11

The execution squad’s robots were fully armed, wielding heavy weaponry.

They lined up in a perfect row, then with a sharp mechanical whir, split into two columns to stand on either side of the hall.

Scarlett emerged from behind them, leaning on her crutch.

Her eyes swept over the crowd before landing on me, as I stood there under guard.

Her tone was pure poison.

"Dawn, you ruined my leg. I won't let you die so easily."

She leaned in close to my ear, sounding like a demon from hell.

"I’m going to make you suffer so much that you’ll beg for death."

Scarlett burst into a manic laughter.

With a wave of her hand, a robot from the execution squad stepped forward and injected a vial of chemicals into my veins.

My pupils contracted violently.

Scarlett looked immensely satisfied with my reaction.

She cooed mockingly:

"That’s a pheromone booster. Its side effect, however, is that it turns bio-subjects into bloodthirsty, berserk monsters."

"Don't those beasts have feelings for you? I want you to feel what it’s like to be drained dry by them, bit by bit!"

The onlookers couldn't bear to watch.

The researcher who originally developed this drug had accidentally injected themselves and was eventually raped and then devoured by the test subjects.

A death of ultimate humiliation.

One person tried to plead for me, but Scarlett simply smiled and asked, "What? Do you want to join Dawn and enjoy it with her?"

After that, no one dared to speak.

The robots of the execution squad marched mechanically.

They gripped me with a death-hold and threw me into a massive, transparent glass water tank.

Inside were the three subjects.

Glug... glug...

Air bubbles escaped my mouth continuously.

The immense water pressure caused me agonizing pain, making me feel as if my chest was being crushed.

"Master..."

Caspian tore free from his chains and swam toward me, pulling me into his arms.

He was frantic, his eyes filled with heartache as he watched me drown.

Then, with extreme care, the Merman pressed his lips against mine.

He was sharing his air with me.

In my dazed state, I responded to him. He wrapped his arms around my waist, deepening the kiss.

My breathing became steady again, and my vision cleared.

Beneath the water, I tried to half-open my eyes and noticed Caspian’s finned ears—they were a shade of red that looked unnaturally vibrant.

Then, his lips grew burning hot, his teeth almost nipping at mine.

His breathing became heavy and hurried.

A jolt of fear hit my heart.

It was over. The drug was taking effect...

I was going to be devoured until not even a scrap was left.

"Master..."

Azul and Aurelia seemed to scent the unusual fragrance as well, slowly swimming toward me.

Thick tentacles crawled up my calves, and then countless suckers clamped down firmly.

A limb coiled flexibly around my waist.

"Hungry... so hungry..."

"Food..."

The voices were raspy, like dangerous predators in a jungle.

Outside the tank, Scarlett watched the show.

"How does it feel, Dawn? To be eaten by the very subjects you raised with your own hands?"

She curled her crimson lips.

She was certain I would become a meal for the three monsters.

But in the next second!

With a thunderous

crash

, the tank shattered!

Azul’s tentacles reached high, suckers gripping the glass as he began to haul himself out of the tank.

His massive size struck terror into everyone's hearts.

"Ah—!"

"How did they get out?!"

Scarlett, still feeling untouchable, screamed at the execution squad, "What are you staring at? Fire! Kill them all!"

Bullets swept through the air.

But they were all intercepted by Azul’s tentacles, which moved with such terrifying speed they became mere blurs.

Amidst the hail of gunfire.

He transformed into human form, tentacles swaying behind him.

He was dressed in a black suit, his handsome face twisting into a cold, chilling smile, looking like a morbid youth.

Elegant and detached.

"Anyone who harms Dawn... dies."

In 그 moment, Scarlett almost shrieked in terror.

"The shock valve! Open the shock valve, now!"

The crowd panicked, rushing to flip the emergency electrical switches.

Click.

The expected shock never came!

They pressed it again—still nothing!

Scarlett completely lost her composure. "What’s happening?!"

Someone shouted the truth. "The switch has been sabotaged! There are jellyfish filaments on it!"

Only then did everyone realize.

The creature in the tank earlier wasn't the whole jellyfish—it was only half of Aurelia.

She had been clinging to Azul’s back, so no one noticed she had escaped.

She had actually been ruthless enough to tear her own body in half!

Someone cried out in horror, "This is terrifying... is this even the jellyfish we knew?"

No one answered.

Because at that moment, the transformed Azul was on a killing spree.

Like a madman, he used his flexible tentacles to seize the execution robots.

He slaughtered them without mercy.

Tearing them into scraps and parts that scattered across the floor.

He smiled, approaching Scarlett step by step.

"What are you afraid of? Didn't you want me dead?"

"Come to me."

Azul tilted his head, his tentacles snapping the neck of the last robot.

He gave a grim, ghastly grin.