"WATCH OUT!!!”

  Someone screamed.

  At the same time, the monstrosity retracted two of its tentacles just as it extended them—lightning-fast for the human eye to track. One coiled tightly around a girl, and the other around the boy with the bleeding eyes.

  About five meters tall, with the lower body of a giant spider, the mucus-soaked, pitch-black monstrosity opened a vertical mouth at the point where its snake-like torso extended from its lower body—its crotch. The mouth revealed a blood-soaked tunnel lined with sets of serrated teeth—each set positioned behind the other.

  Without hesitation, it stuffed the girl inside. She offered no resistance. As she was eaten away, ground into paste, the monstrosity brought its other screaming food—the blindfolded boy with the bleeding eye—close to its proper mouth and bit off his head in a single bite, causing blood to spray into the air from the boy’s neck.

  All the while, the others watched with wide, horror-filled eyes. No one moved a muscle, and those who did only obeyed the earth after passing out from extreme dread.

  As the monstrosity bit again into the boy’s remains, chewing off his torso, Masa Ed slowly moved his gaze over it. From the lower mouth at its hairy crotch—dripping with the girl’s blood—he traced upward along its snake-like torso, about three meters long, and paused on its large horned head.

  On its face sat a pair of large red eyes, many irises swimming within them. Beneath its tiny snubbed nose, a mouth stretching from one pointed ear to the other chewed on two human legs like chicken bones.

  Paralyzed—unable to move or think—most watched in terror. Tears streamed uncontrollably down faces, while the eyes of Sera and Maya burned with fury. Mara, Pastor Kanu, Jango, and Masa Ed narrowed their eyes at the monstrosity’s wriggling tentacles as it went down on its knees and sat.

  As Plum slightly turned her head and focused on the space beside one of the monstrosity spider-legs, the illumination in the hall visibly dimmed. The water falling from the broken aqua ceiling halted mid-fall. Strangely, the wind and the stench of bones were gone—the hall cleared of all trash and debris.

  However, before the observation could fully register in Masa Ed’s and others mind, he briefly lost control of all his muscles—it felt as though his will had dodged a shackle.

  What?!

  He exclaimed internally as he willed the air out of his lungs, but it refused to obey.

  At the same time, ten people collapsed to the ground simultaneously, and it became clear to a few that they were in the presence of far more monstrous guests.

  Masa Ed shrugged off the still, cold air and focused.

  In front of them stood a devilishly handsome lantern-bearing man in a black suit and white shirt. He was flanked by a cloaked, masked figure and a lantern-bearing young teen whose braided hair was tied in a high ponytail, making him look androgynous yet devilishly pretty in black suit and red shirt.

  Unknown to Masa Ed, Sera—beside him, eyes blazing as though they would spill flames—glared fiercely at an indescribable being lounging on a chaise directly facing him.

  “We scared you?” the lantern-bearing man asked, beaming a charming smile.

  The air resumed its flow and gradually grew warm. The invisible shackles binding everyone but a few loosened, and their expressions relaxed.

  “Does anyone know who we are?” the man inquired pleasantly.

  No one answered.

  His eyes scanned their faces. Most looked at him with pleading and fearful expressions. Pastor Kanu, Maya, Jango, and Mara, however, were analyzing him and the two beside him.

  “Okay, I will do the honor. We are from the devil clan,” he beamed.

  They gasped—the pink-haired girl and three others.

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  Pastor Kanu stepped forward.

  “What do you want from us, Your Excellency?”

  The man adjusted his spectacles. “Nothing, actually. Don’t you welcome us?”

  He smiled warmly and released his black lantern of scarlet flame—pure and smokeless, just like that of the young teen beside him.

  Meanwhile, Pastor Kanu adjusted his own spectacles. “No, Your Excellency,” he smiled politely. “I was actually about to implore you to escort us to a safe place, so you are very much welcome to join us.”

  “Are you not scared?” the man’s tone firmed.

  “What is there to be scared of? Enlighten me, Your Excellency.”

  “Are you not afraid the Tower will punish you for associating with us—the devil kind?”

  Pastor Kanu replied, “Why would that be? In a matter of life and death, there is only—”

  “I challenge you.”

  Sera interrupted.

  With her scythe in hand, she stepped forward and stood between Pastor Kanu and the man.

  What is she doing?

  Masa Ed narrowed his eyes. He grabbed Plum by the hand and guided her to stand behind him.

  All eyes focused on Sera—except the man’s. He gently cleaned his glasses with a small white cloth, as though he had not heard her.

  At that moment, a genderless voice—childlike—whispered near Masa Ed’s ear.

  [“Hello, ba.”]

  Who?

  He flicked his head, trying to pinpoint the transmission source. His eyes traced the empty space before him and stopped at the bleached wall. There was nothing there.

  Maybe it’s one of those guys, he concluded.

  Behind him, Mara hollered, “Big guy, she is challenging you. Show courtesy!”

  Simultaneously, a black ball shot past Masa Ed and stopped right in front of the man’s face—spinning intensely before losing all its force, which had been strong enough to dent rock.

  Masa Ed and some of his cohort watched, mouths agape, as the ball slowly dissipated into thin air.

  The man smiled.

  “Do you want to join her?”

  “Eh?!”

  Masa Ed quickly stepped aside, guiding Plum with him. Abu Dinn dragged his heavy body aside as well. Mara then became clearly visible in the man’s line of sight.

  “You’re saying two against one?” Mara grinned cheekily and marched forward, hands in his pockets, boot studs sinking into the sand.

  He halted beside Sera.

  “Can you manage the two of us?”

  “Why not?” the man replied calmly. “But are you ready to put your lives on the line?”

  “I am. Fight me,” Sera snapped.

  As she stepped closer, some watched her back in shock. Masa Ed glared at her with gritted teeth.

  What’s wrong with this cat? Aren’t we trying to buy time here?

  The man clasped his straightened hands in front of him.

  “Do you two know about a challenge contract?”

  “What? Tell us,” Mara grinned.

  The man reached into his inner suit pocket and pulled out a roll of papers tied with a red string. He untied it, unfurled the stack, and selected two sheets, letting them float beside his lantern. After retieing the stack and returning it to his pocket, he touched the floating papers one after the other.

  “Check them and sign if you agree.”

  The papers floated toward Sera and Mara.

  “I hope you babies can read spiritual language?” he asked lightly.

  “What is spiritual language?”

  At Mara’s response, the papers returned to the man, overlapped, and straightened in front of him.

  He adjusted his red bowtie and read aloud:

  “Challenge Contract Condition.”

  “I, dash dash—your name—declare: My soul will become the property of Lord Silas if he defeats me. However, if I defeat him, he will take me and my friends present here to desired safety as soon as possible.”

  He raised his head.

  “Both contracts carry the same condition. Do you agree?”

  Sera nodded eagerly. Mara grinned and nodded as well.

  The earlier childlike voice whispered again near Masa Ed’s ear:

  [“Ba, are you not going to do something? Both of them stand absolutely no chance against him. His caliber is equivalent to a top mid-realm lantern. If you challenge the chimera now, he will let all of you go if you deal it enough damage. Ehn, Ba?”]

  Masa Ed chuckled inwardly.

  Whispering like the devil. Am I that stupid to fall for your bait? Dream on.

  The papers floated back toward Sera and Mara.

  [“Ba!!”] the voice shouted aggressively.

  “Where are you? Who are you?” Masa Ed whispered softly. “Show yourself. Don’t hide.”

  [“Ba, do you want her to become a plaything?”]

  “What’s my business? She chose that path. It’s her problem.” Masa Ed replied.

  His eyes searched the space around him, but he found nothing.

  As Sera and Mara reached for the contracts, Masa Ed sighed.

  “Rayo, be careful.”

  “I will,” he replied to Plum.

  With his staff in hand, its hook dragging along the sand, he stepped out barefoot. Curious eyes followed him.

  Reaching Sera, he snatched the contract from her and walked forward until he stood a meter from the man.

  “If I beat that thing, you guys—and the one hiding—will leave. Do you agree?”

  The man removed his glasses.

  “Sir, are you certain it is that creature you wish to subdue in exchange for your friends’ freedom?”

  “Mmm-hmm. Can’t I?”

  “Of course you can. Have the floor.”

  The man and his companions stepped back in unison. They stood close to the wall.

  With his cohort watching him with varying expressions, Masa Ed turned toward the monstrosity. It looked gentle as a puppy—yet inhumanly large and fearsome.

  He glanced over his shoulder, sensing an incoming presence.

  “Get lost. Idiot.”

  He scowled at Sera approaching with her scythe.

  She halted abruptly, as though caught in webs, and glared at empty space—at the indescribable being lounging on a chaise.

  In front of her, Masa Ed leisurely approached the monstrosity.

  One step took seconds.