The plantation bathed in a serene glow. Ruby still clung to Velmora’s tail, giggling every time the slick scales trembled at her touch. Validia and Morvessa watched with faint smiles—the air felt more like a strange family gathering than a group of monsters who were once enemies.
Domina walked closer, her hand brushing along blooming petals. Her gaze softened, yet her voice came out low, almost a whisper:
"If only your father had been a great man... Ruby would be so much safer."
The words fell gently, but enough to make Ruby snap her head up. Her round eyes widened, rabbit ears twitching stiffly. In a high-pitched voice full of raw anger, she shot back:
"Mama! Don’t insult Papa! You can’t say that!"
Velmora’s tail froze, Morvessa instinctively raised an eyebrow, and Validia just watched in silence—looking almost pleased at the little girl’s courage.
Ruby clutched Velmora’s tail tighter, her cheeks puffed, breath ragged. Her ears twitched furiously, proof of how angry she was. "Papa... Papa is strong! Even if he’s not great yet... he’s still my Papa! I don’t want you saying things like that!"
Domina fell silent. Her smile stiffened, fingers curling faintly at her side. Deep inside, she muttered, I shouldn’t have said that... not in front of this little girl.
For a moment, only the sound of rustling leaves filled the air. Ruby looked down, but her glare stayed locked on her mother.
At last, Domina let out a long breath. Her face softened. She crouched down and gently touched Ruby’s cheek.
"Forgive me, Ruby... You’re right. Your Papa is your Papa. And that’s enough."
Ruby kept pouting, but her eyes welled up, teeth clenched to hold back a sob. Validia stepped forward, her hand lightly patting Ruby’s head.
"A brave little child," she murmured, her tone carrying an unusual warmth.
Morvessa’s gaze lingered on Domina before she lowered her eyes. "Hm. That means... she truly loves her father."
Velmora only let out a faint snort, but her tail—the one Ruby still hugged—curled a little tighter, as if giving quiet comfort.
And for the first time, the plantation’s air wasn’t just fresh... it carried emotions that reminded the monster girls of their own shattered worlds.
Ruby still pouted, her cheeks puffed out, but her eyes softened after hearing Domina’s apology. She shifted a little, allowing her mother’s hand to linger on her cheek.
Validia gave a faint smile, then suddenly pulled Ruby into her embrace. The small body almost disappeared within her dark robes, only the floppy rabbit ears sticking out—still twitching faintly.
"Look at you... even as a child, you can already defend your father," Validia whispered, her tone low, almost like a spell.
Morvessa stepped closer. Her face was cold, yet her eyes looked at Ruby with a quiet protectiveness. With a sigh, she brushed Ruby’s ears carefully.
"You’re stubborn... hmm. Are all rabbits ?" she said flatly, though the corner of her lips curved ever so slightly.
Velmora, who had been pretending to keep her distance, finally spoke up. Her voice was curt, but her tail tightened around them all, forming a protective circle.
"Hmph... this little brat. If you keep clinging like that, you’ll snap my tail in two."
Ruby only chuckled softly, pressing her cheek against the scaled tail. "Hehe~ it’s warm..."
Domina watched it all in silence. A thin smile curved on her lips—this time without any falseness. She took Ruby’s small hand and pressed a kiss onto its back.
"You’re right, sweetheart. Your Papa doesn’t need to be ’great.’ He only needs to be your Papa... and never run away."
For a moment, no one said another word. Only the embrace grew tighter, breaths warmer, and Ruby’s soft laughter spread to them all. In the lush plantation, beneath sunlight streaming through the leaves, the monsters looked less like threats... and more like an RPG player’s farming targets.
The silence of the frozen field swallowed everything once more.
Nathan stared at the smoky core for a long time before finally daring to bite into it. Crack! The sound of crystal shattering rang out, the chill stabbing straight into his tongue and teeth. The taste... was strange. Like chewing shards of glass mixed with frozen liquid metal.
With ragged breaths, he forced himself to swallow.
Optimal Devouring has malfunctioned.
The consumed material cannot be absorbed normally.
Mana will be used to initiate continuous self-healing.
Nathan froze. "Self... what?" he muttered in confusion.
But there was no time to process the words. His stomach suddenly felt as if a thousand icy needles were stabbing him from the inside. The cold spread rapidly, making his entire body tremble violently.
"N–Nathan!" Livia’s voice broke, panic sharp in her tone. The wild grin that had always adorned her face vanished, replaced by taut, worried eyes. She rushed forward, grabbing hold of Nathan’s staggering body.
His breath came in gasps, eyes widening, skin paling. His body stiffened as though tortured from within, while frosty air seeped out in thin wisps from his lips.
Nathan’s body slumped, weak and heavy, his face pale as snow. Cold sweat streamed down his temples, and his breaths came in short, ragged gasps.
"Nathan!" Livia immediately caught him, lifting his body into her strong arms. For the first time, the savage expression on the rabbit girl’s face vanished—replaced by raw, unmistakable worry.
"Hold on... don’t you dare die in front of me!"
Nathan clenched his teeth, his eyes barely open. His stomach kept stabbing, as if chunks of ice were smashing his organs again and again. His last coherent thoughts were a whirl of fury and panic.
It hurts... damn it... am I going to die? Damn it, damn it, fuck!
Why... why the hell do I have to die just from eating something?!
White vapor slipped from his lips, the chill creeping into Livia’s skin. His face drained of all color, making Livia’s chest clench painfully tight. "Don’t... don’t do this to me..." she whispered, voice trembling.
Silent darkness enveloped everything, broken only by a faint light that pulsed like distant stars. From within that void, Lilith stood—her lips curved into a trembling smile, her eyes shimmering with a mix of pleasure and near-frightening desire.
"Ahh... my son..." she whispered, voice quivering, her hands clutching at her own robe. "Right now... you are tasting suffering that bears fruit. That pain... will be the doorway to power."
Her smile widened, her body shuddering slightly as if savoring Nathan’s agony for herself.
"Tormented... yes... suffer deeper still... and be reborn."
"Nathan... don’t die... Nathan!!"
Livia shook his body, her voice breaking. Cold sweat drenched Nathan’s pale face, his breaths short and heavy, his pupils fading. Panic devoured her heart—until she finally tilted her head back and screamed with all her strength:
The cry echoed across the silent frozen field.
In the unseen darkness beyond human sight, Lilith chuckled softly.
"My daughter..." she whispered with a terrifying tenderness. Her slender finger traced through the void—crrrk!—a black fracture tore open, splitting space like a wound between worlds.
Lilith stepped forth, her graceful figure emerging before Livia. Her hair swayed lightly, crimson eyes glowing like fire in the dark.
"Savior...!!" Livia looked up, her gaze wild—her face torn between desperate hope and despair. "Nathan... is he going to—"
Before she could finish, Lilith raised her hand, speaking in a voice calm yet sharp, cutting through doubt like a blade.
"Don’t worry. He will not die."
Livia froze, lips parted, breath caught in her throat.
Lilith’s smile curled faintly as she moved closer to Nathan’s writhing form. Her fingers hovered just above his ashen skin, stopping short, leaving only a strange aura swirling in the air.
"But," she continued, her tone heavy, "he will grow strong... only after enduring this pain. What he feels now... is merely the beginning of his rebirth."
Nathan convulsed, his body trembling violently, face contorted as he stifled a scream.
Livia ground her teeth, eyes locked on Lilith with desperate worry. "Will he truly be all right in the end?" Ruby’s face flashed across her thoughts, making her chest tighten.
Lilith only chuckled, her gaze never leaving the suffering boy. "You will see the answer soon enough." She leaned in closer, lips brushing into a smile.
Nathan curled in on himself, his face deathly pale as cold sweat streamed down his temples. The agony in his stomach only grew worse—like jagged shards of ice endlessly stabbing into his organs.
Lilith leaned down, pulling him closer against her chest until his back rested against her body.
"Shhh... Mommy is here." Her voice was soft, yet piercing.
Her right hand clasped tightly around Nathan’s trembling one—and instinctively, he clutched back, as if terrified to let go. But then, her left hand began to move... slipping lower, sliding beneath.
"Wh—what the hell...?!" Nathan’s eyes flew wide, his whole body going rigid despite the pain tearing through him.
"Shhhss..." Lilith whispered, her lips brushing near his ear, a faint smile curving across her face. " Mommy will ease your pain..."