A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 712 The Lost Demon and The Dark Witch - IV

"You do care," Nine's sweet laughter contrasted eerily with her hoarse voice, creating a strangely bewitching effect.

"Because you're aware of my sole talent as a mortal. You know where my only value lies."

As she advanced step by step, Nine softly spoke: "Have Miss Seraphina and Miss Ravenna bestowed new expectations upon you? Do they thank you for saving those nine million people, hoping you can save even more?"

Nine tilted her head slightly, pausing momentarily before continuing:

"...No, that's not it. They believe you're benevolent, while you don't consider yourself so."

"Your gaze," she said gently, "Your complex, bewildered, sorrowful gaze as you observe those unfortunate souls reveals the answer to me."

"For me, a single glance suffices."

"But this burden has weighed on you for so long. Perhaps you're only now realizing it, but you shouldn't torment yourself so. Ah... I understand now."

Nine halted once more, placing a hand over her heart and murmuring: "Is it... about saving me?"

"So Miss Seraphina has recognized my cunning. I had thought she would continue to be immersed in the hatred I crafted for her. She has... become a remarkable young woman."

She continued to approach Ansel, whose pupils had slightly contracted as he remained silent. Her hoarse voice maintained a gentleness and warmth entirely at odds with the concept of " obsession."

"Miss Seraphina wishes to save me. She's a good child; she surely hopes you won't view my transformation as your burden."

"And you feel guilty towards her because you're... allowing me to continue like this."

Before she realized it, she had reached Ansel's side.

"Now that you've been understood this way," she smiled shyly, "do you feel any better?"

"...You're far more extraordinary than I imagined," Ansel finally spoke, his gaze fixed on Nine's eyes. He had dispelled his earlier tumultuous emotions, his voice now calm and firm. "Marlina... no, Nine. If you possess such a talent, you should seriously consider what I said earlier."

"Are you now unwilling to abandon me?" Nine asked with a smile.

Ansel narrowed his eyes slightly: "When necessary, I will."

[Because if it's just abandoning someone who, apart from understanding me, can't even maintain their own—]

"Because abandoning someone who can't maintain their own self and can only fathom thoughts is natural for you, isn't it?"

Nine said softly. "How I wish you could maintain this resolve, regardless of what you face, regardless of... whom you face."

"If you remained unchanged like this," her voice grew somewhat sorrowful, "you wouldn't feel lost and tormented."

"Nine..."

Ansel descended from the windowsill, staring into Nine's pitch-black eyes. "Do you view this ability as a license to act recklessly before me?"@@@@

"What is your reason for doing this?"

"Because Mr. Ansel is about to make a grand gamble, and in this gamble, you absolutely won't bring Miss Seraphina and Miss Ravenna," Nine obediently replied.

"So..." Ansel felt like laughing, "So, you want to use this body, this level of power, to contribute to my cause when facing twenty-nine fifth-stage beings, endless Feasting Flames, and the last Flamefeast descendant?"

"It is the version of me that you will imbue with power," Nine corrected.

"Heh... Hahahaha—"

The young Hydral couldn't help but burst into laughter, laughing at the absurdity before him, laughing at the flicker of expectation that had crossed his mind.

For a moment, he had truly overturned his previous assumptions, believing for an instant that Marlina was not only special in talent but that she was more than just an ordinary person.

But in the end... it was still like this. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

Still willing to abandon her own life, her very existence.

"So be it, then."

As his laughter subsided, he sighed softly, gazing down into those shadowed eyes. In his own sea-blue eyes, the hue of the abyss gradually rose.

"Look into my eyes, Marlina."

One last time, let him call her by name.

"In the abyss, seek the power you desire."

Marlina's already shadow-covered black eyes were stained with an even deeper blackness. Her body immediately stiffened, frozen like a sculpture.

Time slowly passed. After an indeterminate period, her eyeballs suddenly moved, as if awakening from chaos.

"What is... this?"

However, before Ansel could ascertain Marlina's current mental state, he discovered something even more incredible.

The power that Marlina had seized from this preaching, from the abyss—the power that could ignore any boundary, aptitude, or talent, the power she most desired in her heart—was actually...

"Mr. Ansel."

A voice, still somewhat raspy but no longer distorted and hoarse like a banshee, rang out. It was a voice that had shed its girlish timbre, poised exquisitely between innocence and maturity, wonderfully melodious and beautiful.

The ebony witch raised her head, her smile radiant:

"Now, can I become your strength?"

*