fingers clamped around an attacker’s neck.

A hideous, ashen face. A body mangled beyond recognition.

Undoubtedly, a Carrion Eater.

But this one materialized from thin air, no warning.

Thud!

Her fingers tightened, crushing the fragile neck.

She tossed the corpse aside like trash.

Ordinary Carrion Eaters ignored corpses; their rotten brains craved only living scents.

This one was different. Someone controlled it from behind!

“No matter how many ants swarm, they can’t kill a dragon. I won’t play Plants vs. Zombies with you…”

Before her words faded, dozens of blood-red earth spikes erupted before Yuri. Each impaled a struggling monster!

“This illusion was set for me? Well done.”

Yes, an illusion!

A high-level one—half real, half fake, blurring truth.

Maria and Zuo Yuan had likely fallen into another while following her.

The enemy wanted to split them from the start.

Stepping around impaled Carrion Eaters, Yuri approached the noble youth and stopped slowly.

Sensing human presence or survival instinct, his lips trembled slightly.

Yuri tilted her head. Her crisp, icy voice echoed: “Answer my last question. Why abandon humanity to become a monster?”

Naturally, no reply.

Silence pressed in, broken only by Carrion Eater roars.

“Fine. Then you won’t get another chance to speak.”

No response. Yuri’s patience hit zero.

She couldn’t pinpoint the watcher’s location—but knew someone observed.

Why no attack? Doubt about her strength?

Or fear from the instantly killed Carrion Eaters?

No… perhaps waiting for the perfect moment.

“You know…”

Her eyes narrowed. A radiant smile spread. Her voice dropped to a lover’s whisper.

Her fingertip brushed the spear, staining with the youth’s blood.

She raised it to her lips, kitten-like, and licked gently.

“Blood tastes… delicious.”

Boom!!

As the sound cracked, the impaled youth exploded violently.

Blood splattered everywhere! But this was just the start…

“So, taste it…”

Yuri’s whisper triggered a nauseating stench of blood.

A crimson tide surged from her, sweeping all before it.

Crushing. Devouring!

The dozen impaled Carrion Eaters vanished instantly into the blood sea.

Undiminished, the tide raged outward!

The luxurious hall became a dam with burst gates—flooded with thick, scarlet blood!

Wood and steel swallowed by it rotted instantly, crumbling to dust.

The floor groaned under the weight.

Yuri stood at the tide’s heart, her smile deepening…

“Found you.”

A giant blood hand shot from the churning waves, fingers clawing upward with terrifying force.

Silvery streaks flashed around it—slicing the hand into pieces. It dissolved, raining blood.

“You… who are you?” Betty materialized, having just shredded another blood hand. She stared at Yuri’s faint smile, deadly serious.

They were in an illusion. Being exposed shocked her—but this blood sea forced her out.

Worse, the illusion cage showed cracks under the crimson assault!

This cage, empowered by that person’s strength, was unbreakable by ordinary means!

She’d brought two: one to confuse targets, one for Yuri’s group.

Yet before harming Yuri, the illusion buckled under the blood tide!

Frustration boiled. She and Sen split them to pick off one by one.

Progress with the man was good—but if the illusion shattered, all efforts wasted.

Yuri’s occasional disdain proved she wasn’t even trying. She was toying with them.

“Who am I?” Yuri blinked, then laughed.

Betty felt an inexplicable, soul-deep chill under her gaze.

“My name is Yuri.”

Blood coiled around the girl, dyeing her scarlet. For a moment, she looked like a blood-soaked demon god.

“Yu…ri…?” Betty murmured, deeply confused.

No memory of that name existed.

Unbothered, Yuri curled her lips. “Or… you can call me Akate.”

Betty: “…?!”

At those three words, Betty froze like stone.

Her eyes widened. She trembled violently—as if recalling something unspeakable.

“Im…pos…sible!”

“Oh?” Yuri raised an eyebrow. “Impossible?”

“Don’t lie! Akate—that demon was clearly…!?”

Betty’s words died. She couldn’t deny it.

Yuri watched calmly. Blood layers coiled around her like obedient pets.

She hadn’t attacked yet. Otherwise, those “pets” would become deadly blades.

Only one being in records could grant blood such despair-inducing power—sharpness, poison, resilience.

Vampires manipulated blood. But that one… empowered it.

“Know why I didn’t kill you outright?” Yuri said slowly.

She could devour Betty in an instant, leaving no trace.

“But… that’s boring. Pure consumption brings no thrill. In novels, the Demon King strikes only after the hero uses all trump cards…”

Though Yuri didn’t see Betty as a hero.

What was she saying? Betty stared wide-eyed, lost.

A killing intent silently enveloped her. The blood tide churned restlessly.

“So tell me—have you used up your trump cards? Use them if you have any. I’m not even having fun.”

Betty: “…”

“If that’s all… then die.”

Crimson surged. The tide raged.

Her smile vanished. Only infinite coldness remained—freezing the heart.