The chamber door closed behind them, sealing out Alden's despairing breath. Only the two of them remained in the passageway, their shadows elongated and distorted by the eerie green glow on the stone walls, like lurking specters. Lucifer's arm around her waist didn't loosen; its grip tightened slightly, pressing her tightly against the cold metal buttons of his uniform and the scorching heat beneath.
He lowered his head. In the dim light, his crimson pupils resembled two bottomless pools of blood, churning with lingering murderous intent and a new, darker desire. Lin Xi could feel the vibrations emanating from his chest, and within her own body, the two forces still clashed violently—her Chaos and his Order. After the trial and slaughter that had just occurred, rather than subsiding, they seemed to have been nourished by blood, growing even more restless and turbulent.
"Do you like the 'gift' I gave you, my advisor?" Lucifer's voice was low, tinged with a sated hoarseness as his fingertips traced the sensitive skin at the nape of her neck, where the imprint and lingering energy from his earlier touch still remained. "The collapse of an elder... as a reward for your first demonstration of worth."
Lin Xi's breathing grew erratic, not merely from his uncomfortably close proximity, but from the power surging uncontrollably within her. She lifted her eyes, forcing herself to meet the gaze of those eyes that could swallow everything whole: "Your Majesty is the commander. I merely... provided another weapon."
"A clever answer." His low chuckle sent a shiver down her spine as his breath brushed her earlobe. "But the hand holding the weapon trembles." His other hand covered hers, which clutched his tunic, pressing her quivering fingertips firmly against his chest, where she could feel the strong, steady beat beneath. "Is it fear... or excitement?"
Lin Xi tried to pull her hand away, but he held it fast. The rhythm of his heartbeat pulsed through her palm, nearly matching her own frantic thudding. It was fear—fear of this deepening entanglement and control. Yet it was also excitement, a dangerous thrill of walking the razor's edge, of playing a game of wits with a formidable presence.
"It's clarity," she finally found her voice, though it carried a faint gasp. "I'm reminding myself that hunting the traitor is only the beginning. The 'Crescent' and the 'Shadow' are the true targets."
Lucifer's gaze sharpened as he scrutinized her, weighing the truth in her words. After a moment, he released his grip but instead seized her chin, forcing her head back.
"Correct. The hunt has only just begun." His thumb traced her lower lip with suggestive intent. "The Blood Clan thought they delivered a 'vessel'—a tool to observe energy. They'll soon learn what they've truly delivered... the spark that ignites the flames of war."
He leaned down, kissing her again. Unlike the earlier plunder, this kiss was slower, deeper, carrying a sense of tasting and marking. His pheromones formed an impenetrable net, tightly enveloping her, working in tandem with the energy within her that belonged to him, attempting to break down her last defenses. Lin Xi felt dizzy, her consciousness melting away. Her body betrayed her will, a faint whimper lost between their locked lips.
Only when she was nearly suffocating did he release her. He gazed at her glistening lips and dazed eyes, licking his fangs with satisfaction.
"Return to your quarters," he commanded, his voice carrying an authority that brooked no argument. "Use the power I gave you to recover swiftly. Tomorrow, I need you at your peak, standing beside me."
He paused, a cold gleam flashing through his crimson pupils.
"Watch closely as I... crush those rats hiding in the shadows."
Without another word, he turned and vanished into the darkness of the passageway with steady, deliberate steps.
Lin Xi slid down the cold stone wall, collapsing onto the floor. The collision of the two forces within her did not subside with his departure. Instead, freed from external restraint, they surged even more wildly through her meridians. Lucifer's energy prowled with ruthless dominance, while her Chaos Power, having been suppressed time and again, rebounded with increasing ferocity.
She curled up, forehead pressed against her knees, trying to steady her ragged breath and chaotic heartbeat. His scorching touch and the metallic tang of blood lingered on her lips. Deep within her, a fire seemed to burn, searing every bone and muscle until they felt feverish. Humiliation, rage, a thread of inexplicable intoxication, and vigilance against unknown conspiracies—all these emotions tangled together, threatening to tear her apart.
[Warning: Host energy field detected as extremely unstable. Mental threshold nearing critical point.]
[Recommendation: Immediately channel or suppress chaotic energies. Failure may result in irreversible damage.]
The system's alert sounded coldly.
Channel? Suppress? How could she do that? Rely on the power left by Lucifer? That would be like drinking poison to quench thirst.
Gritting her teeth, she tried to focus her mind, guiding the remnants of that chaotic power, attempting to gather and soothe them. But it was like trying to grasp flowing mercury with her hands—the harder she clenched, the faster it slipped away, the stronger the backlash.
A trickle of blood escaped the corner of her mouth as if countless tiny blades were slicing through her insides.
Just then, a gentle yet resolute energy began to flow slowly from the foreign mark deep within her soul. Unlike Lucifer's domineering force or her own chaotic frenzy, it was older and more embracing—like a tranquil starry sky, quietly soothing the turbulent torrent of power.
Yes, this was the primordial power of her soul, brought with her across time from her original world. It had always existed, merely too faint to be noticed, overshadowed by Lucifer's overwhelming might and her own inner chaos.
Now, on the brink of collapse, it finally revealed itself.
Under this gentle force's mediation, the chaotic energies within her gradually calmed. Though still distinctly separate, they no longer clashed violently. Lin Xi slumped exhausted against the wall, her body drenched in cold sweat as if she'd just been pulled from water.
She raised her hand to wipe the blood from her lips, her gaze hardening once more.
Lucifer wanted a hunt. The Blood Clan lurked in the shadows. The System's mission hung over her head.
And she would never be merely a contested "vessel" or a conquered "advisor."
She needed power—true power of her own. She needed to find her place in this hunt and... her chance to strike back.
The darkness before dawn was thickest. Lin Xi steadied herself against the wall, slowly rising to her feet, and walked toward that luxurious cage.
On the eve of the hunt, the line between hunter and prey was blurring.