The Hungry Succubus!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Xu Yan's two Scorpion-Tail Kagune lashed at Bai Xuan in a relentless flurry, so fast he could barely fend them off.

Though Bai Xuan fought with all his strength, he was inevitably driven back.

His Ghoul Weapon, Venom Scorpion, had reached its limit fighting two against one. Cracks covered it, and it was on the verge of shattering!

Striking back was out of the question. Even holding his guard had become painfully difficult.

Within minutes, Bai Xuan was covered in wounds.

And that was with Xu Yan using only two Scorpion-Tail Kagune!

"Keep struggling!"

Bai Xuan's stubborn resistance only excited Xu Yan more. A teasing note crept into her voice. "The more you fight, the more I like it~"

"Your flesh must be especially delicious!"

"What a perverted Ghoul!"

Before long, Bai Xuan was backed into a corner.

His strength was spent. Blood soaked him, and wounds covered his body.

Forget defeating Xu Yan. Getting close to her was almost impossible now!

"All right~ Playtime's over~"

Xu Yan gave a cold laugh.

Before her words had faded, her two Scorpion-Tail Kagune pierced Bai Xuan's collarbones and hoisted him into the air!

"Hiss—!"

Agony struck, and Bai Xuan clenched his teeth.

This battle against someone far beyond his strength made him keenly aware of the gap in combat experience between them.

Even improved stats could not make up for his lack of skill and experience.

"Mmm~"

Xu Yan leaned close to Bai Xuan and sniffed his scent, an excited smile curling her lips.

"That smell... It's irresistible~"

"I can't wait any longer... I'm going to eat you right now..."

"Oh~ Right~"

"I'll savor you bit by bit... Living food tastes so much better than dead food~"

Before she had finished speaking, the Scorpion-Tail Kagune behind Xu Yan swept out like blades, instantly shredding Bai Xuan's clothes.

At the sight of her meal laid bare, she grew so excited that a glistening drop of drool slipped from the corner of her mouth.

Her gaze settled on a particular part of Bai Xuan's body, something she had never seen on any of her other meals.

"Absolutely perfect~"

Xu Yan stared without blinking, barely able to suppress the urge to taste him.

And in that instant—Bai Xuan seized his fleeting chance!

The Black Dragon Blade appeared in his hand. With the last of his strength, he thrust it straight at Xu Yan's throat!

But just as the edge was about to reach her neck,

Xu Yan reacted, raising a hand to seize Bai Xuan's wrist!

With a slight squeeze, his hand bones cracked!

Damn it!

Bai Xuan's brows drew tight. His sneak attack had failed.

Xu Yan was far stronger than he had expected!

"Then I'll dig in~"

Xu Yan's mouth slowly split into a savage grin, revealing the Ghoul beneath.

And then...

Splat!

"Aaah—!"

At the instant of his death, Bai Xuan finally escaped the World Illusion.

He was drenched in cold sweat, his clothes soaked through.

The fear and pain had not faded. They continued to gnaw at his mind, impossible to forget.

"I... got eaten..."

Bai Xuan swallowed, a chill running through him.

Watching himself get eaten had nearly shattered his composure!

Especially because—!

Xu Yan loved making strange, filthy remarks while she ate!

"So big!"

"So delicious!"

Tch!

Perverted woman!

Bai Xuan took deep breaths, trying to steady himself.

Though he had been inside the illusion created by the World Book and his death had not been real, the pain and fear had been.

He knew he had to prepare thoroughly before his next attempt.

With that thought, Bai Xuan turned to look at Xilin beside him.

She was staring at him without moving. Her heart-tipped tail and Demon Horns had reappeared at some point, and faint pink hearts shimmered in her eyes.

"?"

"Xilin?"

Bai Xuan called to her, but received no answer.

After a brief hesitation, he raised a hand and gently stroked her hair.

Xilin immediately looked content. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips curved into a seductive smile utterly unlike her usual expression.

"?"

Bai Xuan raised an eyebrow.

Had he unlocked a whole new side of Xilin?

If so...

His gaze went straight to her heart-tipped tail.

He had heard a Succubus's tail felt wonderful to touch. She had always dodged him before, but this time he could finally...

Squish!

Bai Xuan grabbed the heart-shaped tip.

In that instant, Xilin's eyes snapped back into focus.

"Master, what are you...?"

Xilin looked puzzled.

Bai Xuan was about to explain when he realized the heart-tipped tail had already vanished.

He asked, "Xilin, do you remember what just happened?"

"I... should have been praying the whole time," Xilin replied. "Then I thought I caught the faint scent of something unusually sweet..."

"?"

Bai Xuan's eyelid twitched.

Was that normal?

But he could not make sense of it either, so he said, "Maybe you're too tired. Get some rest."

"Mm."

The next morning.

Bai Xuan woke to find a golden, heart-tipped tail gently licking his cheek.

He knew it was licking him because he could clearly feel the wetness coating his face.

Could it be a fluid secreted by a Succubus's tail?

The instant he woke, the tail darted back to its owner as though startled.

"?"

Bai Xuan frowned and glanced to the side.

Xilin was still asleep, her expression so peaceful that she seemed to have nothing to do with it.

That only made him more certain that Xilin and her tail operated on two entirely different systems!

One was a Holy Knight of the Holy See, faithful to her vows. The other was a powerful Succubus of the Abyss, driven by instinct!

"Could it really be because she's been away from the Holy See too long?"

Bai Xuan fell into thought. If this went on, he had a feeling both Xilin's body and mind would suffer.

As her Master, he had to act at once!

While Bai Xuan gazed at Xilin's sleeping face, she slowly opened her eyes.

Xilin sat up and turned toward him. A barely perceptible tremor ran through her cool voice. "G-good morning, Master."

"Morning."

Bai Xuan asked with concern, "Are you still feeling unwell anywhere?"

"A little," Xilin replied softly. "But after a full day of prayer, I feel much better... I think I've managed to suppress the restlessness in my body..."

As she spoke, her blue eyes drifted aside, as though avoiding his gaze.

"You think?" Bai Xuan frowned slightly. Clearly, she had not fully recovered.

"Please don't worry, Master. I can restrain—"

Before she could finish, a flush suddenly spread across Xilin's cheeks.

Then her body swayed. She could barely stay on her feet and was about to collapse.

"Xilin!"

Bai Xuan hurried to catch her and found her body burning hot!

Xilin's temperature was alarmingly high—over forty degrees Celsius!

Just then, a message appeared before his eyes:

[Your Legend (Xilin) is in an extremely weakened state. Cause of weakness: hunger.]