In the dark entertainment facility, as shadows flickered on the ground, a veritable monster slowly entered Leo and Yukinoshita Yukino's field of vision.
It was an alien creature, its entire body a bizarre pale blue, covered in scales, with a constant seepage of mucus between them.
The alien was over three meters tall, resembling the mythical merfolk, with webbed claws on both hands and feet. Its head was ferocious and ugly, covered in fangs, and its eyes bulged like a frog's, making it appear both eerie and terrifying.
"What is that...?!".
Yukinoshita Yukino instinctively recoiled a few steps, the expression on her face less fear and more a distorted look of physiological discomfort.
There was nothing she could do; it was her first time seeing such a monster. Even a month ago, when she encountered the Fallen Angel Varden, he was at least humanoid, merely having Fallen Angel wings. He was nothing like this alien creature before her, neither fish nor monster, whose mere sight made her stomach churn.
"That's what a normal demon looks like after it falls," Leo said, his expression unchanged, even continuing to calmly explain to Yukinoshita Yukino.
"No one to restrain them means no one to guide them. And magic, to a certain extent, is a power that can make wishes come true. So, when Retainer Demons of humble origins like this one succumb to power and evil desires, they usually end up like this, unknowingly completing a physical transformation and becoming the most repulsive sight."
This is also one of the reasons why Rogue Demons are hunted by everyone; if such a monster were to enter human society, who knows how much chaos it would cause.
The three major factions are currently in a state where they cannot survive without humans, so naturally, they must maintain the stability of human society and prevent its collapse.
Therefore, even without the Rogue Demon's former master issuing a warrant and reward, the official demon authorities would immediately investigate the Rogue Demon's whereabouts and promptly entrust demons active in the human world to go and eliminate them.
Sona Sitri learned about this Rogue Demon infiltrating Chiba City through a communication from the Underworld, so she contacted Leo and tasked him with handling it.
"Do all demons without guidance end up like this?"
Yukinoshita Yukino was somewhat relieved that she hadn't chosen to leave Leo due to her initial reluctance.
If leaving her master would turn her into this, she would rather be stabbed to death by a Fallen Angel.
However, the Rogue Demon before her did not seem to have such self-awareness.
"I've already fled to the human world, why won't you let me go?" The merfolk-like alien spoke in a low voice. It was a sentence that sounded like an expression of resentment, yet the creature chuckled as it spoke, seemingly having entered a somewhat dazed state.
Upon closer inspection, the saliva-like mucus dripping from its mouth appeared to be crimson.
That was not saliva or mucus at all, but... blood.
"What are you doing here?" Leo's gaze turned cold as he looked at the creature. "Whose blood is that?"
Prompted by Leo, Yukinoshita Yukino also reacted, seeing the state of the creature's mouth clearly.
The blood didn't look like it was flowing from the Rogue Demon's mouth; it looked more like it was smeared on.
Just like when drinking milk, accidentally getting white marks on one's lips.
"Did you notice?" The Rogue Demon's low chuckle grew louder and louder, finally turning into a maniacal laugh. "Look at me, really, I'm such a grown-up, and I still forget to wipe my mouth after eating. How can I be like this?"
"But it's all that homeless man's fault, isn't it? His life was already ruined, so wouldn't it be good to contribute the last bit of value of his body? Why did he struggle so hard? It made it difficult for me to bite!"
"Still, that girl I specifically caught was good. She fainted directly; there was no way she could struggle. It's just a pity I couldn't hear her pleasant screams."
Hearing this, not just Leo, but even Yukinoshita Yukino knew what this monster had just done.
Immediately, feelings of anger replaced discomfort and fear, filling Yukinoshita Yukino's heart.
The hesitation, wavering, and resistance she initially felt about killing a creature of her own kind vanished instantly, replaced by a coldness and ruthlessness befitting her title of "Winter Flower."
"Deal with him, Yukino." Leo said, expressionless.
Yukinoshita Yukino slowly stepped forward, ripples of white mist emanating around her.
That was ultra-low temperature, below zero, a chill capable of freezing everything.
"Crack... crack crack crack..."
Yukinoshita Yukino, with cold air radiating from her entire body, walked forward step by step. Each time her foot landed, it left a layer of ice spreading from her sole on the ground.
The ground gradually began to turn into an ice field, causing the air temperature to plummet instantly.
Looking at Yukinoshita Yukino like this, the Rogue Demon felt no fear; instead, it grew excited.
"Is this girl going to fight me? Good, good, truly good. Just as beautiful as the one I specifically caught earlier, and just as tender and delicious-looking."
The Rogue Demon's face became even more hideous, the blood at the corners of its mouth replaced by actual saliva, dripping down little by little.
"I will gladly accept this food sent to me by the scum of the Underworld!"
With that, the Rogue Demon moved.
"Whoosh!"
Like a fish suddenly flicking its tail and swimming quickly in water, the Rogue Demon's viscous feet stomped violently on the ground, splashing mucus as it charged towards Yukinoshita Yukino.
His speed was so fast that even without intelligence from the Underworld, Leo could easily determine that he should be a Retainer Demon of the "Knight" rank.
Even after betraying his master, his characteristics as a "Knight" remained. His massive, three-meter-tall body transformed into a fleshy battering ram, rapidly crashing towards Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Bang!"
The next moment, the fleshy battering ram directly collided with Yukinoshita Yukino, causing a loud impact.
However, the Rogue Demon ultimately hit not Yukinoshita Yukino's delicate body, but a thick ice wall that had risen in front of the girl at some unknown moment.
The ice wall was streamlined like frozen flowing water, causing the Rogue Demon to bounce off, scattering ice shards.
"Bang bang bang bang bang...!"
Immediately following, intense crashing sounds continuously erupted.
That wasn't the Rogue Demon attacking Yukinoshita Yukino again; it was Yukinoshita Yukino's doing.
The moment the Rogue Demon was repelled, she mercilessly chose to press her advantage, causing the ice wall to explode on the spot, turning into countless scattered, irregular ice bullets that all struck the Rogue Demon's body.
The ice bullets continuously hit the Rogue Demon like a machine gun, exploding and causing muffled thuds, making the Rogue Demon cry out in pain.
"You damn brat...!"
The Rogue Demon was enraged, no longer chuckling but roaring.
"I'll tear you to shreds!"
Covered in ice shards and frost, he charged at Yukinoshita Yukino again, his face full of fury.
But he didn't realize that his joints had frozen solid, significantly slowing him down compared to before.
"Don't come near me, you ugly thing."
Yukinoshita Yukino transformed into a veritable goddess of winter, becoming even more unapproachable and sharp-tongued than usual. White mist churned around her in waves, from which various forms of ice flew out, attacking the Rogue Demon.
Ice bullets, ice cones, ice pillars, ice blades, ice shurikens... an endless stream of projectiles made of ice flew out from the white mist, continuously striking the Rogue Demon and repelling him.
Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, the Rogue Demon initially tried to dodge and bypass Yukinoshita Yukino's attack path. However, Yukinoshita Yukino paid no mind, letting the Rogue Demon dodge, merely unleashing a barrage of ice, striking the opponent from all directions, leaving him nowhere to hide.
Gradually, the Rogue Demon's angry roars turned into piercing wails. Its scales were either frozen solid or cut open by sharp ice cones or blades, leaving its flesh a bloody mess.
He tried to approach Yukinoshita Yukino, but was either forced back by the barrage of ice or almost frozen into an ice sculpture by the white mist swirling around Yukinoshita Yukino, scaring him into only being able to run.
But Yukinoshita Yukino seemed to have prepared for this as well; as soon as she saw signs of the Rogue Demon trying to escape, she immediately froze his feet, causing him to fall to the ground.
The girl mercilessly tormented the monster, the scene appearing unusually captivating.
"This truly is a pleasant surprise."
Leo, who had initially thought Yukinoshita Yukino might suffer a bit due to lack of experience, immediately brightened when he saw this scene.
Admittedly, Yukinoshita Yukino had no practical combat experience, but her mind was very sharp. As long as she could think calmly, she would definitely adopt the most suitable methods based on the combat situation.
She had probably figured out the Rogue Demon's movements and fighting style, and a battle plan for victory should have already been established in her mind. Thus, she was systematically launching her offensive, slowly pushing the opponent into a desperate situation.
What surprised Leo the most was that Yukinoshita Yukino had not summoned the ice princess; she was fighting purely with magic.
Yes, Yukinoshita Yukino was not using a god-slaying tool, but had achieved this result relying solely on demonic power.
"Mercy!"
Seeing that both his hands and feet were already frozen solid, and even his body was slowly freezing, the Rogue Demon began to beg for mercy.
"Vanish!"
Yukinoshita Yukino hesitated instinctively, but remembering everything the opponent had just said, she immediately made up her mind.
"Crack crack crack—"
Before long, the Rogue Demon's entire body was frozen into a giant block of ice.
"Bang!"
The ice block shattered, and the ferocious Rogue Demon turned into ashes, like ice shards flying through the air...
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