Chapter 9: The Contract

A strange energy suddenly surged through Ye Ning’s body, quickly enveloping her.

“Wait, what’s happening to me…?”

Bizarre whispers began to sound in her ears.

The voice was cold, hoarse, like a temptation from the abyss, constantly drilling into her mind:

“Kill them… kill your companions… they are all your burdens… become a Witch, and you will have everything…”

“‘Witchification’? Did the earlier infection reach me too?!”

Ye Ning’s reason was fading bit by bit.

Her pink eyes began to glow with a bloodthirsty red light.

Subconsciously, she looked toward her unconscious companions not far away, and a genuine urge to kill truly rose in her mind.

She gritted her teeth, wanting to raise her hand and end herself, but her arms seemed bound by an invisible force, completely unable to move.

In her dazed state, a dark figure suddenly appeared beside her, surrounded by faint black mist.

Ye Ning struggled to lift her eyes, making out the newcomer’s appearance—she couldn’t quite describe what it looked like.

The figure had a pair of dark, curved horns growing from the top of her head, their tips shimmering with a glossy sheen.

A pair of enormous ink-black wings spread from her back, their feather tips tinged with a faint purple light.

A slender black tail swayed slowly, its tip bearing a vivid red floral mark that radiated a fatal allure.

Her features were exquisitely beautiful, her lips stained with an enchanting red.

An aura of coldness surrounded her, yet it couldn’t hide the laziness and amusement in her eyes.

“You… who are you? Please leave quickly… this is a battlefield, it’s dangerous.”

Ye Ning struggled to suppress her own desires, her body trembling slightly.

“Me? My name is Hua Niao.”

The woman let out a soft laugh, then looked at Ye Ning.

“Compared to me, you seem to be the one in need of help.”

“Kill me… please, kill me…”

Ye Ning used the last of her strength to speak, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.

Tears mixed with blood and grime trailed down her face, which was full of pleading.

Hua Niao leaned down slightly, looking down at her from above.

The corner of her mouth lifted in a faint smile, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable certainty:

“Kill you? I won’t do that. You’re about to become a Witch. How could I possibly kill my soon-to-be-born new companion?”

“You… you’re a Witch?!”

Ye Ning’s eyes widened, filled with shock and anger.

Bloodshot veins swirled in her pink eyes.

“Go die!”

She mustered all her strength, gathering the last of her mana, and lunged at Hua Niao with a killing intent.

But her movement was as weak as if in slow motion.

Hua Niao lightly sidestepped, effortlessly deflecting her attack.

In the next instant, cool fingertips pinched Ye Ning’s neck, the force so great it almost seemed to crush her bones.

Ye Ning was choked, unable to breathe, her face flushing crimson.

Her consciousness gradually blurred amidst the agony of suffocation.

Hua Niao slowly leaned closer to her.

A warm breath brushed past Ye Ning’s ear.

Her voice was low and ambiguous, like a lover’s murmur, yet carrying a cold, oppressive force:

“Why resist so much? How about making a contract with me?”

The extreme suffocation, paradoxically, brought a fraction of Ye Ning’s reason back.

With difficulty, she lifted her eyes to look at Hua Niao, a mocking smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

She deliberately used a hoarse voice to provoke:

“A contract? You think you’re worthy… if you have the guts, just kill me…”

She wanted to use this method to force Hua Niao to end her suffering.

A flicker of understanding passed through Hua Niao’s eyes; she clearly saw through Ye Ning’s intent.

She gently released her hand, her fingertips still retaining the sensation of touching Ye Ning’s neck.

Her tone became even more bewitching, coiling around Ye Ning’s consciousness:

“I know what you’re thinking, little one. Don’t be in such a hurry to seek death. This contract, for you, is a deal you can’t lose.”

She slowly began to speak, tempting Ye Ning word by word:

“After signing the contract, you will be my exclusive possession. You must obediently do whatever I tell you to do. But in return, I will help you suppress the Witchification. I won’t let you lose your own consciousness, and I’ll give you enough power. In the future, you can continue to kill Angels, kill Disaster Beasts, and avenge your sister.”

“I refuse…”

Ye Ning spoke without hesitation, her voice still hoarse but carrying a stubborn resolve.

“If you make me kill my Magical Girl companions, I’d rather die than do it!”

Hua Niao let out a soft laugh, reaching out to gently brush over the purple-black patterns on Ye Ning’s cheek.

Her tone held a hint of amusement:

“Don’t worry, I won’t force you to do anything you’re unwilling to do. You have the right to refuse my orders. However, after refusing, you’ll have to accept other punishments I give you.”

Ye Ning fell silent.

The obsession with revenge burned fiercely in her heart.

She couldn’t just turn into a mindless Witch, and she couldn’t let her sister’s sacrifice be in vain.

She looked at Hua Niao, her eyes full of struggle.

In the end, she slowly nodded:

“I agree… but I have one condition.”

“Speak.”

Hua Niao raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of indulgence.

“I want you to seal my memories. Seal them for three years.”

Ye Ning’s voice held a trace of weariness, and a touch of relief.

“I want to spend these last three years as an ordinary person.”

Hua Niao stared at her for a few seconds, a bewitching smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

She nodded gently:

“Fine, I agree.”

Ye Ning breathed a sigh of relief, asking weakly, “I… what should I do?”

Hua Niao slowly leaned closer to her, her eyes full of possessiveness:

“You don’t need to do anything.”

As soon as the words fell, Hua Niao closed the distance.

Cool lips instantly covered Ye Ning’s.

Her action carried an irresistible aggression.

The demon’s sharp fangs lightly pierced Ye Ning’s lips, tasting a hint of sweet, metallic blood.

Ye Ning was caught off guard by the kiss, her breath halting instantly.

Her already weak body grew even more powerless.

Hua Niao steadily supported her waist, deepening the kiss.

A warm, powerful energy flowed from where their lips met into Ye Ning’s body, coursing through her bloodstream to every limb and extremity.

Those wildly spreading purple-black patterns, enveloped by this energy, began to slowly recede, eventually completely hidden beneath her skin.

The aura of Witchification dissipated without a trace.

Ye Ning’s consciousness grew increasingly fuzzy.

Leaning against Hua Niao’s embrace, her vision finally went dark as she completely fainted.

“Sleep well. In three years, I’ll come back for you. I hope when the time comes… you won’t break our promise, my dear Ning Ning…”

Hua Niao’s hand gently covered Ye Ning’s eyes.