Chapter 1217 - 523: Oath Made Manifest

"So, what are you planning to do now?"

Facing her father's question once more, the Hero squinted her eyes.

She knew what her father was asking.

It wasn't simply a question of "what do you intend to do about this situation", but rather a more profound inquiry.

The actions of the Four-winged King, at least for now, seem beneficial to humankind, even something many desire.

After acquiring the magic power capable of world destruction, he didn't use it for himself nor for destruction, but for creation.

And from another perspective, he effectively blocked the ambitions of the Emerald-Starred Key, not allowing the power of the Limit Breaking Curse to flow towards potentially destructive beings.

Like in the Dream of Dusk, regardless of anything, even at the last moment he was still protecting the many civilians within the Kingdom's borders.

Therefore, if it were someone else standing here instead of the Hero, perhaps any of the Saintesses from past generations would make a different choice.

At least the Divine Knowledge Saintess would choose compromise and cooperation, all for a better future.

The past Hero could not fathom the weight of these myriad choices, but the present her can already understand the gravity behind those decisions.

Yet despite this, her answer remained unwavering.

"—Don't worry, I'll just fight first and talk later."

"—Very well."

The moment the words fell, the projection of the Shining World Saintess on the Heavenly Book shattered into a thousand light points. Before those gold particles could scatter, a fierce wind followed closely and tore them apart, the cold edge mercilessly slicing toward the girl's neck.

At some point, the father had grasped Wind Tears again, with the blade of the long spear breaking through space, causing the atmosphere to give way.

However, just before the spear tip touched the girl's skin, her hands already reached out faster, her ten fingers deftly closing, catching the transparent shaft tightly.

"What the hell!?"

Then, the Depraved Hero let out a delayed cry of surprise.

Those eyes that were originally crimson, one had already quietly transformed into emerald green, calmly gazing at the grinning father.

"Attacking again. You, a dignified Pantheon Mage, could you show some martial virtue?"

Though a beat late, the Depraved Hero quickly grasped the situation and couldn't help complaining.

"Even if I am not in collaboration with the Goblin you mentioned, I must admit some of his evaluations of me are apt." The father smiled, yet no laughter was found in his voice, only pure sincerity; "Disguise, hide, ambush... as the weak, facing the strong, such 'desperate measures', I hope you understand."

"Didn't expect to be called that by my father; it's a bit complicated."

The girl smiled softly, pressing her palms together gently.

The contrast between her slender arms and the father's tense, muscular arms was stark, yet the contradiction was that the spear tightly held in the father's hand began to tilt, inch by inch being pushed aside by her will.

[Hero Strength 305, Father's Strength 143, a default failure in the contest]

Despite this obvious suppression, the father's face remained calm, his lips slightly parted, beginning a rapid chant.

Syllables burst forth from his lips, sharp and dense. As the chant progressed, dense runes appeared along the transparent shaft of Wind Tears. Those mysterious engravings, upon contact with the girl's palms, twined around her skin like tendrils, encircling her continuously.

But watching the transformation unfold before her eyes, neither the Hero nor the Depraved Hero made further attempts to counter or respond.

Because they didn't need to confirm further; they both recognized that what their father was chanting was not any attack or binding magic.

It was the Limit Breaking Curse.

He offered no resistance to the invasion of the Four-winged King, lowering the damage to the ritual—partly, as he confessed, because he acknowledged the Goblin's worth.

But more so, undoubtedly, for this moment.

The reactivation of the Curse.

The Hero didn't know how long her father prepared for this curse, nor how much he'd accomplished. But even for him, after this attempt, there likely wouldn't be enough resources for another curse activation.

Moreover, his plans were fully exposed to the Hero.

Even if he had enough time and money to prepare for the next ritual, all the Hero needed was a word to the Church, and she wouldn't need to lift a finger; at least in surface areas, the father couldn't gather enough manpower to stage a clandestine ceremony like the Sanctuary.

Lacking mid-level wedges as intermediaries, the Dungeon's magic power can't reach the surface.

Meaning that despite preserving the remnant of the Curse amidst the Four-winged King's invasion, this activation may be the Emerald-Starred Key's final act.

A project prepared for half a lifetime has abruptly been declared bankrupt.

Despite that, the father's gaze held no resentment or unwillingness, only the unselfish zeal that burned coldly yet fiercely.

Emerald Eyes met Emerald Eyes.

The Hero showed a helpless smile, not resisting the overwhelming curse magic.

"...After all, we're making a ruckus in the Illusion Realm; I'll let you off this time, father."

"Such a filial child." The man chuckled appreciatively, his smile with a rare touch of sincerity; "To have you born, was truly wonderful."

"Is this the kind of thing one says in such a situation?" Hearing this, even the Depraved Hero couldn't help showing an absurd expression,

"Well, given the situation. I'll leave your punishment for later; for now, enjoy the special seat and watch well."

"Alright, then I will..."

Mid-sentence, the father's hand suddenly tightened; the blade held between the girl's palms remained unyielding, yet the spear shaft succumbed to the force, fracturing audibly.

At the same time, the elevator door to the CEO's office opened unexpectedly.

Followed by running footsteps, matched with a breathless, urgent call.

"Wait—!"

"Ah."

Hearing the voice from behind, the Hero turned instinctively, as if recalling something forgotten.

At the elevator entrance, where the Shield Woman was meant to wait downstairs until events concluded and take over Huanglan Group, stood there unexpectedly, shock and urgency on her face.

Of course. Such massive occurrences outside, phenomena everywhere, and her sister delayed in coming down; naturally, she would find a way upstairs.

Witnessing the duo clash with weapons, even one used to facing great storms like her hesitated, then reacted, moving into action.

Yet, despite retrieving Legendary Knight's consciousness, at this distance, all she could do was reach out and shout.

The next second, the weapon's shaft amidst their struggle entirely fracturing. The spear blade in the Hero's hand transformed into Thousand Winds, engulfing her with Rune waves, flooding her, infiltrating her skin, cheeks, even into her hair.

And the father's broken staff transformed into a dazzling key like an emerald star, piercing directly into the girl's chest.

Seeing the key, identical to the family emblem's Emerald-Starred Key, sink into her chest, the Hero's form wavered slightly, then waved apologetically to the Shield Woman.

—Once out, she'll need to apologize properly to her.

"Then I will eagerly await."

Utterly indifferent to the arrival of the nominal eldest daughter, the father gently uttered the concluding phrase:

"—What you will manifest is the conflict of the strong."

→☆→☆→☆→✧←★←★←★←

[D40. Snow's Beauty—Will the Hero and Snow Woman definitely meet? (higher indicates more likely)]

D10=9

[Within Heaven's domain, the Four-winged King can attempt to interfere with the target's past destiny (conduct non-bonus value judgment, divergence: less than value, more than value, more but less than 764)]

[Four-winged King activates skill: All-Knowing, Perfect Star]

D764=421

[Hero activates skill: Sacrifice (Liberation, Life Break)]

D305+D658=(99+633)=732