Chapter Eighteen: Silver-White Memories - First Encounter with the Nemesis
Twenty-two years ago—
“Elsa—” Huan stood behind Elsa with some worry.
"Hmm?" Elsa liked his melancholy expression, his aura like that of an ancient, secluded orchid, especially when he was worried about her...
With a furrowed brow, he knew that the final battle with Noah had begun, and he was aware that a large number of death and injury reports were being sent to him every day... Was there no other way to stop this situation from spreading?
And... he was indeed worried about Elsa.
The young girl isn't a machine. She's here 24/7, arranging troop deployments and commanding the front lines... If this continues, she might collapse before the war is even over.
"Brother Huan, come here and hug me—" Elsa looked exhausted, but she still had the energy to act cute with him.
Holding her in his arms, he could at least feel her even breathing, which made him feel much more at ease... This was his... most precious little sister!
"It would be so nice if you could hold me like this forever." Elsa squinted her eyes and nestled quietly in his arms...like a kitten.
"Silly child."
She was just a little cat, yet she had to bear such a heavy burden.
"Brother Huan, do you like me? Will you protect me?"
"Yes, of course."
"Will you fall in love with someone else?"
"Silly girl, that's different."
Elsa suddenly pouted, turned away, and lowered her head with tears welling up in her eyes.
Huan sighed softly, but hugged Elsa even tighter.
He understood Elsa's feelings, but... he could never accept such a distorted relationship.
“I want to end this war sooner rather than later—” Huan’s serious expression showed that he was not just making empty threats.
Elsa looked at him with suspicion.
"I want to meet King Noah directly! If necessary... I hope we can end the war with a decisive battle between the two of us, as this is the only way to reduce casualties."
"Ah!" Elsa was stunned to be meeting King Noah directly.
She had considered this possibility, but the king was the soul of both, and legend had it that the two kings shared the body and power of the gods... If the two were to fight, the most likely outcome would be a draw until they both perish.
That's why they'd rather fight a covert war for hundreds of years than let Wang rashly go into battle.
She would risk her life to protect her people... That's her beloved brother Huan.
"If I'm still alive after this war ends, I'll stay with Elsa like this forever." Huan patted her head, his eyes full of affection.
Even if he couldn't offer himself to a romantic lover, Elsa was still the person he loved most in the world. A king... shouldn't fall in love with anyone... perhaps being able to protect his most important loved ones... that was his best destiny.
Of course, that's assuming he's still alive by then.
...
Heng stood at the highest point on the battlefield, coldly observing everything before him—
Bloodshed, corpses, war, killing... he had absolutely no interest in any of these.
No matter how many people are sacrificed... it has absolutely nothing to do with him.
He gazed into the distance at the handsome man standing at the forefront of the opposing camp—it was because of this man that he had come to this utterly unattractive place.
Because the king's immense power prevented Noah's army from advancing, this guy did not harm a single one of Noah's men, but merely used his power to suppress the situation, clearly trying to force him out.
When Mo Yin had to carefully report this matter to him, such a person actually aroused his great interest.
He doesn't care about the life or death of others, nor about his own, nor about the destruction of the world, nor about any outcome... Everything is just a means for him to amuse himself. He has nothing to cherish, and everything is worthless in his eyes—this is him, the capricious King Noah.
So, what would the only other king in the world who could rival his power be like?
He was beautiful, more beautiful than Mo Yin; it was a waste for him to be born a man! His eyes shone like stars, revealing a faint melancholy, gentle yet resolute…
He felt... this king called Huan... he had never imagined that such a sacred and pure soul could exist in the world...
Just looking at it from afar, I feel deeply attracted... and even want to hug it.
I was startled by my own thoughts... For the first time in hundreds of years, I felt a sense of surprise.
Alright, how about a one-on-one duel? A simple and adorable thought. This ring is completely unsuitable to be a king; he doesn't even understand what war is... But he's willing to play this game with him... If his opponent is him... it shouldn't be boring.
"Are you looking for me? Huan—"
Heng was somewhat surprised by his own tone; when had he become so gentle?
Huan looked around at the man in front of her, or rather, she was so shocked that she forgot to speak.
This is Noah's King? He thought that the person who could lead such a burning, killing and looting army must be a monster with three heads and six arms. He never expected that he would be such a handsome and upright man who exuded endless kingly aura just by standing there.
His speed in appearing here from behind was truly astonishing. Huan himself wasn't sure if he could reach that level. Indeed, the power of a king should not be underestimated.
And...and...
"My name is Heng. You're so beautiful, like the sun. Would you like to spend some time alone with me?" Heng switched back to his nonchalant tone, seemingly trying to hide something guiltily.
But what exactly is it?
"Uh, I... I hope we can work together to stop this killing!" Huan finally came to her senses.
"Oh? What if I refuse? As the King of Norbisola, you must know about that kind of boring fate... Are you joking?"
The way the two kings, positioned at the very center of the battlefield, communicated left their armies bewildered.
She looked around at him, remaining silent.
Originally, he had already planned ahead, and being rejected was to be expected. Moreover, if the matter were to be resolved through negotiation, it would be against the will of God, and in the end, it might cost the lives of the vast majority of the inhabitants of this second space... According to his prior preparations, he should now issue a challenge.
However, he doesn't want to fight alone now.
There was an indescribable sense of dread, but it wasn't fear of his power... There was a feeling... a bad premonition... something terrible was going to happen between him and this person...
Unexpectedly...
Heng just said, "Do you want to be alone with me?" — What does that mean?
The tone was teasing... its meaning ambiguous... like a jab or a challenge...
He struck first!
What about myself...?
"Being alone together..." Huan hesitated for a moment, then suddenly straightened up, "Okay!"
The curve of Heng's lips widened.
The two suddenly leaped into the air at the same time, and were suspended in mid-air in the center of the battlefield!
What happened next shocked everyone—
At point-blank range, Heng suddenly attacked Huan! No, not attacked—Heng instantly controlled Huan's movements, then picked him up and vanished into thin air!
...
In a secluded open space, Heng finally stopped.
"Put me down! What do you want to do!"
He said he wanted to be put down, but Huan had already broken free of his restraints, bounced backward, and landed steadily on the ground.
He could have escaped along the way, but to avoid involving others, going to a deserted place suited his needs perfectly.
"Didn't you want to be alone with me?" Heng asked him with a smile.
Rubbing her slightly sore shoulders, she realized that controlling the actions of King Norbisola was not as easy as it seemed.
"Thank you in advance."
"Huh?" Heng asked, puzzled.
"Thank you for bringing me here to avoid death or injury."
Huan was truly grateful to him for this.
"Huh?" Heng looked surprised, desperately trying to suppress his laughter. "So you were thinking about this kind of thing? You really are a strange king! But listen carefully, I don't care at all about who dies. I just don't want to be disturbed."
Huan was stunned... This man's heart... was even colder than the worst-case scenario he had anticipated! He didn't even care about the lives of his own subordinates!
It seems all that's left is to fight!
Heng was still smiling, a relaxed smile, but without contempt or malice.
Was it just for fun? He found himself unable to explain the meaning of that smile.
Huan took another small step back: "Okay, let's begin."
Suddenly leaping up, he braced himself with one hand and attacked Heng at incredible speed... Heng dodged!
Heng stood still, his smile now tinged with admiration.
He saw it clearly—a deadly blow was hidden within this seemingly simple movement! Most of the power was concentrated in that outstretched hand, his weapon! If he couldn't dodge in time, that hand would pierce his heart directly; even with his body, he couldn't withstand that attack!
However, this attack also revealed to him that Huan was not accustomed to fighting, and even lacked the will to fight. He feared that his resolve might waver. If his opponent grabbed his hand with this move, that hand would be useless. He was afraid that his fighting spirit wouldn't last long, which was why he recklessly used this half-baked technique, disregarding the fact that his opponent was evenly matched with him, just seeking a quick victory!
Heng subconsciously touched his left arm; it was wet. His palm was stained with a crimson stain... It was scraped, but he still hadn't completely avoided it.
It seems their speeds are indeed quite similar.
He took a breath; it seemed he should properly teach this ring combat how it worked.
Suddenly, the earth shook and the sky and earth changed color—this was his "power of existence"!
Huan was thrown back several steps by the airflow, but he caught his breath and stood still.
What an amazing person!
The ring had no choice but to use its own "power of nothingness" to resist, otherwise it would surely be shattered to pieces. However, this doubled the destructive force, causing the surrounding terrain to change, mountains to sink, rivers to flow backward...
Thankfully, there was no one else around. Huan thought with relief.
But can this guy still attack under such pressure?
Before the thought even crossed his mind, he vaguely saw a dark figure appear near his body...
"It has power!" Huan cried out in alarm.
The dark figure vanished, and countless more dark figures attacked... vanished... reappeared... vanished...
Heng can create weapons anywhere and then attack at extreme speeds... Huan, on the other hand, possesses the power to make everything disappear—this kind of mutually restraining battle is destined to be a boring tug-of-war, but neither of them dares to relax in the slightest.
Too fast, too strong... a slight delay in reaction can result in serious injury or even death!
This kind of battle, where forces are mutually restraining yet evenly matched, will inevitably end with one side collapsing from exhaustion.
However, at this critical moment, a large number of footsteps were heard – it was Loku's army!
From the sounds, it was clear that the core of the battle was drawing ever closer; the mountains on either side of the valley they were traversing were collapsing... one could even hear the screams of the soldiers, the drowning...
Sweat started to bead on his forehead... If he got distracted at this moment...
But... we can't just stand by and do nothing!
"Uh—" Sure enough, as soon as he glanced to the side, a black blood hole appeared on his left calf, and the murder weapon had vanished without a trace.
A sharp pain shot through the wound. Was it poisonous? No, it wasn't; it was just that the force of the puncture was too strong… and that force is still lingering in the wound!
Unable to bear the pain any longer, Huan knelt on one knee.
Heng stopped his attack at this moment, staring at his actions in shock—
It wasn't because he couldn't defend himself, but rather...
Wait a minute, what is this guy going to do!
Huan actually turned around, her back to Heng!
He's giving up just like that? No! He's—
Barrier!
He's creating a protective barrier!
Faced with a powerful enemy, in the middle of a battle... drop all defenses and create a barrier!
He's gone mad!
...
A perfect, large-scale barrier!
Huan turned around with difficulty. Creating a large barrier to stop tens of thousands of troops would require a huge amount of power. Even if he were the king, he probably wouldn't be able to recover for several weeks—a fact that his opponent was well aware of.
When he made this choice, he already knew what fate awaited him.
But... he still couldn't... couldn't just stand by and watch others get dragged into this!
“That way, we won’t hurt anyone else. Thank you for giving me time to finish.” Huan stood up, clearly unsteady on her feet. “Alright, let’s continue.”
"Hmph! Continue?" Heng stood there lazily, not making a move. "Are you underestimating me, or overestimating yourself?"
Having exhausted so much of her energy, and having been severely injured by him before, she was barely able to stand there, yet she still forced herself to persevere.
"Then I beg you to spare my people after this is over." Huan simply closed her eyes.
In his current state, fighting is meaningless, a fact that Huan himself is well aware of.
Unexpectedly—
Heng actually sat down on the ground!
He patted the seat next to him with a playful expression: "Come sit down, I'm tired, let's chat."
...
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