Xia Xin glanced around. Trapped in this deep pit with nothing but her and Xila, she sank into thought.

Had that deranged alchemist been vaporized by those two consecutive Forbidden Spells, leaving not even ashes? Or had he escaped somehow?

And... how was she supposed to climb out of this tens-of-meters-deep hole?

She couldn’t possibly dig blocks by hand and stack them to jump up.

"Witch Miss!"

Just then, Xia Xin turned to see Xila lunging at her. Before she could react, she was tightly hugged, Xila’s head rubbing against her chest.

"Ugh..." Xia Xin felt her waist might snap in half.

This... this Demon King was trying to murder her!

"Witch Miss, why do you look so pained?" Xila asked, puzzled. But her mind raced fast, and she instantly realized.

"After all, it was a Holy Light-infused Forbidden Spell. Even for Witch Miss, blocking it must’ve taken huge effort... So I’ll help more from now on!" Xila exclaimed.

"I’m a capable Arcane Master too—I must show Witch Miss what I can do!" Xila raised her hand and chanted a spell under her breath.

Elements swirled around her. A whirlwind surged beneath their feet, lifting them upward. Seconds later, they landed safely on the ground.

Xia Xin watched, envy plain on her face.

When would she cast magic like this herself?

With that power plus the Calamity Witch’s immense mana, no enemy would ever scare her.

Truth be told, Xila—as the future Demon King—already wielded formidable magic.

"Witch Miss, was I amazing?" Xila asked, eyes wide.

She knew her little spell meant nothing before Witch Miss... but she craved just one word of praise. Just one!

"Mm, very impressive," Xia Xin nodded. It was honest.

Xila’s cheeks flushed crimson. She bobbed her head excitedly. "W-Witch Miss! I-I’ll work even harder!"

Whether those words were sincere or just polite, hearing them was enough... Yes! She wasn’t holding Witch Miss back!

Barely seconds passed before shouts erupted around them.

"Hey! What are you two doing?"

"Freeze!"

Guards flooded in, flintlock guns raised.

No matter how skilled in magic, one still feared firearms. One misstep, and it’d be "my lord, the times have changed."

Xia Xin acted instantly.

"Out of my way!"

Run outside the factory first. Find a hiding spot!

...

...

At that moment, in the shadows behind a nearby building.

"Cough... cough cough!" Alchemist Kreuz lay sprawled, his body shredded with wounds, soaked in blood—yet he showed no pain.

"Luckily, I injected myself with that serum too. Near immunity to Holy Light damage... Hahaha, O Calamity Witch! Truly worthy of your title—to wield Holy Light!" Kreuz’s lips curled into a savage grin.

"Calamity Witch my lord... you must disdain my crude methods. But it’s fine..." His hand trembled as he lifted a scalpel, blood dripping from its edge.

"With just this blood, I can... free the Ancient Demon Remnant from its seal. Then, I’ll show you this power, my lord!"

...

...

"Hmm... what’s all that noise?" Sally paused her work. She checked for the supervisor, then stepped outside. Pushing the door open, she froze at the sight of blood-drenched Kreuz.

"Ah!" Sally jumped back. "Mr. Kreuz, you... are you alright?"

"You. Come here." Kreuz barked orders. He snatched nearby vials, mixed them, and gulped the brew.

His wounds healed at lightning speed. Within seconds, the Holy Light burns vanished... No denying it—his potions were potent.

"W-where are we going?" Sally shrank back a step.

"Enough chatter!" Kreuz roared. "Get over here now!"

"O-okay..." Sally flinched. She’d never seen him so vicious.

Kreuz climbed to the workshop’s highest point. He raised his hand; elemental energy swirled as he chanted an arcane spell.

Lights flared on the ceiling, converging into a glowing magic circle. Sally sensed a chilling aura within it...

As if something monstrous was about to burst free!

"W-what is this..." Sally whispered, stepping back. "Mr. Kreuz... you... ah!"

*Swish!*

A slash. Blood sprayed.

"Ugh..." Sally gasped. Her arm throbbed from the scalpel’s cut, her body shaking. Why would he do this?

"The Calamity Witch Cult’s orders... and my life’s research," Kreuz grinned wildly. "Breaking the seal needs a perfect vessel to hold the serum’s power. A life must be sacrificed to unlock it."

"And you, Sally... ordinary as you seem, you’ve suffered no harm in this serum-filled workshop. Your body can contain its power!"

Kreuz mixed the blood from his scalpel into a serum vial, loaded it into a syringe, and fixed his gaze on her. "Come now—to return that great being to this world requires a small, necessary sacrifice!"

"Mm... I don’t understand any of this!" Sally trembled, backing until the wall blocked her escape.

*Bang!*

A gunshot cracked.

The flintlock bullet tore into Kreuz’s wrist, shredding flesh. The syringe tumbled down, liquid splattering.

"No!!!" Kreuz whirled toward the shot, trembling violently. "Calamity Witch my lord... what... what have you done!"