17~It’s dead
…and even more terrifying when it is.
The blonde Elf Girl stared calmly into the eyes of the Silver-haired Girl. Her beautiful gaze was like a serene night sky, clean and pure, without a single trace of impurity.
“Miss Dillin, it’s meaningless to ask ‘who are you’ to someone who doesn’t even have a name,” the latter replied without any emotion, as if from the moment she met Dillin, she had already known her true identity.
“To ask a question I can’t answer and don’t even know how to reply to is equally fruitless.”
“But, not for long.” She looked deeply at the sky dyed red with bl**d. “With the complete decline of the Empire, that day won’t be far.”
“You mean the Empire is about to fall?” Even now, as one of the still somewhat powerful Light Race nations, if this country collapses, it would surely create many issues. Especially since the relationship between the Light Race and the Demon Race is still unstable, still needing the Empire’s strength to balance things.
“It’s only natural. No matter if you wish for its downfall or not, there’s no stopping this process.” With that, she walked off towards the city’s outskirts.
Tillysha and Yimi exchanged glances.
“You go after her, I’ll catch up soon.”
“What are you going to do?”
“As both humans and Elves have the tradition of being buried at peace, it’s only right.” Tillysha looked towards the smoke-filled city fort where bodies lay unclaimed.
“Their families have perished in this calamity. No one will claim these homeless bodies. I think, at the very least, I should bury them here in their homeland, so they rest in peace rather than rot in the Wilderness.”
Upon hearing this, Yimi gave Tillysha a complex glance and then silently turned away.
Just as Tillysha was about to start her task, she noticed a small figure beside her, holding a shovel that came from who-knows-where.
“You?”
“If you tried to dig by yourself without a tool, it’d take who-knows-how-long.” Yimi, showing no emotion, handed the shovel to Tillysha. “Found it in that storage room.”
“Thanks.”
“I just thought your slow pace would have us waiting too long.”
Though she said that, Tillysha worked while Yimi helped on the side, burying all the unclaimed bodies one by one.
By the time they were done filling and burying, evening was approaching. The crimson hues on the horizon seemed unsure if they were the result of raging fires or merely lingering twilight.
They returned to the little wooden house where their companion, with her silver hair tinted by the sunset, had been waiting for them, seemingly for hours.
When Tillysha and Yimi arrived, she didn’t say a word. Not moving until they were there, she stepped forward like some kind of task-bound NPC character—waiting for the players to get to the right position before proceeding.
“Hey, was your prediction earlier just a guess then?” asked Yimi, following closely behind.
“I’m not sure. But those words felt like they had been bottled up in my chest, and once the suspicions aligned, I couldn’t help but unleash them all.” Tillysha mulled it over for a bit.
It was undoubtedly her speculation, yet she was surprisingly confident about it, as if she had witnessed it firsthand.
As they moved along, the sound of a creek became clearer. Tillysha looked ahead to see where the other girl walked—right at the place where the stream downstream met the corpse bloom.
Yimi frowned. The disturbing odor was becoming stronger by the second, causing her to retreat behind Dillin, clearly not appreciating the nauseating smell.
Tillysha wasn’t much different. With her enhanced sense as an elf, the putrid stench felt like black ink staining all her senses.
By the time they reached where the corpse bloom grew, Yimi had fully retreated behind Tillysha, pinching her nose while her twin-tails swayed back and forth like a little tambourine. She tugged at Tillysha’s garment, desperate to move away from the area.
“Can we leave this place sooner?” Yimi felt her senses and instincts were dulled here, as if covered by a dark curtain. The flower’s aura was indeed bizarre.
“The flower has grown… larger?” From their last visit just a few days ago, Tillysha noticed that the petals and stamen were now noticeably larger, perhaps about half its previous size.
“This flower is the harbinger of the Empire’s doom,” she gravely stated.
“When this flower fully blooms, the Empire’s fall will not be far.”
Tillysha stared at the purplish-black pus-filled bloom. It grew in an exceptionally hidden place, rarely touched by people. Its choice of location seemed deliberate, growing on the riverbanks without hindering the flow of the stream.
“Does Miss Sheet hope for the Empire’s downfall?”
“That question is meaningless.” Sheet didn’t even turn around. “Whether the Empire falls or clings to survival means nothing to me. Its existence or demise only reflects objective laws. The issues are too deep, eventually spiraling out of control. But it hasn’t reached the point of no return yet, its lifeline still hangs by a thread.”
This girl was like a traveler, a neutral observer. She showed no pity for the oppressed population or hatred for the corrupt Empire, seeing good and evil as a matter of perspective.
“Miss Sheet, I recall you saying that everyone in this world has a mission. If you don’t even have a name, then what is your mission?”
“My…mission?” Sheet turned her head, her perfect, crystal-like but dead-eyed gaze suddenly locking onto Tillysha’s.
“If it’s inconvenient for you, consider this question never asked.”
“I am waiting for the other fragments.” Before Tillysha could finish, she responded without hesitation.
“Other fragments?? If someone with normal logic heard that, they’d think you look pretty but have a brain issue.”
“What are these other fragments, and what will happen when you gather them?”
In response to this question, Sheet went silent. She stared directly at Tillysha without wavering until Tillysha started feeling uneasy and then shifted her gaze. With a slight movement of her lips, she warned, “Be careful.”
Tillysha tensed, dodged to the side just in time as an arrow narrowly passed her shoulder, setting her hair fluttering.
Looking at a nearby hillock, an officer mounted on a tall horse appeared with his subordinates. He grinned at them.
“I knew you people wouldn’t sit still. Sent a few men to follow you, hadn’t expected you’d be so careless and get caught!” He then directed his gaze to the corpse bloom. “This wretched flower is the result of your conspiracy with the cultists, isn’t it?”
“That’s why there’ve been so many accidents lately, and cultists keep showing up. It’s all because of you meddling.”
These people had been trailing them?
Tillysha’s eyes flickered with surprise. She should have noticed if she had been followed.
Looking at the corpse bloom, Tillysha realized it — the overwhelming stench downstream had been so strong that her sharp elven senses fixated on it, not noticing the pursuers behind them.
“Anyway, it doesn’t matter. There’s concrete evidence of your collaboration with the cultists. Even if you’re students from Coleman Academy, you won’t get away with this!”
“Get them! Capture the white-haired witch and her two accomplices!”
With the officer’s order, well-trained cavalrymen rode out in a pincer formation, surrounding the trio to prevent their escape.
“Tsk, twisting facts.” Yimi muttered under her breath.
Sheet said nothing, treating the encircling soldiers who looked ready to pounce upon them as though they weren’t even there.
“Attack! Tie them up!”
Tillysha pulled out her long bow, shooting down a rider who intended to grab Sheet. She plucked her bowstring, and five arrows appeared on it.
Since recollecting those fragmented memories, her proficiency in using Divine Authority seemed to have improved.
“That’s Divine Authority!” The officer’s brow furrowed as his warhorse neighed, its hooves wrapped in an ethereal fiery glow. He charged towards Tillysha with a lance, appearing like a deathly knight bringing down fiery punishment.
Tillysha released the Divine Analysis Technique.
Name: Capoli Bottien
Race: Human
Realm: [Iron Horse Realm]
Physical Resistance: 6
Magic Resistance: 3
Alchemy Resistance: 3.5
Divine Resistance: 2
Realm Effect: Damage taken by the mount is halved.
Divinity: [Riding Fire]
He could apply Divine Authority-induced flames to his horse, increasing its speed and imbuing mounted attacks with Divine flames.
As his acceleration increased, the sparks on Capoli’s lance transformed from tiny flames into swirling spirals, carrying a terrifying tear-filled pressure.
Tillysha released her bowstring, five beams of light arrows shot out, only to be deflected effortlessly by the spiraling flames on Capoli’s lance.
In response, Tillysha threw emerald aromatic seeds to the ground, sprouting soft buds that quickly grew into thorny bushes, clashing with the spinning lance. Crackling sounds echoed as the brush was scattered.
“Hmph, young fool from Coleman Academy. These flashy Divine powers are better suited for putting on a show at arenas.” Capoli taunted. “Do you think after a few years at an academy you can match up to the Empire’s elite soldiers?”
As Capoli’s horse galloped closer, Tillysha held her bow in front of her.
Capoli raised his lance high, putting all his force into an incoming charge meant to shatter Tillysha’s domain.
But at this critical moment, Capoli suddenly lost focus, became dizzy, and turned his horse around, ending up charging back into his own troops.
The soldiers, seeing their superior’s lance aimed at them, were taken aback and froze, leaving themselves vulnerable as Capoli, unable to stop, crashed through them, injuring numerous soldiers.
“What’s going on?!” Regaining his senses, Capoli glared at Yimi sheltered behind Tillysha. His veteran instincts told him this girl was causing trouble.
Mind attack? A Divine Son, perhaps?
Capoli narrowed his eyes, suppressing his earlier arrogance and seriousness.
“You, leave the Divine Maiden alone. Everyone, capture that blond girl!”
Aiming at the non-combatant Divine Son, he realized, would create issues for the whole team. Both the Divine Maiden and the Mage would have no choice but to divert attention to keeping the Divine Son safe, effectively hampering the squad.
As expected, protecting Yimi was consuming Tillysha’s attention.
Capoli redirected his sight towards the corpse bloom behind Sheet.
No matter if this witch was telling the truth or not, that bloom had to be destroyed.
With years of battle experience, Capoli didn’t believe that a mere flower could cause such chaos, but better safe than sorry, especially since he was counting on this odd flower and these people to get credit.
Rising on his horse, Capoli channeled his Divine Authority, blending seamlessly with his strong horse. With a pointed lance, he charged towards the corpse bloom.
Sheet, noticing, silently moved aside, ensuring she wouldn’t get in the way.
This witch was practical, not choosing to resist to the end.
Capoli inwardly scoffed at her apparent prudence.
What he didn’t know was that Sheet was muttering while looking at the corpse bloom. “Every cause has an effect.”
“Perhaps it is the will of heaven.”
Tillysha was busy dealing with the soldiers around her and couldn’t pay attention to Capoli.
“Swish, swish, swish!!” As Capoli passed the corpse bloom, vines and petals fell all over the ground.
With her bow, she struck fiercely at a nearby soldier’s neck, then delivered a knee blow to his groin, causing him to buckle. Turning back, she saw the scene.
The corpse bloom – destroyed so easily? Was it that simple?
Tillysha hesitated and glanced at Sheet. She recalled Sheet telling her that the corpse bloom was invincible, not even Divine Authority could harm it, so how could it break with a mere strike?
“Haha, your evil creation has been destroyed, what do you have to say now?” Capoli chuckled darkly at Sheet, who remained silent, unfazed by his insults.
“No explanation? No problem. Once we get to my camp, I’ll make you confess every last word, hahaha! And I’ll have you screaming in pleasure by the end…”
Capoli continued smugly while Sheet stared impassively at something forming behind him.
“Cough, cough, cough…” Yimi was severely coughing, clutching her mouth and nose while collapsing into Tillysha’s arms. Tillysha’s expression was getting increasingly grave.
Behind the boasting Imperial officer, a sinister purple-black mist was rising from the broken corpse bloom in the form of a skeletal head.
The mist was thick, almost dripping like liquid.
“Master, your, your back!”
“My back? What about it?” Capoli casually turned his gaze and froze at the sight of the toxic mist forming into a skull.
“Previously, I lied to you.” Sheet suddenly said to Tillysha. “The corpse bloom isn’t indestructible; in fact, it’s very fragile.”
“But precisely because it can be destroyed, no one would dare to do so because…”
“It’s far more terrifying dead than alive.”
“It would have lasted a few more decades…” Sheet closed her eyes again.
