The intensity of the battle at the city gates was unknown to Carson and Angelina, but the relentless pursuit of the Blackflame Leopard was all too clear. It seemed as if their hunters never feared they would escape their grasp. From the beginning until now, it had been a day and a half, yet the leopards did not cease their chase. And as Carson did not stop, neither did they.
The soldiers and demonfolk who had come to aid were not spared the leopards' ambushes. Striking at those who couldn't react in time, the leopards added to Carson's growing dread. His strength, fueled by the fireseed, was waning. A twitch at the corner of his mouth signaled the grim reality; it seemed escape was not meant to be today.
With a bitter smile, he turned to whisper, "Angelina, it seems this time, I truly have no strength left!"
Angelina froze, her once dirty hands that clutched Carson's collar now trembling. But soon, she released him, a warm smile returning to her face, "This time, you won't have to leave me behind. Dying alongside a foolish man like you isn't so bad after all!"
Carson was taken aback. Was this little girl too mature for her age? Had she fallen for him after he saved her in this world? It seemed too far-fetched!
His mouth twitched slightly. Honestly, he couldn't handle such a little loli. At that moment, Angelina hugged his neck even tighter. In that brief moment, Carson was filled with confusion and panic, or perhaps more aptly, at a loss.
In that moment of distraction, the Blackflame Leopard found an opening. It surged forward with a sudden burst of speed, its claws extended. By the time Carson realized, it was already too late. The leopard's claws and Angelina's back were a hair's breadth apart.
With a shudder of his tiger-like form, Carson hurled Angelina into the air. The sharp, dark claws pierced his back, a tremendous force coursing through him. Flung by the impact, Carson was sent flying.
This time, however, little loli Angelina clung tightly to Carson's neck, determined to share his fate, her large eyes wide with shock as they approached the towering walls that seemed to encase a city within a city.
Carson saw it too, but unlike Angelina, he recognized what lay beyond.
The Duke's mansion!
Though the Duke ruled only this city, she knew why there was but one city here. She also understood why the Duke's palace looked so ravaged.
The red walls, though crumbling and peeling, exuded an air of profound history, quietly crouching on the ground, emanating an aura of solemn density.
They were about to crash into the entrance of this "palace" when a striking figure appeared at the gate. Dressed in luxurious court attire, her jewels and golden threads shimmered under the red moon. Her high, elaborate coiffure was so extravagant it made Carson blink. Could she bear such a hairstyle? In the briefest of moments, her gaze was devoid of any emotion or surprise, as if she felt nothing at all—her eyes as cold as ice, causing Carson's heart to clench.
Casually waving her hand, she dismissed Carson with a flick, as one would a fly. But his body was hit by an irresistible force, pausing mid-air before being flung towards a side street.
"Boom..." A massive cloud of dust rose with a roar, and the pursuing Blackflame Leopards halted, instinctively sensing the aura of authority from this seemingly delicious demon.
"Ugh..." In the depths of the large pit, Carson couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood. Fortunately, he had turned urgently when being struck down; otherwise, Angelina would be in danger.
"Carson, are you... alright?" Angelina's trembling hand touched Carson's body. She was uncertain, perhaps better to say, afraid that Carson would never get up again.
"Hey... Sis Hsia, what's the matter? Did this guy upset you? Was it necessary to go this far! Hehehe..." A smooth voice came from the side, as if Carson had just been a fly, swatted away.
"Cough... That person was really timely!" After coughing, Carson couldn't stand up right away. His whole body ached as if every bone was shattered. After coughing up a few more mouthfuls of blood, he could only smile bitterly.
That person, though not seen clearly, had strikingly beautiful eyes. But their strength was suffocatingly powerful. He was no match, and going out would mean certain death. Better to rest here for now!
Flipping onto his back, he lay flat and said with a smile, "Why... aren't you leaving yet?"
At this moment, Angelina's eyes were filled with tears. After choking back a sob, she scolded, "You fool, even in this state, why bother turning around? I could have withstood that force just now!"
Carson's mouth twitched slightly, wanting to shake his head but unable to.
"Aileen, what does this have to do with you? A large number of high-level magical beasts are coming. Let's go check the city walls!" Her voice was as cold as her gaze, making Carson shiver upon hearing it.
Immediately after, a tremendous noise erupted. Accompanied by a sky-filling firelight, numerous sparks rained down from the pit onto the two. With each drop, Carson's body trembled. Angelina, disregarding everything else, moved forward and gently pressed down on Carson. Staring quietly at him, her large eyes curved into crescents.
After a while, it seemed the two women had rushed to the city gates. Then, Angelina got up, "We... are safe for now!"
"How can you say that? What if those two women are no match for so many magical beasts? Then, won't we still be eaten by the beasts!" Carson spoke weakly, but the smile on his face indicated a fearlessness of death.
"Fool, idiot, stupid... If all the men of our demon race were as foolish as you, we might all be dead. Why... in this situation, can you still laugh?" Angelina looked at Carson, whose smile was so strained, her voice trembling.
Once... twice... every time, this man never left her behind. And twice in a row, he took the injuries meant for her. How did such a person survive in the abyss of the demon world?
"Men... it's better to be a bit foolish, that's more likable to women, right? Hehe... Besides... if not laughing, should I cry? A smile makes one ten years younger!" After speaking in a disjointed manner, Carson grinned again.
For a moment, the little loli looked at Carson seriously, speechless. At the same time, something in her heart seemed to be triggered, and she also giggled.
In the laughter, Carson was stunned. The fireseed in his chest, for some reason, began to rotate and sway. At the same time, his body felt a wave of heat. With it, the air seemed to heat up.
On his body, he could feel the slightly warm air slowly seeping into his body along the fire flow where the fireseed originally operated. With each flow, the fireseed swayed, and the pain on his body lessened.
At the same time, Angelina also suddenly noticed that the air around her seemed to gradually heat up. But it was very warm, without the feeling of burning heat. Looking at Carson with his eyes closed, she understood in her heart. He must be operating some secret method, so she couldn't disturb him now.
However, the ensuing roars and the wails of the magical beasts, along with the powerful explosions that even shook the ground, indicated that the grand duke might have settled matters.
For three years, she didn't know how this woman had endured. If it were her, she would definitely leave here.
Shaking her head helplessly, she thought, I can't even take care of myself now, why think about others. At the same time, Carson, who had been closed-eyed, also woke up, somewhat surprised by the vibration of the ground. Moreover, the sound just now was definitely the wail of the magical beast before its death.
It seems that those two women went over and settled the matter immediately. She really couldn't imagine having such power. If it were her, she would definitely be swallowed by the magical beast. Smiling bitterly and shaking her head, she looked at Angelina, who was thinking, and said, "Shall we hide? Otherwise, if that woman sees us, it will be really terrible!"
Angelina just smiled and shook her head: "No need, this city is theirs. Where can we hide? If they want to find us, they will still find us. Moreover, you are now!"
Looking at Carson, who was a bit better in complexion but obviously still seriously injured, she also smiled bitterly and shook her head.
However, such an expression in Carson's eyes was really rare. In that world, children of eight or nine years old might still be coddled in their parents' arms or fighting for that toy.
But it seems to have no effect on this little loli . It seems that she was originally such a mature child with adult thoughts.