I spun once through the air, maximizing the centrifugal force behind my strike. Divine power gathered within my hammer, blazing like a blue comet.
CRAAACK!
My hammer slammed directly into the center of the cocoon.
A sickening, squelching sensation traveled up my arms as the cocoon burst apart.
[KIEEEEEEEEK!]
A scream sharp enough to tear eardrums apart shook the entire canyon.
Black blood poured from the ruptured cocoon like a waterfall.
And then, what emerged from within was—
"...Huh?"
Landing lightly, I blinked in disbelief.
I had expected some gigantic monster.
Instead, curled up among the blood-soaked remains of the cocoon was something that looked disturbingly like a child.
Pale skin.
Empty eye sockets.
And grotesque black wings protruding from its back.
Slowly, it raised its head and looked at me.
[Mommy...?]
The moment it opened its mouth, a chilling voice echoed directly inside my head.
[Mommy... you came?]
What the hell?
And what kind of fresh nonsense is this?
I tightened my grip on the hammer and took a cautious step back.
This wasn't an ordinary demon beast.
It was...
An artificial demon born from the fusion of tens of thousands of human souls.
"Violetta!"
Damian and Kairic fought their way through the surrounding beasts and rushed to my side.
But the moment they saw it, both men froze.
"What... is that thing?"
Even Damian's voice trembled.
As an Inquisitor, he had clearly never seen such an abomination before.
The child staggered to its feet.
Black tears streamed from its hollow eyes.
[It hurts... I'm hungry... Mommy, feed me.]
Its mouth split open into a grotesque grin.
Then it began devouring the nearby demon beasts alive.
A glutton.
No—a predator.
Every beast it consumed caused its body to swell larger and larger.
"Likes food, does it?"
I spat on the ground.
"Baby food time is over, brat."
Resting my hammer on my shoulder, I glanced at the two men.
"Get ready."
I smiled.
"Round two is starting."
The real hell was only beginning.
Crunch. Crack.
The disgusting sounds of chewing echoed throughout the canyon.
As the child devoured the surrounding beasts alive, its body expanded at an alarming rate.
What had once been the size of a small child quickly grew larger than an adult man.
Its black wings unfurled so wide they seemed to blot out the sky.
[Burp... I'm full.]
It let out a satisfied belch.
Chunks of black flesh and blood dripped from its mouth.
This wasn't simple overeating.
The creature was absorbing the demonic energy of the beasts and converting it into its own power.
"Its growth rate is abnormal!" Damian shouted.
"We need to stop it now!"
Divine power surged into his sword.
Blue holy energy sliced through the darkness.
"Move aside, holy knight."
Kairic snorted.
"That's my prey."
Swinging his massive greatsword with one hand, he launched himself forward and brought it crashing down toward the creature's neck.
"Die!"
BOOM!
But the blade never reached its target.
Dozens of black tentacles erupted from the creature's back and wrapped themselves around Kairic's sword.
[Ow... Big brother, why are you hitting me?]
The creature tilted its head innocently.
In stark contrast to its childish tone, the tentacles tightened around Kairic's limbs like chains.
"You insolent little—!"
Kairic strained against them.
The tentacles responded by secreting sticky mucus and tightening even further.
[I want to eat big brother too.]
Its empty eye sockets traveled across Kairic's muscular frame.
Pure hunger.
[You look delicious.]
"Your Highness!"
Damian rushed forward and slashed at the tentacles.
But as if waiting for him, the creature lashed out with another set.
THUD!
"Urgh!"
Damian was sent rolling across the ground.
In an instant, the creature had subdued two of the Empire's strongest warriors.
Then its gaze settled on me.
[Mommy.]
Its metallic voice scraped through my mind.
[Why are you just standing there? Hug me.]
The black tentacles slithered toward me like snakes.
Most people would have frozen in terror.
I merely tightened my grip on my hammer and grinned.
"Sure, baby."
I took a step forward.
"Mommy's going to give you a very warm hug."
Pulling out a bottle of holy water, I poured it over the hammer's silver-plated head.
SSSSSSS!
The weapon trembled as brilliant light erupted from its surface.
"Damian! No resting! Barrier!"
At my shout, Damian forced himself back to his feet.
"O Lord, watch over us!"
He drove his sword into the earth.
A translucent golden barrier blossomed around me.
At the same moment, the tentacles descended.
BOOM! BOOM!
They slammed into the shield and rebounded.
I didn't waste the opening.
"Kairic! Duck!"
I sprinted out of the barrier.
Still bound by tentacles, Kairic instinctively lowered his head.
My hammer passed inches above his hair and smashed into the mass restraining him.
WHAM!
[KYAAAAAAAH!]
The creature shrieked.
Black smoke burst from the severed tentacles.
Freed, Kairic landed heavily on the ground and sucked in a deep breath.
"Haa... I owe you one."
"You can repay it with interest later."
I winked.
"Feel free to use your body."
Ignoring his stunned expression, I charged toward the creature.
"Time for discipline!"
My hammer spun like a windmill and smashed into its leg.
Its knee bent backward with a sickening crack.
The creature staggered.
[OW! I hate Mommy! Mommy, die!]
Its face twisted instantly.
The innocent child's voice vanished.
In its place came the deafening roar of thousands of souls screaming in unison.
Its wings spread wide.
Black feathers rained down like daggers.
SHHHHK!
"Look out!"
Kairic stepped in front of me and batted the feathers aside with his greatsword.
Behind me, Damian raised his shield and blocked the rest.
A wolf in front.
A holy knight behind.
Couldn't ask for better backup.
"Make me a path!" I shouted.
"I'm going straight through its solar plexus!"
"Understood!"
Kairic roared like a beast and charged directly at the monster.
As he drew its attention, Damian gathered divine power and unleashed a flash of blinding light.
[GRAAAH! My eyes!]
The creature exposed its chest while reeling in pain.
That was my chance.
I kicked off the ground and soared upward.
Through my spirit sight, I could see it clearly.
At the center of its chest was a pitch-black core.
A mass formed from countless fused souls.
Its heart.
The source of everything.
"Who the hell is your mommy?"
I drew my hammer behind my head.
Every muscle in my body tensed.
Even the divine power I'd borrowed from Damian gathered into a single point.
"I'm unmarried, you little bastard!"
KABOOOOOM!
My hammer struck the exact location of the core.
A thunderous shockwave erupted through the canyon like a giant bell being struck.
[Kiiiiiiieeeeee....]
Its scream faded.
Cracks spread outward from the hammer's impact point.
Then the creature's enormous body crumbled apart like a sandcastle.
Black smoke exploded in all directions.
I landed gracefully and brushed back my hair.
"Whew. Nice and clean."
Among the collapsing black ashes, something glittered.
A fist-sized violet mana crystal.
Far denser and more powerful than any ordinary magic stone.
A top-grade crystal.
"Jackpot."
I immediately snatched it up.
One of these could probably buy an entire building in the capital.
"Violetta!"
Damian rushed over and grabbed my shoulders, inspecting me from head to toe.
"Are you alright? Are you injured anywhere?"
"I'm perfectly fine."
I held up the crystal with a grin.
"People don't get hurt when they make money."
Kairic walked over and nudged the monster's remains with his foot.
"You're a monstrous woman."
He chuckled.
"Taking down something like that in a single blow."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It is."
A grin spread across his face.
"You'd make an excellent bride."
He reached out to ruffle my hair.
Smack!
Damian instantly slapped his wrist away.
"Don't touch her."
"Why not? She's not going to wear out."
"She will."
Damian glared.
"And your hand is covered in that disgusting slime."
The two men immediately began growling at each other again.
For a brief moment, it almost felt like things had returned to normal.
Almost.
Bzzzzzz...
The violet crystal in my hand suddenly began to vibrate.
At the same time, the black ashes scattered across the ground started writhing and gathering together once more.
"...Huh?"
A sinister voice rose from the darkness.
[It's... not over yet...]
