Chapter 43: I Said Not to Target Xien, Didn’t I?
“Crack, crack, crack—”
The sound of crystal clusters growing was like countless tiny gears turning. Xien’s breathing gradually quickened.
He stepped back several paces, but his back hit a cold crystal barrier—he was completely sealed in, forming a giant purple crystal cocoon.
Seems like there’s no escape now…
He stared hard at the Eileen before him—no, perhaps she could no longer be called “Eileen.”
Half her body was covered in sharp purple crystals, her left eye completely crystallized and split into six compound pupils, but her right eye still retained a human pupil, filled with twisted excitement.
Why had Eileen become like this? This was clearly complete demonization, yet she retained partial sanity and even recognized him. Had this deputy risked mental exhaustion to become a demon just for revenge?
Impossible. Xien immediately dismissed this guess. No matter how obsessed this woman Eileen was, she wouldn’t do such a thing. Something must have happened to her.
“Deputy…”
Xien forced himself to stay calm.
“Do you still know who I am?”
Eileen tilted her head, crystals making crisp collision sounds with her movement.
“Xien… Cynthia’s ‘little pet.'”
Her voice was like two people speaking simultaneously—one belonging to Eileen, the other some inhuman, metallic whisper.
As expected, this demon was no longer purely Eileen…
“Why did you become this inhuman, ghostly appearance?”
Xien asked probingly.
“Inhuman and ghostly? No… this is ‘evolution.'”
Eileen’s mouth split into an exaggerated arc, her crystallized teeth gleaming coldly.
“Now I’m stronger than ever.”
Xien’s pupils contracted.
Clearly, Eileen was enjoying this power…
“This isn’t power that belongs to you. It’s the rampage after a magic user’s mental collapse. While you still retain some consciousness, timely treatment might restore you to your original state.”
Xien tried to persuade the somewhat mad Eileen before him.
“Hahaha, this is my power. I’ve never had such a wonderful beginning. This feeling of being filled with strength is so comfortable.”
Eileen showed a savage smile, looking at her hands and manipulating the magical power in her body at will.
“And isn’t this appearance good? Don’t you think it’s beautiful? It’s as if all the surrounding elements are under my control. How delightful!”
Xien frowned. This woman had gone mad.
“Hasn’t that flame saintess arrived yet? Then let me test my skills on you first. Don’t worry, I’ll hold back. Just don’t die too easily~”
Eileen raised her hand. Crystal clusters and black mist intertwined, condensing into a slender purple crystal sword wreathed in ominous black fog.
As expected, the person before him was no longer Eileen. Xien finally reached his conclusion. This was a demon transformed from Eileen. When she referred to Cynthia, there was no respect whatsoever—just a monster wearing Eileen’s skin.
After magic users undergo demonization, their minds gradually collapse, but they also gain magical amplification far beyond normal.
But the Eileen before him not only retained partial sanity but could precisely control crystallization—this was definitely not achievable through natural demonization.
Could someone have transformed her into this state?
Xien’s gaze unconsciously swept around, trying to find traces of the mastermind. However, the crystal cocoon walls completely blocked outside vision. He couldn’t judge if anyone was observing from the shadows.
The man secretly observing inside the cocoon saw Xien actually searching for his location and immediately felt this guy was somewhat formidable.
“About to die, and you’re still looking around?”
Eileen mocked with laughter, then suddenly flashed forward—
So fast!
Xien almost instinctively dodged aside. The purple crystal sword scraped past his neck, drawing a line of blood.
“Tsk, quite quick to dodge.”
Eileen licked the blood on her blade, showing an expression of enjoyment.
“But this makes it more interesting.”
The following battle became completely one-sided torment.
Eileen’s speed was astonishingly fast, almost matching Cynthia.
But she didn’t go for the kill directly. Instead, like a cat playing with prey, she repeatedly left shallow wounds on Xien’s body.
“Swoosh!”
The sword edge sliced across Xien’s arm, blood spattering.
“Your reactions aren’t bad, but unfortunately… without magical power, you’re still just an ant.”
Eileen chuckled softly. Crystal clusters spread beneath her feet, blocking Xien’s escape routes.
Xien’s breathing grew heavier, sweat mixing with blood as it dripped. His stamina was more than half depleted, while Eileen remained at ease.
No good… continuing like this, he’d really die…
Xien realized he was no match for Eileen. He could only hope Cynthia would arrive quickly. He glanced up at the crystal cocoon—that saintess definitely wouldn’t ignore this and was probably already on her way.
So what he needed to do now was simple: stall for time as much as possible.
Xien’s fingertips secretly reached for the hidden pouch at his waist, where another flame bomb was concealed. He gritted his teeth and suddenly pulled out the flame bomb, hurling it hard at Eileen—
“Bang!”
Explosive flames instantly engulfed Eileen’s upper body, crystal clusters shattered by the high temperature.
Xien took the chance to roll backward, creating distance.
Did it work?
However, after the smoke cleared, Eileen still stood in place.
Her face was blown beyond recognition, crystals shattered, revealing writhing black matter underneath. But soon, new crystals began growing, and within seconds, her face was restored.
“Is this your little trick?”
Eileen’s voice turned cold.
“It did hurt quite a bit.”
Her expression completely changed. The previous mockery vanished, replaced by pure killing intent.
“Now I’ve changed my mind.”
Eileen tilted her head, raising the purple crystal sword wreathed in violently churning black mist.
“Kill you first, then kill Cynthia.”
The next second, her figure suddenly vanished—
Damn!
Xien had no time to react. The purple crystal sword was already at his eyes, just one centimeter from his throat!
Can’t dodge…
He instinctively closed his eyes—
“BOOM——!!!”
A blazing fire like a falling meteor suddenly exploded between Xien and Eileen.
The scorching shockwave knocked Xien staggering backward, while Eileen’s sword was forcibly deflected by invisible power.
Xien looked up sharply—
That saintess had finally arrived.
Cynthia Celeste, supreme saintess of the Crimson Knight Order, now stood at the battle’s center.
She wore the red and white saintess uniform embroidered with golden flame patterns that moved like living things under her magical aura. Her wide sleeves billowed without wind, flapping like burning banners.
Her hair, usually falling like silk, was now completely liberated by the abundant fire elements. No longer bound by gravity, each strand blazed upward with brilliant gold-red light, like a mythical fire goddess descending to earth.
Xien’s pupils trembled slightly, momentarily forgetting to breathe.
“Eileen, I said—”
Though flames burned around her, Cynthia’s voice was cold as arctic wind.
“Not to target Xien, didn’t I?”