Ivy looked at her own hand, a flicker of pity crossing her face.
But in the next moment, her eyes hardened with resolve.
Without hesitation, Ivy bit down hard, breaking the skin on her palm.
Blood immediately welled up from the wound, and the madness in Ivy’s eyes became impossible to hide.
The pain ignited her, adrenaline surging through her veins.
The agony from both her bitten palm and injured calf seemed to gradually fade.
The monster’s struggling weakened little by little.
She absolutely could not just wait to die.
Ivy smeared the blood over her hands until her palms were completely covered in red.
No longer hesitating, she tapped into the remaining fragments of her magical memory and unleashed a blink-like teleportation.
In just a few steps, she was right in front of the monster.
The bone spikes on the monster’s hand aimed straight at Ivy, but she was faster.
Her fist slammed heavily into the monster’s twisted eye.
The creature’s scream pierced Ivy’s ears like a sharp blade.
She saw the bone spikes pause briefly, but they still lunged toward her.
Without hesitation, Ivy pushed the spikes with her bitten palm.
The bone spikes pierced through her hand, searing pain threatening to cripple her.
Her face contorted, her body wavered, but she did not fall.
A bitter smile crept across her face; the madness in her eyes rivaled that of the monster before her.
But her goal had already been achieved.
Because the bone spike that pierced her palm was the monster’s only functional hand.
Steam hissed from the bone spike as Ivy’s blood dripped down onto the monster’s body, causing it to roar even more fiercely.
Now the monster had lost both hands.
And Ivy was determined to seize this gap and kill the beast!
Her other, uninjured hand clenched into a fist and struck the bone spike with full force.
Thanks to the spike’s sharpness, blood erupted from Ivy’s intact hand.
She flicked her hand, splattering blood onto the monster’s face.
Countless eyes cracked open instantly on the monster’s face.
The writhing, tooth-lined tentacles that had tried to pierce Ivy’s body suddenly shrank and twisted grotesquely.
White steam rose straight from the monster’s face as its cheeks began to shrivel.
The monster thrashed, pulling its bone spikes out of Ivy’s palm.
Ivy could now see a hole had formed in her palm, blood pouring out like an endless stream.
But she paid no mind.
Summoning every ounce of strength, she clenched her fist tightly, letting blood flow freely as excruciating pain flooded her body.
Fist after fist pounded into the monster’s head.
The monster howled in pain and kicked Ivy violently with its distorted legs.
Ivy was sent flying backward, tumbling across the ground.
The monster’s shrieks grew louder, reaching a piercing crescendo.
Ivy slowly got back to her feet, the searing pain and pierced palm almost breaking her will.
But she laughed—and the laughter only grew stronger.
She didn’t know why she laughed, only that she wanted to laugh.
For a time, the silent space was filled with Ivy’s laughter and the monster’s ear-splitting screams.
Step by step, Ivy approached the writhing monster on the ground.
Her body trembled, but she did not stop.
Clenching her fists tightly, she splattered blood again toward the monster.
The monster let out a stronger, agonized shriek.
Suddenly, Ivy saw the monster rise from the ground.
A wave of unease forced her to instinctively roll sideways.
One of the tentacles stabbed straight through the ground where Ivy had just been, shattering stones and debris.
Ivy kept splashing blood onto the monster.
The creature retreated again, and Ivy seized the chance to blink forward, arriving once more in front of it.
Within the monster’s cracked chest, a heart throbbed relentlessly.
Ivy’s fist smashed down hard on the dark red heart.
Steam wafted from the monster’s body, and its tentacles tried to retract.
But Ivy gripped one of the tentacles firmly.
The sharp-toothed appendage pierced her palm but kept shrinking.
Ivy continued splashing blood into the monster’s chest, causing the heart to shrink gradually.
Bit by bit, Ivy felt the monster’s struggles weaken.
Finally, the monster ceased all movement.
Ivy’s vision dimmed slightly.
She staggered to her feet and moved toward the boundary filled with countless eyes.
Those eyes seemed to notice Ivy’s savage actions and all closed simultaneously.
The illusion before her flickered as the dark space slowly faded away.
The monster and its countless eyes vanished.
Before Ivy was the pitch-black corridor and the window leading outside.
The wound on Ivy’s hand had not healed with the fading of the space; blood still flowed freely.
The strength granted by adrenaline waned, and Ivy collapsed to the ground, gazing around.
She saw Frosi.
Frosi still stood there, sword pointed forward.
Only now did Ivy notice the corridor was completely ruined, covered in sword slashes.
Yet, for some unknown reason, Frosi remained frozen in that pose, unmoving.
A chill rose in Ivy’s chest.
The chill came from Frosi standing right before her.
Ivy’s voice trembled, “Frosi, what’s wrong?”
Frosi gave no response.
Earlier, in that strange space, Frosi’s head had suddenly twisted 180 degrees—a sight that left a deep impression on Ivy.
A sudden fear gripped her: was this Frosi also a fake?
“I’m fine,” Frosi finally spoke, as if awakening from a dream.
Ivy relaxed slightly upon hearing Frosi’s familiar voice, despite her deep-seated hatred.
She inwardly mocked herself for feeling reassured by hearing that voice.
Ivy struggled to rise; the pain coursing through her body nearly prevented her from standing.
But she did.
Slowly, she walked to Frosi’s side and leaned heavily on her, wrapping her arms around Frosi’s neck.
Frosi did not resist; instead, she supported Ivy’s weight and moved toward the window.
Then, carrying Ivy on her back, Frosi leapt out the window.
Ivy instinctively tightened her grip on Frosi’s neck and closed her eyes.
Thankfully, the two landed smoothly.
Once out of that strange castle, Ivy finally relaxed, her strength fading as she collapsed completely.
Weakly, she looked at Frosi, lying on the ground.
But for some reason, Frosi always had her back to Ivy, never once turning her face toward her since they landed.
It was as if Frosi was deliberately avoiding her.
And Ivy faintly sensed Frosi’s body trembling, as though struggling to suppress uncontrollable emotions.
Noticing Frosi’s unease, Ivy snapped her eyes open, heart pounding fiercely.
She stared fixedly in Frosi’s direction, a dreadful premonition surging in her chest.
“Frosi, what’s wrong?”
Ivy asked, seemingly concerned but already dragging her battered body backward.
At that moment, Frosi turned around, a strange smile curling her lips as she looked at Ivy.
“I’m very well. I’ve never felt better.”
“After all, only faith in the gods can grant us everything we desire. Only the gods can bring beauty and happiness.”
“So, Ivy, come—join me in faith in the gods!”
“Everything will be destroyed, only the gods remain eternal!”
Frosi spread her arms wide, speaking excitedly to Ivy.
Fear deepened in Ivy’s eyes, and her backward retreat quickened.
Even after saying those words, Frosi smiled as she looked at Ivy and slowly added,
“Ivy, why do you keep stepping back?”
“Are you… afraid of me?”