In the next moment, her body pulsed with a soft golden light, and the ancient runes injected by Ricky surged upward toward her head. The aiji at the center of her forehead began to tremble, followed by the slow emergence of a star-shaped symbol that glowed faintly.
Ricky felt something intangible tethered between him and the woman—like an invisible thread of dominance. He was in complete control of that connection. With just a thought, he knew… he could erase her from existence.
At the same time, the Mother and Son skill on his interface dulled to gray.
It appeared the skill could only be used once a year.
Ricky fluttered off her body and rose higher to get a better view.
Now that his life was no longer in immediate danger, he could finally observe her clearly.
Before him stood a naked woman with proportions so perfect it bordered on divine.
Jade-smooth glowing skin, blemishless and radiant. Phoenix-like angular eyes. A slightly pointed nose. Purple hair that cascaded like a shimmering waterfall down her back.
Thighs so thick they looked carved from fantasy—strong enough to crush, soft enough to tempt.
Ricky had to admit—this woman was the kind of beauty men would sell their souls for.
As he stared, Noctyss's eyelashes fluttered slightly.
The illusion was breaking.
…
"No! Don't kill my mommy.."
"Waaah! Evil men, let my little sister go, or heaven will strike you down!"
A little girl, barely five or six years old, wailed at the top of her lungs. Her porcelain face bore a slap mark, and her once-white frock was stained with crimson.
She stood in the corner of the room, shivering.
A short distance away, a girl with a strikingly similar face lay motionless.
"Hehehe…"
Twisted laughter echoed through the chamber.
"Brother, stop! Let me have a turn!"
"Shut up, bastard. Go play with the doll."
A group of men cackled like demons, their bare bodies drenched in sweat and sin. Beneath one of them, a naked woman lay pinned, her eyes rolling back, despair etched into every line of her face.
Suddenly, the woman turned her bloodied gaze toward the young girl in the corner and muttered weakly:
"Run… Noctyss… run…"
She hadn't even finished before a meaty hand clamped her mouth shut, and more barbaric laughter filled the room.
As the woman watched in horror, a man turned toward the little girl, licking his lips like a predator.
…
Huff! Huff!
Noctyss's eyes flew open.
Rage blazed in them so violently that the very air around her quivered.
Ricky, who had been watching closely, felt his spiritual field tighten from the pressure. Her gaze—searing, disgusted—landed on him like a dagger.
Noctyss's chest rose and fell in fury as she scanned her surroundings, her instincts on full alert.
To have someone force her to relive that memory—how dare they?
She didn't know who had done it, but her instincts screamed it had something to do with the damn mosquito.
Her fingers twitched with the desire to flay him alive.
"Where—?"
Her eyes snapped toward him instantly.
But the moment she locked onto Ricky's figure, something changed.
He no longer felt as fragile as before.
Then the cold air brushing against her skin finally registered.
"Skin…?" Noctyss's eyes widened in horror.
Her power—her everything—was gone.
Even without her Demon Queen Divinity, her soul had once stood at the pinnacle of Stage 4. Now it felt no stronger than when she first embarked on the path of cultivation.
She had been reduced to a lowly Stage 2.
"How is this possible…"
Shock gripped her mind like an icy vise.
To strip her of her power so utterly, without resistance… whoever had done this was beyond Stage 4.
Far, far beyond.
As that realization sank in, the bloodthirst in her gaze faded—replaced by something colder.
Caution.
The mosquito… had terrifying backing.
She remained silent, studying Ricky with narrowed eyes, not daring to act recklessly.
Ricky watched every subtle shift in her expression, saying nothing. He only let out a faint sigh of relief when the malice finally disappeared from her gaze.
Slowly, he rose higher and flew toward the broken stone courtyard, his voice calm but firm.
"Follow me."
The commotion Noctyss had caused was enough to draw attention. He needed to move before curious eyes arrived.
Noctyss blinked.
Was… was that a command?
"He's ordering me…?"
Her pride flared, and she prepared to snort coldly—
But the next moment, her body began to move on its own.
She followed behind the mosquito.
Like a loyal pet following its master.
"This can't be…"
Her breath stagnated. Her heart felt like it had been clutched in an icy fist.
She no longer had control over her own body.
She had become the puppet of the pest in front of her.
She wanted to scream. To rage. To rip open the skies and burn everything until she understood what was going on.
But she held back.
She needed answers.
And she wasn't certain that mysterious entity had truly left yet.
…
So, under the light of the rising sun, one small mosquito fluttered forward—followed closely by a naked woman walking silently across the rubble of Harrier Village.
Ricky would occasionally look back to confirm Noctyss was still behind him.
And each time, his eyes would fall on her jiggling melons.
He'd gulp.
Thankfully, he was a mosquito now. If he'd been human, he might've already combusted on the spot.
Yet beneath the slight awkwardness, a cold fear stirred in his heart.
The effect of the Mother and Son skill…
What if one day, someone used something like this… on him?
Ricky shivered he didn't even want to imagine such a scenario.