Chapter 688 Finding One's True Self Amidst Chaos
Nophiel was inside the Temple of Light when he sensed Bai Xi's presence. He almost wanted to rush out immediately, but he needed to reinforce the protective net against high-level monsters, so he could only suppress his restless heart for the time being. Only after he finished everything did he fly out from above the Temple of Light, where he happened to see Bai Xi with empty and vacant eyes.
His intuition told him that something was wrong with Bai Xi, but the longing he felt for her after not seeing her for so long made him rush over and hug her.
Welcome back.
He only wanted to say these four words, which expressed all his feelings.
However, none of the imagined joy and elation of a long-awaited reunion came true; all that could be heard was Bai Xi's bewildered voice.
Was I wrong?
She didn't understand; she was doubting herself.
I personally killed the incarnation of the Seven Gods, Ulysses fell into a deep slumber because of me, and now the entire continent is being invaded by Tartarus because of me. So... if I hadn't appeared, would everything be better now?
It was my fault... I shouldn't have been born.
Such thoughts flooded her mind, causing her to waver for the first time. Before, she only strived to survive, but now she was being swept along and held hostage by other lives, and now she had messed everything up.
Nofel's heart tightened, and she quickly released her embrace to look at Bai Xi's face. She didn't actually have much of an expression. If Nofel hadn't heard Bai Xi's thoughts, she certainly wouldn't have known how devastated she was.
He was also extremely grateful that he could hear Bai Xi's thoughts.
"What's happening now has nothing to do with you. Don't overthink it. Come back to the temple with me."
Nofel patted Baixi's head, his tone firm yet gentle. Seeing the group of elemental spirits there, he had already guessed what had just happened. Perhaps Baixi had heard the wrong version and attributed all the disasters to herself.
As for the rest of her thoughts, Nofel didn't care.
Killing him or something, Bai Xi must have wanted to do that for a long time.
"...Really...really?"
Bai Xi looked up blankly; she was more fragile than she had imagined.
Perhaps it was because she had let her guard down while spending the last few centuries with Ulysses that many of her crazy traits had been extinguished, as if they had all disappeared.
She... is not as strong as she used to be.
Isn't it my fault? Give me a reason; I don't want other lives to die because of me.
Hope shone in her eyes.
Although she wasn't exactly a good person, deep down, Bai Xi preferred to separate herself from others. Whether it was responsibility, consequences, or achievements, she always chose to bear and accept them alone, without the participation of others. As a result, after returning and discovering that she was carrying the burden of other deceased lives, her values were severely impacted, and her mental state deteriorated.
“I’m sure. Come back with me and let me tell you what has happened all these years.”
The God of Light's expression was extremely serious, which seemed to calm Bai Xi's heart.
"Um."
Bai Xi nodded softly in agreement.
The elemental spirits wisely refrained from following, while Roy was pulled aside by the little ghost, giving time back to Nofel and Baixi.
...
Nofel's gentle and pleasant explanation echoed in the room. Bai Xi's condition had also improved considerably, and her mental state was gradually returning to normal. The shock she had just experienced was too great, and she had almost fallen into a vortex of confusion from which she could not escape.
"I see..."
She lowered her eyes in deep thought. Her world consciousness had suddenly disappeared because she was being held back by them.
By severing its control over the continent at its root, the Seven Gods followed the 'threads of rules' to find the source, directly targeting the world consciousness from there, leaving it unable to spare any attention and forcing it to return here to resist the Seven Gods' resistance.
In a sense, the Seven Gods saved themselves.
"Although it was only for a moment, we saw that its true form was actually a disgusting tumor. Although we still don't know what it is, it is definitely not the world consciousness."
Norfield continued.
"It's like a parasite, absorbing the continent's energy while generating threads to control it. Its location is like a giant spider's nest because we directly 'burned' almost all of its threads. However, it's cunning. After realizing it had been exposed, it immediately escaped. Without the guidance of its threads, we can't find it."
"Having lost the means to control the continent, it began to exploit the Coral continent even more fiercely, which gave the Abyss an opportunity to take advantage."
"Actually, it's not that Tartarus has become stronger, but rather that the continent's fundamental power has weakened."
As he spoke, his expression became noticeably more serious, indicating that this matter was also troubling him. As one of the seven gods, he was obligated to protect this continent, but now he was beset by internal and external troubles. A menacing abyss and a parasite were lurking and exploiting him, trying to usurp his territory. All the gods were extremely worried and couldn't come up with a solution.
Now that Bai Xi has returned, his heart is finally at peace.
So it's not just Baixi who needs them, they need Baixi too.
"No wonder it hasn't appeared much since then..."
Bai Xi touched her chin. So, although it had spoken to her a few times before, it wasn't as purposeful anymore. It turned out that it was too weak from the injury and wasn't sure if it could still use the contract to command her, which was why it was so obedient.
"This is the truth of the matter. You did nothing wrong, and you shouldn't take the blame on yourself."
When Nofeel saw that Bai Xi had returned to her original appearance, she breathed a sigh of relief and her tone softened.
"Okay, I understand."
Bai Xi isn't the type to dwell on things forever. Now that she knows the truth, her priority is to deal with Tartarus and... completely eliminate that parasitic tumor that's causing her trouble!
Anyway, she was already destined to die.
The barefoot have nothing to fear from those wearing shoes. If she didn't drag that guy down with her before she died, how could she be worthy of all the suffering she had endured along the way?
A fierce killing intent flashed in Bai Xi's eyes.
Since she is going to die and disappear completely, how can she leave behind a huge hidden danger for this continent?
At least...
She has lived in this world for so long.
“Now that you’re back, we can discuss countermeasures together. Although Tartarus’ invasion looks serious, it’s actually still within a controllable range. If we work together, we can definitely force it back beyond the border.”
Now, all Nofel wants is for everything to end so he can return to his peaceful life.
He wanted to remain Her Highness's Knight Commander forever.
The two sat in the same room, but their thoughts were completely opposite.
One longs for eternity, the other longs for death.
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