Forge a path to success.

Chapter 52 Club Inflammation (Part 2)
Shocks, gunshots, cries, screams—a cacophony of frenzied noises filled the wealthy neighborhood, waking those in their soft beds. Through the windows, they saw the blue night sky, the magnificent golden building engulfed in flames, like a sinful torch burning money.

Beneath the torch, two figures gazed at each other: Maivia on the bat-like monster's back, and Ji Huaisu, wielding a sword and shield. Their eyes met for less than a second before the bat-like monster flapped its wings and took flight, emitting a shriek that sounded like laughter.

The officers inside the police car clutched their ears, letting out agonizing moans through clenched teeth. The sound pierced their eardrums like needles, the intense pain rendering them immobile. Taking advantage of the situation, Maivia extended oily, black, blood-red tentacles that coiled around a police car, intending to crush it and turn the officers into food.

But Ji Huaisu, shield in hand, pressed forward alone, her pace shifting from a brisk walk to a jog, and then to a sprint. She stubbornly carried the demonic sound forward, her right hand wielding her greatsword in a sharp arc, severing the blood tentacles that had engulfed the police car at their roots.

From the cross-section of that tentacle, maggot-like flesh sprouted, instantly transforming into several black blood chains that attempted to encircle and annihilate Ji Huaisu. The Calamity Knight simply slammed his greatsword into the ground, using the swirling sword wind to shatter the blood chains.

This little trick couldn't stop the Calamity Knight, and Maivia had no intention of deciding the outcome now. The Blood Lock was merely a delaying tactic; the Human-Headed Bat Monster had already taken to the air, and Maivia spat out mud bullets, smashing the surrounding police cars one by one, quickly creating distance between himself and Ji Huaisu. He wanted to use his speed advantage to escape first; his target was the residential area just steps away from the club!

Two of the family's children were killed, making the success rate of summoning their "elders" extremely low. However, as long as the family head was alive, the Moon Beast would provide a continuous stream of support. Ji Huaisu, wielding a greatsword and shield, couldn't keep up with its speed. Once he received sufficient blood and flesh replenishment, he, burdened with divine grace, would be equivalent to the strength of ten thousand troops.

Maivia twisted his head 180 degrees, intending to destroy all the surrounding vehicles to cut off the enemy's pursuit. But his eyes widened in astonishment; the blond knight was hot on his heels, like a golden blade slicing through the night.

It was that shield! Ji Huaisu placed the light shield beneath her feet, its radiance converging like fire behind it, providing a powerful boost that allowed her to surpass the speed of a vehicle. She maintained her balance with exceptional acumen, gripping her sword tightly behind the man-headed bat monster. Ten meters, eight meters, five meters… the distance between them continued to close, and the man-headed bat monster hurriedly increased its height. But the burning buildings in the distance provided a source of light, and the bat monster cast a huge shadow as it spread its wings.

Ji Huaisu decisively drew his sword, aiming it at the head of the bat-like shadow!

The Shadow Blade slashed at the very tip of her sword, instantly cleaving the bat-like woman's head apart. Her headless corpse plummeted downwards. Ji Huaisu, wielding his greatsword, swung it upwards, the blade flashing in a crescent-shaped arc of light. This strike severed the bat-like creature's abdomen from below, but the black blood and organs within the wound seemed to laugh, transforming into a swarm of bats the size of birds. These bats, formed from flesh and blood, also possessed human faces. Half of them carried Maivia to the ground, while the other half swarmed towards Ji Huaisu, enveloping the knight in a sphere of flesh.

The human-headed bat monster's true name is the Hand of Favor, and it is actually the most powerful of the three monsters. Its characteristics include extremely strong vitality and the ability to differentiate its flesh and blood; it can multiply into swarms of bats whether it is feeding or injured. Seeing Ji Huaisu being devoured by the swarm, Maivia finally had a chance to catch his breath. With no prey around, he simply exhausted his own power, chanting a spell to summon again: "Darkest Moon, Cradle of Beginnings, First Abyss Once Forgotten..."

"break!"

A blinding light pierced the wing membranes of the bat swarm, causing the gathered monsters to scream in terror! The light originated from Ji Huaisu's great shield, which she transformed into a blunt weapon resembling a battering ram, striking the ground. The resulting patterns of light intertwined to form a magnificent seal. The seal's radiance, like brilliant golden fire, scorched the filthy bat swarm to ashes.

Ji Huaisu wielded her light hammer and charged forward with all her might. Each swing left a light imprint on the walls and floor, the intense light of the imprints scorching her beloved hand. This valiant knight now truly resembled a sorcerer; her magic was the natural enemy of all evil.

With his last summoned creature defeated, Maivia was left to face the enemy alone. His fists bulged like drums, and as he threw them, he chanted a hastily revised incantation: "Bless the poor son, with your embrace, your veil..."

Two enormous, wing-like hands sprouted from behind Maivia, slamming down from above with tremendous force. Ji Huaisu steadily parried them with her greatsword, wielding a hammer in her left hand and a sword in her right, yet without appearing disorganized. Her left hand, wielding a hammer, struck Maivia's slug-like head, deflecting the bulging fist. Brilliant golden light imprinted itself on Maivia's body, then exploded in a burst of intense light, vaporizing the evil spirit!

Maivia thrashed wildly, emitting a dying howl in the light. Ji Huaisu cautiously withdrew his attack to observe the situation; such enemies were cunning by nature and might feign death as a backup plan. Maivia's previous summoning was half complete; the embrace was likely the hands that appeared out of thin air, and the other summoning word was "veil"...

What is a curtain?
The massive body in the light suddenly shattered, and the one struck, Maivia, turned out to be just a clone. Ji Huaisu immediately shielded herself with a light shield, then turned to meet a pair of eerie eyes. Maivia was standing right behind her!
“...and your dreams.” Maivia chuckled softly.

A dim light shone in his eyes, ripples spreading outwards and transforming into a hazy moon in Ji Huaisu's vision. Ji Huaisu's movements slowed; she swung her sword instinctively, but only managed to vaguely strike an illusion.

Visaph was adept at using clones, and Maivia, as the head of the family, naturally possessed the same ability. Maivia's true body was ten meters away; he had already replaced his own position with a clone from the moment the summoning began. He gleefully shook his head, "dragging off" his usual skin like an outer garment.

Beneath his imposing exterior lies a slick, hideous black creature, like a slug—this is the true face of the illegitimate son of the new moon. His outer appearance is a trap to lure enemies; the previous battles were merely a diversionary tactic. He is "The Magician" Maivia, whose true strength lies in illusions and deceptions, in the art of tormenting the mind.

The knight was currently in a state of confusion, but approaching too easily would only put him in danger. He knew about Ji Huaisu and already had a corresponding plan. Maivia rolled her black eyes and chanted a new incantation:

"Mother of all beings, cradle of love, please satisfy the helpless fool. Give her the warmth, childhood, and kinship she thirsts for."

·
Ji Huaisu heard the sound of the waves.

The sound repeated endlessly, echoing without end, like gazing at the sea at the edge of the world from a cliff. Only the ocean tide existed between heaven and earth; nothing else existed. That utter monotony created utter loneliness. As this thought arose, she heard crying. She realized it was her own voice, weeping because of utter loneliness, longing for someone to be by her side. "Don't cry. Don't be afraid," the woman said.

“You must be strong, little girl.” Then came the man’s voice. “You are the last knight. How can you survive in such a dangerous world if you’re not strong?”

The woman sobbed softly, and the man gently comforted her. Warm, strong arms lifted her up, and the monotonous sound of the waves drew closer. Long-forgotten memories were awakened, along with the fear etched into them.

No. Don't leave me! I don't want to go to the sea. Don't abandon me!
The girl's cries grew more urgent, clearly audible amidst the endless waves. The sound seemed to move the man as well, and he hesitated for a moment.

"...Do you want to be with your mom and dad?"

She kept crying, and only her crying answered her.

The faces of the man and woman were magnified in the field of vision, shrouded in a blurry halo, but they could be seen clearly if they were just a little closer.

"We'll be together." The man reached out his hand to her, his voice gentle, very close to hers. "Forever together."

As the sound of the waves receded, she reached out her small hand in response.

The blade pierced through that tender palm, and the halo was stained with bright red blood!
Ji Huaisu suddenly looked up. Dark night, raging fire, dust and smoke from the ruins, and the astonishment and fear that flashed in the demon's eyes. She sidestepped and kicked Maivia, sending the illegitimate son of Shuoyue flying into a car by the roadside. His voice was filled with genuine terror: "What did you do? How could you possibly break free from the Black Moon's spell?!"

"Father is right. Illusion magic is such a piece of trash; as long as it hurts enough, you won't care," Ji Huaisu muttered to himself.

Ji Huaisu's left arm hung limply like a broken puppet. Her method of breaking free from the illusion was extremely simple and brutal: she pierced her own hand with a shadow blade! The dream created by the Black Moon was shattered by the excruciating pain. She looked up nonchalantly, looking down at the trembling demon, as proud as a young knight.

"Have you finished your third-rate magic trick? Have you thought of your exit eulogy?" Ji Huaisu said coldly. "Then go die!"

Maivia was still reeling from the shock. It was a blessing from the First Abyss, the power of the oldest heretical path in the Realm of Sinking and Moving. Not to mention a mere Reverse Shadow of Point Two, even the three demonic beings of Point Three would succumb to the moonlight.

Pain alone can dispel it? Impossible!!
But reality is always crueler than fantasy, and Ji Huaisu's murderous aura was no illusion. She gripped the greatsword tightly with one hand, hoisted it onto her shoulder, and slightly lowered her knees to gather strength. She was clearly seriously injured, yet her aura was as dangerous as that of a ferocious beast.

Maivia took a deep breath and exhaled thick, viscous black smoke. The smoke was actually gaseous poisonous blood, his most vicious killing move. The blood smoke would seep into the enemy's body, devouring the flesh beneath the skin.

Even now, Maivia still had a plan. He knew that Ji Huaisu's injured left hand prevented her from using her light shield, so he intended to use this attack against the knight, abandoning his own offensive strategy. But Ji Huaisu didn't use a shield at all. She slashed her sword into the ground, using the recoil to leap into the air. Her Shadow Blade greatsword spun in the air like the wheels of a chariot, the surging wind clearing away the blood and smoke. Right in Maivia's frozen gaze, she used the momentum of the spin to reach the highest point, wielding her greatsword to strike head-on!

This was a desperate strike, like a lion's pounce in dire straits, or a dying eagle's claw strike. Cultivators of martial arts and Taoism could not master such resolute swordsmanship; this kind of sword existed only on the battlefield, in desperate situations where victory could only be achieved by risking one's life. This strike cleaved Maivia's head in two, the greatsword nearly splitting the demon's body in two.

Just before the blade reached the corrupted heart, it stopped. Maivia urgently congealed black blood within his body, weaving layers of defensive netting. He desperately resisted the slash, the black blood transforming into a spear blade that pierced through Ji Huaisu's body.

At this moment, Ji Huaisu raised her severely injured left hand and slammed her palm into the blade, providing the last bit of power to propel the slash!
The bloody web shattered, the greatsword slashed down, and Maivia's corrupt heart was shattered by the blow. Oil-like black blood sprayed everywhere, and his hideous body disintegrated amidst screams. Like his wicked offspring, Maivia turned into a foul-smelling mess of blood with a final cry.

Ji Huaisu shouldered the giant sword again, exhaling a foul breath filled with the smell of rust.

Ah Kong is right. This thing is just as good at chopping up as any ordinary villain.

(End of this chapter)