"Demon! I'll kill you ten thousand times over!"
Shukodo was so enraged that he forgot even to chant, hurling fireballs wildly in a fit of madness.
Li Xiuman was delighted — this was the best outcome he could have hoped for.A deranged commander-mage was far easier to deal with than one who remained calm and rational.
Now, only two true threats remained on the opposing side — a swordsman and Shukodo himself.The rest — a heavy-armored warrior and a healer — were hardly worth worrying about.
"Captain, calm down!""Damn it! Great Goddess of Light, let your holy radiance guide the lost!"
"First-tier spell: Mind Cooling."
The priest raised his staff and pointed it toward Shukodo.Golden light cascaded from above, washing over him and seeping into his skin.Gradually, the feral contortion of his face eased, and his mind began to steady once more.
"Skeleton, I'll make you pay dearly for this."
"Heavy guard, take the rear! Swordsman, front line! Priest, provide support! Maintain formation and retreat from the dungeon!"
Having regained his composure, Shukodo gave his orders swiftly.Only four of them remained — with merely two main attackers.The tide had turned against them. Their only option was to withdraw and wait for another chance.
Once they reached the surface — noble territory — this skeleton's days would be numbered.
"Captain Shukodo, leaving your comrades' corpses behind already?""If they knew, wouldn't their souls weep in sorrow?"
To be honest, Li Xiuman felt a little shameless himself.But indulging in this wicked amusement was simply too damn satisfying.
"Consider this a parting gift."
Even with his mind cooled by magic, Shukodo wasn't provoked.He commanded his team to retreat in good order, unshaken.
Li Xiuman trailed them leisurely, constantly bombarding them with spells —never giving the Hyena Squad a moment's rest.
The heavy-armored soldier at the rear grew increasingly sluggish, his injuries mounting,while Shukodo's face grew pale and drawn.Even with magical blessings, frustration and hysteria began to take hold.Tension thickened in the air.
Li Xiuman's voice echoed mockingly:"Everyone but Shukodo, surrender and you'll be spared!""Bring me Shukodo's head, and your property and freedom will remain untouched!"
The words wormed into their minds like poison.The squad's morale wavered — weariness and doubt spreading like cracks in stone.Shukodo felt his heart twist in agony.He could sense it — his companions' faith in him was slipping away, inch by inch.
That creature… wasn't human at all.He was a demon that toyed with human hearts.
"Shukodo! Why are you keeping your distance from your comrades?""Are you afraid they'll kill you? Don't you trust them at all?""How pathetic — fearing those who fight by your side every day!""Do you even deserve their trust?"
Li Xiuman's voice shifted, more sinister than before,each word stabbing like an icicle through Shukodo's chest.
"No! It's not like that!""That demon is trying to turn you against me! Even if you kill me, he won't spare you!"
Shukodo shouted desperately.
"Oh, he's panicking now! Did you hear that? He's threatening you not to kill him!""He believes you'll turn on him. How tragic — how human."
Li Xiuman's words slithered through the air like venom.Shukodo shivered from head to toe.
"Shut up!""Shut your damn mouth!""Shut up, you filthy demon!"
His frayed nerves finally snapped.He waved his staff wildly, flinging a barrage of fireballs at Li Xiuman —who, of course, dodged effortlessly.
"Captain, calm yourself!"The priest rushed forward, attempting to cast another cooling spell,but Shukodo, eyes bloodshot, recoiled, glaring suspiciously at his own ally.
The atmosphere froze in an instant.
"See? He's wary of you now," Li Xiuman sneered.
"No, no! Don't listen to him! Don't listen!"Panic overtook Shukodo's heart.For the first time, his comrades felt impossibly distant.
When had this rift begun?
"Tell me," Li Xiuman's voice came again, low and mocking,"which one of your teammates do you think I most want to kill?""Surely, it's Shukodo.""Then why is he dragging you all back with him? Think about it.""Maybe… he's using you as shields."
Li Xiuman's demonic whisper crawled into every ear.No one moved.
"If he were truly selfless, wouldn't he have told you to scatter and run?""In this maze, besides him, who could I even catch?"
"Shut up! Shut up!!"Shukodo's voice trembled.
"Captain, we…""Don't come near me! None of you! Stay back!"He brandished his staff wildly.
"Look at your captain," Li Xiuman's voice dripped with false pity."He's betrayed your trust.""Kill him, and follow me instead! Together, we'll slay that demon!""Escape the dungeon, live in luxury, and bathe in gold!"
"Run," Li Xiuman murmured, his tone serpentine."Run if you wish.""You, the one in heavy armor — always left behind, aren't you tired?""Take off that helmet, switch your armor, and I wouldn't even recognize you.""Why keep being a shield for others? Doesn't it exhaust you?"
Li Xiuman's eyes locked onto the heavy-armored man at the rear,his words twisting like a curse.
The man hesitated — just for a second.
"Fonda Tiemande! Hold the front!" Shukodo shouted.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk… see how quickly your dear captain sacrifices you?""But I hear nothing, nothing at all.""Go on, run. I won't stop you."
The knight gritted his teeth.Finally, he spoke: "Captain, this is where we part ways."Then he turned and ran into a side passage without looking back.
"Fireball!"Shukodo hurled a blazing sphere at his retreating comrade.
The heavy soldier, focused on guarding against Li Xiuman,never imagined his captain would strike him.He turned in disbelief, staring at Shukodo.
"Oh, what a marvelous shot," Li Xiuman mocked."Captain Shukodo's aim is impeccable — such a perfect arc. Ten out of ten."
The priest immediately distanced himself,and the swordsman pivoted warily, now facing both Shukodo and Li Xiuman at once.
"Listen to me! That demon's been playing us from the start!""He'll kill us all — every last one! He's a devil, through and through!"
"Oh? And now you're raising your staff again? Planning to shoot your comrades too?""Two down already — quite the ruthless heart you have."
The moment Shukodo lifted his staff,his remaining teammates recoiled instinctively.
"No, I was aiming for him! Believe me!"Shukodo cried, desperation cracking his voice.He couldn't understand — why couldn't he even lift his staff without suspicion anymore?