The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 31

"Don't die, Lloyd Holmes!" Ivy ran while silently chanting in her heart. Honestly, everything she experienced tonight was more stimulating than all the events of her previous life combined. Monsters living in the world's shadows, and those who fought against them.

The world was more complex than Ivy imagined. She felt troubled and pained, but also inspired by Lloyd like never before. He was perhaps the bravest person she had ever seen, even though his character was as bad as it gets. Despite facing monsters that could destroy one's spirit, he still had the courage to wield his sword. In comparison, Ivy felt dim under his radiance.

After running for who knows how long, Ivy kept descending. She heard the rushing sound of water, just like Lloyd described, the water channel.

She stopped abruptly. The surroundings were dimly lit, with only dim yellow lights illuminating the relatively small space.

She didn't have Lloyd's breadth of knowledge; she couldn't make out what surrounded her. It was then that Ivy realized Lloyd's importance. If it weren't for the detective, she might have died long ago.

But then the sound that had been following Ivy closely resurfaced. The slithering, faint yet distinct sound of scales, drowned out by the flowing water. Ivy couldn't discern where the sound was coming from amidst the flowing water. She tightened her grip on the gun, vigilantly scanning her surroundings.

Lloyd had warned her that these things would exert incredible mental pressure. But once you got used to that fear, even the fiercest tiger was just a dangerous big cat.

With the gun tightly gripped, Ivy's gaze swept back and forth in the darkness.

Her thoughts flew by rapidly. For a moment, Ivy thought about many things. She wondered how she would live if she survived, and what it would be like if she died. There was nothing to fear, just a lot of regret.

For a moment, it was a very strange feeling of daze. Ivy wasn't sure when she had become like this. She remembered a long time ago when she was just a girl who liked skirts and dolls, a very ordinary girl. When did she start wielding swords and guns?

In the darkness of consciousness, the sharp claws and teeth came instantly. It was a chilling presence, but Ivy still summoned some courage. She rolled to evade the attack, then retaliated with gunfire. Dark red blood gushed out, splattering on the ground.

Her heart was pounding violently. But unlike before, when she was too scared to move, Ivy was gradually getting used to it. Dragging her stiff body, she ran towards a dark corner. This was what Lloyd had told her about in the corridor.

The voice from that memory echoed in her ears.

"According to the records of the Order, humans and demons once lived together on the earth. Humans enclosed themselves within sturdy walls, hiding in sealed shelters when night fell, enduring the fear without making a sound."

Lloyd had said something like this before.

"In the darkness, we shiver until the first flames are lit, illuminating the dark forest. It can guide the lost souls in the night, but it can also alert the demons lurking in the darkness to your presence. So sometimes, light won't protect us. To kill demons, you must first become one and infiltrate the darkness."

The scraping of scales became more intense. Ivy could even smell the pungent odor permeating the air. She pressed against the wall in the darkness, ensuring she only had to focus on what was in front of her.

She had to survive, at least until Lloyd arrived.

This was a circular atrium-like structure. The sound reflected between the arched walls, blending the rushing water and scraping sounds, making it impossible to determine the direction.