Things seemed to be getting more and more complicated.
Vyea fell into deep thought for a long while before speaking again, “Then, leaving the Starlight Lily of the Valley in these waters forever—was that also part of their plan to overthrow the Human Alliance?”
“You could say that.”
Aoluola looked at Vyea with some regret.
“They’ve prepared for this operation for a long time. You’re very strong, and they probably can’t beat you. But you alone can’t stop this. Everyone on the ship… will die. You can’t save that many people.”
“Why do you think I want to save anyone?” Vyea retorted, looking up at the cracks forming at the top of the ice cavern, her tone quiet. “I’m not a Brave. I don’t possess that kind of sense of justice.”
So-called justice meant a righteousness above the individual, an absolute justice.
For such justice, one could kill, deceive, even betray.
But unfortunately, there is no justice in this world that can transcend the individual.
For some people, protecting those they care for is justice; for others, burning everything to avenge their enemies is justice.
But now, in Vyea’s eyes, finding her daughter was the most important thing. Her daughter was her justice. Even if she had to oppose the whole world for that, she would do so willingly.
Turning back to meet Vyea’s gaze, Aoluola was suddenly stunned. It was as if she saw the first sun frozen atop a snowy peak, bearing the sharpness of ice and the solitary courage of fire, etching an unyielding epitaph deep within her pupils.
Aoluola didn’t understand. She hurriedly asked, “Then why are you here…”
“Because you all are in my way,” Vyea said softly.
RUMBLE!
The cracked dome suddenly collapsed, millions of tons of icy water mixed with giant blocks of ice pouring down.
The stone monument engraved with Lampard’s deeds was instantly swallowed, and the endless surge of icy water and debris rolled forward.
Above the ice, the battle had reached a fever pitch. The twelve main magic cannons of the Starlight Lily of the Valley roared in unison, spewing endless fury.
The Elf Girl, transformed into the White Stag, tore open the Demonic Leviathan’s belly, dancing upon the waves—only to run headlong into another gigantic, octopoid demon!
The hidden enemies all swarmed out, besieging the Starlight Lily of the Valley from every side.
Gold-armored Knights and sailors aboard the ship breathed heavily, their throats hoarse as they roared in anger—firing cannons, engaging in close combat, each face bearing the madness of fighting with their backs to the wall.
Deep in their hearts, they all knew—once they fell into the hands of these enemies who colluded with monsters, their fate would be no better than dying in battle.
Most of the humans who had come here aboard the Starlight Lily of the Valley harbored deep hatred toward the monsters. They were fighting for vengeance, for their lives, and for hope.
“Fire! Fire!” the Commander of the Turret shouted madly. The gunners, guided by the most powerful Echo-Detecting Magic, targeted each enemy precisely.
Azure magic shells landed with pinpoint accuracy on the heads, eyes, and mouths of monsters as large as mountains… The experienced gunners could always find the weakest spots on the monsters and strike them with precision!
“Oh, esteemed Brave. Please lay down your weapon and surrender, to avoid further pointless bloodshed.”
“Is all this chaos your doing?” Denonas Rotissa would never trust the words of someone who collaborated with monsters. Spear in hand, she sneered at the encroaching enemies, “Do you really think if you trap us here, the Capital won’t come looking for you?”
“Brave, you are mistaken.”
The speaker wore a jet-black metal mask, clad in an ancient military uniform. Golden medals strung together by a silver chain stretched from his right shoulder down to his waist. He stood tall and straight, like a pine tree that remained unmoved despite a thousand years of wind and rain.
He inclined slightly to the tense Brave, performing a gesture from olden times:
“The Destiny of the Dark Era envelops everyone—including you, Brave, and us lowly folk. True hope does not reside in the Capital. It slumbers within the souls of every rebel, crushed and reborn time and again. This is an ancient, unyielding code that predates even this land.”
“If you’re so impressive, why don’t you just attack the Capital directly?” Rotissa retorted disdainfully. “Scurrying around like rats, only daring to move in the shadows.”
Black Mask wasn’t angered. Instead, he gazed at Rotissa and sighed, “All these years of struggle… was it just to protect that crumbling Capital? You are a Brave, one of the few who can uphold justice in this world. It’s a shame you’re merely a loyal guard of the Capital. If you weren’t, perhaps we could have sat down and talked.”
“Sorry to disappoint you. I never intended to have anything to do with monsters. Even if you were once human, in my eyes now, you’re nothing more than monsters in human form.” Rotissa said coldly, “With the intelligence network you have, you should already know how many of my comrades and friends have died at your hands and the monsters’. That shouldn’t be hard to figure out.”
Black Mask nodded. “We know everything about your life. Every person and event closely related to you is recorded in our archives.”
“If the years of ordinary people are like the ebb and flow of tides, then my life is only waves and abyss—either thrown atop the foamy crest of fate, or plunged into the trench where no light ever reaches, even the very act of breathing is rough with the salt of congealed bitterness.”
Rotissa spoke softly, “Being a Brave is honestly a boring and tedious job. After my mentor died, I was left with no one, and only hoped that this work could help me escape loneliness and the cold winter of life.
But later, as a Brave, I met a remarkable colleague. My life turned to summer—full of sunlight, new friends, and goals worth fighting for.
But you and the monsters destroyed all of that. Not only did you shatter my dreams, you also destroyed the only chance this world had to return to normal.”
“This is fate—we cannot control it,” Black Mask replied quietly. “That First Hero truly had a chance to change everything. But he missed it, vanished from this land, and left nothing behind.”
“To that First Hero, you were just an ordinary friend, even if you gave him chocolate all those years ago. He might not even remember, might have confused you with someone else,” Black Mask’s tone was calm. “And as a Brave, you’ve never been able to escape the past. No matter how strong your power, your heart remains soft.”
Rotissa’s expression was calm, unmoved by the cutting words.
“Life is too short to have so much… I am a Brave, but also a human. I enjoy friendship and warmth. If I can have more of that, I don’t mind staying in this world a little longer.”
“…”
Black Mask fell silent, suddenly realizing that the Brave before him might have long abandoned the past and even the qualities of being human, burning herself into a raging asura.
Lightning tore through the clouds. A magic shell exploded just three meters above the ground, its flash illuminating Rotissa’s face pale as bone.
No more words were spoken. They stood in silence, still as statues.
“This is just awful,” Black Mask sighed quietly. He raised his right hand, palm pressing down slowly, and said:
“Do it!”