Hyperion and Her Aunt Have Broken Down

Lightning tore through the rainstorm outside the window, illuminating the faces of everyone in the bedroom as bright as day. "Meow~" The little black cat on the sofa stretched lazily once more, slowly opening its drowsy eyes. It didn't understand why daylight had already arrived. Looking up, it realized someone had turned on the bedroom lights. Boss Cat dazedly lifted its little head, groggily looking around. It blinked languidly, originally intending to turn off the lights and go back to sleep. *Rumble!!* When Boss Cat clearly took in the scene before it, its fur puffed out in sheer fright, and with a whoosh, it leaped right off the sofa. Several figures, both unfamiliar and familiar, were locked in a tense standoff in the room. Worst of all— In its daze, it had heard someone shout Hyperion's name. That didn't seem to be an illusion. Looking closely at the figure at the foot of the bed, her silhouette was identical to Hyperion's. And the distinctive scorpion-tail dagger at her feet was none other than Hyperion's family heirloom. Boss Cat immediately felt that all was lost. Terrified, it scrambled backward until it flattened itself against the wall like a cat pancake, standing upright as it stared at this utterly horrifying disaster. *This is impossible...* *Hyperion couldn't possibly be here.* Boss Cat repeatedly wondered whether this was a nightmare. Time in the bedroom seemed to freeze under this standoff, while outside, the rainstorm raged on with frenzied fury. "..." No one dared to speak. With every flash of lightning, brilliant blue-white glare was cast into the room, bathing everyone's faces in alternating turns of violent radiance and the dim lamplight that followed. Then, thunder roared like a furious colossus, violently rattling the windows and doors, echoing through the spacious master bedroom. The storm swept through the streets of Saint Creti Monastery. Rain hammered against the villa's windows as if ten thousand soldiers and horses were eager to storm Lanqi's home. Water streamed down the glass, intermittently blurring the view outside. The world was cut off, leaving only them in this room at the end of the second floor. "So Professor Landry was Lanqi all along?" Antanas and Sinora's hearts pounded like war drums as they roughly pieced the situation together. This guy was way too deep undercover! If they hadn't fought their way right in front of him, even his allies couldn't tell whether he was an imperial or not. What was more, due to some unknown reason—Tyrant Cardinal Sigrid had also crossed the sea to the Creti Empire, and through some bizarre twist of fate, ended up posing as Lanqi's imperial fiancée alongside Talia, living a shameless life together! *Holy shit...* Antanas's eyes darted left and right. This gossip was too massive; she hardly dared digest it. Just being present and watching was terrifying. She had never dreamed tonight's assassination would be this thrilling. Finally, Talia on one side of the bed made up her mind. "Hyperion, I was only protecting Lanqi. The two of us are completely innocent! I thought assassins had broken into the house, which is why... why I crawled under his..." Talia's face turned pale in an instant, her trembling lips forcing the words out. "..." Hyperion seemed utterly oblivious to everything else around her. "Are you really so close that you can share the same blanket?" She gazed blankly at Lanqi and Talia, tears welling up and spilling over uncontrollably. Her lips quivered as she tried to say something, but barely a whisper came out. Based on what Hyperion knew of their relationship when Lanqi and Talia departed several months ago, even sitting at the same table, they would leave plenty of space between them. Not only was Lanqi well-versed in keeping his distance from women, Talia was even less inclined to let Lanqi near her. She guarded propriety fiercely and would rather die than consent to any ambiguous intimacy with Lanqi. If one had to describe the relationship between master and disciple, they were like identical magnetic poles—utterly impossible to stick together. And now, they were like opposite magnetic poles! Snapping together with effortless ease. Hyperion could not be clearer about this blatant shift in intimacy. "..." Sigrid took half a step back. At a time like this, she couldn't help the Holy Son. Besides, she noticed that Hyperion's focus wasn't primarily on her. What enraged Hyperion far more seemed to be the intimacy between Tata and Lanqi. Sigrid had assumed Hyperion already knew Tata and Lanqi were this close, and therefore wouldn't mind too much. Now, the scene looked uncannily like Hyperion's boyfriend had been stolen and tasted behind her back by her most trusted best friend. Even Sigrid felt a bizarre pang of guilt. Because she had done it too. At first, she had merely wanted to tease Hyperion for fun, never expecting it would leave Hyperion so heartbroken. "Meow, meow." Boss Cat looked back and forth at the humans from its restaurant. It hoped Teacher Big Lan could save the day. Yet on second thought, anything Lanqi said right now would be wrong. Even if Lanqi tried to explain, it would sound like he was making excuses for Tata, or even playing favorites with Tata, which would only make Hyperion feel more wronged and furious. The reality was that Tata truly had done things behind Hyperion's back in the City of Flowers that wronged her. Tata had simply deceived even herself, avoiding guilt and remorse by framing her intimacy with Lanqi as vetting him on Hyperion's behalf. Now that the truth was out, Talia had suddenly snapped to her senses and could no longer lie to herself. "You two... on the day of the fireworks festival in the City of Flowers, were the two of you alone together? Were you holding hands while communicating with me, treating me like a fool? Did you go on to perform in a stage play in the Creti Empire together afterward? Have you been dating behind my back every single day?!" Hyperion's eyes were red, tears streaming down her face as she interrogated Talia and Lanqi. Her mind could not settle. The poison crept through her blood vessels like insects, gnawing away at her sanity. She had figured out so many things. All her premonitions had been right all along. "Ugh..." Talia choked up, turning her drooping head away, not daring to look Hyperion in the eye. "Tata and I have indeed gone through a lot these past few months. Listen to me, let me explain slowly..." Lanqi decided to candidly tell Hyperion the truth. He was not sure what Hyperion would do in such an abnormally emotional state, but he felt that in a situation like this, only absolute sincerity would do. Lanqi couldn't let Hyperion keep berating Talia either. The two of them had always been the closest. Strictly speaking, ever since the City of Flowers, it was Lanqi and Talia who kept blundering into one misunderstanding after another. If blame had to be assigned, it was entirely his responsibility. "Actually..." Yet halfway through his sentence, Lanqi froze upon spotting Sinora's hand gesture. "Shh... shh..." Sinora looked as though she was signaling to Lanqi: *Do not provoke Hyperion under any circumstances; her mental state can easily spiral out of control.* Lanqi had never seen Sinora and Antanas look so panicked. Still, Hyperion's condition today was indeed unusual. In the past, she would probably only weep sorrowfully, not become this aggressive. "I can testify that they haven't really been dating! Posing as husband and wife is just to fool the imperial noble lords. We usually sleep in separate rooms, too. Tonight, we thought there were assassins, so we rushed into Lanqi's room to protect him." Seeing Lanqi caught in a dilemma, Sigrid couldn't bear to watch Lanqi and Tata suffer any longer, so she spoke up on their behalf. She roughly understood Sinora and Antanas's expressions as well. Right now, they had to stabilize Hyperion. "Shut up. Stay out of our family matters." Hyperion cast a freezing glare at Sigrid, relegating her to wait in line behind Talia. Leaving that Northern Continent tramp aside for the moment, Hyperion had long known what wicked designs this bad woman harbored toward Lanqi. The only thing she had never imagined was that Tata would actually compromise with her, two thieving cats dividing up her Lanqi between them. Tata's betrayal was something Hyperion found utterly unbearable. "..." Both Sinora's and Antanas's expressions turned pale. If baby Hyperion provoked Sigrid, the severity of the situation would escalate even further. The two of them knew the Tyrant Cardinal's temper all too well. "I was just trying to help..." Sigrid pouted and yielded half a step, leaning against the wardrobe as her voice grew smaller and smaller. This caused Sinora and Antanas to exchange glances, completely baffled. Had Hyperion's aura tonight grown fierce enough to suppress even the Tyrant Cardinal? First of all, Sigrid speaking up for Talia was bizarre enough... with their personalities, they should have been like oil and water. Secondly, Sigrid was actually being this accommodating to Hyperion. How utterly bizarre. "Hyperion-meow, let's calm down first and sit down to talk slowly, okay?" Boss Cat plucked up its courage and spoke. The scene couldn't be allowed to devolve into further chaos. Right now, anyone in this room could turn into a bomb—they were all terrifying walking explosives. And the most dangerous bomb of all was undoubtedly Hyperion. The aura emanating from her was growing weirder by the second, making even Boss Cat's fur bristle. "Boss Cat is right. No matter what, Tata is the person closest to you in Ikerite. Listen to her and Lanqi explain first, baby Hyperion." Antanas hurried forward, advising her in a hushed voice. She feared nothing else except Hyperion losing control. To ensure a hundred percent chance of killing Professor Landry, whose strength exceeded Tier 6, Hyperion had entered her strongest virulent state before striking, guaranteeing a one-hit kill. Yet this power did not stem from some benevolent ancient demon. It was the signature skill of the most dangerous great demon they had encountered in the Demon Realm of the Blood Moon Ruined World—the Lord of Blasphemy— [Melogas's Blasphemous Regal Authority] [Category: Spell Card] [Rarity: Orange Epic] [Affinity: Poison / Enhancement] [Tier: 7] [Effect: Upon activation, enter a virulent state. Strength and stamina are massively increased. Using Melogas's venom carries a probability of losing sanity and behaving more like her.] [Remark: Though her love might be somewhat twisted, she loves you, at least.] As of now, the toxins within Hyperion had not yet subsided. Or rather, ever since Hyperion activated this state, she had already taken on a touch of the Lord of Blasphemy, Melogas's demeanor. That madwoman Melogas was capable of doing literally anything. Baby Hyperion must never take after her! A brief silence returned to the bedroom. Lanqi, Hyperion, and Talia remained where they were, each absorbed in their own turbulent thoughts. "That's right... She's the person closest to me in Ikerite. If I listen to Lanqi and Tata explain together, they'll surely give me another perfect answer, won't they..." Hyperion's emotions underwent a plummeting reversal from heaven to earth. The initial shock gradually receded, replaced by a bitter realization. "I really am a fool. You didn't even need to deceive me; I've been lying to myself all along." Hyperion looked around, her gaze lingering between Lanqi and Talia, a mocking sneer tugging at the corners of her mouth. Her faint, emotionless voice cut clearly through the noise of the thunderstorm. "No, Hyperion, I never meant to deceive you..." Talia collapsed almost to her knees, stifling a sob behind her hand. Hyperion's words tore through her maternal heart, shattering it inch by inch. This was Hyperion, whom she cherished and protected most, yet right now, it was she who had hurt her so profoundly. "Why do you look so heartbroken now? Did you really mean that?" Hyperion murmured, gazing at Talia, her voice low and hoarse. "Hyperion, I wouldn't lie to you. Please don't look at me like that, okay?" Talia pleaded, clutching Hyperion's hand. "Then when you were having so much fun with Lanqi, why didn't you stop to think about how heartbroken I would be?" Hyperion leaned down slightly, interrogating her. "But I really—!" Talia had never been looked upon with such disgust by Hyperion before. Her voice verged on a sob. "Let go of me!" With a sweep of her arm, Hyperion shook Talia off, her expression tinged with the Lord of Blasphemy's frigid detachment. "Claiming over and over that I am your most precious treasure, when in reality your mind was filled only with how happy you were with Lanqi... I won't ask you anymore. I'll ask Lanqi." At this, Hyperion turned her eyes toward Lanqi at the head of the bed. Talia's response had failed to douse the flames of fury in her heart; instead, it poured oil onto the fire. Without a moment's pause, unable to rein in the surging tempest of her emotions, Hyperion lunged toward Lanqi, intent on pinning him down to interrogate him. Talia had long since taught her through actions how to make Lanqi speak the truth! "!" Talia's face drained of color at the sight, terrified that Hyperion in this state would harm Lanqi. Instinctively, she darted forward a step ahead, throwing her arms around Lanqi and shielding him with her back. "Hyperion, don't hurt him!" Talia said in a trembling voice, tightly clutching Lanqi's head against her. She had never dreamed that one day, Hyperion would be the one trying to seize Lanqi, while she herself became the one protecting him. "I'm... hurting him...?" Hyperion froze, her outstretched hands pausing in midair before Lanqi and Talia. This scene was far too familiar. Talia's intimate protection was reflected in Hyperion's eyes. Every subtle movement between the two was laid bare for Hyperion to see. "Is this what you call 'completely innocent'..." Something shattered inside Hyperion. The whites of her eyes slowly blackened, and black, corrosive tears flowed down like crystalline venom. "Haha, hahaha!" Hyperion burst into laughter. She didn't know what welled up in her heart beside fury; she only felt her mind going blank. She was the one harming Lanqi, and Talia was the one protecting him. She didn't want this, yet she couldn't let go of what Lanqi and Talia had done. She was filled with regret and frustration, yet powerless to resolve it. Agitated and weeping, Hyperion suddenly laughed aloud. "Just how many times have you held each other for you to be so practiced at it? Tata, aren't you already preparing to give me a little sister?" Staggering backward, her eyes flickering wildly, she muttered under her breath, her expression growing increasingly terrifying. "Hyperion, calm down!" Seeing this, Antanas and Sinora both moved to restrain Hyperion. They felt that Hyperion had been thoroughly unhinged this time. They had no idea what Hyperion would turn into if she completely lost her sanity! Before they could react, Hyperion, spiraling further into madness, was enveloped in swirling purple mist as she fully assumed her demon form. A slender scorpion tail curved out from behind her waist, and her eyes held a delirious fusion of murderous intent and obsession. Antanas and Sinora threw themselves at Hyperion, attempting to gently subdue her without exerting too much force that might hurt her. Yet Hyperion's strength was too ferocious. In a flash, she seized Antanas's and Sinora's arms and, borrowing their momentum, flung them both aside to the left and right. "I don't want to endure your lies anymore! I'VE—HAD—ENOUGH!" Hyperion screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice warping into an unnatural pitch as her mind gave way entirely. "...!" At this instant, Lanqi felt that who he was looking at was not Hyperion at all, but rather the Demon King of Blasphemy from ten thousand years ago whom Talia feared most—the one who held a unique understanding of "love." At this point, the only thing he could rely on was his safeguard magic card, bracing for the worst-case scenario. The flash of lightning outside momentarily blinded everyone. By the time their vision cleared, Hyperion was already looming over Talia. "I poured my heart out to you, yet you seduced my man!" With a ferocious expression, Hyperion grabbed the back of Talia's neck. She yanked Talia away from Lanqi's side by force, slammed her down onto the foot of the bed, and planted her knee against Talia's lower back. "W-What are you doing?!" Talia cowered, her head pressed against the mattress. A chill ran down her spine; she had no idea what Hyperion had turned into. She could feel Hyperion's unbridled fury and derangement! "Hyperion, don't use violence!" Lanqi immediately got up, trying to separate them. Hyperion paid him no heed whatsoever. Her coiled scorpion tail snapped forward, extending into a sharp spike that pinned Lanqi's sleeve to the headboard, warning him not to approach. The next moment, even if Lanqi wanted to say anything, he couldn't speak. Hyperion had already cast [Friendly Communication] on him! Lanqi clutched his throat in shock, his vocal cords feeling as if they were being scraped by blades. This was the first time in his life he had tasted the effects of [Friendly Communication]. He had once given Hyperion a replica card of [Friendly Communication]. Never in his wildest dreams had Lanqi imagined that Hyperion would one day use it against him! "Hyperion, how could you..." Talia whimpered. "Shut up! I don't want to hear it!" Hyperion's voice cut through Talia's defense. "You wretched thing! I'll make sure you never dare defy me for the rest of your life!" Screaming hysterically, she raised her hand high and swung it down hard toward Talia. *Smack!* Before Antanas and Sinora could move to stop Hyperion again, they froze in utter disbelief. It was too late for anything. They saw the crazed Hyperion— Hyperion was spanking Talia's backside like an unruly child being severely disciplined. Slap after slap. "Eep!!" Talia's face flushed crimson, yet she dared not fight back. "Good heavens..." Sigrid raised her hands, covering her eyes, though the gaps between her fingers let her peer at the scene inside the room. She had no idea whom to help. Besides, she couldn't understand why Tata was feeling so guilty; even if Hyperion was in a rampage state, Tata should have easily been able to break free of Hyperion's grip if she wanted to. Sigrid glanced at Lanqi. Listening to each crisp smack, Lanqi's brain had completely short-circuited. "..." His eyes rolled back, struck utterly speechless. Sigrid couldn't fathom why Lanqi was this shocked. According to her deduction, Tata and Hyperion were probably close best friends who knew each other back in Ikerite, which explained why Hyperion was so furious and Tata felt so guilty. Still, after a conflict like this, even if they came to blows, it shouldn't have scared Lanqi silly, should it? ... On the other side of the residence, along the staircase leading from the first floor to the second. "Almis, how could it be you?" Iphatia smiled excitedly at the pure, ice-and-snow-like woman beside her. Just a moment ago, she had been enjoying her recorded broadcast when someone suddenly opened her door and tried to cast a spell on her. Iphatia had reacted instinctively to fight back. Yet upon sensing each other's mana, both demons stopped in unison, recognizing one another. "I didn't expect it to be you either. This is miraculous." The Ice and Snow Witch was still somewhat in a daze. How could the powerhouse residing in Professor Landry's first-floor guest room be Iphatia? In that case, this assassination was most likely one giant blunder! Regardless, finding a long-lost demon friend, especially deep in the heart of the Creti Empire, was undoubtedly great news. Their forces for storming Blood Moon City were now even more formidable. "I'll take you to meet more friends!" Iphatia couldn't wait to bring Almis upstairs to see her big sister, her brother-in-law, and Sister Side. And of course, tomorrow she could take them to see Yabo! The Creti Empire was actually full of friends! Iphatia almost wondered whether she had accidentally fallen asleep and was having a sweet dream where Almis came to the house and found her! "Then I should take you to see an old friend as well—right upstairs." The Ice and Snow Witch smiled in relief. Though a century had passed since they last met, Iphatia remained just as easygoing. To the Ice and Snow Witch, the Second Princess was like an adorable younger sister who was always exceptionally friendly toward her own kin. They hurried along the second-floor hallway, heading toward the far end. At present, there were no shockwaves of battle coming from the master bedroom, only some noisy commotion. Both Iphatia and Almis felt relieved that the two sides hadn't broken out into a real fight. Until they stood before the bedroom door. The crisp slapping sounds left Iphatia completely dumbfounded at the doorway. *Smack!* *Smack!!* Iphatia saw her sister shudder with every slap. And Iphatia trembled with every shudder. Her big sister Talia was being humiliated like this, yet she didn't even dare fight back? Clearly, her sister looked both terrified and distressed, tears even welling at the corners of her eyes, yet she didn't struggle in the slightest—as though she had already submitted.