Santiana City was built atop the Underground Labyrinth. As an independent city-state wedged between the Empire and the Kingdom, it naturally had its own strength.

In this city, the Adventurers Guild and countless other guilds formed its backbone.

And today, a hunt was unfolding inside the Underground Labyrinth.

In a forest on one level of the great labyrinth, the Hidden Mountain Tiger known among adventurers as the “Man-Slayer” had just finished a full meal and was about to rest. Then it suddenly seemed to sense something. It let out a meow, tucked its tail like a little kitten, and fled the area at once.

A moment later, a figure appeared in the clearing where it had just been.

“Hah... hah... hah...”

The figure arrived with harsh, ragged breathing. Looking closer, it was actually a young girl. Judging by her panicked expression and the way she kept glancing back, something terrifying was clearly chasing her.

She had long, bright silver hair and gem-like sky-blue eyes. But her delicate, lovely face was covered in sweat. If anyone had been nearby, they surely would’ve rushed to help her.

But if that helper saw her arm, they’d probably recoil in terror and scream that there was a monster.

That was no ordinary human arm. Her upper arm was soft and slender like a human girl’s, but from the forearm onward, it became a bright silver blade even larger than her whole body. It was obvious that the girl wasn’t human.

She was a magical beast.

And the demon-sealing anklet around her ankle, engraved with a sealing formation, proved it. With every step she took, her speed weakened a little more.

Her stamina was spent. She truly couldn’t run anymore. The girl crouched slightly, and that silver-white blade shifted back into a normal arm. Half bent over, she braced one hand on her knee and the other against a tree, gasping for breath.

“Damn you, Ophelia... I-I’m definitely going to eat you.”

The girl spat the words out viciously. Then a chill suddenly locked onto her. She whipped her head around to look behind her. Her eyes filled with fear, and her slender body trembled uncontrollably.

“What a greedy little kitty you are~”

A teasing female voice drifted over. A woman slowly stepped out from the woods behind the girl. Who would’ve thought that in this labyrinth, a magical beast would fear a human?

The woman was stunningly beautiful. Anyone who saw her would think she was some kind of fox spirit. It wasn’t just her seductive eyes. Even the charm in that exquisite little face was beyond what ordinary people could ever imitate.

The moment the woman appeared, the girl instantly bared her cute little fangs. A low, rumbling growl rose faintly from her throat, full of hostility toward the woman.

“Ophelia...”

Ophelia didn’t care in the slightest. As if she were looking at some rare little animal, she sized the girl up from top to bottom, then nodded in satisfaction.

“Not bad, not bad. Just as expected of something I trained. Even among magical beasts, being able to run this far while wearing my shackles and restraints puts you near the top.”

After glaring at her for a few seconds, the girl let out a threatening hiss from her throat. Then she backed away a few steps and dragged her exhausted body around to keep running.

Seeing that almost comical scene, Ophelia froze slightly, then laughed in spite of herself.

“I thought a beast like you would at least try to fight back. But you’re still like this, huh? This boring little chase game should be over by now.”

The girl didn’t get far. About twenty steps at most. Then her strength finally gave out. Unable to bear it any longer, she dropped to her knees. She barely managed to turn around and face the woman closing in on her step by step. Her eyes were full of fear.

This human had been chasing her through the labyrinth for three days and three nights.

During that whole time, she hadn’t eaten a single thing. Just running had already drained every last bit of her strength, let alone trying to fight this human.

Dragging her weary body backward a little, the girl glanced behind herself. Her eyes were filled with unwillingness and confusion.

Why?

The first time they met, she clearly could’ve bared her claws and torn this woman to pieces. So why hadn’t she dared to make a single move?

It felt like facing a predator one rank above herself.

That fear was carved into her bones.

“Be good, little kitty.”

Ophelia reached out, wanting to pat her head. But suddenly, the girl’s soft, tempting little mouth split wide all the way to her ears, revealing a row of dagger-sharp fangs as she lunged to bite the woman.

“Wow. What a naughty girl.”

The woman wasn’t afraid at all. She simply stood up and shook her head with a hint of regret.

“If you won’t behave, little kitty, then don’t blame big sis. I’ve never trained a stray cat before, but when it comes to taming beasts, I’m very good at it.”

“Uwahhh!” the girl let out a mournful cry.

Ophelia’s pale little hand closed around the girl’s slender neck and lifted her up in one sharp motion.

“Surrender or die. Choose.”

The passage that sustained her life was suddenly crushed shut. The girl began struggling desperately in Ophelia’s grip, trying to break free.

But under the restraints of her shackles and collar, not only did she fail to escape, her violent struggling only made things worse. The intense movement sped up her oxygen loss, and the dizziness of suffocation rushed into her brain.

The girl’s vision gradually darkened. Her limbs slowly drooped.

Even so, her overwhelming instinct to survive made her force out the words with all her remaining strength.

“I surrender...”

The moment the words fell, Ophelia abruptly let go. Smiling, she watched the girl gasp for air in huge breaths.

Her strength control had been perfect. She had skillfully stirred up the girl’s survival instinct while avoiding letting her body suffocate too quickly.

“Very good, little kitty. I’ve changed my mind.”

As she spoke, she tossed a pink pet collar onto the ground. Attached to it was a thick iron chain. It really looked just like a dog leash.

“Put this on.”

The moment those words came out, the girl’s pupils instantly narrowed into slits. The pride of a magical beast made her want to slash at Ophelia with one claw. But her fierce desire to live forced her toward the collar instead.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she put the pet collar around her own neck with eyes full of hatred. She glared at Ophelia, and her gaze was wild and untamed.

Sensing that look, Ophelia chuckled. As if declaring ownership, she suddenly yanked the chain and pulled the unprepared Nefu off her feet.

“Come on, little runaway kitty. We’re going home. Next, I’ll let you review lesson one again. Obey.”

Ophelia took out a pink controller and pressed it lightly. With a crackle, electric current surged through the collar. Nefu only felt as if tens of thousands of steel needles had pierced into her body. Her entire slender frame began convulsing uncontrollably.

At the side, Ophelia cupped her lovely face in her hands and watched Nefu’s reaction with obvious interest. Only when Nefu’s eyes rolled back and a clear trail of fluid slipped uncontrollably from the corner of her mouth did she finally press the stop button.

“Now you’ll let me pet you nicely, right? Hm?”

Ophelia suddenly made a strange sound. Then, like she was soothing a cat, she scratched gently under the girl’s snow-white chin.

“Nefu kitty, next time remember not to pee wherever you like, okay? Otherwise, the punishment will be even worse.”

She hadn’t done it on purpose.

Humiliated, sprawled on the ground, Nefu felt regret rise in her heart for the first time.

If only she hadn’t... half a year ago...