Chapter 87: Victory in Battle, Yet Still to Be Tormented?

Su Nian froze for a moment, caught off guard.

In the next instant, she saw the vile Horned Demon make his move.

A sphere of dark purple light pulsed ominously, as if siphoning something vital from Olette .

It was… soul extraction.

The souls trapped within that sphere would endure an eternity of searing agony, scorched by relentless flames, yet never granted the release of death.

Soul-burning—one of the cruelest punishments known.

“No! Kill me! I beg you, kill me!” Olette  thrashed wildly, urine trickling down his pant leg in a pitiful display.

Demon Chu Tian adjusted the angle of the sphere with an air of indifference, as if arranging a display case in a shop.

Soon enough, Olette ‘s body in the mortal realm fell silent, lifeless, his essence snuffed out.

His soul, however, was now imprisoned within a peculiar magical artifact—the [Soul Prism].

Chu Tian had coveted this item for some time.

Unlike combat-oriented tools, this one held both martial and economic value.

The [Soul Prism] could bind souls and craft them into puppets, but when paired with Chu Tian’s unique Enrage Value System, it became something more—a device to trap souls in perpetual torment, generating a steady stream of Enrage Points.

The artifact’s cost?

A steep 10,000 Annoyance Points.

But Olette , being a notable figure from the Morsen family, was a prime candidate for efficient point generation.

Imprisoned in the prism, he’d likely recoup the investment in just twenty days.

Plus, the [Soul Prism] itself was a formidable combat tool.

In short: don’t ask, just buy it!

“Olette ‘s soul is now locked in this prism,” Chu Tian said to Su Nian, his tone casual but laced with intent.

“He’ll face punishment enough, I think.”

Of course, the Annoyance Points were a motivator, but he also genuinely believed Olette  deserved this fate.

Before now, Chu Tian had hesitated to purchase the [Soul Prism].

With so many options vying for his resources, he hadn’t found a villain wretched enough to justify its use—until Olette , a scoundrel of sufficient status, crossed his path.

Su Nian watched the scene unfold, her eyes flickering with a tangle of emotions.

Hatred for Olette  burned bright—he had it coming.

Yet, the Horned Demon’s methods sent a shiver of dread through her.

To be trapped in that prism, soul ablaze, unable to live or die…

If she ever truly crossed this demon, would she meet the same fate?

If so, the torments she’d endured at his hands so far were mere trifles.

A whimper escaped her lips.

‘So terrifying!’

“Ding-dong: Host’s mental resilience at 79%… 78%… 77%…”

Then she saw him wield the [Soul Prism] again, drawing the souls of the fallen into its depths.

“What are you doing?” Su Nian asked, her voice tinged with unease.

Olette  deserved his punishment, but the others?

They might have just been following orders.

Did they warrant such cruelty?

“Relax,” Chu Tian replied.

“I’m just cleaning up the battlefield. The dead left here would expose us. The living? I’ll erase their memories of this affair. After today, it’s as if nothing happened. You’ll go on being the magical girl idol, the mentor, and… my little pet.”

He stepped closer, patting her head as one might stroke a kitten.

Su Nian, by now accustomed to his touch, didn’t resist.

She simply fell silent.

She’d learned that defiance only fueled his delight in tormenting her further.

These past days, Chu Tian’s approach had been methodical.

It began with small gestures—brushing her hand, touching her cheek—then escalated to kisses, and now, his hands roamed her silken-clad legs and smooth back.

His actions were never haphazard; they followed a calculated progression.

He’d planned to have her serve him tonight, perhaps assisting with his bath to unlock further “milestones.”

But Olette ‘s interference had disrupted those plans.

Still, the encounter had proven a fortunate twist.

Moments later, after confirming the dead guards were absorbed into the [Soul Prism] and the unconscious ones stripped of their memories, the two arrived at the cell where the captive girls were held.

When the curtain was drawn back, the sight of lifeless young women met their eyes.

Su Nian turned her head, unable to bear the sight.

Chu Tian regarded her thoughtfully before speaking in a measured tone.

“Since this began because of you, their fates are in your hands. Their life force has only just faded; their souls linger, not yet truly dead. This artifact, as you’ve seen, can torment souls—but it can also house them in puppets, giving them a chance at renewal. Do they dissipate into nothingness, or do they get a shot at rebirth as puppets? The choice is yours.”

He snapped his fingers, and a luxurious chair materialized from his storage ring.

He sat, awaiting her decision.

“There’s no saving them?” Su Nian asked, unwilling to accept defeat.

“Unless the Goddess of Light herself intervenes, there’s but a sliver of hope,” Chu Tian replied.

Su Nian wrestled with her thoughts.

If these girls became puppets, they’d serve the Horned Demon, complicating her eventual plan to break through to the Saint level and confront him.

Yet… could she stand by and watch them perish when there was a chance to save them?

She couldn’t.

“Save them,” she said, closing her eyes, reassuring herself that these girls lacked the strength to impact her future plans.

“As you wish.”

In an instant, the souls of the lifeless girls were drawn into the [Soul Prism].

“Crafting puppets will take time,” Chu Tian said.

“They’ll be sent to Shadowmoon Manor, and one day, they’ll meet their… savior.”

Su Nian nodded faintly.

That night, for the first time, Su Nian walked the streets of Academy City alongside the Horned Demon, now disguised as “Mr. Mo Yuan.” Whispers followed them.

“Look! That’s… that’s the stunning idol!”

“It’s Miss Su Nian!”

“Wow, I’m seeing the real Su Nian!”

“The magical girl idol is so cool. I want to be one too, but I don’t know magic… and I’m not a girl…”

“Who’s that beside her? So tall, so handsome!”

“Could it be… Miss Su Nian’s in love? Does she have a boyfriend?”

Su Nian’s sharp senses caught every word.

At first, the adulation felt good—she reveled in her idol status.

But then came the murmurs about the demon beside her, some even mistaking him for her lover.

‘Get a grip!’ she thought.

This was no lover—he was her lifelong enemy!

She’d seen him trap souls in that prism with her own eyes.

“Tonight, head straight to my room,” Chu Tian whispered, brushing her earlobe.

“Prepare my bathwater and kneel to welcome your master home.”

“What? No way!” Su Nian retorted instinctively.

Did this demon truly see her as his pet?

“If you refuse, I’ll collar you right now and parade you through South Gate Street,” he threatened softly.

Su Nian froze.

They’d just fought as allies to defeat Olette  Morsen and save Amy and her sibling.

And now, he was back to bullying her?