315-317

Chapter 315: Energy Fountain 

Talk about being caught off guard! 

Just as Roy was about to give in, a burning sensation from the Belial imprint on his chest snapped him out of Asmodeus’s charm effect. 

However, he still couldn’t tap into his internal energy, so transforming into his angelic form was out of the question. 

Roy suspected it had something to do with Asmodeus’s kiss. The Queen of Lust’s kiss didn’t just enchant—it also left him physically weak and unable to access his energy. 

Was it designed to make sure no one could resist her forceful advances? 

“Come on, forget about that wench Belial and fall into Mommy’s arms!” 

Seeing Roy starting to break free, Asmodeus doubled down on her charm. 

It was like sinking into quicksand—Roy knew what was happening but couldn’t escape his fate. 

Soon, he lost all ability to think, becoming a puppet for Asmodeus to manipulate. 

Pulling back her tongue, Asmodeus licked her lips. 

“Now, just one final step to seal the contract, and he’ll be mine completely!” 

So, how does the Queen of Lust, the Succubus Monarch, seal a contract? 

Tough guess, right? 

“What a magnificent man! No wonder that b*tch Belial took a liking to him!” 

Stripping off Roy’s military gear and tactical helmet, Asmodeus let out an admiring gasp. 

As a Hell Monarch, she saw more than just Roy’s surface traits—she could sense the powerful physique hidden beneath his ordinary exterior. 

“But soon, you’ll be mine!” 

With a smug grin, Asmodeus slowly lowered herself. 

Even for a seasoned demon queen like her, this moment brought an unparalleled sense of satisfaction. 

“It’s been a long time since I felt like this.” 

Asmodeus began drawing a blood-red sigil on Roy’s abdomen. 

But just drawing the sigil wasn’t enough to complete the contract. To overwrite Belial’s imprint, Asmodeus needed a higher-level ritual. 

That depended on how long it took Roy to release his “positive energy”—the key to sealing the deal. 

However, Roy’s endurance was clearly beyond Asmodeus’s expectations. 

“It’s taking this long? Fine, I’ll enjoy it a bit more.” 

Soon, the secret lab echoed with her soaring, almost heavenly voice. 

Unfortunately, Cliff Layton and Dren were already dead, and Jay was still lost in a crafting hallucination induced by Asmodeus’s charm. 

No one was there to appreciate the Queen of Lust’s melodious performance. 

Well, almost no one. Delasa, who had been stealthily trailing Roy and Jay, was still in the living quarters. 

Since Cliff had turned off the lights in the area earlier, and Delasa was cautious by nature, she hid herself the moment Roy and Dren started fighting. 

As a result, she lost track of Roy and Jay. 

Without a tracking tool like the Hound Ring, Delasa had to rely on her night vision goggles to slowly search the living quarters. 

Worried about being spotted, she moved at a snail’s pace. 

She didn’t know that Cliff had already noticed her through the security cameras. Earlier, she’d been too far from Roy and Jay to overhear their conversation. 

But Delasa’s stealth skills were top-notch. She’d stayed undetected until Cliff, while reviewing footage to find Roy, accidentally spotted her. 

“What’s that sound?” 

Delasa’s face twisted in confusion. She hadn’t expected anyone to be in the mood for that during such a high-stakes mission. 

Still, the sound was a perfect beacon, guiding her step by step toward the secret lab. 

At that moment, Asmodeus was too caught up in her enjoyment to notice the stealthy Delasa or maintain her charm aura. 

So, Delasa witnessed Asmodeus wildly galloping across the “plains,” her loud, joyful “grassland song” filling the room. 

How could it be her? 

Delasa stared in shock at Roy, who lay motionless like a puppet, completely under the control of the stunning woman. 

“Oh, Roy Black, you keep surprising me! I’m starting to think it’s a shame to turn such a fine specimen into a mindless puppet. A guy like this should pass on his bloodline!” 

Asmodeus was so lost in the moment that her usual composure was slipping. 

Watching from a distance, Delasa gritted her teeth. She felt screwed over by Bartholomew again. 

A few months back, Bartholomew had dragged her into confronting Roy. She’d shot him in the foot with a police sniper rifle, only to find it didn’t even break his skin. 

That’s when Delasa realized Roy was no ordinary guy—he was a supernatural being. 

As a veteran assassin of over a decade, she knew some of the dark world’s secrets. 

And now, Roy—who couldn’t even be pierced by a sniper round—was being toyed with like a marionette by this gorgeous woman. Could anything be more terrifying? 

Delasa’s first instinct was to abandon the mission and bolt. 

As for Bartholomew, that old hag could go eat dirt! 

But then she hesitated. She was this close to completing the mission, and she’d already made it this far. Giving up now felt like a waste. 

Gritting her teeth, Delasa decided to take a chance. 

She bundled all her grenades together, creating a makeshift cluster bomb, timed it perfectly, and tossed it into the secret lab. 

Without waiting to see the result, she turned and ran. 

If it killed them, she’d come back to collect the bodies. If it didn’t, she still had time to escape. 

Boom! 

A deafening explosion rocked the lab, followed by an enraged female voice. 

“Who’s interrupting my moment?!” 

Hearing that, Delasa ran even faster. 

What the hell?! What kind of monster survives high-explosive grenades? 

All Delasa wanted now was to get as far from the base as possible—maybe even defect from Amacham entirely. 

Inside the lab, Asmodeus furiously scanned for the grenade-thrower with her psychic senses. 

The cluster bomb hadn’t harmed the Queen of Lust. Though she’d been fully immersed in her pleasure, she’d instinctively blocked the explosion with her mind at the last second. 

The blast’s shockwave only slightly rattled her. 

Soon, she locked onto the fleeing Delasa and was about to telekinetically drag her back when she felt Roy stirring with “positive energy.” 

Wait! This isn’t the positive energy I meant! 

Stunned, Asmodeus looked down to see Roy’s hair and eyes turn silver, his face cold and emotionless, like a machine. 

“Impossible! How are you an angel?!” 

The Queen of Lust was beyond shocked. She’d thought Roy was a half-demon, perfect for claiming as her own. 

She never imagined he’d transform into an angel! 

Panicking, Asmodeus tried to pull away. Her power on Earth was limited, and Roy, with his six radiant wings, was a formidable angel. Even with her high demonic rank, overcoming his natural advantage was nearly impossible. 

But Roy wasn’t about to let her slip away. 

“Had fun playing with me, didn’t you?” 

The explosion’s shockwave had jolted him awake, and he now recalled everything that happened. 

Though he’d been under her charm, his memories remained intact—he just hadn’t been in control. 

“Let me go!” 

As holy light surged from Roy’s body, the Queen of Lust began to struggle frantically. 

But Roy’s physical strength far outmatched hers. Her flailing was useless, almost like a lover’s playful squirming. 

“My turn now!” 

Roy channeled all his holy light into the “weapon” currently engaging Asmodeus. 

“Agh—!” 

Asmodeus let out a piercing scream. The holy light’s effect on demons was devastating, and the critical blow to her vital points sapped her strength instantly. 

Roy flipped the tables, pinning her down and starting his counterattack. 

“Bastard! I’ll kill you! I swear I’ll kill you!” 

Asmodeus, who hadn’t felt such humiliation since becoming one of Hell’s Seven Monarchs, was livid. 

But Roy’s overwhelming physical power and angelic mental resistance nullified her charms, leaving her defenseless against his onslaught. All she could do was curse loudly to vent her frustration. 

Roy showed no mercy, increasing the intensity of his attack. He was determined to teach the Queen of Lust a lesson she’d never forget. 

And so, Asmodeus experienced pain unlike anything in her millennia-long demonic life—yet, oddly, a strange feeling stirred within her. 

“Here’s my final move!” 

A towering fountain of holy light energy shot skyward, piercing Asmodeus’s soul and leaving an indelible mark. 

The reeling Asmodeus would surely remember Roy forever. 

[Ding! Obtained Asmodeus’s Fate Chest! Open it now?] 

[Ding! Obtained Asmodeus’s Conquest Chest! Open it now?] 

Her physical form was utterly destroyed by the holy light, not even a single hair remaining. 

Roy collapsed to the ground, dazed. He’d unleashed every ounce of his power to solo a demon monarch. 

This was his first time defeating a monarch on his own—previous encounters had always been with Elise’s help. 

And getting two chests at once? That was a surprise. 

Did Asmodeus reach some kind of demonic peak under the holy light’s impact? 

That’s just too wild to believe. 

After lying on the ground to recover, Roy remembered the explosion that broke Asmodeus’s charm. Where had it come from? 

Cliff and Dren were dead as doornails, and Jay was still sprawled on the floor, lost in a daze. 

The explosion hadn’t harmed Jay. She’d been caught in the shockwave too, but her willpower wasn’t as strong as Roy’s, so she hadn’t fully shaken off Asmodeus’s charm. 

Unable to figure it out, Roy let it go. The truth would come out eventually. 

First, he needed to put some clothes on—otherwise, he’d look like a total creep. 

His military gear had been shredded by Asmodeus, but luckily, Roy always kept spare clothes in his inventory since his demon transformations often destroyed his outfits. 

After changing, he noticed Jay still lying there, eyes glassy. 

Was her willpower too low, or was the illusion so irresistible she couldn’t pull herself out? 

Normally, illusions require a willpower check to break. Those with strong enough will can see through them. 

But some people, even knowing it’s an illusion, get so hooked they can’t break free. 

As an intelligence operative, Jay’s willpower should be solid. The explosion had briefly disrupted the illusion, yet she was still trapped. It must be an illusion she couldn’t resist. 

“Miss Jay, time to wake up! The sun’s shining on your butt!” 

Roy slapped her cheeks, and Jay finally snapped out of it, staring at him in shock. 

“Where are we? Weren’t we on a Hawaiian beach vacation together? We even…” 

Roy crossed his arms, giving her a weird look. 

“You wanna repeat what you just said?” 

Her memories flooded back, and Jay realized it was all an illusion. 

“You better not tell anyone about this!” 

Her face flushed with embarrassment, a mix of shame and anger. 

Roy shrugged. After everything that happened, he wasn’t in the mood to tease her. 

“Fine, fine, your call!” 

Jay bit her lip, still uneasy. 

“You have to promise!” 

Roy rolled his eyes. 

“Maybe put some clothes on first?” 

Jay was down to a tank top and shorts. Many American women skip bras, so Roy could clearly see some “details” through her olive-green tank top. 

That comment earned him a kick in the shin. Jay stormed off to find her gear. 

Cliff hadn’t scattered her equipment—it was still in the lab. Jay quickly suited up. 

Despite the discomfort of her damp shorts, as a professional operative, she could handle it. 

“Black, what the hell happened? Why was I like that?” 

Delasa (Anya Taylor-Joy) 

Chapter 316: The Tree of Flesh 

After getting dressed, Jay finally recalled what happened before she was affected. 

Roy thought for a moment and decided not to tell Jay the truth, worried she might not be able to handle something so horrifying. 

"That weird humanoid creature sacrificed itself to summon a succubus. You were influenced by the succubus, which is why you ended up like this." 

"A succubus? So I didn’t actually fall for Black—it was all the succubus’s doing!" 

Jay was shocked. She’d heard rumors about succubi but had never encountered such a hellish creature before. 

"What are you muttering about?" 

"Nothing! Anyway, we’ve got work to do. Now’s not the time to chat!" 

Jay was clearly dodging the topic, which surprised Roy, though he didn’t press her for answers. 

Next, Jay shared the intel she’d gotten from Cliff Layton, and the two began discussing their next steps. 

"Based on what we know, we could already report back to General Hammer," Jay said. 

Cliff had pretty much laid out the whole story. For Jay, the remaining questions were about Elsa Layton in the main lab and why such drastic changes were happening at the bottom of the canyon. 

"In that case, why not investigate the experimental zone?" Roy suggested, looking at Jay. It was still a while until dawn, so they might as well keep digging. 

Jay hesitated. According to Cliff Layton, the experimental zone was extremely dangerous, and opening it could easily lead to biological contamination leaking out. 

But then she thought, if Roy could handle a succubus, investigating shouldn’t be a problem. 

"How about this, Black? I’ll stay in this hidden lab, and you go check out the experimental zone?" 

From the hidden lab, Jay could use Cliff’s access to remotely open and close doors for Roy and guide him via radio, which was pretty convenient. 

"Fine by me! But my gear’s busted. I’ll need a new protective suit." 

Roy wasn’t afraid of the biological contamination in the experimental zone, but he also didn’t want to bring any of it out, so a protective suit was necessary. 

"There should be spare protective suits in the energy zone. You’ll need to check there," Jay said, handing Roy her PAD. 

"I’ve mapped out a route for you. If anything comes up along the way, I’ll let you know over the radio." 

"No problem." 

Roy took the PAD and turned to leave, but Jay called out to him. 

"Black!" 

Roy turned back, puzzled, seeing Jay with a hesitant expression. 

"Miss Jay, anything else?" 

Jay bit her lip, looking at Roy. 

"Black, be careful!" 

Roy nodded. "I will." 

Not long after Roy left the hidden lab, Jay turned on the lights in the living quarters. 

Walking through the brightly lit area, Roy felt a bit more at ease. 

Then, Jay’s voice came through the radio. 

"I just checked the energy zone’s surveillance. It’s clear of biological contamination. You can head straight through the zone’s main gate." 

"Got it!" 

Having someone guide him was handy. In just a few minutes, Roy reached the main gate, which Jay opened remotely. 

Soon, Roy found a full set of protective gear in the energy zone. It was industrial-grade, not as good as military-grade, but it’d do. 

"Black, I checked the experimental zone’s surveillance. Only Lab 3, connected to the energy zone, has working cameras. The other labs are compromised. You can enter the experimental zone through the energy zone’s gate, but brace yourself—the scene inside… isn’t pretty!" 

How bad could it be? 

Roy figured he’d seen plenty and wouldn’t be fazed. 

"Just open the door. I’m going in now." 

"Door’s open, but you’ll need to go through sterilization first." 

Roy knew the drill. To keep the lab as sterile as possible, anyone entering had to go through a sterilization process—basically getting sprayed with a ton of disinfectant in a sterilization chamber. 

He’d seen it in movies and games, but this was his first time experiencing it himself. 

Inside the sterilization chamber, though, no disinfectant sprayed out. 

"Miss Jay, what’s going on?" 

"Hang on! The sterilization process was manually disabled, probably by Cliff Layton to make it easier for Dren to access Lab 3. I’ll open the lab door manually." 

A few seconds later, Lab 3’s door opened, and Roy saw what Jay meant by “not pretty.” 

The entire lab was littered with body parts—hundreds of corpses, roughly estimated, all with signs of being gnawed on, some missing limbs entirely. 

This must’ve been Dren’s dining area. Cliff Layton had lured Roy and Jay here to make it easy for Dren to feed. 

"Black, you okay?" 

"I’m fine. I’ve seen worse." 

Roy answered Jay calmly. 

"Good. I was worried this might get to you!" 

"What’s my next move?" 

"Hold on. I can’t see the other labs’ surveillance, so I need to assess." 

There wasn’t much to assess—only two paths were available. 

"Alright, head to Lab 2, the right exit. Lab 1’s door is broken and won’t open." 

"Got it!" 

Roy headed down the right corridor, finally experiencing the disinfectant sterilization process. 

As for how it felt? Nothing, really—he was in a protective suit. 

"I’m opening the door, Black. Be ready!" 

"I’m good!" 

Roy aimed his M1014 at the sterilization chamber’s door. 

"Three, two, one—open!" 

The door swung open, and Roy instantly felt a wave of heat, even through his industrial protective suit. 

Beyond the door was a world of red and yellow. Cell-like substances covered the corridor, connected by fungal filaments, making passage impossible. 

"Roy, what’s the situation?" 

"Not good. Outside Lab 3, it’s all carrion—the stuff we saw in the maintenance tunnels." 

"Damn! So you can’t get through?" 

"No big deal. I’ve got a way to clear it, but I might not be able to talk for a bit." 

Jay paused before responding. "Alright, I’ll check in every ten minutes, and you update me." 

"Deal." 

Roy stashed the radio and pulled out his execution blade. 

"Let’s see what this stuff’s all about!" 

As Roy approached the carrion, the yellow pustules burst, releasing pale yellow liquid that formed new pustules on the ground, connected by red filaments. 

(That’s the gist of it.) 

This must be how carrion reproduced, explaining its rapid spread. 

In no time, the sterilization chamber was crawling with carrion. 

Roy tried using his execution blade to carve a path, but even with its enhanced strength and sharpness, it was too slow. 

After some thought, Roy switched to his Nephilim form, manifesting a spinning cutting weapon with chaos energy. That did the trick. 

Before long, Roy cleared the corridor and passed through Lab 2, also overrun with carrion, reaching the main lab. 

Surprisingly, there was no carrion here. Instead, at the center of the circular main lab stood a massive blood-red tree with strange yellow fruits. 

It looked like a tree of flesh, formed from the carrion outside. 

The tree’s roots had pierced the lab’s sunken floor, extending who-knows-where. 

Most chilling was the face of a woman on the tree’s trunk. Could this be Elsa Layton? 

"Black, where are you?" 

"I’ve reached the main lab. There’s a red tree here." 

"A red tree? What’s it like?" 

"Hold on, I’ll snap a photo with the PAD." 

Roy took a picture and sent it to Jay’s computer via the base’s intranet. 

"I’ve never seen anything like this. There’s no record of it in Cliff Layton’s computer either!" 

"Really? Must be a mutation of the carrion." 

"Mutation or new creation, whatever it is, our mission’s done. Black, you can pull back now." 

"Hang on, Miss Jay. I’ve got an idea. Maybe I can talk to this tree." 

Roy had noticed the face on the tree’s trunk shifting expressions, as if it had a mind of its own. 

"What? Black, don “‘t act on your own! You’re alone, and no one can help if something goes wrong!” 

“Relax, Miss Jay. I’ll be fine.” 

With that, Roy tossed the radio into his inventory and entered the core area. 

“Who’s there?!” 

As soon as Roy stepped in, the face on the red tree sensed him. 

“It’s me.” 

The tree twisted, turning the face toward Roy. 

“Who are you? I’ve never seen you before!” 

“I’m with the military, here to investigate this base. Are you Elsa Layton?” 

“Yes, I’m Elsa Layton. Tell me, have you seen my husband, Cliff Layton?” 

Roy hadn’t expected her to still call Cliff her husband. Was there some lingering affection? 

“Cliff Layton’s dead. I killed him myself.” 

Elsa went silent for a moment, then began trembling violently, her face twisting with glee. 

“Hahaha! That monster’s finally dead!” 

Clearly, there was no love left between the Laytons. Calling him “husband” must’ve been a slip of habit. 

After laughing, Elsa looked at Roy with a complex expression. 

“Thank you for avenging me, sir. But I’m useless now. Suppressing this body takes all my strength.” 

“Suppressing?” Roy asked. “Why are you suppressing your body?” 

“This red tree’s instinct is to devour all life! I used my hatred to turn the chaotic carrion into this tree. The carrion you saw outside? That’s the failed byproduct. But I’m losing control. Its roots have spread into the island’s groundwater, affecting the canyon’s ecosystem. 

Worse, the tree’s starting to develop its own will!” 

Roy listened quietly as Elsa explained. 

With her仇人 gone, the fire driving her seemed to fade, likely why she was losing her grip on the tree’s will. 

“What happens if the tree goes completely out of control?” 

Elsa took a deep breath before answering. 

“It’ll turn this entire island into its nourishment and start polluting the ocean. Sir, please, go back and tell the military to use the nuclear warheads buried here to destroy this base—before it’s too late!” 

Nuclear warheads? Roy’s heart skipped a beat. Few technological weapons could threaten him now, but nukes were one of them. 

If he could one day withstand a nuke with his body alone, he’d be unstoppable in the human world. 

Still, Roy wasn’t convinced this flesh tree made of carrion was that dangerous. Compared to something like the Colour Out of Space, it felt like plain biological pollution. The Colour could manipulate intelligent beings and create mutated creatures with some degree of intellect. What did this flesh tree have? 

If anything, a nuke’s pollution might rival the tree’s. 

Seeing Roy still standing there, Elsa urged him frantically. 

“Go! I’m losing control of the tree’s will! Oh no—it’s too late!” 

As she spoke, the flesh tree began shaking violently, as if refusing to stay a plant and yearning to become an animal. 

A massive branch, twisted from countless carrion strands, swung toward Roy, aiming to crush him into paste. 

Roy caught the branch with one hand. 

“No need for all that trouble, Miss Elsa. I’ll handle this now.” 

Chapter 317: Brain Matter Nearly Blended to a Pulp 

Roy pulled out his executioner’s blade, effortlessly slicing through the branches of the Flesh Tree as if cutting through tofu. 

Just as Roy had suspected, the Flesh Tree wasn’t particularly sturdy. This likely had to do with Elsa Leiden’s limited abilities. 

Elsa, after all, was just an ordinary person. Even if she was a bit smarter than average, she was still human. She didn’t even have the power to become a vengeful spirit. 

Even though she managed to forcibly bind Carrion together through the power of her resentment, Carrion’s essence hadn’t changed much. 

If that’s the case, time to chop down the tree! 

However, this massive Flesh Tree only looked like a tree. Even if Roy cut it down, he couldn’t completely destroy it. 

At best, the Flesh Tree would revert from its fused form back into scattered bits of Carrion, which wouldn’t mean much. 

As expected, fire was the only way to truly deal with it. 

So, Roy transformed into his demon form. The executioner’s blade, now infused with the power of hell, began to blaze with fierce flames. 

At the same time, his M1014 shotgun switched to its hellfire mode, turning into a hand cannon. 

“Eat this!” 

Inside the secret laboratory, Jay suddenly felt the entire base tremble slightly. The situation made her anxious, and she kept trying to contact Roy through the walkie-talkie. 

Unfortunately, Roy had already tossed the walkie-talkie into his inventory, so he couldn’t hear a word Jay was saying. 

Feeling uneasy, Jay debated whether to head to the lab area to check things out. But without someone at the computer to operate the controls, she couldn’t even get through the door. 

After some thought, Jay decided to go meet Roy. To solve the door issue, she found a laptop in one of the living quarters, downloaded Cliff Leiden’s programs onto it, and started rushing toward the lab area. 

Just as she left the living quarters and entered the energy zone, she saw Roy walking toward her. 

“Blake, you okay?” Jay asked. 

Roy gave her a puzzled look. “Why wouldn’t I be?” 

“That’s not what I meant! I thought something happened to you. I didn’t expect you to come back safe! Where’s your hazmat suit?” 

“That thing was way too bulky, so I ditched it outside the lab area.” 

In truth, the hazmat suit had been torn apart when Roy transformed into his demon form, but there was no need to tell Jay that. 

Jay let out a sigh of relief before asking, “Blake, what happened in the lab?” 

“Let’s walk and talk,” Roy said. 

He briefly explained how Elsa Leiden’s soul had fused with Carrion, forming the Flesh Tree, and how he’d managed to destroy it. 

After hearing the story, Jay looked at Roy. “Blake, you did the right thing. If you hadn’t taken care of that tree, the consequences would’ve been unthinkable!” 

Roy nodded. After destroying the Flesh Tree, he’d also obtained Elsa Leiden’s fate chest, but that wasn’t something Jay needed to know. 

“But Carrion’s contamination of the groundwater is already done. The canyon won’t recover anytime soon,” Roy added. 

Jay sighed. “That’s not our problem to solve, Blake. We’ve done all we can, and you’ve already gone above and beyond. It’s time to get out of here.” 

The maintenance tunnel had been partially contaminated by Carrion, and Jay had sealed the entrance. So, the two had to leave through the main gate. 

Fortunately, the living and administrative areas were free of contamination, and Roy and Jay made it out of the lab base without issue. 

It was around six in the morning. Though sunlight couldn’t pierce the thick fog to reach the canyon’s depths, the environment was noticeably brighter. 

Treading carefully on the thick fungal carpet, Roy and Jay made their way toward the evacuation point. 

Not long after, they both heard gunfire. 

“Gunshots? That’s weird. Are there other people in the canyon?” Jay asked, disbelief written on her face. Mist Island had been sealed off by the military; logically, no outsiders should be here. 

The military wouldn’t send anyone else down unless Roy and Jay had been out of contact for over 24 hours. 

But Roy’s mind went to the person who had caused the explosion that freed him from Asmodeus’s control. 

Could that be the one firing? 

“Let’s go check it out!” Roy said. 

He and Jay hurried toward the sound of the gunfire. They spotted a heavily armed figure, face obscured, shooting at creatures with hollowed-out torsos that resembled mummies. 

“Hollow Men?” Roy asked. 

“Hollow Men?” Jay echoed, then quickly explained. “The lab base set up cameras in the canyon before. Sometimes, they caught these things moving around at night. They hunt anything alive in the canyon and drag it back to their nests.” 

Roy studied the Hollow Men closely. Some rode horses, some carried weapons, others were empty-handed. 

Honestly, these creatures didn’t look like they belonged in the modern world. Their appearance felt almost fantastical. 

Even their existence defied science. 

All the Hollow Men lacked organs, their muscles shriveled to the point of being skin and bones. 

So, where did they get the strength to move? 

And that hollow horse—it was galloping at an incredible speed! 

“Let’s save them first!” Roy said. 

The mysterious figure was in danger, about to be surrounded by Hollow Men. Roy grabbed his M1014 and opened fire. 

The 4-gauge shotgun packed a punch. While the stranger’s rifle took a dozen shots to down a Hollow Man, Roy’s M1014 obliterated their upper bodies in a single blast. 

Sure, the Hollow Men could still stumble around with just their legs, but what good were legs alone? 

Could they jump up and kick someone in the knee? 

The mysterious figure was visibly shocked to see Roy and Jay come to their rescue. 

The three teamed up, their combined firepower overwhelming the Hollow Men and driving them back. 

The Hollow Men seemed to have some regenerative ability. Unless their bodies were completely destroyed, they could piece themselves back together. 

This trait reminded Roy of undead creatures. 

But he didn’t have time to dwell on it. Turning to the mysterious figure, he asked, “Was that explosion your doing?” 

The figure hesitated before nodding. 

Jay glanced curiously between Roy and the stranger, sensing they were hiding something. 

“What are you guys talking about? What explosion?” 

Roy gave a quick explanation. “When I was fighting the succubus, someone threw a bomb from outside. It distracted her, letting me turn the tables.” 

Jay nodded in realization, then sized up the mysterious figure. “Are you with Armacham?” 

It made sense. Anyone here was either military or Armacham. 

Jay hadn’t seen any guards at the Armacham outpost before descending into the canyon, so she suspected this slender mercenary was one of them. 

The figure nodded again, this time without hesitation. 

Since Roy and Jay had already spotted her, and she couldn’t outfight them, surrender was her only option. 

Roy pressed further. “What’s your name?” 

The figure hesitated again, then answered in a clear, crisp voice, “Delasa.” 

Jay had more questions, but the canyon floor wasn’t the place for a chat. A strange noise echoed from the distance. 

A centipede as massive as a train crawled toward them, likely drawn by the gunfire. 

“Run!” Jay and Delasa shouted, firing at the giant centipede. But their bullets bounced off its shell like it was steel, doing no damage. 

Even Roy’s M1014 and M500 were ineffective. 

The three could only shoot and retreat. 

“Damn it! How is this thing’s shell so tough?” Jay groaned. When bullets didn’t work, her gun was no better than a stick. 

Roy narrowed his eyes, observing the centipede. It seemed to be deliberately herding them in one direction rather than trying to kill them. 

With its size and speed, the centipede could’ve easily picked them off one by one. Roy had been ready to reveal his powers to save someone, but the centipede hadn’t attacked. 

Something was definitely off. 

“Blake, do something!” Jay urged, unaware of the centipede’s intentions. Dodging its harassment was taking all her focus, so she looked to Roy for a solution. 

Since when had Jay started relying on Roy so much? Whenever trouble arose, he was her first thought. 

“You sure you want me to handle it?” Roy asked with a sly grin. 

“No time for jokes!” Jay snapped. 

“Alright, then.” 

In a flash, Roy vanished from sight. 

When Jay and Delasa saw him again, he was riding the giant centipede’s back. 

The centipede thrashed, unwilling to be mounted, but Roy smashed a fist into its head, making it reel. 

“Behave!” Roy growled. 

The centipede’s purposeful herding suggested it had decent intelligence, likely higher than most animals, maybe even on par with smarter mammals. 

But intelligence didn’t mean it was easy to tame. After taking a punch, the centipede still resisted. 

No choice, then. Roy unleashed a barrage of fist-pounding education. 

His massive fists hammered the centipede’s head. Its shell was indeed tough—no dents even with Roy holding back. 

But the centipede couldn’t take it anymore. Its head went from buzzing to feeling like its brain matter was being blended into a smoothie. 

Finally, the centipede collapsed, signaling its submission. Roy dusted off his hands and hopped down. 

“Done.” 

Jay and Delasa stood there, stunned. If their faces were visible, their jaws would’ve been on the floor. 

“B-B-Blake, you tamed it just like that?” Jay stammered. 

She knew Roy was strong—capable of defeating a legendary succubus and the Flesh Tree fused from Carrion—but she hadn’t seen those fights herself. 

Now, witnessing Roy’s strength firsthand, Jay was starting to question reality. 

Delasa, on the other hand, accepted it quickly. If a sniper rifle couldn’t pierce Roy’s skin, a bit of extra strength seemed reasonable. 

“Mr. Blake, why not just kill the centipede?” Delasa asked. 

“I noticed it’s got some intelligence. It’s trying to herd us deeper into the canyon,” Roy replied. 

Jay blinked. “Deeper into the canyon? The military’s already explored this place thoroughly. What’s left to find?” 

Roy patted the centipede’s head. “Let it take us there, and we’ll find out. This canyon’s clearly hiding more secrets.” 

The thick, miasma-like fog was a prime example. 

There had to be a source for such dense fog, but the canyon lacked significant water sources—just a pale yellow stream. 

Plus, the canyon’s humidity and temperature were relatively low, unaffected by the Pacific’s tropical climate due to its unique geography. 

This was something military and Armacham scientists had never figured out. 

But the world was full of things science couldn’t explain, so the issue had been shelved. 

Convinced by Roy, the trio climbed onto the centipede’s back and headed deeper into the canyon. 

The canyon sloped downward from east to west. 

The lab base was at the highest, flattest eastern end, while the western side was steeper, with drops of four or five meters in some spots. 

At the westernmost end was a pond formed by the stream, but it seemed like nothing else was there. 

“That’s it?” Jay asked, looking at Roy. 

Roy rubbed his chin and turned to her. “Did you guys ever dive into the pond to check it out?” 

“The liquids in the canyon are filled with deadly substances. The scouts who found this place didn’t have diving gear. They just tossed a probe in, found the pond wasn’t deep, and confirmed no underground channels. Blake, you think there’s something under there?” 

Roy nodded. “The centipede’s intent is clear—it wants us to go into the pond.” 

Jay hesitated. “But we don’t have diving gear. Going in could be dangerous!” 

“I know. We’ll deal with it later. For now, let’s head back.” 

With that, Roy pulled his executioner’s blade from his inventory and dispatched the centipede. 

The moment he drew the blade, the centipede seemed to sense its fate, but it was far too weak to escape Roy’s judgment. 

Absorbing the centipede’s life force, the blade grew heavier, its red glow deepening noticeably. 

The sudden appearance of the executioner’s blade startled Jay and Delasa again. 

“Blake, how many secrets are you hiding?” Jay asked. 

“You’ll have to get to know me better to find out,” Roy teased. 

Delasa stayed quiet. 

(End of Chapter)