This place was practically the key to the city, so to speak, and they just let us in just like that. It was careless, so to speak.

The witches and the vampires were too busy watching each other that they didn't even bother worrying about outside threats.

"If you're worrying about how secure this place is, then you don't have to worry. This place is constantly being monitored; even right now, the moment we sense any threats, forces will be sent out to dispel it."

"Do you think you can store everything here?" I asked Khalissi, who was standing right beside me.

"Of course I can." She answered confidently.

The crooked-looking man stared at us in confusion. He then turned his attention to Ivy, looking for answers.

When Ivy didn't answer and only smiled, his eyes drifted back and forth between all of us.

His heartbeat skyrocketed, and he looked as if he was about to have a panic panic attack, but before he could, I rested my hand on his shoulder and digging my claws into his flesh in the process.

Immediately, his eyes turned bloodshot, and the veins under his skin inflated with blood. They sprouted like worms under his skin from his neck to his forehead.

His legs gave out as he fell to the ground, wailing in agony until all his basic instincts and skills were ripped away from him, replaced by a never-ending urge to feed on raw flesh.

WHOO!! WHOO!!

It seems he was right. We were being monitored, because immediately as he fell, a loud alarm went off.

The glowing lights on the elevator turned red, which meant it was in lockdown.

I didn't even need to give the order as Khalissi immeediately stored all the mana crystals in the room.

At the same time, I swiped the key card from the man I had now turned into a ghoul.

Since he was the one in charge, I was guessing his key card could override the lockdown feature.

My guess was proved correct when I swiped the key card in the elevator, and it began moving up to the higher floors.

Of course, I had brought the ghoul with us in the elevator. I was going to use him to infect the workers here and the guards that were undoubtedly coming after us.

Kaguya prepared herself for battle with her stakes in her hand, while Ivy returned to her true form.

They stood patiently waiting for when the elevator would stop and the door would open, but just then I heard something.

I heard the sound of horrified screaming as the elevator moved upwards.

"What is happening up there?" I wondered as I looked around at the girls' faces, but they all looked just as confused as me.

All except Khalissi, who was making an obvious effort to avoid eye contact, which caused my eyes to narrow at her suspiciously.

'What has this demon done this time?'

My questions were soon answered when the elevator came to a stop and the door hissed open, revealing a bloody scene.

The guards that I guessed were supposed to ambush us were stuck fighting for their lives.

They were busy fighting off a swarm of bloodmoths. The scene was just as bloody as that fateful day that Moth swooped into my classroom.

Blood and pieces of flesh were tossed about, creating a haunting scene. The witches desperately cast spells in an effort to fend off the bloodmoths, but there were just too many of them.

The bloodmoths used swarm tactics to fight their foes. They were much more vicious than I remembered.

"It's been a while since I gave them a good fight," Khalissi chuckled. "Just like your shadow hounds, my moths also need to feed and level up."

Plop!

Just as we spoke, something fell in front of us with a loud wet thud. It landed right in front of me like an offering from the gods.

"Is that a… Did they just…"

Khalissi's mouth hung open. For some reason she was speechless.

"It's a heart," I said flatly.

"I know what it is!" She snapped. She clenched her fist and stared at me agitated. "The question is why did MY moths give it to you instead of me?"

I shrugged at her question.

"Maybe they like me more."

It was strange behavior to exhibit. If my shadow hounds had done the same, I guess I would be upset too.

Khalissi bit her nails, looking anxious.

While Khalissi was contemplating one of her moths flew down to meet me. It's large wings created a gentle gust of wind as it flapped them back and forth. Its antennae twitched slightly as it stared at me with its bulbous eyes. I reached out and pet the little guy on its head. The Moth released a loud screch before flying off seemingly happily.

After ruffling her hair and grunting loudly, Khalissi let out a deep sigh.

"Fine! Whatever," She pouted.

If I didn't know better I would've though she was jealous.

At the same time, Kaguya and the ghoul had already jumped into action.

This reminded me we needed to hurry before more reinforcements showed up.

I readied myself, preparing to attack, but before I could, I was stopped in my tracks by Khalissi.

"Leave it," she said. "That's the real reason I summoned my Moth here. So you wouldn't have to bother with them. There is something else much more important, remember?"

Could she mean the laboratory?

"I wish to show it to you, for you to see it with your own eyes. All the witches' attention will be focused here so you can see it with your own eyes."

"You should go," Ivy spoke out from beside me. "I'm sure Kaguya will be fine, and I can find a way to sneak out. We'll keep them distracted for as long as we can."

I couldn't deny that I was deeply curious about that strange presence I kept sensing. Them giving me the chance to figure out what it was meant a lot.

"Thank you," I said to Ivy, and just then Khalissi took my hand and flew off into the air, dragging me with her.

We landed in front of the laboratory. It seemed to be in chaos from what was happening next door.

They were also in lockdown, but it didn't matter much, as Khalissi used her magic to blast down the door.

From there we were attacked by an onslaught of witches, but we dispatched them with ease as we made our way through.

Their puny magic felt like a bee sting every time I was hit. The laboratory was much larger than the factory, so we captured one of the witches to show us what we were looking for.

After he showed us the way, Khalissi killed him without hesitation.

"I don't want him interrupting our moment," she said, with an eerie smile on her face.

The further we went, the thicker the air was. To the point where it was hard to breathe.

The atmosphere was enveloped in dread. The kind that caused every hair on my body to stand upright.

My instincts practically screamed at me to leave.

My head buzzed from the sudden pressure of mana, and it became practically impossible to keep a steady breath.

I glanced over at Khalissi, and she seemed only mildly affected.

"My body is used to dense mana," she explained.

Step by step we continued, towards what we thought was the source of such overwhelming power.

Soon we were face-to-face with the source, and every inch of my body ached as I gazed at it with my mouth hung open.

What lay before us was the skeletal remain of a creature that looked to have died long ago.

It was only the head of the dead, but still, it was larger than most city blocks.

Even a single tooth was still three times larger than me. Mana crystals sprouted around the skeleton head like weeds.

"So that's where they come from."

Just looking at the remains was enough for me to feel unimaginable terror.

"What is that creature?" I asked as I stared up at it in awe.

Khalissi looked a bit lightheaded, but still her lips curved upwards into a smile before she answered.

"That creature is a dragon."

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