Dark Lord’s Estate….

Zeth glared at his kneeling minions then let out a guttural roar in frustration, roar fiercer than a lion’s, a dark, demon’s roar. He just wanted to get things done! To get that promotion. And maybe have even the slightest shot at marrying Alice just so he could dominate her. Ooh he wanted to put that bitch in her place, to make her kneel and lick the sweat upon his feet. He froze, letting the dark thoughts fall.

Zeth couldn’t forget the promise he made to himself years ago. That despite the humiliation, he’d be the example to his troops. The star and light in which they’d look upon. If only they took their jobs seriously.

Some of them lost respect for him because he simply let Alice go after she denied his honor. He should be dead. Yet even the demon lord spared him, forced him into this leadership position. Forced him in front of the others so that everyone could witness his shame. All in her name.

“Miserable failures,” he said. “You are my elites. Hidden Lotus. STOP EMBARRASSING ME! You dare throw away all of the training? Is there any professional left here?”

His minions were bowing low to the ground, trembling with fear. Despite the loss, they still did this. Things shouldn’t be this way. He needed honor! Honor! HE WANTED TO EARN HIS GODDAMN HONOR! FUCK! “Of the three demon lord eyes, I’ll look the worse. They underestimate the patrol because the gifted are human and this Neko is a beast kin. Fools! I may end having to do everything myself.”

He stormed out of counseling chambers, fuming.

Lot City Streets….

Clyde and Melody dropped to the rough concrete of an ally, panting. Covered in sweat like the breath of a marathon, the duo double, then triple-checked the area for pursuers. This cat and mouse game felt like it raged on for an eternity. Clyde wasn’t sure if they’d ever make it back to the others.

He stared at the streetlights, which seemed to darken with every blink. A chilly breeze whipped across his face, calming him for only a second before fear retook the mind’s seat.

Abruptly, a shape that dripped from the shadows, down the alley walls. A tentacle of slime flashed around Melody’s arm before the thought to run had the chance to process.

The redheaded young woman yelped, frantically hitting at the tentacle with her free arm. A second one shot out of the darkness to grab onto the other arm right as Clyde raised his blade. Melody screamed as the tentacles slowly pulled her into an inky blackness. A third rope of slime lurched itself around the sword.

Clyde held on, but he was simply not strong enough. The tentacle yanked his weapon away then tossed it on the rooftop of a nearby building.

“No,” Melody gasped fighting with everything she had to no avail, tears streaming from her eyes. Clyde’s analyze activated involuntarily.

Abyss to the Blackness

Level: 464

Type: unknown.

Work under: N/A.

Special: Unknown.

Clyde’s heartbeat hammered. FUCKING LEVEL FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR?

Sure, he could leave the girl behind—he owed her nothing. She’s been nothing but a pain in the ass the entire time and truthfully, his life would be easier if she perished. But Clyde’s sense of humanity still stirred, at least for now. He was no hero of legend. He didn’t have the power to take on something this goddamn strong.

Another tentacle in the shape of something Clyde pushed away from his thoughts, emerged. It ripped off Melody’s skirt, revealing pink panties.

“Oh, hell no,” Clyde said. “I am not about to see this in real life. This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, just to live with myself. Assuming I live.”

[You’ve entered a Death Sentence!]

Clyde’s MP wasn’t high due to the flash steps and previous battles. He recovered a little, but it was enough, especially against something that even the system named death. It felt more than alarming that something like this lived within the city.

[Activated Scatter shot.]

The energy balls did no damage—but stopped the tentacle that was seconds away from violating Melody.

[Abyss HP: 95,000,000% You are unable to damage it. Warning, you must retreat! Warning, you must retreat!]

A tentacle seemed to appear out of nowhere to slap Clyde to the ground. The pain to his jaw felt like a bowling ball exploding to his face. Blood gushed from his nose.

[Your HP has dropped to 15%]

The young man shook his head, feeling very small. What was he even doing here? Why even bother with this scammer anyway? She meant nothing to him. But…that thing. It was surely going to pull her into nothingness while he did nothing. Power. Just a little power—anything.

Nothing happened.

Melody screamed as she was yanked further and further toward the blackness. The tentacles were watching Clyde as if he’d destroy them if they were distracted with violating the girl. Another ten feet and she’d be gone for good. A blessing…right? Who would ever house to the power to take on something like this.

[You have lost the will to fight.]

[Enemy has sensed this and spared you. Go while you have the chance.]

As if he’d get far. Clyde pulled the enemy attracter from his inventory. One last idea. One that required the strain of his luck stat.

The tentacles froze, confused and curious. He waved it. It flashed like lightning multiple times, engulfing the entire area. Hundreds of flaps immediately filled the air.

“This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done,” Clyde said softly. Yet, the tentacles seemed amazed as harpies swarmed the area. “Let her go. See those women above. You’ll have more fun with them. An offering to you, great abyss lord.”

A dark laugh filled the air, everywhere and nowhere.

“Very well.”

The tentacles tossed Melody onto Clyde then multiplied into hundreds. The harpies, set on nosediving toward the young man, met resistance. Tentacles wrapped around all of the unsuspecting birdwomen, dragging them to the ground. Many were violated on the spot. The slime ripped away all clothing.

“We will find you! Oh!” one of them screamed as a tentacle shoved into her, thrusting like a machine.

Clyde had an iron grip on Melody as they darted away as fast as their legs could muster. Fifteen minutes later, they stopped in the middle of the street to rest. The redhead wiped away the last of her tears. New streaks replaced them. She did the unthinkable, diving into Clyde, face against his chest, crying.

[Your relationship with Melody has changed from feared to absolute endearment. She owes you her life. You mean everything to her—risking yours when you could’ve let her die horribly.]

[Your bravery has been noted by someone of great power.]

[You have completed the secret quest: Do or Die. A brilliant plan for a near-impossible quest. Reward: $1000. 10,000 EXP. You have reached level 21! Stats increased! Your Heart protection has reached level 4!]

Even though just rewarded for being heroic, Clyde snapped Melody out of her weeping to point at the treat that grinned a few yards from the duo. The lamia and honeybee laughed.

“We have enough to cum at least five times,” Sui said.

“It’s all thanks to some light signal. To think we almost missed ya,” Abby said then licked her lips.

Clyde’s HP only recovered to thirty percent. He lacked the MP to Flash step. Fuck. They left one problem for another.