Damn… I seem to have stumbled into something serious.

Seeing Kreuz’s twisted grin, Xia Xin’s expression shifted. She already wanted to bolt—no way she’d stay with a lunatic. Unless it was a cute girl, but Kreuz clearly failed both criteria.

“Ugh…” Even Xila looked physically queasy, forcing the words out: “So? This outcome means your research direction’s flawed, right?”

“No mistake at all,” Kreuz shook his head. “Test subjects like lab rats can’t handle the potion’s effects. Ordinary humans fail too… but trials on other creatures succeeded perfectly.”

“Other creatures like…?”

“Slightly larger than humans,” Kreuz said slowly. “Demons, for instance. Pour this liquid in their habitats, and weak demons gain terrifying power—awake day and night, no need to eat… Isn’t that the potion’s success?”

Well, damn! So it’s you!

Xia Xin never expected that half an hour in this factory would land her the pollution source’s mastermind. Correction: he’d driven a suicide truck straight into her. Was the plot moving too fast?!

“This breakthrough will go down in history!” Kreuz laughed. “But to perfect it for humans, one last step is needed… and I require your help.”

“Tch…” Xila snapped. “What if I refuse?”

“Refuse?” Kreuz sneered. “Do you even have that right?”

*Crack!*

Two vials shattered on the floor. Liquids merged into a coiling mist, wrapping around Xia Xin and Xila.

“Cough… cough!” Xila’s strength vanished. Her body weakened terribly—even channeling elemental magic felt impossible.

“Demonfolk blood is my missing ingredient,” Kreuz said, scalpel in hand as he approached. “Such a young High Rank Mage… a shame. But killing a Demonfolk isn’t exactly evil.”

“Cough… damn… falling for such a stupid trap…” Xila raised her hand. An ice wall flared before her. “Witch Miss! Run! Even you can’t endure this poison mist… cough!”

“Ugh…” Xia Xin wanted to flee, but now she grasped how frail the Calamity Witch’s body truly was—utterly paralyzed, every inch screaming discomfort.

“What did you say?” Kreuz halted, tone shifting. “‘Witch Miss’? Wait—you look familiar. Could you be… the Calamity Witch?!”

“My title really is famous…” Xia Xin’s mind raced. Right—she could use this identity to scare him!

“That’s right! I am the Calamity Witch!” she shouted. “Take one more step, and I’ll burn you to ashes!”

“Ahahaha!” Kreuz burst into ecstatic laughter. “The legendary Calamity Witch! I… I get to witness the great Calamity Witch!”

Huh??? Did the situation just flip?!

“Great Calamity Witch! I’m of the Calamity Witch Cult—your loyal follower!” Kreuz’s eyes burned with fanaticism. “Since it’s you, I’ll be blunt: my goal isn’t just a potion!”

Xia Xin stared silently.

“I understand!” Kreuz cried. “You tracked demon movements to find this place… and sensed the Ancient Demon Remnant hidden beneath this factory!”

Ancient Demon Remnant? What the hell is that?

Xia Xin stayed quiet—she had no clue what he meant. All she wanted was to escape this poison-filled hell.

But to Kreuz, her silence was consent.

“Great Calamity Witch!” he pressed on. “I’ve prepared everything. Refine my potion further, add special blood… and its power will fully awaken!”

“You brought this Demonfolk because you knew!” Kreuz shouted. “I won’t fail you! Her blood will revive the ancient Demon King!”

What is this guy even saying…

Xia Xin’s head throbbed—mostly from the alchemical mist. *Cough.* Annoying. Why was she always dragged into weird messes?

Plus… “Ancient Demon Remnant” sounded familiar. She recalled—a side quest in the original game involved this, set in a factory.

She’d triggered a game side quest?!

But the timeline’s wrong! The current Demon King, Holy Maiden, and Hero all differ from the game—meaning its story starts years later. Why trigger now?

Xia Xin didn’t get it. Right now, escaping mattered most.

“No… I’d never hand her over,” Xia Xin said, stepping in front of Xila.

Handing a cute white-haired little Demon King to an alchemy lunatic? No sane person would.

Kreuz’s worship of the “Calamity Witch” identity was clear. She could exploit that. At least to escape.

“No?” Kreuz paused, then roared with laughter. “I see! Ordinary Demonfolk blood won’t suffice for an ancient Demon King… It needs yours, Great Calamity Witch!”

What do you think you understand?!

Xia Xin itched to kick him. His fanatical gaze, his advancing steps… talking was pointless now.