Chapter 1209 - 515: Wings of Togetherness

The cloud-level top floor of the Huanglan Group building.

The previously tense atmosphere, on the brink of eruption, suddenly froze as if a pause button had been pressed, following the unexpected raised hand of the father.

"Hold on a moment," the man with black hair and emerald eyes gestured.

"What? Don't tell me you're planning to surrender now?" The Depraved Hero sneered, the arcs on the Heavenly Book crackling in his hand. "Well, maybe it's for the best; after all, one punch might leave your old bones half-paralyzed. For the sake of mom's happiness in her later years, you should give it some thought."

Paying no heed to the Depraved Hero's provocation, the father calmly responded, "An 'Angel' investor is interested in my project, so I need to have a brief meeting."

"...What?"

After a moment's thought, the father added, "It's more like mutual financing guarantees rather than just an investment. It seems they also need my technology shares."

"Is your head still clear? Or have you dreamed yourself into foolishness? Talking about financial investments at a time like this—"

Halfway through the sentence, the Depraved Hero raised an eyebrow, sensing something, and then the disdain on his face grew deeper.

"You really don't pick your partners, do you? You even find that old, withered white feather chicken appealing?"

"Business is business." The father smiled placidly.

"Personally, I'm not very interested in it. From a nature standpoint, it probably doesn't meet my investment criteria. But since there's a willingness from the other side, I cannot ignore it.

"After all, during a tender, there can't be just one candidate."

"And the ten candidates are all subsidiaries of your group?" The Depraved Hero, well-acquainted with the absurd happenings during Huanglan Group's development, couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Now, the consciousness of the Four-winged King is engaging with the father.

Should I strike first and render this guy unconscious?

The Depraved Hero's eyes flashed with a sinister glint.

But despite sensing the blatant intent to kill, the father didn't adopt a combat stance.

"The Limit Breaking Curse is a fixed-location large ceremony, usable only in the Starless Dungeon." He explained calmly, "Moreover, to channel the Magic Power source from the depths of the dungeon to the surface of this world, numerous points must be set along the way—these are called wedges.

"Although I'm the only one who knows the specific spell chant and casting steps, a being of that level could deduce the chant from the Magic Patterns on the wedge stones and forcibly activate it. It's not impossible.

"In fact, that's exactly what it's doing.

"Therefore, my personal suggestion is to keep me conscious and alert; it's advantageous for both sides."

Having said that, he turned his hand, and the legendary Spear of Wind Tears effortlessly sank into the tri-proof flooring capable of defending against missile attacks.

Then he simply closed his eyes, arms naturally hanging by his sides, head bowed, as if he was standing in place and fell asleep.

Looking at her undefended father, the Depraved Hero couldn't help but roll her eyes again.

"What now? Do we kill him first, then go out and kill that Birdman?" She looked at the Heavenly Book in her hand in annoyance.

The Heavenly Book's light flowed, quickly weaving a projection of a small person.

The Hero clad in the Holy Maiden Robe appeared in another's palm, pondered a moment, then slowly shook her head.

The plan proposed by the other was inherently rife with murder intent, yet also the most cautious approach.

However, it was based on considering only oneself.

Even in the special setting of the Land of Oblivion, recalling the forgotten 'true self' and awakening as a Hero, in the real dungeon, she remained as the Mute Girl.

To avoid conflict with the dungeon, she used the Authority of the Outer God Void Star, crafting a persona that mimicked herself.

Presumably, the Four-winged King similarly created the Winged Boy as an avatar, escaping a state of exile.

Even without the exile factor, It too presumably avoids manifesting in the dungeon as its true form.

In the Dream of Dusk, the Wei Nan Dragon Emperor absorbed and was enhanced during the devouring of the Plain Ancient City, something not difficult for the Four-winged King to observe.

Yet, It didn't attempt to delve deeper into the dungeon to seek the source of such power, instead methodically achieved singularity through the congregation of abundant faith.

The Otherworld's rejection, world's suppression—Adventurers referred to the weakening they experienced when venturing into the depths of the dungeon as such.

Although this phenomenon does indeed exist, it's fundamentally different from what occurs within the dungeon.

It's not rejection, but rather welcoming.

The dungeon desires to be conquered, indifferent to the conqueror's species, even if they are Great Demons, they receive a warm response.

As Magic Creatures, the rank of the Starless Dungeon had long reached singularity.

Should the Four-winged King manifest as its true form within the dungeon, it'd likely trigger an unprecedented major upheaval instantly.

The Hero's true form is the same.

Although once she strategizes in the Illusion Realm, she can return to the fifth layer located in the shallow level, and the Hero has confidence to rush back to the surface before the dungeon reacts.

But once she goes all out, it's difficult to look after others and inevitably causes some collateral damage.

This is still based on the premise that the winged boy will obediently be killed by her.

If the Four-winged King fights desperately, refusing to sit idle, and forcibly manifests his true form, the damage caused then would undoubtedly be far greater than the calamity of replacement.

On the flip side, as long as she stays in this Illusion Realm, no matter how chaotic it becomes, it won't greatly affect the real world.

And the target of that Goblin is herself.

Getting entangled with the Goblin isn't the first time she's encountered it, the Hero is accustomed to it.

Previously in the mines, in the sewers, she had to strike first, using stealth attack, fighting while running to maneuver, and battle.

But now, even knowing the existence of the Great Demon, the Angel King who once defeated her doing some small tricks, the girl's heart remains calm, without any unease.

"We'll wait here." The Hero calmly decided.

"Alright." Without any objection, the Depraved Hero grinned and sat cross-legged on the spot.

→☆→☆→☆→✧←★←★←★←

Reality, fifth layer of the dungeon, Divine City Sect Sanctuary.

[Winged Boy VS Brother (Simple Judgment)]

D100 VS D100=（42）-（67）

The magical battle comes to a brief pause. The young man holding a sword staff flicks the sword's edge, and a fierce arc of gold and crimson blood is flung onto the ground, the sacred power overflowing from it even brightens the dark cave.

"It seems you've spent considerable effort on this body?"

The Hero's brother glanced at the blood stain on the ground, speaking indifferently.

"Although on the surface he is an Ancestor Winged Man, his power matches that—yet it doesn't match the lineage contained within his body. If fully awakened, it should be far more than this level."

"...Good insight." The winged boy slowly wiped away the blood from his lips, his expression somewhat dark.

"This was originally set to properly guide her and grow together with her. But for now, destiny seems not to be on my side. It looks like I need to slightly correct the course."

"Oh? I didn't expect you to admit a miscalculation." The brother appeared slightly surprised, "Despite having once captured an existence that can be called 'destiny' itself, it seems my unworthy sister has inflicted you with quite a blow."

"The true meaning of wisdom is in progressing amid bends while never veering from the truth at the end."

Upon hearing the young man's provocation, the winged boy wasn't angry, rather a faint smile emerged on his face.

He gazed at the immobile Gate of Oblivion and whispered:

"She taught me this. That special, sacred, unique existence..."

The brother frowned.

"She is both humankind and Holy Mother, the savior who gave birth to new destiny, leading you and others to ascension.

"Without her existence, humankind is not worth saving..."

The winged boy's voice grew lighter yet increasingly firm.

"—And only by obtaining her does my existence have meaning."

Upon finishing, his left hand suddenly reached out, yet not towards the alert young man, but directly grasping his own right arm.

The next instant, with a muffled groan, the boy tore off his right hand at the root.

Far surpassing the previous amount of blood sprayed out, golden-red blood sprayed into the air creating a blazing mist of light.

Then, the severed right hand quickly dissolved, transforming into countless fine light particles, integrating into the ceaseless blood flow, beginning to shape, regroup, ultimately forming a pure white Light Feather.

The winged boy, half-kneeling on the ground, gasped heavily, the two gray feathers behind him spread wide, trembling slightly.

And where his right arm had been, a wing emerged larger than those behind him, looking deformed yet solemn, making it hard to face directly.

"Wings of Logic—" The brother's pupils contracted, he instinctively took a step back.

But he didn't care about the young man's reaction, as the Light Feather slightly vibrated and, with a posture as if awkwardly suspended, slowly rose, soon landing on the nearby Divine City Sect's Holy Stone.

Then, a bland voice came from within the stone.

"—Do you consider yourself 'the strongest'?"