That... that's Lia's voice!

Without a second thought, Yihan dashed toward the Grand Theater, wishing he could sprout wings.

Carola reacted even more fiercely. The instant Yihan moved, the Witch Hunter had already leaped four or five meters ahead. Her face turned ashen, dark thoughts swirling in her chest.

She recalled the mayor’s earlier suggestion. This was undoubtedly their doing. But the mayor and nobles were ordinary humans—they couldn’t extract a Witch Core. What good was torturing her?

Or was someone else behind this plan?

When Yihan and Carola arrived at top speed, the scene before them left them utterly stunned.

Nearby guards had been dismissed. The area stood empty. Lia’s ice prison stood alone, a dark purple aura swirling ominously above it.

Inside the cage, the ragged girl curled into a tight ball, hands clamped over her ears. She screamed shrilly, writhing in agony.

Vibrant patterns flared across her skin. Her hair glowed strand by strand.

“Who are they? What are they doing?” Yihan glared at the figures circling the cage. Unlike Carola’s first arrival in Soul Valley Town, these men looked like forest ghosts—hooded in oversized gray cloaks, featureless and unmarked. The pale half-faces visible beneath their hoods reminded him of corpses.

Beside him, the Witch Hunter’s expression darkened. She never expected to encounter the Fallen Cult here. Nor that the mayor was involved. Perhaps the Witch Core suggestion was their idea too. Since she’d refused, they’d taken matters into their own hands.

She recognized that dark purple aura and the low chanting—it was the Fallen Cult’s “Demon Whisper.” It shattered minds, unleashing deep-seated hatred and pain. A spiritual torture despised by sorceresses.

They were forcing the Witch Core to manifest from Lia’s body.

One misstep, and the Core’s explosion would reduce the town to ashes.

She wouldn’t stand idle. Grabbing Yihan, she shoved him toward a corner while slipping powerful rings onto her fingers. “Hide. Protect yourself.”

“Hey—” Yihan started to suggest splitting tasks—she’d distract the enemies while he rescued Lia, if only she’d toss him the cage key. But before he could grab Carola’s sleeve, she’d already vaulted into the fray, launching a wide-scale assault.

Hundreds of ice spears materialized at once, crashing down on the five Fallen Cult members. Yihan felt a blizzard erupt before his eyes. When he blinked, the world had turned white. Three enemies broke off to intercept Carola’s fierce onslaught. She fought three alone, never faltering.

With three chanters gone, pressure on Lia eased sharply. The girl stopped thrashing but lay limp in the snow, limbs twitching like a dying fish.

Yihan wasn’t one to stand by. With Carola drawing most attention, he might handle the remaining two—if luck held.

Glancing around, he snatched a fist-sized rock. He tossed it, feeling its weight. It’d have to do as a weapon.

He didn’t know when guards would arrive. He had to smash the cage and escape with Lia before they came. Carola could handle herself.

Crouching low, he dodged stray ice shards and wind blades, weaving through crooked alleys toward the ice prison. The furious Witch Hunter dominated the three foes with her rings’ power—but it wouldn’t last. Mid-fight, Carola realized these were mere Fallen Cult grunts. If a true master lurked nearby, even she and Yihan wouldn’t survive.

Her strikes grew frantic. She nearly summoned an iceberg to freeze Lia and the theater whole.

Meanwhile, Yihan neared the cage. Only two enemies remained, facing each other across the bars, eyes locked on Lia. Their chants blurred into a frantic hum.

The Witch’s condition flickered. Orange flames licked her skin but were suppressed by the chanting, clinging low to her body. The ground beneath her blackened. Ice chains hissed with steam as heat battled cold, melting her restraints.

Even if she broke free, the Demon Whisper had sapped her strength. She couldn’t run—only hand the Core to them.

Just as the two cultists intensified their chant, Yihan struck from behind the nearest wall.

The rock flew like lightning, slamming into one enemy’s skull. He crumpled without a sound.

The other’s chanting cut off. Yihan couldn’t see his face, but he pictured utter shock. No one expected a rock-throwing ambush from the Fallen Cult’s enemies.

Yihan had honed his slingshot skills as a kid. After the hit, he lunged forward, rolled, and scooped a handful of snow. He flung it into the last enemy’s hood. Powder filled the space, making him howl. The dark purple aura above the cage flickered and faded.

Yihan wasn’t done. Furious over Lia’s suffering, he closed in. Slaps. A kick to the groin. Then he grabbed the man’s head and smashed it against the cage. Ice shattered beautifully. The enemy rolled his eyes. A gap gaped in the prison wall.

The girl lay unconscious on the ground.

Yihan’s heart raced. He reached for her—then a massive fireball erupted, nearly swallowing him whole.

“What—” He stared, helpless, as flames engulfed Lia’s body, sealing her in a crimson shell like a glowing egg.

He tried to approach, but searing gusts forced him back.

A figure crashed into the half-melted cage. Half the structure collapsed.

Carola lay sprawled on the ground, elegant composure gone. Her clothes were torn, her body battered. She looked badly hurt.

“You okay?”

“Terrible.” Carola wiped blood from her lip, voice tight. She glared ahead.

She’d thought there were only three enemies. Complacency let a fourth ambush her from shadows. His arrow was poisoned—one hit left her limbs numb and stiff.

One glance at Lia confirmed it: the Fallen Cult’s torment had triggered the Witch Core’s protective barrier. Nothing could break it until the energy drained.

The Core was safe for now. But their own situation was dire.

Footsteps pounded closer. Armored guards converged, fury in their eyes. Among them, the mayor raged like a fat pig dancing on hind legs.

Carola seized Yihan’s hand. “Run.”

“What about her?” Yihan couldn’t leave Lia.

“They can’t touch her now. Go!”

No time to explain. Carola gripped his hand, dragging him toward the snowy mountains beyond town.

Yihan had no choice. He abandoned the unconscious girl and sprinted after Carola.