Alpha, Beta, and Xi Nuo were already eighteen years old.
After learning everything, Alpha practiced controlling the Slime Suit under Xi Nuo's guidance.
The Slime Suit, after being improved by Xi Nuo and Xi De, allowed for smoother magic transmission.
In simple terms, it meant faster attack speed and higher efficiency.
Alpha had excellent talent; she mastered the Slime Suit in one day. The next day, she completely mastered the slime sword.
By the third day, her strength had already surpassed Xi Nuo's older sister, Claire.
During this time, Xi De kept disappearing and reappearing.
Xi Nuo knew exactly what he was up to; that guy was probably looking for artifacts, all for his grand scheme of showing off.
Alpha had great talent; even without Xi Nuo's guidance, she could have achieved such strength through self-practice, though the efficiency would have been slower.
"Alpha, your strength is already formidable. This is all I can teach you. How to become stronger from here on out is up to you!"
Xi Nuo felt that if he continued to guide her like this, Alpha's strength would eventually surpass his own.
However, that was only if his own strength remained stagnant.
For a period afterward, Alpha, like Xi De, was rarely seen.
She would occasionally appear, then disappear completely.
With nothing to do, Xi Nuo renovated the temporary base. All the dilapidated, abandoned houses were given a new look through Xi Nuo's efforts.
It became a standalone villa.
With the help of magic, everything Xi Nuo did became very simple.
About half a month later, Alpha brought back a white-haired elf.
Her skin was severely ulcerated, and there were wriggling lumps of flesh on her wounds, with black patterns covering her entire body.
Alpha had not yet learned how to treat Demon Possession, so she could only hand it over to Xi Nuo.
And Xi De was still nowhere to be found.
Alpha mistakenly believed that Xi De was fighting evil in an unknown place, which was why he kept disappearing.
In reality, he was just finding bad guys, stealing their money, and then using those artifacts to elevate his own coolness.
"Lord Phantom? What has Lord Shadow been doing recently? Would it be convenient to tell me?" Alpha asked.
"I don't know exactly what he's doing, but it must be something very important!"
Xi Nuo wasn't lying; collecting artifacts was indeed very important to Lord Shadow.
"I see!" Alpha's respect for Xi De deepened.
Of course, it was only respect, no other feelings.
Compared to Xi De, Alpha felt that Xi Nuo was a better person.
As someone who wielded great power, he had no airs, was approachable, and even taught her fighting techniques and how to control magic.
"Lord Phantom, did you renovate this house?"
"Of course, renovating the house will make it more comfortable for you to live in!"
"Lord Phantom, you are too kind to us. A dwelling can be anything; this is too much of a waste of your time!" Alpha was flattered.
Xi Nuo, who could cure the curse of Demon Possession, was certainly a prominent figure, but for such a person to personally build her a house was truly unimaginable. Yet, that was the reality.
"Your feelings are also very important. We are not some unscrupulous organization that makes you risk your lives without providing you with a good place to live!"
"Let's call her Beta! I'll take care of her; you must have other things to do, right?" Xi Nuo said.
During this time, Alpha had been verifying Xi De and Xi Nuo's words. She had already found some clues. However, when she encountered Beta, she brought her back.
Although Beta was in a coma, she was still conscious, like a person in a vegetative state.
Beta's condition was different from Alpha's; only parts of her body surface were ulcerated, so the treatment was very quick, taking only four or five hours to complete.
Beta, returned to her human form, found her appearance somewhat unbelievable.
"Thank you, may I ask your name?"
Beta looked at the child, who was not even as tall as she was, with great gratitude.
"My name is Phantom, and the person who brought you here is Alpha! My organization is Shadow Garden, an organization formed to resist the Diabolos Cult..."
Then Phantom told Beta everything.
"So, are you willing to join Shadow Garden?"
"I am willing. You and Alpha saved me from hell, giving me a new life. I will do my utmost to fight for Shadow Garden for the rest of my life!"
"Alright, from now on, you must abandon your former self. From this moment, your name is Beta!"
Xi Nuo extended his hand to Beta!
Beta grasped Xi Nuo's hand, and the Slime Suit, transformed by magic, covered Beta's body.
Beta spoke with conviction.
But at night, she lay alone in bed, trembling uncontrollably, her body shaking.
Past scenes were vivid in her mind; she was afraid of becoming like she was before, that inhuman, ghost-like appearance.
Everyone thought she was a Demon Possession victim, despising and loathing her. Even her parents, who had always loved her, looked at her with hostility; they wished she would die.
Whenever Beta closed her eyes, everything that had happened to her resurfaced in her mind.
"Beta, can't you sleep?" At this moment, Xi Nuo pushed open the door.
"Lord Phantom, I'm fine!"
Beta didn't want anyone to see her vulnerable side.
"Your body is trembling uncontrollably, and you say you're fine!"
"I..."
Xi Nuo came to Beta's bedside.
"Then let me tell you a bedtime story!"
"This story is called Snow White!"
"Once upon a time, there was a princess named Snow White..."
Beta listened to the story, immersing herself in the tale of Snow White, and before she knew it, she fell asleep.
This was the first time Beta had slept so peacefully.
After seeing her asleep, Xi Nuo quietly left Beta's room and cast a barrier outside with magic. This barrier only allowed people wearing the Slime Suit to pass... Claire waited for a long time in the forest but did not wait for her master.
She finally decided to train herself and began repeating yesterday's training.
After training for her usual time, Claire walked towards home.
At this moment, her master, Xi Nuo, appeared.
"Claire, as your master, I have very important matters to attend to and must leave. From now on, the path to becoming stronger is up to you!"
"Yes, Master, I will!"