Deviant: No Longer Human

Screech…!

"Did you hear that?" Wang Xiao's voice broke through the peaceful silence as the unsettling sound echoed around them.

He had been showing Mei around when a small, eyeless creature resembling a rabbit hopped toward them.

Mei had been gently petting it when the ground beneath them began to tremble, a deep rumble that sent ripples of unease through the air.

"What?" Mei straightened, her hand falling away as the rabbit-like creature scurried off, its instincts warning it of the upcoming danger.

She glanced at Wang Xiao, who was already scanning their surroundings, his gaze sharp and alert.

"It's harpies," Eveline muttered, her tone carrying an edge of disdain as she turned her attention toward the entrance where Yue and Anran had disappeared.

The air charged with an ominous energy, as if the very atmosphere was bracing for something terrible.

"Stay here. I'll go and get them," Eveline ordered, her voice firm.

She hadn't forgotten the reason for her release, and now was the time to fulfill her role.

Without hesitation, she began to move.

Wang Xiao nodded, a spark of anticipation in his eyes.

He had long wondered how Eveline fought—now he would see for himself.

Screech… Screech…

The harpies' cries grew louder, their voices merging into a cry of bloodlust.

The ground beneath the ruins shook violently as shadows began to pour out from the underground passage.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Out of the darkness, a horde of harpies emerged—monstrous creatures with the bodies of eagles and the heads of savage women.

SCRECCHHHHHHHH!

Their talons gleamed like razors, and their eyes, filled with murderous intent, locked onto their prey.

"Those are—" Mei gasped, her voice trembling as she witnessed the terrifying horrendous sight.

More than fifteen harpies had already burst from the stairway, their numbers multiplying with each heartbeat, like a swarm from the depths of hell.

Wang Xiao turned to Eveline, half-expecting her to spring into action.

But she stood still, her golden hair gleaming like threads of sunlight woven into a crown.

Her eyes narrowed, a fierce light kindling within them.

Then, in one smooth, graceful motion, Eveline extended her hand.

Tremble…

The very air around them seemed to ripple as a golden bow materialized in her grasp, shimmering with an ethereal glow.

As she drew the string back, an arrow of pure azure energy took form, crackling with an intense, barely-contained power.

The atmosphere buzzed with electricity, as if the world itself was holding its breath.

SCREECH!

The harpies, sensing the immense danger, screeched in fury and lunged forward, a chaotic, bloodthirsty swarm.

Mei instinctively clung to Wang Xiao, her heart pounding in her chest.

"A single bow and arrow?" Wang Xiao muttered, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity. "How could that possibly be enough…?"

But Eveline remained composed, her expression serene, almost divine, as she released the arrow.

Swoooooosh!

The moment it left the bowstring, the arrow transformed into a streak of blinding light, a comet of searing blue energy that ripped through the air with a sound like a roaring inferno.

CRACK!

BOOM!

The first harpy's head was obliterated in a violent explosion of blood and brain matter, the sheer impact sending shockwaves that shook the ground.

The creature's body disintegrated into a spray of blood, its remains scattering across the grass field, painting it red.

But the arrow didn't stop.

Siwhs!

It tore through the horde with the speed and precision of a lightning bolt, changing direction in an instant, targeting harpy after harpy with deadly accuracy.

Screech—!

Screech—!

Screech—!

Each harpy was struck down in the same brutal fashion, their heads exploding in a shower of blood and flesh.

The arrow blazed through them, leaving nothing but dismembered limbs and splatters of dark red staining the ancient ground.

The air was filled instantly filled with the sickening stench of burning flesh and the metallic tang of blood.

Wang Xiao's eyes were wide with awe and something akin to understanding.

Eveline wasn't just fighting—she was annihilating.

The arrow was a deadly weapon like spear, but rather than hand she using the bow to launch it.

The ease with which she unleashed such devastating power, the grace in her movements as she wielded the bow, was nothing short of divine.

As the last harpy was torn apart, its body reduced to a smear of blood on the ground, the arrow finally dissipated with a thunderous boom, echoing through the ruins like a final, triumphant note.

The once-crowded passage was now eerily silent, the harpies gone as if they had never existed.

Eveline didn't pause to admire her handiwork.

Her golden hair flowed behind her like a river of molten gold as she rushed toward the entrance where Yue and Anran had gone, her figure a blur of speed and precision.

Within seconds, she was gone, swallowed by the darkness beyond.

Wang Xiao and Mei stood silent, still processing what they had just witnessed.

Mei's hands trembled, the intensity of the scene leaving her shaken, while Wang Xiao's thoughts raced, trying to grasp the full extent of Eveline's power.

She wasn't just great—she was a force of nature, a living embodiment of divine wrath.

Compared to the Deviants he had clashed with in the past, these techniques were on an entirely different level—polished and honed to near perfection.

Each movement flowed like a masterful brushstroke on a canvas, executed with an almost divine precision.

This wasn't just combat; it was an art form, an art of hunting where not a drop of strength was wasted.

Every strike was deliberate, calculated, and efficient. No energy was expended in vain; every ounce of power was harnessed with ruthless intent.

"Cough… Cough… Why is it so dark down there?" a sudden voice from behind them broke the silence, frustration evident in her tone.

Crash!

Then, there was a loud crack as the pillar behind them collapsed.

From within the rubble, Anran emerged, her breath ragged.

She wiped soot from her brow and forced a smile. "It's not as bad as it looks," she said, though her voice wavered slightly.

Behind her, Yue stumbled out, her once pristine cheeks now marred by streaks of charcoal, giving her a surprisingly bashful appearance.

"Oh, you're back," Wang Xiao muttered absentmindedly, barely glancing their way. His eyes were focused on something else entirely.

He wasn't really worried about thier safety, afterall, the exit is in the opposite direction.

"Look at this!" Anran exclaimed, pulling a thick rope taut as she heaved something into view.

With a heavy thud, a large stone rolled onto the ground, its surface covered in intricate patterns that seemed to shimmer in the dim light.

Yue peered over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing in curiosity. "This… what is it? Some sort of ancient device?"

Wang Xiao, who had been silently observing the stone until now, stepped closer. "I can't decipher these patterns. But there's no doubt—it's not just any stone. It's a mechanism of some sort."

Anran nodded. "That's what I thought too. It's circular, like that artifact we saw at the auction. But look here—these patterns are different. They're… more complex."

Wang Xiao finally turned his gaze towards the stone, his brow furrowing in contemplation.

He reached out, tracing a finger over the intricate lines.

They were cold to the touch, yet there was a faint hum of energy beneath the surface, like a heartbeat waiting to be awakened.

But the stone remained silent, as if something crucial was missing?