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00:00Lilith committed a grave crime, angering the ruler of the Underrealm.
00:04My beloved Cassius shoved me onto the war chariot, forcing me to take the blame for her.
00:08I leaned against the side of the chariot and looked at him.
00:10High Priest Cassius, before you send me into Tartarus, you better think through the consequences.
00:16He avoided my gaze.
00:18Lilith only accidentally burned the Obsidian Hall's pomegranate grove, yet the Underlord demands blood in return.
00:24Lyra, you carry the golden essence of the Primorial God.
00:27Even the Underlord would not dare harm you lightly.
00:31When this is all over, even if it defies the decree of the Pantheon Council, I will go to the
00:35Underrealm and bring you back.
00:37My powers were shackled, the divine binding cords cutting into my flesh, a few drops of golden blood seeping out.
00:44Two acopites shoved me into the chariot.
00:46I smiled.
00:47The world only knew the Underlord as a fearsome ruler.
00:50But no one remembered that three centuries ago, he had been nothing more than a dying black serpent.
00:55I raised in the Divine Spring.
00:57The first night he took human form, he knelt before me and lowered his head.
01:02Goddess Salerna, he said, I vow to guide your reigns for all eternity.
01:06That year I grew weary of the chaos of Olympus and descended alone to the mortal realm,
01:11later bringing him along to wander by my side.
01:13And now Callius personally delivered me back to that little creature.
01:17He dared make me bear the punishment for Lilith.
01:20Tomorrow, I would make sure he and his entire temple rested forever beneath this land.
01:31In the next moment, the chariot curtain was lifted.
01:36Sister, it's all my fault for making you bear this for me.
01:41Lilith stood by Cassius.
01:43Her eyes red.
01:45Ira, I had no choice.
01:46A hint of reluctance showed on Cassius' face, as if he was the one cornered by fate.
01:52The Underlord has decreed that the culprit who deserated the holy relic must be handed over.
01:57If not, he will lead the dead to flatten the entire temple.
02:01Two centuries ago, I saved Cassius.
02:05When the gods abandoned him in the wilderness, near death,
02:09I concealed my true name and secretly supported him,
02:13personally guiding him to become the high priest.
02:16At that time, he knelt and swore by the name of Strix.
02:20Goddess Salona, I will guard your heart with mine.
02:23To death, without regret.
02:27Later, beside the sacrificial grounds,
02:29I found the frail little beggar girl Lilith
02:31and took her under my wing,
02:33treating her like a younger sister.
02:35To protect her, I entrusted her to Cassius,
02:38allowing her to enter the temple as the youngest priestess.
02:42But human hearts are unpredictable,
02:44and divine hearts even more so.
02:47To protect Lilith,
02:50Cassius had personally pushed me
02:52onto the altar.
02:55Lyra, do not blame me.
02:57How can we resist the Underlord's might?
02:59Lilith is fragile.
03:01She cannot endure the tortures of the Underrealm.
03:05Your bloodline is strong.
03:08You will survive.
03:11I almost laughed at him.
03:13Cassius had forgotten that last night,
03:14while I slept,
03:15he sealed the golden blood within me
03:17with an oath by the name of Sloughed at him.
03:20At this moment, I was powerless,
03:22less than a mortal.
03:23Sister, do not hate Cassius.
03:26It is all my fault.
03:28Lilith stepped closer.
03:29Sister, don't worry.
03:31When you come back,
03:32I will take good care of you.
03:35I looked at her without a word.
03:37Thankfully,
03:38not everyone forgets old vows.
03:40The golden wheels of the chariot
03:42rolled over the brass gate.
03:44In the distance,
03:44the outline of the bronze gate appeared.
03:47It was the entrance to the Underrealm.
03:50It was the throne of that little creature
03:51I had personally raised.
03:53The chariot came to a halt
03:54before the bronze gates.
03:56A guard of the Underrealm
03:57yanked me off the vehicle.
03:59I staggered,
04:00my knee striking the steps,
04:02golden blood seeping out.
04:04So this is the one.
04:06The lead commander glared at me.
04:08The one who destroyed
04:09the Obsidian Hall's pomegranate grove
04:12that the Underlord tended for a century?
04:14It's her.
04:15Cassius' voice came from behind.
04:17The person has been delivered.
04:19From today onward,
04:20you will hold Lilith blameless.
04:22The commander sneered,
04:24his gaze settling on me.
04:25The Underlord commands
04:26that such a criminal has no right
04:28to walk through the temple gates upright.
04:31Kneel.
04:33A shock ran through me.
04:35For a thousand years,
04:36no being in this land
04:38had ever dared order me to kneel.
04:40Before I could react,
04:42his boot struck the back of my knee,
04:44forcing me heavily to the ground.
04:46The guards beside me
04:47cracked their whips across my back.
04:49What are you waiting for?
04:51Move!
04:52Exhausted,
04:53I could only inch forward,
04:55step by step,
04:56toward the hall.
04:58In a daze,
04:59the molten gold eyes
05:00from three centuries ago
05:01suddenly appeared before me.
05:03Back then,
05:04he had stood by the Divine Spring,
05:06looking up at me
05:07with pure devotion and trust.
05:09Goddess Salona,
05:10he had said,
05:11I will grow strong.
05:12I never imagined
05:13that our reunion
05:14would be under such humiliation.
05:16Dragging my knees
05:17across the stone steps,
05:19each inch of movement
05:20burned like fire.
05:22Cassius followed
05:23a few paces behind,
05:25frowning slightly,
05:26yet never stepping forward.
05:27Lilith bent close to my ear.
05:29Lyra,
05:30you actually think
05:31you deserve Cassius' favor?
05:32What are you?
05:33In his eyes,
05:34you're nothing more than a lamb
05:35sent to die for me.
05:37A surge of rage
05:38rose from my chest.
05:39I lifted my hand
05:40and struck Lilith
05:41across the face.
05:44She screamed,
05:46falling to the ground,
05:47tears flooding her eyes.
05:48Mentor!
05:49Mentor, save me!
05:51Cassius rushed forward
05:52and pulled Lilith
05:53into his arms.
05:54Lyra,
05:55have you lost your mind?
05:56Lilith's bloodline
05:57is too weak.
05:58How could you harm her?
05:59My heart shattered completely.
06:01I straightened my spine,
06:03bracing on knees
06:05and faced everyone.
06:06She dares offend me,
06:08even if I crush her soul
06:10and cast it into the river lettuce,
06:12it would be nothing
06:13but a flick of my hand.
06:14Everyone froze.
06:16After a moment,
06:17a guard sneered.
06:19Ha ha ha!
06:20This mortal body
06:21must have been driven mad
06:22by the mist of the underriver?
06:24A flick of your hand?
06:26In this land,
06:27only one goddess
06:28could say such words.
06:29That would be Lyra Selina,
06:31who resides beyond Olympus,
06:33mistress of the stars,
06:34saint of the cosmos.
06:35Another guard chimed in.
06:37The saint of the cosmos
06:38is so mysterious,
06:39no one has ever seen
06:40her true face.
06:41How could she look so
06:43disraveled?
06:44Lilith lifted her head
06:46from Cassius' arms,
06:47mocking.
06:48Sister,
06:49how dare you?
06:50In this state,
06:51you still claim
06:52to be the saint?
06:53That is blasphemy!
06:55The guard cracked his whip again,
06:57the tip striking my back.
07:00Impudence!
07:01How dare you
07:02impersonate the saint?
07:03I leaned forward,
07:04letting out a low groan
07:05from the pain.
07:06Cassius stood nearby,
07:07silently watching.
07:08I shouted to everyone,
07:10I am Lyra Selina herself!
07:12I possess the holy relic!
07:13Trembling,
07:14I reached into my clothes
07:15and pulled out a golden necklace.
07:16The chain bore the mark
07:17of the tear of the cosmos,
07:19forged only for the saint herself.
07:21In the next instant,
07:22Cassius snatched it from me.
07:24He personally placed the relic
07:26around Lilith's neck.
07:28Lyra,
07:28he said coldly,
07:29You dare steal my relic?
07:32This tear,
07:32it was given to me
07:33by a reclusive deity
07:34when I was gravely wounded.
07:36Since when did it become yours?
07:38I froze.
07:39Three centuries ago,
07:40I had used the tear of the cosmos
07:42to protect Cassius' divine essence,
07:44saving him from the brink of death.
07:46When he awoke,
07:47he knelt before me.
07:48Goddess Selina,
07:49I will find the rarest star stone
07:51and set it upon this chain myself.
07:53From this day forward,
07:54I will guard you with my heart
07:55to death without regret.
07:57Back then,
07:57I had laughed at his solemnity.
08:00And now,
08:01he says I stole it?
08:03I lunged forward
08:04to reclaim the chain.
08:06Lilith lifted her foot
08:07and stepped on my hand.
08:08The sound of bones shattering
08:10was drowned out by her laughter.
08:12I looked at my batted body,
08:14broken finger bones,
08:15golden blood seeping,
08:16and then,
08:17I laughed.
08:18Three centuries ago,
08:19while preparing a divine potion,
08:21I had accidentally burned myself
08:22with holy fire.
08:24Sonata's eyes had reddened on the spot,
08:26and he had raged,
08:28threatening to destroy
08:29all the sacred flimes on this land,
08:31declare that no one could harm me.
08:33Cassius and his entire temple
08:35would no longer be able to protect him.
08:37In an instant,
08:38we entered the Underrealm's grand hall.
08:40Lilith froze mid-step.
08:42Cassius' heart thumbed violently.
08:44He had never imagined
08:46that this fearsome Underlord,
08:47who even gods dreaded,
08:49would possess such a magnificent palace.
08:51A bitter pan rose in me.
08:53Sonata's had devoted me
08:54as his only faith.
08:55This hall was filled
08:56with traces of my presence.
08:58Lilith's gaze fell
08:59on the center of the hall.
09:01There stood a white jade statue
09:02of a woman,
09:03her head lowered in profile,
09:05a white lotus in her hand.
09:06Lilith stepped forward
09:07to touch it,
09:08hesitating.
09:09Mentor,
09:10don't you think
09:11this statue
09:12looks a bit like sister?
09:14Before she could finish,
09:16a female voice rang
09:17from deep within the hall.
09:18Take your filthy hands off!
09:21Everyone turned toward the sound.
09:23A woman walked slowly
09:25from the depths of the hall.
09:26She was Irene,
09:28the sword-bearing goddess
09:29who stands at the Underlord's side.
09:31For three centuries,
09:33countless goddesses and demhordes
09:35had tried to climb
09:35to the Underlord's throne.
09:37Only she,
09:38under the title of
09:39Servant of the Divine,
09:40had remained by his side
09:41for so long.
09:42Irene surveyed our group,
09:43her eyes full of disdain.
09:45So this is it?
09:46The ones who dared destroy
09:47the Underlord's
09:48sacred pomegranate grove?
09:49You must be really tired
09:50of living,
09:51she added with a sneer.
09:53Cassius' face drained of color,
09:54instinctively bowing.
09:55This offense stems
09:56from ignorance
09:57daring to provoke
09:58the Underlord.
10:00Please, goddess Irene,
10:01forgive.
10:01Irene didn't even listen.
10:03Her eyes were locked
10:04firmly on me.
10:06Before I could react,
10:07her hand struck my cheek.
10:08My face swelled instantly,
10:11golden blood spilling
10:12from the corner of my mouth.
10:13Who gave you permission
10:14to look at me directly?
10:15Her voice was full of venom.
10:18What lowly base dear
10:19did Dares claim
10:20to be the saint
10:21of the cosmos?
10:22Without even glancing
10:23at the river,
10:23let it to see
10:24your own worthless bones?
10:26I wiped the blood
10:26from my lips
10:27and met her gaze.
10:28Sonatos,
10:29is this how you
10:30taught your women?
10:31Irene's expression
10:32changed instantly.
10:35Impudus!
10:38You dare speak
10:39the Underlord's true name?
10:43Yes, in this land
10:44of coexisting deities,
10:46true names are
10:47the foundation of power.
10:49Mortals may not speak them.
10:51Gods may not lightly
10:52call them.
10:53Only the closest
10:54and most permitted
10:55may utter a deity's
10:56true name.
10:58Irene had accompanied
10:59Sanatus in the Underrealm
11:00for 300 years,
11:02yet she had never been
11:03allowed to speak
11:04that name herself.
11:06And before her stood
11:07this dishamveled woman
11:09who had said it aloud
11:11on her first word.
11:12In that instant,
11:14jealousy surge
11:15in Irene's heart.
11:16She would rather believe
11:17it was blasphemy,
11:18that this criminal
11:19had intentionally used it
11:21to humiliate her.
11:22Only by thinking so
11:24could she maintain
11:25her position
11:25in this palace.
11:26Seeing Irene's
11:27true fury,
11:29Cassius turned to me
11:29with a harsh command.
11:31Lyra,
11:32kneel and beg
11:33goddess Irene
11:34for forgiveness.
11:35Lilith immediately
11:36rushed forward,
11:37pressing my head down
11:39slamming my forehead
11:40into the stone
11:41again and again.
11:44Sister!
11:45Are you mad?
11:46How dare you speak
11:47to goddess Irene
11:48like that?
11:49Do you want to destroy
11:50the entire temple?
11:52My forehead throbbed
11:54under her pressure,
11:55golden blood streaking
11:56through my hair,
11:57blurring my vision.
11:58I looked at these two faces
12:00twisted by fear.
12:01One had once swore
12:02eternal vows to me,
12:04the other had been salvaged
12:05from the sacrificial embers
12:07of the wilderness.
12:08My heart grew icy.
12:09These were the ones
12:10I had protected
12:11for three centuries.
12:14A pack of wolves
12:15cloaked in priestly robes.
12:18Irene looked at me
12:20and sneered.
12:21She raised her right hand,
12:22summoning a cluster
12:24of nether fire.
12:25It was the flame
12:26from the deepest abyss
12:27of the Underrealm,
12:29capable of burning
12:30the soul with no cure.
12:34A prisoner dares
12:35to be this arrogant.
12:37I want to see
12:38if you can still smile
12:39when your divine bones
12:42are scorched inch by inch.
12:46With that,
12:47she lunged forward,
12:48her fingers clamping
12:49onto my shoulder blades.
12:50The cold fire
12:51touched my back.
12:52The sound of my clothes
12:53burning echoed.
12:55Immediately,
12:56a scorching heat
12:57seeped into my blood,
12:58coursing through
12:59my golden blood.
13:02I groaned,
13:04my body trembling.
13:05Irene fed her divine power
13:06into the fire,
13:07flames surging higher.
13:09Already can't bear it?
13:11Don't worry,
13:12this is just the beginning.
13:13When cracks appear
13:14in your divine bones,
13:15the Underlord himself
13:17will return to see you
13:18in this wretched state.
13:20She pressed her other hand
13:21against my cheek.
13:23I grinted my teeth,
13:24refusing to cry out
13:26a second time.
13:28Cassius stood
13:29three steps away,
13:30fists clenched tightly,
13:32yet he dared not advance.
13:34Irene's smile twisted
13:35into near madness
13:36as she turned
13:38to shout at Cassius.
13:40Come!
13:41Hold her down!
13:42Lilith panicked,
13:44grabbing Cassiel's sleeve
13:45and screaming.
13:46Mentor,
13:47do you want the entire temple
13:48to die with sister?
13:54Cassius drew a deep breath
13:55and stepped forward,
13:56pressing my shoulders
13:57firmly to the ground.
13:58Pinned,
13:58I looked up at the face
13:59that once smiled
14:00gently only for me.
14:02Once he had called me Lyra,
14:03but sworn to me.
14:04Now he held me down,
14:05delivering me to death.
14:07Irene,
14:07seeing my silence,
14:09grew even more franzier,
14:10intensifying the nether fire.
14:12The skin on my face
14:13nearly melted,
14:14golden blood streaming down.
14:16Lyra!
14:18You are a sinner!
14:19You destroyed a relic,
14:21shamed the temple,
14:24deserve every bit of this!
14:26Lilith's face
14:27shone with excitement.
14:28Goddess Irene
14:29is burning her well.
14:30This is how sinners
14:31should be treated.
14:32Let's see if she dares
14:33defy anyone again.
14:34Pain wracked my body,
14:35my consciousness
14:36slowly devoured
14:37by the flames.
14:38Just as my eyelids
14:39were about to close,
14:40the entire hall
14:41shook violently,
14:43without warning.
14:45A wave of pressure
14:46swept in from outside
14:47the hall,
14:48and the nether fire
14:49vanished in an instant.
14:50Irene's triumphant
14:51expression froze,
14:53her pupils widening
14:54in shock.
14:54A figure appeared,
14:56backlit by the hall's
14:57entrance.
14:57It was Sonatos.
14:59He had returned.
15:01Instinctively,
15:01Irene withdrawn
15:02all her divine power
15:03and pressed herself
15:04forward in submission.
15:06Underlord,
15:07you've returned.
15:09The...
15:09The sinner who
15:10desolated the relic
15:11has already been
15:12dealt with.
15:13Cassius said,
15:14vowing almost
15:16simultaneously.
15:18Underlord,
15:19the offense
15:20stems from ignorance.
15:21Destroying the relic,
15:23the judgment
15:23is yours to make.
15:26Lilith hastily
15:27knelt as well.
15:28Please,
15:29calm your anger!
15:30It was all
15:30sister's fault!
15:31It has nothing
15:32to do with us!
15:33But Sonatos
15:34didn't even glance
15:35at them.
15:35I lay in the distance,
15:36my face scorched
15:37beyond recognition
15:38by the nether fire.
15:39Golden blood
15:40seeping from
15:41every wound,
15:41summoning my
15:43last ounce of strength.
15:44I let out a faint
15:45rasp laugh
15:46from deep in my throat.
15:49That laugh
15:49caught Sanatus' attention.
15:51He slowly
15:52turned his head
15:53and the moment
15:54his eyes landed
15:55on the figure
15:56on the ground,
15:57an overwhelming
15:58presence
15:58filled the hall.
16:00Everyone present
16:00nearly collapsed
16:01to their knees
16:02at the same instant.
16:03Only I remained
16:04lying there,
16:05tilting my head
16:05to look at him.
16:07Sonatos,
16:08is this how
16:09you greet
16:10your master?
16:11The hall fell silent,
16:12stunned.
16:13Sonatos froze,
16:14staring at me,
16:15mouth opening,
16:16yet no sound emerged.
16:18Irene trembled
16:19with fury,
16:20raising her hand
16:21to strike my face again,
16:22screaming,
16:23Lyra!
16:24You're courting death!
16:26A mere prisoner
16:27dares call herself
16:29the Underlord's master!
16:31Before she could finish,
16:33an invisible giant hand
16:35slammed her
16:36into the ground.
16:37The floor shattered
16:38beneath her,
16:39collapsing into a deep pit.
16:40She lay at the bottom,
16:42blood dripping
16:42from her mouth,
16:43disbelief etched
16:44across her face.
16:45I,
16:47Underlord,
16:49for this sin.
16:50Sonatos ignored her
16:51entirely,
16:52striding with urgency
16:53towards me.
16:54When he reached my side,
16:55he did not hesitate.
16:56He knelt.
16:57The ruler of the Underrealm
16:58prostrated before me.
16:59his forehead
17:00nearly touching the ground.
17:01Goddess Salona,
17:02I am late.
17:03Please punish me.
17:05Hearing this,
17:06everyone froze.
17:07Lilith went pale,
17:08whispering,
17:09Impossible!
17:10This cannot be!
17:11She could not believe
17:12that the sister
17:12she had mucked
17:13and allowed Irene
17:14to torment
17:14was truly Lyra Salana,
17:16the legendary saint
17:17of the cosmos.
17:19Cassius froze in shock.
17:20The two guards
17:21who had mocked me earlier
17:23lost control
17:24and collapsed
17:25on the spot.
17:26I lowered my gaze,
17:28staring at Sonatos,
17:30prated before me.
17:32He was no longer
17:33the frail boy
17:33of the past,
17:34the one I had taught
17:35ancient divine arts to,
17:37giving him the name
17:38Sonatos
17:38and telling him,
17:39Follow me from now on.
17:42Back then,
17:43he had called me
17:43Goddess Selene,
17:44his eyes full of reverence
17:46and dependence.
17:47Now,
17:48draped in black robes,
17:50he ruled the Underrealm.
17:52Yet for me alone,
17:54he retained that same
17:55unwavering devotion.
17:56I smiled suddenly.
17:58Rise.
18:01Same unwavering devotion.
18:03Sonatos lifted his head,
18:05eyes bloodshot
18:05and burning with anger.
18:07In his palm,
18:08a swirling orb
18:08of abysm flame formed,
18:10black and red intertwined.
18:11A colony of ants
18:12dares harm my Lyra Salene?
18:14Crush them all to dust.
18:15I lifted my hand slightly.
18:17Wait.
18:18I'll settle this score
18:20with them myself.
18:26Hearing my words,
18:28the fire in Sannicus's eyes
18:30softened slightly.
18:32He raised his hand,
18:34the Neth Estence
18:35swirling around his fingertips,
18:37lightly brushing over me.
18:39Not a hint of offense.
18:41A wave of power
18:42surged through me,
18:43the previously sealed
18:44golden blood
18:45flowing freely again,
18:46the stinging pain
18:47in my bones faded
18:48inch by inch.
18:49Even the wounds
18:50on my face and knees
18:51eased considerably.
18:52He had lifted the seal
18:53from within me.
18:55From then on,
18:56Sonatos stayed close
18:58without leaving my side.
19:00He settled me
19:01in the inner chamber,
19:02carrying a clay bowl
19:04of dark red ointment.
19:06He entered quietly,
19:07eyes lowered,
19:08ears flushed.
19:10Kneeling on one knee,
19:11he carefully applied
19:12the salve to my wounds
19:13with a tiny silver spoon,
19:14as if afraid to hurt me.
19:16Goddess Selene,
19:17every bit of suffering
19:18you endured
19:19I remember.
19:20Those who dared harm you,
19:22I will make repay
19:23a hundredfold,
19:24a thousandfold.
19:25I looked at him,
19:26a mixture of devotion
19:27and ferocity
19:28in his expression,
19:29and couldn't help
19:30but let out
19:30a soft laugh.
19:33My little one
19:35has grown quite capable.
19:37To serve the goddess
19:38is Sonatos' honor.
19:40He paused.
19:41All the sinners
19:41are locked
19:42in the deepest
19:42abyssal cells
19:43of the Underrealm.
19:44Irene's tendons
19:45have been severed,
19:46her divine power
19:47sealed in the
19:47phantom water prison,
19:49enduring the agony
19:49of countless
19:50vengeful souls daily.
19:51Consider this
19:52your first measure
19:53of justice.
19:53He met my glaze.
19:54I reached out lightly,
19:56brushing his cheek.
19:57Well done.
19:59His shoulders twitched.
20:01Sonatos,
20:02anxious.
20:03For the next few days,
20:04I rested in the inner chamber
20:06of the Underrealm.
20:07Every morning and evening,
20:08Sonatos came punctually.
20:10He never entered the room,
20:11standing three-stop side
20:12with utmost respect.
20:13Goddess Elaine,
20:14are you well?
20:16Once he received
20:18my response,
20:19he would bow
20:19and retreat.
20:20I leaned against
20:21the window,
20:23feeling an indescribable
20:24warmth.
20:25This was not a king
20:27who made gods tremble.
20:29This was the most
20:30devoted follower,
20:31permitted to approach
20:33the goddess altar.
20:34After a few days,
20:35my wounds had mostly healed.
20:37Let's go.
20:38I spoke calmly
20:39to the empty doorway,
20:41to the abyssal prison.
20:43Let's see.
20:45The abyssal prison
20:47of the Underrealm
20:47was built deep
20:48beneath the chasm,
20:49and Cassius was locked
20:50alone in a cell.
20:51When I saw him,
20:52I almost didn't recognize him.
20:54Once he had been
20:55the high priest,
20:56revered by the entire temple.
20:57Now his hair was disheveled,
20:59and he was bound
21:00to a stone pillar
21:00with divine chains.
21:02Seeing me,
21:03he struggled violently.
21:10Lyra!
21:12I didn't mean it!
21:13It's all amid a standing.
21:15Lilith planted this.
21:16I was foolish for a moment.
21:18Please forgive me
21:19just this once,
21:20will you?
21:20I stood silently,
21:22watching him,
21:23saying nothing.
21:24Cassius,
21:25seeing my silence,
21:27reached out
21:28to grab my clothing.
21:29Before his hand
21:30could touch my hem,
21:31a flash of light
21:32streaked past my side.
21:37Cassius screamed
21:38as half his arm
21:38fell to the ground,
21:39golden blood
21:40spraying everywhere.
21:42Sanatos
21:43withdrew the neth blade
21:44from his fingertips.
21:46You are unworthy
21:47of touching
21:48goddess Selene.
21:50Cassius ground in pain,
21:51but dared not
21:52cry out again.
21:53I looked at him
21:54and began to speak.
21:55Once,
21:55I saved your life.
21:57I poured out
21:57my own divine power
21:58to help you break
21:59through the limits
22:00of divinity,
22:01elevated you
22:01to high priest,
22:02protected your temple,
22:03kept it safe
22:04amid the struggles
22:05of gods.
22:05And what was the result?
22:07For Lilith,
22:08for the so-called
22:08temple's honor,
22:09you did not hesitate
22:10to push me
22:11onto the altar.
22:12You let me be
22:13burned and humiliated,
22:14let my bloodline
22:15be sealed,
22:15left me to suffer
22:16unboreable pain.
22:17I let out a soft,
22:19bitter laugh.
22:20Cassius,
22:21is this the oath
22:22you swore to me?
22:26From the opposite cell,
22:28Lilith's cries began.
22:30Sister!
22:31Sister,
22:31I was wrong!
22:32I truly know
22:33I was wrong!
22:34She knelt,
22:35forehead pressed
22:35to the ground,
22:36begging repeatedly,
22:37her brow striking
22:38the stone with loud thuds.
22:39I was jealous of you!
22:40I shouldn't have stirred
22:41the mentor to hand you over,
22:43but sister!
22:43She choked back her tears.
22:45I practiced divine arts
22:47with you,
22:48patrolled the temple
22:49with you!
22:49Have you forgotten all that?
22:50As she spoke,
22:51she began slapping herself,
22:53harder and harder,
22:54her cheeks quickly swelling.
22:55I am not human!
22:56My heart is venomous!
22:58Sister,
22:58please forgive me
22:59just this once!
23:00I watched her.
23:02Her cries grew more desperate,
23:04reckless.
23:06Finally,
23:06as she knelt once more,
23:07she blusted out.
23:08Cassius promised me!
23:09He said he loved me most!
23:10He swore to me!
23:11She fell silent abruptly.
23:13I looked at her swolled,
23:14tear-stroached face,
23:15then glanced at the man
23:16in the cell
23:17who dared not lift his head.
23:18I laughed softly.
23:19I see.
23:20No wonder he didn't speak
23:22a word in my defense
23:23and shoved me
23:23onto the chariot.
23:24No wonder you hate me, sir.
23:26I turned to Lilith.
23:27She trembled all over,
23:28unable to speak.
23:30Sinatos raised his hand,
23:32releasing a wave
23:33of nether essence
23:34that slung Lilith
23:35against the stone wall,
23:36vomiting a mouthful of blood.
23:39Noisy.
23:40You dare defy
23:42goddess Salonis?
23:44I looked at Lilith on the ground,
23:46showing no mercy.
23:47I should never have picked you up
23:49from those sacrificial embers.
23:51Starving there
23:51would have been cleaner.
23:52I turned my gaze to Cassius.
23:54Your temple always boasts
23:55of divine justice above all,
23:57doesn't it?
23:58Good.
24:00Let's see how true that is.
24:01I met Sinatos' eyes.
24:03He understood immediately,
24:05nodding slightly.
24:05It was the Underlord
24:06silently granting me
24:07the authority to pardon.
24:08From this moment,
24:10any oath I swore
24:11by the name of Strik
24:12carried the same weight
24:13as if he had swore it
24:15himself.
24:16I looked back at Cassius.
24:18Announce this to the entire temple.
24:19Give them three days.
24:21If even one person
24:22comes to save their high priest,
24:23no matter who,
24:24regardless of divinity,
24:25demigod, or mortal,
24:26I swear by the name of Strik
24:28that he will suffer no harm.
24:30Furthermore,
24:30both of them will be released
24:31without blame.
24:32I stared into Cassius' eyes.
24:34Cassius,
24:35you have three days.
24:37Watch carefully.
24:39Will your disciples,
24:40the ones you taught
24:41with your own hands,
24:42come to save you at all costs,
24:44or will they be
24:44as hypocritical as you?
24:46I laughed.
24:48After all,
24:49when you made me bear the blame,
24:50they were all present.
24:51Not one of them is innocent.
24:53Cassius stared at me
24:54in stunned despair.
24:56Lilith knelt at the far end
24:57of the cage,
24:58forgetting even to cry,
25:00staring intensely at my back,
25:01her lips trembling violently.
25:05Three days later,
25:06I stood at the gates
25:07of the Underrealm.
25:08Behind me,
25:09Cassius and Lilith
25:09were kneeling on the ground,
25:11pressed forward
25:11by two armored nethguards.
25:13Half of Cassius' arm was gone,
25:15the wound wrapped
25:15in blood-soaked cloth.
25:17Lilith's forehead
25:17had scab over,
25:18her face swollen and bruised.
25:20They stared unblinkingly
25:21toward the direction
25:22of the temple,
25:23repeating over and over.
25:24They will come,
25:25they will come to save us.
25:27Time crawled by.
25:28The noontime bell
25:29tolled in the distance,
25:30yet the road to the temple
25:31remained empty.
25:32No one came.
25:33Cassius' face
25:34grew paler by the hour,
25:35from initial hope
25:36to growing anxiety
25:37to cursing nearly in madness.
25:38A pack of ungrateful reddins!
25:40I treated you
25:41as my own children,
25:42gave you all my knowledge,
25:43and yet not a single one
25:44came to save me!
25:46Lilith was even worse.
25:47She collapsed,
25:48sobbing controllably.
25:49I watched them
25:50and let out a cold laugh.
25:51I never expected
25:52my so-called
25:53virtuous disciples
25:54to be even better
25:55at calculating the moment
25:56than I imagined.
25:59I turned to Sonatas
26:00at my side.
26:01Since they hide,
26:02unwilling to show themselves,
26:03let's go meet them ourselves.
26:06With that,
26:07I swept toward the temple.
26:11Sonatas followed,
26:12his nether guard formation
26:13moving behind him
26:14in perfect order,
26:17seemingly gliding
26:18above the ground.
26:19At the gates of the temple,
26:20the disciples
26:21had already formed ranks,
26:22rushing forward
26:23to surround us.
26:24They brandished
26:25divine weapons,
26:26closing in.
26:27Those who had once
26:28shown me respect
26:28now twisted their faces
26:30in anger,
26:31cursing me mercilessly.
26:32Liar,
26:33you traitors!
26:34Daring to conspire
26:35with the Underrealm,
26:36betraying our temple!
26:37After three centuries
26:38of careful guidance,
26:40this is how you repay
26:40your mentor?
26:42Blasphemous wretch!
26:43You destroyed the relic
26:44itself at the Underlord's feet!
26:45How vile!
26:46The fiercer their curses,
26:47the more they seemed
26:48to hide something.
26:50I stood above them
26:51in the void,
26:52smiling silently.
26:54Once their shouting
26:55waned,
26:56I tilted my head slightly.
26:57The nether guards
26:58immediately dragged
26:59Cassius and Lilith forward,
27:01dropping the two battered,
27:02broken figures
27:03at the feet
27:03of the temple disciples.
27:04All eyes fell on them.
27:05Some stepped back
27:06intentively.
27:07At the very back,
27:08a younger disciple's
27:08eyes reddened,
27:09and he intinctively
27:10took a half-step forward,
27:11only to be held back
27:12by those beside them.
27:14I spoke.
27:15You stand there
27:16so righteously.
27:16Are you certain
27:17you will not save
27:18your high priest
27:19and your youngest priestess?
27:20I said before,
27:21if even one steps forward
27:22to save them,
27:23I will release them
27:24without guilt.
27:25I paused,
27:26sweeping my gaze
27:27across the crowd.
27:28That still stands.
27:29At that moment,
27:30one disciple
27:31stepped forward
27:32from the center.
27:32Everyone,
27:33do not be deceived
27:34by this evil goddess.
27:35This is all
27:36her divine trickery.
27:37The real high priest
27:38and priestess
27:39perished in the Underrealm
27:40three days ago.
27:41These two before you
27:42are only phantoms
27:42created by her arts.
27:44The crowd stirred.
27:45An elder disciple
27:46in the front frowned,
27:47gathering a strand
27:48of divine essence
27:49with his fingertip,
27:49intending to verify.
27:51A single thread
27:52of divine sense
27:52could immediately reveal
27:53the difference
27:54between a phantom
27:55and a true deity.
27:55But before his hand
27:56could reach halfway,
27:58someone beside him
27:59pressed it down forcefully.
28:00Don't check.
28:01The elder froze.
28:03He followed the evasive eyes
28:05and slowly understood.
28:09Everyone had seen.
28:10Everyone knew.
28:11But no one dared expose it.
28:13If they did not verify,
28:14the kneeling figures
28:15could be phantoms.
28:16If they were phantoms,
28:17no one needed to save them.
28:18If no one needed to save them,
28:19no one needed to die.
28:21I watched it all unfold.
28:22In that moment,
28:23I truly understood.
28:24The cruelest thing
28:25is never hatred,
28:26but cowardice.
28:27The word phantom
28:28struck Cassius in the heart.
28:30The glimmer of hope
28:31in his eyes
28:32instantly died.
28:35Senortus and I stood side by side.
28:38The hundreds of temple disciples
28:39clashed with the elite
28:40netherguard battalion.
28:41Divine weapons were sent flying,
28:43people thrown to the ground.
28:44Protective more formations shattered,
28:46divine powers sealed one by one.
28:48Screams, cries, and pleas
28:50mixed into a chaotic symphony.
28:52I looked down from above.
28:53Cassius, forced to watch with wide eyes,
28:55saw everything firsthand.
28:57Three centuries of toil.
28:58The temple he built
28:59and nurtured to the high priesthood
29:00crumbling before him.
29:01Despair and agony
29:02threatened to consume him entirely.
29:04Cassius went mad.
29:06Behind us,
29:06the horns of the underworld sounded.
29:08From this day forward,
29:10no temple would stand on this land.
29:13I stood on the ruins of the temple,
29:16the divine treasury ablaze behind me.
29:20In front of me,
29:21the kneeling prisoners.
29:24A few days later,
29:26Senortus approached my side.
29:28Goddess Salerna,
29:29what shall be done
29:30with Irene and the others?
29:31I slowly surveyed their faces,
29:34an eye for an eye.
29:35Senortus raised his hand
29:37and Neth fire descended upon Irene.
29:40She screamed and rolled,
29:42her divinity scorched
29:43almost to destruction.
29:46Until she could no longer cry,
29:48only convulsing remained.
29:50That's enough.
29:51I spoke lightly.
29:52Throw her into the deepest part
29:53of the Underrealm.
29:54Let her live.
29:55Each day,
29:56burn her divinity
29:57once with the bismar flame.
29:58Once burned, heal.
29:59Then burn again.
30:01Once at sunrise.
30:02Once at sunset.
30:03Let her feel the pain
30:04at every moment.
30:07Dawn brings pain.
30:08Dust brings pain.
30:09Never let her die.
30:13Senortus lowered his head
30:14in acknowledgement.
30:15Irene had once burned
30:16the divine bones
30:17of someone revered
30:18by the Underlord.
30:19According to Underrealm law,
30:21the one who burns divine bones
30:22suffers the same fate,
30:24eternal and inescapable.
30:26When Lilith was dragged forward,
30:28she was barely recognizable
30:30as human.
30:31Her forehead wound
30:32festered completely.
30:34Sister,
30:35have mercy.
30:37I crouched
30:38to meet her gaze.
30:39You stood beside
30:41Irene,
30:42watching her scorch
30:43my divine bones
30:44with nether fire.
30:46Did you ever imagine
30:47this day would come?
30:49Her bloodline
30:50was sealed
30:50by the name of Strix,
30:52just as they had done
30:53to me.
30:54She was left
30:55on the temple ruins,
30:56without water
30:57or food.
30:58A thin barrier
31:00of naryer essence
31:01surrounded the ruins,
31:02not to imprison her,
31:03but to prevent her
31:04from leaving
31:05and anyone from entering.
31:07Left to survive
31:08or perish on her own.
31:12Cassius was the last
31:13dragged forward.
31:14The wound on his severed arm
31:15had rotted black.
31:16He was thrown to the ground,
31:17lying there long
31:18before he slowly
31:19lifted his head.
31:20His cloudy eyes met mine,
31:22lips trembling violently.
31:23Lyra, Lyra.
31:25I stepped in front of him.
31:27Cassius,
31:27don't call me that.
31:29You're not worthy.
31:30His body shook violently,
31:32forehead pressed
31:33to the ground.
31:33He wept with
31:34heart-ranking anguish.
31:36Three centuries
31:36of painstaking work
31:37destroyed in an instant.
31:39Not a single disciple
31:40he taught
31:41came to save him.
31:42The only woman
31:43he ever loved
31:44pleaded for survival
31:45in her eyes,
31:45not love.
31:46I lowered my gaze at him.
31:47Cassius,
31:48I want you trapped
31:49in the depths
31:50of the Underrealm,
31:51hearing the wails
31:52of those fallen disciples
31:53every day.
31:54For this life
31:55and all that follow,
31:56suffer eternal remorse.
31:58The once revered
31:59hyzens from the altar
32:00finally fell among
32:01ruins and rubble.
32:03All was over.
32:04From the highest terrace
32:05of the Underrealm,
32:07soft footsteps approached.
32:09Goddess Selina,
32:11it's late.
32:12Sanatos will escort you
32:14back to the hall.
32:15I didn't turn,
32:16speaking lightly.
32:18Why stand so far away?
32:20His body stiffened slightly,
32:21Adam's juddle rolling
32:22as his voice dropped.
32:23Sanatos does not dare
32:25overstep.
32:26I slowly turned,
32:27golden molten eyes
32:28glinting in the moonlight.
32:30Seeing his reddened eartips,
32:31I found it somewhat amusing.
32:33Three hundred years,
32:34and he was still like this.
32:36Come.
32:40Sanatos hesitated,
32:42then stepped forward slowly.
32:45Stopping two steps away,
32:47he still kept his gaze lowered,
32:49not meeting mine.
32:51The night wind lifted my hair.
32:54A silver strand fell onto his shoulder.
32:57His gaze followed it.
32:59His fingertips curled slightly,
33:01wanting to touch,
33:02yet restraining himself.
33:04Goddess Selina.
33:06His voice was barely a whisper.
33:10The night wind is cold.
33:12Sanatos will drape a cloak over you.
33:14He removed his cloak,
33:15holding it with both hands,
33:17carefully placing it on my shoulders.
33:18I adjusted my collar
33:20and said casually,
33:21You're thoughtful.
33:22His ears reddened further.
33:25He stepped back two paces,
33:26lowering his head again.
33:27It's Sanatos' duty.
33:29I watched him,
33:30the Underlord who made gods tremble,
33:32obedient now like a small serpent.
33:35Sanatos.
33:36Sanatos,
33:37at your service.
33:39Three hundred years.
33:41I spoke slowly,
33:43gazing into the distance.
33:45You are still like when you were young.
33:48His breathing faltered slightly,
33:50yet he did not lift his head.
33:52Simply whispered,
33:54Yes.
33:54I turned and walked toward the hall.
33:56Behind me,
33:57his footsteps followed.
33:58Not too far,
33:59not too near.
34:00I did not look back,
34:01but I knew those eyes were fixed on my back.
34:04Debts had been repaid.
34:05Those who should remain,
34:06remained.
34:07The little black snake that nearly died.
34:10From the Divine Spring to Tartarus,
34:12from Serpent to God King.
34:14Had traveled countless paths in three centuries,
34:17yet nevered out of the three steps behind me.
34:19This time,
34:20I would not let him kneel at my feet.
34:22The night wind swept the terrace
34:24as I walked slowly into the hall,
34:26slow enough for the one
34:27who had always followed me
34:28to take the three steps
34:30he had never dared before,
34:31finally walking to my side.
34:33To be continued...
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