CHAPTER 317: LOVE HELL - DORIAN’S PART (22)

Tulipa was a remote village nestled deep within the mountains, isolated from the outside world. Life there was harsh and impoverished, trapping its people in endless hardship with no way out.

But the stubborn, old-fashioned villagers never left the place where they were born. They swore to live and die there, no matter what, and their children grew up hearing those exact words.

Yet Alex didn’t want that. He longed for a different life that the villagers considered peaceful and ordinary, but to him felt like hell.

Especially after he fell in love with Angelia, the village chief’s daughter, with his poverty and frail body, he had no chance of being accepted.

But why? He loved Angelia, and Angelia loved him just as deeply. They seemed made for each other — their hearts bound together by an invisible thread that could never be severed.

"Alex... do you really have to go?" Angelia’s voice trembled, soft and tearful.

The village’s rule was absolute: no one was allowed to leave. But Angelia, as the chief’s daughter, could help him.

And she truly did risk everything for Alex, no matter how uncertain and dangerous his path ahead might be.

"I have to find a way out for us, Angelia. Don’t worry — I’ll come back for you. I promise, Angelia."

Alex took her hand in his — his rough, calloused, darkened hand, worn from years of labor. Compared to Angelia’s delicate fingers, the difference was like heaven and earth. In that instant, Alex understood why the village chief would never allow his daughter to marry him.

He had always been treated like a monster. Half his face lacked eyes, a nose, and a mouth — just a patch of shriveled, twisted skin. Everyone despised him. Everyone except Angelia. She was the only one who believed he was good and thought he deserved to live.

He wasn’t worthy — not of her or this beautiful flower.

Angelia broke down crying, her sobs wracking the air. Alex felt as if his heart were being torn apart, piece by piece.

At last, he turned away and left.

Angelia... forgive me. I’ll come back for you soon. No matter what it takes, I swear it. I swear it!

And so, Alex truly left the village. The outside world was strange and unfamiliar. There were things he had never seen, foods he had never tasted.

"Hello there, are you alright?"

Alex had collapsed on the roadside from hunger when a soft voice suddenly called out to him. Instinctively, he lifted his head.

At that moment, a gust of wind blew past, lifting the brim of the girl’s hat. Alex saw her face — a vivid red scar stretching across her cheek. Startled, the girl screamed, stumbled backward, and hastily covered her face.

Alex pressed his lips together and spoke softly, "Don’t... don’t worry. I’m ugly too. Look — I’m even uglier than you."

The girl looked at him properly for the first time, and in that instant, it was as if two scarred souls had finally found the missing half of themselves...

But... why did I kill her? Ah, that’s right — I needed money. I needed her possessions. I haven’t forgotten Angelia. Angelia, I’ll come back for you, I swear.

But why... why did it turn out like this?

Something was wrong — horribly wrong. The world had gone mad, every bit of logic twisted beyond recognition.

When Alex finally regained the strength to return to Angelia, everything changed. There was no Angelia. Not a single familiar face remained.

Time had passed in a way that defied all reason. The next generation of villagers still lived in misery, as if cursed — unaware that their lifespans were far shorter than those outside... so much shorter.

Why? Why? What was the point of all this?!

If I can’t be happy in the end, what was it all for?! Angelia! Angelia!

Then, from the distance, a whisper echoed — like the call of a demon guiding him.

On the verge of madness, Alex suddenly grew calm. His hollow eyes flickered a light that could no longer reach the world.

He gathered the villagers, forcing them to participate in rituals commanded by that voice within his mind.

It was all for their happiness — for their happiness!

The first time, he failed. Angelia did return... but she became a terrifying monster each night, haunted by memories of betrayal and tormented by her ugliness.

Alex couldn’t stop. He killed more and collected more "materials." That voice told him — just once more. This time, it would work.

Yes... This time, he would succeed. So why — why did those people appear to stop him?!

Alex saw Angelia’s body being restrained by them. His rage boiled over, collapsing into sobs, yet he could only obey their demands.

He roared, "I’ve told you everything! Are you satisfied now?! You people born into comfort will never understand me! Now give Angelia back to me! I want to be happy — I just want her back! I want to be happy! Is that really so hard?!"

Across from her, Fiona’s group was almost at a loss for words.

Fiona nearly shouted, "Your love is disgusting! What about the girl you deceived? You don’t even mention her name, you don’t even want to say her name in this story. Clearly, she’s the only real victim here!"

She raised her hand in a gesture of restraint and continued, "Fine, you don’t need to say her name. On second thought, even calling her name would be an insult — you’re truly repulsive!"

Alex paused. Despite his body’s massive, imposing presence, he seemed suddenly filled with doubt.

Then, simultaneously stomping his legs, he bellowed, "Yes... What’s her name? What is her name?! Why can’t I remember her name?!"

His roar echoed across the space. At the exact moment, Angelia’s body in Fiona’s hands began to collapse, as if a giant balloon had been punctured.

Fiona froze, and Nyx frowned.

"I didn’t do anything! Really!" Fiona immediately exclaimed.

"You... all of you! Die!"

Alex, of course, had already seen it all. His body thrashed violently, his neck stretching longer and longer, almost sweeping everything away. And now, in Fiona’s hands, Angelia had turned into nothing but a layer of skin.

"What kind of demonic scenario is this?! This was clearly just a bunch of monsters trying to kill people!" Fiona shouted.

It was apparent — this body of Angelia was the one Alex had always been storing!

Fiona threw Angelia’s skin aside, her expression grave.

None of them could deliver a powerful enough strike to take down Alex completely. Austin faced him head-on, but his body and strength were far too weak. Fiona’s sword could cut Alex’s body, but how many strikes would it take? By the time she could bring him down, she’d probably already be swallowed whole again.

Alice could only heal, while Nyx’s weapon was far inferior to hers! Nyx’s power was formidable, but draining all her blood still wouldn’t be enough to reduce Alex to petals.

It was a complete dead end — no way out in sight.

In Fiona’s mind, she didn’t even realize who she had forgotten.