The More I Invest in My Wives, the Stronger I Become

Chapter 20: The Hidden Enemy

Daemon’s breathing had become heavier.

Only two minutes remained.

He stood in the middle of the dungeon, surrounded by five men who were clearly different from the other candidates. Their movements were too disciplined, their weapons too refined, and their coordination far too precise.

These men weren’t ordinary awakened candidates.

They were experienced hunters—at least B-Rank, perhaps even C-Rank at minimum.

Daemon tightened his grip around Voidreaper.

Five of them at once...

He had already used Thunderstep repeatedly, yet they had managed to keep up with him by working together.

For the first time since entering the dungeon, Daemon felt genuine pressure.

I need training.

The thought came naturally.

His current strength had allowed him to dominate most of the candidates, but against five experienced hunters working as a unit, his weaknesses were becoming obvious.

I know how to use my abilities, but I haven’t truly mastered them.

He took a deep breath.

This is where I actually stand right now.

One of the hunters suddenly lunged.

Daemon raised Voidreaper.

CLANG!

Another blade came from the side.

Daemon twisted his body.

A spear passed dangerously close to his ribs.

Then a third hunter attacked from behind.

Thunderstep!

Daemon vanished.

He reappeared several meters away, but the hunters immediately followed.

They’re not giving me any room.

Then—

BOOOOOOM!

A tremendous burst of green energy exploded across the battlefield.

The five hunters were thrown backward.

Two of them crashed heavily against the ground and remained motionless.

Daemon’s eyes widened.

What was that?

He turned.

A familiar figure stood several meters away.

Green light circled both of her palms.

Her twin daggers were still strapped to her waist.

Her expression was completely different from the gentle healer Daemon had known.

Roxana looked fierce.

She walked toward him.

"Daemon."

He stared at her.

"Roxana?"

She raised one glowing palm.

"How many times do you think you can save me?"

Daemon blinked.

Roxana’s eyes narrowed.

"Not this time."

She stepped beside him.

"I’m not leaving you here alone."

Daemon was about to speak, but she continued.

"I don’t care about winning anymore. After we finish these bastards, we’ll finish the round together."

For a moment, Daemon simply stared at her.

It wasn’t just her unusual ability that surprised him.

It was her confidence.

The woman who had always seemed gentle and reserved was now standing beside him without the slightest hesitation.

She looks... pretty cool.

Daemon couldn’t help smiling.

"Fine."

He raised Voidreaper.

"Let’s finish this together."

The remaining three hunters attacked.

Roxana moved first.

One hunter swung his sword toward her.

She crossed her arms.

CLANG!

Her dagger stopped the blade.

The hunter pushed harder.

Roxana suddenly released the dagger with one hand and placed her glowing palm against his chest.

"Restoration Strike."

BOOM!

A concentrated burst of green energy exploded from her palm.

The hunter was thrown backward.

He rolled several times before stopping.

He was still alive, but completely stunned.

The second hunter charged Daemon.

Daemon activated Blade Aura.

A sharp aura wrapped around Voidreaper.

SHING!

Their weapons collided.

Daemon redirected the man’s sword instead of meeting his strength directly.

Then—

Thunderstep!

He disappeared.

The hunter turned around.

Too late.

Daemon appeared behind him and struck the back of his armor with the flat side of Voidreaper.

BAM!

The hunter fell.

The final two recovered and attacked simultaneously.

Roxana saw them coming.

"Daemon!"

"I’ve got them."

Daemon activated Thunderstep.

He moved between the two hunters, forcing them to separate.

Roxana immediately understood his intention.

She stepped forward.

One hunter attempted to attack her.

She released a Short Burst Push.

BOOM!

The green wave struck his chest and pushed him backward.

He stumbled.

Roxana rushed forward and struck his arm with her dagger, forcing him to drop his weapon.

She didn’t kill him.

Instead, she kicked his weapon away.

Daemon dealt with the other hunter at the same time.

CLANG!

CLANG!

BOOM!

An Inferno Blast exploded between them.

Daemon emerged from the smoke and struck the hunter’s leg with Voidreaper.

The man collapsed.

Within moments, all five hunters were down.

Daemon looked toward the dungeon’s exit.

"We’re almost out of time."

Roxana nodded.

They ran.

They reached the end of the dungeon in the final seconds.

The ranking appeared.

FIRST — JULIAN

SECOND — ROXANA

THIRD — DAEMON

The control room erupted with excitement.

Sana immediately stood.

"Those five hunters! Don’t lose them!"

The staff members turned toward her.

"They violated the dungeon rules. Find them immediately and bring all five to the interrogation room."

"Yes!"

"Move!"

Meanwhile, in another room, Kael was furious.

His fist slammed into the wall.

BOOM!

Furniture was overturned.

"Worthless!"

His expression twisted with rage.

"Five experienced hunters, and they couldn’t stop an E-Rank nobody?"

He paced across the room.

Now his situation was dangerous.

If those five are captured, they might reveal everything.

Kael’s eyes became cold.

"I may have to silence them myself."

The surviving candidates gathered in the hall.

A female WHA staff member stepped forward.

"Congratulations to the candidates who completed the second round."

She looked at the three highest-ranked candidates.

"Julian, Roxana, and Daemon."

She paused.

"Because of your performance, you have been granted a special privilege."

The hall became silent.

"The top three candidates are officially selected for the WHA’s elite special-discipline program.

Therefore, you will not be required to participate in the final selection round."

Murmurs spread through the hall.

"You will instead receive direct training under S-Rank Awakeners."

Daemon and Roxana exchanged a glance.

Both smiled.

Daemon leaned slightly toward her.

"I never knew you could fight like that."

Roxana’s face immediately turned red.

"You..."

He chuckled.

"How many secrets are you hiding?"

Her cheeks became even redder.

"I just didn’t want to leave you alone."

Daemon smiled.

"I noticed."

Several candidates approached them and offered congratulations.

Others weren’t nearly as happy.

Jealousy was obvious on their faces.

But nobody dared challenge them.

Meanwhile, Victoria stood inside the control room.

The staff member who had secretly assisted Kael was floating several feet above the ground.

Crimson energy wrapped around his shoulders.

"Miss Victoria, please!"

He trembled.

"I didn’t do anything! I was only leaving because I had another assignment!"

Victoria stared at him coldly.

"If you don’t waste my time and tell me everything, I may show you mercy."

The man’s face went pale.

He knew he couldn’t escape.

"I..."

He opened his mouth.

Then suddenly his body stiffened.

His eyes widened.

His heart stopped.

The crimson energy released him.

He crashed onto the floor.

Dead.

Victoria stared at the body.

"A heart attack?"

Something felt wrong.

She immediately contacted Sana.

"Bring those five hunters to the interrogation room. Don’t let them die."

Sana understood immediately.

"They’ve been controlled?"

"Yes."

Victoria’s eyes narrowed.

"Whoever is behind this is powerful enough to silence them remotely."

In another hidden room, Kael smiled.

"You thought capturing them would give you answers?"

His eyes gleamed.

"You’re mistaken."

He raised one hand.

A tiny black insect crawled across his finger.

"My family’s bloodline technique..."

The insect was almost impossible to see.

"Thrall Wasp."

It wasn’t mind control.

That was what made it terrifying.

The parasite entered the body and attached itself to the nervous system.

The victim remained fully conscious.

They could think.

They could see.

They could hear.

But their body no longer belonged to them.

For less resistant targets, Kael could control their bodies for nearly a minute.

The stronger the bloodline and willpower, the shorter the control.

And once the parasite released itself, the damage it had caused to the nervous system was usually fatal.

Kael smiled.

"You won’t find the answer inside them."

He turned toward the door.

"Daemon..."

His smile disappeared.

"You took something that belongs to me."

He walked away.

"I’ll show you what happens when someone takes my property without my permission."

The three finalists received their official WHA identification cards.

The female staff member explained their benefits.

"As official WHA hunters, you will receive a fixed monthly salary, mission bonuses, medical support, access to training facilities, equipment allowances, recovery resources, and compensation for injuries sustained during authorized missions."

Daemon stared at the card.

"That much?"

Roxana looked equally surprised.

Julian, however, wasn’t impressed.

He kept staring at Daemon.

He was supposed to be nobody.

Now he was officially a WHA hunter.

Worse—

He was Victoria’s husband.

Julian clenched his fist.

How am I supposed to accept this?

He turned and walked away without saying anything.

The staff member continued.

"We will contact the three of you when the elite training program begins. Until then, return home and rest."

Julian left.

Daemon and Roxana remained behind.

Roxana suddenly smiled.

"Daemon... should we celebrate today?"

"I’d like to."

Her expression brightened.

"But I promised Victoria we’d go shopping after the selection."

Roxana froze.

Oh.

Her mind suddenly remembered.

He’s married.

Her expression became blank.

Daemon noticed.

"Why don’t you come with us?"

Roxana looked up.

"What?"

"I need to buy a few things anyway. If you’re okay with it, you can join us."

Her gloomy expression immediately disappeared.

"Really?"

Daemon laughed.

"Really."

They exchanged contact information and waited for Victoria.

Inside the interrogation room, the five captured hunters sat restrained by special bindings that prevented them from using their abilities.

Sana began questioning them.

But when Victoria entered, she didn’t ask a single question.

She closed her eyes.

Crimson Resonance.

Her bloodline ability spread through the room.

She reached into their thoughts.

Nothing.

Victoria’s eyes opened.

Empty.

Not unconscious.

Not erased.

Blocked.

Whoever had done this had anticipated even her ability.

Victoria pushed her bloodline power harder.

Pain suddenly shot through her body.

Her curse awakened.

Her knees weakened.

The pendant around her neck began glowing.

Daemon’s gift.

Emberalm Jade.

It released a warm energy that suppressed the flare-up.

But Victoria had already pushed herself too far.

Blood trickled from her nose.

"Victoria!"

She collapsed.

Sana caught her shoulders.

"Get a healer! Quickly!"

At that exact moment, far away, Daemon suddenly stopped.

A familiar notification appeared.

[CORRUPTION ALERT]

Daemon’s expression changed instantly.

The system had finally spoken again.

[Victoria’s bloodline corruption has sharply worsened.]

Daemon’s smile disappeared.

"Victoria..."

His heart tightened.

"She’s in danger."

______________________________________________________________________________________

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