Cold, deathly silent shadow power pierced deep into the core of Rose's spirit like countless invisible steel needles, bringing excruciating pain and fear as she teetered on the brink of annihilation.
Gripped tightly in Weird Shadow's shadowy palm, she could not move. All she could do was clearly sense Weird Shadow's utterly cold "gaze" and bone-chilling suspicion.
"M-Master! I've been wronged!"
Forcing herself to endure the pain in her soul, Rose immediately spoke, her voice filled with the urgency and terror of being misunderstood. "Lord Fallen Angel's death did have something to do with me, but I did not betray you!"
She spoke faster, quickly recounting the story she had already prepared. "After discovering a lead that seemed to point to the Evil Blood Banyan King Tree, I knew how precious it was. I dared not keep it to myself, so I intended to report it to you, Master."
"I happened to encounter Lord Fallen Angel on the way, so I invited it to investigate with me so we could watch out for each other."
"We followed the lead and found that human convoy, and sensed the aura of Evil Blood Fruit in their vehicles..."
"Lord Fallen Angel... it couldn't resist the temptation of the Evil Blood Fruit and insisted on finding the fruit in the humans' vehicles and taking it away. But in the end, it still hadn't found it by daybreak!"
"I tried to dissuade it, but... a Sequence User in that convoy who had no fear of death was actually still alive. Seeing that all was lost, they blew up the entire vehicle to take Lord Fallen Angel down with them!"
Rose's voice was filled with lingering fear. "The explosion came too suddenly. The vehicle's compartment shattered, and sunlight poured in instantly! Lord Fallen Angel was struck