Shiro immediately understood upon hearing this.
She took a deep breath, and two exquisite daggers suddenly appeared in her hands.
The weapons radiated a light silver sheen, with intricate patterns faintly visible on the blades, exuding an aura of nobility and elegance.
Shiro gracefully leaped forward, her figure resembling a beautiful arc.
Her movements were fluid, like flowing water.
Every step seemed to tread on invisible stairs, incredibly light.
Even in this critical situation.
She maintained an elegant posture, as if performing a carefully choreographed dance.
Shiro's hands tightened around the daggers, her body slightly leaning forward.
Her gaze was sharp as an eagle, fixated on the massive Abyss Dragon.
In an instant, her figure suddenly vanished from where she stood, only to appear beneath the belly of the Abyss Dragon the next moment.
The daggers sliced through the air, creating two silver arcs as they struck accurately at the dragon's weak points.
However, the Abyss Dragon's skin was too tough, and Shiro's attack only left shallow scratches on the surface, vanishing in an instant, clearly unable to breach its defenses.
The Abyss Dragon was evidently enraged by this sudden attack.
It violently swung its tail, sweeping towards Shiro.
Shiro reacted quickly, nimbly leaping back just in time to avoid this lethal strike.
Where the tail swept past, the ground was instantly smashed into a deep ravine.
Shiro did not pause; using the momentum from her leap, she charged once more toward the Abyss Dragon.
This time, she aimed for the dragon's eyes.
Her body spun in the air, the daggers in her hands darting like two shooting stars, aiming directly at the dragon's eyes.
However, just as the daggers were about to reach their target, the Abyss Dragon suddenly opened its massive mouth and spewed out a jet of black flames.
Shiro had no choice but to interrupt her attack and dodge quickly.
Even so, the flames still grazed her sleeve, instantly turning it to ash.
After landing, Shiro quickly adjusted her stance, preparing to launch another attack.
However, she soon realized that her strikes posed no threat to the enormous Abyss Dragon.
No matter how elegant or precise her movements were, they couldn't penetrate the dragon's hard scales.
After weighing her options, Shiro ultimately decided against continuing the assault.
She swiftly returned to Tao Yao's side, her face filled with worry.
"No, Miss Tao Yao, your safety is more important; we should hurry and leave."
Shiro urged, "This disaster beast is at least of despair level; it's troublesome to deal with. I suggest we leave it to them; let them handle the headache while I take you away."
However, contrary to Shiro's expectations, Tao Yao shook her head.
A serious expression appeared on her face that was unlike any before.
"No... Shiro."
Tao Yao said firmly, "This is not only a disaster beast crisis, but also a calamity."
Upon hearing this, Shiro felt a wave of confusion wash over her.
She didn't understand why Tao Yao suddenly said such things.
However, in the next moment, she noticed the changes occurring with Tao Yao and was instantly stunned.
A pink demonic energy was slowly emerging from Tao Yao's body.
This power appeared both beautiful and eerie, as if composed of countless pink petals.
They floated around Tao Yao.
Each petal radiated a soft glow.
Yet, within them lay a heart-pounding power.
What Shiro didn't know was that.
During her brief attack, Tao Yao had already been aware of the changes in her body.
She froze for a moment before quickly inquiring with her system, Xiao Xiao.
Xiao Xiao immediately provided the corresponding response.
"Master, your body is now constituted of demonic energy. Influenced by the rift, the power within you will naturally be activated."
"Furthermore, according to the original story trajectory, this is also your destined calamity. You will eventually lose control."
Upon hearing this explanation, Tao Yao couldn't help but furrow her brow, her tone tinged with frustration:
"So you're saying that sooner or later I am bound to be hunted down? And then become the final boss of the chapter?"
"Rest assured, Master, in the upcoming version, you will merely be on the brink of losing control, already confirmed and explicitly marked as the villain boss."
"Your actual hunting down will be a matter for another version. As long as you accumulate enough popularity during this process, you can naturally modify the trajectory, and everything will be well."
Hearing this, Tao Yao couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
This situation at least indicated that there was still enough room for maneuver.
However.
Shiro was unaware of Tao Yao's specific circumstances.
At this moment, seeing the changes occurring with Tao Yao, she turned pale with fear.
She cried out in terror, "Miss Tao Yao, you must not use demonic energy any longer!"
Demonic energy not only signified extraordinary power but also represented another major crisis in this world besides the disaster beasts, something potentially even more terrifying than these calamities.
Once an ordinary person became tainted by demonic energy, they would gain unexpectedly great power.
But correspondingly, their lives would be on a countdown.
With the passage of time, there would inevitably come a day of losing control and turning into a monster.
This affliction is called "Demonic Tethering Syndrome," an incurable curse.
And Tao Yao had been infected with Demonic Tethering Syndrome.
Even if that wasn't the case.
At least in Shiro's eyes, Tao Yao was in such a situation.
" I don't want to either," Tao Yao replied helplessly. "But this Abyss Dragon has affected me; I can't help but use that power."
Jasmine, who was currently engaged with the Abyss Dragon, also noticed Tao Yao's movements.
She exclaimed in surprise, "Tao Yao? What do you want to do!"
Seeing the bizarre pink demonic energy radiating from Tao Yao, Jasmine's face revealed an expression of disbelief.
At the same time.
The Abyss Dragon seemed to sense this demonic energy's presence.
It suddenly turned its head, its blood-red eyes firmly fixated on Tao Yao.
It let out an earsplitting roar.
The sound wave swept across the entire plaza, causing the surrounding buildings to sway dangerously.
The Abyss Dragon's behavior grew more frenzied.
It flapped its enormous wings, stirring up a storm, and debris and rubble were swept into the air.
Its tail struck the ground wildly, each strike leaving deep gouges in the earth.
It opened its massive maw and exhaled jet after jet of black flames, turning everything in its path to scorched earth.
The entire plaza was thrown into chaos.
The surviving civilians screamed and fled in all directions, while soldiers from the Qingyang Army struggled to maintain order and attempted to block the Abyss Dragon's attacks.
However, faced with such a powerful enemy, their efforts seemed insignificant.
Jasmine and Violet also found themselves in a tough battle.
They continuously unleashed their extraordinary abilities, trying to restrain the Abyss Dragon.
Yet even when they combined their efforts, they could barely protect themselves, unable to inflict any substantial damage on the Abyss Dragon.
In the midst of this chaos, Tao Yao stood quietly in place, the pink demonic energy flowing gently around her.
Shiro stood beside her, nervously observing the situation around them.
Not long after.
Jasmine, Violet, and even Hiyakura, along with the extraordinary beings from Qingyang City, were all severely injured under the Abyss Dragon's onslaught.
The group collapsed on the ground, devoid of strength to fight any further.
At this moment.
The pink demonic energy emanating from Tao Yao grew more intense, like a blossoming cherry blossom, beautiful yet dangerous.
Shiro stood by, her expression complex as she watched this scene, filled with both worry and shock.
Just then, the Abyss Dragon seemed to sense the unusual aura radiating from Tao Yao.
Its blood-red eyes suddenly turned towards her, the fury in its gaze slowly fading, replaced by a peculiar curiosity and gentleness.
The Abyss Dragon slowly approached Tao Yao, its massive body casting a shadow on the ground.
Everyone around held their breath.
Amazingly, an astonishing event occurred.
The Abyss Dragon stopped just a few steps away from Tao Yao.
Then, even more astonishingly, this furious Abyss Dragon gently lowered its head, bowing it to the ground, adopting a clearly submissive posture.
In its eyes was a look of near reverence, as if facing a supreme being.
Seeing this scene, Tao Yao felt an overwhelming sense of frustration rise within her.
"What is happening, why is it kneeling? Now this... is going to be impossible to clean up..."
Tao Yao knew that everyone would think this dragon was related to her.
She roughly guessed the reason—her demonic energy was too thick, even reaching the level of a fairy, so the dragon naturally would bow down.
But no one would believe that explanation.
Sure enough.
When Jasmine, Violet, and the others saw this scene, anger and shock immediately appeared on their faces.
Jasmine's eyes burned with rage.
"Tao Yao!!!"
The other surviving extraordinary beings from Qingyang City also cast hostile glares at her, some even beginning to gather energy in preparation for an attack.
Facing this situation, Tao Yao knew that no amount of explanation would help.
She gently reached out to stroke the head of the Abyss Dragon, then turned to Jasmine and the others, slowly speaking:
"Everyone, today's matter, I will give you all an explanation later, but that will be after; for now, I will help you clean up this mess."
After speaking, she turned her gaze to the worried maid Shiro beside her, saying gently:
"Let's go, Shiro. Come with me to seal the rift; otherwise, more disaster beasts will emerge from it."
Shiro hesitated for a moment.
But she nodded and followed behind Tao Yao.
To everyone's surprise, the Abyss Dragon obediently followed alongside Tao Yao, like a loyal dog.
Tao Yao led Shiro and the Abyss Dragon slowly towards the direction of the rift.
With every step she took, a faint pink light radiated from her.
It was as if pink flowers were blooming beneath her feet.
Jasmine and the others wanted to stop her.
But they were all already severely injured from the previous battle, unable to fight anymore.
They could only watch helplessly as Tao Yao departed, their hearts filled with anger and resentment.
Tao Yao arrived before the rift, raised her hand, and gently waved it.
A powerful wave of pink demonic energy erupted from her body, covering the rift like a barrier.
The rift itself could be destroyed.
As long as enough demonic energy was applied, it could naturally be sealed.
And as demonic energy continuously poured in, it wasn't long before the rift began to shrink slowly.
Throughout the entire process, the Abyss Dragon remained quietly by Tao Yao's side, occasionally nudging her hand with its head, seemingly seeking comfort.
Shiro stood to the side, watching all of this with a complex expression.
"You should go in too."
Before the rift disappeared completely.
Tao Yao softly spoke to the Abyss Dragon.
The latter let out a couple of gentle roars, as if resisting.
"Listen."
With Tao Yao's gentle voice, the Abyss Dragon hesitated for a moment, ultimately turning back into the rift.
When the rift completely vanished.
Tao Yao turned to look at the already devastated Qingyang City and sighed softly.
She knew that from today onward, she would become a terrifying presence in everyone's eyes.
"Shiro, let's go."
Tao Yao softly said, "This place is no longer suitable for us to stay."
Shiro nodded, following behind Tao Yao.
Their figures gradually disappeared into the night.
However, this incident was far from over.
In the days that followed, rumors about Tao Yao began to spread.
And what shocked everyone the most was.
This time, humans detected fluctuations of demonic energy from Tao Yao.
Unimaginably rich.
From the data comparisons, it was evident that it was very close to the evil fairies recorded in human history, which would inevitably bring about large-scale destruction.