The Monstrous Hero-Chapter 37 - 36: Candy Hell

Liu Xian fists were still trembling, blue sparks flickering along his knuckles, but his glare stayed fixed on the being.

That damn grin hadn’t moved.

"I see you don’t like me," the thing said at last, and though its tone was light, teasing almost, there was an edge buried underneath. "But we’ll have to put personal feelings aside, because..." The white eye flared, its grin stretching wider. "...we’re dying."

The words landed like a hook in Liu’s chest.

The being stepped closer, shadows rippling off its lanky frame like smoke peeling away from fire. "And even though it’s just phantom pain, it still messes with the mind. Breaks things in here." It tapped its temple with one long black finger. "Damage in the mind is just as deadly as blood loss. You know that."

It leaned in closer, close enough that Liu Xian could feel the chill radiating from it, like frost brushing his skin. "So how about you let me take over? I’ll help you out until the timer runs out. How about that?"

Its hand stretched toward him, long and murky, waiting for a handshake like some grotesque deal-sealing ritual.

Liu Xian slapped it away with the back of his hand. Hard. The sound cracked through the void.

"Why should I trust you?" he snarled.

The smile twitched for the first time. Just barely. A hairline fracture across its mask of smugness.

"I have no reason to kill you," the being said simply.

Liu Xian let out a humorless chuckle and turned away, boots echoing against a ground that didn’t exist. He didn’t know where the hell he was going, but he moved anyway. Didn’t care. Anywhere was better than standing still in front of that thing.

"You need my help, kid."

"Fuck off," Liu Xian spat over his shoulder.

The being’s grin didn’t fade this time. No, it watched him instead. Watched the stubborn hunch of his shoulders, the way his fists stayed clenched at his sides like he was holding himself together by sheer rage. The thing tilted its head. "This won’t be easy," it mused to itself. "Stubborn little shit."

It let out a low hum as it watched Liu Xian retreat, tapping its long fingers together. It hated this. Hated the leash it was on, the fact that the brat was still in control. This was supposed to be its moment—its chance to finally stretch its legs, take the body that had held it prisoner for so long. But the kid was too damn stubborn. Too sharp around the edges to bend. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

For now.

For now, the being thought, he had to keep the brat alive. Whatever happened to Liu happened to him. If the boy’s body broke, his prison broke too. And he didn’t know what waited after that and he wasn’t willing to risk it.

So for now, he had to play nice. Pretend. Win his trust.

It raised its voice again, smooth and taunting. "Do you even know where you’re going?"

"No." Liu’s voice was flat.

"And you’re not going to ask?"

"I’ll figure it out."

The being chuckled, deep and rolling, its grin cutting wider. "I’m starting to like you, kid."

It didn’t walk after him this time. Instead, it flicked its hand lazily through the air. Shadows bent, folding into something solid. A throne—crooked and jagged, carved from black stone that hadn’t existed a second ago—rose up from the void. The creature lounged in it like a king, elbow propped on one armrest, head tilted lazily.

"I’ll help you out," it purred voice echoing. Its grin sharpened, teeth bright in the dark as it added. "But only because I’m generous."

Liu Xian didn’t answer. Didn’t even look back. His eyes stayed forward, fists clenched, as if ignoring the thing was the only way to keep from ripping into it.

The being leaned further into its throne, chin resting against its hand. That single white eye followed him, never blinking. "You’ll come around," it whispered.

And before Liu Xian could spit another curse at it, the void collapsed.

The darkness tore itself apart in a blinding flash, and the world flipped.

When his vision cleared, the sweetness hit him first. Sickly, cloying, the smell of spun sugar choking his lungs. His stomach lurched. He knew this place.

Candy Hell.

He was back.

He stood once again on the cloud-soft ground, that fake, too-bright landscape stretching around him in all directions. The little pink creatures were still running towards him, their laughter sharp, and rehearsed.

His chest tightened.

And the timer flickered into his vision.

10:59.