Ch. 921: Chapter 921-930

Chapter 921 May You Die Happily Ever After [Part 2]

As the battle raged in the sky, the Wraith King found himself being pushed back every time he clashed with his opponent.

Even so, King Leoric's calm expression on his face never changed, as if everything was under his control.

Truth be told, the Wraith Queen was slightly weaker than him. However, he was currently at a disadvantage, and the reason was simple.

His opponent had the home-court advantage.

The countless Wraiths who were supporting their Queen were granting her the power of Faith.

It didn't take long for Lux to understand why the proud King was losing in his one-on-one duel. However, there was nothing he could do to help him.

He knew that this wasn't a battle that he could interfere in because this was a battle between two Monarchs.

And in this battle, their honor and dignity were at stake.

If he really helped Leoric win the duel, the Wraith King's loyalty might decrease, and there was also a chance that it would affect their relationship.

The only thing he could do right now was believe in his Champion's ability to overcome this handicap.

Suddenly, King Leoric did something unexpected.

The Wraith King dove into the sea, catching his opponent by surprise.

After a brief hesitation, the Wraith Queen followed suit and dove into the water as well.

The Wraiths who were cheering for their queen continued to shriek in support, but none of them dove underwater.

It was as if there was an unwritten rule that they couldn't go underwater where the battle was being waged.

Perhaps due to the storm's increasing intensity or perhaps due to the battle, the waves in the sea towered so high that it seemed that they would swallow the ship whole and destroy it with its embrace.

Asmodeus firmly held the steering wheel as he braced himself for the giant wave that was about to descend upon his head.

The Wicked Queen Slime wasn't bothered by their current situation in the slightest and was even using a nail file to fix her nails.

As the wave crashed over the bone ship, pushing it down in the water, Lux briefly saw the battle that was being waged under the sea.

Bright flashes of light illuminated the cold darkness below, showing the level of intensity that the battle had progressed to even though they were fighting underwater.

Suddenly, a dazzling light lit up the darkness, forcing Lux to close his eyes due to its unbearable brightness.

The sea churned as a powerful explosion catapulted the Bone Ship upwards, making it nearly touch the storm clouds in the sky.

Fearing that the Bone Ship might shatter if it fell on the chaotic waters, Lux un-summoned it and Asmodeus before opening his Draconic Wings to hover in the sky.

The Wicked Queen slime grabbed hold of his foot as she looked down at the sea below.

"It's over," Lilian said. "Such an unexpected turn of events."

Lux, who had no idea what the Wicked Queen Slime meant, followed her gaze and saw something rising in the waters.

King Leoric was holding his opponent in a princess carry, and the latter's arms were wrapped around his neck.

The Wraith King then hovered a few meters away from the Half-Elf before clearing his throat.

"Um, Lux. Let me introduce you to Queen Mary," King Leoric said. "Mary, this is the Master whom I currently serve."

The Queen Wraith removed her visor, and a beautiful face appeared in front of the Half-Elf.

"Nice to meet you, Lux," Queen Mary said.

"N-Nice to meet you too," Lux replied before giving King Leoric the "what is going on?" gaze.

The Wraith King glanced at the beauty in his arms before shifting his gaze to his Master.

"We got to know each other during the battle, and we decided to become a couple," King Leoric replied as he shifted his gaze to the beauty in his arms.

Queen Mary smiled as she looked back at the handsome King, leaving the Half-Elf scratching his head.

Although falling in love with your opponent in the midst of battle wasn't unheard of, he didn't expect the dead king to still be capable of falling in love.

The Wraiths, who had all been cheering for their Queen earlier, surged forward like a dark tide before circling King Leoric like a tornado.

After a few tense moments, these Wraiths suddenly transformed into their human forms.

Some were dressed as soldiers, while some were dressed in noble clothes. All of them then clapped their hands as if to applaud the two lovers who had also returned to their human forms.

King Leoric was a handsome, middle-aged man with sharp looks, while Queen Mary was a truly exceptional beauty who seemed to be in her mid-thirties.

Both were wearing clothes of royal red that faintly glowed in the darkness.

The two then shared a kiss with each other, which made the Wraiths applaud and whistle.

This scene would have been several times better if not for the fact that they were currently inside a raging storm, with thunder and lightning roaring in the background.

"Congratulations to the two of you," Lux said. "May you live—err, die happily ever after."

"Thank you, Lux," Queen Mary replied with a smile, making the Half-Elf blush.

As if waiting for that moment, several rows of text appeared in front of him.

—————————

< Queen Mary has become a vassal of King Leoric. All of her retainers will now become a part of your strength. >

< You have gained 20,000 Wraiths under your command. >

—————————

The storm quickly calmed down, and the winds abated.

It was as if the one causing the storm was the restlessness of the Wraiths that had haunted the Purple Sea for hundreds of years.

Patches of white light descended from the dark sky, and one of them fell on King Leoric and Queen Mary as if the heavens themselves were blessing their union.

Lux looked at this scene with a sigh in his heart. He never imagined that he would witness something so otherworldly and beautiful.

"Lux, I will be gone for a while," King Leoric said as he looked at the Half-Elf with a smile. "Mary and I plan to get to know each other a little better. However, if you need my assistance, don't hesitate to call. Bye."

The Wraith King didn't even wait for Lux's reply before diving into the purple waters with his Queen.

The other Wraiths then bowed their heads towards Lux before turning into particles of light and merging with his body.

For hundreds of years, they had accompanied their Queen in the purple sea, but they had yet to see salvation.

But now, things were different.

They knew that once Lux's long journey in this world ended, they would finally be able to cross over to the other side and have the opportunity to start their lives all over again with his blessing.

 

 

Chapter 922 The City Of Exile [Part 1]

"I can already see it," Lux muttered as he looked in the distance.

Although it was still dark, due to his Dark Vision, he was able to see the outline of the island that slowly grew bigger as they closed the distance.

The pillar of light that shot toward the heavens, which served as the beacon that guided them to the Pantheon of Exile, was shining brilliantly as if greeting those who had journeyed the Purple Sea to reach its location.

"It has been a while since I've been here," Lilian commented. "I wonder what kind of changes have taken place since I left."

According to what Lilian told them, she was born in the Pantheon of Exile. The Half-Elf didn't ask her any questions, sensing that the Wicked Queen Slime might want to keep her experiences on the island private.

Eiko guided the Bone Ship towards the beach until it couldn't move any further. A few minutes later, once everyone disembarked from the ship, Lux un-summoned Octavius due to Lilian's advice.

They then traversed the island until they saw a pair of giant statues standing in front of a gate.

One of the statues held a sword, and the other held a spear. They looked very imposing, but the Half-Elf knew that they were just ordinary statues without sentience in them.

Lilian led the way, and the others trailed behind her. When they reached the door, the Wicked Queen Slime glanced at Lux and gestured to the young man to open the gate himself.

The Half-Elf smiled and pressed both of his hands against the gate and gave it a push.

At first, nothing happened, but as he exerted more effort to open the gate, the groaning sound of metal was heard before the two gates slowly opened.

When the gate was partially opened, a ray of sunlight hit the Half-Elf as if welcoming him to the place where he wished to be.

Only when the gate was open enough to allow three people to walk side by side did Lux stop completely.

He then took a step forward, and the rest followed.

The moment all of them got inside, the gates closed slowly behind them, leaving them no path to turn back.

Lux had a surprised expression on his face as he looked in front of him.

He was expecting that the Pantheon of Exile would be a gloomy and terrible place, and yet, what he was seeing in front of him made his assumptions vanish into thin air.

"Surprised?" Lilian asked with an amused expression on her face.

"Very," Lux replied. "Is this really the Pantheon of Exile?"

Lilian nodded. "Yes. This is the outskirts of the Pantheon of Exile. I believe that the one you are looking for is within the Inner Sanctum."

As the sun rose up and illuminated the world, the City of Exile was bathed in light. A city that was no different from the cities that he had seen in the Surface World.

"Remember, what you see in this city is not what it seems," Lilian stated. "Don't let your guard down."

A few minutes later, they arrived at the entrance of the city.

To Lux's surprise, he didn't see anyone guarding the entrance. However, after Lilian pointed out that only exiles were sent to the city, the Half-Elf understood that having a guard stationed there was pointless.

The moment that they entered the city gates, those who were awake noticed their arrival.

They immediately assessed the newcomers, and some of them even whistled after seeing Lilian's mature beauty.

Suddenly, a man descended from the sky and gave a graceful bow to Lux and his comrades.

"Welcome to the Pantheon of Exile," a middle-aged Catkin said with a smile. "Well then, pray tell. What is your reason for coming here? What kind of crime did you commit for the King of Agartha to personally send you to our humble abode?"

Suddenly, loud laughter erupted in the surroundings as men and women clapped their hands because they found the Catkin's performance quite entertaining.

To his part, the Catkin bowed his head to his fellow exiles before shifting his attention back to their guests, whom he believed were exiled people, just like them.

"I didn't commit any crime," Lux replied. "I'm just here to buy some soy sauce."

"S-Soy what?" the Catkin blinked his eyes in confusion. "What is this Soy Sauce you are talking about?"

Lilian, Gerhart, and Cethus glanced at Lux with curiosity because they also didn't know what this soy sauce was.

"Nothing special," Lux answered. "Simply put, I'm just here to sightsee."

"You came here to sightsee?" the Catkin looked at Lux in disbelief. "Sightseeing like tourists? Here?"

A moment of silence descended which was broken by another thunderous roar half a minute later.

"Hahaha! This new guy is funny!"

"Sightseeing! Hahaha! Good one!"

"Well, at least it's much better than the last one. The guy that was sent here ten years ago said that he was just looking for a place to poop!"

"Hahaha! I remember that guy. Unfortunately, he offended someone and kicked the bucket."

Lux smiled before making a gesture for his comrades to follow him.

The Catkin moved aside with a smile because he knew that there was no place that the Half-Elf and his cohorts could go within the God-Forsaken Island.

New arrivals were always popular with the locals according to Lilian, so they ignored the curious stares in their direction.

They planned to stay in the city for a day to get a proper rest before journeying to the Inner Sanctum, which was located on the north side of the Island.

As they walked the streets of the city, Lilian explained that there was a vast Wild Land that separated the City of Exile from the Inner sanctum.

The Wild Land was home to many powerful monsters that ranged from Rank 1 Monsters up to the Calamity Rank.

It was where Lilian was born and also the place where she had lived for many years until she reached her current Rank.

"By the way, what kind of currency do they use here?" Lux asked. "Do they use gold?"

He wanted to have a proper rest in a comfortable bed if possible and wash away the exhaustion he felt during the journey.

"Yes, they use Gold Coins, as well as Special Tokens as currency," Lilian replied.

"Good." Lux nodded. "Do you have any good recommendations for an inn to stay at?"

Just as Lilian was about to answer Lux's questions, she noticed over a dozen men walking in their direction with smirks on their faces.

A single glance was enough to tell that they were ruffians, and it was also easy to guess why they were approaching their group.

The mature beauty sighed before shaking her head.

'Fools,' Lilian thought as she looked at the Baby Slime who was perched on top of the Half-Elf's head.

Eiko was already holding two Blast Bombs in her hands, a devilish smile on her face as she looked at the ruffians.

Due to her Mind Reader ability, she and her Papa already knew what the thugs were planning to do.

The locals, who were observing the newcomers, all smiled because they knew that something interesting was going to happen.

For people like them who had been cast out from the lands of Agartha, this kind of entertainment served as their favorite pastime.

"Since they are so kind as to give us a warm welcome, we should give them a proper greeting as well." Lux sneered. "Shower them with gifts, Eiko."

The Baby Slime's wicked smile widened, and she threw the two Blast Bombs, which immediately increased their size once in mid-air.

"Boom Boom Bakugan!"

Lux, Gerhart, Cethus, and Lilian all flew backward because they knew what was going to happen next.

Before the thugs even had the chance to run, a powerful explosion made the entire city tremble, waking up those who were still asleep and unaware that trouble had come knocking on their door.

 

 

Chapter 923 The City Of Exile [Part 2]

"The Pantheon of Exile is a place where being kind will earn you a knife stab in the back. It is not a place for the innocent and the ignorant, and the people in there are the worst of the worst.

"Since we will be arriving there shortly, it would be best if we make a good first impression. That way, we will not always be targeted by the fools who think that we are easy pickings."

Those were the words that Lilian had told them as they made their way to the City of Exile.

They already knew that they were going to be attacked as soon as they entered the city, so they made preparations in advance.

Eiko, who had drawn First Blood, narrowed her eyes to look at the destruction caused by her Blast Bombs.

To her surprise, the Thugs were able to escape with only minor injuries, and were looking at her with solemn expressions on their faces.

"Well what do you know? It seems that these newbies know a trick or two," one of the Thugs grinned as he held daggers in both hands.

"A Slime that throws bombs? How much do you think that thing will sell for in the auction?" a skinny man asked his comrades, who were watching the battle from one of the nearby rooftops.

"Can't say, but she will be a good pet," a woman eyed Eiko with a smile. "She's kind of cute, don't you think?"

"Your definition of cute is a bomb in your face?"

"Well, why not?"

Similar conversations were being held by the spectators who were watching the battle from a distance.

There was an unspoken rule in the City of Exile when it came to handling newcomers.

It was fight at your own risk, and no one will get in your way.

Since the Ruffians decided to attack Lux's group, the others simply watched from the side and waited for the outcome of the battle.

"I'll handle them," Cethus said as he summoned his spear.

"Gravity Domain!"

A dome of black light expanded in the surroundings, catching three of the Thugs that attacked them. The others were nimble on their feet and managed to evade in time.

Those who were not-so-lucky found themselves kissing the ground due to the increase in gravity within the black dome of light.

Cethus sneered and increased the gravity five times, making the three Thugs cry out in pain as their bones shattered inside their bodies.

The Dragon Born then glanced in the direction of the Thugs, who managed to back away and sneered.

"You think you filthy Low Landers can beat me? What a joke," Cethus once again increased the gravity, making the bodies of the thugs he caught explode like watermelons.

(E/N: They're Under Landers.)

The Dragon Born then brandished his spear in an arrogant manner and pointed it at the people who preyed on them.

"Who's next?" Cethus asked arrogantly. "Those who want to die, step forward!"

Lux and Eiko, who were watching from the side, clapped their hands.

"Wow! Did you see that Eiko?"

"Pa!"

"I know, right? Watching cannon fodders fight cannon fodders is the best thing ever."

"Un!"

Lilian giggled and Gerhart snickered, which made the Dragon Born almost cough up blood after hearing his own allies make fun of him in front of their enemies.

'You motherf*ckers!' Cethus cursed internally as he did his best to remain calm.

If he were to have his way, he would have smacked Lux with his spear and made the latter apologize to him.

Sadly, he couldn't do that.

Eiko would kill him before he could get close enough to touch her Papa.

The Thugs glanced at each other before spreading out in different directions. They outnumbered their enemies, so they weren't afraid of bringing them down.

Some of the spectators cheered at their efforts while secretly wishing that they would die at the hands of the newcomers.

The City of Exile was a dog-eat-dog world, and only the strongest and the smartest people could survive it.

When they finally had their enemies surrounded, the leader of the Thugs raised his hand in the air and shouted.

"Now!"

All of his comrades threw metallic chains toward their targets.

But instead of targeting their bodies, the chains flew past them and linked with each other, forming a cage that trapped them within.

Suddenly, sparks of lightning spread along the chains that surrounded the Half-Elf and his comrades, which threatened to electrocute them all.

This was their group's killer technique that worked wonders against newbies who had no idea about what they were capable of doing.

"Nice trick," Gerhart said. "But not good enough."

Just as the sparks of lightning were about to hit their bodies, a tornado appeared out of nowhere.

Lightning streaked in its body, making it look like a malevolent Storm Elemental that was about to unleash its overwhelming might on everything within its reach.

But if one were to look closely, one would notice countless jagged bones mixed into the tornado, which could easily rend the flesh of the Humans who were unfortunate enough to be pulled into its deadly embrace.

With its strong suction power, the thugs who were holding the chains were pulled towards it, making them scream in horror.

Those who were able to react quickly immediately let go of their chains and distanced themselves from the tornado that threatened to swallow them all alive.

Blood-curdling screams of pain, shock, and desperation reverberated in the city as the powerful tornado shredded and electrocuted the Thugs who had been absorbed into its vortex.

It didn't take long before the tornado's color changed to red as the blood of its victims merged with its body.

'Sh*t, I think we kicked the steel plate,' the Leader of the Ruffians cursed internally after more than half of his men had been killed in a matter of minutes.

Knowing that they had underestimated their prey, he decided to cut their losses and ordered a retreat.

But just as he was about to run away, he saw a faceless monster standing behind him with its arms crossed over its chest.

Before the Leader of the Thugs could even do anything, the Nightgaunt, Shax, wrapped its tail around his body and casually threw him toward the tornado in the distance, making the man scream in horror.

The rest of the surviving thugs found themselves facing the members of Lux's Covenant, who, after catching them, didn't hesitate to toss them toward the blood-red tornado that had grown in size.

When the last thug was shredded, until his body exploded into a blood mist, the tornado disappeared, leaving only a bloody mess behind.

Lux and his friends were all unharmed, and their clothes and weapons were free from the blood of their foes.

A chilling silence permeated the surroundings for nearly half a minute before it was broken by thunderous applause.

The people in the City of Exile cheered, and some even raised their mugs of ale in order to salute the newcomers who survived their city's initiation ceremony.

Clearly, the death of some ruffians was simply entertainment to them.

"Such wonderful people," a handsome man in his mid-thirties said with a smile as he looked at Lux and his comrades from the castle wall. "I like them."

The handmaiden standing beside him didn't say anything and simply glanced at the newcomers with a calm gaze.

However, for the first time in many years, something stirred within their beautiful depths.

As to what kind of emotion it was, no one would know since it vanished without a trace, as she waited for the coming of a devil, whose blood-soaked wings would free her and her people from suffering.

 

Chapter 924 The Inner Sanctum

Lux, Gerhart, and Cethus didn't expect that instead of being attacked by the denizens of the City of Exile after killing the Ruffians, they would be cheered and applauded by them.

"What a strange bunch," Cethus muttered as he eyed the people who were spectating from the roof of houses or inside of it from their windows.

"Follow me," Lilian said before descending on the bloody streets.

The Wicked Queen Slime didn't hesitate to step on the bloodied ground as if this was a very normal thing for her.

Lux and the others followed behind her without saying a word.

Before they continued their journey, they planned to rest a bit in an inn. Even though they had just been attacked, they didn't change their minds and went to the most famous inn of the City of Exile, The Bloody Hell.

"Greetings newcomers," the Innkeeper said with a smile. "How many rooms will you need?"

Just like everyone else, he had also witnessed the battle earlier and was quite happy to host the people who had just arrived in their city.

"Four rooms," Lilian stated. "Make sure there is not a single drop of blood on the sheets."

"Hahaha! Of course, My Lady," the Innkeeper replied. "This is a clean and trustworthy establishment. You will not find any blood anywhere. We know how to do a proper cleanup."

Lilian nodded before placing 40 Gold Coins on the desk.

The man happily took the gold and gave the mature beauty four bronze keys.

"The four rooms on the third floor are yours," the Innkeeper stated. "May you enjoy your stay at The Bloody Hell."

Lilian handed the keys to her companions before picking up Eiko off of Lux's head and carrying the Baby Slime back to her room.

Lux smiled and followed behind her.

Gerhart and Cethus did the same.

They took four separate rooms because they wanted those who were paying close attention to them to think that they had no way of communicating with each other.

But what they were showing couldn't be further from the truth. The four of them planned to scout the surroundings using their own abilities, without catching the suspicion of their observers.

Lilian summoned a small part of her body, turning it into a mini slime that was just an inch tall.

She then ordered it to scout their surroundings and listen to the conversations of the people around them.

Lux ordered his Shadow Sovereign, Draven, to do the same.

According to Lilian, there were Five Saints inside the City of Exile, and one of them was the ruler of the city.

Lux wasn't too worried about them since Lilian alone could handle all the Saints if needed be.

Also, he could summon three Saints to aid him in battle, one of them being Sion, who was the Juggernaut of Agartha.

Gerhart meditated in his room, while Cethus slept without a care in the world.

The Dragon Born was confident that, after his performance, no one would dare attack them.

If someone was foolish enough to do so, they would have to deal with his comrades first before getting to him!

The next day, their group rose early and left the city through the Northern Exit. They planned to reach the Inner Sanctum as fast as they could, ignoring the countless stares that followed them from a distance.

The "King" of the city watched them go with his arms crossed over his chest.

"So that is where they are headed," the handsome man in his mid-thirties said. "I thought that they would be staying in the city to play for a few days. It seems that my initial estimate was wrong. Sasha, go and follow them. However, make sure that you keep a safe distance.

"I can tell that the beautiful lady that is accompanying them is dangerous. Until we know their reason for coming to this god-forsaken place, make sure to not do anything that might make them hostile to us."

The handmaiden who stood beside him nodded her head in understanding.

A moment later, she disappeared, making the handsome man smile.

He was so close to fulfilling his grand plan, and he didn't want any variables to mess with all the hard work that he put in over the past decade.

He just needed a week to set his plan in motion, and he would kill anyone who stood in his way.

'Soon,' the middle-aged man glanced in the direction of the Kingdom of Agartha. 'I will make you regret sending me to this place.'

———————

'A Saint is following us,' Lilian said through their Guild Chat. 'Should I kill her?'

'Don't,' Lux replied. 'I'm sure that she just wants to know where we are going. Let's not create unnecessary trouble, shall we?'

'Suit yourself.' Lilian smiled as she kept her gaze in front of her.

There were many powerful beasts in the Wild Lands, but all of them scattered after detecting Lilian's presence.

Although she was in her human form, the Beasts roaming the land could sense that she was a Calamity, so they stayed as far away from her as possible.

After a few hours, they finally arrived at their destination.

Lux gazed at the Black Tower, which he estimated to be around fifty meters tall.

On the top of the tower was a crystal that was the size of a boulder.

'So this is where that pillar of light is coming from,' Lux thought as he looked at the beacon of light that had guided him from the other side of the Purple Sea.

At that base of the tower, there was a Black Gate, which he believed to be the entrance to the underground Prison, where the most nefarious people and creatures, who threatened the peace of Agartha, were locked up.

"In the past, people believed that those who entered the Black Gate would never be able to see the light of the sun ever again," Lilian stated. "I didn't dare to confirm if the rumors were true or not because I enjoy my freedom.

"Lux, if you are really going into that place, make sure to leave Eiko behind. I don't want her to be trapped inside that place with you."

Eiko, who was perched on top of the Half-Elf's head, simply shook her head and told her Papa that wherever he was going, she was going as well.

Seeing the Baby Slime's determination, the Wicked Queen Slime could do nothing but sigh and press her hand on her forehead.

"Don't worry, Lilian," Lux said. "I don't plan to stay in that place for long. All of you stay here. If I'm not back within a week, call for help."

After taking a deep breath, the Half-Elf opened the Black Gates and entered the Darkness.

He had abandoned this mission once, and he had no intention of doing that again a second time.

Chapter 925 Believe Me

Creatures of various shapes and sizes appeared in Lux's vision as he toured the Inner sanctum.

These creatures eyed the Half-Elf with great curiosity as he walked past their prison cells.

Some of them called out to Lux, using languages that weren't familiar to him. But he didn't have to know their language to understand what they were trying to tell him.

"Free us."

Those were the words that appeared inside Lux's head as he walked past these abominations, whom he believed to be Abyssal Creatures.

They were locked behind a purple barrier which held firm no matter how much they tried to attack it.

Seeing that someone had entered their prison, these creatures became quite lively and started to attack their barrier, hoping to catch Lux's attention.

Surprisingly, Blackfire materialized behind Lux and seemed to be observing these creatures as its Master walked past them.

It even flew towards one of the prison cells to take a better look at a demi-human creature, whose entire body was covered in black scales.

Two golden eyes stared back at the coffin, and a set of razor-sharp teeth appeared in the creature's mouth as it gave its observer a smile.

Blackfire lingered for a bit before moving to the next cell, observing another creature that piqued its interest.

Lux had warned the Black Coffin that it was allowed to look around but not to touch anything.

The last thing he wanted to happen was to free a bunch of Calamity-Ranked Monsters and allow them to rampage on the island.

After descending for nearly two hours, the light that illuminated the Inner Sanctum began to dim.

After three hours, the Half-Elf was submerged in complete and total darkness. Even so, he continued to descend the stairs that seemed unending.

If it weren't for his Dark Vision, he might have already turned back because an ordinary human wouldn't be able to see anything in front of him.

More hours passed and, just as Lux was beginning to think that he had walked for nearly half a day, he finally arrived at the bottom of the stairs.

Looking at his surroundings, he noticed that he couldn't see past a meter in front of him.

Because of this, the Half-Elf decided to summon a fireball in his hand. However, it didn't materialize.

He then took out a magical tool that created light. But no matter how many times he tried to activate it, the artifact didn't even produce a tiny spark.

'So, no sources of light work in this place,' Lux thought.

Just as Lux was thinking about what to do next, he felt something tug on his robes.

The Half-Elf then glanced at the two-foot-tall Skeleton that was standing beside him and smiled.

"Are you going to take me to her?" Lux asked.

The little skeleton nodded and made a gesture for Lux to follow him.

He smiled and followed the Little Skeleton, who was always a step ahead of him.

The two of them walked for nearly an hour before the Skeleton stopped and motioned for Lux to not move from where he stood.

The little guy then made chattering noises as if calling out to someone. Within the darkness, a similar chattering replied, as if telling his friend that he would be there shortly.

Although he couldn't see what was in front of him, the Half-Elf could sense that something or someone was approaching him.

A few minutes later, something unexpected happened.

The darkness in front of Lux shuddered as if it was afraid of something.

All of a sudden and without warning, the pitch-black wall that stood in front of him parted.

There, standing several meters away from him, was a young lady with long pink hair and eyes staring in his direction.

Her body glowed faintly, making her the only source of light in the darkness.

She was like a lonely star in the sky, waiting for someone to look at her and see her for what she truly was.

"Lux."

It was only a single word, and yet, her voice, akin to that of an angel's, reached his ears, making him shudder.

The young lady then gave him a sad smile, as she stared in his direction, not daring to move another step.

"Aurora," Lux said softly. "We finally meet."

The Half-Elf wanted to take a step forward, but an invisible wall was preventing him from doing so.

He could have broken that barrier if he wanted, but he didn't do it.

The reason?

The one that created the barrier was none other than the lonely girl in front of him, who didn't wish for Lux to be tainted by her Misfortune.

The two stared at each other for half a minute before Lux finally regained his composure.

take a stroll in any city, all the guys would definitely look in her direction and be enchanted by her good looks.

'She looks similar to Queen Rhiannon,' Lux thought. 'But, she is more charming than the Queen.'

Aurora was a peerless beauty, and Lux believed that if she were to take a stroll in any city, all the guys would definitely look in her direction and be enchanted by her good looks.

After taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he managed to give the young lady a smile, which made the little Skeleton that was standing beside her give the Half-Elf a thumbs up.

"Thank you for coming to see me, but I will not allow you to take one more step forward," Aurora said softly. "I don't want you to be infected by my bad luck."

Lux didn't say anything and simply took out a necklace from his storage ring.

It was none other than the necklace, Fortuna's Tears, that Queen Rhiannon had given him before he left the Abyss.

"Take this to her," Lux ordered the little Skeleton beside him.

The Little Skeleton nodded its head and carefully held the golden necklace with the tear-drop-shaped pearl at its center.

It then walked towards its Master with steady steps.

When it finally arrived in front of Aurora, it raised its hands and offered the necklace to her.

A surprised expression appeared on Aurora's face as she took the necklace from the Little Skeleton's hands.

She then took a closer look at it before shifting her gaze to Lux in confusion.

"Wear it." Lux smiled. "That necklace is called Fortuna's Tears. It will prevent your bad luck from spreading to others."

"A-Are you sure?" Aurora asked half in doubt. "Will this really prevent other people from being infected with my bad luck?"

"We will know in a little while," Lux replied. "Please, wear it. It is a gift from someone who looks like you."

"Someone who looks like me?"

"Yes."

Aurora stared at the golden necklace in her hand for a few more seconds before raising it above her head in order to wear it.

When the tear-shaped pearl rested on her chest, the young lady felt something warm and gentle wash over her body.

The barrier in front of Lux shattered into countless pieces, allowing him to walk towards her.

When Lux was only three meters away from Aurora, the young lady subconsciously took a step back.

Sensing that there was a possibility that she would run away if he continued to close the gap between them, Lux decided to stop and reached out his hand to her.

Aurora looked at Lux's outstretched hand before shifting her gaze to his face.

Lux didn't say anything and simply gave her an encouraging smile.

The young lady then gingerly took a step forward.

The Half-Elf didn't move, but he nodded in approval of her action, encouraging her.

Taking another step, Aurora was now within a hand's reach from the handsome young man who had braved the darkness to find her.

"A-Are you sure it's safe?" Aurora asked in a worried tone. "Are you sure you will not get infected with my bad luck? I will not be able to forgive myself if you catch my curse."

"Don't worry," Lux replied. "Believe me."

The young lady clenched her fists tightly for a few seconds before reaching out to hold Lux's hand.

At first, she hesitated, but seeing the confidence in Lux's eyes, she decided to take a leap of fate and entrust herself to him.

Aurora closed her eyes and reached out her hand.

A moment later, she felt something warm, holding her hand, which made her slowly open her eyes.

"Let me introduce myself again," Lux said. "My name is Lux Von Kaizer. It's nice to meet you, Aurora."

A tear streaked down the beautiful girl's face as the dam inside her heart broke apart.

Feelings that she had suppressed for many years washed over her body like a flood, making her shudder.

A sob then escaped her lips as she covered her face with both hands, unable to stop the torrent of tears that were now streaming freely down her cheeks.

Suddenly, she felt two strong arms wrap around her body, holding her in a firm embrace.

"It's okay," Lux said as he patted her head. "Let it all out. You can cry on my shoulder."

Gaining his permission, Aurora no longer held back and buried her head in his chest.

Within that pitch-black darkness, the Misfortune's Beloved cried until she no longer had tears to shed.

 

Chapter 926 You Are A Trustworthy Person

Lux held Aurora, only loosening his grip when her body stopped shaking.

His clothes were wet with her tears, but the Half-Elf didn't mind it one bit.

What concerned him the most was Aurora's current situation. Although he wouldn't go as far as to call her too skinny, compared to his lovers, the young lady was quite a bit thinner than most of the ladies he had seen.

Of course, he had a feeling that this was due to her entrapment inside the Dark Prison, where she was unable to get something to eat.

But if that were the case, how did she manage to survive after so many years of confinement?

'I'll just ask her about that later,' Lux thought as he patted Aurora's head, while holding her body in a gentle embrace.

Several minutes later, the young lady in his arms stopped moving, and the Half-Elf thought that she had finally calmed down.

However, a moment later, he heard her soft breathing, which was similar to the breathing of someone who was sleeping.

In order to confirm his guess, he gently pulled back and glanced at the sleeping beauty in his arms.

Aurora had indeed fallen asleep, and tears were still falling from her eyes.

She looked so pitiful that just looking at her made him feel as if his heart was breaking.

After pondering for a bit, Lux summoned the portable tent that was given to him by the Rowan Tribe.

He intended to let Aurora get some proper sleep in a comfortable bed. Of course, it would be better for him to carry her out of the Prison, but the two Little Skeletons told him that Aurora was unable to leave for some reason.

They already tried to escort her to leave this dark place, but whenever they were about to walk past the exit, an invisible wall would appear and block their path.

The two Little Skeletons, Zane and Zeke, could easily pass through this wall, but Aurora was unable to do so. Because of this, they inferred that there must be a restriction placed on her, preventing her from leaving.

Since that was the case, Lux decided to let Aurora have some rest first and deal with the issue once she had woken up.

As Lux gently laid Aurora on the bed, Zane and Zeke climbed on it and hugged Aurora on her left and right sides, sleeping beside her.

The Half-Elf smiled as he watched this scene and sat on a chair not far from the bed. He also notified his comrades, who were waiting for him at the entrance of the Inner Sanctum, and told them about their situation.

'Understood,' Lilian said. 'How long do you think you will be staying down there?'

'I don't know,' Lux replied. 'But there is a possibility that I'll be down here for a day or two. How about you guys? Anything interesting happening up there?'

'Nothing much,' Lilian answered. 'The person who has been following us is observing us from a safe distance. Do you want me to eliminate her?"

'No. We don't want unnecessary trouble with the locals.'

'Suit yourself, but don't take too long. It seems that their king is planning something big, and I don't want to get caught up in it.'

'I know. Draven told me something similar.'

When they arrived in the City of Exile, Lux and Lilian had sent their scouts to gather information inside the city.

This was how they managed to gather some interesting news, which prompted them to leave the city the next day.

A few hours later, Aurora let out a soft sigh, alerting Lux that she was about to wake up.

In order to avoid scaring her, he remained where he was sitting and simply observed her from a distance.

It didn't take long before Aurora opened her eyes. She slowly propped herself up on the bed and then sleepily glanced at her surroundings as she rubbed her eyes.

Lux found her actions quite cute, causing him to uncontrollably smile.

Finally, when the last dregs of sleep left her body, she realized that she was sitting on a soft bed, with Zane and Zeke beside her.

It was at that moment when she felt a gaze coming from her right side, making her body stiffen.

Slowly but surely, she turned her head to look in the direction where she felt the stare was coming from and saw the handsome Half-Elf looking at her with a smile on his face.

"Good afternoon, Aurora," Lux said. "I hope you slept well."

"G-Good afternoon," Aurora stuttered. "How long was I asleep?"

"Just a few hours."

"I see…"

The pink-haired beauty then lightly patted the head of the two Little Skeletons, who had also propped themselves into a sitting position.

Aurora fidgeted for a bit before looking at the red-headed teenager with a bashful expression.

"Thank you for coming to see me, Lux," Aurora said. "I want to let you know that I really appreciate you coming all this way to meet me."

"You're welcome," Lux replied. "But I didn't just come here to meet you. I came here to free you."

When Lux said that he had come to free her, a smile appeared on Aurora's face. A second later, she lowered her gaze and looked at something, which made the Half-Elf blink his eyes in confusion.

Due to his curiosity, he followed Aurora's gaze to see what she was looking at.

A few seconds later, the Half-Elf's body stiffened before shifting his gaze to the young beauty, whose cheeks were flushed red.

"I'm sorry," Aurora said in an embarrassed tone. "Zane and Zeke told me that those who look at, or talk to me, who have that part of their body standing up can't be trusted. Since yours isn't standing up, it means that you are a person that I can trust.

"I know that you are a trustworthy person, Lux, but I still had to check. Sorry for doubting you!"

Aurora then pressed her palms together and bowed her head, making an apologetic gesture.

The corner of the Half-Elf's lips twitched as he looked down on his little brother before shifting his gaze at the two Little Skeletons who were sitting beside Aurora.

Noticing that he was staring at them, the two Skeletons raised their thumbs at him, making Lux facepalm.

Because he was covering his eyes, he didn't notice the sweet smile that appeared on Aurora's face, who was looking at him with a tender gaze.

Chapter 927 What Is Love?

"This is delicious…," Aurora said after taking a bite of a cookie that Lux had given her. "It's been a while since I've eaten a cookie."

The young lady became teary-eyed as if she had remembered a memory from her distant past.

A memory from when she was still with her family and enjoyed the warmth and care of her adoptive mother, who treated her like her own daughter.

"Eat as many as you want," Lux wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief. "Don't worry. There's more where those came from. Isn't that right, Eiko?"

"Pa!" The Baby Slime nodded before she continued to eat the cookies in her bag with a big smile on her face.

Aurora thanked Lux for his concern and ate the rest of the cookie in her hand.

"You know, Zane and Zeke would often tell me about your adventures," Aurora said after she had finished a dozen cookies. "Although I am stuck here, I still felt as if I were with you on those journeys."

"Really?" Lux scratched his head. "I hope that they didn't tell you any embarrassing things."

Aurora smiled as she told Lux something that made the Half-Elf almost strangle the two Little Skeletons by her side.

"They said that you love to bury your head in women's thighs. If you want, I can do that for you as your reward for coming here."

The Half-Elf blinked once then twice before clearing his throat. He then glared at the two Skeletons, who were averting their gaze.

"Don't believe everything they say, Aurora," Lux said. "Zane and Zeke are just exaggerating things."

"Are they?" Aurora tilted her head before looking at her two best friends. "Are the two of you just exaggerating things?"

Zane and Zeke firmly shook their heads. They even whispered something in her ears, which made the young lady's face become a shade redder.

Lux, who was able to understand what the two bastards were telling Aurora, immediately grabbed their necks and lifted them up high.

"I need to talk to these two for a bit," Lux said as he carried the two Skeletons under both of his arms like sacks of rice. "Please look after Eiko for me while I'm gone, Aurora."

Lux didn't even bother to wait for the young lady's reply before leaving the tent.

"Do you want a cookie, Eiko?" Aurora asked as she presented a cookie to the Baby Slime, who was also eating cookies from her bag.

Eiko looked at the cookie in Aurora's hand for a few seconds before reaching out to take it. She then ate it, which brought a smile to the young lady's face.

"You love your Papa, right?"

Eiko nodded.

"Do you love your Mama too?"

"Love!"

"Then, can you tell me what love means?"

Eiko stopped eating and looked at the young lady who was lightly patting her head with a gentle smile on her face.

"Love!"

"… I don't understand."

Zane and Zeke had told her a lot of things about Lux. Naturally, they didn't miss the information about the Half-Elf's two lovers, Iris and Cai.

They even told her about the funny activities they did while they weren't wearing their clothes.

Truth be told, Aurora didn't know much about these things because she had been sent to the Pantheon of Exile at a young age.

She didn't know anything about relationships and was innocent when it came to the matters of love.

Even though her two best friends gave her very detailed descriptions about how Lux made love to his two fiances, Aurora only thought of this as a funny activity because she didn't understand what they were doing.

But one thing was clear.

The moment she met Lux, she started to feel things she had never felt before.

She started to feel hope.

If not for her fateful encounter with Lux, she might have lost her sense of self until she had turned into a mere living husk.

She would still be alive, this much was true.

But deep inside, she would be numb and unfeeling until the day she breathed her last.

Forever trapped in the darkness, even in death.

A few minutes later, Lux returned still carrying Zane and Zeke, whom he put down beside Aurora.

The two skeletons were shivering, and even hid behind the beautiful girl, making the young lady frown.

"Did something happen?" Aurora asked the Half-Elf, who sat beside her.

"Nothing happened," Lux replied. "I just asked them a few questions, that's all."

The young lady nodded her head before looking at the handsome young man in front of her. She hesitated for a bit before asking him the same question she had asked Eiko.

"Lux, what is love?"

"Love has many meanings, and it also has many faces."

The Half-Elf paused a bit and explained his definition of love to Aurora.

"It is a feeling of wanting to be with someone," Lux explained. "When that person is around, you feel happy. When they are sad, you are also sad. If someone wants to hurt them, you feel very angry and would want to fight those who are hurting them."

The Half-Elf then gazed at the young lady beside him with a solemn expression on his face.

"Do you hold someone very dear to you?" Lux asked. "Someone who has a place in your heart?"

"…My deceased adoptive mother and my little sister, Shayna," Aurora replied. "They are the two most important people in my life."

"That is a form of love," Lux said softly. "Loving someone and being loved by someone are two of the most wonderful feelings in the world."

He could see the pain in Aurora's eyes when she spoke about her deceased adoptive mother, so the Half-Elf didn't pry into her privacy.

"I think I understand it a bit now," Aurora nodded.

"Good." Lux nodded. "Now, let's talk about something important. Do you know what is keeping you locked up in this place?"

"I don't know," Aurora answered. "Zane and Zeke tried to help me escape this place, but there is some kind of barrier that is preventing me from leaving."

"But do you want to leave this place?"

"Yes. I want to leave this place."

"Then, do you want to return to the Royal Family?" Lux inquired. "Now that you are wearing Fortuna's Tear, you will not have to worry about your curse spreading to other people anymore."

Aurora smiled sadly before shaking her head.

"I have hurt many people," Aurora replied. "I have committed many sins. To be honest, I am afraid to see my family, especially my adoptive Father. Instead of repaying them for the many years they had spent raising me, I only gave them pain and sadness.

"And even if my family forgives me, the family of those who had been affected by my curse won't necessarily do the same. Perhaps the reason why my adoptive father has sent me to this place was to banish and protect me at the same time.

"Had I stayed in Agartha, the people might have demanded that I be executed in the hope that their bad luck would disappear the moment I died."

The young lady then raised her hand to caress her neck.

"I have tried to kill myself countless times, but the King placed a restriction on me, preventing me from committing suicide," Aurora said softly. "Maybe this is his way of punishing me for the pain I caused him after my adoptive mother died. Or perhaps this was also his way of saving my life because when my mother died, I also lost the will to live."

Aurora's shoulder shuddered as she hugged herself, trying her best to keep herself from crying again.

"Understood," Lux rested his hand on her shoulder. "I will take you to the Surface World. You can start your life anew in that place. Don't worry, I'm sure that you will make many friends because you are a very kind soul."

"You really think so?" Aurora asked. "Can I really start a new life in the Surface World?"

"Yes," Lux answered. "I guarantee it, so let's go."

The Half-Elf stood and held Aurora's hand.

"Let's leave this place behind," Lux stated. "As long as you wish to be free, I will do everything in my power to make it happen."

Aurora nodded as she, too, stood up.

"I want to leave this place. Please help me, Lux. If you do, I will do that funny thing you do with your two fiances."

"Funny thing?" Lux blinked in confusion. "What funny thing?"

Before Aurora could even answer, Zane and Zeke held her hands. The young lady looked down on them, and the two Skeletons shook their heads at the same time, as if telling Aurora to not tell Lux anything.

The two Skeletons would probably get nagged by the Half-Elf again for teaching Aurora things that she wasn't supposed to know.

"Um, I'll tell you later," Aurora replied. "Zane and Zeke said that now is not the right time to say it."

Lux scratched his head before exiting the tent with Aurora.

He didn't know what that "funny thing" was, but his Half-Elf intuition was telling him that the two Little Skeletons had taught the innocent beauty something else that she really knew nothing about.

 

 

Chapter 928 Trials Of The Heart [Part 1]

"Hah… Hah… Hah…"

Aurora panted for breath as she tried to walk past the invisible barrier that barred her from moving forward.

However, no matter how hard she tried, she was unable to take another step.

Lux, who was on the other side of the wall, frowned because aside from the barrier, he could also see invisible chains binding Aurora's body, preventing her from leaving the depths of the Inner Sanctum.

The shackles and the barrier were a foolproof method to bind the young lady and keep her from escaping.

While he and the others had no difficulty walking in and out of the invisible barrier, Aurora was unable to do the same.

"That's enough, Aurora," Lux said as he rested his hand on her shoulder. "I'll ask my friends if they have a way to let you pass through this barrier."

"Hah… Okay." Aurora nodded as she sat down on the ground in order to catch her breath.

While the young beauty was resting, Lux asked the members of his guild if they had encountered a barrier similar to the one that was preventing Aurora from leaving the Inner Sanctum.

Although the invisible chains were also a factor, Lux believed that the barrier was the biggest hurdle that stood in her way to freedom.

Unfortunately, none of the members had seen a barrier that could specifically prevent a single person from leaving.

"Maybe this barrier was created for the sole purpose of isolating her," General Garret commented. "Since you and others can pass through it, I can only guess that you cannot destroy it since you can't even touch it. Even if you attack it, your blow will only pass through it like you're hitting air."

Suddenly, Cai, who was also paying attention to the chat, gave her opinion on the matter.

"Since she can't pass that barrier, how about she just go over it?" Cai asked. "Have you tried inviting her to the guild?"

Lux blinked once then twice before covering his face with both hands.

'How could I forget something so simple?!' Lux thought as he rubbed his face. 'Cai is right. If Aurora can't pass through it, then she could just go over it!'

Taking a deep breath, he thanked his fiance and decided to give it a try.

"Aurora, please accept my guild invitation," Lux said.

"Understood." Aurora nodded.

She already had the suspicion that Lux was the Guild Master of Heaven's Gate, but since there was still no proof of it, she didn't think much about it.

However, seeing the invitation in front of her confirmed that his Guild was indeed the one and only Mythical Guild in the world which she had heard about, even though she was located deep underground and surrounded by darkness.

Aurora suddenly felt herself growing stronger as the Guild Buffs of Heaven's Gate washed over her weakened body.

Suddenly, the chains that bound her body shattered, taking Lux by surprise.

"What's this?" Aurora stared at her hands in disbelief. "Where is this power coming from?"

The young lady didn't know that the chains that bound her were sapping away her stamina and mana, making her feel weak.

The chains also had some status debuffs that prevented her from regaining her strength, which was why she couldn't break free from the shackles that held her in place.

After becoming a member of Heaven's Gate, the Guild Buffs had given Aurora a 300% boost in Health, Mana, and Stamina regeneration.

Not only that, the Guild Buffs also gave her 25% chance in resisting status ailments, which was the final nail in the coffin that shattered the invisible chains.

The young beauty then closed her eyes as she took a few deep breaths.

Each breath allowed her to recover her strength, making her feel more alive and powerful.

The moment she opened her eyes, Lux found himself staring at a pair of purple eyes that were glowing with power.

It took him a while to understand what was happening, but when he did, he felt alarmed because Aurora was subconsciously using a charm spell that could make people without strong willpower and resistance become her obedient slaves.

"L-Lux, I…," Aurora tried to reach out to the Half-Elf, and the latter held her hand firmly.

Since he was somewhat immune to Charm Spells, Aurora's gaze didn't have much effect against him.

"It hurts," Aurora said as she hugged Lux tightly, using his body as support. "My chest, it hurts."

The young lady didn't know that the moment her shackles were removed, the dormant power inside her body came back to life and was forcing her to regain the power that had been rightfully hers since birth.

Purple flames erupted from her body, making her look like a human torch.

Lux, who held her in place and supported her body, gritted his teeth as he covered himself with dragon scales.

He had no intention of backing away and leaving Aurora to her fate.

"Eiko, get back!"

"Pa!"

Eiko obeyed and jumped off her Papa's body, staying a safe distance away from the blazing flames that were illuminating the darkness.

"So… hot… I can't!" Aurora gritted her teeth as she held onto the Half-Elf as if her life depended on it.

A moment later, Lux witnessed two small horns grow out of the top of Aurora's head.

But it didn't end there.

Two bat-like wings sprouted from her back, making her cry out in pain as fiery-blood flowed down her back, which immediately disappeared after a few seconds.

A spade-tipped tail also emerged from her backside, making her body shudder.

"Lux… I'm scared," Aurora cried in pain. "Help me."

"Don't worry. I'm here with you." Lux held her tightly, giving Aurora some kind of assurance and security, which allowed her to endure the pain that was wreaking havoc inside her body.

If she hadn't been trapped inside the Inner Sanctum, she might have awakened earlier and it would have been less painful.

But because multiple years passed yet her awakening was delayed over and over again, her power passively grew and their side effects stacked.

Lux also noticed that Aurora's Rank was rising at a rapid rate.

When he first met her, she was only an Apostle.

But now, her rank was steadily increasing until it reached the Initiate Rank.

It didn't take long for Lux to realize what was going to happen next.

'She's going to break through as a Ranker!' Lux braced himself for what was about to come.

Usually, when someone was going to become a Ranker, they needed to undergo a trial to become a Ranker.

Each trial was different.

Usually, people had a choice when it came to what kind of Trial they needed to do.

However, for those who didn't have the choice, they had to leave it up to the Heavens to decide what kind of Trial they needed to face.

Suddenly, the Pantheon of Exile shook, and the Pillar of Light that was shooting up in the sky changed its color until it turned crimson red.

The Monsters that were locked up within their cells all started to roar as they pounded against the barrier repeatedly, desperately hoping to break it apart.

They were not aware that in the deepest depths of the Inner Sanctum, Aurora's trial was about to take place.

 

Chapter 929 Trials Of The Heart [Part 2]

The sound of giggling permeated the garden.

Lux watched as a little girl with reddish-brown hair happily ran around a field of flowers while being chased by an older girl with long pink hair.

The two seemed to be enjoying their little game, and everyone who was watching them couldn't help but smile, influenced by how happy they looked.

After he and Aurora were consumed by radiant purple flames, he found himself in a world where the young lady was still young and living a happy life with her adoptive family.

He watched as she grew up from a five-year-old girl to a ten-year-old girl.

Currently, the scenery that he was seeing now was when Aurora had just turned ten years old.

"Don't the two of them look adorable?" a beautiful lady with long, reddish-brown hair asked the Half-Elf with a smile.

Lux was surprised. He didn't sense her approaching him, and yet, here she was, standing beside him.

Also, this was the first time that someone had spoken to him while he was in this world. He knew that he was inside Aurora's memories, so he should be invisible to everyone.

But now, someone was actively talking to him, which made him wonder if the beautiful lady could really see him.

"I can see you, you know?" the beautiful lady giggled, which made Lux subconsciously take a step back.

"Y-You can see me?" Lux asked.

"Yes," the beautiful lady replied. "But in my eyes, you look like a spirit. Did you perhaps die and still have lingering attachments to this world?"

"I'm not a spirit," Lux answered.

"Then you're probably someone from the future."

"Eh?"

The beautiful lady shifted her gaze to the two girls who were playing tag in the flower garden. A smile could be seen on her face. Clearly, she loved her two daughters with all of her heart.

"You see, I'm an oracle of sorts," the beautiful lady said softly. "Today, I made a divination, and it told me to come to this place at this time to meet someone who will help change the Fate of my daughter… or perhaps, daughters?"

The beautiful lady then gave Lux a sidelong glance and smirked.

"Well, I guess you are that person," the beautiful lady commented. "I apologize for not introducing myself first. I am Bianca, Queen of Agartha. May I know who you are?"

Lux nodded. "Lux Von Kaizer. Just call me Lux."

"Lux?" Bianca smiled. "Your name means light. I see… so that's how it is."

The Queen of Agartha motioned for Lux to follow her, and he obliged.

They didn't walk far, only stepping into the shade of a tree overlooking the flower field, where the two girls were now lying.

"Those two girls are my daughters," Bianca said after sitting down on the grass. "The younger one is named Shayna, and the older one is named Aurora. Do you know? Aurora means Dawn. Her name refers to the time of the day when the sun is just about to rise from the horizon, giving light to the world.

"Since your name means light, it means that you are the light that would signify the start of a new dawn. If this is fate, then all I can say is that she is a romantic lady…"

Lux didn't know what to say, so he simply listened to the beautiful Queen as he leaned against the tree.

Perhaps, the beautiful lady knew that Lux didn't want to talk, so she took the initiative to do all the talking, simply saying whatever crossed her mind.

"You know, being an Oracle is a blessing and a curse," Queen Bianca stated. "I've seen many things, including things that I don't want to see. Do you know? I already know the exact date that I will die and what will happen after it? Very neat, right?"

Lux, who had just been listening, frowned.

"Since you know when you are going to die, can't you do anything about it?" Lux asked.

"Perhaps," Queen Bianca answered. "But it takes a lot of courage and willpower to defy Fate. I don't know if I have the courage or the willpower to do it. Still, if I manage to succeed, my only regret is that I won't be able to see my two daughters grow up."

A few minutes of silence passed between them before the beautiful Queen heaved a deep sigh.

"Lux, I have a favor to ask," Queen Bianca said softly. "Sometime in the distant future, Aurora will need to make a difficult choice. One which will force her to choose between what is right and what is easy. When that time comes, I want you to tell her that being her mother was one of the happiest moments of my life.

"I didn't regret raising her as my own, and even though we don't share the same blood, that doesn't change the fact that she is my precious daughter.

"She's my family, and I love her very much. Tell her that she doesn't need to blame herself for what happened. If she still feels guilty about it, tell her that I forgive her and that I will always be watching over her even though I am no longer in this world."

Lux glanced at the two girls who had started making flower wreaths and felt his heart ache, knowing that, in the future, the innocent smile of the pink-haired girl would disappear from her face.

"Understood," Lux replied. "I will relay your message to her."

Queen Bianca smiled. "Thank you. Meeting you here at this place and time gave me some peace of mind. Although it is regrettable, our time together will not last long."

At that moment, the Queen and the Half-Elf noticed the two girls running in their direction.

"Mama!" Shayna shouted as she ran towards her mother, carrying a wreath of flowers in her hands.

When she arrived at her mother's location, she placed the wreath of flowers on Queen Bianca's head before giving her a hug.

Queen Bianca kissed Shayna's cheeks before hugging her back.

"Mother, this is for you," Aurora said with a smile as she gently placed the wreath of flowers on her mother's head.

"Thank you, Aurora," Bianca said as she lightly pulled the pink-haired girl beside her to give her a kiss. "I love you."

Aurora smiled and hugged her adoptive mother, who meant the world to her.

Lux looked at this heartwarming scene with a smile, but his smile soon disappeared when the scenery changed.

Queen Bianca laid in a puddle of her own blood, and Shayna and Aurora were beside her, crying their hearts out.

The city around them was burning, and several monsters were chasing after the citizens, devouring those whom they managed to catch with their claws.

The Guards of the City were doing their best to hold back the horde of monsters, but some were still able to slip past their defenses.

High above the sky, King Septimius was fighting against a Calamity-Ranked Flying Monster that resembled a Wyvern, making him unable to assist those on the ground.

He was unaware that his wife was dying on the streets, while her two daughters were trying to drag her to safety.

Suddenly, an Argonaut-Ranked Tiger overpowered one of the Guards of the city and ran towards the dying Queen because it had smelled her rich and powerful blood.

Lux stepped forward and attacked the beast, but his spells only went past through it, leaving it unharmed.

"Sh*t!" Lux cursed as the Tiger ran past him and opened its massive jaws to devour the three helpless girls.

As if sensing that her two precious daughters were about to die, Queen Bianca's body glowed brightly.

A second later the sound of metal clashing against metal reverberated in the surroundings.

The beautiful lady held a sword in her hand, protecting her children who were behind her, ignoring the fact that her lifeblood flowed ceaselessly from the gaping wound in her chest.

"Stay… away… from… my… daughters!" Queen Bianca shouted as her sword erupted with a dazzling light that cut the monster in half.

She then fell on her knees, using her sword as a means to support herself to keep from falling..

"Mama!"

"Mother!"

Shayna and Aurora hugged Bianca, and their tears fell like rain.

Bianca wanted to embrace the two of them very much, but her strength was leaving her body at a rapid rate. She was also starting to feel cold as blood seeped through the corner of her lips.

Even so, her eyes that were filled with determination looked straight at the Half-Elf, who was standing in front of her.

"Please… promise… me," Queen Bianca said using the remaining strength in her body. "My… daughters. Please."

Lux knelt and clasped Queen Bianca's hands that were holding the handle of her sword.

"I will do my best to help them," Lux replied. "I promise."

Queen Bianca smiled and breathed a sigh of relief before her eyes slowly closed.

On that day, the Queen of Agartha died with a smile on her face.

No one knew that she was the first person who managed to defy Fate and allowed her two beloved daughters to survive in exchange for her own life.

 

 

Chapter 930 Trials Of The Heart [Part 3]

Lux looked at Queen Bianca's peaceful face while her two daughters cried by her side.

The monsters were still rampaging inside the city, and screams of pain, death, desperation, and horror spread in the surroundings.

"Mother…"

A voice familiar to Lux reached his ears, making him raise his head to look behind Queen Bianca.

There, a young lady with long pink hair stood in a daze.

There were two horns on her head and bat-like wings behind her back. Her gaze was fixed on the Queen, ignoring the carnage that was happening around her.

"It's your fault…" Aurora said as tears of blood streamed down her face. "It's your fault. If not for you… mother would still be alive!"

Without warning, her spade-tipped tail lashed out like a whip, heading towards the pink-haired girl who was bawling her eyes out, while hugging her dead mother.

Lux reacted on time and used his body to shield the young Aurora from the Succubus who seemed to be dead set in ending her life.

Aurora's tail bounced off the Half-Elf's arm, which was now covered in Dragon Scales.

"Aurora! Snap out of it!" Lux shouted. "Don't let your heart demon consume you!"

The succubus ignored the Half-Elf's words and raised both of her hands.

"Because of you, my mother died!" Aurora shouted. "You deserve to die!"

The Succubus unleashed a wave of blazing flames toward her younger self, who was still clinging to her dead mother.

The flames engulfed her targets, making her smile.

"Good!" Aurora sneered as she intensified the power of the flames which had created an infernal hell in front of her. "You deserve to die. You should have died long ago! If not for you, Mother would still be alive!"

A few seconds later, she stopped her attack and watched as the flames slowly receded.

She believed that after everything she had done, the little devil would have now burned to a crisp, and that thought made her smile sweetly.

However, the smile on her face disappeared when she saw something black within the flames, resisting the inferno that was burning around it.

Lux opened his Draconic Wings and dispersed the flames from the surroundings.

Shayna, the young Aurora, and their dead mother were safe, even though everything around them had been reduced to ashes.

"I should have expected that the child of Bad Luck would be hard to kill," Aurora said in a hoarse voice. "But it doesn't matter. I will erase her existence from this world, and end everyone's suffering once and for all!"

She then shifted her gaze to the Black Demi-Dragon in front of her and sneered.

"Why are you protecting that THING?!" Aurora growled. "That creature doesn't need to exist! Get out of my way! I will kill her!"

"No," Lux stated. "You can't kill her."

"Fine," Aurora sneered. "I'll kill you first."

The Succubus' body was then engulfed by purple flames, making her look like a devil from hell.

"Anyone who stands in my way will die," Aurora stated as purple flaming swords appeared in both of her hands. "Anyone who sides with Misfortune's Beloved doesn't deserve to live!"

Lux took a step forward, making the ground under his feet shatter.

With every step he took, the ground crumbled as if there was an invisible force that was strong enough to break everything in his way.

"Protect them," Lux ordered. "Do I make myself clear?"

All of his Named Creatures and the members of his Covenant all appeared behind him.

Lux's Corpse God materialized and positioned itself to protect Shayna and the young Aurora from any harm.

Even Blackfire was there, hovering above Queen Bianca's head like an impenetrable fortress, shielding the living and the dead.

Time seemed to move slowly as Lux and Aurora walked towards each other.

Blazing flames trailed in her wake, while destruction followed behind the Demi-Dragon.

When they were only a few meters away from each other, both of them disappeared, and a powerful shock wave erupted at the city's center.

Purple flames and black flames clashed in a never-ending dance of death and destruction, destroying everything around them.

Aurora's swords and Lux's Draconic Claws clashed repeatedly, sending sparks flying in every direction.

Seeing that she was unable to get the upper hand, she used her tail to grab one of Lux's legs and threw him towards a house, destroying it completely.

Just as Aurora was about to throw a fireball at the fallen Demi-Dragon, Lux opened his mouth and unleashed Transcendent Black Dragon Flames that were very effective against Abyssal Creatures.

Aurora gritted her teeth and dodged to the side, avoiding Lux's counterattack.

However, before she could even recover her battle stance, Lux's draconic tail smashed against the side of her body, sending her flying backward, and destroying houses along the way.

A few seconds later, a scream erupted in the distance, and a blazing purple comet flew toward Lux with a vengeance.

The Demi-Dragon didn't back away and covered himself in black flames, charging towards the crazed Succubus, who had lost her sense of reason.

The two clashed and tried to overpower each other.

Half a minute later, the Purple Comet became bigger pushing the Black Comet to the ground.

An earth-shaking explosion erupted, destroying a quarter of the city.

When the dust cloud receded, the figure of a Succubus, who was trying to sever the Demi-Dragon's head from its body, could be seen.

Lux was holding her hands, preventing her blades from cutting his neck. However, to his surprise, Aurora was slowly but surely winning the battle of strength.

"All who side with Misfortune must die!" Aurora growled. "The Misfortune's Beloved must die!"

"Why do you girls always like to be on top?" Lux replied through gritted teeth. "Shouldn't our roles be reversed?"

Aurora sneered as she continued to push her blades towards the Demi-Dragon's neck with a crazed look on her face.

Just as the blades were about to touch Lux's skin, a set of bony hands grabbed hold of Aurora's arms, preventing her from going for the kill.

The Succubus glanced at the two Little Skeletons who were holding onto her in confusion.

"Why?" Aurora asked them. "Aren't you two supposed to be on my side? Why are you helping him? Whose side are you on?"

The two Little Skeletons opened their mouths, and because Lux could understand the Undead, he heard Zane and Zeke tell Aurora that they were always on her side.

"Then why?!" Aurora growled. "Why are you getting in my way?!"

The two Little Skeletons urged Aurora to stop and return to her senses. However, instead of calming down the Succubus, their plea only enraged her more.

"Are you going to betray me?!" Aurora asked, her voice filled with killing intent. "I trusted the two of you, and now, you plan to betray me?!"

The Succubus' eyes blazed brightly.

"Unforgivable!"

She then used her wings to slap the two Little Skeletons, shattering their bodies completely.

"Traitors," Aurora said as blood seeped from the corner of her lips. "All of you betrayed me. All of you left my side. None of you care about me. All of you threw me away."

All of you…

All of you…

All of you…

All of you… deserve to die!

Just as she was about to hack Lux apart with her swords, the Demi-Dragon's fist connected with the side of her face, sending her flying to the side.

He then snapped his fingers and the two Little Skeletons reassembled their bodies and looked at their Mistress.

Although they were only made up of bones, and no expressions could be seen on their faces, a feeling of sadness reverberated from their bodies.

Zane and Zeke then walked towards Aurora with their arms stretched wide, as if pleading for her to calm down.

However, instead of listening to them, the Succubus obliterated them with two fireballs, making them turn into particles of light.

These lights then flew towards Aurora and she engulfed them with purple flames.

A few seconds later, two Little Skeletons that were coated with purple flames stood beside their mistress as their flaming eyes locked onto the Demi-Dragon's body.

"Zane, Zeke, you love me, right?" Aurora said as she patted the heads of the two Little Skeletons. "You will help me, right?"

The two Skeletons nodded their heads at the same time.

"Then help me kill this fool," Aurora smiled. "After that, the three of us are going to play, okay? Back in that dark place where no one will hurt us anymore."

The two Little Skeletons nodded and summoned two bone swords in each hand. They then walked side-by-side with their Mistress, who wished to kill the Demi-Dragon in front of her.

Lux sighed before taking a fighting stance. He finally understood why Aurora was able to overpower him.

Since this was her memory, the entire world was considered to be her Domain.

As long as she wished for it, she would gain the power she needed in order to destroy anything that stood in her way.

"Are you sure you want it to end like this, Aurora?" Lux's clone said as he looked at the younger Aurora, who was still hugging Queen Bianca. "Your mother sacrificed her life to save you. Is this how you want things to end? Does her sacrifice only amount to this?"

The young Aurora's body shuddered after hearing Lux's words.

"Someone like me doesn't deserve to live," the Young Aurora said softly. "I only bring pain to the people around me. I would be better off dead."

"Then what about your sister?" Lux asked. "She's already lost her mother, do you want her to lose a sister as well?"

The Young Aurora glanced at the crying Shayna, whose snot and tears were mixing together as she clung to her mother.

"Mama!" Shayna cried. "Mama, wake up!"

Seeing her sister in such a state, an indescribable emotion surfaced within the Young Aurora's heart.

It was as if her heart had a big hole in it, making her feel incomplete and incapable of feeling any other emotions aside from extreme sadness and powerlessness.

And yet, as Shayna's wails reverberated inside her head, something stirred inside her mind.

Something that once belonged to her in a time when she and her family were still living happily together.