[“If you can’t protect your own teammates, you don’t deserve to be an Adventurer.”]
[Ailin raises the sword in her hand; you understand that the expression on her face is serious.]
[You neither agree nor disagree with her words; sometimes a pig teammate can get everyone killed.]
[“Ailin, for me, the first thing is to protect my family and friends.”]
[You speak your mind; hearing these words, Ailin is dazed for a moment.]
[“Bell…”]
[Ailin looks at you, standing ready before her, and her heart throbs.]
[Her feelings for you are very complicated.]
[“Friends and family, huh…”]
[“It seems I treat you as someone even more important, Bell.”]
[Ailin murmurs to herself, then Brunhilde’s Blade in her hand points at you.]
[“So, I will personally confirm whether you can protect yourself.”]
[Ailin’s figure vanishes from where she stood.]
[“Oh no–so fast?!”]
[Your Poet’s Vision actually fails; this terrifying speed no longer lets you easily identify her position.]
[You catch Ailin’s first sword strike almost purely by instinct.]
[Ailin’s sword is not heavy; it has only the force of a solid, standard strike.]
[What makes Ailin terrifying is her endless, continuous attacks aimed at vital points.]
[Can you… really put up a fight against her?]
[Brunhilde’s Blade, the heirloom sword of the Brynhildr Family.]
[This sword is one of only two red-quality items you have ever seen.]
[The previous divine sword was also shown to you by Ailin; it was called Impudent Thorn.]
[Compared with Impudent Thorn, however, Brunhilde’s Blade lacks that terrifying one-hit kill; instead, it has properties perfectly suited to Ailin’s swordsmanship.]
[Brunhilde’s Blade (Red): a treasure famous far and wide. It is said this sword was forged by a certain Demigod to suppress a Snake Calamity.]
[Those serpentine monsters seemed related to gorgons or nagas; ordinary swords had no chance of harming them, so the then-head of the Brynhildr Family brought precious offerings to a Demigod’s palace.]
[He ultimately obtained a longsword as agile as the serpent monsters; it is said this sword has its own consciousness and can change the direction of its attacks, making it hard for enemies to predict.]
[Under the protection of this divine sword, the Brynhildr Family has been able to continue to this day.]
[“Change its own direction, huh?”]
[Before fighting Ailin, you could not have fully understood the oppressive force contained in that short line.]
[Your whole body is already covered in sword wounds; Ailin’s sword shows no mercy.]
[She steps back two paces and coldly watches you, bedraggled and in pain.]
[“Bell, if this is all the strength you have, then forget about joining the Adventurer Group.”]
[Ailin returns the puzzling divine sword to the scabbard at her waist.]
[“I’ll go notify a healing mage. You wait…”]
[“I see. From the very beginning, you never intended to let me join the Adventurer Group, right?”]
[You cut her off; the weakness in your tone cannot be concealed.]
[“You are not qualified yet.”]
[“What counts as qualified? Do I have to defeat you?”]
[Only when Ailin truly launches a bullying-like assault on you do you realize she never wanted you to fight alongside her.]
[“That’s not it, Bell. Once your strength is sufficient…”]
[You interrupt her again.]
[“Am I your pet? Why are you so afraid of me leaving you?”]
[“That’s not it… Bell, I didn’t mean that.”]
[It is the first time Ailin has seen you this angry. Her slender, lovely fingers tremble slightly on the sword hilt, as if seeking some kind of reassurance.]
[“I just…”]
[“You’re afraid of losing me? So you plan to make me your servant for life?”]
[“No…”]
[A thin mist covers Ailin’s eyes, and her whole body trembles uncontrollably.]
[You also understand Ailin means well, but you must raise your level; otherwise, not to mention Ailin, the entire world will be destroyed.]
[“You really are a bit like a child in puberty…”]
[Mo En does not know if the hormones in this young body are at work, making him say somewhat hurtful words.]
[Ailin’s hot tears finally burst forth uncontrollably, but her hand still grips the sword hilt tightly, as if it is her only support.]
[“That’s right, Bell. I really… cannot lose you again.”]
[“I have already become the leader of Dawn Cross, so every other role is impossible for me now.”]
[“I had clearly decided not to depend on anyone anymore. To me, you are like a younger brother, and also a little like my child.”]
[“I still remember how you looked when you first appeared before me. Watching you grow up bit by bit, I truly have come to see you as my own family.”]
[“You are sensible, smarter than other children, and you learn swordsmanship quickly. But… whenever I think you might die, I cannot let you face those monsters that even I fear.”]
[Hearing Ailin’s choked words, you only then realize how important you are to her.]
[Yes, she bears the responsibility of the entire Dawn Cross Adventurer Group, risks her life every day, and even has to attend her companions’ funerals from time to time…]
[Ailin truly carries too much.]
[Mo En knows he can no longer hide his strength; this precious opportunity in the Simulation must not be wasted.]
[And more importantly, he wants to share part of Ailin’s burden.]
[Ailin possesses the same gentleness as Ailuo Wen.]
[But she no longer intends to give that gentleness to anyone, and Mo En has become the exception.]
[“How do you know I can’t do it?”]
[You stop concealing it; the Dragon Clans aura and the Lightless One’s Blessing manifest at the same time.]
[“Hmm?”]
[Ailin’s originally sorrowful expression freezes.]
[She senses the immense, not-to-be-underestimated energy from you.]
[“This is?! Main God Possession?”]
[“And just which god is this… I have never seen it before.”]
[“The Dragon Clans aura, yes, and there is also Dragon Clans aura. This should be the Ancestral Dragon’s Blessing.”]
[You look at the astonished Ailin, and a smug smile appears on your originally pale face.]
[“How about it? You’ll have to face me, your opponent, with all your strength.”]
[“Come on.”]
[Although you are injured, you can still barely continue fighting; after all, the Lightless One’s Blessing does not require you to move around yourself, only to command those tentacles to attack.]
[“Bell, you have far too many secrets. If we had not always been together, I might even think you were arranged by someone to be by my side.”]
[Ailin wipes the tears from the corners of her eyes and shows a gratified smile.]
[“Fine. As long as you can defeat me, I will let you join the Adventurer Group.”]
[Ailin draws her sword again.]