Chapter 212: Alteration

"Where is Princess Mei Mei? Give her back to me!"

After a brief rest, Pudding and the group of cat spirits finally regained their strength.

Part of the reason is that the witch cat's spell caused little direct harm—it mainly drained physical stamina.

The witch cat had now been reversed by Tally, revealing her true form.

She was a cat spirit with pure white fur.

While covered in the same fur as other cat spirits, her facial contours leaned slightly toward human features.

She resembled some of the furries Luo De had seen on Earth.

Perhaps she'd be beloved by those with particular tastes?

In response to Pudding's accusation, the witch cat sneered dismissively.

"Hmph! Do you have any idea who I am? Even if you put a sword to my head, I won't submit!"

Pudding flew into a rage and drew his sword, advancing.

Seeing his seriousness, the witch cat flinched and slid to her knees with a thud: "I'll lead the way!"

Luo De: (。_。)

Perfect. Exactly as I expected of students from Bahadur Magic Academy.

Whether it was that time in the Jade City's open-air maze or the plague mage Amel we encountered—none of them had even a shred of boss potential!

They talk so noble and powerful, but in reality, their behavior is like flies circling rotting meat, never leaving.

But thanks to their weakness and willingness to compromise, they rarely need much interrogation—they spill everything themselves.

The witch cat named a location: a hidden cave on Witch Peak used to imprison prisoners.

Eager to save his beloved, Pudding forced himself to summon one last breath and set out again with the soldiers.

Seeing he didn't even ask where the dragon body materials were, Luo De wanted to kick this love-struck fool.

He had no choice but to ask himself.

"Dragon body materials? What dragon body materials?"

The witch cat looked puzzled.

Had she not slid to her knees so quickly, Luo De might have thought she was lying.

But her expression didn't seem fake.

"Heh, your subordinate, the headless knight Mimi, clearly said earlier last night that the dragon body materials are with you, Tally. Bring out Mimi's head."

The succubus obeyed, reaching for Mimi's head, yet her expression remained confused.

"But Master, what are dragon body materials?"

Luo De froze.

When it comes to serious matters, Tally never lies.

"So you don't know either."

He held up the headless knight Mimi's head and asked the same question—received the same answer.

Luo De asked Pudding and the other cat spirits again.

None of them knew what dragon body materials were, nor did they remember any treasure had been stolen from the palace.

"Huh. A mental spell? Interesting."

Normally, mental spells inflict near-zero damage on me, but I always notice them.

This kind of spell—subtle, silent, invisible—altering everyone's thoughts without a trace—I've never encountered anything like it.

More interesting still: the witch cat's own memories had been altered by the same mental spell.

But Luo De had no intention of intervening further in this matter.

He decided to let things unfold naturally.

Still, he reminded Tally—and she, of course, unhesitatingly trusted her master.

Soon.

The group of cats marched forward and soon reached the secret cave the witch cat had indicated.

It was a massive cavern directly inside the mountain, where two peaks met above the entrance; up close, the sky showed only a thin line.

Upon entering, it was pitch black—no sight at all. After walking a hundred meters over moss-covered, slippery rocks, faint light seeped from the ceiling, allowing them to see vaguely.

Cat spirits naturally have night vision; Luo De's 【Guardian Veil】 had this ability too; Tally, of course, possessed it by virtue of her demonic bloodline.

So the group pressed deeper into the cave without needing torches.

After advancing several dozen steps, they finally saw a natural cavern chamber ahead.

Inside, firelight flickered, and a cat spirit clad in fine robes was curled up, her back turned.

Soft, muffled sobs echoed from within.

Pudding cried out joyfully: "It's Princess Mei Mei!"

He dashed ahead, and the other soldiers exchanged glances before following.

The witch cat and Duke Andy were left behind.

Duke Andy had fallen into a puddle of sewage, and his overly long fur immediately made him look disheveled.

He shouted: "Witch Cat! You betrayed us! You failed to protect my love for Princess Mei Mei!"

"Your love? Hahaha! Compared to the future of all cat spirits, what is your love worth?"

Watching all the cat spirits enter the cavern chamber, the witch cat burst into laughter.

Then she cast 【Release the Bonds】, and the shadow ribbons binding her instantly loosened.

She leapt free and swept a wide-area 【Ink Cloud Technique】 toward Luo De.

Tally instantly appeared beside her master and pulled him into the shadows.

When they reappeared, she saw magical energy lines forming a ritual pattern on the ground.

"Master…"

"Yes, I know."

BOOM!!

Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted from the cavern chamber.

Simultaneously, the cat spirits screamed in agony.

The cavern walls shattered, and cat spirits were blasted outward by the shockwave.

The violent explosion shook the cavern, making the unstable stalactites above crack and fall with sharp snaps.

The witch cat laughed wildly, using 【Levitation】 to rise to the cavern ceiling.

"Foolish Royal Knights, and you, foolish Dragon Emissary—did you really think I'd be captured so easily?!"

Luo De smiled silently.

Duke Andy cheered from the ground:

"Witch Cat! I knew I could count on you! Free me, let's fight together!"

"Shut up! Stupid, lust-crazed Duke Andy—do you really think Princess Mei Mei, a noble soul, would elope with a filthy, shedding, urine-spraying creature like you?!"

"Wh-what?"

The witch cat sneered, spreading her arms toward the ceiling.

"Come forth! Princess Mei Mei! Our glorious divine ascension plan, sisters!"

She channeled her magic, and the ritual lines on the ground blazed with intense light.

Luo De silently shook his head.

Ascension to godhood? By a sixth-rank beginner mage?

The witch cat saw his expression and laughed: "The defeated eat dust, Dragon Emissary—prepare to become our nourishment."

As she spoke, 【Spatial Teleportation】 rippled beneath her feet—she intended to escape the ritual's range.

But the next instant—

A burst of fire erupted from her chest with a bang.

The powerful explosion blasted her backward, slamming her into the cavern wall, then rolling her helplessly onto the ground.

The witch cat struggled to rise, her face filled with disbelief.

Trembling, she pulled from her chest a half-destroyed crystal box.

She stared, utterly stunned.

"H-how? Why?"

Luo De strode forward and snatched the crystal box.

He immediately saw the inscription: "To My Best Sister, Witch Cat."

(End of Chapter)