Chapter 92
The net that covered me was buzzing like something alive, emitting an ominous light.
No matter how much I struggled to escape, the net entangled me further, making it impossible to move.
“Stop struggling. If you get injured, your value as merchandise will decrease.”
“You bastards, what have you done!”
“It’s a net that prevents shapeshifters from transforming. Oh, and you can’t use magic either, so you’re stuck in your ordinary, powerless human state.”
I tried to shoot a snowstorm at them, but I couldn’t feel anything from my fingertips.
I could use a little power even when human!
Seeing the three men approaching with vile smiles, rage welled up inside me.
If I had my power now, I could sweep these guys away in an instant.
One of them took something out from his pocket. It was a medicine bottle.
“What are you trying to do!”
When he opened the cork of the bottle, a strong lily scent wafted through the air.
“I wonder if this medicine will work on this shapeshifter.”
“W-wait, are we using that out in the open? It’s too risky. Stop it.”
Another thug was trying to dissuade him in panic.
These guys, what evil scheme are they plotting? What exactly is that medicine?
“The master ordered us to use it on this shapeshifter. It’s now or never. Soon, the knights sent by the Grand Duke will be here.”
“B-but!”
The thug unhesitatingly poured the medicine bottle over my head.
An overwhelming lily scent enveloped my entire body, making my head spin.
The moment the medicine touched my body, it began to seep in with smoke rising.
“What are you doing to me! What is this medicine!”
I screamed in rage, but they covered their noses and stepped back several paces.
I could vividly feel my blood boiling with anger toward them.
My heart pounded ready to burst, and the power inside me surged on the verge of breaking free.
I gritted my teeth and grabbed the dense net with my bare hands.
I could feel an electric current flowing through the enchanted material.
Sparks burst where my hands touched.
Crack!
“What are you doing! Take your hands off the net immediately!”
The men shouted urgently, startled by my sudden action.
I paid no attention.
Although my palms were torn and bleeding from the net, I slowly tore it apart.
It felt like the restrictions placed on my powers when I became human were completely released, running wild.
My head burned with fiery intensity.
The clear, bright world turned dark and red.
The men before my eyes looked like vermin that needed to be killed.
“Damn it, is the d**g this strong?”
“This shapeshifter’s power is stronger than expected! We shouldn’t have used that d**g!”
The men screamed with terrified faces.
Noisy vermin. I should crush their mouths first.
So they can never speak again.
I glared at them murderously and completely tore apart the net.
The magic engraved on the net disappeared instantly.
I slowly rose from the dirty ground.
Though there was no wind, my long silver hair floated slowly as if alive.
“W-what is this? Monster! Don’t come closer!”
The men shouted hysterically in panic.
They each brandished weapons threateningly toward me.
But to my eyes, they were nothing more than the wriggling of insignificant insects.
Just by thinking about it, a large, sharp blade made of transparent ice rose from my palm.
I never knew I could create weapons so easily.
I held the ice blade up to the sunlight. It sparkled brilliantly in the sunshine.
How beautiful.
With this sharp blade, I could pierce through their wriggling hearts in one strike.
“Heheh.”
For some reason, just thinking about it suddenly made me happy.
Why hadn’t I known such pleasure until now?
This game of chasing prey, playing with it thoroughly, and ending it simply when bored.
I stared at them intently and twisted the corner of my mouth.
“You’ll be my prey. Let’s play together.”
“Aaaah! R-run away!”
The men screamed like pigs being slaughtered and fled hastily.
What pathetic creatures. There’s nowhere to escape from me.
I twisted up the corner of my mouth and threw the ice dagger.
The ice dagger flew at the speed of light, grazing their shoulders.
“Argh!”
They screamed, clutching their bleeding shoulders.
I deliberately missed their hearts. It’s more fun to enjoy watching prey writhe in pain and suffering.
Another ice dagger rose from my palm.
The men had just escaped beyond the alley, but I could control this dagger at will. I would chase them to the ends of hell.
The farther they ran, the longer my enjoyment would last.
Just as I was about to throw the dagger, while whistled briefly.
“Shuvelia!”
Karden’s urgent voice echoed from beyond the alley.
The moment I heard his voice, the red landscape filling my mind and the red shadows wavering before my eyes gradually dispersed.
The old, dark alley scenery, the swaying of weeds growing between stone walls, and the piece of blue sky visible beyond the old brick houses.
The usual scenery chaotically filled my mind and vision.
“K-Karden…”
Large hands firmly embraced my shoulders.
Looking up, I saw Karden’s sculptured profile in his snow-white uniform.
Ah, thank goodness. Thank you for coming.
As I fell into his warm and firm embrace, my wildly beating heart calmed somewhat.
But my head remained dizzy, shrouded in mental fog, and a massive power writhed inside my body.
It was as if a demon had entered me.
Through my blurry vision, I could see Olivia on the verge of tears and a handsome young man with blonde hair.
Narrowing my eyes to look closely, it was Duke Berdin.
Why is he here?
“Shuvelia, snap out of it. Are you alright?”
Karden’s desperate voice echoed in my ears as he caressed my cheek.
My consciousness kept trying to fade.
This is bad. I don’t know what will happen if I lose consciousness like this.
My whole body was burning hot, and violent convulsions began.
“Shushu!”
I gritted my teeth with all my might.
If I lost focus even a little, the power inside me felt like it would burst out.
A demon full of pure murderous intent and thirst for blood that could kill the thugs targeting me in an instant.
Now I understand why the Ulpes tribe feared me and tried to drive me away.
I needed to tell Karden to stay away from me.
I barely managed to move my lips, but no words came out.
My consciousness sank into darkness like an endless abyss.
***
“Miss Shuvelia, wake up. I’ll give you the antidote!”
Duke Berdin rushed to Shuvelia urgently. He took out a small black glass bottle from his pocket.
“Wait, what is that, Duke Alred.”
Karden stopped Berdin with a cold voice.
“It’s an antidote. It’s effective when shapeshifters show abnormal reactions. If we don’t use it right now, Miss Shuvelia will be in danger.”
“How can I trust you and use that medicine?”
Karden glared at Berdin with suspicious eyes.
“As the Grand Duke knows, our family runs a shapeshifter shelter. I’ve seen shapeshifters with similar symptoms before, and we used this antidote then. Please trust me.”
Karden turned his head and questioned Olivia.
“Lady Olivia, is there any basis to Duke Alred’s words?”
Olivia nodded hastily with her hands clasped together.
“The Duke is right. That medicine is an antidote. I’ve seen it too when I was doing medical work at the shapeshifter shelter.”
Karden’s brow furrowed deeply. He glared at Berdin with a sharp gaze.
“If there’s any adverse reaction to Shushu, I won’t let you off.”
Berdin replied calmly.
“That won’t happen.”
When Berdin handed the antidote to Olivia, she hurriedly poured it into Shuvelia’s mouth.
“Please, Lady Shuvelia. You mustn’t lose consciousness.”
Olivia placed her hand on Shuvelia’s forehead with tears in her eyes. Holy power seeped into her forehead.
Shuvelia’s long eyelashes began to tremble slightly.
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