Members across the major zones inside the Hanging Tower were all stunned as the warning blared in their ears.

"The President has activated the Zero Evacuation Protocol?! This... this... what on earth is happening?!"

"Could the Demonkin Association be facing an existential crisis?!"

"Hurry! Return to your stations!"

For a moment, everyone inside the Hanging Tower was thrown into chaos and began running about in panic.

And it wasn't just members inside the Hanging Tower—Demonkin Association members throughout the Dark World nearly simultaneously received the notification that the "Zero" protocol had been initiated.

At the same time,

Bloodsaw, who had just left the Doll Courtyard and was speeding through a forest toward Wandering Souls Alley, shuddered as the alarm sounded inside his body.

"This is... the Zero protocol being triggered?!"

Shock instantly flashed across his face.

He had once been an Elder of the Demonkin Association;

when the association was first established, he had even worked with the old President on building and modifying the Hanging Tower.

That emergency signal had been implanted into the bodies of every member back when the tower was first constructed.

It existed so that if one day the Demonkin Association encountered a threat they couldn't handle, the alarm could immediately reach every member. The source of this content ɪs nοvelfire.net

The signal meant the Zero protocol had been activated!

He knew the Zero protocol extremely well—because he had been a key member involved in building it!

"How is this possible? Who would have the ability to assault the Demonkin Association's main base?!"

He was utterly stunned.

Although he had long since left the association and was now even being hunted,

he still had a very accurate understanding of the association’s current peak strength.

Never mind the hidden God Hunter Puppets—take the modified Flesh Puppet Type 3 for example;

those alone have enough power to handle the vast majority of crises!

"What's wrong with you?" the Doll Mistress, who had caught up, called out loudly.

Bloodsaw gritted his teeth, muscles bulging, and said,

"The Demonkin Association is in trouble. They seem to be facing some enormous threat—this is unimaginable!"

The Doll Mistress quickly matched his pace and raised an eyebrow.

"What do you think it could be?"

Bloodsaw ground his teeth. "I don't know. Hurry! On the way to Wandering Souls Alley we pass the route to the Hanging Tower—maybe we can witness something!"

After speaking, he accelerated and shot out of the forest at high speed.

...

Meanwhile.

In the wilderness,

Titan Head and Godweaver Head were greedily tearing apart that massive God Hunter giant, crunching its flesh and blood between their teeth.

"Woman—did you pin down that guy's location—I'm still furious—"

Godweaver Head chewed on an arm with force;

blood gushed and squeezed from between her teeth as she spoke with vicious cruelty,

"He won't get away—he dared slap my daughter and think he could leave—where does he get off—"

As she ate,

she turned her head and, seeing Little One in the distance, her malicious gaze instantly softened into tearful affection.

"Daughter—come let Mama hug you—you've suffered—"

Two long tentacles suddenly shot out, scooped Little One up, and, with teary eyes, rubbed her daughter's cheek like a perfect doting mother.

Little One bore Lynn on her back and, breezily, said,

"Mom—what are you two doing here?"

Godweaver Head, eyes brimming with tears, stuck out her tongue and licked her daughter's cheek with a slurping sound.

"Your parents couldn't rest easy—our precious daughter—afraid she'd be tricked by some bastard—so we followed quietly—"

Lynn sat on Little One's head, clutching two strands of her hair, expression blank, his SAN plummeting.

After all, when two immensely powerful and unfamiliar Origin-Level Monsters are standing right next to you, it's genuinely hard to remain calm.

But... it should be fine, right...

I'm Little One's good friend and personal dentist—should be... okay, right?

[Lynn SAN -10]

Little One cheerfully went "mmm—"

Then she gleefully pointed at Lynn on her head with a tentacle and beamed, waving her tentacles as she said,

"Dad—Mom—let me introduce you—"

"This is—daughter's super, super, super—favorite—wonderful Dr. Lynn—"

"He's a very nice person—very skilled—every time he comes to the doctor—he makes daughter—feel very comfortable—"

She flashed her pristine, fang-like running teeth in a chime, showing off her clean mouth.

Buzz—

Instantly, Lynn felt two murderous gazes land squarely on him.

[Warning! Warning! Crisis level rising to 99.9%]

Lynn's body hair stood on end.

This is bad! Something's wrong!

Why do Little One’s parents seem like they really want to kill me!

"Uncle, Aunt, hello..."

Lynn widened his eyes and forced himself not to break down.

"I'm Little One's dentist and caregiver, surname Lin. I live at Wandering Souls Alley No. 55, I'm 17, unmarried, I own a house, my parents are deceased, and I have some savings... Please... please give me your guidance..."

"..."

Silence.

Those four eyeballs, each larger than a house, stared at him as if they were about to eat him any second.

In that context, he was really trying his best not to crack.

"Is that so—?"

The two heads squinted and looked him over.

[Warning! Crisis level rising to 99.99%!]

Lynn shivered and felt his scalp go numb.

What's going on?

This is wrong!

I've already shaken so obviously—why does Little One's parents' hostility increase instead of decreasing?

"Kid—not bad—"

Titan Head extended a tentacle, squinting as he chomped on flesh, and with a crunching sound prodded Lynn's side.

"You're driving—very skilled—"

[Lynn SAN -10]

Another forked tongue probed Lynn's other side in the same way, and a "friendly" cold chuckle that grated on his ears echoed near him.

"One letter—and my baby—was tricked here—"

"Really—such a nasty trick—your riding my daughter—felt mighty comfortable—"

Ding-ding-ding—Lynn kept getting SAN-drop alerts in his ears.

[Warning! Warning! Host's current SAN is about to reach zero! Host's current SAN is about to reach zero! Please stabilize your mind immediately!]

[Ding! Congratulations, you triggered a special achievement: Origin-Level Malice. You have gained 300 base EXP.]

[Origin-Level Malice]: Special achievement—stand in front of an Origin-Level being that harbors huge malice toward you for 60 seconds and survive;

this proves you are brave. Permanent bonuses awarded: Spirit +5, Constitution +5, Courage +5.

[Ding! Congratulations, you triggered Stage 2 Achievement: Double Portion of Malice. You have gained 500 base EXP.]

[Double Portion of Malice]: Special achievement—what?! You actually stood in front of two Origin-Level beings who hate you and lasted 60 seconds without dying?! No one knows how you did it, but this proves your talent for attracting hatred is peerless. Your bravery is unparalleled! Permanent bonuses awarded: Spirit +10, Constitution +10, Happiness +10.

No!

Lynn froze in place.

I am not happy at all!!

Where on earth did you see me being happy!

At a time like this you give me +10 Happiness—do you want me to leave more happily?!

Damn system!!

Little One nodded vigorously and cheerfully sang the lyrics Lynn shouted while revving on his bike.

Buzz—

Lynn went hollow, cold sweat pouring down his head as if in a torrential downpour.

[Warning! SAN is about to be cleared! SAN is about to be cleared!!]

Little One...

Now is not the time to say weird things...

Okay...?

Because there's already murderous intent brushing his hair, his neck feels icy—he's really about to snap...

Seeing Lynn in his frozen state,

Titan Head cracked open his bloodstained, massive jaws, revealing a row of fierce teeth, and patted Lynn's shoulder with a sinister grin.

"After we eat that guy who slapped my daughter—"

"How about the two of us—have a private little chat—?"