Chapter 202 ·Seed of the Undead

“You ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍mean… that?”

Lilia ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍narrowed her eyes, staring at the grayish-white light source the size of a fist in the center of the black pool, entangled by several rotten intestines.

This ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍thing looked like a moldy, fuzzy orange—one that had been soaked in a sewer for three days.

Lilia ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍complained wildly in her mind, “You call this a treasure?”

【Host! ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍That’s where you’re wrong—how can you judge by appearances!】

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍system sounded exasperated, the light sphere jumping up and down on the panel in agitation.

【This is the embryonic form of the ‘Seed of the Undead’! Although it hasn’t fully matured yet, theoretically speaking, it’s on the same level as the ‘Seed of Life’ you ate in the Forest of Life!】

Lilia raised a brow.

Same level?

That Seed of Life had turned her into a tireless corporate slave—if she got another one like this…

“What would I become if I eat it?” Lilia asked cautiously. “A zombie? Or one of those skeletons that can only hop around? Let me warn you first—if it affects my looks, forget it.”

【Of course not!】

The system hurriedly pitched its case.

【Think about it, Host! The Seed of Life gives you endless vitality and recovery—that’s ‘Yang.’ And this Seed of the Undead represents the ultimate ‘Yin.’ Yin and Yang in harmony, understand? This is the ultimate secret of evolution!】

【And! This thing is still in its embryonic stage, without consciousness—it’s the easiest to absorb! If those gray-robed guys finish nurturing it, it won’t be a treasure anymore—it’ll be a disaster!】

Lilia stroked her chin.

Although this system usually talked nonsense, it had never failed her when it came to matters of life and death.

If it really was as powerful as it claimed…

Lilia glanced at the gray-robed figures below, who were working with great enthusiasm.

So this was what they called “snatching the prize midway”?

Thinking about it, it actually felt pretty exciting.

“Fine.” Lilia gritted her teeth as if making a major decision. “But that thing’s in the middle of the pool, surrounded by those half-human, half-ghost things. How am I supposed to get it? Don’t tell me I have to swim over?”

She lowered her head to look at her expensive lambskin ankle boots, which, though dusty, were still pristine—and then at the bubbling, toxic cesspool below.

If she jumped in there, even if she could wash it clean afterward, she would never want to eat again for the rest of her life.

If Hera smelled that stench on her, she would definitely throw her—clothes and all—into an incinerator.

【Host, aren’t you forgetting something?】

The system’s tone turned a bit sleazy, like a big bad wolf luring Little Red Riding Hood.

“What?”

【This system has auto-loot!】

Only then did Lilia remember how, when she had followed her master to check the treasury, this damn system had encouraged her to steal Hera’s belongings.

【Last time we didn’t get to use this skill. This time we’ve got to make good use of it!】

Indeed.

Below, the leading red-robed figure seemed to grow impatient, waving the bone staff in his hand to urge his subordinates to speed up dumping the corpse chunks.

The liquid in the black pool churned even more violently, and the grayish-white glow began to flicker unstably, as if it might explode at any moment.

“Take it!”

A glint of greed flashed in Lilia’s eyes.

It was free loot—no reason not to take it.

As long as she didn’t have to touch it with her hands, everything was negotiable.

“Dig that thing out for me!”

【Roger that! Command received!】

【Auto-loot initiating… Target locked: Seed of the Undead (Embryo)… Confirmation successful!】

“Buzz—”

Nothing earth-shattering happened in the air—not even a breeze stirred.

Just as the leading red-robed figure turned around, about to chant a long and tedious incantation to praise their great creator—

At the center of the black pool.

That grayish-white orb, worshipped by countless people as a precious treasure—

Vanished.

Without any warning.

The boiling black pool, like water suddenly losing its heat source, instantly calmed down. The fleshy pipelines that had grown around the orb, having lost their energy core, began to wither at a visible rate, turning black, then collapsing into foul-smelling sludge that plopped into the pool one after another.

“?!”

The red-robed figure froze mid-motion, his hand holding the bone staff suspended in the air.

Behind the mask, his murky eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.

He stared blankly at the now-empty center of the pool, then looked at the bone staff in his hand, as if questioning reality itself.

What just happened?

A miracle?

Or had he just seen a ghost?

Meanwhile—

Behind the rock, Lilia suddenly felt a sharp chill in her chest.

It was like swallowing an entire block of dry ice in the peak of summer.

【Ding! Seed of the Undead collected!】

【Detected special host constitution. No additional container required. Initiating automatic fusion…】

“What the hell? Wait—!”

Lilia didn’t even have time to curse.

That icy aura surged straight into her body!

“Thump!”

Her heart pounded heavily.

Immediately after—

An indescribable cold spread through her veins, exploding toward her limbs.

The Seed of Life inside her, which had been like a miniature sun constantly radiating warmth, seemed to sense the intruder and instantly flared up.

One gold, one gray.

Two completely opposing forces turned Lilia’s body into a battlefield and clashed head-on.

“Ugh…”

Clutching her chest, Lilia nearly dropped to her knees.

Half of her body burned like fire, the other half was cold like a corpse.

“System, you bastard… you call this automatic fusion? This is about to explode, isn’t it?!” Lilia gritted her teeth in pain, feeling like a porcelain doll about to crack apart.

【Host, don’t panic! Stay steady! Breathe deeply!】

Even the system sounded a bit flustered. 【This is a normal reaction! Just endure it for a bit—once they find a balance point…】

Below, chaos had already erupted in the cavern.

“Who?!”

“Who stole the sacred object?!”

The red-robed figure finally snapped out of it, letting out a heart-wrenching roar.

He waved his bone staff wildly, a vast mental force sweeping across the entire underground space like a radar.

“Over there!”

A gray beam of death shot directly toward the rock where Lilia was hiding.

“Boom!”

The massive rock was blasted into pieces.

Amid the swirling dust—

Lilia’s figure was revealed.

Little Red fled in panic, clutching her head, while Bulara made two mechanical clicks—though she didn’t move, the red light in her eyes dimmed slightly.

“You?!” The red-robed figure stared at the silver-haired girl standing atop the rubble, killing intent nearly solidifying in his eyes. “Lowly human! Spit out what you swallowed!”

Dozens of gray-robed figures charged over like mad dogs, howling.

The grotesque monsters still crawling in the pool also received the command, waving their claws as they lunged toward the elevated rocks.

This was bad.

They were completely surrounded.

Lilia tried to move, but the two forces inside her were still clashing—her body was as stiff as stone.

“So this is how I end up as a buffet…”

Lilia let out a bitter smile.

Just as the fastest monster’s claws were about to tear open her throat—

The pain inside her body suddenly vanished.

In its place—

Was an unprecedented, eerie calm.

Like two torrents finally merging into a great river. Though still distinct, they no longer clashed, instead forming a perfect vortex.

Her heartbeat slowed.

Extremely slow, yet incomparably powerful.

With each beat, what surged out was no longer mere warm blood, but a dark red flow tinged with a trace of gray deathly aura.

【Ding! Fusion complete!】

【Congratulations, Host! You have obtained a special constitution: Between Life and Death.】

Lilia’s eyes snapped open.

Within her originally crimson pupils, an eerie silver-gray ring had appeared.

She looked at the monster lunging toward her.

On its body, countless gray cracks were densely spread.

Those were its weaknesses—its connections to life, and also the inevitable paths leading to its death.

Lilia subconsciously raised her hand.

She simply made a light grasping motion toward the monster.

“Boom!”

The grotesque creature still midair exploded instantly from within, turning into a cloud of gray-black dust.

Not a single trace of flesh remained.

As if it had never existed.

The entire underground cavern fell into dead silence.