Chapter 245: The Chameleon Demoness Jima
Jima had been running for two days, and the number of crows pursuing her was increasing. Even though her curses and the wails of her succubus form could clear away these weak creatures, her speed was slowing down, and her wounds were multiplying.
She was missing half an ear, had a deep wound on her arm that exposed bone, a hole the size of a basketball in her wing… Fortunately, these wounds had healed without leaving any lasting disabilities.
In the Dream Palace, Jima, George, and Frostleaf met.
Jima was slightly out of breath, lying in a chair, her face pale, suffering from anemia due to the prolonged use of the “Blood Horn Cup.” Her forearm was wrapped in a bundle of bandages soaked with green ointment, and the medicinal juice was seeping out.
She did not have her usual “evil vitality,” as if moving even a finger would deplete her life and strength.
George looked at her with great concern and asked, “Where are you now? I can organize a small team to come to your aid.”
“Very far,” Jima replied weakly. “I can’t fly to Kuenass Castle; it’s already surrounded by hordes of beastmen. I’m using divination to pinpoint the location of my pursuers while constantly adjusting my escape route.”
“But the crows keep harassing me. Every time I need to rest, I have to evade their watchful eyes, which consumes a lot of magical energy. I feel like prey being chased by a pack of wolves, their howls and attacks keep me from resting, depleting my magic and tormenting me to exhaustion.”
Jima took another breath and said, “I’ll launch a deadly counterattack in the end.”
Eve Frostleaf confirmed that Jima was truly injured and fatigued. Unlike before, Eve, wearing casual clothes with a knee-length skirt and long legs embroidered with gold threads, noticed that Jima wasn’t gazing at her legs like she used to.
Jima lay on the lounge chair; her figure looked so thin that it seemed a gust of wind could carry her soul away.
Eve Frostleaf looked at the demoness with pity, feeling that she wasn’t really that bad.
Of course, she still had her usual cold expression, lacking any discernible emotion. She said:
“Call me to eliminate the crows.”
“That’s useless,” Jima replied. “If I kill one group, the remaining crows will scatter and flee. Summoning you will only waste magical energy. It’s better for you to slay some beastmen on the city walls.”
George said, “If the situation worsens, just abandon the Demon King’s extraordinary material and don’t worry about anything else.”
Jima smiled and countered, “What about the lives of over twenty thousand people in Kuenass?”
George shook his head. “If you die, the result will be the same, and you have no responsibility to ensure their safety.”
But that responsibility rests on your shoulders.
Jima spoke, “Remember our agreement.”
“I will.”
Jima slightly raised her hand, and a barely legible map appeared before the three of them, with several red arrows representing her pursuers, aggressively aimed at her: “This is what the situation roughly looks like now.”
George pointed at the arrows behind Jima: “You are almost about to be intercepted.”
“Fortunately, their communication methods are poor.”
“You should still consider abandoning the Demon King’s extraordinary material.”
Jima instinctively found it hard to part with the Demon King’s extraordinary material and immediately replied, “I will make my own judgment.”
“They have extraordinary items that can stop you from entering the dream world. At that time, you won’t be able to escape.”
“Trust me,” Jima said. “I have a plan. As long as it succeeds, I can continue to escape. If it fails, then I’ll have to consider abandoning the Demon King’s extraordinary material.”
“What is the plan?”
“To bite back.” Jima’s complexion slightly brightened as she raised her finger. A wooden stick floated, pointing at a red arrow with the words “Dark Elf Balsa” written on it. “Steal the dreamcatcher and kill the dark elves.”
The red arrow was surrounded by several other arrows. To George, they resembled spearheads in a phalanx. Jima said that she wanted to reach out and break one of the long spears.
“No,” George said. “That’s gambling with your life.”
“The initiative is in my hands,” Jima said. “The enemy doesn’t know I can summon people; they won’t expect you to suddenly appear beside me.”
“But the Mother of All Beasts, she can teleport.”
“She relies on the great tree to teleport, and the conditions are quite strict. It’s only been a few days; she surely can’t teleport again.”
Jima’s already pale face flushed with a burst of color. She breathed quickly, looking like a gambler. “As long as we find a nearby place without old trees, we can ambush that dark elf and take her down. Then I can worry about nothing.”
“And…” Jima continued to speak of her victorious outcomes, “If even this elite squad of dark elves can be completely annihilated, the remaining teams hunting me will definitely be extra cautious, objectively reducing their hunting efficiency.”
“You are gambling with your life, Jima.”
“What’s there to be afraid of? Aren’t you here?” Jima said. “You will protect me like before, right?”
George thought about that day when Jima nearly died from a dark elf’s crossbow bolt. “In battle, no one can guarantee anything.”
“But I trust you.” Jima sat up straight, lifted her hand, and mimicked Eve Frostleaf’s way of persuading, saying, “This way, over twenty thousand lives will have a chance to survive.”
George asked, “Are you doing this to secure the Demon King’s extraordinary material, or for the lives of over twenty thousand people?”
Jima paused for a moment; she realized now that she had an attachment to the Demon King’s extraordinary material that was hard to shake off.
Her heated mind cooled for a moment as she pondered her plan, realizing she could not guarantee victory—George was right; nothing was ever certain in battle.
But the memories of the Demon King surged alive in her mind. She recalled how the Demon King Jima led the demon cavalry, using mobility to turn the tide of battle, turning a disadvantage into an advantage through sheer force. The thrill of victory surged up her leg, enough to pierce through Jima’s caution.
It was as if she experienced it herself.
She said, “I’ve reviewed the plan and believe there’s no problem.”
George asked, “As long as they don’t stray from their formation and directly attempt to escape, it would be difficult for us to eliminate them.”
“They will make mistakes,” Jima replied. “Humans cannot maintain rationality at all times; we are emotional beings, and I can manipulate emotions to make them err. I have been laying the groundwork for victory with my curses, stirring their desires.”
George shook his head.
“George!” Jima said. “I’m not a child.”
“You must agree to one condition.”
“What condition?”
“If we fail, immediately hand the Demon King’s extraordinary material over to me,” George said. “I’ll throw it far away.”
“Okay.” Jima’s eyes turned, “But I will determine the battle situation; my military skill is better than yours.”
“No, I will.” George’s tone was undeniable as his bright blue eyes looked at Jima. She felt an inexplicable sense of authority, as if she were a defendant in court. He continued, “I have plenty of experience in small-scale extraordinary battles.”
Jima’s defiance softened, “Fine.”
After making the agreement, Jima felt regret. Many times, one truly needs to take risks to reap the fruits of victory. Would George take the risk?
So, she said again, “George, you carry the lives of over twenty thousand mortals on your shoulders.”
At that moment, Jima seemed to become the caring demoness concerned for the lives of the populace once again.
George nodded.
“Well, since everyone has agreed, that’s enough for now.” Jima issued her dismissal: “Every bit of my magical energy is precious.”
George and Frostleaf stood up to leave. As Frostleaf passed by Jima, she gently murmured, “Be careful.”
Jima turned her head in surprise; Frostleaf’s silhouette remained distant and unapproachable.
The two vanished from the Dream Palace.
“Finally, they’re gone.” Jima jumped up from the lounge chair, stretched, and said, “It seems that playing the pity card has surprisingly worked on tall legs; at least now they don’t guard against me like a thief anymore.”
As she spoke, she reached out to grab a floating snack bag, threw it in her mouth, and called for a mirror.
The mirror revealed the image of a black-haired demoness with a somewhat youthful face, large and bright black eyes, ink-like hair, and a touch of allure in her features. She raised one long leg and rested it on the table’s edge, cupping her face as she studied her reflection, smiling and saying:
“What a beautiful person; who could refuse to share a bed with her?”
After saying this, she couldn’t help but let out a giggle.
At this moment, Jima sensed that a guest was about to visit.
She promptly lay back on the lounge chair, saw that her face in the mirror was flushed with color, and immediately took hold of the Blood Horn Cup for a moment.
The color in her face faded again, returning to a pallid state.
Soon, a silver-robed figure with a gold-trimmed white hood, the imposing Saintess Jenna, appeared in the Dream Palace. She looked fatigued and, upon seeing Jima lying sickly in the chair, exclaimed:
“Jima! What happened to you?”
Jima gasped out a few words, “My dear sister… The Mother of All Beasts is truly suppressing me comprehensively; her curses and the killer crows torment me relentlessly.”
“I’ll help you take a look.”
“Please be gentle with me.”
“Okay.” Saintess Jenna gently helped Jima sit up, allowing her to lean against herself. “Let me check you.”
“Can I rely on you here?”
“What are you saying? We’ve all gone through the same things with George; don’t be so formal.”
“Alright.” Jima nestled closer.
“Your horn is too hard.”
“I’ll move my head.”
“Uh, you can be a bit firmer when applying the oil; hmm, thank you, Jenna.”
“You’re welcome. Your injuries aren’t that serious. But be careful, don’t take injuries lightly just because you have me to heal you.”
“I won’t, Jenna.” Jima cuddled up closer, “I’m sorry, but I haven’t had enough magic to let you and George meet recently.”
“What are you saying? Jima is currently in battle.”
“I really want to hold you and sleep,” Jima confessed. “I’m being hunted every day and sleeping alone in a cold cave, scared and worried.”
Jenna hugged Jima tightly. “Alright.”
At that moment, Jima’s magical energy became less precious again.
Unfortunately, an unexpected incident interrupted Jima’s plan.
The Mother of All Beasts divined the location of the Demon King’s extraordinary material once again. After barely resting for less than three hours, Jima had to leave the Dream Palace and continue her escape with the Demon King’s extraordinary material.
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I was wrong! When I opened the backend last night, oh my god, over two hundred more monthly votes came in a day; it was a great ambush failure! Readers seem to have so much stock. I will start double updates tomorrow.
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