Chapter 189
Ark carried Lady on his back and silently walked towards that direction.
They had lost their way; the world was in complete chaos after the battle. Lost in the confusion, they felt their actions were meaningful only when they moved towards areas of great commotion.
To reduce Ark's physical exertion, Lady had given up on the parts that couldn't be repaired, leaving only his head and torso on her back.
Something happened that resulted in Lady's limbs being completely broken. Since she couldn't take those parts with her, Ark helped dismantle them, taking only what he could carry with him.
Once things calmed down, the rain and fog returned. On the plains, the rain poured down, and a light fog slowly filled the air.
He also lost an arm and injured his leg, so he walked with a limp.
But it kept walking, not stopping even when the pain became unbearable. Instead, it stubbornly continued forward in one direction.
Perhaps he wanted to find a prettier place to die, Ark thought, his heart heavy.
He lost everything again.
Just like when he first met Benny, he suffered a major blow, and years of accumulation vanished in a very short time.
Whether it was friends or anything else, it's all like fleeting clouds. I've lost both money and people.
He felt as if he had just been refreshed in some corner of this world, and had no idea where to go.
But in the end, he hadn't truly lost everything.
“You can abandon me. I don’t know if I can fix myself. Even if I can, I might not be able to help anymore,” Lady whispered, close to Ark’s ear, not needing to speak loudly.
Yak did not answer, but simply went his own way and made no comment.
It seems like they didn't hear it, or perhaps they did hear it but didn't know how to respond.
Anyone can see that if they can just abandon her now, they can leave much faster. This guy is seriously injured. Even Ark doesn't know if he can still be as useful as before.
She couldn't be considered useful before; there was simply someone with the combat strength of a high-ranking priest, already considered a top-tier individual on a global scale. Unfortunately, they never had ordinary enemies here. Therefore, instead of leaving any contribution, she ended up like this.
"Can you hear me?" Lady asked again, her voice even softer.
For her, this was truly losing everything; she had no limbs left, and the only thing she could boast about was the demonic seal. And even that seal was something she had stolen from who-knows-where. With only that, she could only pitifully survive.
No one wants their existence to be merely about surviving.
“I heard you,” Ark replied, his voice barely a whisper, almost pleading. “Please, I have nothing left. Please don’t make me lose everything. I don’t know if I can bear the loss of my last cookie.”
"Do you see me as your possession?" Lady paused, her voice unreadable, neither angry nor pleased.
Yak walked on, then nodded.
Looking back now, that guy was indeed a bit greedy.
He might view his friends as part of his possessions, thus treating them as commodities of equal value. His protection of his companions likely stems from his desire to prevent monsters from harming the goods he's transporting.
I suspect it's the same logic; this guy is even more greedy than I thought.
But that's not so bad either. Being someone's possession means you'll never be abandoned. As long as you have your own use and value, someone will value you, just like they value the gold coins in their pocket.
“Greedy fellow,” Lady said, resting her head on Ark’s shoulder.
Both crippled creatures were soaked to the bone by the heavy rain, and perhaps Benny should come and help them now, but they were just as difficult to handle.
Because this child once again made them feel the helplessness of being caught off guard no matter how much preparation they made.
It was white.
White sky, white hair, white skin.
There was also white earth and white rocks.
Those are all ashes.
Even the rainwater was the same, but instead of turning to ash, it turned into scorching water vapor that permeated the surroundings.
Logically, when there is moisture, these ashes should stick together, but in reality, these ashes remain dry.
It's not that there was no contact with water, but rather that upon contact, the body was instantly dried out. Dryed out in an instant. So dryness and humidity coexist in this strange space. This strange weather and climate make one wonder if, amidst such a spectacle, one should sit down and have some tea, setting aside hatred and dreams for now, and cherishing every second of life. Raise a glass to yourself for having survived this long, and sing praises to everything that can be sung.
Even if you've prepared for the worst, when you actually see it, nobody wants to say anything.
That's the power of the demon god—White.
It doesn't sound like a fire-type skill at all; it sounds like an ice-type skill, the kind that makes it snow.
However, this thing is indeed fire-based, and it is the most domineering and unreasonable ability among fire-based abilities.
Anything within the area will be reduced to ashes; anything that enters the area will be reduced to ashes by an incalculable temperature.
Because everything in the realm is white, it got the name "White".
This is a legendary ability. If the enemy had possessed this ability during the last great war, the Church might not have won so easily. Everything happens in an instant, perfectly fair and just. Whoever or whatever it is, unless it is herself, will be instantly reduced to white ashes within the domain.
The flames were invisible, yet the temperature within was immeasurably high; anything that came into contact with them would turn to ash the instant they touched them, including the arm of the benevolent one.
Lori sat amidst the ashes, hugging herself, head bowed, saying nothing.
Ashes were swept up by the wind, shrouding the child's tender body. On the plains, a white garden opened up in hell.
She finally unleashed the power she had been suppressing. She possessed no magic, nor had she trained her body. Therefore, she had no idea how vast this realm was, nor how many people were outside. She only felt that everything before her was quiet and serene, nothing but white.
She couldn't control it at all; she was just releasing it, not even using it at full power.
However, she probably wouldn't pose a threat to those church members. After all, even if she were a demon god, there were four sufficiently influential figures present, so she was destined not to cause any major trouble.
She waited a very, very long time, waiting for them to kill her.
But nothing came of it.
When he looked up, he was met only with the adjudicator's helpless smile.
“I shouldn’t have agreed to that child’s request,” he said softly, recalling how Christensen looked before he died.
He was so willful; the man begged him to let the child live on his deathbed. The judge felt he was a wicked man to the core.
Having confirmed her abilities, he intended to keep his promise.
The final vote went to let the child live, making it three to two, and the church would ultimately release the child. The child would have a period of peace and joy before the church changed its mind.
The adjudicator stood outside the domain, watching the benevolence on the other side.
Her arm was repaired when it turned to ashes.
There was no need for her to even mention the injury, but her expression was terrible, somewhat ferocious and terrifying.
Her physical strength had always been a source of anxiety for her, and being injured so easily was a real embarrassment for her.
This ability is indeed troublesome; even a saint would find it difficult to deal with if there were only one.
Because among those present, only two were capable of killing Lori: one was an immortal, whose concept of indestructibility would override the rule of being reduced to ashes, provided he did not waver in his beliefs.
The other is the Arbiter himself, because even if it is Ash, the child will be killed instantly if he gives the order.
Benny and Renai can only stand on the periphery now; their abilities may not be able to cover up the child's unreasonable judgment. If they are covered up, they might die in an instant.
In short, this matter would end here. The judge hesitated, wondering whether to ask the child if she was interested in living at the Central Church. If she lived in front of him, he wouldn't have to worry about this person becoming an unassailable target somewhere in the world.
"The Church's mission has changed." The Guardian's voice rang in his mind. The Arbiter had already made his statement, and now the Central Church had decided that he would be the one to announce the instructions.
The verdict awaited an order to cease hostilities, but only a cold, impersonal statement was delivered.
"Change to the subjugation of the Demon God species—Lori. Capture alive or kill."
The adjudicator froze, feeling as if all the bones in his body were stuck.
A tremendous light enveloped the surroundings, and the previously vanished arena reappeared, this time covering the four saints and one demon god.
This is the real arena for fierce battles.
“Yashiro!” He turned and shouted at Benny, who was standing there at some point.
Her hair hung down, covering her eyes, and although a golden halo and wings rose behind her, only shadows shrouded her face.
Benny changed her stance, standing against Lori. The decision that had been made was reversed, and the child was once again deprived of the right to live peacefully.
"Why?" The immortal was also a little surprised, but not as angry as the judge; he just looked at her with some confusion.
It didn't matter to him; the child couldn't hurt him no matter what, so even after seeing the child's abilities, he had no intention of changing anything.
“Do you know what’s that thing above our heads?” Benny said softly, looking at the puzzled judge.
Her pupils were bloodshot, and tears of blood flowed from her beautiful eyes. The arena was consuming an immeasurable amount of her holy magic power, and she had to expend her life force every second to maintain it. She was only able to keep going by her abilities.
The adjudicator paused for a moment, then took a deep breath to calm himself down.
Bai has this ability, but initially it will only be like what's in front of you.
However, there is a complete version that can activate the sun disc overhead. Once that thing receives a response, it transforms into a white sun disc, and anything exposed to its light is reduced to ashes.
Back then, the whole world was white, like paradise. There was no difference between places because it was all that fairytale-like white-gray.
Benny wasn't worried that the light would lead to the demise of human civilization; all she cared about was Ark, who would also be among those turned to dust. The girl's existence had threatened Ark's life from the very beginning.
If she had never used her abilities, Benny could have remained kind to the children. But now that she has, there is no way she can trust her.
Once it happens once, it will happen again, and once it happens again, it will surely become the fuse for the end of the world someday.
Even a low-probability event becomes inevitable when placed within the context of an eternity of time.
Therefore, she could not let the child live. Although it was indeed pitiful, she had long ago decided what she was living for and for whom.
From afar, Lori watched as Benny pointed the sword in her hand at her.
She suddenly laughed, a very happy laugh.
Can someone who once protected you become your enemy because of your true nature? Indeed, she shouldn't have lived in the first place.
She gripped her own neck with both hands, using all her strength on this trivial matter.
She is not a monster; she will die if her neck is snapped.
So why not do it all yourself? Dying by your own hand would be a way of not fulfilling their wishes.
A scream suddenly rang out, and her arms suddenly snapped open to the sides.
Two spears pierced her arms, twisting her tendons and then being poured into the ashes.
A figure flashed behind her, and a fist landed on her back, shattering all the bones in her body with that single punch.
Chains, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, wrapped around the child from all directions, embedding themselves directly into his skin.
From the moment she prepared to commit suicide, she had already stopped using her abilities. Just for a moment, just for a moment, and she would be unable to resist anymore.
Want to die? That's a good idea. If she dies, the Demon God Seal will be impossible to retrieve.
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