Chapter 0034: The Ghost Mother of the Wood! (3/5)

In his previous life, the core of Ifugad City was an absolute forbidden zone.

At the heart of the ruined city lurked a mutant so powerful that even emperors hesitated to provoke it.

Her name was the Ghost Mother.

She had taken root in the dilapidated remains of Ifugad City, surrounded by countless wandering spirits and the souls of the dead.

She was that terrifying.

Even the incarnation of the Dark Mother Goddess, upon seeing her, remarked:

"This Ten Thousand Wood Ghost Mother has a 10% chance of becoming a god!"

A chance to ascend to godhood!

Even among the evolved emperors of later generations, few could claim a 10% chance of becoming a god.

But that being could no longer be called human. As the Dark Mother Goddess had pointed out, she was more a monster than a human.

This confirmed that whatever she had once been, she had long since stopped being human.

Novak had seen a video of the Ten Thousand Wood Ghost Mother.

In the center of Ifugad City, on a massive tree with a trunk thousands of meters in diameter, no trace of humanity remained.

The tree's twisted branches had engulfed the entire city, creating a scene that looked like a vision of Hell.

Novak couldn't comprehend how a human could have mutated into something so monstrous.

Could it have been a coincidence? A mere twist of fate?

He didn't dwell on it for long, but his interest in Lotte had grown. He resolved to keep a close eye on her.

Though he hadn't seen her face, her personality was certainly intriguing.

He memorized the name Lotte, marking her as someone to monitor closely in their small group of four.

If anything unusual happened, Novak would see it immediately.

As darkness faded, day broke.

Dane awoke, hungry.

She stared at the bright red mark on the bed, her emotions tangled. She remembered her feelings of frustration toward her mother last night, which had driven her to make a bold decision. Whether it was the right one, she wasn't sure.

But now, with the bed next to her empty and her body marked with bruises, the soreness lingering within her left her feeling vulnerable.

Just then, the door opened, and Novak appeared.

Without any concern for her resentment, he said bluntly:

"Why are you still in bed? Breakfast is ready. Aren't you hungry?"

"I'm not hungry! I don't want to eat!"

Dane pulled the quilt over her head and kicked her feet up and down, venting her frustration.

Novak, already showing unusual patience by coming upstairs to fetch her, wasn't about to indulge her further. 

He approached, smacked her lightly on her ass, then, without hesitation, lifted her out from under the blanket, slinging her over his shoulder and carrying her downstairs.

"Novak, you bastard! Put me down!"

Her kicks and punches were as ineffective as a child's tantrum, barely noticeable to Novak.

Realizing he wasn't going to let her go, Dane buried her face in the quilt in embarrassment.

When they reached the dining room, Daphne, already seated at the table, was unsurprised by the scene. After all, she had heard her daughter's cries last night. She had gone through something similar herself and had expected this.

Her daughter had a soft spot for Novak, and given Novak's character, it was only a matter of time.

Still, upon seeing her daughter bundled in the quilt, Daphne felt a twinge of sympathy.

Dane, on the other hand, was too embarrassed to meet her mother's gaze. Huffing in annoyance, she avoided eye contact, pulling the quilt tighter around her bruised body.

But her attention soon shifted as the smell of breakfast filled the room.

It was delicious!

Why hadn't she noticed before that Aunt Sun was such a good cook? Or was she just that hungry?

Dane was suspicious, but soon she caught Novak looking at her.

"How is it? Good?" he asked with a slight grin.

Dane snorted, pretending not to care.

"Of course it's good! Aunt Sun is a certified chef. But you, Novak, have you ever had real food in your life? Eat more!"

Novak just smiled without saying anything, while Daphne smiled softly from the corner of her mouth.

Aunt Sun, however, looked a bit embarrassed.

"Miss, today's breakfast was actually prepared by Mr. Novak."

Dane froze, her face turning red in an instant.

Novak, seizing the moment, added:

"Eat up. You'll need the energy to recover. Later, you'll be coming with me. If you do well, I'll cook something even better for lunch as a reward."

His tone carried a hint of mischief, and Dane's face grew even redder. She wanted to refuse, but her growling stomach and the way she was unconsciously savoring every bite left no room for protest.

She huffed:

"That's what you're supposed to do!"

Novak ignored her playful attitude, turning to Daphne.

"Today, be prepared. I'll take care of the arms and legs of that thing so it won't resist, but there's still some danger. You've seen it—you know what I mean. Where's Aria?"

Daphne, already prepared, nodded.

"Nicole is bringing the nurse over soon."

Dane, still confused, asked:

"What are you talking about? What won't resist? What are you preparing for?"

Novak glanced at her, smiling.

"I'm taking you to play an exciting game."

Exciting?

Seeing his grin, Dane's cheeks flushed again, her mind flashing back to the events of last night. What could be more exciting than that?

She was about to find out.

And soon enough, she realized just how wrong she was.

This time, the excitement was so intense... she wanted to cry!