BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Beams of arcane energy slammed into Sulpharlo's body one after another, shredding her magical force field, then ripping through her armor and clothing. Her pale skin was suddenly laid bare before the barrage turned merciless, detonating across her body and inflicting grievous wounds.
"AAAHHH—!"
A piercing scream burst from Sulpharlo, the agony snapping her out of her stunned trance. As her mind raced back into awareness, feeling the shredded state of her body and the stabbing pain in her organs, her heart plunged into despair.
Barely ten seconds had passed, and already she was gravely wounded—she could feel it down to her bones. Even the dark wings on her back were in tatters, the black feathers of a fallen angel drifting down around her in the darkness.
She stared up in disbelief at Charles, hovering in the air—a look that regarded him like some kind of Demon Lord.
She couldn't fathom it. During those past ten seconds, she'd witnessed him weaving more spells than seemed possible—it should've been enough to deplete any spellcaster's magic reserves!
How could he still unleash such firepower, battering her into a mangled heap in the blink of an eye?
Sulpharlo just couldn't grasp it—the reversal was too sudden, too much. But it was real. Her defeat was now inevitable.
All she could do… was escape!
"Get lost!"
She spat the words, hurling her blazing greatsword at Charles, then spinning away. Her battered wings beat desperately as she tried to flee.
With her clothes in shreds—her skin smeared with grime and dust—she looked less like a fearsome fallen angel and more like a fugitive clinging to life.
"Don't even think about running!"
Seeing victory so close, there was no way Charles would just let his enemy slip away. He dodged the thrown greatsword, then surged after her with a beat of his wings.
But at that moment, the Haste wore off—a wave of exhaustion crashed over him, forcing him to land, powerless to move!
"Damn it… Sophia!"
Swearing under his breath, he called out, and in the distance, Sophia—who'd been constantly spellcasting to assist from behind—hurried over to him, casting another Extended Haste to restart the power surging through his body.
"Hoo—!"
Charles let out a long breath, pushing down the exhaustion in both mind and flesh. His wings snapped out, churning the air as he barreled directly toward Sulpharlo's nest.
At that very moment, inside Sulpharlo's nest—
Hanni was humming as she made her way through the twisting halls. The Dark Elves outside had startled her at first, but her quick eyes recognized Baenre family elites; instinct and experience screamed to her that there were massive secrets hidden here.
So after buffing up Hattie and the others, she'd made her excuse—"mana's dry"—and slipped away to see if she could beat the others to those elusive Baenre secrets.
Maybe, just maybe, she'd find a treasure her own family could use to rise to new heights.
With "Longstrider" cast on herself, she bolted down dark passageways and soon entered a vast laboratory.
Broken cylindrical pods towered everywhere, the floor slick with spilled experimental fluids.
She glanced around, and then—startled—spotted two people.
Two women who looked utterly identical. One had a look of pure innocence, untouched by worldly knowledge; the other sat heavily, pregnant belly immense, resting in a chair.
Hanni's heart skipped—she had no real combat strength. But she wasted not a moment, raising her hands and speaking tearfully in Common, "Don't be afraid! I'm one of you!"
Malena, seeing a Dark Elf in the lab, jerked in shock. She'd heard the stories of these creatures' ill repute—her first thought was that they'd betrayed Sulpharlo and come to steal from her.
But then she saw how small, child-like, and unthreatening this girl looked. Her suspicion faded a little.
"Who are you?" Malena asked coldly. "This is Sulpharlo ancestor's lab; outsiders aren't permitted. Whoever you are, please leave."
Hanni's eyes rolled and she answered, "I'm Hanni Baenre, out for my first lesson with the family. Thought it'd be easy, but things got ugly outside, so my parents told me to hide here."
She adopted a pitiful expression, blinking big wet eyes at Malena: "Big sister, could you please let me hide here for a while? Thank you so much—you're so kind, I just knew a gentle lady like you would protect a helpless girl like me…"
Her barrage of words left Malena speechless and unable to object. "I… Fine. Just don't touch anything."
Hanni grinned, then naturally continued, "Sister, what's your name?"
"Malena." The reply was automatic—then Malena's eyes darted with worry. "Outside… ancestor seems to be fighting. Do you know who it's with?"
Malena!
Hanni's eyes sparkled. But scanning Malena's face, she feigned confusion: "Um, looked like some surface nuns and a priest or something, but I don't really know…"
She watched closely as she said this. Malena stiffened, eyes going wide. She leapt up, grabbing Hanni's shoulders, "What did you say? That priest—what does he look like? What's he wearing?"
Hanni feigned innocence. "He's human, white hair, pretty decent looking. Fights with a polearm with blades on both ends…"
"And the nuns—one's tall, in a white habit, shoots out blinding light; the other's in black, with lots of scary, inky-green tentacles…"
At Hanni's words, Malena immediately froze.
It's Priest Charles!
And Sister Theresa. And Sister Hattie!
They'd come to rescue her.
Malena moved her hand to her swollen belly. The memories of her pain and loneliness flooded in. Hot tears streamed freely down her face.
So deep underground, in such darkness—and he still found me.
He doesn't even know I'm carrying his child… he really came all this way just for me…
Overwhelmed, Malena sobbed into the shoulder of the other Dark Angel. The Dark Angel, startled, tried her best to console her, patting her gently on the back, "There, there, don't cry…"
Hanni watched and felt confident she had things under control. But now, realizing she'd used the fake "Hanni Baenre" name, she felt a twinge of caution.
Not that she couldn't talk her way out anyway.
"Why are you crying?" she asked Malena. "Is he… your lover?"
Malena sat up straight, schooling her expression. With a Dark Elf present she forced herself to be stern: "No. I hate him. My loyalty is only to the ancestor now…"
The Dark Angel beside her looked completely confused, but Hanni thought: Lady, even a random human could see those were tears of joy!
But still, she nodded. "So that's it—wonderful! Us Dark Elves value loyalty above all!"
Out of nowhere, she drew a slender, black, easily-hidden dagger from her Bag of Holding. "This blade is a special Baenre family tradition—we award them to loyal servants!"
She reversed the dagger, offering it hilt-first. "Thanks for hiding me. Let me give you this weapon in return—may you always show true loyalty, like a real Dark Elf!"
Throwing herself into the bit, she struck a dramatic pose: "Come, swear your allegiance!"
Malena stared at the dagger, uncertain of Hanni's intent.
She's trying to hint at betraying Sulpharlo?
So the Dark Elf did have her own agenda, hoping to make Malena complicit in an assassination?
Normally, Malena would never accept. Sulpharlo was dangerous, but Dark Elves were outright treacherous—not to be trusted.
But now—with Charles and the others trying to rescue her—maybe this was her only chance for freedom. And maybe, to finally end Sulpharlo's experiments.
Taking a slow breath, Malena took the dagger. "I understand. Thank you… for your gift."
Hanni beamed. "You're welcome! Oh, and watch out—that dagger's coated in Purple Worm venom. Know what Purple Worms are? Most lethal poison in the material world—it can drop an elephant in seconds!"
Malena's hand trembled, her heart thundering as she stared at the weapon's poisonous gleam. "Uh… thanks for the warning. I'll be careful."
Hanni just grinned and looked around: "Mind if I wander around a bit?"
Malena, convinced Hanni meant to betray Sulpharlo, forced a smile, "Of course, we're all allies now. You're free to look at anything here."
Hanni wandered off, searching for any valuable Baenre family secrets.
Malena, clutching her huge belly, felt even more weighed down. Every time she thought of the venom's power, she wanted to throw the blade as far away as possible.
She turned to the Dark Angel, who was still comforting her tenderly—such a strong, agile body… Suppressing her guilt, Malena leaned in and whispered: "Do you want to be free, to live happily in the sunlight?"
The Dark Angel nodded. "I do…"
"Then when the time comes," Malena whispered, like the Devil offering a fallen deal, "do exactly what I tell you…"
...
Outside Sulpharlo's nest doorway.
The fallen angel staggered in panic, fleeing through twisted halls. The power of her transformation had improved offense and defense, but cost her speed.
She was no longer the fastest angel in the multiverse—still far beyond any dragon or mortal, but with a little magic, even humans could keep up!
Just like now—Charles, with his burning blue wings, blazed after her, quickly closing the gap.
If not for her knowledge of every twist in the cavern, she'd have already been caught—banished again with a smite!
"Damn it!"
Sulpharlo cursed, mind spinning with plans for a counterattack.
Already badly hurt, she couldn't take more hits—one misstep and she'd be done for.
She needed fodder to draw Charles's focus—buying time so she could find an opening to kill him!
But the only forces left to her were…
She couldn't help wincing as she thought of the Dark Angels she'd cloned half an hour ago.
They were precious—her seed capital, the golden goose meant to lay eggs for her.
But today, she would have to throw them away as cannon fodder.
Still—better to lose them than die herself!
Resolute, Sulpharlo twisted her black-red wings and darted toward her secret laboratory.
Charles raced after, mind racing—Haste would only last a little longer.
Every second burned, reducing his margin to finish her off—if he failed, he'd be the one to die!
He hated wasting precious seconds in the winding tunnels—but this was Sulpharlo's home turf.
Suddenly she veered and shot down a long, straight hallway.
Charles's eyes lit up—finally, a direct shot! Beating his glowing wings, he roared, "Sulpharlo, your time's up!"
In a straight chase, he'd outpace her—he closed in, polearm ready to strike.
Just as he was about to reach her, Sulpharlo shrieked, "Dark Angels, intercept our enemy!"
She burst through to a spacious lobby. Charles tore in right after—and stopped, momentarily stunned.
What had he walked into?
A hundred women—every single one the mirror of Malena—stood in a wide, open chamber, wearing only loose, pajama-like robes. Long dark-red hair spilled over their shoulders, full curves clearly visible beneath.
At her command, the girls—all pure, confused, and innocent a moment before—suddenly locked eyes on him with burning hatred. Their bodies floated upward as wings burst from their backs—
SHRRRIP!
With the sound of tearing cloth, dark-red feathered wings unfurled from every back—just like the fallen angel's. The tattered robes hung loosely, barely concealing anything, making them even more alluring than if they'd been naked.
None of the Dark Angels had any idea how enticing they looked. Their faces were twisted, eyes full of loathing as they dove straight for Charles!
He stared in incredulity.
What the hell is this?!
"Malena?!" he cried, beating his wings and dodging—but not fighting back. "No—what's going on here? Sulpharlo, what did you do?!"
He was truly at a loss—being mobbed by a hundred identical, indistinguishable Malenas was enough to set anyone's hair on end!
Sulpharlo, having landed at a safe distance, threw her head back in laughter, "What, you can't bear to hurt them? Ha! Such pathetic, hypocritical mercy!"
"The Malena you want—that woman no longer exists! Or better yet, right now, every one of these women attacking you is Malena!"
"Despair! Suffer! Maybe your voice will reach their buried memories—maybe they'll burst into tears and collapse into your embrace, remembering happier times together…"
She laughed wildly, convinced she'd found Charles's fatal weakness. Lies spilled from her tongue, hoping to shatter his will.
"...Bastard!"
Charles cursed, dodging desperately. But there were so many Dark Angels—each one as fast as Sulpharlo herself—he was quickly surrounded. They weren't armed, but one still swung a fist, landing a solid blow to his chest!
~~~
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