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172 - Tainted
Last Updated:
2025-01-10 08:49:02
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MAD END'S DECEPTION 173 - Pure Cosmic Power
GILDEONHe stared in awe at the creature growling low before him. Even Kana froze behind it, her wide eyes fixed on the strange being. Its body was covered in coarse, bark-like skin—gray and rugged. The ridges and grooves of its muscles resembled twisting roots, and patches of moss clung to its surface.It looked less like a living being and more like a human figure carved straight from an ancient tree.Gildeon had no idea what kind of being this stranger was. But in this era, it wasn’t that extraordinary. This was when the Shining Keeper had entered hibernation, leaving the second cosmic breach unchecked. Even the sylph hunters of the time couldn’t stem the fallout. Various beings from other dimensions spilled into the world—sentient, unlike the mindless beasts they had eradicated long ago. Some were so bizarre, so alien, that even higher mortals had no names for them.The wolves didn’t stay down for long. They rose again, their shadowy auras pulsing stronger than before, wrapping ar
Last Updated : 2025-01-14MAD END'S DECEPTION 174 - A Spirit Connection
GILDEONHe trailed behind the two as they approached the massive tree, his gaze fixed on Tree Man. Perhaps lingering in this memory would reveal what kind of being this creature truly was.The tree’s gaping hollow was enormous, easily allowing Tree Man’s towering frame to pass through. Inside, the space was surprisingly human in design. A bed woven from thick, intertwining roots and padded with moss leaned against one wall. Tree stumps, their surfaces smoothed by years of use, served as tables and chairs.From the ceiling hung baskets stuffed with dried vegetables, fruits, herbs, and fish strips. Their pungent aroma was thick, hitting hard—earthy and sour with a sharp, fishy tang. Even Kana wrinkled her nose, quickly covering it with her hand.Tree Man noticed, his bark-like face shifting slightly, as if attempting an expression. For a moment, Gildeon could have sworn it was an embarrassment.“Sorry,” Tree Man said, his rough voice awkward as he gestured vaguely around the room. “Hous
Last Updated : 2025-01-17MAD END'S DECEPTION 175 - To The Future
GILDEONHe’d seen enough to know this would end badly. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder how Kana would manage to crawl out of this alive. These shamans were not to be underestimated. Their power carried the weight of something ancient—something likely bestowed by Yonah himself. Even the strongest modern witches would surely be no match for them.“Me not let Kana die!” Tree Man growled, planting himself between Kana and the shamans. The low rumble of his voice sent birds screeching out of the canopy, their wings beating frantically against the still air. On the ground, smaller creatures bolted into the underbrush, a nervous energy spreading like wildfire.Tree Man was prepared to go all out in this fight.The shamans faltered but didn’t break. Their chanting rose, seemingly twisting the air itself. The scent of earth turned sour, and the very forest recoiled—leaves curling, branches straining, as if the trees themselves wanted to pull away from what was coming.“Don’t fight them,” Ka
Last Updated : 2025-01-18MAD END'S DECEPTION 176 - An Important Mission
GILDEONHe thought it was a figure of speech at first. He hadn’t expected the Indigo Sylph to mean it literally—centuries into the future.Jumping into the next scene, Gildeon braced himself. The air was cool, and the sky stretched dark above him. He stood at the edge of what appeared to be a small park or a quiet town bordering the woods. Six camper vans were parked in uneven rows along the tree line. A bonfire flickered in the center of the clearing, its glow dancing across a group of about ten people gathered around it.A few held beer bottles, their laughter spilling into the night. Some swayed as if they were having the time of their lives. One man strummed a guitar, and the others sang along to what sounded like a country song.He had no clue what year this was. The seventies? Eighties, maybe?“I didn’t expect you to make it this far,” Drusden’s voice came from behind him.“About time you showed up,” Gildeon replied dryly, not bothering to turn around. “I was starting to forget
Last Updated : 2025-01-22MAD END'S DECEPTION 177 - His Father's Valor
GILDEONHe didn’t move. Couldn’t. His eyes stayed locked on the couple. Something stirred deep inside—a pull, like he was truly connected to them. Especially to the one they called Daego.Could they really be his mother and father?Haemos had known them. That was the part that was fucking with his head. Why had Old Man lied to him?“You look bothered, salamander,” Drusden said, craning his neck to get a read on his face. “Huh. You didn’t know them, did you? Orphaned too young, is that it?”He ignored him. The Headwitch could talk all he wanted. Gildeon was tuned in elsewhere, listening to the conversation between his father and Markaus. They talked about Greater Beast sightings. Camp relocations. Strategies. The stuff that mattered.A proud smile tugged at the corner of Gildeon’s mouth. General Daego was a wise man.Drusden’s voice ruined it again. “He kind of moves and talks like you.”“I liked it better when you weren’t here,” Gildeon shot back, irritation creeping into his voice.D
Last Updated : 2025-01-25MAD END'S DECEPTION 178 - As One Of Us
GILDEONHe held his breath, waiting for an answer that didn’t come. Or rather, his father said something, but it was all muted.“Did you censor it?” Gildeon asked, tilting his head slightly. He couldn’t see Drusden lurking in the shadows, but he was certain the bastard was there.“Now, why would I do that?” Drusden retorted. “This is your subconscious, salamander. The memory of your parents—well, parent—is ingrained in your spirit. I have no control over it.”Gildeon dragged his attention back to the scene. Ragina’s face said it all—eyes wide, lips parted. She knew who it was. Part of him thought she’d be mad at Daego, but she just stared at the baby. Shocked, but not angry. She held the little him in her arms as the membrane slowly dissolved, strand by strand, until only the baby remained, crying. That sound, from him, was strange to his ears.Weeks passed. The baby’s existence had been hidden from everyone. Only Haemos and Kohina knew about it. Gildeon watched Ragina care for the ba
Last Updated : 2025-01-29MAD END'S DECEPTION 179 - Key To Your Mind
GILDEONIn a blink, he was back in Drusden’s throne room. He dropped to his knees, palms flat on the cold floor, breath ragged. He hadn’t even realized he’d shifted back to his mortal form. His chest tightened, a storm of emotions threatening to tear free.His mysterious birth mother. His father’s death…He slammed his palms against the floor, frustration boiling over. Haemos and Kohina knew who he really was. Why the fuck had they kept it from him?Footsteps. Brown boots halted in front of him—Drusden’s. The Headwitch crouched, head tilted.“If you need a shoulder to cry on, mine’s available, salamander,” Drusden mocked.Gildeon’s glare burned as he met the bastard’s smug face.“Not gonna lie. Your father’s memory might be my favorite one I’ve delved into.” Drusden paced, dragging from his cigarette. “Learned a lot about your kind. Shame we never got the real answer about your mother.”He stopped, gaze lifting to Dragon Zylas as he exhaled a slow stream of smoke. “I really thought I’
Last Updated : 2025-02-01MAD END'S DECEPTION 180 - Inspector Heman
ARAHIt was up to her to pull him out of it.The weight of that realization pressed down on Arah like a boulder. She was determined—of course, she was—but how was she supposed to do it? The thought of failing, of not being enough to help Gildeon, curled around her ribs like a vice.She shook her head, shoving the doubt aside. This wasn’t the time for uncertainty. Gildeon needed her, and that was all that mattered.She sprinted down the prison hallway, dodging jagged chunks of fallen stone and splintered beams. Behind her, the sounds of battle raged—Roselia and Lokius locked in a deadly clash.Then, a sharp cry of pain.Roselia.Arah faltered, her body twisting instinctively toward the sound. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to turn back, to help. But she knew Roselia wouldn’t want that. She wouldn’t forgive Arah for wasting time—not when Gildeon’s life hung in the balance.Gritting her teeth, Arah forced her feet forward.Outside, the fog wall loomed before her—a towering, imp
Last Updated : 2025-02-04
Latest chapter
MAD END'S DECEPTION 201 - Let Everything Sink In
ARAHRoselia hadn’t been able to remove the bullet, but she managed to stop the bleeding, prevent further damage, and numb the pain. Mabel’s friend would still need to be taken to a hospital for proper treatment. Roselia explained that if she tried to heal her using supernatural methods and alter her memory at the same time, it could cause unpredictable side effects.Mabel’s friend had fallen unconscious. They bandaged her wound and gently moved her to the couch. Cora brought over a blanket and draped it over her.“W-What are we going to do with them?” Mabel’s sister asked, staring at the three corpses lying across the living room.Arah handed her a glass of water. “I think it’s better to leave them as they are. The police will take care of it.” She figured the authorities would arrive soon, especially if they believed Sharko’s gang had already finished whatever they came here to do.Thug Number Two would be a problem. He’d definitely run back to Sharko and report what happened. Then
MAD END'S DECEPTION 200 - Alter Your Memory
ARAHShe had a narrow window before any sudden movement might make one of the thugs pull the trigger out of pure reflex.Or panic.Before she even realized it was possible, her wind tattoo split into two. One lash coiled tightly around the ankle of the thug who was about to assault Mabel’s sister, dragging him down. He hit the floor face-first with a grunt, arms flailing to catch himself. The other streaked across the room and smacked the gun from the hand of the man holding Cora.Arah bolted down the stairs, snatching the fallen gun mid-run, and aimed the gun at Thug Number One. She’d never held one before and had no real idea how to use it. But she’d seen enough movies to get the general idea.Still, she hoped it wouldn’t come to that. To her, manmade weapons felt far more volatile than anything supernatural.She saw Cora grab a coat rack from the corner and swing it hard at the back of Thug Number One’s head. The man let out a stunned grunt, stumbling forward from the blow. He turn
MAD END'S DECEPTION 199 - Would She Kill Him?
ARAHThug Leader motioned to his men to let the girls go, but then pointed at Mabel, her sister, and the girl who’d offered Arah a cocktail earlier.“Those three, and of course, Cora—they all stay.”He turned back to Arah, sneering, probably waiting for her to object. But she stayed silent. He seemed like the egotistical maniac type. If she pushed him too far, he’d only make things worse.Arah settled for glancing at the girls as they whimpered, shuddered, and ran out of the house.“Don’t you dare snitch, or we’ll come after you,” one of the thugs growled, stepping aside and pointing his gun at each of them as they passed.Arah hated how calm they all looked. Like they weren’t worried at all that the girls might bring help. It said even more about the kind of power Sharko’s gang held over the island.“Now…” Thug Leader lifted her chin with the muzzle of his gun. “You said you’d give me a night I’d never forget?”“I need assurance they won’t be harmed,” she said carefully, nodding towa
MAD END'S DECEPTION 198 - Night You'll Never Forget
ARAHShe stared at the lifeless body of the male stripper, sprawled out across the unfurled cardboard box. Blood seeped from the bullet wound in his back. He’d tried to run after the thug leader warned him not to.And they killed him. Just like that.To scare the hell out of them even more, the thugs had dragged his corpse back into the house—for everyone to see. It looked eerie under the strobe lights.The room was tense. The music was still playing, but one of the thugs had turned the volume down. All the girls were huddled together in the living room, clutching at each other like their lives depended on it. Some were curled up on the couch, the others slumped on the floor with their knees drawn to their chests. Everyone was shaking and crying. No one said a word.Their phones had been taken, so there was no way to call for help—unless, of course, Mabel’s call to the police had gone through.One of the thugs paced behind them, gun in one hand, a slice of strawberry cake in the other
MAD END'S DECEPTION 197 - Why Zephyr
ARAHShe leaned against the chair, staring out at the dark stretch of sea. The waves lapped softly at the shore. Their rhythm tangled with the thump of club music and the high-pitched laughter of girls still partying inside the house.It all felt far away now.After that embarrassing moment in the living room, Cora had pulled her out. She was grateful for the breather.Mate. Bride. Little Rabbit—these words looped in her head like some bad joke.Had she imagined the whole thing? Maybe there was something weird in the cocktail she drank. Or maybe it was Barky’s bite, twisting her thoughts most strangely.Why Zephyr, though? Had she personally known him before? Back in Shamibar?Arah slid her hands down her face and let out a heavy exhale. She couldn’t picture herself ever being close to someone like him. Zephyr was dangerous—she knew that much. And whatever his game was, it didn’t involve good intentions. He wanted to raise an army for goodness sake.Behind her, the back door creaked o
MAD END'S DECEPTION 196 - Little Rabbit
ARAHShe barely recognized Cora’s house. Penis-shaped balloons were scattered everywhere, and strobe lights flashed so intensely they nearly blinded her. The music was so loud it made her ears ring. Good thing Cora lived far enough from the neighbors that no one would care, even if the guests started screaming at each other in the middle of the night.There were probably over a dozen ladies here—her, Mabel, Cora, and a handful of others Arah vaguely remembered from the engagement party.Mabel was dancing near a giant pink gift box wrapped in ribbon, right in the middle of the living room. When she spotted Arah, her eyes lit up.“Arah!” Mabel shouted, turning toward the other side of the room. “Sissy Cora, she’s here!” Then she pranced over, cocktail in hand, wobbling just slightly. Her tiara was crooked, and she adjusted it before leaning in to give Arah a double-cheek kiss.“Hey, quite a party you’ve got going on,” Arah said with a smile, handing over her gift. She glanced at the pin
MAD END'S DECEPTION 195 - Are You Magical Too?
ARAHShe checked herself in the mirror, smoothing down the pink dress covered in little floral prints—it matched the theme for tonight. It was her first time going to a bachelorette party, and everything she knew about them came from movies.And in those movies, there were usually male strippers.She’d asked Mabel if there’d be any. Mabel had just giggled and said “no” over the phone, but in that coy way that didn’t really feel like a no.That made her a little nervous.Arah wondered how Gildeon would take it if he found out she went to a party where half-naked men were out there flaunting their abs and grinding to some sexy music. Would he be annoyed? Jealous? Pissed?The thought made her smile as she stepped out of her room and passed by the study. She paused at the door, resting her hand against it, picturing Gildeon inside—still in his cocoon, still asleep.The first time he’d finally let her in, she hadn’t known what to expect. The study room had felt weird. Empty, no furniture,
MAD END'S DECEPTION II: CAYLAO FESTIVAL ARC. 194 - It's Just A Dream
ARAHShe slipped the cardstock with her printed Clover Wish design out of the binder, tore it into pieces, and dropped them into the bin. Then she pulled out a few more flash sheets—ones with patterns that looked a little too much like real sigils—and tossed those out too.She couldn’t risk setting something off again and starting another coven war.A month had passed since the incident. Life on Caylao Island had returned to normal, as if nothing strange had ever happened. The townspeople had been spared that horrific memory thanks to Roselia’s bewitching fog. If it hadn’t been for that, Arah likely would’ve lost her friends too after they found out she wasn’t human.She looked up at her friends gathered in the waiting area, swapping theories about what really happened at Baccayo Prison that night.“I heard Sharko’s gang was involved,” Mabel said, swirling her straw in her milk tea. “Maybe they tried to break out some of their old members.”Tonio grimaced, mid-chew on a massive bite o
MAD END'S DECEPTION 193 - Let It All Go
GILDEONThey brought Arah to Roselia’s farmhouse. She was still out cold, and it would likely take her a few days to recover. Roselia had set up the back room, lit herbs that filled the air with sharp smoke, and circled Arah with crystals humming with healing energy.Gildeon switched on his dragon sight. Arah’s aura flickered, blue-green, faint. But something else swam through it—streaks of deep, electric blue that came and went like a second heartbeat.Gildeon hadn’t seen that on her before, but maybe they were remnants of some buried power. Something that had awakened when her life hung by a thread—something she’d used to wipe out both Zylas and Drusden.The aftermath of that fight still gnawed at him in strange ways, but none of it mattered for now. Answers could wait. He’d talk to Arah when she woke up.Gildeon pulled the blanket over her shoulders, then glanced at Ghulik, who was curled on a cushion near the bed, snoring like an old man, his belly swollen.Before leaving the Bacc
