Twisted Dreams

Chapter 383 - 451: Desecration

Dusk falls, marking the eighth day since the Night Parade of Hundred Demons.

Ogura Ryouta huddles with his family in the basement, monitoring the situation inside and outside the house through surveillance.

The sky grows darker, and ghost shadows flicker on the surveillance screen.

Fear is evident in Ogura Ryouta’s eyes.

He recalls the terror of that night.

Suddenly, a huge Cat Demon bursts into the house.

This old Cat Demon sniffs the air, instantly detecting the scent of living humans.

An anthropomorphic sneer appears at the corners of its mouth as it charges towards the basement.

Unlike the cute and docile cats, many are the most brutal animals, and after becoming Extraordinary, the old Cat Demon retains its feline nature.

Ogura Ryouta tightly embraces his wife, daughter, and elderly mother.

He isn’t sure if the statue of the Black Ape King is effective.

If it’s not, he should shoulder the responsibility as the head of the family.

Ogura Ryouta picks up a kitchen knife, blocking the basement door, ready to fight at any moment.

Ogura Ryouta’s daughter, Ogura Asuka, suddenly covers her mouth, her eyes full of terror.

The surveillance shows the Cat Demon is already at the basement door.

Stealthily, it assumes a hunting posture.

Cats once hunted mice, but this Cat hunts humans.

At this moment, an agonizing howl echoes.

Followed by the sounds of fierce fighting.

Ogura Ryouta looks at his family in panic and confusion.

His family stares in shock at their phones.

The phone shows the outside surveillance images.

Ogura Ryouta walks over quickly, curious to see the screen.

He sees the Black Ape King, enormous, pounding angrily on the old Cat Demon with its fists.

The old Cat Demon screeches but is no match for the Black Ape King.

After a moment, the battle ends.

The brawl between demons concludes with the larger Black Ape King victorious.

Ogura Asuka smiles with delight at the Black Ape King in the surveillance.

Indeed, this Black Ape King is a Great Demon!

She had seen this Black Ape King in a zoo and thought it was unique.

Later, she heard how those who abused black apes in the zoo died there, realizing this Black Ape King is likely a Great Demon.

Ogura Asuka thinks for a moment, grits her teeth, and heads outside the basement.

Ogura Ryouta widens his eyes, shouting:

"Asuka, what are you doing?!"

Ogura Ryouta knows the Great Demon Ape protected them, but who could say if it won’t eat humans?

Ogura Asuka ignores her father’s protests and exits the basement.

The Black Ape King meets Ogura Asuka’s gaze.

It glances at its statue on the altar and then at the familiar Ogura Asuka, its eyes softening.

Ogura Asuka gulps, slowly reaching a hand out to the Black Ape King.

The Black Ape King similarly stretches out a hand.

The family in the basement watches the scene nervously.

Suddenly, a scream rings out, followed by cries for help.

The sound comes from the neighboring house of Ogura Ryouta’s friend.

Not everyone in East Sakura can acquire talisman papers from the Great Evil Demon King Shrine in a week.

The Great Evil Demon King’s protection doesn’t extend to all civilians.

Ogura Asuka rushes outside, looking towards the neighbor’s balcony.

Her good friend stands on the balcony’s edge, pleading for help, her face full of despair, with a grayish-brown Dog Demon behind her.

Ogura Asuka quickly looks back at the Black Ape King, her eyes carrying sorrow:

"Please, help me."

The Black Ape King understands Ogura Asuka’s meaning, steps out the door, beats its chest, and lets out a long, triumphant howl.

The Dog Demon places its claw on Ogura Asuka’s friend’s abdomen, distracted by the Black Ape King’s voice.

It glances at the Black Ape King, disdain in its eyes.

The Dog Demon doesn’t fear the Black Ape King.

Just as it’s about to gut the girl, a sudden change occurs!

Countless dark shapes leap across the rooftops in the area.

The Dog Demon looks closely, a look of terror in its eyes.

These are all Black Apes!

Bathed in the Blood Moon, they gained Extraordinary Power, becoming demon apes and retaining their respect for the Black Ape King.

The Black Ape King, strictly speaking, is currently a Little Demon King leading nearly a hundred Black Ape Demons!

The Black Demon Apes swarm the Dog Demon like a shoal of fish.

Even if the Dog Demon’s combat power rivals the Black Ape King, it can’t withstand a pack of demons.

The Black Apes quickly kill it, ending the fight.

Ogura Ryouta stares in astonishment at his daughter.

Could worshipping the Great Demon have another benefit?

Establishing a connection with the Great Demon so it becomes a Shikigami for his daughter?

...

In the Imperial Palace, the Empress’s bedroom.

The Empress, in a black silk nightgown, sits on a luxurious sofa, answering a call from the Public Security Bureau.

The harm caused by this Night Parade of Hundred Demons is much less than before.

Households with statues of Great Demons are protected, or deterred demons due to the Great Evil Demon King’s statue, preventing many demons from harming humans.

The Public Security Bureau and City Guard collaborate, ending tonight’s Night Parade of Hundred Demons quickly.

At this rate, the Night Parade will no longer trouble East Sakura, and social order will soon be restored.

A nationwide week-long shutdown has severely impacted East Sakura.

Thankfully, it is finally ending.

The Empress hangs up the call, takes a bottle of sparkling wine from a mini-fridge, pours herself a glass to relieve recent stress.

The Empress suffers from anxiety and hasn’t slept well, staying highly tense all week.

Tonight, she plans to relax with the light intoxication as she rests.

The Empress looks at the Great Evil Demon King’s statue, her gaze complex.

She walks to the altar, lights three incense sticks, placing them in the incense burner:

"Thank you, indeed."

Whether collaborating with the Great Evil Demon King is right or wrong is uncertain.

At least, it seems right for now.

Suddenly, a pitch-black gate opens in the Empress’s bedroom.

She furrows her brows, contemplating reaching for her gun.

However, considering this is the Great Evil Demon King, she abandons the thought, waiting for his arrival from the sofa.

A wild man in a black fur coat steps through the Gate of Hell.

The Empress maintains a calm expression, speaking softly:

"My daughter has been sent to the Great Evil Palace."

Xiaohai’s lips curve into a faint smile:

"Your daughter is very nice, I like her very much."

The Empress frowns.

Remarks like that to a mother are quite nauseating.

Xiaohai draws close to the Empress, enveloping her in his strong masculine presence.

The Empress awkwardly turns her head:

"Does the Great Evil Demon King have any other matters?"

Xiaohai laughs teasingly:

"Don’t forget, you worship me, you should call me lord, or... master."

The Empress’s face flushes with anger, glaring at Xiaohai.

Xiaohai suddenly seizes the Empress’s neck, sniffing near her ear:

"To be honest, I’m growing more fond of you."

The Empress shows fear.

If the Great Evil Demon King wishes to act, she stands no chance of resisting.

Xiaohai releases her, chuckling:

"Worry not, I won’t do anything to you.

Our game has just begun."

The Empress’s heart races.

She feels anger but... also a hint of thrill.

This woman holding imperial power, since her husband’s death, has never been so close to a man.

In her world, no man could conquer the Empress.

Before her stands not a man, but a demon, a tremendously powerful demon.

It’s... somewhat exhilarating.