On a street in West Tivian, inside an ordinary private carriage, Dorothy, dressed in a small suit and vest, sits on the carriage seat, gently stroking the ruby at the top of the cane in her hand. Just moments ago, the ruby had dimmed and gradually extinguished.
This is the Heart-Devouring Cane Sword, originally a precious mystical item belonging to the Afterbirth Cult. For some reason, it ended up in the hands of Luer, a Black Earth-rank Beastman from the Crimson Eucharist, a heretical group in Igwynt. Dorothy had obtained this item after defeating Luer.
The Heart-Devouring Cane Sword can directly extract Chalice from individuals without resistance, storing up to seven points. When fully charged, it can activate a passive skill once per day. If the wielder suffers a fatal injury that doesn’t involve losing a large portion of their body, they can consume all the stored Chalice to heal the fatal wound and avoid death.
Before Adèle set out to pursue Alex, Dorothy, as a precaution, had Ed draw a marionette mark on a certain part of Adèle’s body. Adèle agreed, and Dorothy had Ed use his pen to inscribe the mark.
Just moments ago, when Alex used Darlene to provoke Adèle and manipulated her killing desire to make her commit suicide, Dorothy immediately activated the marionette mark linked to Adèle. She transferred the mystical state of the Heart-Devouring Cane Sword to Adèle, allowing her to remotely access the cane’s passive ability, healing her fatal wound and bringing her back to life.
“I never expected that Adèle’s teacher had been turned into a mystical item... and in such a cruel manner. What a bunch of beasts.”
Sitting in the carriage, Dorothy thinks to herself. Although she had previously wondered about the current state of Adèle’s teacher, she never imagined it would be so tragic.
"But now, that werewolf has played all his cards, right? So go ahead and take your revenge, Adèle."
Murmuring, Dorothy continues to observe the distant battlefield, where the outcome is now all but certain.
…West Tivian, outskirts, a small grove.
"Ahhh!!"
In the small grove on the outskirts of West Tivian, a black werewolf with one arm completely torn off collapses to the ground. Its massive, heavy body kicks up a cloud of dust, and its agonized howl echoes into the distance.
Gasping for breath, Alex, now with only one clawed hand, struggles to stand up. His bloodshot eyes fixate on the distant figure of Adèle, who stands covered in blood, cold and beautiful. His gaze is filled with fear and confusion.
"Cough... Why... Why aren’t you dead... What do you have on you...?!"
Coughing up blood, Alex asks in terror. Clearly, Adèle had survived due to some mystical item or sigil, and Alex is not entirely unfamiliar with such effects.
"Cough... Cough... That effect... It’s Fatal First Aid... How could you possibly have something like that... How...?"
Alex stares intently at Adèle, his eyes filled with disbelief. Adèle, however, pays him no mind. Instead, she silently gazes at the Brain Jar Scepter in her hand. She gently strokes the glass at the top of the scepter, her lips moving as if whispering to the brain inside.
"Teacher... Are you speaking to me?"
Perhaps due to the resonance between Desire Dancers, Adèle, holding the scepter made from Darlene, can feel the emotions emanating from it. These emotions flood her heart, so vivid and intense that they almost form words.
Overwhelming emotions surge into Adèle’s mind. Holding the scepter, she can now truly feel the pain and hatred of her teacher. Combined with her own emotions, Adèle’s feelings are burning more intensely than ever before.
As she grips the scepter, Adèle feels as though she can hear her teacher’s agonized screams, as though she can feel the pain of being torn apart and devoured, as though she can see the phantom images of countless beasts reveling around her... At this moment, Darlene and Adèle’s wills have almost merged into one... They share the same feelings, and Adèle, swept up in this torrent of emotions, feels slightly dazed. Yet, one thought remains crystal clear: a cold, sharp hatred and desire to kill.
“Kill him... Kill him... Kill him... Kill him... Kill him... Kill them all... Kill!”
At this moment, Adèle and Darlene’s emotions converge into one. All their emotions are directed at the massive, roaring werewolf struggling to stand in the distance.
In silence, Adèle points the scepter at Alex and begins to dance. Together with her teacher’s intertwined spirit, she activates her ability. The powers of two Desire Dancers now combine, targeting Alex.
Suddenly, Alex feels something is wrong. His eyes widen, and his mouth opens uncontrollably, saliva dripping from his fangs onto the ground. A familiar sensation rises in his heart—hunger.
"Ugh... Ah... Hungry... So hungry..."
Gasping, Alex falls to his knees, his remaining hand clutching his stomach. An unprecedented hunger overwhelms him, growing stronger and stronger until it consumes his entire mind.
The werewolf’s mouth hangs open, saliva forming sticky strands as it drips to the ground. His stomach growls loudly, and the overwhelming hunger dominates his emotions. All he can think about is finding something to eat to satisfy this bottomless hunger. His eyes dart around, searching for something to devour, but strangely, no matter what he looks at—including Adèle—he feels no desire to eat.
"Hungry... So hungry... Hiss... Hiss... What’s that delicious smell... I smell something delicious!"
The starving werewolf grows increasingly frantic. He scratches at his ears and face, sniffing wildly in all directions, searching for food. He feels as though something delicious is nearby, but he can’t find it, driving him into a frenzy.
Finally, when Alex smells his own thigh, he pauses for a moment, then breaks into a joyous grin.
"Found it! Delicious meal!"
With a cry of delight, the black werewolf opens his massive jaws and bites down hard on his own thigh. Blood spurts out instantly, and the intense pain shocks his nerves, but Alex doesn’t care. What overwhelms him is the incredible flavor on his tongue—he has never tasted anything so delicious in his life.
Now, Alex has completely lost his mind. He opens his mouth wide and begins to devour his own body. The flesh on his thigh is quickly stripped to the bone. After finishing one leg, he moves on to the other. Once both legs are gone, he uses his claws to tear open his abdomen, pulling out his internal organs and stuffing them into his mouth.
This gruesome feast of self-cannibalism continues for a long time. Even the powerful vitality of a White-rank Chalice Beyonder cannot sustain him forever. Eventually, the mangled werewolf collapses, his stomach grotesquely distended. After consuming about 30% of his own body, he breathes his last, ending his final meal.
Seeing this scene, Adèle, her expression still cold, finally stops dancing. Holding the scepter, she gazes at Alex’s mutilated body, feeling a sense of relief as her hatred is partially avenged.
After taking a deep breath, she looks at the scepter containing her teacher’s brain. She cradles it in both hands, her face filled with anxiety and sorrow, and murmurs.
"Teacher... That bastard is dead. He was the first, but there will be more... Please don’t worry, I’ll find a way to restore you to your original form."
Adèle comforts the brain in the scepter, and Darlene responds through their strange connection. This time, the response is not filled with killing intent and rage but with peace, acceptance, and weakness.
In a pleading tone, Darlene conveys her wish to Adèle, who is momentarily stunned before responding in surprise.
"Liberation? No... Don’t give up, Teacher! The mysticism world is vast, and there are so many extraordinary methods out there. There must be something that can save you, that can restore you... I’ll do everything I can to help you. Please don’t give up!"
Clutching the scepter tightly, Adèle speaks urgently. She doesn’t want her efforts to save her teacher to end like this. After Adèle finishes speaking, Darlene pauses for a moment before responding again. This time, her emotions are gentle and comforting, like when she used to teach Adèle.
Hearing Darlene’s new response, Adèle stands frozen, tears streaming down her cheeks. After a long silence, she finally speaks.
"Redemption...? Alright... I understand... Teacher... I’ll listen to you..."
Adèle says with difficulty. After Darlene’s final response, Adèle wipes her tears and nods solemnly.
"Thank you... Teacher... Goodbye..."
With that, Adèle reaches for the iron rings encircling the scepter, each engraved with mystical symbols.
…
Sunset, moonrise, day fades into night.
In the evening, as the city lights begin to glow, inside a private room at a bar in East Tivian, Adèle, dressed in a plain black dress, sits at her seat. Her hat and sunglasses rest on the table beside her. She gazes out the window at the bustling crowd, her expression calm but lost in thought. Across from her sits Ed, the ever-unchanging detective, watching her face.
"So... your teacher begged you to set her free? She wanted to die?"
With a solemn expression, Ed speaks softly to the somewhat dazed Adèle. Hearing his words, Adèle nods lightly, not turning her head as she responds.
"Yes... After falling into the hands of the Wolf Blood Society, the torment she endured was worse than death. After being turned into... that... by the Butcher Surgeon, the suffering we can’t even begin to understand has left her spirit shattered and fragile. She longed for release every moment. I told her I would find a way to restore her, but she said she couldn’t hold on any longer."
Gazing out the window, Adèle murmurs her response. Hearing her words, Ed frowns.
"Couldn’t hold on?"
"Being devoured alive, reduced to just a brain and nerves, trapped in a jar, used as a tool, constantly exploited by those beasts... We can’t imagine what that feels like, what kind of torment that is... Simply put, Teacher’s spirit and soul were on the verge of collapse. If she waited any longer, she would have gone completely mad. It was better to let her find peace now."
Turning her head, Adèle looks at Ed and speaks slowly. Dorothy, controlling Ed, continues the conversation.
"So... you set her free?"
"In a way, yes. I destroyed the control device on that damned scepter, and then Teacher’s power was released. She used her own power to end her life. After she passed, I felt her soul being released. Her soul was so fragmented and fragile... Perhaps, as she said, she wouldn’t have lasted long enough for me to find a way to restore her. Maybe this was the best choice."
As she speaks, Adèle pours herself a glass of red wine, downs it in one go, and continues with a distant look in her eyes.
"Heh... I never expected that after all this effort, thinking I could save Teacher, it would end like this..."
"No, you did save her. If it weren’t for you, your teacher would still be suffering, a tool of the Wolf Blood Society. You don’t need to blame yourself for this."
Ed comforts Adèle, who chuckles softly.
"Thank you for the kind words, Detective. But don’t worry... I’m not wallowing in self-pity. It’s just that some unrealistic expectations have been dashed. Being able to give Teacher peace makes this whole journey worth it.”
"Anyway, this operation wouldn’t have been possible without you, Detective. If it weren’t for you, not only might I have never found Teacher, but I might have gotten myself killed too. The fact that I’m standing here now is all thanks to you. I never expected that little mark could save my life... I’m so glad I hired you, Detective. And of course, your payment won’t be short. I’ll give you all of my teacher’s research materials."
Adèle speaks to Ed, who looks slightly surprised and asks.
"Your teacher is gone now, isn’t she?"
"Yes, but before she left, she left me something. Some of her spirituality and fragments of her memories. From her memories, I discovered that her research materials weren’t taken by the Wolf Blood Society but were hidden in a safe place. I’ll retrieve those materials later and send them to you through the White Craftsmen’s Guild. You can just wait for them to arrive.”
"Of course, I don’t think those materials are enough to repay what you did for me today. No matter what, I owe you a favor, Detective. If you ever need help in the future, feel free to ask me."
Adèle explains, and Dorothy, listening from afar, nods in approval, wondering if this was some secret technique of Darlene’s or a unique phenomenon between Desire Dancers.
"Then, I’ll leave it to you, Miss Adèle."
"Heh, just call me Adèle. No need to be so formal, Detective."
Adèle says with a smile, then picks up the wine bottle and pours red wine into two glasses. As she pours, she murmurs.
"To be honest, I don’t really like calling you ’Detective’ all the time. It’s just that, unfortunately, I still don’t know your real name or what you really look like... I hope one day I can see your true self..."
Looking at Ed, Adèle hands him a glass of wine. Ed hesitates for a moment before speaking.
"Perhaps... my true appearance might surprise you..."
"Heh, I’ve been in the mysticism world for a while now. I’ve seen all sorts of strange things. As long as your true form isn’t some incomprehensible divine being, I don’t think I’ll be too surprised."
Adèle says with a laugh, then picks up her own glass.
"I won’t force you to meet me or anything, but tonight, I hope you’ll have a drink with me. Even if you’re just a puppet, the wine here is safe to drink..."
With that, Adèle raises her glass and downs the wine. Dorothy, watching through Ed, has him pick up his glass as well.