Apocalypse: Transmigrated with an Overlord System-Chapter 238: The Price of Filth

The cave was cold, damp, and filled with the lingering stench of mold, dried blood, and cruelty. Liora lay bound tightly, the vines digging into her skin like claws. Her wrists ached, her ankles throbbed, and every breath felt like it scraped her lungs.

Lang Yao was gone. She didn’t know where he had disappeared to, but she knew it wouldn’t last long. That bastard never strayed far from his "precious prize."

She gritted her teeth and shifted slightly. The vines he used to tie her are also poisonous as she realizes. They numbed her body, made her muscles feel like jelly, made her strength abandon her. That was why she couldn’t resist, couldn’t move, couldn’t even cry out the first few times he’d stood above her with that disgusting smile.

But now... now something was changing.

The poison was fading.

Not fully, but enough.

Her fingers twitched. Her toes curled.

A faint heat returned to her blood.

Slowly, quietly, with painstaking control, Liora arched her back, lifting her body just enough to slide her arms downward. Her skin screamed in protest, but she ignored it. She had endured far worse. Gritting her teeth, she twisted her shoulders in just the right way and managed to bring her hands near her ankles.

Good...

The vines there were slightly looser. Maybe he had been in a rush. Maybe he had underestimated her. Either way, it was her only chance.

Bit by bit, she worked at the knot. Her nails scraped against the rough vine, and a soft tear echoed in the silence.

Then—

Crunch. Crunch. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Footsteps.

Her entire body froze.

No—not now!

Liora quickly dropped her hands back into position and tugged the vines over her ankles loosely, keeping the illusion of tight bindings. Her hands were still tied, but now she had hope. She could work at the knots again when he left.

Lang Yao stepped into the cave, his appearance different from before. The stench on his body had lessened—he must’ve bathed somewhere. His greasy black hair was damp and combed back, but it didn’t hide the madness in his eyes.

When he looked at her, it wasn’t with pity or mercy.

It was with hunger.

"Oh... you’re still awake?" he said, grinning as he approached. "Lying there so obediently... you almost made me think you were begging for it."

Liora’s stomach turned.

He crouched near her, the smile widening. "You know... while I was gone, I had a bath. Got rid of all the filth from the road. I wanted to look decent for my woman."

Liora clenched her jaw. Her nails dug into her palms.

"You still don’t understand your situation, do you?" Lang Yao whispered, leaning closer. "Your base... that pretty little utopia you built? It’s gone. We sent the beast tide directly to it."

Her eyes widened slightly—but she didn’t give him the satisfaction of a gasp.

Lang Yao chuckled darkly. "Oh yes. You should’ve seen the way they screamed. I bet they’re all dead by now—burned, crushed, devoured. You have nowhere to return to. No home. No power. No gaurds. You’re mine now."

She couldn’t believe it.

No—this man wasn’t capable of such a massive beast tide. Someone had helped him. He wasn’t powerful enough. But even if he hadn’t done it alone, it didn’t matter.

She would never forgive him.

Lang Yao leaned in, close enough that his breath hit her cheek.

"So... behave yourself," he said, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. "If you do, I’ll make sure you live a good life. I’ll feed you, clothe you, let you warm my bed. Be good to me, and I’ll reward you."

Liora wanted to vomit. She’d heard nonsense before, but this? This level of shamelessness?

Just where did he get this confidence from?

Ever since she had grown strong, no one dared speak to her like this. No one dared even stand too close. And now this bastard dared to defile her like this?

She was so furious her body trembled—not from fear, but rage.

Lang Yao didn’t see it.

He mistook her silence for submission.

He smirked. "I thought I’d wait a few more days before touching you. But you lying there like that, eyes half-lidded, legs open... You look so damn seductive, even without trying. Makes me wonder how good you’ll be when you do try."

Liora’s blood ran cold.

His hand crept down, inching toward her chest.

That was the final straw.

With every bit of energy she had stored, Liora raised her leg and kicked.

A savage, merciless kick—straight to his stomach.

Lang Yao flew backward and crashed into the cave wall with a loud bang.

"You bitch!" he howled, curling in pain. "How dare you?!"

"I’ll dare more," she hissed, her body shaking with fury. The kick had drained her. Sweat poured down her face, and her breath grew ragged. Whatever he had poisoned her with still lingered in her veins. Her vision swam. "I’ll make soup out of you and feed you to the wild dogs."

"You filthy whore!" Lang Yao roared. His face twisted with hatred. "You want rough? I’ll give you rough!"

He staggered to his feet, fingers trembling as he reached for the botton on his pants. "Let’s see how arrogant you are after I break you in!"

Liora stared at him, stunned.

He’s truly insane.

He can’t understand human language anymore.

She gritted her teeth and prepared herself. If this monster dared come close again, she would kick him with the last breath in her body. She would kill him or die trying.

Lang Yao stepped closer, unbuckling his belt with a sick smile. "Let’s fulfill your dream, slut."

Liora lifted her leg—ready to strike—

But someone beat her to it.

THWACK!

A terrifying force slammed into Lang Yao from the side.

He flew across the cave like a broken doll and crashed against the far wall.

A sickening crack echoed, followed by a scream so loud it shook the stones above them.

"AAAAAARGHHHHHH!"

Liora flinched and immediately closed her eyes.

She didn’t want to see what had happened.

She didn’t want to see his disgusting body again. But she knew. Someone had come. She wasn’t alone anymore.

She heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Not fast or heavy, but calm. Like the person walking in had complete control—like they had judged Lang Yao and passed sentence.

The smell of blood filled the air.

Lang Yao whimpered on the floor, one of his arms twisted at an unnatural angle. "W-Who—?"

A voice, low and cold, answered.

"You truly thought you could touch her and live?"

Liora’s eyes fluttered open.

A tall figure stood in the entrance of the cave, his face shadowed by the firelight. His presence was overwhelming, like a mountain of silent rage. He didn’t look at Lang Yao again—he walked straight to Liora.

When he knelt down, she saw his face.

And her eyes widened.

"...You," she whispered, her voice barely audible.