The long spiral staircase seemed to have no end.
Perhaps it was because of overly strained nerves, perhaps it was extreme physical exhaustion, perhaps it was the dizzying rotation of the stairs… they just couldn't reach the end, no matter how they walked.
Hu Ya wanted to overtake them, but the width of the staircase couldn't accommodate three people abreast. In the ensuing jostle, all five of them fell together.
Zhu Zhu fell to the ground, hitting the metal railing. She bit her lip and groaned, her body covered in cold sweat.
When she was grabbed and dragged on the ground by the Duke, the bones in her hand were crushed, and her knees were scraped raw.
Su Man and Yu Yaqing also had injuries of varying degrees.
They struggled to get up, supporting each other as they descended. Hu Ya, heedless of everything, rushed to be in the lead, fearing to be left behind.
The snowman was melting faster than expected.
An angry roar came from the third floor, circling above everyone's heads like the shadow of death.
Hu Ya panicked and ran even faster.
The roar was getting closer, and the staircase railing was trembling!
The Duke, struggling, had reached the entrance of the staircase!
A snowman the size of an arm was tightly biting his head. Sharp, long teeth were deeply embedded in the Duke's skull. It was the hardest ice crystal, capable of piercing bone and freezing blood and flesh!
Half of the Duke's face was covered in frost!
But as he struggled, as time passed, the frost on his face was receding, and the snowman clinging to his head was getting smaller and smaller—
Finally, it melted into a puddle of slush.
The Duke simply shook his head vigorously, and the snow scattered into snowflakes, turning into glittering water droplets and completely disappearing into the air.
Everyone felt the despair of approaching death!
The Duke's scarlet eyes stared at them, filled with resentment and hatred! His chest heaved violently, his body riddled with holes and covered in blood after the fierce battle with the snowman! If it weren't for his powerful self-healing ability, he wouldn't have been able to hold on until now!
He raised his head and howled like a wolf, then suddenly jumped over the railing, falling directly from the third floor!
Bang!!!
A loud crash echoed as he landed! The floor beneath his feet shattered!
He had landed right at the end of the staircase on the first floor, blocking their path!
Unable to go downstairs, they had to turn around and escape upwards.
Hu Ya, who had been at the front, was now at the back. The Duke grabbed her calf and lifted her up, hanging her upside down!
"Ahhhhh!!!" she screamed hoarsely.
The Duke held the struggling woman, looking at the other four on the stairs. A low, guttural sound came from his throat. His hand continued to tighten its grip, and Hu Ya's screams became even more terrifying and shrill, almost breaking.
Bai Youwei, Zhu Zhu, Su Man, and Yu Yaqing had almost reached the third floor.
The Duke gritted his teeth, making a cracking sound.
According to his rules, he could only kill one bride each night, but what he wanted to kill now were those upstairs… those women who dared to defy him!
The Duke roared and suddenly threw Hu Ya away, then rushed up the stairs at lightning speed!
Hu Ya's body crashed into the crystal chandelier with a bang!
The suspended hexagonal crystal prisms immediately became densely arranged blades, cutting her hands and feet, and piercing her skin!
She tried to grab something, but couldn't hold onto anything. With a clattering sound, she slid down and finally fell heavily on the floor! She was covered in blood!
Despite such a miserable state, she still struggled to prop herself up, laughing madly:
"He didn't kill me! He didn't kill me! Hahahaha!!! I am the last bride, I found the real key, so he won't kill me! I am the last bride! The last bride!!!"
Ding, dong dong—
Two hexagonal crystal prisms fell to the ground.
Hu Ya was stunned, and looked up.
The layers of crystal chandeliers stacked on the top of the hall were teetering. Her pupils contracted as she saw the entire chandelier crashing down!
"Ahhhhh!!!…"