Li Yue’s consciousness slowly sank. After a moment of daze, her figure reappeared above that black river. She looked at her hands, which were stained with streaks of bright red. After waiting a short while, her vision blurred for a moment, and everything returned to how it was before.
Where should she go next? She didn’t know. Should she flee back to the academy? Leaving such a massive mess on the sea behind made her feel as if she couldn't swallow her pride. It was an atmosphere that felt like she had been desecrated. It was unbearable. Perhaps it was the arrogance of a god... or perhaps it was just her own personal distress.
In any case, no matter how foul her mood was, she still had to come to that misty space to attend the meeting. Almost everyone present could sense her negative emotions.
Previously, she could still kill Fen'ao while under the pressure of two Great Mages. Given her current state, she would likely have to avoid him at all costs. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated and aggrieved. She had truly had enough.
That body seemed to possess extremely powerful self-healing and adaptation capabilities. For the time being, she couldn't think of anything other than herself that could completely kill him. Perhaps such a thing existed in this world, but it wasn't something she could produce right now. This was the most frustrating part.
Her face was hidden behind the mist, but the mist no longer seemed able to fully cover her features. In fact, the Great Mages present could already clearly see Li Yue’s stunning countenance.
It wasn't that Li Yue’s strength had become too overwhelming, but rather that the influence of the God's remains on her body had surpassed what Mr. P’s artifact—which allowed everyone to gather in this conscious space—could handle.
Her blood-red vertical pupils, sharp fangs, the blood crystal on her chest, and that powerful aura of death could now be felt by everyone. Her spirit was already exhausted, and her physical body had fallen into a deep sleep. Right now, the Death Abyss was dragging her along, fleeing across the sea at high speed.
In this state, Li Yue was naturally unable to suppress her deathly aura. Combined with her foul mood, she simply let her presence flare out completely. Regardless, almost everyone present was a Great Mage, except for Ms. Q in front of her, who seemed to have obtained this seat due to a special relationship within the Royal Court.
As for the others—the man dressed as a sailor, the scholar and the swordsman sitting in the corner (two figures she hadn't seen in previous meetings), and a character who looked like a merchant—they were all observing Li Yue. They seemed very interested in her, while also harboring a degree of awe.
“Miss... you seem... a bit different again.” Mr. P smiled, softening the strange atmosphere of the scene. He looked refined and elegant, but his smiling expression behind the mist was already seen through by Li Yue. Her eyes were currently like red lanterns in the dark, giving off a strong sense of dread, as if one were being stared down by a predator.
“I... absorbed another piece of the God's remains. I have four pieces on me now.” Li Yue spoke nonchalantly, as if she were mentioning a minor, though unexpected, detail—like A Yu eating four bowls of rice in a rage after watching Navi lose to vent her anger.
“The heart... the spirit... the eyes... and another piece, though I don’t know which part it is.” Li Yue didn't bother hiding it anymore and just reported it. She was a special case; she didn't know why these God's remains were so eager to follow someone like her, who was determined to just live a quiet life in the future.
...
“So you... what is your current situation, or rather, your mental state?” Ms. Q was the first to ask a question after several seconds of silence from the group. “How do you feel?”
“I am still me... or perhaps I haven't been for a long time. It doesn't matter.” Li Yue sighed and slumped onto the table. “It seems my feelings of frustration are still intact.”
The figures in the corner exchanged glances. From each other's eyes, they saw shock and disbelief.
“Does the Royal Court have any God's remains of ‘Death’?” Li Yue looked toward Mr. P.
“There are, but they are in a sealed state. No one in the Royal Court has successfully absorbed a piece of ‘Death’s’ remains yet. The previous few who tried were lucky to only be heavily injured; as for the unlucky ones, I won't describe it just to avoid disgusting everyone.” Mr. P smiled. “It is for this reason that their faith began to waver. It’s unavoidable.”
“Is there anywhere else... I might need help. I’m being hunted by a Perfect Lifeform...” Li Yue gave a brief overview of her previous encounter. The people present all seemed to have their own reasons for being unable to appear on the scene to provide direct assistance.
“This casket contains magic I have stored. If you encounter a desperate situation, you can use it to escape.” The figure dressed as a scholar handed a casket to Li Yue and gave a friendly smile. “You may call me the ‘Scholar.’”
“I will lend you my artifact, though it can only be used once.” A girl dressed very artistically also spoke up slowly. “I named it the ‘Camera.’ You can call me the ‘Photographer.’”
“I can only give you my blessing. My apologies, for I am but a ‘Knight’ who cannot act of his own will.” The man sitting in the lowest seat spoke slowly, his voice sounding slightly aged and heavy.
“Thank you, everyone.” Li Yue accepted their help one by one. For the first time, she felt that this organization was actually somewhat useful—at least the members were willing to help each other.
She breathed a sigh of relief, only then noticing that the man dressed as a crew member had been watching her.
“The Royal Court’s goal this time is likely the same as mine...” He looked at the people present. “I have searched many temples on the sea. The one I have locked onto, and the one I am currently heading toward, is likely what I have truly been seeking...”
“The Body of Death...”
“You mean that’s the Royal Court’s goal?” Li Yue was privately startled.
“The Fen'ao you mentioned earlier likely received help from the Royal Court to perfect his magic. Their operation this time was actually a transaction.” The Captain cleared his throat. “The Royal Court promised to help Fen'ao perfect his magic and create enough chaos; they even provided the stone tablet at the final moment...”
“What they get in return is first-hand information regarding the appearance of the Body of Death on the sea, as well as all the ‘Death’ and other God's remains originally within the tomb.”
“Now more than half of them have been absorbed by me...” Li Yue trailed off, somewhat surprised.
“The Royal Court likely also knew about the powerful restrictions on the outskirts of that temple. Therefore, at a time like this, a Calamity-class mage must be deployed. Since all the existing Calamity-class mages are busy dealing with the Five Staves and those people from the Academy, they had to create one.”
“Their plan was quite successful... Was I being used?”
“According to what you said, that Fen'ao could likely have killed those Great Mages after the chaotic battle anyway. His strength is not inferior to Edward’s. Besides, that was a battle involving many people.” The Captain explained in detail. His current progress seemed to be ahead of the Royal Court; his ship should arrive at the temple faster than them.
“Now, the true struggle for the God's remains is about to begin... I imagine that since you are the vassal of Death, nothing should stop you from entering your own temple.” The Captain glanced at Li Yue and handed his beacon to her.
After tidying everything up, Li Yue also left this space between consciousness and reality, though the meeting did not seem to end immediately.
“Friends... I think He is truly coming back... I have a premonition!” Mr. P stood up and waved the scepter in his hand. “To tomorrow! and to our... Miss K, the Great ‘Death’!”
“The vassal of Death?”
“...”
Meeting ended
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