A moment before Yahar City's alarm sounded, Hilris had already clearly heard an explosion from somewhere and sensed a sudden surge of fire element there.
At first, she thought it was Cecile taking action. She felt satisfied with her decisive efficiency.
After all, in Yahar City, gunshots and explosions were commonplace. A minor fire incident wouldn't draw the gangs' attention.
But when the alarm rang, it was different. Even if the two biggest gangs clashed and blew up an entire street, Yahar City's alarm wouldn't sound. It only rang for threats capable of annihilating the city.
Soon, Hilris understood what triggered it. A shadow blotting out the sky spread from outside the city inward. A massive stone golem slowly rose from the ground, with smaller ones already advancing toward Yahar City.
Hilris watched it, recalling an ancient tale of Yahar City. Before it joined the Pride Witch's territory, people saw her as just a powerful mage. Only when the Pride Witch truly descended did they realize their mistake. It was inhuman power, on a completely different level. Meteorites beyond human comprehension hung overhead; the dead rose from the earth; a giant demon projection shattered the city walls, crushing people's will to resist.
Not just her—many in the city fell silent at the sight of the stone golems, especially the elders. That night, Yahar City remembered the fear of being dominated by the Pride Witch.
Without hesitation, Hilris dashed toward Paradise Land. If any place could quickly gather the core leaders of the five major gangs to handle this city-ending threat, it was Paradise Land.
But why did she feel such unease and restlessness in her heart?
...
"Fertile Soil and Bedrock, rise!"
Annette and Witt stared in shock as stone golems rose one after another from the ground. Abathur stood calmly among them. Creating these massive siege-engine golems seemed effortless for her. She didn't break a sweat, as if expending no energy at all.
"Don't worry. They're harmless," Abathur reassured Witt.
"They..." Witt pointed fearfully at the golems.
"Just to scare people. The Witch's orders: no harm," Abathur explained.
These golems could be devastatingly lethal, but the Witch only wanted to intimidate. At their pace, they wouldn't reach Yahar City until dawn. The hundred-meter golem still assembling wouldn't rise tonight. They were merely pressure on Yahar City's people.
Annette frowned slightly. She couldn't grasp meanings as fast as Cecile from Abathur's sparse words. But she sensed intense magical energy flowing from the golems. Undoubtedly, this white-haired, red-eyed Abathur was no mere alchemist. With a single chant, she summoned and controlled them freely. If summoned inside the city, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Indeed, no normal people surrounded the Pride Witch—only world-ending freaks. Abathur, the Pride Witch's personal alchemist... she noted it. Seizing this chance to probe the Witch's inner circle, Annette would uncover what freaks lurked there. To prevent future ambushes by the Demon Hunt Society without knowing the culprit. She came here for the Demon Hunt, for the Demon Hunt!!! Annette thought, though not entirely convinced.
Abathur noticed Annette's confusion but offered no explanation. She wasn't responsible for ordinary strangers.
...
She handed the invitation to Paradise Land's doorman.
"Sorry, ma'am. Paradise Land is closed to everyone tonight," the young doorman said.
Cecile looked up. "Really? Must I remind you of my identity? Young Master An personally gave me this."
An older doorman grabbed the young one's hand. "Apologies, beautiful lady. He's inexperienced. Please, go in."
Cecile smiled slightly. "No problem. I won't tell Young Master An. But don't let it happen again..." She slapped the invitation onto the young doorman's face. "Kid, learn from your seniors." Then she walked in with Winnie and Helena.
The young doorman tore the invitation off, glaring. "Hey! Old Zhang! Didn't the higher-ups say no one gets in?"
The old doorman lit a cigarette, offering one. "Listen, kid... It's not us letting her in. What's it to us?"
"But she walked right through us!"
"Hear this once: whoever's invitation it is, that person lets them in. Young Master An's invitation means he let her in."
"What do you think we're here for? We're just decorations. Seriously, we shouldn't stop anyone. Only big shots enter Paradise Land. We're just making a living—can't afford to offend anyone."
"Understand?"
"This... I got it..."
Inside Paradise Land was a world of dazzling lights and revelry, utterly unlike the danger outside. Even as the city faced annihilation, people drowned in drunken chaos. Passionate music blared from gramophones; men roared, women screamed. Bodies sprawled on floors and sofas; standing revelers lost themselves in wild parties. Everything looked bizarre and surreal.
Winnie stared, speechless. "Are these people insane? Look at that dance—what even is that?"
"Paradise Land makes fools forget who they are. But entering here proves your status," Cecile replied. The Authority of Arrogance spread from her, slowly enveloping everyone inside.
She went upstairs, found a luxury suite, and crushed the crystal ball agreed with Hilris for signaling success. Then she lay on the waterbed and closed her eyes.
She needed to do nothing here—just wait for the gang leaders in another room to fracture. No outside force required; the five gangs' mutual arrogance would breed distrust. Yahar City's alarm had sounded, but true destruction hadn't come yet. Their alliance wouldn't solidify until the last moment. Cecile, having lived that plot point, knew their nature well. Hilris would come questioning soon. Until then, she'd enjoy a solid hour of sleep.
But the waterbed felt empty... She used to sleep hugging her wife.
"Helena."
"Mom?" Helena was still clinging to An.
"Come here. Let me hold you."
"Mmm! Okay! Mom's hug!" Helena happily jumped into Cecile's arms.
"Childish," Winnie muttered, glancing at Cecile. She grabbed strong liquor, sat alone by the window, and drank happily while watching the city descend into chaos—flames lighting the sky, voices clamoring. "A fine view. Exactly what I wanted to see."
