Deviant: No Longer Human

The crimson water beneath it mirrors the same eerie hue, a reflection of the ominous transformation.

Against the moonlit sky, the majestic walls of the castle gleam, casting an unsettling glow that betrays its true inhabitant—a devil, not an angel!

Inside the castle...

"I asked you to quietly dispose of their remains; why then did you orchestrate such a spectacle?" Wang Xiao, sprawled lazily across the sofa in a feigned slumber, couldn\'t resist craning his neck towards Aurora, who had just breezed into the dimly lit majestic hall of the castle.

Aurora\'s gaze briefly swept across the scene, landing on Elara who was seated at the foot of the couch.

Elara\'s hands were gently massaging Wang Xiao\'s legs, which were draped over her lap, all the while maintaining an expression of unwavering stoicism.

Seemingly unfazed, Aurora smiled warmly, "I only executed the task as you described. Nothing more."

She glided towards a solitary, plush couch draped in shadows and gracefully seated herself, claiming the space as her own.

Wang Xiao\'s eyes narrowed, a simmering intensity behind them. "Exactly which of my words led you to believe I wanted you to make a bloodbath over the city? Now, the entire world is on the brink of chaos."

A subtle smile played at the corners of Aurora\'s lips, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Isn\'t that the very results you wanted? To rule in a cloak of terror? When the tales of this night weave into the fabric of other dark events, your name will echo through the corridors of power and fear, revered as the \'Hell Prince\'..."

She stifled a chuckle, the moniker \'Hell Prince\' tickling her fancy as she uttered it.

Wang Xiao\'s gaze remained piercing, a storm brewing within, yet he offered no words of confirmation or denial.

The reputation of the European Guardian, already sullied by Asmodeus, lay in ruins.

To even ponder restoration was pointless.

Thus, Wang Xiao harbored intentions far more sinister, to weave a wave of terror so profound, it would dwarf the deeds of Asmodeus, cementing his dominion through the very essence of fear.

That\'s precisely why he had instructed Elara to disseminate the video far and wide. Yet, Aurora, with her actions, turned the situation into overkill.

Truthfully, Wang Xiao was baffled by how this woman managed to make it rain blood over the city like acidic rain, scorching everything in its path.

Her visage bore an innocent charm, but Wang Xiao would be foolhardy to overlook the potential darkness within—a woman who had lived through the ages and possibly laid entire nations to waste.

"Hey, are you going to divulge everything, or do you fancy becoming part of the rain as well?" Wang Xiao\'s lips twitched into a smirk as his gaze shifted to Elara, who continued her tasks with indifference.

Wang Xiao recognized the need to keep at least one ally alive, and Elara seemed like the prime candidate.

At the sound of his voice, Elara flinched, yet her pride remained unbroken, even as Wang Xiao seized her hand and pulled her closer, causing her to lean over him.

!!

Her eyes, sharp and penetrating like a serpent\'s, locked onto Wang Xiao in silent defiance.

Aurora, observing the tense silence, chose that moment to rise and exit the room quietly, her parting shot tinged with sarcasm, "Don\'t meet your end beneath a woman\'s skirt, at least. If you do, don\'t expect me to come to your rescue."

"!!"

Wang Xiao\'s brows furrowed, his expression darkened with irritation, but by then, Aurora had already vanished into the shadows.

[Would you really let her leave just like that? Her actions will surely repeat in the future if she escapes without facing any consequences,] Yin Yue, who had remained silent until now, finally voiced her thoughts.

The earlier bloody scene seemed to have little effect on her.

Wang Xiao pondered silently for a moment before responding, \'You don\'t understand, a human\'s words cannot always be trusted. Her saying that... it means she cared. And was she jealous?\' A sense of amusement began to bubble within him at the thought.

Yin Yue countered, [Your greatest delusion is believing you can control her. The truth is, she remains around you by her own volition, not because of any manipulation on your part.]

\'Don\'t speak nonsense. Tell me, would her poison affect me?\' Wang Xiao quickly changed the subject, seeking information about Aurora\'s deadly capabilities.

[It\'s of the same caliber as the poisonous flowers guarding the entrance to Xianthera. Whoever forged their bloodline must have incorporated it. Therefore, it shouldn\'t affect you,] Yin Yue clarified.

Wang Xiao\'s eyes suddenly widened in realization. \'I forgot to ask Aurora about Xianthera and the tunnel to hell! She must have more knowledge about it.\' He shook his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips, before turning to Elara, who hovered awkwardly above him, her face tinged with displeasure.

"What\'s your connection with Asmodeus?" Wang Xiao inquired, his lips curling into a wry smile as he gently grasped her chin, prompting her brows to knit together in evident displeasure.

The mention of Asmodeus sparked a visible flame of hatred in her eyes. Whether that ire was directed at him or at Asmodeus remained ambiguous.

"Why does it matter to you? You\'ve emerged victorious, come to claim all that was his. But what remains for you to claim, aren\'t you satisfied yet?" Elara retorted sharply.

Wang Xiao\'s response was a genuine smile, a rarity on his usually calm face.

Her words had peeled back a layer of her facade, revealing a raw, undiluted devotion to Asmodeus. "You do realize that your lord Asmodeus might have similarly razed many homes to the ground. It\'s simply his turn now," he pointed out, hoping to stir a reaction.

!!

"..." Elara\'s expression darkened, and she fell into a heavy silence.

Seizing the moment, Wang Xiao offered her a lifeline, "If you tell everything about yourself, I might consider sparing you."

"I—" Elara began, only to be silenced by Wang Xiao\'s commanding shush.

"Shh... Do you think you\'re in a position to negotiate? Your poison doesn\'t affect me," Wang Xiao whispered, his eyes gleaming with an ominous light, hinting at the power he wielded and the futility of her resistance.