Editor : Amethyst00



Chen Xia regulated her breathing as the power of aura surged through her entire body.

Watching Chen Xia's back, Leo thought:

'Like the sea.'

It was as if she were a boundless, unfathomable ocean.

The churning aura of water, roiling like a furious sea, suddenly gathered at her fingertips.

Fwoosh—!

Chen Xia rapidly closed the distance between herself and Ziguas.

"Hmm!"

Ziguas groaned, seemingly troubled, and began to rattle the jewels in his right hand.

Then he suddenly clutched one of them in his left hand.

Wooooong—!

A circular barrier formed around Ziguas.

Yet Chen Xia didn't hesitate and hurled her aura-infused fist forward.

KWA-AAANG—!

An enormous shockwave echoed all around.

Chen Xia guided the flow of aura through her body.

Then, just like a dam holding back water, she gathered that flow at her hands or feet.

Once the accumulation of aura reached its peak, she would release it in a burst, like a dam breaking, unleashing massive destructive power.

The longer she charged her aura, the more powerful the strike would be.

'Celia and Duran might be superior in instantaneous power.'

But given time, Chen Xia could deliver a more devastating attack than either of them.

Of course, she lacked consistency, so in terms of overall firepower, she couldn't surpass Celia or Duran.

'But if that one strike lands, it's fatal.'

And this time, it had landed perfectly on Ziguas.

As a result, the barrier Ziguas had deployed was severely distorted, as if about to tear apart.

"Terrifying! My barrier was nearly destroyed!"

Ziguas exclaimed in horror.

However, the barrier had not been broken—and since it remained intact, it was now his turn.

The distorted barrier began to return to its original form.

In that moment, the force of Chen Xia's attack rebounded right back at her.

Her eyes widened as the massive destructive energy surged toward her.

Boom—!

Chen Xia's body was struck directly and sent flying into the air.

At that instant…

Wooooong—!

The rebounded water aura coiled around Chen Xia.

Ziguas's eyes widened in shock at the sight.

"What is this…?"

"Water…"

Chen Xia, eyes closed, calmly controlled the aura wrapping around her.

"…is a softer force than any other element."

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"When a violent current is made to flow gently again, that's all it takes."

The aura flowing around her merged with the rebounded aura and began to surge even more violently than before.

Leo's eyes widened in astonishment.

'That's a completely unexpected way of using it.'

Just like Chelsea had done—

Chen Xia was also using water aura in ways Leo had never imagined.

RUMBLING—!

Like a massive tidal wave, Chen Xia's fist surged toward Ziguas once more.

CRASH—!

Ziguas was swept up in the attack without even managing to scream.

RUMMMBLE—!

His body slammed into the ground, burrowing into it.

An overwhelming display of raw force.

Yet despite unleashing an attack akin to a natural disaster, Chen Xia landed softly on the ground.

Tap—!

Just then, Ziguas burst up from the crater.

His tightly wrapped robe had turned to rags, revealing a thin, pitiful body.

Though a demon commander, he exuded none of the dignity that title should carry.

Now it was clear why he kept himself so completely covered.

"I was born," Ziguas said, his crimson eyes glowing, "with such a pathetic appearance."

He staggered to his feet and looked at Chen Xia.

"So I coveted everything that others had."

"For someone like that, you look rather frugal."

Chen Xia tilted her head.

"I simply realized—no matter how much I indulged in desire and obtained what I wanted, this pitiful appearance of mine would never change."

Even if he used illusions to change his appearance and adorned himself with the finest things of the world…

His wretched form remained unchanged.

Demons were such beings.

Their essence could not be changed.

They were born solely to destroy the world and had no need for transformation.

Only destruction.

Ziguas smiled.

That expression made him look oddly like a sage who had reached enlightenment.

"So I gave it up. The desire to embellish myself, and even the desire to destroy the world as a demon. Except for one desire."

"One desire?"

"Yes. Because I came to understand something."

Clatter—clatter—

Ziguas pulled a clear jewel from among the ones in his hand.

"When drawn by deep desire, others become as wretched as me."

Chen Xia's reflection appeared in the transparent jewel.

"I have tempted countless beings into indulging their desires. I've ruined so many that way."

A being who fulfilled others' desires.

That was why he was called the King of Desire.

"And the great god granted me the power I wished for—divine authority!"

Until now, he had ruined people by granting them what they wanted.

But now, such troublesome steps were no longer necessary.

He had called his divine authority insignificant—

But in truth, it was an extremely powerful ability.

Just by inflaming desire, he could destroy minds.

When desire is an essential drive of all beings…

Anyone lacking powerful mental strength would find it nearly impossible to resist his power.

"Though your strength may have grown, you're still just a young human girl! It may not have worked on the King of the World… but you won't be so lucky!"

To tempt desire, he had to observe his target.

That's why Ziguas knew well—humans, especially young ones, were especially vulnerable to desire.

And he knew how deadly his power was to them.

Ziguas shouted:

"Show me what your desire is!"

"……"

Chen Xia was caught in Ziguas's power.

It was a dangerous situation—one wrong step and she could be rendered combat incapable.

But Leo remained calm.

"You don't seem worried at all, King of the World."

"I believe in the kid."

Leo smiled faintly.

"Still… what did you mean earlier when you said your power didn't work on me? That's quite a nuisance."

"Normally, in this illusion, your very existence would've been erased. You would've been consumed by endless longing for the past."

"So your power can even erase someone's existence? That's a real pain."

"It's not just a pain—it's dangerous, Lord Leo."

Chen Xia let out a deep sigh.

"Sometimes I think you're completely lacking in danger awareness."

"The worst didn't happen. Which means I can handle the rest."

Leo said coolly.

Ziguas's eyes narrowed.

"…How are you resisting my authority?"

Even though he had only just received it, he knew how powerful it was.

A young human shouldn't have the willpower to resist.

"Hmm…"

Chen Xia thought for a moment, then smiled.

"Maybe because my desire is already fulfilled?"

"What?"

Ziguas's face twisted in disbelief.

"You mean you have nothing you want? No possessions? No people? Surely there's something you desire for your own happiness?!"

"There is."

"I wanted to become a hero. A hero I never could've become under normal circumstances."

That had once been Chen Xia's deepest desire.

But she had come to accept it.

She could never be a hero.

"Yet someone acknowledged that impure dream of mine."

Closing her eyes and placing a hand over her heart, she smiled softly as she remembered that person.

"The one who pulled me out of darkness… no, who taught me how to shine even in the dark."

Chen Xia opened her eyes.

"That person became my benefactor—and my everything."

Looking straight at Ziguas, she said with strength in her voice:

"Being by his side is my greatest happiness."

Her desire was fulfilled.

That's why Ziguas's power had little effect on her.

"Madness…"

Ziguas muttered in disbelief.

"You're insane. How can you give your everything to just one person?"

"It's my heart."

Chen Xia stuck out her tongue and clenched her fist.

"Now, I'll make sure you never harm Leo-doryeong again. I'll destroy you thoroughly."

Her expression turned blank.

"Because right now, I'm gripped by overwhelming desire—to kill you as painfully as possible for threatening the one I treasure."

Ziguas shook his head.

"It seems we're poorly matched, you and I."

With those words, he rattled the jewels in his hand and cast a spell.

Flash—!

He escaped at lightning speed, and Leo clicked his tongue.

"That's the problem with schemers—they're slippery."

He had always planned for a retreat.

That meant he'd kept plenty of power in reserve.

'That Pain Legion Commander… and this one too…'

Leo's eyes narrowed.

'They're both lunatics.'

It was an ominous sign.

The commanders Leo knew were, at their core, madmen swept up in insanity.

That wasn't something found in the commanders born after the Age of Calamity.

'More and more are becoming like the commanders of that time.'

The Pain Commander and the Desire King were still green.

But if they gained experience, who knew what kind of monsters they'd become?

Step—step—

Chen Xia approached and stared down at Leo.

"You did well. That was amazing…"

Shff—

Before Leo could finish speaking, Chen Xia slipped her hands under his armpits and lifted him up.

"Why?"

Leo asked with a blank face.

Chen Xia hugged him tightly.

Then she buried her face in his neck and inhaled deeply.

"You know you're being a total pervert right now?"

"Right? If Leo-doryeong were just a bit more grown up…"

Chen Xia giggled and lightly bit Leo's neck.

"I probably would've devoured you."

"You think I'd just let that happen?"

"Are you saying you'd turn the tables and devour me instead?"

"Stop talking nonsense and put me down."

With a disappointed sigh, Chen Xia gently set Leo down.

"You said his power didn't affect you?"

"It didn't completely. That's why I'm being so impulsive right now."

Saying that, Chen Xia crouched beside Leo.

As Leo edged away, Chen Xia scooted closer and said:

"Leo-doryeong."

"What?"

"Carl and Eliza have seven children in this era."

She looked Leo in the eyes as she said this.

"So what?"

"Just saying."

Chen Xia beamed at him innocently.

Leo let out a hollow laugh.