Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

Chapter 144 Who am I?

Bai Yu followed behind Emilia, his steps steady, but his heart was churning with complex emotions. His gaze frequently swept over Emilia's back, his mind filled with doubt. Memories of Titan resurfaced in his mind, a place fraught with danger and deception, and Emilia's appearance seemed all too coincidental.

Actually, the main reason he was suspicious was not this, but because time travel was impossible on Titan, so Emilia could not possibly leave Titan.

"Is she really Emilia?" Bai Yu wondered to himself. He remembered that Emilia on Titan was a brave and straightforward girl, but the Emilia in front of him, although her words and actions were no different from those in his memory, always made him feel that something was wrong.

Emilia, who was ahead, seemed to notice Bai Yu's unusual behavior. Her pace gradually slowed down, and she finally stopped. She turned around, a hint of doubt on her face, her brows slightly furrowed, and her tone filled with concern: "Bai Yu, what's wrong? Why aren't you staying close to me? It's not safe here. We need to find that vulnerability quickly."

Her expression and tone were so natural, as if she were genuinely worried about Bai Yu's safety. Her eyes held a hint of anxiety, even a touch of reproach, as if Bai Yu's hesitation would put them in danger.

Bai Yu looked into her eyes, but his vigilance grew stronger. He smiled slightly and replied calmly, "It's nothing, I'm just feeling a little unwell, so I'm walking a bit slower. You can continue leading the way, I can keep up."

Emilia's brows relaxed slightly, as if she had breathed a sigh of relief, but a barely perceptible chill flashed in her eyes. She nodded, turned around, and continued walking forward, but her pace noticeably slowed, as if to accommodate Bai Yu's speed.

The atmosphere between the two became subtle. Bai Yu's silence and Emilia's concern created a strange tension, as if an invisible barrier stood between them. The streets remained empty, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing in the silent city.

After walking for a while, Emilia suddenly spoke, her tone light, as if trying to break the awkward atmosphere: "Bai Yu, do you remember our adventure on Titan? We were almost trapped by those mechanical beasts back then."

A flicker of recollection crossed Bai Yu's eyes, but he remained vigilant. He replied calmly, "Yes, that time was indeed very dangerous. However, we managed to escape in the end."

Emilia smiled, a hint of nostalgia in her voice: "Yes, we were such good partners back then. I never expected to see you here again."

Bai Yu didn't reply, only nodded silently. His gaze never left Emilia's retreating figure, while his mind raced with thought. He knew he couldn't easily trust the person before him, especially in this eerie and unknown "Intelligent Core City."

Suddenly, Emilia stopped again. She turned around, a complex expression on her face, her tone tentative: "Bai Yu, do you... not believe me?"

Bai Yu's heart tightened, but he didn't show anything unusual. He maintained his calm expression and said lightly, "How could that be? I'm just a little tired, after all, I've been walking for so long."

Emilia stared into his eyes, seemingly trying to glean something from his expression. Her gaze held a hint of inquiry, even a subtle threat. But Bai Yu's gaze remained calm and unwavering.

After a moment of silence, Emilia finally looked away and sighed softly, "Alright, since you put it that way, let's continue. But you have to stay close to me; it's not safe here."

Bai Yu nodded, signaling her to continue leading the way. Emilia turned around and continued walking forward, but her steps were noticeably heavier than before, as if she were deep in thought.

Bai Yu followed behind her, his mind more wary than ever. He knew he had to proceed with caution. The Emilia before him might not be the girl he remembered, but rather a far more dangerous being.

The buildings lining the street still towered into the clouds, their cold, steel behemoths seemingly watching them silently. A strong sense of unease welled up in Bai Yu's heart; he felt as if he were walking step by step into an unknown trap.

"Amelia...who exactly are you?" Bai Yu asked silently in his heart. He knew he had to find the answer as soon as possible, otherwise, he might never be able to leave this strange city.

Deep within the dark palace, the howls of the werewolves echoed through the empty corridors, their cries a mixture of fear and warning, as if they were fighting against some unseen enemy. The voices were low and hoarse, carrying an almost desperate struggle.

The camera zooms in, and in the dimly lit palace, a wolf-like beastman with entirely yellow fur lies prone on the ground. His claws dig deep into the earth, his body arched, muscles taut, as if ready to pounce on his prey at any moment. His teeth are clenched tightly, his eyes bloodshot, wide open, staring intently at a void ahead. However, that direction is empty, only endless darkness.

The werewolf-orc's breathing was rapid and heavy, a low growl emanating from his throat. His body trembled slightly, as if struggling against some unseen force. Suddenly, he lunged forward, opening his blood-red maw to tear at the void. His movements were swift and ferocious, as if he had truly bitten into something. His teeth were clenched tightly, and a low whimper escaped his throat, as if he were fighting some unseen enemy.

However, that direction remained empty.

The werewolf-orc's body began to change. His fur started to fall out, revealing rough skin underneath. He became taller and larger than before, and the muscles in his arms and legs became noticeably more muscular and powerful. However, this change carried an eerie sense of incongruity, as if his body was being forcibly modified by some force.

His clothes were nowhere to be found; only a few tattered strips of cloth remained, barely covering part of his body. He was losing more and more hair, and cracks were appearing on his skin, as if something was struggling to break free from his body.

The werewolf-orc's movements grew increasingly frenzied. He lunged at the void, tearing at the air as if wrestling with some unseen enemy. Low growls emanated from his throat, filled with pain and rage.

"Roar--!"

His voice echoed through the palace, carrying a chilling despair.

Suddenly, the werewolf-orc stopped moving. His body froze, his eyes fixed on the front. His breathing became rapid, and a low whimper escaped his throat. His body began to tremble violently, as if he were fighting against some force.

"no, do not want……"

A deep, rational sound came from the wolf-orc's throat. It was Cheng Yu's voice.

Cheng Yu's consciousness struggled madly. He felt his body being controlled by some force, his memories being devoured bit by bit. He tried to resist, tried to regain his consciousness, but that force grew stronger and stronger, almost threatening to completely engulf him.

"I...I am Cheng Yu..."

His voice was weak and trembling, as if he were talking to himself. A glimmer of clarity flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by madness.

"No...I am...Ao..."

His voice grew low and hoarse, with the roar of a wild beast. His body arched again, his claws digging deep into the ground, ready to pounce into the void once more.

Just then, a deep rumble echoed from the depths of the palace. The sound seemed to emanate from the earth, carrying a chilling power. The wolf-orc's body trembled violently, a flicker of fear flashing in his eyes.

"Roar--!"

He let out a deep roar and lunged forward, tearing at the air once more. His movements grew increasingly frantic, as if he were fighting some unseen enemy.

However, that power grew stronger and stronger. Cheng Yu's consciousness was gradually being devoured, and his body was completely controlled by the instincts of the wolf-beastman. His eyes were filled only with madness and anger, and no trace of human reason could be seen anymore.

"Roar--!"

The howl of the werewolf-orc echoed through the palace, carrying a despairing power. His body began to change; more and more hair fell out, and cracks appeared on his skin, as if something was breaking free from his body.

Cheng Yu's consciousness completely disappeared.

He had completely transformed into a werewolf-orc, a mad, powerful beast. His eyes were filled only with madness and rage, devoid of any trace of the rationality of an intelligent being.

Cheng Yu's body trembled violently in the darkness, clumps of yellow hair falling out to reveal blood-red skin beneath. His limbs began to twist, his bones making a sickening cracking sound, as if forcibly reshaping themselves by some unseen force. A low whimper escaped his throat, filled with pain and terror.

"Roar--!"

Cheng Yu's howl echoed through the palace, carrying a chilling power. His body gradually turned blood red, his fur fell out completely, and his skin was covered with cracks from which blood seeped, dripping onto the ground. His limbs grew thicker, his claws sharper, and his body gradually swelled, eventually transforming into a blood wolf with a completely crimson body.

Cheng Yu landed on all fours, feeling the changes in his body, and his heart was filled with panic. His eyes widened, and his pupils contracted sharply, as if resisting this change. A low growl came from his throat, and his body paced back and forth involuntarily, leaving bloody footprints on the clean floor.

"no, do not want……"

Cheng Yu's voice was weak and trembling, tinged with despair. He felt his body being controlled by some kind of force, his consciousness gradually fading, and he could no longer resist the erosion of that force.

Suddenly, Cheng Yu's body stiffened abruptly, his pupils constricted sharply, and his body began to contort into a grotesque shape. His bones cracked and popped, as if forcibly twisted by some force. His body became increasingly distorted until it was completely reduced to a pile of mangled flesh, limp and lifeless on the ground.

Blood gushed from his body, spreading outwards from him and forming a pool of blood. Cheng Yu's consciousness gradually faded; he felt his body being reshaped by some force.

However, just as his blood was about to drain away, something strange happened.

Cheng Yu's body began to stretch, new bones growing from within him to support his form once more. New blood began to flow into his veins, and snow-white fur regrowed on his skin. His body gradually recovered, eventually transforming him into an even larger, snow-white wolf-beastman.

Cheng Yu slowly opened his eyes, his pupils turning a golden-bronze color, shimmering with a mysterious light in the darkness. A halo of holiness seemed to appear above his head, but it vanished in an instant.

Cheng Yu stood there, sensing the changes in his body. His heart was filled with doubt and unease, but he knew that he was no longer the same Cheng Yu he used to be.

"who I am?"

Cheng Yu's voice was low and hoarse, tinged with a hint of confusion. He felt his body brimming with power, but his consciousness remained hazy.

Just then, a deep rumbling sound came from the depths of the palace. The sound seemed to come from underground, carrying a chilling power. Cheng Yu's body trembled violently, and a hint of vigilance flashed in his eyes.

"Roar--!"