Chapter 1229 - 1229: Forever Is How Good the Deep Night Is

Wisdom does not necessarily mean wisdom.

Being able to solve an extremely complex magic structure problem does not mean you will always make the right choices in other matters.

The Hero was always aware of this.

Not to mention herself. Even her mother and that brother had been deceived by the answers they deduced, stubbornly believing in what they considered correct in their hearts, yet overlooking the reality right in front of them.

But if one can let go of prejudice, or just muster the courage to deeply communicate with the other party in various ways, even people who were once strangers can become understanding of each other, even become companions, helping each other.

However, facing the chance for repentance, after self-reflection, the Four-winged King still gave an unchanged answer.

"No wonder Dad can have common ground with that guy," he joked.

Hearing the sneer of another self, the Hero almost nodded instinctively in agreement but held back.

No matter how much the Four-winged King's response resembles a Goblin, she wouldn't hesitate when she struck him down.

But that's not what needs to be done now.

She quickly cast aside the conversation just now and refocused her thoughts, calming her Spirit once more.

The scenery before her began to shift again.

The Four-winged King had already been thoroughly expelled from her destiny's records.

However, her Awakening was far from over.

To be precise, her Awakening was just beginning.

The ritual her father arranged in the Starless Dungeon was not complete. Although he had secretly prepared for this great task for many years, due to always being wary of the Divine Knowledge Saintess, the official advancement of the Cui Star Gate plan only started recently.

But the incomplete Forbidden Curse was forcibly completed by the Four-winged King using his nearly omnipotent Authority.

And most of the Forbidden Curse Magic Power, vast as it is, was used by the Four-winged King to transform the Land of Oblivion. He was sculpting this space, originally just an Illusion Realm, into a truly independent non-material Sub-plane, and through it, is descending once more into the Main Material Realm.

The remaining small part of the Strength was guided by her father through his preserved Authority, leading it to the Hero, putting her into an Awakening Status.

But the Four-winged King, perceiving all this, nonchalantly abandoned the world he was creating. Using his control over the Sub-plane and the link with Forbidden Curse Magic Power, he forcefully entered the Land of Records of the Hero, attempting to directly intervene in her destiny and alter Main World records.

The result, needless to say, was that the Four-winged King was utterly defeated.

However, the Hero only crushed His Authority and shattered His interference with destiny. Although the Four-winged King suffered backlash, he wasn't actually harmed, so the Hero understandably did not gain any Experience.

But this victory still made Him "drop" a precious trophy.

It was the residual Magic Power of a part of the Limit Breaking Curse in the Four-winged King's possession.

Although not complete, when combined with the part bestowed by her father, the scale of Magic Power now is beyond imagination, truly reaching the realm of Forbidden Curse.

The Hero can distinctly sense how, under the thrust of that Strength, her consciousness is diving into the Self Abyss at an unprecedented speed.

With the past possibilities as a starting point, a more grand, larger destiny blueprint slowly unfolds before her.

The girl blinked her eyes, somewhat dazed, staring at the crackling campfire ahead.

Under the warm orange-red Radiance, her Emerald Eyes moved slightly, seeing four Guards she hadn't seen for a long time sitting around the camp nearby.

Some were leaning against tree trunks, resting with closed eyes, some were carefully maintaining their weapons, and others were checking their luggage.

The Bird Carriage was parked nearby, and the coachman patiently fed water to two Chocobos with a wooden bucket.

Beside her, the petite Noble Lady was wrapped in a blanket, snuggling closely to her.

The girl's face had turned rosy but still seemed a bit drowsy, her eyelids constantly fighting against each other, yet she was forcing her Spirit, struggling to keep her wine-red eyes open, eagerly waiting for something.

The two sat side by side on a round log, located in a slightly rudimentary yet well-prepared camp.

This place is Phoenix Feather Forest.

To be precise, it's the vast Nameless Forest near her hometown that hasn't yet been named "Phoenix Feather."

Yesterday, they encountered a White Snake on the road, and the young Noble Lady succumbed to exhaustion from the long journey and was affected by the powerful magic of the Fantasy Species, falling into a state of fever that wouldn't break.

To help this newly acquainted friend, the Hero recalled a story she heard from a Knowledge Hunter in childhood, about the Elf Rabbit and a magical gemstone.

So, she ventured into the forest with several Guards, deciding to "hunt" the legendary Elf Rabbit.

This venture was a Critical Success.

Not only did she attract a large group of Elf Rabbits, but with the Guards' tacit cooperation, they chased the rabbits through the forest.

Ultimately, she harvested a Purple Gem to heal the Noble Lady's fever and obtained an extremely precious colorful gemstone infused with the World's Blessing.

Even Gleaming Scales, who remained by her side, was met that day.

Later, she further gained Phoenix power from that colorful gemstone.

In hindsight, it was undoubtedly a pivotal moment of destiny in her life.

According to the original development, she was supposed to wait until the next day's dawn, for the Noble Lady to recover her spirits after a rest before using the gemstone.

After all, this was a trophy earned through everyone's combined efforts, and without the Noble Lady's—the Guards' master—consent, she'd feel uncomfortable hogging something so valuable.

But then a subtle deviation occurred in this possible past.

Perhaps due to the bird carriage bumping accidentally on the way, or the dinner being too enticing, or maybe the illness wasn't as severe as presumed... anyhow, after using the Healing Purple Gemstone, the Noble Lady woke up before midnight.

Although still somewhat weak, the Noble Lady, now recovered, upon hearing of the day's events declared, as always, that the colorful gemstone should belong to the Hero.

Moreover, even now she is fighting sleep just to witness the Hero using it in person.

The Hero gazed into her friend's brilliant wine-red eyes and extended her pinky finger.

"Then it's a promise. Once I use it, you have to obediently go to sleep."

She earnestly reminded her.

"Even if something strange happens, we can't chat all night like we did before."

"Otherwise, it will be difficult to get a good sleep during tomorrow's journey, and it will be very tiring."

"Yes, yes, I know!"

Though it sounded like being nagged by an elder, the young Noble Lady showed no impatience. On the contrary, she accepted it gladly, nodding repeatedly.

She also extended her pinky finger and intertwined it with the Hero's, making a promise with a pinky shake.

"After you use the gemstone, let's sleep together, sister!"

...Did I just say I would sleep together?

"Alright..." But the Hero didn't refuse, just released her hand and patted the Noble Lady's head, showing a slightly helpless smile.

In the middle of the night like this, if the Phoenix were summoned again like before, could this child really fall asleep?

Though still slightly worried, she gently picked up the colorful gemstone, which was only the size of a chocolate snack.

Then, the girl slightly tilted her head, bringing the gemstone to her lips.

At that moment, her gaze pierced through the interlaced branches, looking at what hung in the infinite night sky —

1.5. White Moon

2.6. Grey Moon

3.7. Overlapping Moons

4.8. Moonless

9. Cinder Moon

10. Great Success/Great Failure

D10=4

♛: Moonless

The brilliant galaxy spanned across the sky, yet there was no sign of the moon.

And the colorful gemstone, more radiant and splendid than the stars above, transformed into a ribbon of liquid-like radiant light as it touched the girl's soft cherry lips, flowing gently down her throat into her body.

The Noble Lady beside her held her breath, watching the Hero without blinking,

while the surrounding Guards and the coachman were drawn to the scene, even the two Chocobos paused in unison to gaze at the girl.

In the next instant, heavenly light suddenly brightened.

Everyone instinctively widened their eyes, realizing the phenomenon was the World's Blessing, and looked up towards the sky.

However, what met their eyes was neither the brilliant Milky Way nor the Twin Moons high in the night sky.

The intense light from that fleeting moment seemed like a rapid burst of flame.

After the utmost burning and shining, darkness arrived.

The light began to dim, the Milky Way started to extinguish, and the stars were quieted.

No more superfluous colors remained, only the pure and profound black night quietly covering the entire sky.

As if declaring that day and night should indeed be so distinct, all light in the sky quietly withdrew. That unblemished night sky seemed vast and void, as if it could absorb one's very spirit.

Only the cluster of campfire on the ground illuminated the astonished faces of the people.

Meanwhile, a more ancient, more distant presence cast its gaze upon the girl from afar.

[The Hero has acquired a Special Skill: Daughter of Primordial Night (Double Critical Success, World's Blessing, Exception, Overlimit)]

Darkness existed before the light.

Before all things were born, Chaos wandered peacefully in the silent night.

Later, life began yearning for light, and the world began desiring color.

Thus, the benevolent night quietly made way for them.

It wasn't the light that drove away the darkness, but rather the darkness supporting the light.

However, no existence could burn forever.

Nor could any existence forever endure the exposure to light.

Light consumes itself; light brings fatigue.

So, when the child destined to illuminate the world closes their eyes, who will grant you true peace?

So, that primordial night gently embraced you.

All stars, all radiance, cannot disturb your rest and dreams.

You are the beloved child of the primordial void.

You are the cherished daughter embraced by absolute night.

So have no worries, have no vigilance.

Sleep peacefully.

When you open your eyes again.

—The world will bathe in dawn beneath your light.

[The Hero has acquired a Transformation: Original Dark Matter Elf R8+]