Sheila rubbed her eyes. The bright light also blinded her, but she could still see, although her vision was unclear.
However, she had to make sure the orphans got out of this place safely.
"Graaaaawr!"
But chimeras had a high regeneration speed. The wounds on their bodies closed, and the broken bones reconnected. Just as Sheila was about to reach the exit, a chimera jumped out of nowhere and blocked her.
"Graaaawrrr!" The monster roared in front of her face.
On the other side, Sylvia was in a battered condition, surrounded by three chimeras, and Izzy was struggling to stand because one of her legs was broken.
They were utterly cornered. There was no hope for them to get out.
At least, that's what they thought.
Sheila trembled in fear as the chimera before her raised a hand. She could not help but close her eyes. She didn't have enough courage to see her death.
"If you kill them, this woman's head will be severed."
Suddenly, a masculine voice echoed in the room, drawing all attention. Not except the chimeras. They groaned in anger.
Emboldened, Sheila looked back and saw Klaus strangling Miranda.
"Klaus...!" exclaimed Sylvia spontaneously.
Izzy raised her eyebrows as she heard Sylvia.
Sheila sighed.
Meanwhile, Klaus casually faced the four monsters, and Miranda seemed to be struggling to breathe, her eyes bulging as hands gripped her neck.
"Well, insolent kids. Looks like you still have your wits about you. This is getting easier." Klaus grinned.
One of the chimeras hit the floor.
"If you want your damn mama to stay alive, let them all out."
The monsters groaned. Klaus didn't know their language but knew they were defying his orders. Then, he choked Miranda harder, and the old lady squealed. Her eyeballs were about to pop out.
"Graaaaawwrr!"
"See? Breaking this damn woman's neck is easy. You better do as I say before I change my mind."
The monsters momentarily looked at each other, then moved away from Klaus' men.
With worried looks, Izzy and Sylvia limped towards the exit.
"Mr. Morgan, what about you?" Sylvia asked in a desperate tone.
"Don't think about me. I'm fine," Klaus replied casually.
"Are you sure, boss?"
Klaus clicked his tongue. "Go away. You're just annoying me."
Hearing the unpleasant reply, Sylvia sighed.
Before they went out, Izzy asked to rescue her fainted men. Sylvia and Izzy lifted two of them each. The chimeras groaned as they saw them escape.
One of the chimeras seemed to be waiting for the right time to attack, but Klaus strangled Miranda more firmly so that the chimera aborted its intention.
Soon after, it was Klaus, Miranda, and four chimeras.
Klaus released Miranda, and she coughed under her breath. The chimeras roared, seeing their Mama free.
"You bastard! How dare you strangle a woman!" Miranda cursed.
Klaus chuckled. "You can still curse me after you almost lost your neck."
The old woman grinned under her breath. "Laugh while you still can. You're a fool for letting me go. Kids, attack him!"
The chimeras lunged at Klaus. Even though they were getting closer, he just chuckled. Without turning his head, Klaus snapped his fingers at them. Suddenly, the monsters stopped running and couldn't keep their feet.
Seeing the strangeness in her chimeras, Miranda twisted her face in confusion. She was curious about what Klaus had done to them.
"What did you do to my children?!?" snapped Miranda.
Klaus ignored her. His attention was now on the chimeras. "Wow, they're holding back [Sleep Waves]. Hm, not bad." He typed search again.
Those monsters began to be unable to stand properly. They swayed before finally falling to the floor. They then fell into a deep sleep. Of course, this made Miranda unhappy.
"Denzel! Emma! Why are you sleeping! Wake up! Wake up!" Miranda desperately yelled at them, but the chimeras couldn't wake up.
She turned to Klaus for a moment and then ran over to them. She hit the chimeras, who were fast asleep. "Wake up! Jojo! Don't sleep!"
Klaus took no action, just let the old woman wake up her monsters. However, no matter what Miranda did, she could not wake them.
"They won't wake up even if you hit their heads with a sledgehammer." Klaus walked over to the woman.
"You can't kill me! You can't!" She walked backward as she said so.
Klaus raised one eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because only I can put them back the way they were. Without me, they will be those disgusting monsters forever." A sly grin broke out on her face.
Klaus opened his eyes wide, and then he laughed loudly. Miranda twisted her face in confusion. She didn't understand what was so funny.
He sighed. "You think I need you to cure them?"
Miranda gasped.
Naturally, her instincts kicked in after hearing his answer. Miranda realized she was in danger. Without thinking twice, the old lady quickly ran towards the exit.
Klaus sighed. As he flicked a finger, an iron pipe shot out and hit Miranda right on her ankle, and then screams of pain filled the room.
"Aaaargh! My leg!"
Miranda screamed as she held her twisted leg. Her screams stopped when Klaus stood over her.
"Well, well. Where's your hubris."
Seeing the expression on his face, Miranda trembled in fear. "Go away! Go away!"
The old lady desperately crawled to save herself. Fear was written on her face. She wanted to escape Klaus, but he kept following her.
As Miranda reached the exit, Klaus stepped on her injured ankle. She screamed in pain until tears flowed from between her eyes.
"Why do you want to leave? Your children are still fast asleep," Klaus said.
"Please, please! Please have mercy on me. Don't kill me, Mr. Morgan!" The old woman cried and begged Klaus for mercy.
Klaus squatted down and held her face, bringing it closer to his face so he could see into the old woman. However, he found nothing but fear.
"You play with someone's life all you want, but when someone plays with your life, you beg for mercy. Isn't it a little funny?" Klaus quipped.
Suddenly, Klaus emitted a black aura. Miranda didn't know what it was, but she could feel the horror. She involuntarily peed her pants.
"Please, forgive me. Don't kill me!" Miranda's speech trembled.
Klaus chuckled. "Don't worry, I won't kill you. Just look into my eyes."
The old woman did as he said. When she looked into his eyes, they turned into a light like a sun.
The longer she gazed at it, it was as if her soul was absorbed into an infinitely black vortex. The screams and laughter of the kids she had nurtured echoed in her ears, and guilt filled her heart.
Miranda cried, and tears rolled down her face. She sobbed, screaming for mercy until her mouth foaming.
"Forgive me! Forgive me! Arrrrggh!"
Then, the old woman stopped moving. Her eyes looked as blank as a dead fish, and saliva flowed from her mouth.
"Once trash, it's trash. You can't change even if I give you a chance."
If destroying Mavis' sanity by showing how she would die or torturing Laplace with the power of the [Dark Force], in Miranda's case, Klaus used a magic called [The Gaze of the Penitent].
It is a gaze that could aton the regret and ugliness in the human heart. Of course, this magic was not as good as its name suggests. People under the influence of [The Gaze of the Penitent] would bear the crimes they had committed.
If Miranda managed to escape, then she would become a good person. However, if she could not bear her sins, she would be trapped forever in a loop of regret.
Klaus gave that old lady a chance because he thought she could change. But in the end, she was unable to bear her own sin. Miranda would forever be trapped in a limbo.
