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n721 Exhausting the Substitutes

nA Demoness of Pleasure didn’t possess an innately proactive charm, but she could maximize her allure to irresistible levels. Even under normal circumstances, her magnetism could make most men unable to shift their gazes away, their breathing growing labored as their minds raced with desire. Moran Avigny had certainly never been an Ascetic, and his lust was already inflamed by Beatrice’s Necklace.

nHis focus was solely locked on Franca now, imagination running wild with tantalizing possibilities of what might happen next.

nHeart pounding, blood surging, his movements were affected—swift but erratic.

nA dawn-like glow emanated from Moran’s body, marking Franca as the target of his righteous punishment. This enhanced his influence and offensive power against the tempting demoness.

nAs he selected her for punishment, Moran seemed to grow taller in Franca’s eyes, striking fear into her heart. She sensed he was a formidable figure who could end her existence with a mere thought.

nShe broke invisibility and tried to quickly shift positions.

nSeizing the opportunity, Moran thrust out his right hand, breathing hot and heavy, and spoke an ancient Hermes incantation: “Imprison!”

nViscous amber liquid surged forth, enveloping Franca and freezing the demoness in place within a colossal transparent prison.

nCrack!

nFranca’s form shattered, transforming into a palm-sized makeup mirror.

nThis allowed her to escape the Disciplinary Paladin’s Imprison.

nSuddenly, powerful danger premonition gripped Moran. Straining his enhanced physique, he broke free of the intangible spider silk ensnaring him and dove to the side.

nJenna’s ice spike wreathed in unholy black flames narrowly missed its mark as she struck with all her might from the diagonal flank.

nMoran’s eyes flicked to the Witch in her dark dress and bonnet. He couldn’t help but think she was quite appealing too.

nWhy not have both?

nDropping to one knee, Moran reached out towards Jenna and bellowed another Hermes invocation: “Confinement!”

nWordlessly, an immaterial wall materialized around Jenna, impenetrable even to her Spirit Body.

nRather than adhering directly to her, it generated a transparent cell with her at its center, thwarting any attempt at Mirror Substitution.

nTaking note of this, Jenna opted not to strike the unseen barrier. Instead, she enveloped herself in a layer of frost.

nBeyond the frost was another layer of frost—a delicate vacuum formed, transforming Jenna into a frozen statue.

n“Confinement!”

nMoran Avigny didn’t immediately press his advantage against Jenna. His bloodshot eyes fixed on Franca as he confined the space surrounding the Demoness of Pleasure.

nFranca remained unresponsive as black flames surged forth from her form.

nOutside the black blaze, strata of frost coalesced, fashioning a translucent, sturdy sarcophagus.

nTransparent spider silk wound around her, cocooning the frost in spirals.

nWh— Moran Avigny, though perplexed by the Demoness of Pleasure’s peculiar behavior, took satisfaction in the success of his Confinement, circumventing the effects of Mirror Substitution.

nHis movements somewhat warped, he lunged at Franca. His mind raced with the powers he would unleash next and the consequences of bringing her under his control.

nHe had almost forgotten the presence of the Spectator, but Anthony had slipped into a blind spot.

nNo matter, I’ll subdue the two Demonesses first! The instant this notion crossed Moran Avigny’s mind, a faintly piercing melody abruptly resounded in his ears.

nLumian stepped out from the corner shadows, the black Symphony of Hatred bone flute at his lips.

nProhibition of Invisibility hadn’t compelled him to reveal himself, as he wasn’t invisible to begin with. He had merely shape-shifted into a shadow being, blending with the shadows!

nLumian studied Moran Avigny’s face, twisted by desire. Approaching with a grin, he played the melody with intensified vigor.

nGiven Moran Avigny’s state, he was certain the Symphony of Hatred’s exploitation of vulnerabilities would undeniably inflame the other’s cravings. Employing his Fate Appropriator’s abilities in tandem was unnecessary.

nAmid the lively, cutting music, Moran Avigny’s body abruptly went rigid.

nWith a cracking noise, he invoked Mirror Substitution to endure the nearly lethal assault on his behalf.

nMoran Avigny’s silhouette manifested behind Lumian, but Lumian’s performance persisted, and the nigh-explosive lust gripping Moran Avigny remained unabated.

nCrack! Crack! Crack!

nMoran Avigny’s form repeatedly fractured like a mirror, rematerializing in the ever-quickening melody. He couldn’t flee the vicinity, nor could he spare a moment to obstruct his hearing.

nThe captivating strains of the Symphony of Hatred permeated every nook of the space behind the mirror.

nAnthony crouched in a corner, employing a prop he had readied beforehand to shield his ears. He was set to bank on the mirror to induce a trance and plunge into deep sleep, thus evading Lumian’s lethal melody that spared neither friend nor foe.

nDespite his preparations, grayish-white dragon scales involuntarily surfaced on his skin.

nCrack! Crack! Moran Avigny’s Mirror Substitution had at last been exhausted.

nHis mind reeled, and he experienced overwhelming pleasure, a surge of euphoria.

nHis frame shuddered with pain and rapture.

nBlood seeped from his nostrils, eyes, ears, and mouth. His saliva, mucus, and tears streamed all at once, as though he teetered on the brink of collapse.

nLumian appeared behind him, lowered the Symphony of Hatred, and snorted.

nTwin beams of white light struck Moran Avigny, plunging the Disciplinary Paladin into unconsciousness.

nLumian afforded Moran Avigny no opportunity to harness his unique powers to rouse himself. He produced a ritualistic dog skin from his Traveler’s Bag and draped it over the gradually crumpling foe’s head.

n“Dog!” Lumian declared in Hermes.

nWith a shadowy flash, Moran Avigny vanished, supplanted by an enormous dog with tawny fur.

nAmid the intangible thud of the dog collapsing to the ground, it lay insensible on its flank.

nLumian smiled, stooped down, and scooped up the dog.

nWitnessing this, Anthony dislodged the gag that had wholly covered his ears, and Jenna shed the dual layers of frost encasing her.

nFranca lagged slightly. After a handful of seconds, the cocoon ruptured, and the ice coffin noiselessly dissipated, prompting the black flames to disperse.

nShe regarded Lumian and Jenna with astonishment and delight, stating, “My Pleasure potion underwent substantial digestion!”

nNo sooner had she concluded her statement than she pinched her nose and surveyed the spot where Moran Avigny had stood and the massive dog cradled in Lumian’s arms.

n“I know what’s going on… He must have just savored genuine pleasure—utmost pleasure. Moreover, this ‘pleasure’ stemmed from me.”

nLumian deliberated momentarily before replying, “He even staked his life to remain in pursuit of the pleasure you bestowed upon him, weathering the same excruciating agony. Ultimately, he attained the pleasure he coveted, albeit not in the manner he desired. He paid the steepest price for it.”

n“He’s also a Beyonder on par with Sequence 5,” Franca remarked with a wistful smile. “Regrettably, I wasn’t the one wielding the Symphony of Hatred; otherwise, my Pleasure potion might have been fully digested. Pleasure begets pain, and pleasure lures people into depravity. Pleasure is akin to a candle flame to a moth…”

nAt this juncture, she lowered her voice and mumbled in an unfamiliar tongue, “Lust is a dangerous game…”

nFranca harbored no excessive regrets. Among them, only Lumian could shoulder the adverse cost of the Symphony of Hatred.

nAnthony scanned the environs and serenely prompted Franca, “Since we’ve succeeded, let’s leave quickly.”

nJenna had already drawn near to Lumian, who had likewise stowed away the Symphony of Hatred.

n“Okay.” Franca nodded and took several paces to Lumian’s side, grasping his upper arm.

nConcurrently, black flames ignited behind the mirror.

nWithin seconds, the quartet emerged from the fixed portal to the mirror world in the quarry cave. Franca finalized the anti-

ndivination and anti-prophecy measures.

nSubsequently, they teleported back to the secured residence in the administrative district.

nFranca sighed. “Beatrice’s Necklace can no longer trigger Lust…”

nBeatrice’s Necklace could only trigger such desires twice. The inaugural target of Lust was Gardner Martin.

nFor Demoness Franca, this signified the loss of a potent auxiliary means.

nJenna nodded slightly. “How unfortunate. It appears the Demoness of Pleasure and the Sex Addict of the Mother Tree of Desire pathway can forge an ideal and efficacious partnership.”

n“Indeed. Unfortunately, I cannot obtain the Mother Tree of Desire’s boon. Otherwise…” Franca abruptly fell silent, and an identical phrase flitted through the minds of Lumian and the others: Sex Addict Demoness!

nClearing her throat twice, Franca said, “I can only hope that the bestowed of the Mother Tree of Desire will bestow comparable props.”

nShe turned to the enfeebled dog, who had yet to stir, and contemplated briefly before proposing, “Administer truth serum to him first, then have Anthony befriend him as a two-

npronged approach? Yes, employ the Magic Mirror Spirit Channeling Spell as a precautionary step…”

nLumian nodded, recollecting the “criticism” the Demoness of Black had leveled at Franca. Quelling his avarice, he said, “No need to rush. I’ll question him after visiting Mr. K. Mr. K must have his motives for abruptly targeting Moran Avigny for assassination. Only by consulting him can we extract more pertinent intelligence later.”

nFranca and the others nodded in concurrence. “Agreed.”

n…

n19 Rue Scheer, Psychic Magazine headquarters.

nLumian alighted from the carriage, attired in a light-blue cotton shirt following a change of clothing, and entered the six-story white luxurious residence.

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