In this moment of fortune, among the few fifth-stage extraordinary beings still watching, one spoke:
"Should we intervene?"
"You want to curry favor with that young Hydral?"
"After all, this might be the end of his pact head, why not take the opportunity?"
"Indeed, this must be her limit now, inheriting the power of two pact heads, she is indeed unnaturally strong, but not to an unfathomable extent—"
Their conversation abruptly stopped, and the discussion faded into nothingness.
For they witnessed—
Behind the wolf beast, a doomsday shadow suddenly rose, engulfing all light in its wake.
"I really cannot understand, how could someone like you, who has devoured countless ordinary people alive, can still consider yourself glorious. What kind of logic do you follow?"
At this moment, Seraphina relaxed her body. She slightly lowered her head, her voice calm, "It seems you only allow yourself to plunder others, but not to be plundered... You seem to not understand the law of the beasts at all, poor thing."
"... But never mind, I've seen too many like you. I'm too lazy to refute your nonsense, but—"
The Beast King slowly raised her head, the brutality seeping from between her teeth, the ferocity radiating from her dark red eyes, along with the enormous shadow behind her that seemed to swallow all light, all spoke of the monster's... towering rage.
"You, worthless, creature."
She took a step forward, the power of Hydral's projection surged into her body, just like when she was fighting against the head of strength of Flamelle, she learned to use a more advanced power.
Seraphina, whose eyes had turned into snake eyes, whispered like this, then raised her hand and clenched her fist.
Then, pure destruction was held in her palm.
"Dare... to insult Ansel!"
At this moment, Ravenna was under the shadow of the huge monster.
It was clear that Seraphina was trying to protect her safety, to prevent any accidents, and chose to stand in front of her.
Ravenna... couldn't understand, but she wasn't sure if she really couldn't understand.
The shock brought by Seraphina's power had long numbed her. What she couldn't understand was why Seraphina, at this time, could still spare the heart to protect her; what she couldn't understand was why Seraphina's almost mad, terrifying real rage... could be so pure.
She couldn't understand why the silly girl who was originally immersed in the fight, turned into a monstrous evil from the abyss the moment she heard Conrad's insult to Ansel.
She couldn't understand... or could she really not understand?
Before the light on Conrad's sword, which seemed to be able to level this entire floor, or even several floors, exploded, Seraphina had already roared in rage, unleashing this suppressed pure power, a punch of pure destruction, furiously thrown out!
When she threw this punch, her mind was not dominated by anger, but was full of everything she had just realized.
The perception of the flow of ether, that vortex of power, did not need close contact, could also transform the power on her body in some way to the ether, transform, compress, and finally...
Explode!
In her glaring dark red snake eyes, a brutal and joyful look burst forth.
You worthless trash, hurry up and disappear from this world!
So, starting with Seraphina's punch, a red and black light that emitted a destructive aura suddenly lit up...
It first converged into a line, then instantly expanded to four or five meters wide, and when Seraphina's punch was delivered, it exploded with a deafening roar that shattered eardrums!
Then, in front of her, everything disappeared.
"Conrad was a gift I gave to Seraphina. She couldn't find a suitable adversary, a worthy opponent, yet she harbored a burning desire to make a name for herself... She wasn't very happy during her time in the capital."
The young Hydral merely gazed at the girl in his arms, his voice incredibly soft, "So, I prepared the best enemy for her, the grandest stage... Everyone will remember this day, everyone will remember her name."
Having said this, he glanced at Ravenna, speaking in the same gentle tone, "I'm sorry for stealing your thunder... Your choice was not bad, quite satisfactory."
"So..." Ravenna felt a surge of indescribable emotion, her speech unconsciously quickening, "So, it was all a setup for me, right?"
"Ah, well..." Ansel pondered for a moment, then broke into a smile, speaking lightly, "It was more of a side effect."
A side effect...
"You did well to think of the way out I left for you. But whether you chose to sacrifice yourself or not, I didn't really care. After all, you were bound to take that step eventually."
Ansel's tone was different from when he spoke to Seraphina. Even though it was still gentle, Ravenna could distinctly feel the difference.
"Are you so sure that I will eventually... become that idealist monster?"
Ravenna whispered.
"What are you talking about, dear Venna?"
Ansel asked, somewhat surprised. He then shook his head and chuckled, "If I wasn't sure, why would I have made that bet? I bet that you would sacrifice everything for your ideals, that your ideals are destined to be destroyed by your madness."
"After all, three years ago..."
"Didn't you give me the answer?"
His gentle words made Ravenna's limbs turn cold and stiff.
Ansel hoisted Seraphina onto his back, stood up, and without looking back, said, "You've made your choice, Venna. After all, what you need isn't me."
"Ansel, wait —"
"Huff...huff...Ansel, I want a kiss..." The sleeping girl mumbled in her dream.
"...What else can I do, Seri?"
"Hehe..."
The petite woman half-lying on the ground instinctively reached out towards his retreating figure. The words she wanted to say were choked back by the girl's mumbling on his back.
Yes, Ravenna had passed Ansel's test.
— She knew, she knew that an insurmountable barrier had formed between them.
Just last night, the handsome young man was whispering words that made her heart flutter. Now, his eyes could not accommodate her reflection.
The man who seemed to want to tame her, control her, care for her in every way, didn't even want to... help her up.
This was more agonizing than any indifference, deliberate alienation, or simple courtesy.
Because it was as if he was saying—
No matter how intimate we are, no matter how much I need you, no matter how I try to control you, no matter how complicated our relationship is...
I will no longer walk with you.
At that moment, a profound sense of loneliness engulfed Ravenna.
Then came fear, and—
Not overwhelming, but so vivid, so painful... regret.
*