The small world couldn’t withstand such intense energy impacts. In less than ten minutes, the entire world began to tremble, with cracks appearing in the space and the ground shaking violently.
“Careful,” Sun Le grabbed Xia Qirong beside him, “Something’s not right here.”
“First time we’re experiencing a world collapsing,” Xia Qirong said, almost falling into a fissure. Looking down, he saw rolling magma below.
“That’s dangerous,” Xia Qirong stepped back.
The fissure seemed to cleverly separate them, with Dan Zuo and Shen Su cut off on the other side. The gap widened, forcing them to retreat while keeping an eye out for more dangerous cracks, gradually getting so far apart that they could barely see each other.
“Shen Su is problematic,” Sun Le whispered to Xia Qirong.
“Dan Zuo always says I’m not smart, but now it’s time to use my wits to protect ourselves,” Xia Qirong said, patting Sun Le’s shoulder. “I think we don’t need to worry about him. If it’s just Shen Su—Dan Zuo can handle him.”
As he spoke, the ground shook again, and he quickly steadied himself. “But we should worry about ourselves. Do you have any way to get their attention on us mortals?”
“Don’t worry, they won’t forget us,” Sun Le said, holding Xia Qirong tightly amidst the chaos. He tapped out, “Brother Duan is still here.”
Xia Qirong relaxed immediately.
On the other side, Shen Su clung to Dan Zuo, pale-faced. “I can’t stand… Help!”
“Don’t move,” Dan Zuo grabbed his arm, frowning. “Follow my lead.”
“I can’t,” Shen Su clung tighter, his nails almost digging into Dan Zuo’s flesh.
He was gripping so tightly that Dan Zuo could hardly move.
“Calm down,” Dan Zuo squinted, sensing something was off.
Shen Su had been through the ninth world and might be colluding with a demon lord. He shouldn’t be this terrified just because of the situation. If this was an act, he had a motive.
Dan Zuo knew several demon lords wanted him dead but didn’t expose Shen Su. He continued coldly, “If you don’t want to die, start walking. We need to move away from the fissure. Falling into the magma means certain death.”
Hearing this, Shen Su became even more terrified, trembling. “My legs are weak, I can’t stand.”
Dan Zuo glanced at him, then forcefully dragged him away.
Shen Su was stunned, not expecting the seemingly frail Dan Zuo to be so strong. Despite Shen Su’s resistance, he couldn’t stop Dan Zuo’s steps.
This wasn’t right.
Shen Su’s plan to make Dan Zuo look bad was failing miserably. He even doubted if he could beat Dan Zuo. But he quickly dismissed the thought.
He was…
Shen Su gritted his teeth, glanced back at the widening fissure, and suddenly tried to push Dan Zuo into it.
But Dan Zuo was ready. Using Shen Su’s force, he flipped him onto the ground.
“You knew all along? When did you realize?” Shen Su struggled, shocked.
“You made many mistakes,” Dan Zuo replied coldly, gripping Shen Su’s neck, feeling for a pulse but finding none.
And his skin was icy, unlike a living person’s warmth.
“You…” Dan Zuo realized, “You’ve sided with Clemens?”
“Surprised?” Shen Su sneered and bit Dan Zuo’s arm, injecting paralyzing venom typical of vampires.
Dan Zuo felt his body go numb and collapsed, watching helplessly as Shen Su stood up, his face twisted with rage.
“We fought to survive in that hell, doing whatever it took, while you comfortably rose with the demon lords,” Shen Su seethed. “To stay alive, you don’t know what I had to endure.”
Dan Zuo couldn’t speak, just stared at him.
“If you die, I’ll be free,” Shen Su said lowly. “Dying here just means returning to the real world.”
He lifted Dan Zuo, ready to throw him into the magma.
“That’s not happening,” a voice said as a dark-haired demon lord grabbed Shen Su’s wrist. “This is my reward.”
Shen Su screamed in pain as his arm was crushed.
His vampiric healing began, but the demon lord didn’t give him a chance, throwing him towards the magma.
Shen Su braced for the burn, but after a few seconds, the pain didn’t come.
“Don’t harm my protégé,” Clemens said, pinning Shen Su to a rock with a knife.
“You should worry about yourself,” Hewlett taunted lazily. “You can’t even handle a human.”
Clemens’ face darkened. His normally pristine attire was torn, and he had unhealed wounds—unthinkable for him, yet it happened.
Duan Zhen’s blood was even more potent against him than he expected.
Clemens feared not only the blood but also the righteous heart of the person. This combination exponentially increased its potency against him.
“You planned this all along,” Clemens said, his smile fading.
Hewlett smirked back.
The chat ended abruptly as Duan Zhen, clutching his shoulder, stood. Clemens had struck him, giving the enemy a chance to save Shen Su.
Li Xi forced Hest back and joined Hewlett. “We can’t keep fighting like this. The world will collapse, and the main system could be destroyed.”
Hewlett frowned. “Wouldn’t the main system resist destruction?”
“If it would…” Li Xi hesitated, realizing their wristbands had never given a warning despite the extensive battle.
Did they have the wrong location, or was the main system deeply hidden?
Before he could speak, a massive energy surge erupted from below, pushing everyone back.
“It’s the main system!” Li Xi stabilized mid-air, protecting Xia Qirong and the others with energy.
The main system had surfaced just as they mentioned it, saving them some trouble.
Li Xi and Hewlett exchanged glances, checking on Duan Zhen.
Duan Zhen stood firm despite the quakes, his body battered but mostly unharmed, though his hands were bloody.
Li Xi knew Duan Zhen was using his blood against Clemens but still felt a pang of worry. Before he could ask, an incoming attack forced him to defend.
“Now’s not the time to be distracted,” Hewlett said. “Once this is over, you can do whatever you want with your lover.”
So Shen Su wasn’t Hest and Moduna’s subordinate, he was Clemens’!! (Also am i the only one who thinks Hewlett is really hot)
Thank you for reading