Chapter 48: Blood Moon, Crisis, Dark Tide!

"I just hope the Queen is in a good mood today and won't go on another random killing spree, or else the palace maids will need to be replaced all over again."

Stepping out of the rather oppressive palace, Zion let out a long breath and muttered to himself.

Ruthless! Decisive! This had always been Zion's initial impression of Bloody Mary, yet it was precisely these exceptional qualities that made him willing to follow her wholeheartedly.

A Star-Rank 3 strength meant virtually nothing in this dark world; he had to attach himself to a powerful entity simply to survive.

"Sigh, why is this human brat named Su Mu so weak? If he were just a bit stronger, wouldn't I be able to enjoy another satisfying cocktail?"

Inside the palace, Bloody Mary let out a bored, upward sigh.

Compared to humans, the lifespan of dark creatures easily spanned millennia.

Therefore, the heritage of the dark realm was far more terrifying than humans could ever imagine, and all human resistance was, in her eyes, nothing more than a joke.

Had it not been for a certain special reason, the human world would have long been completely obliterated by dark creatures.

Every high-ranking dark entity knew that the current stalemate was merely a little game played between the dark world and humanity.

Once that uncertain factor was removed, the entire human world would be swallowed whole by the dark realm in a single bite.

"Damn Ling Tian! If it weren't for that fellow's obstruction, the dark world would have conquered this planet long ago."

Bloody Mary cursed bitterly, her thoughts drifting back to herself.

Over the past five hundred years, aside from her fondness for concocting fine liquors, only slaughter could arouse even a sliver of interest in her.

She loved watching those pathetic humans fall to their knees and beg for mercy beneath her executioner's blade.

They would feel fear, sorrow, despair, and would even betray and tear into one another; all of this filled Bloody Mary with endless fascination.

"Humans are a vile species and deserve total destruction."

In the end, Bloody Mary defined humanity in such terms that in the centuries to follow, she would never show the slightest mercy in any war against them.

"I wonder when the next dark tide will arrive. I can hardly wait to purge these obnoxious bugs."

Bloody Mary took a sip of the fine wine before her and sighed.

She could feel the soul of slaughter awakening within her.

If Catherine did not issue an order soon,

she might just charge out of the castle on her own and slaughter every last human in this region.

Just at that moment,

a curtain of light suddenly materialized before her.

Within the light curtain, Empress Catherine sat high upon a throne inlaid with countless gems, her legs crossed.

Her demeanor and appearance never failed to make Bloody Mary feel utterly inferior.

Reclining casually beside the throne was the Holy Sword of Soul Slaughter, a weapon that struck terror into the hearts of countless human and dark powerhouses alike.

"Greetings, Empress Catherine."

After hesitating for a few seconds, Bloody Mary put down her favorite cocktail and stood up to pay her respects, though she thought viciously in her heart:

"Damn Catherine, why are you so beautiful, why are you so powerful? The day I attain the strength of a divine throne, I will trample you ruthlessly beneath my feet, torment you a hundred ways, and finally brew you into a cocktail to be swallowed in a single gulp."

Bloody Mary indulged in this fantasy; after two hundred years of time, she had long since grown numb to the former majesty of the Empress.

"Bloody Mary, do not go near Wang Yu's territory to conquer it. Otherwise, you and all your subordinates shall be annihilated by my hand."

Catherine's frigid voice cut through Bloody Mary's fantasies like an icy gale.

She suddenly snapped to the realization that Catherine now possessed the strength of a divine throne, while she herself was merely a meager Star-Rank 6. She would likely never catch up to the Empress's footsteps in this lifetime.

What she had just thought was nothing more than a pipe dream.

Panic instantly gripping her, Bloody Mary hurriedly performed a curtsy to the Empress and explained:

"Your Majesty sees all. I had no intention of attacking Wang Yu's territory. I merely thought that our lands should not be occupied so easily by that human lord. I was thinking of executing that human brat Su Mu right now to spare us any further nuisance."

In truth, according to the royal regulations of the dark world,

a chieftain of a small tribe like her was required to kneel when meeting the Empress.

Today, however, the Empress seemed to be in a pleasant mood and overlooked these details.

This brought a massive wave of relief to Bloody Mary.

Every time she knelt before the Empress, it gave her a humiliating sensation, one she seemed to have avoided today.

"Put away your petty cleverness, Bloody Mary!"

"Three days from now, the blood moon will peak, and the dark tide will officially arrive. That is our true opportunity to slaughter humanity."

"Until then, you are not permitted to make any moves. Otherwise, I will kill you and appoint a new lord for your territory."

"As for that weak human named Su Mu, you are not to kill him either. I want you to capture him alive and bring him to my palace to undergo the baptism of darkness."

"I want humans to see with their own eyes how the hero in their eyes becomes a devotee of Catherine. Hahahaha."

Accompanied by Empress Catherine's cold laughter, the light curtain abruptly vanished.

A powerful aura suddenly burst forth from the receding light, forcing Bloody Mary to drop to one single knee on the ground.

It turned out that Empress Catherine had not forgotten the detail after all; she had merely waited until the very end to remind Bloody Mary.

The grand hall fell silent.

The air froze.

The lingering majesty of the Empress still drifted through the atmosphere.

"Damn bitch, always acting so condescending before me. One day, I will trample you to death beneath my feet."

After a moment, Bloody Mary finally caught her breath, straightened her back, stood up, and hurled a fierce curse toward the empty sky.

With a flick of her arm, several maids standing in the four corners of the palace were instantly enveloped in blood-light, their entire lifeblood drained away effortlessly before turning into ash and vanishing into nothingness.

Jealousy drives people mad, and the same held true for dark creatures—especially for Bloody Mary at this moment. Jealousy lashed at her soul like thorny vines, causing her excruciating agony.

"Bloody Mary, watch your tongue. If you dare utter another ill word about the Queen, I will kill you right now."

A deep and sinister voice suddenly echoed through the void.

Bloody Mary swore that even the croaking of the most disgusting three-legged toad in hell would sound ten thousand times more pleasant than this voice.

"Get lost!"

Bloody Mary's fury was instantly ignited.

She spun around sharply, roaring fiercely toward a certain spot in the sky outside the castle.

"You spineless dog, crawl back to your lair! My affairs as Bloody Mary are none of your concern."

"If we weren't both servants of the Queen, I would tear you to pieces right now!"

Following this roar, a black vortex suddenly ripped open across the sky, with blood-red lightning flashing within its depths.

Bloody Mary's strength was displayed in full force. She was warning that meddlesome wretch not to poke his nose into her business, or else the consequences would be grim.

Seemingly intimidated by Bloody Mary's might, or perhaps simply wishing to avoid a fight, the voice fell silent. After a moment, even its aura vanished completely.

"Damned human traitor!"

Bloody Mary cursed bitterly once more before returning to her seat. She picked up her cup of Bloody Mary and downed it in a single gulp. The rich and crisp flavor compelled her to let out a sigh of utmost comfort.

Only then did her agitated mood slightly calm down, and she began to seriously ponder the mission assigned to her by Catherine.