The Hunter’s Gambit

“Sovenia? The Demon Queen’s Hall is quite perilous, wouldn’t you agree, Sir Hero?”Linalia crafted her words impeccably.She not only feigned concern for the team but also seized the moral high ground, leaving the unspoken implication clear: Sovenia’s actions were both selfish and dangerous.Had she been a true Elven Princess, or any creature with normal social needs, such pressure would likely have forced a concession.Alas, she faced Jimi the Cruel.Sovenia calmly observed Linalia’s face, etched with a veneer of “sincerity” and “concern.”A few seconds later, she spoke.“I refuse to say.”Her words were brief, crisp, and utterly devoid of emotion, like stating an undeniable fact such as “the sky is blue” or “the sea is also blue.”Linalia’s smile froze for a fleeting instant.She clearly had not anticipated such a… frigid response.Yet, she quickly regained her composure, a deeper shade of worry clouding her features.“But… Sovenia, I’m not trying to force you.I merely feel that for everyone’s safety…” She attempted to press further. “We are all survivors who escaped that dreadful place; we are companions, sisters.Surely, there should be no secrets between sisters, shouldn’t there?”Sovenia did not even deign to glance at her again.She sheathed her sword, turning her back to the two faces, each displaying a different expression.‘We are not teammates, but hunter and prey, and the hunter is accompanied by a foolish dog.’‘Moral blackmail? How utterly childish.’In the days when she was a mine s*ave, capable of stabbing a comrade for half a moldy piece of bread, so-called “morals” and “emotions” had been cast into the deepest, darkest recesses of the mine pit, alongside her useless human heart.She strode forward on her long legs, proceeding into the depths of the corridor without a backward glance, leaving only a stark, unyielding silhouette.“We should go.I know a place where we can rest, I’ll lead the way.”Behind her, Linalia and Wawalde’s conversation drifted.“Sir Hero, she…”“She merely lacks a sense of security.”****Their journey proceeded smoothly, encountering no sign of the “promoted” team.Midday arrived.The fierce midday sun of the Demon Realm could not penetrate the Demon Queen’s formidable dome, managing only to cast down several columns of light through cracks in the walls, illuminating countless dancing motes in the air.The trio discovered a side hall suitable for rest.This might once have been a demon officer’s lounge, but now only an overturned stone table and a few broken chairs remained.A stale, peculiar odor permeated the air.Wawalde sat against the wall, unburdening himself of his longsword.Linalia immediately gravitated towards him, while Sovenia maintained her distance, leaning against the opposite wall, meticulously scanning every corner of their temporary refuge.There was only one exit, the doorway was low, the ceiling not particularly high…‘Yes, quite suitable for hunting airborne prey.’A murder plan had already materialized in her mind, as precise as a battle map carved into wood.She intended to act soon.Linalia, or rather, the Succubus Heavenly King, represented a significant variable.This woman knew far more about Jimi the Cruel than that foolish dog.They had served together for decades; their intimate knowledge of each other’s depths, if not absolute, was certainly not negligible, especially concerning the Blazing Gold Forging Hammer.Sovenia glanced at the massive black leather backpack slung across her back.The forging hammer lay within.It was crucial for upgrading her cards, her sole reliance in this frail body.And the Succubus Heavenly King was one of the few who knew that this hammer was among Jimi the Cruel’s most vital treasures, understanding its intrinsic link to Jimi’s abilities.With mana nodes nearby, capable of charging cards for upgrades, Sovenia could not possibly forgo using them merely to avoid exposure.Any use, however, carried the risk of exposure.Presently, a Sovenia, claiming to be an Elven Princess, not only possessed intimate knowledge of the Demon Queen’s Palace but also carried Jimi’s forging hammer, traversing the land, and even employing a peculiar ability that grew stronger with ‘finishing blows’.Provided the Succubus Heavenly King’s mind was sound, she would inevitably connect the dots.The Succubus Heavenly King might currently be engrossed in her game of collecting imbecilic dogs and masquerading as a princess, but as time wore on, her suspicions would inevitably sprout like insidious vines.Once she pieced together these fragments, Sovenia’s identity would be completely exposed.The hunter and the hunted were two sides of the same coin.Either Sovenia, leading her foolish dog, hunted the Succubus Heavenly King, or the Succubus Heavenly King, leading the foolish dog, would hunt Sovenia.Therefore, she had to strike first.Just as Sovenia was refining the assassination details in her mind, Linalia’s voice drifted over, compelling Sovenia to look.“Sir Hero, please don’t move.” Linalia’s voice was soft enough to drip honey as she knelt beside Wawalde, personally tearing strips from her tattered gown to tend to him. “Your facial injuries… they truly break my heart.Though a man’s scars are badges of honor, they must be terribly painful, mustn’t they?”As she spoke, a gentle holy light bloomed at her fingertips, lightly touching Wawalde’s deformed helmet.The metal emitted an almost inaudible hum, and the dented area slowly restored itself within the glow.Repair magic.Her movements were delicate, imbued with a tenderness that bordered on the divine.“Your faceplate is slightly askew; it will chafe against your wounds like that.” She murmured softly, straightening the metal plate and slowly lowering it, perfectly concealing the hideous burn on one side of his face. “There… isn’t that much better? At least, when the wind blows, it won’t hurt so much.”This action necessitated her leaning in closer.From her vantage point, Sovenia could clearly see the taut curve of Linalia’s waist as she bent, and beneath the tattered hem of her dress, the upper curve of her thigh, encased in torn black stockings.The lace trim of her stockings shimmered faintly in the shadows, like a rune of fatal temptation.Frankly, it was beautiful.Sovenia could savor this perilous beauty.The Succubus Heavenly King’s physique was an ultimate weapon, forged through countless trials, evolved solely for the capture of males; every curve, every glance, could precisely ignite masculine desire.However, the thought of this perfect “weapon” preening and posturing for that foolish dog, attempting to snatch away the useful “tool” she had acquired, filled Sovenia with an inexplicable irritation.It felt as if she had idly tossed a bone, only for a foolish dog to come wagging its tail, licking her hand, proving itself resilient, capable, and remarkably useful.But now, someone had arrived, pushing a cart overflowing with bones.The foolish dog simply wagged its tail and trotted over.‘Damn it all, to think someone would try to steal my perfectly useful dog.’“Alright, I’m going to cook.”Sovenia declared coldly, taking out a small pot, along with some dried meat and spices from her provisions, and began to make a fire.Her cooking personally was, by now, a customary routine.Linalia merely glanced at her, showing no intention of rising to assist.She settled comfortably beside Wawalde, adjusting to a more relaxed posture, assuming the air of a mistress of the house, idly observing Sovenia skillfully preparing ingredients, lighting the fire, and boiling water, as if watching a servant toil.When Wawalde offered to help, Sovenia merely stated, “Rest, as before.”The meat broth in the pot soon boiled, its rich aroma filling the room.Sovenia, from a hidden compartment at the very bottom of her backpack, retrieved a small, oilskin-wrapped vial.It contained a poison extracted from a Manticore’s tail stinger: colorless, odorless, paralyzing muscles, and halting the heart.With her back to the pair, she used the motion of sprinkling spices into the pot to stealthily tip a pinch of the deadly powder into a ladle, then precisely scooped that same ladle of soup into one of the bowls.Everything was executed seamlessly.As the aroma of the meal reached its peak, Linalia finally graced them with her voice.She languidly stretched, a movement that accentuated the proud swell of her chest.“Sovenia, I find myself rather thirsty,” she cooed softly. “Would you be so kind as to bring me the soup? I expended far too much energy helping Sir Hero adjust his armor, and now find myself unable to stand.”“Alright.”Sovenia’s expression remained impassive as she served two bowls of soup.She picked up the doctored bowl and the untainted one, walking towards them.She handed the untainted bowl to Wawalde, then presented the deadly meat broth to Linalia.Linalia picked up her spoon, gracefully blew on it, then took a delicate sip.“Hmm… the taste is quite satisfactory,” she nodded, her tone flat, as if assessing the cook’s competence. “A touch too much salt, perhaps.Do be more careful next time.”She actually consumed it without the slightest guard.A flicker of bewilderment crossed Sovenia’s mind.She had anticipated Linalia might grow suspicious, might ask Wawalde to taste it first, or might even use magic to detect it.But she did nothing.The Succubus Heavenly King had reached such a pinnacle of arrogance.“Would you like more?” Sovenia asked calmly, watching her finish more than half the bowl. “There’s more in the pot.I’ll fill it for you.”“Sister, why don’t you remove your helmet?” Linalia said, extending her empty bowl with a smile of entitled expectation. “Isn’t it rather unsightly to wear it constantly? And surely inconvenient for eating?”Sovenia said nothing, merely taking the bowl, turning back to the pot, and ladling out another full bowl.She carried this bowl of scalding hot broth, step by step, back to Linalia.The latter smiled, chatting with Wawalde as she extended her hand.Just as the bowl was about to reach Linalia’s outstretched hand—Sovenia abruptly flicked her wrist, sending the entire bowl of soup, meat chunks and all, hurtling like a cannonball towards Linalia’s face.The assault was utterly without warning!Linalia’s reaction was astonishingly swift, born almost entirely of succubus instinct; she instinctively threw her head back, simultaneously raising her hands to parry or catch the flying soup bowl.‘Now!’The instant her balance wavered and her defenses were exposed, Sovenia moved.Before her left hand had even completed its arc from tossing the bowl, her right had already seized the Moonpetal Blade from her waist.A flash of silver light erupted from the blade, swift as lightning, as she simultaneously took a great stride forward.The sword’s edge was mercilessly swift, leaving no room for evasion, plunging directly towards her opponent’s unguarded heart.“Succubus Heavenly King, die!”Concurrently, Sovenia silently chanted: ‘Omni-Shifting Card activated!’First turn.First Draw: [Swift Strike+], [Double Attack], [Attack]