Dorothy's Forbidden Grimoire-Chapter 276 : Appetite

Byron remarks after finishing another small cake. The pastries are exceptional, even better than those at some high-end restaurants he frequents. He hadn’t expected such exquisite desserts in a theater.

“These pastries are delicious, almost as good as the blood feasts at the society gatherings.”

As Byron eats, his movements become increasingly rapid. He grabs pastries from the table and shoves them into his mouth, his eating becoming almost ravenous.

While devouring the pastries, Byron’s eyes remain fixed on the dancers in the audience. Though there are many dancers, all dressed identically in white gowns and half-masks, Byron’s gaze is drawn to one in particular.

This dancer stands out, not in appearance but in her movements. Her dance is more powerful, precise, and fast-paced, with greater difficulty than the others. Her performance naturally draws the attention of the other dancers, who begin to orbit around her, turning what was originally a group dance into a performance with a clear lead.

The audience, captivated by her skill, begins to chant her name.

"Adèle! Adèle! Adèle!"

The chants grow louder, spreading throughout the theater. Amid the cheers, the lead dancer removes her mask and lets down her hair, revealing golden locks that cascade like a waterfall. The face of Adèle is revealed once more.

The theater erupts in excitement as Adèle reappears. The audience rises to their feet, their cheers drowning out the music.

In his private box, Byron, still ravenously eating, realizes what’s happening.

“So that’s Adèle... She’s affecting me, amplifying my appetite, making me lose control…”

“Adèle has found me. She knows I’m here. She’s using this dance to manipulate my desires. To avoid detection, she disguised herself as a regular dancer, mingling with the audience. By leaving the stage and getting closer to me, she’s increasing the range of her influence... She’s making me watch her dance, drawing me in, and amplifying her control over me…”

At this moment, Byron understands everything. He knows why he’s acting so abnormally. Logically, he should stop and flee immediately, but he can’t.

“I should... run... now... but... but I’m so hungry! So hungry! I need to keep eating!!"

Byron growls through clenched teeth, his face twisted in agony. His eyes are bloodshot, and saliva drips uncontrollably from his mouth.

Byron is now completely dominated by his insatiable appetite. His rational mind screams at him to flee, but it’s no longer in control. Overwhelmed by his primal desires, Byron’s only thought is to eat.

Byron transforms into a beast, devouring everything in sight. As he eats, his body begins to change. His form grows larger, his skin darkens, and his mouth elongates into a snout filled with sharp teeth. His hands morph into clawed paws, and his entire body is covered in black fur.

In a matter of moments, Byron has fully transformed into a black beast. He quickly devours all the remaining food in the box.

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But even after consuming everything, his hunger remains unquenched. His gaze shifts to the audience below. To his eyes, they are nothing more than fresh, delicious meat.

Just as the beastly Byron is about to pounce on the audience, Adèle, still dancing among the crowd, glances toward Byron’s private box. Her eyes meet his, and she subtly gestures toward the unconscious servant in the box.

In an instant, Byron’s hunger shifts focus. Drawn by an inexplicable force, he turns to the servant, a Craver of the Apprentice rank.

To Byron’s eyes, the servant radiates an irresistible aroma. Without hesitation, Byron lunges at the servant, biting through his neck before he can even react. The servant collapses, lifeless, as Byron tears into his body, feasting on his flesh and organs. Blood splatters across the luxurious box.

Meanwhile, the main theater is alive with music, cheers, and applause. The dancers whirl, the orchestra plays passionately, and the audience chants Adèle’s name. Unnoticed in the corner of the private box, a gruesome feast unfolds.

After devouring the servant, Byron’s hunger remains unsatisfied. As he looks around for his next meal, the door to the box suddenly opens. A piece of fresh meat is thrown inside.

Without thinking, Byron pounces on the meat and devours it. Another piece is thrown in, and he eats that too. This continues, with meat being tossed into the box one piece at a time.

Outside the box, in a corridor of the theater, several theater staff members gather around a cart filled with fresh meat. The meat, usually used to prepare meals for VIP guests, has been brought from the theater’s kitchen.

Alongside the meat are numerous glass bottles filled with various colored liquids, many labeled with skulls and crossbones.

These loyal staff members, under Adèle’s command, inject the meat with toxins from the bottles before tossing it into the box. The toxins are potent enough to kill even large animals like horses or cattle.

Standing by the cart, Ed watches the scene unfold. Through Ed’s eyes, Dorothy observes as well.

“So this is how she plans to leave the body intact... I didn’t expect Adèle to use poison.”

Dorothy thinks to herself. She had been wondering how Adèle would ensure the body remained intact. In her experience, battles involving Chalice-path Beyonders are usually brutal, often resulting in decapitations, broken bones, or even complete dismemberment. If filmed, such scenes would undoubtedly be rated R.

“Desire manipulation... amplifying a person’s desires until they override reason, turning them into a beast driven purely by instinct... She can even control the target of their desires... If preserving the body wasn’t a concern, she probably has more efficient methods than poison…”

“Food and lust are fundamental human desires... The Chalice path’s spiritual expression revolves around these primal instincts. Unlike the Beast branch, which focuses on physical enhancement, Adèle’s branch seems to emphasize the spiritual aspects of Chalice. To manipulate a Beast-transformed Beyonder with just her dance... What a terrifying woman. Her abilities must be beyond the Black Earth rank…”

Dorothy reflects, gaining a deeper understanding of the Chalice path. Chalice-path Beyonders aren’t just mindless brutes.

As she ponders, Dorothy’s attention shifts to the cart and the bottles of toxic chemicals. A question arises in her mind.

“It’s normal for a theater to serve food, but why does it have so many toxic chemicals? A theater shouldn’t have these, and in such large quantities. What are they doing with all this?”

Dorothy decides to ask Adèle about it later.