The Devil's Cage

Atrina's eyes were shining when she saw Kieran walked down the outpost walls.

Should Atrina list the things about Kieran that attracted her the most, other than the part real, part false 'contracted love,' it was Kieran's strength.

Atrina would be infatuated, bedazzled by how powerful Kieran was every single time. In a particular aspect, his power always triumphed.

As for other aspects?

Atrina knew what she sought after, so looks, personality, and others were all secondary priorities. More so, Kieran wasn't ugly, to begin with.

The only thing Atrina dreaded, Kieran's personality, was also discarded out of her mind after this reunion.

You will discover the things you hold most dear during life and death situations, wasn't that how it worked?

"Ryan, how is your body?" Atrina was truthful to her role.

"I'm fine. I've rested for a whole day, I feel better now."

Kieran replied with a smile and didn't reject her from helping him walk.

Although, from this moment onwards, he had no need to pretend to be weak, the relationship between him and her still existed.

Besides… Kieran hoped his enemy would be more doubtful of him and deem everything they saw of him to be part of his plan.

Therefore, Kieran didn't mind playing along since it wouldn't cost him a lot of time and effort.

Kieran and Atrina returned to the wooden house together. After they entered and closed the door, Atrina was sensible enough to release Kieran's hand, walked to a side of the house, and wait for his orders.

"We won't be too comfortable after this, especially this place, I'll let you take over for some time," Kieran said.

"How long?" Atrina asked about the time instead of Kieran's plan and what he wanted to do.

"Around 12 hours to a day," Kieran gave an estimated time after some thoughts.

"Leave it to me," said Atrina.

"En." Kieran nodded, went into the shadows, and left the house.

After making sure Kieran had left, Atrina thought for a while on the spot before pushing the door outside.

Since she made a promise to Kieran, she would have to do her best to fulfill it.

On top of that, the things that were going to happen would allow her to understand it's time for her to show her own value.

...

What?

How? How is this happening?

Shouldn't that bastard have died in that explosion?

How did he appear again?

Anxico, who was floating in the air with his illusive figure, was breathing heavily and rapidly, the other 12 similar figures around him tried their best to hold back their presence.

After getting a new body, these illusive figures had new ways to express their thoughts.

They didn't need to speak; instead, they relied on their presence to allow their 'kind' to understand their thoughts.

And for the time being, some thoughts were less appropriate.

The part where Anxico suffered a kick from Kieran started to sting him again.

However, the pain on his body was less of a concern, the biggest concern was the pain from his soul.

He had failed again! It was the second failure of his attempts on Kieran's life!

Compared to the sudden and abrupt first time, the second time left a more profound impression.

"There won't be a third time!"

"I will not allow this to happen for a third time! I WILL NOT!"

Growling lowly, Anxico swung his arms fiercely, as though he was trying to swing his anger away.

While his growls were still echoing in the space, a black fire suddenly burned in the middle.

The black fire that burned souls and scorched minds, as if there was an explosion, it instantly filled the hidden space with all of the illusive figures inside.

A towering, arrogant figure came up from the middle of the black fire.

"It's you?!"

"T-This is impossible!" Anxico's eyes widened.

Compared to the painful failure just now, what he saw now was even more unbelievable and astounding.

How did 'he' locate him? How was it possible for 'him' to find him?

Anxico unconsciously turned around to the other 12 illusive figures. He thought he was betrayed by them, but quickly, the harsh reality where the black fire burned everything to cinders told him the one who betrayed him wasn't his trusty subordinates.

Could it be…

Anxico suddenly thought of something.

"You and that bastard had teamed up?"

"Do you think teaming up with them can allow you to resist us?"

"I'll tell you…"

"Shut up!" Pride coldly grunted.

Kaboom!

The black fire exploded again, and this time, the dark merciless fire engulfed Anxico whole.

Pride then channeled the power he got from devouring Anxico and infused it into Gluttony, who had just finished his meal without a second thought.

Pride was different from Sloth.

Gluttony had given too much to break through that ceiling.

If Gluttony weren't compensated, in the long run, there would be a lot of restrictions of their power, and it was something Pride didn't wish to see at all.

As for Anxico, the guy who lost even his brain after he illusified himself?

Other than becoming the supplement for Gluttony, Pride couldn't think of a use for Anxico.

The black fire was still burning intensely.

Pride took a stroll around the area, searching for possible clues.

At the same time, Sloth, with sleepy eyes, walked through the ruins of Naveya City. His steps were slow, his body was wobbling and could be even considered as staggering forward, but with each step he staggered forward, he perfectly dodged a monster trying to eat him, as though he had everything calculated out in his mind.

Sloth entered Naveya City from the broken walls of the civilian district; he then crossed the entire district to reach the wealthy district and made his way to the council district.

Sloth was getting slower, to the point that he had to drag his own feet to move forward.

Those rampant and hidden presence in the ruins were telling Sloth what he should do and how he should react.

"This is so powerful that it's scary. But… this is why that guy gets more excited as things unfold, right?"

Sloth, who saw through the hidden personality of his host, couldn't help but grin.

He knew what his host wanted to achieve and how to achieve it. As for his host's plan, Sloth could only say, "Crazy!"

But he liked it. So, Sloth didn't mind giving his best effort to help his host; they were one anyway.

"Let me help you see what is hiding there!"

Sloth stood outside the council district; he looked up, saw through the layers of obstruction, and landed his gaze at the temple district.

...

The waves were rumbling, the splashes were loud.

Bloody Mary, the High Demon, was standing by the seaside with a helpless face.

It looked at the sea that covered up countless dangers, it took a deep breath and stepped forward into the sea.

Soon, the sea drowned Bloody Mary, and it didn't even cause a splash.