Chapter 302: Damian Recognizes the Bad Ending

Cassandra looked at Aldren and sighed. "I really didn’t want to use this, but it seems I don’t have much of a choice anymore."

She glanced around once before suddenly raising her voice, loud enough for everyone throughout the festival grounds to hear. "EVERYONE, LISTEN!"

The crowd immediately fell silent.

Cassandra swept her gaze across the spectators, her expression turning frighteningly calm. "If you’re not part of the Valeria or Valehart Families... run as far away from here as you possibly can."

Several people froze.

Cassandra didn’t bother explaining herself. She simply tightened her grip on her sword and slowly raised it high above her head.

A terrifying pressure began to gather around her. "Because once I use this forbidden move... everyone still standing here will die."

That was enough.

The ordinary spectators immediately panicked and began fleeing from the festival grounds.

Even many of the important guests in the VIP section quickly withdrew, unwilling to gamble their lives just to see what Cassandra was about to unleash.

However, several smaller factions remained behind.

An elder from a moderately powerful faction scoffed. "She’s just bluffing."

Another elder from an even weaker faction nodded in agreement. "Exactly. With the [Eight Radiant Sword Sealing Formation], Patriarch Aldren already has the advantage."

They didn’t run away because of their greed, not wanting to abandon such a rare opportunity.

If Cassandra were defeated here and exposed as a demonic cultivator, the Valehart Family’s reputation would undoubtedly soar.

Any faction that stood beside them now could potentially gain their favor once everything was over.

To them, Cassandra’s warning sounded less like a genuine threat and more like the desperate bluff of a cornered woman.

They simply couldn’t bear to walk away from the benefits that might come afterward.

Elsewhere, Cynthia’s expression immediately changed. "We’re leaving right now."

Linsey blinked. "Huh? Now? Why so quickly? Isn’t the show just getting started?"

Cynthia frowned and pointed toward Cassandra. "Damn it, Linsey. Don’t you know just how strong she was... what she did to Cassandra?"

Helena immediately agreed. "If someone that strong tells us to fucking run, we run."

Evelyn simply turned around and started walking away, clearly ready to leave whether the others followed her or not.

Cynthia also quickly reminded Linsey, "Don’t you remember? Master met Cassandra inside the Sword Tomb, and she now also has a King Grade Sword."

She narrowed her eyes. "Not only that, you know Master’s weird habit. He always likes giving women all kinds of good things."

Cynthia pointed toward Cassandra again. "Cassandra definitely received something from him too. Maybe more than one thing."

Her expression became even more serious. "So if someone like her is actually preparing to use a forbidden art... do you really want to stay here and find out what happens?"

Linsey froze as only then did she fully realize what Cynthia was saying. "...Fuck."

Without wasting another second, Linsey turned around.

Together with Helena, Cynthia, and Evelyn, the four of them quickly withdrew from the festival grounds.

---

Damian and Esmeralda were already far enough away, hidden within the roof space. At this distance, they should have been safe.

Yet Damian’s expression slowly turned ugly.

He stared toward Cassandra as her aura continued to change, and for some reason, the entire scene felt horribly familiar.

A moment later, something suddenly surfaced in his mind as he remembered Violetta’s story or more specifically... the ending.

Damian’s face immediately darkened.

"Don’t fucking tell me..."

Esmeralda turned toward Damian in confusion, wondering why his expression had suddenly darkened.

Before she could ask anything, Damian abruptly stood up.

Esmeralda frowned. "Damian?"

He ignored her and suddenly shouted toward the nearby rooftops. "Cynthia! Linsey! Helena! Evelyn! I know you four are fucking here!"

For a few seconds, there was only silence.

Soon, four masked figures emerged from the shadows of the surrounding rooftops and quickly approached them.

Esmeralda’s eyes widened slightly as she stared at the four newcomers.

She had already met Cynthia before, but this was the first time she had seen the other members of Damian’s mysterious harem in person.

Her curious gaze immediately swept across Linsey, Helena, and Evelyn, quietly examining each of them.

Linsey had barely opened her mouth when Damian suddenly pointed toward Esmeralda. "Stay with her for a moment."

Cynthia frowned. "Master, what are you..."

Damian immediately cut her off. "Just stay here. Don’t follow me."

His tone was unusually serious.

Before any of them could ask another question, Damian turned around and directly left the hidden roof space.

The sudden action stunned everyone.

Linsey blinked in confusion, Cynthia’s frown deepened, Helena stared after him, and even Evelyn paused for a moment.

Esmeralda was equally surprised.

None of them had expected Damian to suddenly leave on his own like that.

---

For several seconds, the hidden roof space remained awkwardly silent.

Esmeralda looked at the four masked women before coughing softly. "Uh... nice to meet you. I’m Esmeralda."

Linsey immediately gave Esmeralda a playful little wave. "Linsey."

Helena, meanwhile, stood straight and gave her a firm nod. "Helena."

Evelyn simply nodded once. "Evelyn."

Esmeralda’s gaze finally settled on Cynthia. "At least I already know you."

Cynthia smiled faintly.

Esmeralda glanced toward the direction Damian had disappeared. "Do you know what just happened?"

Cynthia’s smile faded. "Honestly? No."

She frowned slightly. "This is actually the first time I’ve seen Master act like that."

Linsey nodded. "He didn’t even make a stupid joke before leaving."

Cynthia looked toward the distant arena. "I think it has something to do with Cassandra."

Esmeralda sighed. "That was my guess too."

For a moment, everyone fell silent again.

Cynthia eventually spoke. "Whatever Master is planning, we should just stay here and watch."

Esmeralda raised an eyebrow. "You’re not worried? The opponent this time is a Nascent Soul cultivator."

Cynthia shook her head. "Of course I am. But Master is much stronger than he looks."

Esmeralda studied her for a moment, then glanced once more toward the direction Damian had disappeared. "A Nascent Soul cultivator isn’t exactly something you can just shrug off."

Cynthia’s expression remained calm. "I know."

Esmeralda let out a quiet sigh. "If you say so."