“Demonic Transformation Potion...... Were we born into this world just for something like this?”

  “Hehe, exactly~!”

  “I went to great lengths to create you all~.”

  “After all, crafting scripts for so many of you was no small task~. Oh, and by the way——”

  “You all seem to think your parents abandoned you willingly~......”

  Cassim’s words, like the whispers of a demon, echoed in the ears of the children who still clung to their resolve.

  A final, devastating truth was about to be laid bare before them.

  “In reality——”

  “We killed your parents!”

  “Many of them fought to the death to protect you~!”

  “Ah——!!!”

  “Ah......”

  Cassim’s words shattered the children’s last psychological defenses completely.

  They all began to plummet into the abyss of utter despair.

  “Roar——!”

  One child’s body fully mutated—but unlike the others who had collapsed and died, he let out a beast-like howl.

  Soon, more and more children followed suit.

  Then the mutated children turned on each other, tearing one another apart.

  Madness spread throughout the underground chamber.

  “Yes, yes! That’s it~!”

  “The experiment is on the verge of success!!!”

  “But it’s still missing one final piece!”

  Cassim stared intently at the crowd below.

  “Will a perfect specimen emerge~?”

  His gaze roamed the throng,

  quickly settling on a girl.

  When he saw her, a twisted, sickly smile spread across Cassim’s face.

  “Found you~!”

  She was unlike the others.

  Though her body had mutated, her sanity remained intact.

  She cowered in a corner, weeping, refusing to join the slaughter.

  “......Stop fighting! Everyone, please stop......”

  She cried out in sorrow,

  but her pleas failed to stir a single soul from their madness......

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Hm? That one——”

  Cassim suddenly noticed another figure hiding in the corner,

  and his face twisted in shock.

  “Impossible!?”

  While everyone else had mutated, the black-haired boy’s body remained completely unchanged.

  “Hahaha! An unexpected surprise——!!!”

  Cassim laughed wildly,

  leaping down toward the chamber floor.

  Thud——!

  The heavy sound of his landing drew the attention of all the fighting mutants, who charged toward him as one.

  “Hmph!”

  Cassim snorted coldly.

  Crackle!

  Countless black spikes erupted from the ground, impaling every mindless attacker.

  “You’re useless to me now anyway—I’ll grant you release~!”

  “No——!!!”

  The only girl spared by the spikes broke down screaming at the sight.

  Boom——!

  In the next instant, a mana storm erupted around her.

  “Ah——!!!”

  She screamed to the heavens as her body mutated further.

  A moment later,

  Thud——!

  She shattered the ground beneath her and charged at Cassim.

  “Cassim——!”

  Bang!

  After a dull crash, Cassim still stood unscathed.

  He had caught her fist with a single hand, effortlessly.

  Cassim looked at her with satisfaction:

  “Excellent—you’ve grown far stronger than I anticipated. But——”

  A massive surge of force sent her flying backward.

  “Don’t get in my way right now.”

  Bang——!

  The girl slammed into the wall, leaving a crater, then crumpled to the ground.

  “Lina——!”

  The black-haired boy shouted in panic.

  But in an instant, a figure materialized before him.

  “Truly magnificent~!”

  Cassim looked down at him, as if admiring a perfect masterpiece.

  “Grisa, I always knew you were different from the others. I never imagined you’d give your teacher such a wonderful surprise~!”

  “I almost regret not realizing your potential sooner. Wasting someone like you as a mere test subject is a crime~!”

  “But——”

  “It’s not too late~!”

  “From now on, your teacher will nurture you personally~!”

  Cassim slowly reached out his right hand toward Grisa.

  “Cassim——!!!”

  Grisa stared at him with eyes filled with hatred.

  Splash!

  A cloud of black shadow coiled around his fist, and he swung with all his strength at Cassim.

  Yet his blow was caught easily by the outstretched hand.

  “Such a disobedient boy. I suppose I’ll have to teach you a lesson first~.”

  With that, Cassim raised his other hand, which also crackled with black shadow.

  “Don’t forget—I taught you everything you know.”

  As the attack loomed, a flash of unwillingness and panic crossed Grisa’s face.

  “Let him go——!”

  Suddenly, a figure crashed into Cassim at high speed,

  tackling him away from Grisa......

  “Truly astonishing. To possess such strength.”

  Cassim stared indifferently at the figure clinging to him and pushing backward.

  He pressed his foot lightly against the ground.

  Bang!

  Both figures froze in place instantly.

  No matter how hard Lina pushed, she could not move him an inch.

  “Are you done playing?”

  “Grisa, run!”

  Lina shouted,

  “I’ll hold him off——!”

  “Sigh...... So be it.”

  Cassim sighed slowly.

  “I had hoped to keep you alive for further observation.”

  Crackle!

  A black spike pierced the girl’s chest.

  “Lina——!?”

  Grisa’s horrified cry rang out from afar.

  “Cough...... cough cough......”

  The girl crumpled to the ground,

  her pupils fading as crimson liquid spread across the stone floor.

  Cassim dusted off his rumpled clothes, ignoring Lina’s body at his feet, and strode toward Grisa once more.

  Slap!

  But a hand suddenly grabbed his ankle.

  “......”

  Cassim stopped and turned to look at the girl.

  “......You are remarkably stubborn.”

  He raised his hand,

  and black spikes began to materialize in the air.

  “Stop! Please stop! Don’t hurt Lina!”

  Grisa screamed in despair.

  Boom——!!!

  At that moment, a deafening crash echoed from above.

  “It’s bad! The test subject has escaped......”

  Faint cries of alarm could be heard.

  Cassim frowned and glanced upward.

  In the next instant,

  Boom——!

  The ceiling shattered completely.

  A massive jet-black beast leaped down from the broken dome.

  “Roar——!!!”

  It let out a thunderous roar and charged straight at Grisa below.

  “Oh~?”

  Cassim’s eyes narrowed.

  “Interesting. To escape like this? But——”

  The countless black spikes aimed at Lina shifted direction, locking onto the invading beast.

  “——You’re still far too inexperienced!”

  Just as he was about to unleash the attack,

  a figure threw herself in front of him.

  “Do you wish to die so badly?”

  Cassim said coldly.

  But Lina did not flinch,

  only whispering weakly:

  “......Run......”

  “......”

  Cassim stared at her indifferently.

  “Very well.”

  “Then you may die first.”

  He swung his right hand.

  Crackle!

  Countless black spikes pierced Lina’s body in an instant.

  “No——!!!!!”

  ...