Endless Debt

Bologue had always been puzzled as to why the Devils gathered in this city. After hearing about the Devils' disputes from Nesanel, Bologue realized that they all came for the "Red Dragon".

The "Red Dragon" is like a vortex that engulfs everything in the world, bringing the Devils together here. Apart from these sources of evil, Demons, born from this, also gathered here, teased by fate.

Beneath the facade of peace is an enemy poised to strike, a killing intent that gathers like a storm.

The man smiled at Bologue, as if injected with an excessive amount of stimulant. His expression was mad and hideous, his skin began to redden, bulging blue veins appeared, and finally, his eyes turned completely black, staring at Bologue like a camera lens.

Under Bologue's gaze, the man felt an indescribable pleasure, all his desires were fulfilled at that moment, every nerve emitting jubilant cries.

Soon, this pleasure vanished. It lasted only briefly, and a great emptiness attacked the man's heart. He became flustered, needing more joy, more rewards, more, more...

The man screamed and launched an attack on Bologue. Bologue reversed his grip on the dagger, his speed faster than the man's. A sharp, cold glow traced a deadly path in the air.

The smooth wound extended across the man's arm and throat, then blood spurted out. Bologue sidestepped the spray of blood, simultaneously driving the dagger through the back of the man's neck.

The man's mad expression froze, his body collapsing into the garbage heap, the blood-stained dagger leaving his flesh.

Bologue looked solemnly at the man's corpse. This wasn't the first time he'd encountered these lunatics. Despite so much time passing, these lunatics still remembered him.

Forget it, there's no need to care so much.

Looking outside the alley, at some point, a crowd of fanatical lunatics had gleefully blocked all exits.

"It's just as well that I'm a bit idle," Bologue stretched his neck and shoulders, returning their fanatical gaze, "I'll play with you then."

Hoarse growls emitted from the crowd, the men rushing at Bologue like angry soldiers in the narrow alley, wildly waving their arms, wielding knives, spears, and sticks without pause.

The terrifying killing intent released from their completely black eyes didn't faze Bologue. He just kept a tight watch on the approaching crowd, after some thought, Bologue released the dagger, letting it fall.

Bologue seemed to have given up on resisting. Just as the first enemy closed in on him, Ether swirled and surged around Bologue. In an instant, Deceitful Snake Scale Liquid transformed into a cold Sheep Horn Hammer in his hand.

The heavy hammer fell, and the man's head burst into a cloud of blood mist instantly.

The fine blood droplets spattered onto Bologue's face, his nostrils filled with the thick scent of battle.

These lunatics were excited, and so was Bologue. Fighting strong Condensers always required too much caution. It had been a long time since Bologue had fought so recklessly.

The headless corpse stumbled forward, and Bologue snatched the long knife from its hand, hurling it forcefully ahead. The long knife arced through the air, splitting another man's skull with precision.

Bologue wasn't good at shooting, but he was surprisingly talented at throwing. Even if he couldn't see clearly at times, as long as he followed his instinct, he always hit his mark.

Two enemies approached one after the other, daggers stabbing fiercely. Bologue sidestepped and swung the hammer, shattering a man's wrist. He then stepped forward, almost embracing the man.

Another enemy tried to slash Bologue, but Bologue's body was intertwined with the first man's, leaving no space for the other's long knife to land.

The enemy didn't hesitate long, driven by the sinister power within, choosing to strike Bologue and the man together. The sharp metal tore through the man's body, yet the clear pain made the man laugh instead.

He was very close to Bologue, staring intently, drool and tears running uncontrollably. Before he could bite through Bologue's throat, Bologue shoved him away, followed by a powerful kick to the man's chest, colliding him with the long-knife-wielding enemy behind.

Shouts sounded from behind, but Bologue didn't look back. He leaped towards a side wall, using his foot to spring off it, vaulting to the other side, grabbing a fire escape mounted on the wall, escaping the chaos below.

The two groups collided to a head, all raising their heads, eyes eerily black, reflecting Bologue's silhouette in their deep mirrors.

No words were spoken, only beast-like excited breaths, stacking one on another like a rising sea of sand, attempting to grasp Bologue.

Bologue smiled, provocatively gesturing towards them.

These people were common Demons, without any ether reaction. If Bologue wished, he could completely utilize the Flame of the Cauldron, slaughtering the Demons in an instant.

But this time, Bologue played along with them with great interest, wanting to figure out what these madmen were up to. If possible, it would be best to uncover the enemy behind the scenes.

Bologue didn't mind occasionally chopping down demons to replenish his Soul Shards, but being constantly targeted by such a group of lunatics felt rather uncomfortable.

The enemies climbed up the fire escape ladder, moving closer to Bologue, their footsteps causing the rusty ladder to constantly tremble.

Bologue swung his Heavy Hammer and easily smashed enemy after enemy, their bodies thrown to the ground, shattering into pieces.

Unlike previous attacks against him, this time these madmen were noticeably more numerous. Bologue wondered if it was just an increase in numbers, or was there something more hidden, like a Condenser wielding Extraordinary Power?

Previously, while on assignment with Palmer, Bologue encountered such a scenario, using these worthless demons to test him, only launching an attack once they understood him well enough.

As Bologue thought, he smashed an enemy's skull with the hammer, then followed with a hook punch, crushing another person's nose, blood splattering on his coat, blending into the black.

The weapons used by these people were bizarre, from long knives and daggers to clubs studded with nails, and even rusty steel pipes.

Bologue was adept at using any weapon, or rather, he was skilled at turning anything into a weapon.

Blocking an enemy's arm, Bologue seized him, dragging his body as a shield in front of him, even as another person stabbed forward with a sharp dagger.

The other person didn't care about his companion's life, the dagger pierced through the enemy's abdomen and continued deeper, trying to hurt Bologue behind.

Bologue released the enemy, the sharp dagger protruding from the enemy's back, but just before it touched Bologue, he kicked the enemy away, the body pressing forward and taking a crowd down the fire escape ladder.

Blood flooded the alley lined with sewage, as Bologue, expressionless, corroded the demons, savoring the azure light rising from their corpses.

Bologue had a strange feeling in his heart, a connection between himself and the Devil, a sense known as the umbilical cord pulsating vigorously, warning Bologue.

Ascending the fire escape, onto the rooftop terrace, Bologue didn't wait long before the demons reluctantly followed, covered in blood.

Bologue wasn't just using these demons to pass the time; he was also carefully observing them.

If these demons indeed came from the Unfettered Poetry Society as Lebius mentioned, then for them, observing oneself was a process of recording.

Those pitch-black pupils were like cameras, and Bologue was the actor, being edited into some movie under their filming. So long as they saw him, they could receive endless rewards from the Devil.

Grotesque, twisted joy?

Bologue began to understand this group. If the Sect of Corrupted Apes were merely a group of evil-worshiping cultists, then these people were completely a band of mad lunatics.

The Sheep Horn Hammer in his hand twisted into a long, sharp blade. Bologue shook his clothes, flinging out blood. He wasn't keen on playing with these madmen anymore.

No matter how cruelly he killed them, they could gain sick pleasure from observing him, to satisfy their empty hearts from the Devil.

The more Bologue tangled with them, the more they benefited, even at the cost of their lives.

This felt too bizarre; Bologue didn't like it.

In the moment of passing by, the demon's body split into pieces, the brutal scene failing to halt their advance, those pitch-black eyes fixated on Bologue, advancing heedlessly without pain.

Just as Bologue was about to swing his sword again, a dark figure burst onto the terrace, razor-sharp claws easily reducing the demons to a pool of gore, huge fangs pierced through a demon's throat, blood exploding into a viscous mess as the jaws closed around the head.

A ferocious beast appeared before Bologue, momentarily leaving him unsure of the current situation. Was it a passing colleague from the Field Operations Department, seeing trouble and stepping in to assist him?

Bologue didn't let his guard down; the next second, the beast lunged at him with murderous intent released unrestrained.

It wasn't one of Bologue's colleagues.