65: Bloodthirsty Demon Insect

"Hmph, still making excuses. I didn't expect you to be such a cowardly piece of trash who's afraid of death. At death's door, you're just making up nonsense to try and live a bit longer, aren't you?" Carlos sneered at Wei He with a sinister smile.

"Even though I really wanted to kill him, I won't admit to something I didn't do. I didn't kill him, and I don't even know if he's alive or dead!" Wei He gave one last helpless explanation.

"Enough. If you can provide evidence, you can live. If not, I have a big gift for you! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" Carlos laughed loudly toward the sky.

"If you want evidence, you have to let me go back first so I can find it for you!" Wei He said calmly.

"Hmph, do you take me for an idiot? I capture you and then just let you go? Hahaha... Wei He, oh Wei He, it seems you aren't as formidable as the legends say!" Carlos's eyes showed a hint of disappointment as he continued, "What a pity that my son, Charlie, died at the hands of a petty scoundrel like you!"

"You've already decided I killed him, you old fogey. So what's the point of talking?" Wei He said, looking at him as if he were a complete moron.

"However, before I kill you, there's one thing I don't understand. I don't see a single trace of magical aura on you, and you're so cowardly and afraid of death. How did you get a group of talented individuals to be so loyal to you?" Carlos slowly approached Wei He and spoke softly.

"Because I am a dragon among men and a Red Hare among horses! I am the light of this world, the true ruler of this world!" Wei He acted like he had a severe case of chuunibyou, making Carlos feel a wave of disgust.

"Fine, it doesn't matter if you don't want to talk. Whether you speak or not, today is the day you die! Follow me!" Carlos pushed aside a bookshelf, revealing a hidden door behind it.

Wei He followed Carlos through the hidden door. After passing through a winding corridor, they arrived at a bright hall. The entire ceiling was crafted from Magic Crystals, shimmering like starlight and illuminating the hall.

"Wow, just how much have you embezzled from the people to afford such luxury?" Wei He said in shock.

"Hmph, you'd better worry about your own situation first! Hahahaha!" Carlos laughed arrogantly.

Before Carlos's laughter could subside, a rustling sound echoed from a corner.

It came from another corridor in the hall, which was pitch black, making it impossible to see anything inside.

"Let's go!" Carlos pushed Wei He toward the corridor on the other side of the hall.

"Don't push, I can walk myself!" Wei He brushed off Carlos's hand and slowly walked toward the corridor.

As he reached the entrance of the corridor, the rustling sounds became clearer, and Wei He could finally see what was inside.

The entire corridor was densely packed with black insects the size of a palm. There were no lights in the passage, and they seemed to be terrified of the light. Occasionally, one or two would be pushed out of the corridor and fall into the hall, only to squeak and scramble back in a hurry.

Their eight black legs scurried rapidly as they crawled back into the corridor. They had two long, thin antennae on their heads. The most prominent feature on their small heads was a circular mouth, similar to the suckers on a squid's tentacles but smaller, lined with a ring of black and yellow teeth.

"These are Bloodthirsty Demon Wormss from the Demon Race. They usually attack in swarms; hunting a Purple Giant Bull takes them mere minutes. Their only weakness is their fear of light. I went to great lengths to get them!" Carlos looked at Wei He with a slight, malicious smirk.

"This is your gift!" Seeing Carlos's expression, Wei He instantly understood his meaning.

"Exactly. Now, let's go somewhere else to admire them! Hahahaha!" Carlos led the way up a set of stairs beside the corridor. The stairs were also made of Magic Crystals, presumably to prevent the Bloodthirsty Demon Wormss from crawling up.

Wei He stared at the terrifying little insects for a moment before following Carlos up to the second floor.

Sure enough, the ceiling upstairs was also made of Magic Crystals, bathing the entire room in light. Inside the room were two strong men whose armor could not hide their surging muscular power.

"Master!" The two bowed respectfully when they saw Carlos come up.

"Mm. Take him over there!" Carlos walked to the only chair in the room and watched with interest as the two approached Wei He.

"What are you going to do?" Wei He said, feeling uneasy as he looked at the men who were as strong as Tyson.

"It's fine, come with us!" the two said simultaneously in a tone that brooked no refusal, as if they would snap Wei He like a twig if he didn't comply.

Wei He walked behind them like a child who had done something wrong being led home by parents. In the center of the room was a cage made of Refined Steel.

"So this is your gift. You really do have some strange fetishes. But then again, it's normal for people in high positions like you to be a bit perverted! Hahahaha!" Wei He stepped into the cage and spoke to Carlos outside.

"Hmph, laugh while you can. Soon, you won't be able to laugh anymore! Begin!" Carlos sat in his chair, holding a teacup as he spoke slowly.

"Yes, sir!" The two men split up. One went to the side of the cage and opened a switch on the floor, while the other pulled a rope hanging from the ceiling, the other end of which was tied to Wei He's cage.

Wei He stood on the hollow floor of the cage, watching the floor beneath him part like a door. The Bloodthirsty Demon Wormss below, hit by the light from above, immediately fled toward the surrounding darkness.

"Holy crap, you old bastard! You're actually this sick? I won't let you off even as a ghost!" Seeing this, even a fool would know what Carlos intended to do.

"Hahahaha! You killed my son; dying won't be that easy for you!" As Carlos spoke, Wei He was slowly being lowered.

"Aaaah! Help! Someone help me!!!" Wei He screamed desperately, even though he knew no one was coming to save him.

Once the cage reached the bottom, the floor above was closed by the strongmen. Aside from the faint light leaking through the small hole where the rope passed through the floor, the surroundings were pitch black.

The area was filled with rustling and the squeaking of insects. Without the influence of light, they swarmed into the cage like starving wolves pouncing on a fat sheep, lunging at Wei He.

The Bloodthirsty Demon Wormss quickly covered Wei He's entire body. He flailed his arms and legs, desperately trying to shake them off, but they clung to him as if they were glued on.

"Aaaah! Help! It hurts so much! Aaaah!" If Wei He's previous cries for help were out of fear of the unknown, this time it was from the genuine, searing pain of being bitten by the insects.

"Hahahaha! Open it!" Carlos laughed maniacally and ordered the strongmen to open the floor.

Once the floor opened, the light from the Magic Crystals shone into the cage below. Like startled birds, the Bloodthirsty Demon Wormss quickly fled back into the darkness.

Wei He collapsed in the cage, gasping for air. His body was covered in bite wounds, and his clothes were stained red with blood.

"How was it, kid? The feeling of being gnawed by ten thousand insects isn't pleasant, is it? Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" Carlos felt immensely gratified as he looked at the bloodied Wei He.

"Did your father drop you on your head? You're so mentally deranged. I can tell just by looking at you that you're an unloved moron whose parents didn't want you!" Wei He panted, his tone mocking.