"Humans are fragile. Are monsters truly strong?"

In the silent room, the moment Yuri’s toes touched the floor, it cracked like rotten wood.

The fractures spread dense as a spiderweb, ready to shatter with a single touch.

The tide of blood had receded. Yuri’s gaze stayed icy, deep and unfathomable.

"No. Equally fragile... a single poke would break it."

After a pause, Yuri turned and floated toward another passage.

But just then, a figure appeared there.

"Betty!"

The man’s voice trembled thick with fear.

Seeing only Yuri in the hall, he froze.

His body shook. His eyes darted wildly, searching for someone.

Naturally, no one else existed here—by sight or sense.

"...Betty...?" Failing to find her, he fixed Yuri with a demon’s stare.

Ashen despair filled his eyes, with a faint trace of longing.

"Ate her."

Yuri’s reply held no warmth, no rise in tone.

Calm as commenting on fine weather.

"Delicious. Her body was tainted, but her soul... surprisingly pure."

Ignoring Sen’s twisted face, Yuri spoke slowly.

After her words, the youth’s features contorted beyond recognition.

His ashen eyes glowed with a light that chilled even demons.

"Want to kill me? Of course. I ate your lover."

Yuri’s voice was soft. His rage surprised no one.

"Come. Use your weapon. Avenge her."

Before Sen’s trembling gaze, the black-haired girl stood close.

Her crimson eyes watched him, detached.

His arms shook. Fingers dug deep into his palms. Lips bled from clenched teeth.

*Revenge. Revenge. Kill her. Kill her!*

Inside, hatred roared like wild weeds, choking his sanity.

But...

"You’d better... kill me."

Defying Yuri’s expectation, he crushed the boiling killing intent.

Yuri tilted her head slightly. "Oh?"

"I can’t kill you now. Kill me instead. Or..." He leaned close, voice warped like a hell-demon’s snarl. "Someday, I’ll make you taste... the despair of losing your beloved."

"Is that so?"

Yuri raised an eyebrow. Her jade fingers lifted, sheathed in bloody light.

"Then—"

Hiss!

A blood claw tore through air, aimed at Sen’s head.

No doubt—it could pierce his brain instantly.

Death loomed. Sen didn’t dodge. He closed his eyes.

*Sorry... Always useless. Couldn’t protect her. Can’t even avenge her.*

*Power? I see...*

A bitter smile crossed his lips. Calm washed over him near death.

He saw her again—the girl who’d smiled and reached out at their first meeting.

*Maybe this is fine. She won’t be alone...*

But pain never came.

Sen opened his eyes. Yuri had withdrawn her hand.

Seeing him, she smiled sweetly. "All human pain stems from weakness. Powerless, you couldn’t save Miss Betty. Or take revenge."

Without glancing back at the stunned youth, Yuri walked out.

"So grow stronger through suffering. I await your despair..."

Sen: "..."

Yuri left without killing him, as if he didn’t exist.

*Pity?*

*No. Just... interesting.*

Alone, the youth roared in agony.

The last trace of his humanity faded with each cry.

"Power..."

......

"Lord Akat!"

Maria’s tense face relaxed at seeing Yuri.

But she looked far worse—clothes torn, bloodstained. Hers or others’, unknown.

Yuri glanced at her. "Too slow, Maria."

"Deeply sorry, Lord Akat."

Maria lowered her head. The grime made her skin crawl; she craved a wash.

"Hmm." Yuri nodded, then eyed another. "Cockroach-like vitality. My worry was pointless."

Zuo Yuan’s lips twitched.

*Cockroach-like?!*

Yuri smirked at his darkening face and strode ahead.

"Lord Akat, next...?" Maria followed, confused.

"Next? Deal with the real culprits. They ruined my mood. They’ll pay."

True. Air pirates were reckless, but not this savage.

Now, most aboard the airship were mindless monsters.

Let them continue, and the ship would fall.

It needed to last until the supply point. Yuri didn’t know the way.

She moved fast. Carrion Eaters thickened around her.

To impatient Yuri, they were no threat.

Zuo Yuan watched them fall, gaze somber.

They’d been ordinary passengers.

Who’d expect death on such a short trip?

Fate was cruel.

Yet Zuo Yuan showed no mercy.

Fast. Sharp. One strike fatal.

Killing them now was their only release.

Squelch!

The last Carrion Eater collapsed. Yuri entered the open hall without pause.

Inside, chaos reigned.

"How lively. Mind if I join?" Yuri chuckled lightly.

The room froze at her arrival.

"...You?" Shadow grinned twistedly. "Sen and Betty... dead by your hand?"

Yuri smiled, neither confirming nor denying. She studied Shadow’s monstrous form.

"Heh. I warned they weren’t weak. Sen was half-baked anyway."

Beside her, Mo sneered coldly.

No grief for lost comrades—only disdain.

"Dead is dead. Pity for decent specimens." Shadow licked her lips, eyes glinting. "But fresh ones stand before us."

"Hahahaha! Right! The man once called ‘Death God’—his corpse will delight our master!"

Killing intent boiled.

Yuri ignored their chatter.

She stepped toward Useless—then a white flash slashed her cheek.

A thin blood trail slid down her face.

"Don’t approach." Useless held a girl, voice icy.

He trusted no one.

Yuri eyed the invisible thread that cut her, expression unreadable.

Before she spoke, a shocked voice came from behind. "...Useless?"

Cold-faced Useless froze. He stared at Zuo Yuan behind Yuri. "You... Lord Zuo Yuan?"

"Ah. It’s really you."

Zuo Yuan stood beside Yuri, surprise plain on his face.

Yuri glanced at him. "You know each other?"

*Left out of my meetings with Bai Ling...*

"Hmm. Brief encounters. Not close." Zuo Yuan frowned at the girl in Useless’s arms. "But her... how is she here?"

Useless relaxed slightly at Zuo Yuan’s presence.

He landed lightly nearby.

"How are you here? And her—" Zuo Yuan eyed the monsters opposite.

"Apologies, Lord Zuo Yuan. Not the time for explanations."

Useless bowed, tone flat despite the title. No real respect.

Zuo Yuan wasn’t surprised.

*More than a butler...*

"Right."

A silent pact formed.

Deal with the enemies first.