"Kill them!"
The command tore from Laura's throat with desperate finality.
The armed fighters from Junlane Sanctuary finally couldn't hold back their collective fury and surged forward in a coordinated assault wave, weapons raised and ready.
But just as Natasha and the other Star God representatives prepared to counterattack with their Devil Fruit abilities—
Buzz!
A faint purple glow suddenly spread through the air like rippling water, distorting everything it touched.
In the next instant, the charging Junlane fighters slowed down dramatically—unnaturally, impossibly.
So slow that some of their boots froze completely mid-step, suspended in the air as if time itself had been physically throttled by an invisible hand.
Their expressions of fury and determination stretched into grotesque slow-motion masks.
"What the hell—?!"
"Wait... this is some kind of ability effect?!"
Laura's pupils shrank to pinpoints as she frantically scanned her surroundings, trying to identify the source of this devastating technique.
But before she could formulate any tactical response—
Slash! Slash! Slash!
The front line—Junlane Sanctuary's most elite combat unit, their best fighters—was instantly cut down by coordinated attacks from multiple directions.
Bodies collapsed heavily before their owners even understood what had killed them. Blood sprayed across cracked pavement.
Laura didn't even have time to process the horrifying scene of her best people dying before her gaze instinctively locked onto something else entirely.
Someone was standing calmly ahead of the Star God formation.
A man who hadn't been there moments before.
And in his arms, held almost casually—
Her daughter Mia.
The man appeared to be in his mid-twenties at most, standing well over six feet tall with an athletic build. His face was absurdly, almost offensively handsome—the kind of appearance that would have made him stand out even in peaceful times, let alone amid apocalyptic chaos.
His eyes radiated calm confidence and openly possessive satisfaction as he surveyed the battlefield.
Elric looked directly at Laura with undisguised interest.
And simultaneously, system panels unfolded invisibly in his vision, displaying information only he could see.
Ding—Eligible adoption target detected
Name: Laura Lane
Age: 41
Appearance: 94
Figure: 94
Quality: 99 (Mature)
Overall Rating: 94
Monthly Exchange Reward: 42
System Evaluation: Meets all conditions. Successfully adopting target will significantly promote Devil Fruit Tree growth. High-value mature target detected.
"94 points..." Elric murmured appreciatively, clicking his tongue lightly.
At forty-one years old, she still scored this impressively high. Remarkable genetic quality and maintenance.
If this woman were ten or fifteen years younger—say, in her mid-twenties at peak physical condition—she would easily rival Elizabeth's near-perfect scores.
It seemed her daughter Mia hadn't fully inherited those superior genes. A shame, but Mia was still acceptable quality.
"Mom!"
In Elric's arms, Mia suddenly struggled violently against the parasitic threads controlling her body and cried out desperately.
Laura's breath hitched audibly in her throat.
She examined her daughter quickly—no visible serious injuries, no obvious signs of torture or abuse—only physical restraint and emotional distress.
Relief and fury crashed together violently in her chest, creating an almost physical pain.
Her gaze returned to Elric, and she forced herself to speak with composure despite her racing heart.
"You're Elric, aren't you?"
It wasn't really a question—his identity was obvious from context.
"I think we can talk rationally about this situation like civilized leaders."
She kept her voice steady through sheer willpower.
"I genuinely don't want to become permanent enemies with you... or with Star God Sanctuary. That benefits neither of us."
Laura paused deliberately, choosing her next words with careful calculation.
"You can name your price for my daughter's release. Whatever you want."
"Ability fruits. Physical enhancement fruits. Medical supplies. Food stockpiles. Weapons. Territory and safe zones."
"Junlane Sanctuary can provide virtually anything within reason—just let my daughter go unharmed."
Her tone remained restrained and diplomatic, but the underlying pressure and desperation were unmistakable to anyone listening carefully.
She could feel it instinctively, viscerally.
The young man standing in front of her was dangerous in ways that transcended normal combat strength.
Unless absolutely unavoidable, she desperately did not want to clash with him directly in combat.
Elric's lips curved into a faint, predatory smile.
"Let your daughter go?"
He pretended to consider the request seriously.
"Sure. I can do that."
Laura's eyes brightened with sudden hope for a split second—
Until his next words landed like hammer blows.
"I don't particularly need your supplies or resources. I have more than enough already."
Elric stepped forward slightly, closing the distance.
"I only need one specific thing from Junlane Sanctuary."
His smile widened.
"You."
"You'll become my woman. Voluntarily and completely."
Absolute silence followed his declaration.
Laura froze as if physically struck.
Mia's struggles stopped entirely, her face going pale.
Both mother and daughter stared at Elric in complete disbelief, unable to process what they'd just heard.
They had expected harsh demands—unreasonable compensation, permanent subjugation, territory concessions.
But this? This casual, brazen proposition?
"You kidnapped my daughter specifically to lure me here," Laura said slowly, her voice tight with barely controlled emotion, "and now you make a demand like that?"
Her eyes hardened into chips of ice.
"You're young enough to be my son biologically. We're from completely different generations."
"Don't you find that inappropriate?"
Elric didn't look even slightly offended by the objection.
He only smiled wider, genuinely amused.
"That doesn't matter to me in the slightest."
"What matters is that I want you. I find you attractive and valuable."
His tone shifted darker.
"And whether Junlane Sanctuary continues to exist as an organization..."
"...depends entirely on your answer right now."
"I'll trade three full truckloads of supplies for my daughter's immediate release," Laura tried desperately to redirect the negotiation. "Medical equipment, food, weapons—that should be more than generous compensation—"
But suddenly—
Her body completely froze mid-sentence.
Her own hand rose against her will and clamped firmly over her mouth, cutting off all sound.
No words could escape. No screams.
Her pupils shrank in absolute horror as she realized she'd lost all voluntary control.
In the next instant, Elric appeared directly in front of her through teleportation, still casually holding Mia in one arm.
"Laura," he said with perfect calm, that faint smile never leaving his face.
"I do enjoy joking around sometimes."
"But understand this clearly—everything I say is completely serious."
His gaze darkened with unmistakable possessiveness.
"Actually, I've changed my mind about the terms."
"Even if you agree to become my woman now—you still won't get your daughter back as a trade."
His next words were delivered with casual cruelty.
"I've decided I want both of you. Mother and daughter together."
"You'll both stay in Star God Sanctuary permanently. Under my protection and control."
Elric stared directly into her wide, terrified eyes.
"How about it?"
He didn't release the parasitic threads controlling her body.
Instead, they deliberately tightened further—a demonstration of absolute power.
Laura felt her own fingers clamp harder over her mouth against all conscious effort. Her chest physically constricted, making each breath a struggle. Her vision began to blur at the edges from oxygen deprivation.
Tears welled involuntarily in her eyes as she looked up at the smiling young man in front of her—so handsome, so confident, so utterly merciless.
Only now—far, far too late—did she truly understand how absurdly naive and foolish her earlier thoughts had been.
Resistance through armed force?
Diplomatic negotiation as equals?
Mutual destruction deterrence?
All of it was laughable fantasy. Children's games.
In front of this genuine monster wearing human skin, Junlane Sanctuary could be completely erased from existence at his whim. Her entire organization, all her carefully built power and influence—meaningless.
Her so-called authority as a founder and director meant absolutely nothing.
Slowly—very, very slowly, as the threads gradually loosened just enough to allow movement—
Laura gave up all resistance.
What choice do I actually have?
In this new era where strength was the only true law, where monsters roamed and civilization had collapsed, life itself was the greatest and rarest currency.
Compared to survival, compared to protecting what little family remained, pride was worthless. Dignity was a luxury no one could afford.
And... she had to admit something with brutal honesty.
This man was powerful enough to protect both her and her daughter far better than she ever could alone. Strong enough to guarantee safety in ways Junlane Sanctuary never could.
And he was handsome—objectively attractive by any standard.
I'm not really losing anything meaningful.
I might even be gaining security, protection, resources...
Laura gathered all her remaining strength and willpower—
And nodded once, clearly and deliberately.
Acceptance. Surrender. Submission.
Elric's smile brightened with genuine satisfaction.
"That's exactly right. Wise decision."
He released the parasitic threads entirely, returning control of her body.
"Natasha, Grace—take them both to the floating island immediately. Prepare them properly."
He handed Laura and Mia over to his women.
"I'm not in any particular hurry to return."
"I think I'll take a leisurely walk around the city first. See what else interesting I can find."
"Yes, husband," Natasha replied with a slight bow, immediately taking charge of the two new acquisitions and beginning to lead them away.
Just then—before the group could fully depart—
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Two figures suddenly streaked across the sky at incredible speed.
They looked remarkably alike—clearly father and son based on facial features and build.
The older man, probably in his fifties, had the weathered bearing and hard eyes of a post-apocalyptic warlord who'd survived through ruthless pragmatism.
The younger one appeared to be in his early twenties, with distinctive white-silver hair, delicate almost feminine features, and a sharp, intensely cold aura radiating from him like winter frost.
Swirling black energy surrounded both of them visibly as they hovered in mid-air—some kind of flight-enabling ability.
"It's Jun Kai... and Uncle Jun Ao!" Mia suddenly cried out instinctively, recognizing them immediately.
Her voice carried complex emotions—relief, fear, residual affection, confusion.
Elric's eyes narrowed with interest as he evaluated the new arrivals.
So that's the famous ex-boyfriend she mentioned...
Jun Ao's voice boomed powerfully across the entire battlefield, amplified somehow to carry with unnatural clarity.
"Release them both immediately!"
His tone brooked no argument or negotiation.
Jun Kai—the younger man with white hair—raised his hand dramatically, eyes blazing with righteous fury and possessive jealousy.
"Snow Blades!"
"Halo Wheel!"
In an instant, his abilities activated with impressive visual flair—
Dozens of razor-sharp icy blades materialized from nothing and spiraled through the air like a supernatural blizzard, each one capable of cutting through steel.
Simultaneously, a massive rotating halo of concentrated black energy formed above and descended with crushing force, distorting the air itself.
The combined attack was powerful—enough to obliterate multiple buildings or kill dozens of normal humans instantly.
Elric didn't even bother to look directly at them or acknowledge the threat.
He simply stood there, utterly calm.
Then—emerald-green dragon scales began spreading rapidly across his exposed skin in geometric patterns.
A moment later—
ROOOOOAAAAR!
A thousand-meter-long Azure Dragon burst explosively into the sky, its massive serpentine body coiling through the clouds with impossible grace.
The sheer size was incomprehensible—larger than any building, larger than mountains, dominating the entire visible sky.
The battlefield literally trembled from the roar alone, a physical shockwave that flattened debris and knocked people off their feet.
Jun Kai's carefully prepared attacks—the supposedly devastating ice blades and energy wheel—
Disintegrated like tissue paper the moment they contacted the dragon's overwhelming aura.
Simply ceased to exist.
Both Jun Ao and Jun Kai froze in mid-air, faces going pale with dawning horror.
The true, catastrophic difference in power was revealed.
And they had just made a fatal mistake.
There is 70 chapter Advance, in my patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
patreon.com/B_A_3439