Chapter 105: A New Resolve

“Then… what are you going to do?”

“You’ll know once you see it. I’m fighting that guy right now.”

Liyang followed the direction of the tentacles, her gaze falling upon a grotesque, deformed monster writhing beneath the dim sky. Its body, a patchwork of Will’s shattered remains, was grotesquely stitched together, with gruesome chunks of flesh connected by a network of black, slimy tentacles. A profound chill crept from the depths of Liyang’s heart; the bizarre and horrific creature nearly made her retch.

‘Not these things again…’

‘Why is she so unlucky? Why does she always encounter such horrors?’ Liyang instinctively looked at Yalin. His familiar face, usually adorned with a gentle smile, was now utterly devoid of expression.

“You… why did you save me?” Liyang murmured, her voice laced with confusion. She couldn’t comprehend it. She had been certain of her impending death, yet Yalin, at the eleventh hour, seemed to have changed his mind. Far from killing her, he had rescued her from the clutches of the monster.

“If you have the strength to talk, then get out of here!” Yalin glared at her. “I’m almost at my limit.”

To fend off Will’s onslaught, he had summoned three Archangels in a single breath. The three great angels swung their massive swords, ceaselessly severing the incoming black tentacles. While their efforts held the enemy at bay, Yalin’s money pouch was rapidly dwindling. At this rate, his savings would be incinerated in no time!

‘Damn it, this guy is truly a pain…’ Yalin felt a pang of distress. The creature’s regeneration was simply too potent; ordinary slashes barely left a mark. ‘Of course, this doesn’t mean it’s invincible.’ Yalin, capable of perceiving the flow of aether, naturally noticed a small red glowing core within its body. However, this core was minuscule and its position was constantly shifting, making it incredibly difficult to destroy completely. Yalin held no desire for a protracted battle, but Will seemed to have fixated on him, offering no chance of retreat. There was no alternative but to slowly wear it down, hoping to eventually slow its regeneration enough to create an opening for escape.

“Yalin…” Liyang’s lips tightened, her legs involuntarily retreating. She yearned to turn and flee, to escape as far as possible. She was simply too terrified. More than the monstrous creature, she feared the unfamiliar young man before her.

For so many days, Yalin had been by her side, helping her recover from fear and sorrow. Yet, the Yalin standing before her now was utterly unrecognizable—or perhaps, the Yalin she thought she knew was merely a deceptive facade. This stark contrast, born of his unfamiliarity, plunged Liyang into profound despair.

‘Yes, it was the same with Mom and Dad. In my memories, they were so wonderful, but in reality, they were researchers whose hands were stained with sin and blood. Everything was a lie… Is there truly no one left to trust, besides Grandma Fulin?’

Another tentacle lunged at her, and Liyang hastily shielded her head with her arm. Before it could fully extend, however, the tentacle was cleaved in two mid-air. Liyang slowly lowered her arm, her gaze once more fixed on Yalin. His expression remained cold, yet in his eyes, fixed intently on the foe, she could discern a flicker of anxiety. Liyang’s pupils trembled slightly.

‘Yes, why did he forget about Grandma Fulin? Why did *I* forget such an important detail?’

Though Yalin could mercilessly take six lives, and even torture his own blood uncle for information, though he had become cold and ruthless, no longer the gentle boy she once knew, he was still, just like before, protecting her selflessly. Liyang didn’t know what methods he was employing, but from his expression, it was clear the cost Yalin was paying was far from light. ‘Could he be sacrificing his own life?’

‘And what about me? Should I just turn and run, a pathetic coward protected by others, leaving only a shameful back?’ She could no longer tolerate such a weak self! Liyang clenched her fists, her eyes hardening with resolve.

“I… I don’t want to run anymore!” She took a deep breath, stepping to Yalin’s side. “I want to fight with you!”

“Huh?” Yalin was momentarily stunned. How had Liyang, usually so timid and compliant, suddenly become so resolute? But then, upon reflection, it made sense; she was, after all, that type of character. Before he could utter a word, Liyang had already acted.

She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a slender, pale arm, then bit down hard. Her teeth pierced the skin, and crimson blood instantly gushed forth, steadily dripping from her fingertips to quickly stain the ground a vivid scarlet.

‘What is she doing?’ Yalin felt a flicker of confusion, but quickly realized she was using her own blood as a catalyst for a spell. ‘Still, to bite down like that… Liyang doesn’t have my regenerative abilities.’

Liyang’s wrist was now a gruesome sight, flesh torn open, yet she paid it no mind. She bent down, directly smearing the blood-soaked ground. From the continuously flowing wound, a faint blue ethereal glow emanated. The next moment, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and an ice spike shot up from the earth, instantly impaling Will.

“Freeze!” Liyang’s brow furrowed as she clenched her right fist. White vapor hissed from where the ice spike pierced, and a layer of white frost rapidly spread, freezing the colossal body and its tentacles in place. The core, too, ceased its relentless rotation.

This was a golden opportunity! Yalin twitched a finger, and an Archangel immediately surged forward. However, before it could even swing its sword, the ground began to tremble violently. Countless shards of ice rained down as Will’s tentacles broke free from their icy prison. The core, too, shifted, narrowly evading the fatal strike.

“Oh…” Liyang’s face was pale. Freezing such a massive creature demanded an immense expenditure of magical energy.

“How long can you keep it frozen at most?” Yalin asked, looking down at her.

“The distance is too great; I can’t hold it for long…” Liyang clutched her chest, catching her breath. “If I could get closer, if I could touch it, I could freeze it for a much longer time.”

“Is that so?” Yalin pondered for a moment, then suddenly met Liyang’s gaze. “Do you trust me?”

“Oh…?” Liyang hesitated, but finally nodded. “I trust you.”

“Good. Then I’ll need you to rush forward and freeze that thing.”