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"-----"
The air in the basement froze.
Not because of any other reason, but precisely because of the shift in atmosphere.
Fang Li's words, devoid of hostility or killing intent, merely stating facts, alone were enough to completely alter the atmosphere around them, giving the illusion that the air had frozen over.
This validated exactly what Maxway had said in his evaluation of Fang Li:
--"Danger."
Yes, danger.
Even someone as foolish as Alderp could understand it now. The man standing before him was just too dangerous.
If he wished, he could kill anyone. If he wished, no one could survive.
Whether it was a duke among the Seven Archdevils of Hell or a lowly noble with no strength to resist, it made no difference. If Alderp hadn't left such a terrible impression, perhaps Fang Li would have seen no difference between Alderp and Maxway.
After all, in Fang Li's eyes, it was just a matter of whether to kill now or later.
The man now standing before them, with ice-blue eyes, possessed that kind of ability.
"Wait…"
Ice-blue eyes?
"You… you…"
As if only now regaining consciousness, Alderp pointed a trembling finger at Fang Li, speaking in disbelief:
"You're the Black Knight?!"
Wielding the Moonlight Dagger, possessing ice eyes, singlehandedly repelled an entire Knights' Order, abducted Princess Iris, and slaughtered an entire Demon King Army battalion, the pitch-black knight.
This adventurer, walking out from his own territory, was him?!
"Ah… ah…"
No. There's no hope.
No hope at all.
Their opponent was someone who could insta-kill even top-tier Demonic entities, slaughter entire Demon King Army battalions, toy with the Kingdom's Knights like children, and walk in and out of the Royal Castle as if it were unguarded.
Not to mention, he even defeated the leaders of the Demon King's army. What possible odds of success could they have?
Rely on the Devil beside him?
That's completely impossible.
Who cares if he's a duke from Hell? It's still impossible to be a match for this man.
After all, even the Holy Sword, which exists to vanquish all evil, was now in this man's hands, acknowledging him, allowing him to wield it.
What now?
What should he do?
"Y-Yes!"
As if grasping at his final lifeline, Alderp suddenly seemed to remember something. Like grabbing a straw to save his life, he hurriedly pulled something from his chest.
It was an artifact shaped like a round stone.
"If I can summon a powerful monster, I can at least buy time to escape!"
This stone was precisely the artifact he used to summon Maxway. But putting his hopes in this artifact, Alderp had still stupidly forgotten something, What kind of monster could be stronger than a duke among the Seven Archdevils of Hell?
Especially when Fang Li was standing right here.
"Qiang------!"
A flash of bright blade light lit up the dim basement.
"Pū chī------!"
With a tearing, slashing sound like ripping silk, blood sprayed in all directions.
"Aaaaahhhhh------ !"
The scream resembled the shrill squeal of a pig having its throat cut, both ear-piercing and unbearable. Alderp's hand was sliced clean off, flying through the air with a spray of blood before falling to the ground.
"It hurts! It hurts! Aaah Aah!" Clutching his severed arm, Alderp wailed, tears and snot mixing as he rolled on the ground, sobbing in the most repulsive way imaginable.
Meanwhile, Fang Li stood unmoved, as if he had never even taken a step. But now, something had appeared in his previously empty hands:
In one hand, a dagger shaped like a crescent moon. A pebble-like artifact appeared in Fang Li's other hand.
"Now this is what you'd call 'searching high and low only to find it by chance.'" Fang Li spun the pebble-like artifact in his fingers, his tone remaining unchanged from beginning to end.
"An artifact that can exchange bodies, and another that can summon monsters. Two artifacts obtained in one trip... I'd say this journey wasn't a waste."
Having said that, Fang Li turned his gaze toward Maxway's body, speaking with a faint, mocking smile.
"What's wrong? Not going to make a move to save him?"
Hearing this, Maxway shook his head without the slightest hesitation.
"I don't want to die."
As he spoke, there was even a touch of delight in Maxway's voice.
"Besides, right now Alderp is wonderful, radiating negative emotions he's never had before. It's truly delicious." That joyful tone made it clear: no matter how innocent the youth before them looked, he was still a Devil.
And since he was a Devil, it was impossible for him to do anything that wasn't in his own interest. He knew full well how dangerous Fang Li was. So even with a contract in place, Maxway wouldn't lift a finger to help Alderp.
Let alone the fact that Devils feed on human negative emotions, and as a Devil, Maxway did the same.
Just like people have different tastes, Devils also exhibit "picky eating" habits.
Some Devils prefer the taste of fear.
Some prefer rage.
Some love the flavor of envy.
Some relish hatred.
As for Maxway, he loved the taste of despair.
So, when Alderp's plot to use the artifact to take over the prince's body was exposed and he had no choice but to flee here and ask Maxway for help, the sense of utter hopelessness he radiated at that moment made Maxway say:
"...So very appealing."
Now, the despair Alderp was giving off was even more delicious.
"Save me… save me…"
Dragging his blood-soaked body, Alderp reached out his only remaining hand toward Maxway.
"I'll pay any price… as long as you save me… save me…"
His plea finally stirred a response in Maxway.
"Willing to pay the price…" Maxway murmured, struggling slightly, "...willing to pay the price…"
Clearly, he was tempted. But then, Fang Li cut through Maxway's hesitation.
"Isn't that perfect?" Fang Li suddenly said. "You love his negative emotions, don't you? Then why not take him back to Hell as the price, and enjoy him slowly?"
Those merciless words made Alderp's eyes widen in horror.
Maxway's eyes, however, lit up instantly, only to show a trace of conflict again as he spoke:
"But… I can't beat you. I can't save him."
"Who said you had to fight?" Fang Li grinned. "I can just leave now. That counts as 'saving' him, right? Then you can collect your price."
"Really?" Maxway was overjoyed. "You're such a nice person!"
"No… no…" Alderp cried out in absolute terror.
In response, Maxway showed Alderp a smile he'd never displayed before.
"Alright, let's go to Hell together. I hope you'll keep feeding me those delicious negative emotions… Feed me your despair."
Thus, the world lost a scumbag.
And Hell gained a new soul, destined to be endlessly tormented by a Devil, for the sole purpose of producing more despair.
(End Of This Chapter)