Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill

Suddenly, more zombies appeared—but these were different. Small and agile. Holding flasks in their hands.

Lamia saw them. Her eyes widened.

"...no way..."

She stepped forward.

"you!"

She frowned.

"useless fools, stop!"

But they didn’t respond.

The little demon zombies raised their flasks and threw them at the group.

The air filled with poison.

Lamia reacted instantly. Her violet smoke spread around the group, covering them. Protecting them.

The poison was deflected.

But they didn’t stop. They rushed straight at her.

Rusty knives in hand. Ready to stab.

Max appeared in front of Lamia, hammer in hand.

He started striking, leaving small bodies shattered across the ground.

"stay back."

Moonlight and Neros kept fighting.

Slashes, ice, and constant destruction.

But their movements weren’t the same anymore.

Slower. Heavier.

Abby launched another fireball, smaller this time.

It hit weakly against the bodies surrounding them.

"...damn it..."

Dorian clenched his teeth. He tried to focus. His hand glowed over his wound—but the pain made him fail.

"...I... can’t... do anything..."

Sophie struggled to maintain the seals, trembling.

Holding the barrier together as best as she could.

Max crushed another little demon.

His mind raced, searching for an idea—a plan.

"...I have to draw him out..."

Lamia looked at him. She noticed his fatigue.

"don’t worry."

She gave a faint smile.

"I can handle this alone."

The laughter returned.

Closer. More irritating.

"getting tired already?"

Dante’s voice mocked them.

Max didn’t hesitate.

"I can do this all day."

Abby raised her head.

"give me back my brother!"

Another laugh answered her.

"Oh... your brother..."

The voice turned cold.

"...he’s being punished by his father."

A pause.

"it’s no longer our concern."

Max spoke without looking at her.

"keep him talking. I need him to keep responding."

He tightened his grip on the hammer.

"we have to locate him."

Abby nodded. Teeth clenched.

"you’re going to die alone."

She spat the words.

"your women already escaped, and I’m not marrying you."

Dante laughed louder. More twisted.

"don’t be foolish..."

His voice echoed.

"...even if you die... I can bring you back."

A pause.

"...I can go retrieve my wives whenever I want."

His voice was closer now. Clearer.

"They will never be safe from me. I know how to find them."

Max closed his eyes for a second.

Then activated his necklace, releasing a dark pulse.

Ten figures emerged.

The skeletal knights.

Four positioned themselves beside Lamia, ready to defend her.

Six surrounded Max—

And together, they vanished into the chaos.

Following Dante’s voice.

Searching for his location.

Lamia kept fighting.

Kicking. Dodging.

"...if you can revive anyone..."

She looked into the mist.

"why did you let Layla die?"

There was a brief silence from Dante.

"...I didn’t let her die."

His voice was soft—but cold.

"...she was sick... I only helped end her pain."

Lamia trembled.

"that’s a lie..."

Her eyes glowed.

"you murdered her."

A pause.

And then—

"...then you’ll have to see her."

The air split.

A body shot forward.

Wearing a white dress.

Pointed heels.

A flying kick aimed straight at them.

Sophie’s seals shattered.

The barrier disappeared.

The zombies advanced.

Lamia released more smoke, desperately.

But it wasn’t enough.

A cut opened on her cheek.

Blood flowed.

She fell to the ground.

And a hand grabbed her by the neck.

Lifted her.

Lamia opened her eyes.

And saw her.

A wedding dress.

Dead skin.

Worms crawling out of her eyes.

Rotten breath.

But it was her.

"...Layla..."

Her voice broke.

"...what did they do to you...?"

Her eyes trembled.

"my beautiful daughter..."

The skeletons leapt at the bride.

Attacking.

But Layla spun in a clean motion, delivering kicks.

Bones shattered.

They fell to the ground.

Useless.

And she didn’t let go of Lamia.

Not even for a second.

***

Max moved through debris and bodies, guided by the voice.

But when he reached the spot, there was nothing.

Only fallen zombies around him.

His brow furrowed.

"...what...?"

Then, a dry crack.

He turned his head.

And saw it.

One of his skeletons dropped to the ground, as if something invisible crushed it.

Bones splintered against the floor.

Shattering.

Max looked up.

And saw him.

Suspended in the air.

Dante floated above, watching him with a calm smile.

"finally."

His voice was clear.

"I was starting to think I’d have to come find you... I was getting bored."

Max tightened his grip on the hammer.

"stop playing around."

His eyes hardened.

"fight seriously."

The remaining five skeletons reacted instantly.

They lunged at Dante.

At the same moment, Max activated a seal on his chest.

Boost.

The air burst around him as he launched forward with them, hammer in hand, straight toward Dante’s head.

But Dante barely moved.

He dodged with ease.

"how basic... boring."

Max didn’t fall.

He activated his boots.

His body became light.

He floated.

Suspended in the air in front of him.

"fight like a man."

Max’s skeletons crashed to the ground, breaking apart.

"don’t hide behind corpses."

Dante tilted his head, smiling.

"I prefer to fight intelligently."

A pause.

"it’s better."

Max narrowed his eyes.

"...so you really were the circus devil... you’re a coward..."

Dante let out a small laugh.

"do you still doubt I’m the same one?"

He drifted a little closer.

"I’d be hurt if you didn’t remember me."

Max clicked his tongue.

"I don’t understand what you want with all this."

Dante sighed.

"I hate those villains who explain their plans in the middle of a fight."

He shrugged.

"I have no reason to tell you anything."

Max reacted.

He threw the hammer straight at his face.

But Dante caught it with one hand.

Easily.

He smiled.

"...you look weaker than you did that night."

Max smiled back.

"I fight smart."

He nodded slightly.

"watch closely."

Dante’s eyes lowered slightly.

The dream gem was embedded in the hammer.

He grabbed it without hesitation. Unaffected.

And crushed it in his hand.

"the same trick doesn’t work twice."

Max let his shoulders drop.

"...damn, that’s disappointing."

Dante threw the hammer against a wall.

And in the same instant, he lunged forward.

Hand extended.

Ready to pierce through him.

But Max deactivated his boots.

His body dropped instantly. Straight toward the horde of zombies attacking the group.

Dante descended after him.

Fast. Precise.

But then, Max smiled.

The hammer was returning to his hand.

Spinning at high speed.

Straight toward him.

And Dante was right in its path.

His eyes widened slightly.

He moved, dodging it.

Stopping midair, just centimeters away from hitting Max.

A tense instant.

Max caught his hammer.

Still smiling.

"...that was close."