******
Kaelrik’s sudden words detonated through the village square like an apocalyptic thunderclap, his voice heavily laced with icy venom and malice.
The villagers and guards alike began to tremble under the weight of his murderous intent, their limbs locking up as if invisible chains had snaked around their bodies.
The suffocating pressure bore down on them like a tidal wave of dread crashing against their hearts.
But before they could even muster a single thought, the one-eyed, Old Demon, whom terror had already paralyzed, began to convulse hysterically, his frail body trembling as if it would shatter at any moment.
But just at that moment...
Shiiiing!
A massive, colossal blade, which seemed forged to cleave mountains, was pulled out by Kaelrik from the scabbard at his waist, the metallic ring echoing like a funeral bell, tolling the inevitable death that was about to come.
In the following second—
Haaak!
The sickening symphony of steel cleaving flesh echoed, reverberating through the square like the cruel laugh of death itself.
In the next blink of an eye, the elderly demon’s head was separated cleanly from his body, landing with a hollow thud on the podium.
Blood spurted like a fountain from the fresh wound of the severed neck, splattering across the wooden platform and staining it a deep crimson.
’This...’
The villagers’ hearts stopped in shock, and their eyes widened in disbelief.
They slowly shifted their gaze between the severed head on the podium and the headless body still standing.
Everyone could see the expression frozen on the old man’s face — wide-eyed shock as if silently asking: Didn’t you promise to spare me?
Then finally...
Thud!
The body collapsed, lifeless, and only after this did reality finally snap back like a whip.
’So evil!’
’He... he still killed him after all!’
’Ah! Devil indeed!’
’The poor old soul!’
Various thoughts raced through the villagers’ minds, their faces twisted in horror as they stared at the face that now seemed even more demonic and maniacal, like that of a devil.
On the other hand, Venomspite and his group gritted their teeth fiercely against each other, their fists clenched so tightly that their claws bit into their palms. The urge to act burned in their chests, but they remained rooted to their spots, their muscles coiled with restraint.
Just at that moment, Kaelrik, unfazed by the horror he had just unleashed, turned to the little demon girl—the old demon’s little granddaughter.
She stood still, staring blankly at her grandfather’s severed head, heavy confusion clouding her innocent eyes — as though her mind couldn’t comprehend why his head was no longer attached to his body.
Kaelrik grinned.
"Cut her body into smaller pieces and throw them into my fish tank," he ordered, his tone disturbingly casual. "It is better to feed her to my babies than leave her alone in this world with no family to care for her."
A collective shiver ran through the villagers.
Even Xylen.
Although he was fully aware that none of this was real and merely a game, a cold sweat still couldn’t help but trickle down his spine, perceiving the metallic scent of blood that hung thick in the air.
But then it hit him like a lightning strike.
’The developers of this mission are absolute psychopaths.’
He gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to move.
’I get it now. They most likely crafted this quest’s story as a challenge to disrupt the player’s focus—to bait me into acting before the perfect moment, knowing that I lose control now, the mission is as good as over.’
Xylen’s breathing almost quickened with rage, but he forced himself to stay still, cursing the developers in his mind.
’Good thing it’s me playing this mission. Another player with a soft and heroic heart would’ve failed already,’ he sighed internally.
Until now, Xylen had been wondering about the pointless delays and stories that seemed irrelevant to his mission. But at last, everything made sense.
He quickly suppressed his rising anger and focused on the plan.
Meanwhile, after the little girl was dragged away—amidst the villagers’ aching hearts and sorrowful gazes, the bloodstained podium was carefully cleaned. Only then did Kaelrik turn his attention back to the villagers, clapping his hands as if nothing had happened.
"So," he said, his voice bright. "Anyone else have something to say?"
The village held its breath, a powerful surge of adrenaline rushing through them.
Seeing this, Kaelrik scanned the crowd, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Every demon lowered their head, hearts pounding, terrified of drawing attention to themselves.
Finally, Kaelrik’s grin widened.
"Since none of you have anything else to say," he mused, his voice echoing through the village square, heavily laced with false warmth, "let’s get back to business."
He turned his gaze back to Xylen’s motionless form, his voice suddenly dipping into a low, venomous drawl.
"My poor cousin, suffering in agony for so many years..." Kaelrik feigned sorrow, shaking his head.
"No one deserves such misery, and as his loving and only relative, I have decided to grant him eternal peace. I’ll send him to the afterlife to meet his parents." He spread his arms as if bestowing a gift. "I’ll end his suffering."
His voice echoed through the village, sounding sanctimonious as if he had just announced he was about to perform the most heroic act of all time.
Upon hearing him, a strong chill ran down the villagers’ spines, leaving them all frozen in place.
’He... he really wants to kill his cousin in for the Baron?’
’This fief is doomed completely at last!’
They wept inwardly, none of them convinced by Kaelrik’s seemingly virtuous words.
Kaelrik, however, didn’t care in the slightest about their thoughts. He had only spoken for formality’s sake.
With this, he turned to the three guards stationed beside Xylen and snapped his fingers.
"Hold him down." He barked.
The guards instantly flinched, the three of them swallowing hard.
On the other hand—
"Finally here!" the eight demons and their men muttered under their breath, their eyes gleaming with anticipation as their bodies tensed.
It wasn’t just them—Lilith and Xylen were just as tense.
’Let nothing go wrong!’ Lilith prayed anxiously, her body rigid as she prepared to act.
And Xylen...
’The awaited moment is finally here,’ he thought in his mind with relief and anxiety.
He did his best to play along, feeling his limp body being lifted before finally, his head was placed on a wooden block.
The moment this happened, however, his blood ran cold, and a sudden realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
’This bastard wants to cut off my head!’