Chapter 286: The Pleasure of Torture and Being Tortured

Franz stared at Afreya, who remained completely unharmed, his heart pounding with alarm. This wasn't just ordinary healing—it was a regenerative power only possessed by the gods… No, it was something even more terrifying. He gritted his teeth. This battle was going to be far more difficult than he had imagined.

At that moment, the vast army of the Graham Empire had already surrounded Afreya. Tens of thousands of soldiers stood in formation, spears, arrows, and magic cannons at the ready. A chilling aura of murderous intent filled the air. Further in the distance, the other princes and princesses had also arrived, standing atop their respective towers, watching the scene unfold.

Franz raised his longsword high and issued a cold order:"All units—attack together! Eliminate the gods!"

In an instant, the empire's entire arsenal of long-range weapons fired simultaneously.

The combined might of thousands of soldiers erupted like a violent storm. Waves of fire, frost, lightning, and sword light rained down on the tower where Afreya stood. Explosions echoed continuously, deafeningly loud. The night sky was torn apart by multicolored flashes, and the battlefield seemed to transform into a hellish inferno. Franz stood not far away, his gaze coldly fixed on the tower where Afreya stood.

Franz narrowed his eyes, his expression icy as he murmured,"Don't think that being a god makes you truly invincible… You're nothing more than humans with enhanced regeneration. Even hell has its limits!"

The bombardment continued for a full ten minutes. The entire Graham Empire trembled under the fierce assault. The tower was reduced to ruins, and the surrounding palaces were obliterated as well. Smoke and dust filled the air, fragments of debris scattered everywhere, and even the air itself seemed distorted by the intense heat.

Finally, Franz slowly raised his hand, signaling a ceasefire.

All attacks immediately halted. The soldiers stood silently, waiting for the smoke to clear.

As the dust settled, the figure that emerged from the charred ground made everyone gasp in horror.

In the middle of the scorched earth stood a twisted figure.

It was a woman—her body burned black, skin cracked and peeling, flesh mangled and exposed. Her trembling legs barely supported her, but somehow, she remained standing. Soldiers around her couldn't help but recoil, some even dropping to their knees, cold sweat sliding down their faces.

How is she still alive?!

Franz sneered, stepping forward with a sinister tone:"Even without Fred, the Graham Empire—"

Before he could finish speaking, a horrifying sight unfolded.

The burnt layer of flesh on Afreya's body… began to peel away.

Crack—Like fractured porcelain, the blackened skin fell away piece by piece. Beneath the dead flesh emerged pristine, unblemished skin—smooth and pale like fine jade. Even the wounds from the earlier bombardment had vanished without a trace.

With elegant movements, Afreya stretched her shoulder, then casually tidied her disheveled black hair.

She licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with both madness and allure. She exhaled, her sultry smile curling into a seductive whisper:"I prefer delicate, prolonged torment… mindless bombing isn't my style."

—Absolute silence.

The soldiers couldn't utter a single word. Their faces were pale, and some trembled so violently that their knees buckled.

How can she still be alive?!

Franz's face darkened, his fingers curling tightly around his sword. The oppressive weight in his chest deepened. So this is the power of the gods?

Afreyra tilted her head slightly, her smile deepening."Gods are just another type of human… so…"

Afreyra's smile sharpened as her hands intertwined, a sinister pink light coiling between her fingers. It twisted like silk, eventually solidifying into a transparent pink whip.

She lifted her chin slightly, licking her lips."It's only fair that I return the favor, don't you think?"

Franz's expression changed instantly. He shouted:"Everyone—on guard!"

But at the very moment his command echoed through the battlefield, Afreya was already moving.

With a flick of her wrist, the pink whip slithered through the air like a living snake. Trails of iridescent light followed its path as it curved elegantly in the night sky.

Her movements were like a graceful dancer's—each step fluid and refined. The whip extended endlessly in her hand, shimmering under the moonlight.

"[Mark of Love]."

Suddenly, the whip descended. The pink light stretched across the battlefield, as though it could touch the heavens themselves.

Slash—!

With a single flick, the whip tore through the air.

It was an attack so fast and precise that no one could react. The whip's trajectory formed a perfect, mesmerizing arc—like the intertwined fingers of lovers in an intimate embrace.

But the outcome was horrifying.

Any soldier touched by the whip exploded instantly, reduced to fragments of flesh and blood. The battlefield was painted crimson as rain-like splatters of blood filled the air. The precise, calculated elegance of each strike mirrored the steps of a deadly dance.

The empire was filled with wails of agony. Blood and viscera littered the ground as if hell itself had been unleashed.

"This… this power…"A prince standing in a nearby tower trembled violently. His voice was shaky as he muttered,"It's stronger than the combined might of all our attacks earlier… How is this possible?!"

Franz's pupils shrank as a terrifying realization crept into his mind.

"Could it be…"

His whole body stiffened as the dreadful possibility dawned on him.

"She absorbed our attacks… and then reflected them back at us?!"

Afreyra's gaze gleamed with excitement as she pressed a finger to her lips, her sharp grin widening. Her laughter was delicate yet disturbing, like a broken melody.

Her tongue brushed over her lips, as if savoring the taste of blood lingering in the air.

The whip in her hand continued to pulse and sway, as though alive and hunting for its next victim. Every flick of her wrist sought out the weakest, the most vulnerable soldiers—and cut them down mercilessly. Flesh burst, bones shattered, and soldiers barely had time to scream before they were reduced to bloody shreds.

"Ahaha… ahahahaha…"Afreyra tilted her head, her crazed eyes sparkling with a dangerous light. Her soft voice, despite its sweetness, sent chills down everyone's spine."This feeling… it's truly… amazing."

Franz's eyes widened in rage as he roared:"Felix! Brownie! What are you waiting for? Do you want the Graham Empire to be destroyed?!"

Felix and Brownie jolted, realizing the severity of the situation. They knew if they hesitated now, not only the empire—but their own lives—would be forfeit.

Without hesitation, they raised their swords and charged straight toward Afreyra!

But the pink whip twisted suddenly—like a snake sensing danger. It coiled and struck with deadly precision, parrying their swords effortlessly.

Clang—!

Sparks erupted from the clash of steel and magic.

Felix and Brownie's strikes were relentless, but Afreya's whip blocked them every time with impeccable precision, leaving them unable to close the distance.

Afreyra licked her fingertip, eyes glinting with sinister amusement."Hmm… you're a little stronger than the others."Her smile darkened."But only a little."