The next morning, I was woken by a scream from downstairs.

"No! Please! I don't want to die!"

The scream cut off abruptly.

【Game Alert: Player Marcus has been eliminated.】

【Current Survivors: 4】

Lily hugged my arm tightly. "Another one died."

"Sounds like it was a rough night," I said, stroking her head. "I'm just glad you two are okay."

Kael emerged from the shadows. "The manor's other occupants are becoming active."

I picked up my phone and saw the player group chat was blowing up.

【Chloe】: Everyone be careful! Marcus died horribly last night!

【Tom (Glasses Guy)】: Shit, I didn't sleep a wink.

【Sarah (Female Player)】: What are we going to do? Seven days left...

【Chloe】: I think we need to stick together.

【Chloe】: But there's someone I don't trust.

【Tom】: Who?

【Chloe】: Ava. She's teamed up with the most dangerous ghost on the fourth floor.

【Sarah】: What?!

【Chloe】: I saw it with my own eyes. She was laughing and talking with the Shadow Lord.

【Chloe】: Maybe she's not even a player. Maybe she's an insider, part of the game.

【Tom】: Damn! No wonder she's not scared at all.

【Sarah】: So what do we do?

【Chloe】: We isolate her. We can't let her ruin our plans.

I rolled my eyes and was about to type a reply when my phone buzzed again.

It was a private message from Chloe.

【Chloe】: Ava, don't mind what I said in the group chat~ I only said that to protect you.

【Chloe】: Actually, I've always been grateful to you.

【Chloe】: After all, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have Ethan's love.

【Chloe】: And he just can't get enough of me. Last night was... divine. You know what I mean ;)

As I was reading her disgusting messages, I felt the temperature beside me drop.

Kael was standing behind me, the shadows around him roiling violently.

"Who?" his voice was full of killing intent. "Who is texting you?"

"Just spam," I said, turning off my phone. "It's nothing important."

But Kael clearly didn't believe me. Black light flared in his eyes. "Is it a man?"

"What?"

"The person texting you," his shadows grew more agitated. "What were you talking about? Why do you look upset?"

I was stunned.

Was he... jealous?

"Kael, you need to calm down—"

"Tell me," he snarled, the shadows around him erupting like a tidal wave. "Is it him? That human, Ethan?!"

Just as his shadows were about to envelop me, he suddenly bent over in agony, letting out a muffled grunt.

The crack on his chest flashed violently, like it was about to explode.

【Game Rule Violation: Specters may not proactively reveal key information to players who have not shown malice.】

His form became unstable, flickering between solid and transparent.

"Kael!" I rushed over, and Lily and I supported him from both sides.

"What's wrong?" I placed my hand over the crack on his chest. It was burning hot, as if it would melt my palm.

Lily was frantic, her little hands summoning a stream of clear water, gently wrapping it around Kael's body to cool him down.

"Cool down..." she whispered. "Don't be so hot..."

Under our care, Kael's pain gradually subsided.

He looked at me, an unreadable mix of emotions in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice hoarse. "I shouldn't have doubted you."

"It's okay," I continued to soothe the wound. "Just ask me next time. Don't let your imagination run wild."

"It was her, wasn't it?" he asked quietly. "That woman, Chloe."

I nodded.

Killing intent flared in Kael's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by pain as the game rule restricted him again.

"I want to protect you," he said, anguished. "But I can't."

"You already have," I looked at him seriously. "You gave me a home. You gave me a family. That's the best protection there is."

Lily nodded in agreement. "Yes. We're a family."

In that warm moment, heavy footsteps echoed from downstairs.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Each step was accompanied by a sizzling, burning sound. The smell of something scorched filled the air.

Lily gripped my sleeve nervously, whispering, "...'Pops' is back from his patrol. He hates all living things."

The footsteps grew closer.

The stairs groaned and creaked, as if they might collapse at any moment.

"He's very dangerous," Lily hid behind me. "No one has ever survived an encounter with him."

Kael stood up, his shadows gathering. "The fire from Pops's rage can burn through anything."

CRACK!

The door to the attic was kicked open with brutal force.

A new voice roared from below, sizzling like hot iron plunged into water. "LIVING... FLESH!" The sound was followed by a splintering crash. "I SMELL THE STENCH OF THE LIVING!"