"Stay away from me!" Selene screamed, grabbing a small dagger from her side. Without hesitation, she lunged at him.

Adrian sidestepped the attack easily, but the sight of the blade sent a chill down his spine. His eyes widened in shock as Selene slashed at him again, her movements quick but uncoordinated.

He had no idea Selene, quiet and reserved Selene had this energy in her. He didn't want to hurt her, but she wasn't giving him a choice. The manticore watched with cold amusement, its tail swaying like a cobra ready to strike.

"Selene, snap out of it!" Adrian shouted, blocking her wild swings with his sword. "It's not real—this is the manticore's doing!"

But Selene didn't seem to hear him, her expression twisted into a snarl. Her mind was too clouded by the creature's influence. She lashed out with renewed fury, her eyes wild and crazed. She swung again, and this time, her dagger grazed Adrian's arm, drawing a thin line of blood.

The manticore let out a raspy laugh.

"You'll never hurt me, beast!" Selene screamed, her voice filled with a rage that wasn't her own.

The sound of her voice sent a stab of pain through Adrian. One of his women didn't recognize him as she's consumed by the creature's influence.

He had to find a way to break the spell, or...

He felt the weight of the creature's hypnotic presence pushing at his mind again, more violently this time, but he fought it, steeling himself against the pull.

Then, in the midst of trying to fend off Selene's attacks, he felt the searing pain of the manticore's tail as it pierced his side. The venom surged through his veins instantly, a burning fire that spread through his body, and Adrian gasped in agony, his legs buckling beneath him.

The manticore laughed, its voice a deep, mocking growl. "Ah… the venom takes hold quickly, doesn't it? Soon, you'll be just like her—lost in the illusions of your mind."

Adrian's vision blurred as the venom worked its way through him. He staggered back, his breath coming in ragged gasps as his strength began to wane. His grip on his sword faltered, and the fiery chains around him flickered weakly.

And then, the illusion took hold.

In an instant, the world around him shifted.

The chamber faded into a haze, and in its place stood the manticore—no longer the monstrous beast but something far more familiar. Adrian blinked, his mind clouded with confusion, as he saw Selene standing before him, but she no longer looked like the frightened priestess he had just tried to protect.

She was the beast.

The image was terrifyingly clear—her face, once kind and gentle, now twisted with malice and cruelty. Her eyes burned with hatred, and her fangs were bared, ready to sink into his flesh.

Adrian shook his head, trying to clear the illusion from his mind. But it was no use.

"I'll feast on your bones," she said, her voice low and threatening.

He raised his sword, his movements sluggish as the venom continued to sap his strength. His mind screamed that this wasn't real, that the manticore was twisting his perception. But the illusion was too strong, too vivid.

Adrian slashed at the figure, the chains weakly following his command. The figure that looked like Selene dodged, her laughter cold and taunting. "Is this how you want it to end, Adrian? Striking down those you claim to protect?"

His vision blurred as the pain and the illusion combined, and he fell to his knees. His chest burned, his breathing labored, and the manticore stepped closer, its voice a dark purr.

"Give in to the pain, and let me take you..."

But something inside Adrian refused to give up.

A voice deep inside him rose up, strong and determined, refusing to surrender. It pushed against the illusion, tearing through the haze.

"Fight it!" Adrian growled through clenched teeth, but the command seemed directed more at himself than at Selene. His breath came in short gasps as his vision swam, and the figure before him—this beast—closed in, raising its dagger for the killing blow.

Adrian let out a loud cry, and with every ounce of strength he had left, he swung his sword.

It was as if the blade cut through the haze of illusion, and suddenly, everything became clear again. He could see the manticore standing before him, its true form revealed.

"Selene…" he gasped, struggling to hold onto the truth. "It's me… It's Adrian…"The real Selene—whoever she was—hesitated for just a moment, the dagger in her hand trembling. Adrian seized the opportunity, forcing his chains to flare back to life, wrapping one around the creature's tail and yanking it toward him.

But the manticore wasn't done yet. It hissed in anger, its scorpion tail lashing out even as Adrian fought to subdue it. The venom was weakening him, but he wasn't about to give in.

"I… won't… let you… win!" Adrian growled, every word a struggle as he forced himself to stand despite the poison coursing through his veins.

For a brief moment, the manticore's illusion wavered, and Adrian could see the real Selene standing just a few feet away, her eyes wide with confusion and fear. She was still trapped in the illusion, still seeing him as the beast. But there was hope—he could reach her.

"Selene!" he called out, his voice raw with desperation. "Snap out of it! It's not real!"

She blinked, her brow furrowing as the dagger in her hand wavered. "Adrian…?"

"Yes!" he shouted, his chains snapping forward to block the manticore's next attack. "It's me! Don't listen to the creature—it's trying to control us!"

Selene hesitated, her eyes darting between the two of them. Then, as if breaking free from a trance, she shook her head, her expression shifting from confusion to anger.

"No," she said, her voice firm.

Adrian smiled, his vision blurring as he watched her face the beast.

Her eyes hardened as she faced the monster, her jaw set in determination. She held up her dagger, the blade gleaming in the dim light of the chamber.

"You'll not control me any longer, foul beast."

The manticore roared in anger, its scorpion tail snapping at Selene, but she was ready, ducking under the attack and slashing the beast across its chest. The creature hissed in pain, its red eyes flashing with rage.

"I'll feast on your bones, humans," it rasped, its voice filled with malice.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.