Kawakami Tomie had just revealed her terrifying, distorted monstrous form when Muxiao Xiao's tentacles dragged her outside.
"Aaaaahhh!!"
Flung from the hospital room, plummeting dozens of meters through the air, Tomie and her duplicates screamed in horror. The midnight wind howled, whipping her black hair into a frenzy, her grotesque, twisted shadow resembling a demon crawling out of hell.
Yet, for men enthralled by Tomie's charm, even this horrifying appearance couldn't quell their obsession. The restrained Muto thrashed and roared her name, utterly beyond saving.
As for the devilish woman, her face and head crowded with multiple Tomie faces, her bungee-like plunge ended abruptly when Muxiao stuffed her mouth with a tentacle, silencing her screams.
"Mmph!!"
What is this thing?!
Bound and lifted into the air, Tomie felt the wind subside and the weightlessness fade. Sprawled awkwardly on the ground, she realized she was on the hospital rooftop, facing…
"Mmph!! Monster!!"
Seeing the tentacle monster, Tomie let out a terrified scream. Muxiao, recoiling his tentacles in disgust, rolled his eyes at her words.
Tch, look at yourself. Who's the real monster here?
Okay, fine, he was a monster too—but wasn't Tomie's freakish nature even scarier? Her unique traits—infinite duplication, irresistible charm, and assimilative infection—made her far more terrifying than a tentacle monster. Tohka Matsubara could turn humans into zombie-like tentacle creatures, but Tomie could assimilate women who received her blood or organs, and she was nearly impossible to kill.
Muxiao's eyes gleamed with interest. Dragging Tomie here wasn't about any attraction to her body.
Sure, she was beautiful, but he had no desire for a monstrous woman like her. Wasn't Natsumi Sakura back home far more appealing? Even the sultry Shima Izuki was better.
"What is this thing? What kind of monster? Is it charmed by my beauty?"
Tomie, calming slightly as the writhing tentacle blob stood still, spoke, only for the face on the back of her head to chime in. "Of course. I'm so beautiful, not just men but even monsters fall at my feet. Hmph, my charm is unrivaled!"
"Who're you calling ugly, you hag?! My beauty is the true pinnacle! You're nothing compared to me!"
"You dare?! You filthy slut, calling me ugly?!"
Despite the terrifying tentacle monster before them, the Tomie duplicates hurled insults at each other, tearing into one another as if their true enemies were themselves, not Muxiao.
He knew this well—Tomies were mortal enemies, incapable of compromise. Verbal sparring was nothing; if free, they'd rip each other apart.
"Hey! Hurry up and kill these ugly hags! You're gross, but if you take care of these bitches, I could be your girlfriend. Having a world-class beauty like me as your companion is an honor!"
"Don't listen to that cheap woman! Kill her! I'll give you anything you want!!"
As the Tomies geared up for another round of verbal sparring, Muxiao spread his tentacles. No need to fight—none of you are escaping today. I brought you here to test how many evolution points you're worth.
Evolution points were hard to come by, after all.
"Getting close, I can feel the strange power affecting me—her unique charm? No wonder men go mad for her," Muxiao muttered, glancing at his system panel. "Too bad it doesn't work on me."
Hmph, for someone destined to become an Old One, this is child's play.
Swish—
A cold glint sliced through the moonlight, tearing the air. Something flashed, and the bickering Tomies fell silent. The main Tomie glanced at her duplicate, now sporting a gaping wound, her eyes lighting up with glee.
"!!!"
Evolution Points +200
What?! 200 points just like that?! Muxiao gasped, stunned.
"Hahaha! Nice job! Just like that! Kill them all, quick—"
Shing—
Another chilling slash cut through, radiating cold intent.
The Tomie face that had been laughing maniacally, still forming on the fallen duplicate's head, was torn apart by Muxiao the next second.
Evolution Points +200
Muxiao's eyes lit up, glowing with a predatory green, like a starving wolf.
The remaining Tomies sensed danger, screaming in panic. "What are you doing?! Stop! What did that hag offer you to turn on me?!"
"Am I not beautiful? Don't you want me? Once my body recovers, I'll do anything you want! I'll be your lover!"
Sorry, power matters more than women. And if I wanted one, it wouldn't be you. Muxiao sighed inwardly. Besides… your evolution points are way higher than those zombie tentacle monsters!
Tomie, you're a treasure girl~
He'd expected maybe a few points from Tomie, given her ordinary physical stats. Who'd have thought she'd yield this much?
One Tomie was worth 200 points?
Jackpot! And with a monster like her, he felt no guilt killing them. Initially, he planned to eliminate the main body too, but now… Whoa, this value?
Should I keep a Tomie as a renewable resource? She can duplicate infinitely, after all.
Muxiao hesitated.
The main Tomie sensed the killing intent, her heart pounding. "You… you…"
Evolution Points +200
Evolution Points +200
Evolution Points +200
The moonlight was intoxicating.
Tomie under the moonlight was captivating!
Watching the newly spawned Tomies fall under his tentacles, Muxiao grinned like a villain, retracting his tendrils. "Aside from her unique traits, Tomie's essentially just human-level. No real threat."
Why not keep her as a cash cow?
Glancing at the trembling Tomie cowering on the ground, something stirred in her wounds, reviving. Undoubtedly, Tomies couldn't be fully eradicated. But Muxiao was prepared. He grabbed a can of gasoline, doused the bloodstains, and tossed a lighter.
Boom—
In the roaring flames, faint wails of monsters echoed from the blood, quickly incinerated to nothing.
The sole surviving Tomie stared in horror. This monster… knows our weakness?
Fire—the only way to deal with Tomies.
Evolution Points +200
Evolution Points +200
Evolution Points +200
…
The system pinged over a dozen times, ending with a final notification.
Evolution Points +1000
Muxiao knew the Tomie factors in the blood were completely destroyed, unable to regenerate.
The system's prompts were reliable.
"Hell yeah! 3200 evolution points!" Muxiao's tentacles trembled with excitement. "Tomie, my treasure girl, meeting you was the best!"
He gazed warmly at the surviving black-haired beauty.