"By the way, are you two boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Perhaps realizing that Belle had run out of topics to discuss, Hoshino Ai changed the subject and took the initiative to ask, her star-like purple-pink gradient eyes sparkling with genuine curiosity.
Upon hearing this question, Belle subconsciously glanced at Victor, her cheeks flushing crimson. Just as she was about to deny the assumption, Victor smoothly wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
"Yes, we are boyfriend and girlfriend!"
If a woman had feelings for him, why should he deny it?
Although Belle felt her heart flutter with happiness at Victor's bold declaration, she still pretended to be dissatisfied with his presumption.
Her hand quietly crept toward Victor's waist, fingers poised for retaliation.
"You two have such a wonderful relationship."
Observing the loving interaction between the pair, Hoshino Ai couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Their natural intimacy radiated the kind of genuine affection she could only dream of experiencing.
Victor smiled warmly. "Thank you. People often tell us that we, hiss!"
His expression instantly shifted from contentment to barely concealed pain as he felt a sharp pinch at his side.
"Are you alright?"
Hoshino Ai looked at Victor with concern, noticing his sudden change in demeanor.
"Ahem, I'm perfectly fine."
Victor calmly caught Belle's mischievous hand in his own, preventing any further attacks on his ribs.
"I'm glad you're okay. Oh, by the way, here's your prize."
Hoshino Ai hadn't noticed their playful exchange. She reached for a beautifully wrapped gift bag resting beside her chair.
"Thank you for your continued support. I hope we can meet again in the future."
These words were originally part of her standard farewell to fans, polite phrases she delivered after every meet-and-greet session. But this time, Hoshino Ai spoke with genuine sincerity. She truly hoped their paths would cross again.
After all, who wouldn't appreciate such attractive, well-mannered fans?
"Thank you for the gift. We don't want to take up any more of your valuable time."
"Goodbye, Miss Hoshino Ai!"
Victor and Belle stood, their hands naturally intertwining as they walked toward the dressing room exit.
After leaving the backstage area, they discovered that the crowd of fans outside hadn't diminished in the slightest. If anything, the throng seemed even denser than before.
Victor and Belle had no choice but to take an alternate route home to avoid the masses.
Belle seemed unusually excited throughout their journey back.
Observing her bright expression, Victor couldn't help but tease, "It's just a gift from a singer. Is there really any need to be this happy? You're not even her fan."
"Idiot! Do you think I'm excited because of some celebrity merchandise?"
Belle's hand shot out toward Victor's waist again, but this time he was ready for her attack and easily caught her wrist.
"Oh! I understand now. You're happy because I told everyone that you're my girlfriend!" Victor's face lit up with mock realization.
"Absolutely not!"
Unable to launch her sneak attack, Belle switched to a direct assault, lightly pummeling Victor's chest with her small fists.
But her vehement denial rang hollow when paired with her obviously reddened ears.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a tremendous explosion echoed from behind them, the sound reverberating through the streets like thunder.
Both turned instinctively toward the noise and saw a thick column of black smoke rising ominously in the distance.
"Oh no! That's coming from the direction of the concert venue!" Belle's face went pale as she recognized the location.
"Let's go investigate."
Victor grasped Belle's hand firmly and rushed back toward the concert site, their previous leisurely pace forgotten.
The scene that greeted them made Belle's face turn ashen with horror.
The once-magnificent stage had been reduced to twisted metal and scattered debris. Countless severed limbs and broken bodies littered the ground like grotesque confetti, while the acrid smell of burning flesh hung heavy in the air. It resembled nothing less than a vision of hell on earth.
"I'm going to be sick!"
Belle finally couldn't contain her revulsion and doubled over, retching violently.
Though she was already a cultivator with enhanced physical capabilities, she had never witnessed such a horrifically bloody massacre. Her reaction was entirely natural.
Victor gently touched Belle's forehead and guided her to recite the Heart Purification Mantra, a technique that gradually restored some color to her pale complexion and calmed her churning stomach.
"What could have possibly happened here? Was this some kind of terrorist attack?"
The devastation before them clearly resulted from an explosion, and Belle's first instinct was to suspect human terrorists.
"No, this is far more complicated than simple terrorism."
Victor's gaze lifted to scan the rooftop of a tall building roughly a hundred meters away across the street.
There stood a figure clad in crimson robes, gripping a skull-topped staff that radiated malevolent energy.
[Hell Priest, a seventh-level high-tier monster from another dimension. Weakness: All attacks imbued with holy light attributes.]
Without Victor needing to inquire, the system automatically projected the creature's information directly into his consciousness.
"What is that thing?" Belle had also spotted the ominous figure.
"Just another monster that needs to be eliminated."
Victor raised his hand, and a long sword materialized from condensed spiritual power, its blade gleaming with deadly intent.
Just as he prepared to send the Hell Priest to its rightful destruction, the robed figure raised its skull staff high and began chanting incomprehensible incantations in an otherworldly language.
"#@$%&..."
Belle frowned in confusion. "What exactly is it doing?"
Victor was equally curious about the creature's intentions, so he temporarily abandoned his attack plan to observe what would unfold.
Unexpectedly, an urgent feminine voice suddenly called out from behind them.
"Stop that thing immediately! It's summoning a demon from the depths of hell!"
Both Victor and Belle were startled by the interruption and turned to see the speaker.
A red-haired woman dressed in professional business attire approached them with obvious desperation etched across her features.
"Who are you supposed to be?"
Victor studied the woman with growing suspicion.
Based on her urgent warning, she clearly understood what was about to transpire and seemed convinced that he possessed the ability to prevent it. But Victor was certain he had never encountered this woman before. How could she possibly know about his capabilities?
The mystery intrigued him considerably.
"You fool! This isn't the time for introductions! Stop that creature before it completes the summoning ritual!" The woman stamped her feet in mounting anxiety.
However, the more frantic the woman became, the more contrary Victor felt inclined to be.
"No. I want to see exactly what kind of hell demon this thing can actually summon."
The red-haired woman stared at him in disbelief. Why was this incredibly powerful individual acting like a petulant child?
BZZZZT!
While they argued, the Hell Priest finally completed its complex incantation.
Instantly, a bizarre crimson beam erupted from the skull staff, shooting straight into the heavens and dispersing the clouds above with its malevolent energy.
Simultaneously, an enormous red magic circle materialized beneath Victor and the others, its arcane symbols pulsing with otherworldly power.
GLUG... GLUG... GLUG...
The blood scattered throughout the devastated concert venue began flowing inexorably toward the center of the magical formation, gradually condensing into a massive spherical mass that resembled a gigantic crimson egg.
Witnessing this development, the red-haired woman's face drained of all color. "Damn it all! We're too late!"
CRACK!
As soon as she spoke, the blood sphere ruptured with a wet tearing sound.
Viscous crimson liquid splattered in all directions, but an invisible barrier effortlessly deflected any droplets that flew toward Victor and his companions.
The hell demon the red-haired woman had warned about finally manifested before them in all its terrifying glory.
The creature stood nearly six meters tall, with a pair of curved horns sprouting from its skull. Its body was completely devoid of skin, exposing raw muscle tissue and pulsing veins in a nauseating display of anatomical horror.
"ROOOOOAAAAAR!"
The hell demon threw back its head and released a deafening roar toward the sky, as if announcing its arrival to the mortal realm.
"Why are you yelling so loudly?"
Victor raised his spiritual sword with casual indifference and executed a single, perfectly controlled slash. The blade's energy manifested as a brilliant arc of light that instantly bisected the hell demon from head to groin.
The arrogant creature that had been bellowing moments before was now nothing more than two neatly separated halves collapsing to the ground.
"That's all a hell demon amounts to? How pathetically weak."
The red-haired woman's eyes widened in complete shock, her mouth hanging open in disbelief.
Was this truly the same fearsome hell demon she knew from her own experience? How could it be defeated so effortlessly?
Wait, this wasn't about the demon being weak. This man was simply overwhelmingly powerful!
The physical body of a hell demon was tough enough to deflect strikes from blessed holy swords and could even resist high-level magical attacks. Yet this individual had sliced through it like cutting paper with a simple sword stroke.
Meanwhile, atop the distant building, the Hell Priest watched in abject terror as its carefully summoned demon was obliterated in a single instant.
The creature that it had expended tremendous energy to call forth from the infernal realms... destroyed without even putting up a fight?
What kind of monster was this human?!
Run! Must escape immediately!
That person's power far exceeded anything the Hell Priest could possibly handle!