The Xianzhou Luofu hummed with its usual bustle, the faint clatter of merchant carts and the distant clash of Cloud Knight drills filling the air. Yanqing perched on a jagged rooftop overlooking Aurum Alley, his breath fogging in the cool evening as he swung his sword through crisp, precise arcs. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his blonde hair sticking to his skin despite the chill. Nearby, Yunli sprawled on a crate, her massive blade propped against her shoulder, picking at her nails with a dagger while she watched him.
 
“You’re gonna wear yourself out before I even get a swing in,” Yunli called, her voice rough with playful mockery. She hopped to her feet, twirling her weapon with a flourish that sent a gust of wind rustling Yanqing’s coat. “C’mon, genius, let’s see if Jing Yuan’s golden boy can keep up with me!”
 
Yanqing shot her a sideways glance, smirking as he sheathed one of his blades and drew another. “Keep dreaming, Yunli. I’ve been sparring with the general since before you could lift that oversized cleaver.”
 
She snorted, stepping into a fighting stance. “Big talk for a kid who’s all flash and no guts. Let’s—”
 
Her taunt died mid-sentence as a low, throaty laugh slithered through the alley. The air thickened, heavy with a presence neither could ignore. Yanqing’s grip tightened on his hilt, his eyes darting to the shadows. Yunli froze, her bravado faltering as a figure emerged, slow and deliberate, like a predator savoring the hunt.
 
Kafka. The Stellaron Hunter’s heels clicked against the stone, her coat swaying with each step, the faint glow of lanterns catching the sheen of her gloves. Her lips parted in a slow, wicked smile, and her eyes—sharp, predatory—locked onto them like a beast sizing up its next meal.
 
“Well, isn’t this precious,” Kafka drawled, her voice dripping with honeyed menace. “Two little swordsmen playing hero. You’re practically begging to be devoured.”
 
Yanqing stepped forward, blade raised, his voice steady despite the unease gnawing at him. “Kafka. You’re not welcome here. The Cloud Knights will have your head if—”
 
“Spare me the lecture, darling,” Kafka cut in, her tone bored as she waved a hand. “I’m not here to trade blows or witty remarks. I’m starving… and you two?” She licked her lips, slow and deliberate. “You’ll do nicely.”
 
Yunli barked a laugh, though it came out shaky. “What’s that supposed to mean, huh? You gonna eat us? That’s the dumbest threat I’ve ever heard!” She swung her blade in a wide, threatening arc, the metal singing through the air.
 
Kafka didn’t flinch. Her smile widened, and with a flick of her wrist, violet threads of energy lashed out, coiling around Yanqing and Yunli like spider silk. ZAP! The air crackled, and both teens staggered, their weapons slipping from numb fingers to clatter on the ground.
 
“W-what the—?!” Yanqing grunted, his knees buckling as the psychic grip tightened. “Spirit Whisper… damn it!”
 
Yunli thrashed, her face red with fury. “Let go, you psycho! I’ll carve you up—!”
 
Kafka sauntered closer, her boots clicking ominously. “Oh, I love the fire in you. Makes this all the tastier.” She stopped in front of Yunli, towering over her, and without warning, her jaw unhinged—wide, impossibly wide, a gaping black hole framed by sharp teeth and glistening saliva.
 
Yunli’s bravado shattered. “No, wait—hold on—WHAT THE HELL—?!” Her scream cut off as Kafka lunged, engulfing her head in one swift SCHLOMP! The sound was wet, grotesque, like a boot sinking into mud. Yunli’s arms flailed, her massive sword clattering uselessly as Kafka’s throat bulged, sucking her in with a loud GULP! Her shoulders vanished next, then her torso, her legs kicking wildly as they slid down with a series of sloppy *GLURK! GLURK! GLURK!*s.
 
Yanqing stared, his heart pounding, bile rising in his throat. “Yunli!” he shouted, straining against the invisible chains. Kafka’s stomach swelled obscenely, the fabric of her coat stretching taut as Yunli’s muffled yells echoed from within.
 
Kafka wiped her mouth with the back of her glove, letting out a soft “Mmm…” of satisfaction. “Spicy little thing, aren’t you?” She patted her wriggling belly, then turned to Yanqing. “Your turn, swordsman.”
 
“No—stay back!” Yanqing roared, but Kafka was on him in an instant. She grabbed his collar, hoisting him like a ragdoll. His fists pounded against her arms, but she barely flinched. Her maw opened again, and with a sickening SHLURP!, his head disappeared inside. His screams were muffled as she worked him down, her throat rippling with each GULP! His arms pinwheeled, then his legs, until a final SLUUURP! sent his boots sliding past her lips.
 
Kafka’s gut ballooned further, a grotesque, lumpy mass that jiggled with every squirm. She stumbled slightly, bracing herself against a wall, and let out a low chuckle. “Oh, you two are heavy. Settle down in there, won’t you?”
 
Inside, Yunli thrashed against the slimy, pulsing walls, her voice hoarse. “This is insane! Let us out, you lunatic! It stinks like a dumpster in here!”
 
Yanqing, crammed beside her, gagged as acidic juices splashed onto his face. “We’ve got to—cough—find a way to cut through! The general will—”
 
A deafening GRRRRROOOOAAAAANNNNN! drowned him out as Kafka’s stomach lurched, the walls clamping down hard. Yunli yelped as they were squished together, their bodies pressed into a tangle of limbs in the sweltering, dripping heat. The air was thick with the stench of bile and melted leather, their gear already starting to dissolve.
 
Outside, Kafka sank onto a crate, crossing her legs as she massaged her bloated midsection. “Keep fighting, darlings. It’s adorable.” She felt a bubble rise, and her cheeks puffed before a monstrous BUUUUUURRRRPPPPPP! ripped through the alley. The belch was so loud it shook the lanterns, a gust of hot, sour air carrying flecks of Yunli’s hair tie and a shred of Yanqing’s sleeve. “Oops,” Kafka said with a smirk, fanning her face. “You’re quite the handful.”
 
The digestion kicked into high gear. BLORP! GLORP! SQUELCH! The sounds were relentless, a wet cacophony as her stomach churned its prey. Yunli’s shouts grew weaker, her fists slowing. “Yanqing… I can’t… it’s burning…”
 
Yanqing gritted his teeth, his voice fading. “Hold on… we can’t—” A CHURN! silenced him as the acids surged, softening their forms. The squirming dwindled, replaced by the rhythmic GURGLE GURGLE GURGLE! of total breakdown.
 
Hours crawled by. Kafka lounged lazily, her belly shrinking to a round, sloshing dome. She hummed a tune, tapping her fingers on her gut as it BLORPED softly. Then, a deep rumble stirred lower down, and she raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you’re ready to move along, are you?”
 
A sharp PFFFFFT! burst out, short and pungent, followed by a longer, wetter FRRRRRRRTTTTTTT! that rattled the crate beneath her. The alley filled with a rancid stench—metal, sweat, and something sickly sweet. Kafka laughed, waving a hand. “Goodness, you two are loud even now.”
 
She stood, stretching with a groan, and wandered to a shadowed corner. “Time to say goodbye,” she muttered, squatting with a casual grace. The disposal began with a bubbly PBBBBBRTTTT!—a hot, moist fart that stank of sour eggs and rotting meat, wafting up as she pushed. Then came a thick, coiling SPLORCH!, a heavy rope of waste hitting the ground with a dull THUMP. It was dark, streaked with blue threads from Yanqing’s coat and red scraps of Yunli’s hair ties, now fused into a steaming mess that reeked of sewage and burnt hair. Another FRRRRRT! ripped out mid-push, this one wet and brassy, carrying the sharp tang of bile and digested metal. A second shove brought a sloppy SQUUUUELCH!, the pile growing with chunks of melted sword hilts and bone fragments, clattering as they landed, the air now thick with the putrid funk of feces and decay. A final PFFFFT-PLOP PLOP PLOP! combo finished it—a quick, airy fart followed by the last runny lumps splattering out, leaving a lumpy, steaming heap that smelled like a mix of rancid cheese, wet garbage, and charred flesh.
 
Kafka stood, brushing off her hands. “There. Back to the stars, in a way.” She adjusted her coat, turning to leave, when a gruff voice cut through the silence.
 
“Kafka!” Blade stormed into the alley, his sword drawn, his face twisted in disgust. “What in the mara-struck hell is that smell?”
 
Kafka grinned, gesturing to the pile. “Just had a bite to eat. Yanqing and Yunli—tasty little morsels. Want a turn next time?”
 
Blade gagged, stepping back. “You’re a damn monster. That’s vile.”
 
“And you’re a killjoy,” Kafka retorted, sauntering past him. “Lighten up, Bladie. It’s just nature taking its course.”
 
As she vanished into the night, Blade glared at the steaming remains, muttering, “Jing Yuan’s gonna lose his mind over this…”