Chapter 348

Chapter 348: Kidnapped

Darkling Stalker observed Lin Yu’s anxious expression, her originally serene silver eyes gleaming with heightened intensity. This particular spark of exhilaration only surfaced during her moments of torturing prey.

After persistent attempts left her wrist crimson, Lin Yu finally relented, startled by Darkling Stalker’s transformed appearance.

“Let us depart.”

Darkling Stalker concealed the excitement in her gaze, resuming her impassive demeanor.

“Depart? Go… where?”

Lin Yu parted her lips to summon other daughters for aid, but sealed them shut after meeting Darkling Stalker’s piercing stare.

“The appointed hour approaches.”

Darkling Stalker ignored the question, murmuring cryptically.

Her words still hung in the air when a thunderous crash reverberated through the chamber – the bedroom door exploded inward. Both females turned to witness multiple silhouettes materializing in the doorway.

Magic Rainbow led the vanguard with Stealth One, Army Lady, and Lvzi at her flanks. Beyond them swarmed dozens of Stealth Ants, four of which lay immobilized at the threshold by writhing shadow-cables. Lin Yu instantly recognized these as today’s designated personal guards.

Darkling Stalker had already subjugated them.

“Little Shadow! What madness possesses you toward Mother?!”

Magic Rainbow froze momentarily at Darkling Stalker’s metamorphosed form before rallying with a thunderous demand.

The instant Lin Yu had clasped the bracelet, all daughters – including Magic Rainbow – felt their ethereal connection to the silver-haired woman sever abruptly, as if her essence had been erased from existence.

Pandemonium gripped the ant colony with apocalyptic intensity.

Mother endangered.

Red Pupil and Magic Rainbow first shook off the collective panic, yet crucial moments elapsed before they reached Lin Yu’s chambers.

…

Darkling Stalker maintained stoic silence against the accusation. An umbral tendril lashed from her shadow-wreathed form, coiling around the white-haired woman with viper-like speed to bind her completely.

“Intercept her! Now!”

Magic Rainbow barked, electricity crackling around her raised hand even as she shouted.

The golden-haired warrior beside her became living lightning, a prismatic longsword materializing in her grip as she shifted instantly to full combat readiness. Army Lady’s silhouette blurred into motion, trailed by Stealth One’s shadow-form.

Though Stealth One had reached peak Class B prowess, her velocity couldn’t match Army Lady’s Class A swiftness – the shadowy pursuer fell behind despite her metamorphic state. Dozens more silhouettes surged in their wake, forming a dark tide through the corridor.

“Little Shadow, take this move!”

Hah~~ Ptui!!

Beside them, Lvzi refused to lag behind, urgently gathering energy to expel a thick… thick glob of green acid.

While the daughters launched their assaults, Darkling Stalker merely swept the bound Lin Yu into her arms. With a flicker of movement, she materialized by the window – a shadow projectile from her form unlatching the casement moments before her arrival.

Precisely as the window yawned open, Darkling Stalker sprang through the aperture, clutching Lin Yu as they plummeted downward. Behind them, crackling electricity and sizzling acid struck vacant air. Though Army Lady gave chase, her attacks faltered mid-motion, restrained by concern for Lin Yu’s safety.

The pursuers watched Darkling Stalker rebound between vertical surfaces like a ricocheting bullet, her speed exponentially greater than within the confined bedroom. The white-haired captive became a pale blur in her arms, their escape trajectory clearly outpacing any pursuit.

“Why didn’t you strike earlier?”

Stealth One materialized from Hidden Shadow state, human features knitting into a frown as she addressed Army Lady.

“I… feared collateral harm to Mother.”

“Such foolishness, Army Lady!” Lvzi interjected before Stealth One could reply. “With Little Shadow’s prowess, did you truly think your strikes could reach Mother? Our task was mere containment!”

Magic Rainbow sighed nearby, her voice tinged with resignation. “Now rests the matter with our elder sisters’ interception. Though we anticipated Little Shadow’s restlessness, this brazen abduction…” She paused, antennae quivering. “Where could she possibly spirit Mother away like some pilfered treasure?”

After a beat, she concluded: “Eldest sisters, we should follow.”

A chorus of assent rose as the ant-girls cascaded through the window like obsidian raindrops.

Meanwhile…

Darkling Stalker’s escape path was abruptly blocked by a diminutive figure – Red Pupil stood poised in their trajectory, having anticipated this route. Flanking her stood the timid Weak Sound and a hulking golden-furred wolf. Above, twin violet-haired doppelgängers hovered on iridescent dragonfly wings, forming an aerial barricade.

“Release Mother, Darkling Sister.” Red Pupil’s dulcet tone carried steely undertones.

“Arf! Arf-arf-arf!” The lupine guardian’s barking crescendoed, muscles coiling until restrained by Red Pupil’s upraised palm.

Ice Beauty maintained her glacial composure, one arm possessively encircling her captive’s waist. The white-haired girl hung suspended in shadowy bonds, her protests muffled by the obsidian gag. Distant rustling signaled approaching reinforcements – Magic Rainbow’s group from behind, while castle perimeter guards converged from all directions.

“The elders cannot hinder me.”

Darkling Stalker appeared utterly composed, gazing calmly at Red Pupil as she remarked in measured tones. “Perhaps. Though I alone cannot stop you, it suffices that we can.”

As the words lingered, Red Pupil’s crimson eyes flicked toward the blond companion. “Blonde, Manifestation.”

“Woof!”

But the blond-haired one found her limbs frozen mid-motion. “‘Shadow Doll’ manipulation?”

Red Pupil’s brow furrowed slightly upon realizing her own constrained state. Though requiring mere moments to break free, that sliver of time proved crucial—even as this realization dawned, the petite warrior witnessed Darkling Stalker seize the opening. Swiftly scooping the silver-haired maiden into a cradle hold, the shadowy figure dissolved into murky darkness while activating ‘Shadowification,’ her form becoming both intangible and accelerated.

“Purple Cloud! Purple Mist! Little Sound! Intercept!”

“On it, sister!”

“We’ve got this!”

“Uh… right away!”

Before Red Pupil finished speaking, twin Flying Ants plummeted from the skies like violet meteors toward the retreating shadow. Weak Sound simultaneously triggered ‘Haste’ and ‘Speeding’ abilities, keeping swift pursuit.

During this flurry of motion, the petite combatant effortlessly shook off the Shadow Doll’s influence—being of equivalent rank to Darkling Stalker rendered such binds temporary. Yet Red Pupil made no move to chase, instead restraining the agitated blond companion.

“Woof?”

“Woodland shadows multiply her advantage. When Little Shadow flees through forests, pursuit proves futile.”

“Arf! Arf-arf!”

The blond’s urgent barks echoed through the trees. “Peace. Little Shadow means Mother no harm.” Red Pupil’s slit-pupiled eyes tracked the distant silhouettes vanishing through sun-dappled branches. “Let her keep Mother briefly—their bonding time’s been scarce.” A thoughtful pause. “Though… let’s hope little sister remembers to share.”