3

I spent a bag of gold coins.

That was all our savings over the years.

I pressed it into the jailer's hand. "Let me see her."

The jailer weighed the bag and smiled greedily. "Ten minutes only."

"That's enough."

He led me through the dark corridor.

Torches on the walls cast weak light on the damp stone walls.

The air reeked of mold and blood.

There were cells on both sides of the corridor.

As we passed one cell, a prisoner suddenly lunged at the bars, reaching out with withered hands trying to grab me.

"Save me... please..." His voice was hoarse and barely audible.

The jailer struck the bars hard with his stick. "Quiet!"

The prisoner screamed and shrank back.

"She's at the very end." The jailer stopped before an iron door. "Remember, only ten minutes. Extra time costs ten more gold coins."

I didn't respond.

He opened the door.

I walked in.

The cell was small, only a few square meters.

Moldy straw lay in the corner, giving off a foul smell.

A pool of black liquid was on the floor—whether blood or something else, I couldn't tell.

Alice hung from the wall in chains.

Her wrists were tightly locked in iron cuffs, her entire body suspended by the chains.

Some wounds were still bleeding.

Others had scabbed over but were torn open again.

Her face also bore wounds.

A bloody mark ran from forehead to cheek, marring her once-beautiful face horrifically.

Her left cheek was swollen so badly she could barely open her eye.

Her mouth was split too, crusted with blood.

But what pained me most...

Was the look in her eyes.

Those once clear, bright eyes now appeared dim and lifeless.

As if all hope had been lost.

"Kevin..." She lifted her head, saw me, and forced a smile. "You came..."

I quickly moved forward and released the chains from her hands.

The moment the chains loosened, her body went limp and collapsed into my arms.

"I'm sorry." I held her tight, my voice trembling. "I'm sorry..."

"It's not your fault..." she said weakly, her voice hoarse and barely audible. "I believe... God will prove my innocence..."

Something stabbed hard at my chest.

The pain was almost unbearable.

The seal loosened again.

Golden blood slid down my chest and dripped to the floor.

"Three minutes left," the jailer shouted from outside.

"What did they do to you..." My voice trembled, afraid to imagine the possibilities.

"Nothing." Alice shook her head, but tears still fell. "They just wanted me to admit... admit I harmed little Thomas..."

"But I didn't."

"I really didn't."

As she spoke, her body began trembling violently.

"Kevin... I really didn't harm that child."

"I saved him."

She cried until she couldn't catch her breath, curling up in my arms.

I held her tighter.

Not knowing what to say.

Because I didn't know the answer either.

Perhaps...

This is human nature.

Self-preservation.

Protecting oneself.

As long as they're not the ones suffering, others' injustices don't matter.

"Kevin..." Alice suddenly gripped my clothes tighter. "I'm so cold."

I took off my coat and draped it over her.

But she still shivered.

"Two minutes left," the jailer's voice came again.

Just then.

Footsteps sounded.

Heavy.

Rhythmic.

Along with the clang of metal.

Marcus had arrived.

He entered the dungeon, holding a gem-encrusted staff.

Two Church guards followed behind.

Seeing me, he stopped.

"What a touching scene." He stood outside the cell, his face mocking. "Too bad time is running out."

I stood up, blocking Alice.

"Move aside." Marcus waved his hand. "I have words for this witch."

"She's not a witch."

"Whether she is or not will soon be revealed." Marcus smiled. "Tomorrow's lake trial will prove everything."

"And..." His gaze moved past me to Alice. "If she's truly innocent, God will let her float. If she's guilty, it's God's will."

"This is murder."

"Murder?" Marcus shook his head. "This is divine judgment."

"Time's up." The jailer entered and grabbed my arm. "Out you go."

"Wait—" I tried to break free.

But another guard entered too, and together with the jailer, they dragged me toward the door.

"Kevin!" Alice tried to stand but was held back by the chains, able only to kneel.

I was dragged into the corridor.

But I could hear the sounds from the cell.

Marcus walked in, the door closing behind him.

"Alice..." His voice was gentle, like coaxing a child. "You have one last chance."

"Just agree to be my woman, and I'll let you out."

"I can even give you a formal position."

"Make you the Church's most honored nun."

"Think about it—you'll have a beautiful room, a soft bed, exquisite food."

"You won't have to stay in this filthy dungeon anymore."

"No more suffering."

Silence.

Then Alice's voice.

Weak, but firm.

"Bah!"

"You scoundrel!"

"Even if I die, I won't let you have your way!"

Marcus's voice turned cold. "You love that waste so much?"

"He's my husband!" Alice shouted. "He's ten thousand times better than a hypocrite like you!"

"Hahaha." Marcus laughed. "Such spirit."

"But I like it."

"The more spirited a woman, the more satisfying to conquer."

"Dream on!"

"Is that so?" Marcus's voice turned sinister. "Then go ahead and die."

"And that waste of a husband can only watch."

"Bitch!" Marcus's voice filled with rage. "Ungrateful wretch!"

"Who do you think you are?"

"Just a country woman!"

"Being noticed by me is your blessing!"

"Since you don't appreciate it, don't blame me!"

He patted my shoulder.

"You waste, you can only watch her drown."

"Remember."

"Tomorrow at the lake trial, I'll have you stand in front."

"So you can clearly see how your wife struggles in the water."

"How she desperately reaches out for help."

"How she slowly sinks to the lake bottom."

"And then..."

He laughed even more maniacally.

"Completely dies."

With that, he left the dungeon laughing.

His laughter echoed through the corridor.

"Time's up, get out."

The jailer roughly dragged Alice up and rehung her with chains on the wall.

Alice let out a pained moan.

"Careful!" I roared.

"Shut up!" The jailer glared at me. "One more word and you'll never get in again!"

I could only watch helplessly.

"Kevin..." She looked at me, eyes full of despair. "Remember, I love you..."

"I love you too."

"Tomorrow, if I really die, don't avenge me."

"Why?"

"Because..." She cried and smiled. "I don't want you to become a murderous demon because of me."

"I just want you to remember."

"Remember our days together."

"Remember that I loved you..."

"Promise me... okay?"

I didn't answer.

Just looked at her deeply.

Then turned and left.

As I walked out of the dungeon...

The seal on my chest...

The crack had spread across most of it.

Golden divine power continuously seeped from the crack.

---

Meanwhile.

In the distant demon realm abyss.

A massive figure on the dark throne suddenly opened its eyes.

"This aura..."

The Demon King stood up.

He was ten meters tall, his entire body wrapped in black demonic energy.

Twisted horns grew from his head, and tattered black wings spread from his back.

His voice echoed throughout the abyss:

"It's Kevin!"

"His seal is loosening!"

"And..." He sensed that aura, excitement flashing in his eyes. "The seal is about to shatter!"

Ten years.

Since that great battle, Kevin had disappeared into the mortal realm.

The Demon King had been waiting.

Waiting for Kevin to expose his location.

Waiting for Kevin to show weakness.

And now...

The opportunity had finally come.

"Ten years! I've finally found you!" The Demon King laughed maniacally, his voice shaking the entire abyss.

"When your seal completely breaks, that's when you'll be most vulnerable!"

"Your divine power will be entirely used to reconstruct your body!"

"You'll have no strength left to defend!"

"I'll kill you with my own hands!"

"Avenge the humiliation from ten years ago!"

He raised his hand.

The void tore open.

A rift to the mortal realm appeared.

Black demonic energy began pouring into the human world.

"Kevin..."

"I'm coming."