"IDIS!"
Mesli let out a furious, shrill roar.
Her demonic wings burst open behind her in an instant, while the pitch-black, heart-shaped tail brimming with rage snapped straight up like an antenna. Dark flames surged wildly along her back, roaring into the air!
Her eyes were locked onto Idis, blazing with murderous intent, as if she wanted to tear her apart with her bare hands.
Kurose Akira swept his gaze over her without hesitation, instantly pulling up her status information.
[Mesli (Legendary)]Level: 75 (56,050 / 60,000)Race: SuccubusStrength: ? / Agility: ? / Magic: ? / Constitution: ?Growth: 12 (All attributes increase by 12 per level)Skills: (Expand)
"A level-75 high-ranking succubus…?"
Akira frowned slightly.
The power of the Succubus Empress made him uneasy—but if Mesli truly was the empress, this level felt too low.
Even though the succubus race had declined and talent was scarce, there was no reason their ruler should be this weak. Under normal circumstances, the king or queen of a race would be at least level 80—especially in the Abyss, where strength was absolute law.
Succubi were the dominant race of the Abyss of Lust.
Yet their empress was only level 75.
That was clearly abnormal.
At that moment, Mesli's furious roar echoed once more.
"IDIS! Because you ran away, I was punished by the Demon King! I was forced to become Lankai's eternal demon slave—imprisoned inside the Demon King's castle!"
She bared her sharp fangs as she screamed, her voice twisted with hatred.
"I'll kill you! I'll tear you apart and devour you alive!"
"A demon slave? Heh~"
Idis let out a cold laugh, icy light flashing in her eyes.
"That's entirely your own doing. You tried to offer me as a gift to other Abyssal Demon Kings, and in the end, you became the toy instead."
She looked at Mesli with utter contempt.
"Mesli, you really are just as stupid as ever."
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
Mesli roared, wings beating violently as she lunged toward Idis.
Then—
Her body froze in midair.
"…How is this possible?"
Mesli stared in disbelief at her immobile body.
She couldn't understand it.
What kind of power could possibly restrain her—the Succubus Empress herself?
"Just you?"
Idis smiled disdainfully and walked toward Mesli at an unhurried pace.
When she stopped in front of her, Mesli tried to force her magic into motion—but her body refused to respond, completely beyond her control.
"Mesli."
Idis stared at her coldly, her voice devoid of warmth.
"All you inherited from your mother was stupidity, arrogance, and those uncontrollable, primitive desires."
Her lips curved slightly.
"Don't worry. I'll replace you. I'll become the new queen of the succubi and forge an entirely new succubus race."
Her gaze hardened.
"As for you—"
Before she finished speaking, Idis lightly flicked her finger.
A vivid red butterfly, woven entirely from magic, fluttered gracefully toward Mesli's forehead.
"You—!"
The instant the butterfly sank into her brow, an unprecedented terror consumed Mesli.
Her eyes widened to their limits, her entire body trembling violently.
Idis then issued her command, her tone absolute.
"Remove the restriction on the Succubus Collar. That creature must have granted you that authority."
As Lankai's demon slave, Mesli naturally possessed the right to解除 the collar's restriction.
Otherwise, how could she have given birth to the Demon King's strongest offspring?
That was likely the only authority she still retained. As for the other treasures—those were beyond even her reach.
"I… Idis…"
Mesli let out a weak, defiant growl, but her body betrayed her.
Step by step, she walked toward the Succubus Collar.
She understood what was happening.
This was suppression from a higher-grade bloodline—one she could not resist.
And that realization only deepened her confusion.
She was a legitimate Succubus Empress by blood!
How could she be suppressed by Idis?
Idis was nothing more than an ordinary succubus born among the clan—one who didn't even know who her biological mother was!
The moment Mesli's hand touched the Succubus Collar, dark-purple runes flared across her skin before flowing into the collar itself.
The restriction hidden within the item dissolved instantly.
Then, with both hands, Mesli reverently presented the Succubus Collar to Idis.
"Now~"
Idis took the collar, a cold smile curling her lips.
"You're no longer useful."
The moment her words fell—
A streak of crimson magic wrapped tightly around Mesli's body.
"IDIS! I curse you! I curse you with my soul! Lord Lankai will never let you go!"
"AAAAAH—!"
With a shrill, agonized scream, Mesli's bloated body exploded into a cloud of blood mist, vanishing completely.
The scene left Akira momentarily stunned.
A single move.
A level-75 Legendary succubus—instantly killed.
Just how terrifying was Idis's true strength?
"We can't stay here," Idis said calmly. "Let's go."
She immediately activated the teleportation array and left the treasury.
As Akira stepped into the teleportation light, he glanced back at the countless treasures in the Demon King's vault.
So many priceless items…
All bound by restrictions.
Untouchable.
What a waste!
Just wait.
One day, I'll come back and take you all with me.
A flash of red light later, the three of them appeared outside the Demon King's castle.
The castle remained eerily quiet—clearly, the demonkin inside hadn't yet discovered Mesli's death or the theft of the Succubus Collar.
"I still have matters to deal with," Idis said. "Mary will open a passage back to the Magic Continent later. You can return on your own."
As she spoke, she placed the Succubus Collar into Akira's hand.
The instant he received it, Akira noticed something strange.
The three heart-shaped gems—
Had become two.
[Succubus Collar (15 Days): A tool used by succubi to reproduce life. It can also help解除 the second seal.]
"This is a replica of the Succubus Collar," Idis explained. "Its effects are identical to the original, but it only lasts fifteen days."
She smiled faintly.
"No one can actually wear the real collar. Succubi usually wear replicas woven from their own magic instead. And besides…""A brand-new one is better, isn't it?"
"Mm."
Akira nodded.
If it weren't brand-new, a collar used for reproduction would likely be stained with far too much… residual life essence.
"Take good care of Ivsha," Idis said at last. "When we meet again, I expect her second seal to be fully解除."
With that, she transformed into a streak of crimson light and vanished without a trace.
Watching her disappear, Akira was left with countless questions.
Idis hadn't解除 even a single succubus seal—yet her strength was already this overwhelming.
If she ever removed the sealing runes engraved upon her body…
The power she'd unleash would be unimaginable.
Perhaps this was the sheer terror of a mythical existence.
Idis's talent was in no way inferior to Lucia's—or Mare Rhine's.
Not long after Idis left, Mary's voice echoed directly in Akira's mind.
"Human, I've opened the passage out of the Abyss. It's behind you to the right. Leave the Abyss immediately."
"Got it."
Akira nodded and immediately headed toward the indicated location with Lucia.
Just as they spotted the portal leading out of the Abyss—
A figure suddenly burst out of Akira's body.
"I'm back in the Abyss?! No! I don't want to come back! W-Waaah!"
Miss Ghost floated in the air, crying miserably with a look of pure grievance.
Akira frowned slightly.
Why was Zhenbai reacting so violently?
Why did she resist the Abyss so strongly?
As confusion filled his mind, a headless undead knight silently appeared nearby.
It stared intently at Zhenbai floating in the air and spoke in a low, chilling voice:
"…Found you, my lady."