Chapter 49: The Girl Captured After Defeat

The moment the magic circle activated, Su Nian immediately sensed a clogging sensation in her mana control. 

What was once as effortless as moving her own limbs now felt sluggish, and pure mana began to slowly drain away.

Not only that, her strong dual affinities for fire and water elements had weakened, while the enemy’s dark magic grew even more potent. 

At that moment, Su Nian finally understood what “home ground advantage” truly meant-but it seemed she had realized it too late…

The damned horned demon’s dark magic attacks arrived right on schedule.

Blow after blow struck the defensive spell she had conjured Abyssal Flame Barrier.

As she felt the barrier gradually destabilize and her mana steadily deplete, a wave of despair surged within her. 

Yet, she stubbornly clenched her teeth, struggling to maintain the spell’s operation.

However, under the combined assault of Chu Tian’s activated magic circles and dark magic, the glow of the Abyssal Flame Barrier dimmed further.

No!

She couldn’t just keep defending. 

If this continued, defeat was inevitable.

The next instant, Su Nian shifted tactics. 

While moving, she unleashed another barrage of ice and fire attack spells-ice blades and fireballs hurtling toward the horned demon.

Yet, it was all in vain.

The black mist’s defensive power was overwhelming, swallowing her attacks like a black hole.

She could already feel the Abyssal Flame Barrier on the verge of collapse.

With her offensive spells rendered useless, losing the protection of this S-rank defensive magic would seal her defeat.

Damn it.

Why was this happening…

Hadn’t her strength improved at an unimaginable pace? 

Was she still no match for this damned horned demon?

Mental State: Horned Demon Favorability -99, Mental Fortitude 84%.

In an instant, her mental fortitude dropped again, and her belief in victory began to crumble once more.

Now, she could barely sustain the Abyssal Flame Barrier, her mana dwindling bit by bit, leaving no energy to attack the suddenly empowered horned demon.

For a moment, with her confidence shattered, only one thought remained in Su Nian’s mind…

Run!

Her only lifeline now was the Abyssal Flame Barrier, barely holding back the enemy’s attacks while her own magic couldn’t harm him. 

Escaping was the only logical choice.

If she could just flee Shadowmoon Manor and reach the streets of Academy City, the horned demon-a monster-wouldn’t dare act recklessly.

Cowardly? 

Maybe. 

But effective!

Fortunately, though she had sold her high-tier Strength stat, she still retained high-tier Agility and agility-enhancing fruits.

So… there was still hope for escape.

Once out, she could bring Academy City’s enforcers to purge this damned horned demon.

Shifting strategies, Su Nian moved with light, graceful steps toward the manor’s main door. 

Gathering the last remnants of her mana, she condensed a fireball and hurled it at the door.

BOOM!

With a deafening explosion, the door shattered, splinters flying as a cloud of dust billowed into the hall.

Even suppressed by multiple magic circles, a Grand Mage’s power was nothing to scoff at-blasting open a door was child’s play.

Moonlight and starlight streamed through the settling dust like beacons of hope, illuminating the hall. 

The radiant light seemed to chart her path to freedom, guiding her forward.

Under the moonlight…

The agile and nimble figure of the young girl dashed toward the gates of the Gothic castle. 

Just a little further, and she would… she would be safe.

Yet…

“Dark Vortex!” With his furious roar, a massive dark vortex formed behind him.

A powerful suction force emanated from the vortex’s center, pulling everything around it toward the abyss.

The Spirit Abyss Flame Barrier trembled under the force, and Su Nian felt her body being dragged backward by an invisible power toward the terrifying dark vortex.

“No!” Su Nian’s ethereal voice rang out, tinged with despair.

She was so close.

Just a little more, and she could have escaped outside.

But her body wouldn’t move. 

The hope of fleeing beyond the gates was mercilessly shattered by the dark vortex.

And worse.

The gate that had been blasted open by her fireball was now sealed again by the damned horned demon’s dark magic…

Her only path to survival-gone.

What now?

Would she have to relive the nightmare of the Monster Forest?

Defeated, claimed as the horned demon’s trophy, forced to become his slave just to survive and avoid violation.

“No! I won’t submit!” Su Nian mustered the last of her strength, pouring every ounce of her remaining magic into the Spirit Abyss Flame Barrier.

She… would fight to the bitter end!

But it was futile. 

As her magic finally depleted, a crisp shattering sound echoed as the Spirit Abyss Flame Barrier collapsed.

She was sucked into the dark vortex, crashing heavily at Chu Tian’s feet.

“Ding! Host’s magic was depleted in battle. Victory probability reduced to 0%.”

“Current status: Captured for 24 hours until escape. Teleportation disabled. Shop access disabled. Humiliation value gain increased by 100%.”

Current Status: Magic Depleted,Captured, Masochistic Constitution Lost…

She had been defeated by the horned demon again.

She had prepared this time-why was he so strong…?

“Ding! Host’s humiliation from repeated defeat by horned demon detected. Humiliation value +5,312.”

“Ding! Absorbing humiliation. Provocation value +5,312.”

“Ding! Absorbing resentment. Provocation value +126.”

Now, lying on the ground, she still couldn’t bring herself to face the horned demon, dreading what awaited her.

Moonlight streamed through the skylight of Shadowmoon Manor’s main hall, casting dappled light on the defeated magical girl’s delicate features.

Her sorrowful, heartbroken expression stirred pity, making one instinctively want to comfort her.

But, the silence was shattered the next instant.

“How long are you going to play dead? Get up!” Chu Tian barked harshly.

Suppressing the urge to console the fallen girl, he kicked her prone form, rolling her onto her stomach.

“Ding! Humiliation value +2,304.”

“Ding! Provocation value +2,304.”

Since establishing his faction, Chu Tian had gathered intelligence on the demonic forces infiltrating human kingdoms.

Though the Western Continent wouldn’t fully fall for another three years, the demon’s subversion and slaughter of human regimes wouldn’t wait until then.

Time was running short.

He had to gather enough Annoyance Points within a limited time to grow stronger and stop all this to ensure his own survival, Su Nian’s, and that of all humanity.

Currently, the most effective way to obtain Annoyance Points was to mercilessly humiliate the very girl he admired.

I’m sorry…

Su Nian hugged herself, not only enduring the physical pain but also the shame of being kicked in the rear. 

Due to her masochistic tendencies, the experience even evoked an unusual sensation, filling her with mortification.

But it wasn’t over yet…

This was only the beginning.