"Special usage techniques?"
Eve looked at Fu Qian in confusion.
"Yes."
The latter flicked his wrist, and a Scarlet Whip appeared out of thin air. He gave it a graceful flourish.
Looking at the veins and sinews running along the whip, Eve's expression turned indescribably horrified.
"You're... a lunatic!"
Eve could tell that the whip wasn't some sort of kinky toy. It was a genuine Murderous Weapon.
Her heart sank as she stared at Fu Qian, unable to understand him.
"What are you trying to do? What could you possibly gain from this?"
Crack!
Faced with her accusation, Fu Qian said nothing. He answered with action instead.
With another sharp crack, a deep welt appeared on Eve's arm, as smooth and pale as white jade.
The sudden attack and intense pain drew a scream from Eve.
But the next moment, something even more terrifying happened.
A chaotic, violent thought rose in her heart, and her mind wavered under its assault.
"Why... are you doing this?"
Eve's voice grew unnaturally hoarse. She tried with all her might to dodge, but against the Scarlet Whip, invisible and impossible to see, her efforts were futile.
"Why?"
Fu Qian struck her again, drew his foot back, and stood tall with a cold sneer.
"Demon, I could tell at a glance you weren't human!"
"I'll make you reveal your true form!"
"Prepare to catch the demon!"
The bizarre lines nearly left Eve rooted to the spot. Then, without question, she was struck by another lash.
"Why!"
"Why are you forcing me!"
Amid her intense agony, a series of roars burst from Eve's throat.
At the same time, an utterly savage and frenzied aura radiated from her.
Centered on the scarlet lash marks across her body, crystal-like scales began to grow, then spread across her entire form.
On every scale, a blurred face let out a string of wails.
Before long, the crystal scales had completely enveloped her. She became a massive, multifaceted crystal that would have made any woman scream.
As she moved, the countless wails from the scales merged into a cacophony that could drive a person insane.
Under the assault of the sound waves, even Fu Qian felt his head go heavy, as if someone had hit him with a hammer.
[Sanity Value -1]
That sound had actually cost him a point of Sanity Value?
It was hard not to think of what it had been like to face the Evil God's Progeny.
This thing really wasn't human!
Certain of his judgment, Fu Qian struck even more decisively, lashing his target again and again with Tyrant's Fist.
When he'd deduced that something might be lurking inside Wen Li, he'd thought of ways to force it out. None of them had been as effective as this newly acquired weapon. This was an unexpected bonus.
"Why! Why!"
Eve's upper arms pressed against the ground as her neck stretched to an inconceivable length. She stared at Fu Qian from a crawling, four-legged stance, her voice now close to an animal's howl.
Under repeated lashes, the negative effects of Tyrant's Fist accumulated at an alarming rate. For someone with a Mental System, this was far more terrifying than physical injury.
The intense mental stimulation, combined with her desperate will to survive, drove her to complete her transformation at any cost.
If she could just make it to Tier Six, everything would be different.
"Die!"
After taking yet another lash without dodging or defending herself, Eve finally launched a counterattack.
The crystal scales covering her body seemed to possess incredible strength. The Scarlet Whip could no longer leave a mark on them.
On all fours, she charged like a beast. After a short run-up, she leaped high into the air, her foreclaws tearing toward Fu Qian's chest.
Her speed and strength were nearly on par with someone in the Physical System.
So reaching Intermediate Tier really was a qualitative change!
Faced with this terrifying strike, Fu Qian couldn't help but marvel.
What amazed him even more, of course, was that this thing really had lost its mind.
Maybe you're almost on par with someone in the Physical System, but the person you're facing is the real deal.
Fu Qian easily dodged Eve's attack, then kicked her squarely in the waist, sending her flying.
Considering his mission objective, he held back and didn't put too much force into the kick.
This thing shared a body with Wen Li. If he killed it, Wen Li would almost certainly die too.
One thing was certain now: Wen Li was still alive. Otherwise, his mission would have failed already.
She was most likely in a state close to unconsciousness.
Eve rolled after being kicked away, then got back onto all fours, glaring at Fu Qian.
What a tough mind! She'd taken so many lashes and still hadn't gone mad.
Fu Qian narrowed his eyes.
The scales had probably negated the effects of the later lashes from Tyrant's Fist. Eve's condition seemed to be stabilizing instead.
"I might have to thank you."
A hoarse voice came from Eve's throat.
"Although this isn't the way I wanted it to happen, ascending in this form might bring me benefits I can't even imagine."
"The weapon in your hand is interesting, but it's still just a little short of making me lose control. Haha!"
"Once I finish all this, I'll show you what the height of pain and madness feels like!"
"No need to thank me."
Fu Qian wasn't the least bit rattled by Eve's threat.
"If it's just a little short, how about this?"
As blood splattered, he lashed himself hard across the back with the Scarlet Whip.
Boom!
Chaotic, frenzied killing intent surged in his heart.
"Someone once told me she was like a mirror, able to clearly sense and reflect the emotions of those around her. So, will adding mine be enough?"
As soon as Fu Qian finished speaking, Eve let out a wail. Her legs trembled, and she crashed to the ground, terror beyond her control in her eyes.
Looks like it worked.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Fu Qian controlled Tyrant's Fist, lashing himself again and again.
As the final lash fell, Eve let out another earth-shaking howl. The crystal scales covering her body shattered one after another, and she collapsed flat on the ground.
Fu Qian stopped and walked over to her.
He could clearly sense that the part of her consciousness belonging to Eve had completely fallen apart.
Now came the test of will.
Fu Qian crouched down and leaned close to her ear.
"Time's up. I'm sorry you didn't do as I asked."
"But I've changed my mind. I've decided to strip Miss Wen naked and throw her out."
After repeating himself twice, Fu Qian felt an astonishing surge of emotion.
The beast on the ground breathed in short, rapid bursts, sending waves of mental energy rippling out around her.
Fu Qian once again felt his emotions magnify.
Looks like it worked!
Feeling an absurd surge of joy within himself, Fu Qian quietly watched Wen Li change.
As her breathing gradually steadied, the distortions in her body slowly receded. The countless shattered mirror fragments covering her melted away, and her skin became soft once more.
After a long while, Fu Qian could hear someone clearing obstacles in the ventilation ducts. Wen Li slowly opened her eyes.
[Containment Complete]
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