In the abandoned barn, sunlight filtered through gaps in the dilapidated roof, casting mottled golden patches that dissolved into the surrounding darkness.
A barefoot young woman, draped in linen, knelt in the darkest corner, her face a mixture of madness and fervent devotion.
In front of her was an array of unusual items: a frog's eye, the left paw of a black cat, bat blood, a lizard's tongue, and a centipede's tail, all arranged in the shape of a pentagram. At the center of the pentagram lay a freshly bleeding heart.
The girl chanted:
“Thank you for binding me with sin, for all the tragic fates I have met. I am ensnared in a deep prison, and only blood and bones can free me, May the will of evil walk the earth as if treading the abyss, …”
After reciting the incantation three times, she opened her eyes and drew a sharp dagger from behind her. The final step of the ritual was to sever the index finger of her right hand.
As she hesitated, struggling with her resolve, the faint sound of footsteps grew louder outside.
“Ah!” A shrill, cat-like wail echoed from the doorway. “Talia, you hellish whore... My poor Jimmy, only three years old... His heart, they took his heart!”
A sneer of disdain appeared on Talia’s lips. Hell? May your words come true!
The barn door was smashed open by the enraged villagers, led by Basse, who stormed in, armed to the teeth.
“Talia, you evil and vile witch, the holy fire will nail you to a cross, and your soul will never find redemption.”
Without hesitation, Talia quickly cut off her index finger. The bright red blood splattered on the ground, forming a grotesque, rose-like stain.
She chanted rapidly: “O evil and mighty entity, may you heed my call, descend upon the mortal realm, and let the inferno consume everything…”
“Stop her!”
Basse screamed in terror, grabbing a chamber pot and hurling its contents at Talia.
The other villagers followed suit, lifting their own chamber pots.
Streams of yellow and green liquid arced through the air, drenching Talia completely. She was instantly enveloped in a foul stench.
Talia remained motionless, her expression vacant, unsure if it was the absence of the expected results or the overwhelming filth that left her in shock.
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“Ah!” She finally screamed in utter despair.
“I will kill you all!” Covered in yellow urine, Talia no longer resembled her former beautiful self but looked more like a grotesque demon from hell—filthy, ugly, and revolting.
“The witch’s true form has been revealed!” Basse shouted, raising his hoe high and stepping forward with newfound courage. “Everyone, attack! Kill her!”
Talia frantically recited a long incantation, pointing with her now severed index finger at the crowd, but nothing happened.
“Damn it, my magic!” Talia cried out in horror.
Basse, emboldened, shouted, “The witch’s dark magic is ineffective now. Everyone, advance!”
The villagers, now more confident, closed in on Talia, their eyes filled with the desire to tear her apart.
Talia staggered back, her eyes filled with despair.
As Basse neared her, a ripple suddenly appeared in the void between them, as if the still surface of a pond had been disturbed by a stone.
A small black hole began to form, and a gust of wind swept through the barn, stirring up dust.
The hole grew larger, and everyone’s attention was fixed on the unfolding spectacle.
A foot slowly emerged, followed by legs and then the body...
The full figure of the newcomer was revealed: small bat-like wings fluttered slightly as the slender, elegant body hovered in the air. With dark purple horns on its head and a serpent-like tail behind, it had a strikingly handsome face with blood-red eyes, radiating an aura of extreme malevolence.
Karlo had arrived in this unfamiliar dimension.
The low level of this dimension seemed to have lifted a heavy layer of constraints from him, dramatically enhancing all his abilities. Even his wings, which had barely supported him in the Abyss, now allowed him to hover effortlessly.
He felt immensely powerful, a sensation that was truly delightful.
The only discomfort was the pungent stench in the air.
Karlo furrowed his brow, covering his nose, and muttered, “What is that smell? It’s awful!”
His comment broke the eerie calm. A villager stammered, “It’s, it’s a demon!”
“Hahaha!!” Talia laughed maniacally, pointing at the villagers and commanding Karlo, “Hurry! Help me kill them!”
The villagers, terrified, began to retreat. Some shook the remaining urine from their chamber pots and flung it at Karlo.
Karlo’s crimson eyes narrowed as he deftly evaded the liquid with a flick of his wings. He realized the source of the foul stench.
“Seriously, you dare to throw urine at me?!” Karlo couldn’t help but curse angrily.
At that moment, a voice echoed in his mind: “Main quest initiated.”
“Quest 1: Kill the ignorant villagers and subdue the witch Talia.”
“Quest 2: Not yet available.”
Karlo paused, glancing at the frantic and filthy woman, and thought, Could this “filthy person” really be the witch Talia?
What a heavy taste!
Karlo sighed in resignation. Regardless, he decided to deal with the villagers first.
The villagers, having missed their target with the urine, began to flee in panic.
Karlo cast a “Weakness” spell. This basic demon magic, which had merely dulled the senses of the bird-demon in the Abyss, proved extraordinarily effective here.
A dark purple aura expanded from Karlo’s hand, swiftly enveloping the fleeing villagers. They became sluggish, as if trapped in a swamp, unable to move efficiently.
Karlo then cast a “Fireball” spell. The villagers’ piercing screams filled the air as they ignited into blazing torches, turning to ash in moments.
Checking the system panel, Karlo saw that each villager had contributed some experience and ten points of evil value. Mortals truly were pitifully weak compared to demons.
Finally, Karlo turned back to Talia, a smirk on his lips as he said, “Well, mortal, I’ve fulfilled your request. Now it’s time for you to offer up your soul.”