Chapter 76: Forgive Me, Sylvia, This Is the Last Time
The crystalline Star Goblet appeared.
It was the crystallization of all the remaining divinity and authority of the sealed demigod’s remnant.
Or, it could be seen as—
A fragment of a divine throne.
Under normal circumstances, this divinity would be scattered and hidden by its owner to prevent it from being all captured at once.
But before this, in order to break the seal, the Twilight demigod had gathered all its divinity onto Norton’s body, hoping to find an opportunity to escape the predicament.
Then, Shaya unceremoniously blew it out.
The moment the Star Goblet manifested.
The vast snow mountains, the glorious and holy Holy See, the grand and solemn imperial palace, the silent and gloomy lost kingdom…
At this moment, every legend in the Western Continent felt something involuntarily, looking up in the direction of the Azure Court Duchy.
And above the Royal Capital of the Azure Court.
In the distant night sky, several distant and ethereal gazes descended from the Astral Realm.
Then, they locked firmly onto the brilliant Star Goblet.
Such complete and completely masterless divinity was rare even in the entire history of the Western Continent.
This was a product that could only appear under many coincidences.
Under normal circumstances, those who possessed divinity would rather destroy themselves than hand over masterless divinity.
The next moment.
Rumbling——
Rumbling——
If it were an ordinary person, they would not be able to detect it at all.
But for beings with strong spiritual intuition, they could hear the roaring sound transmitted from the Astral Realm.
At this moment, countless diviners on the entire Western Continent were filled with apprehension.
In their fear and bewilderment, they wondered what had happened in the depths of the Astral Realm to cause such a commotion.
…
And at this moment, Shaya, the instigator of it all, was leaning against a stone wall, gazing up at the bright and boundless starry sky.
“One, two, three…”
“My goodness, at least five beings who have stepped into the divine realm are crossing the world barrier between the Astral Realm and the Prime Material Plane and are about to descend here.”
“They really think highly of me.”
“It was worth the money I spent on this Historical Echo, I’ve gotten my money’s worth.”
A smile tugged at the corner of Shaya’s lips.
The descent of five demigods.
Moreover, the gazes descending from the Astral Realm were clearly more than just five.
This meant that more beings in the Astral Realm were paying attention to this place.
Once the ownership of this Star Goblet changed, those onlookers could descend their power at any time and intervene.
“With so many divine descents, it seems the Azure Court Duchy is truly going to become history.”
“But fortunately, they only came for the divinity. Once the ownership of the Star Goblet is decided, they shouldn’t linger too much and affect the common people.”
Shaya leaned on the broken stone ruins and managed to stand up.
Around him, the blood-colored full armor had disappeared, and Crimson had withdrawn from the state of Soul Pact resonance, the “Armor State” was released.
Crimson, who had transformed back into a spherical Star Spirit Body, had its surrounding light greatly diminished. The small Silver Spirit flashed and quickly returned to Shaya’s Soul Pact space.
And on Shaya’s skin, the azure magic light flames that had been surrounding his entire body had also disappeared.
The so-called “Blood Burn” was to surpass the instinct of “maintaining life functions” with willpower, and to draw out skills from the depths of the soul that a creature should not use.
And how could such a unique skill that could fight across ranks come without a price?
Burning the body, burning the mind.
Even though the side effect of shortening lifespan was avoided through the improvement of proficiency, when that power that crossed boundaries disappeared—
At this moment, his internal organs and every inch of his muscles were transmitting signals of weakness. Both his magic power and mental power were close to depletion.
However, Shaya still stood up and took a step forward.
Then, in the vast sky, among the countless gazes descending from the Astral Realm—
He grabbed the crystalline, brilliant Star Goblet.
The moment he held the Star Goblet, a strong desire to absorb it surged from the depths of Shaya’s soul.
The divinity on this Star Goblet was not particularly astonishing in terms of quantity. Even if Shaya absorbed it, his rank and strength would not increase much in a short period.
However, this was an opportunity to ascend to heaven in one step.
As long as he absorbed the divinity, his life essence would undergo a leap, just like Norton, who was used as the Twilight Incarnation’s shell just now.
Transforming the human race into a mythical life, becoming so-called “angels” and “demigods.”
Not only would his lifespan become incomparably long, but he would even have the opportunity to truly step into the divine realm and become a true god in the future.
Or, to put it more simply.
From “him.”
To “Them.”
This was an opportunity yearned for by countless powerhouses on the Western Continent, but at this moment, Shaya suppressed the hunger that spread from the depths of his soul.
A trace of gentleness flashed in his dark eyes.
“I can’t help it.”
“I used you before, and I owe you…”
The next moment.
The youth’s figure disappeared from the ruins of the Grand Duke’s Mansion.
Using all his remaining magic power, Shaya activated his last “Blink.”
…
Sylvia felt as if she was in a boundless, vast blizzard.
Deep darkness spread out, without a trace of light, unable to see the way forward, nor the direction.
The thinly clothed maiden walked in the snow until all her strength was gone, then stumbled and knelt in the snow.
Myriad snowflakes eroded Sylvia’s body, turning into a bone-chilling cold.
Bit by bit, it stripped away her body temperature.
Sylvia felt her body getting colder and colder. The blizzard took away not only her body temperature but also her life flame, which flickered like a candle in the wind.
That flame of life gradually dimmed in the blizzard.
The perception of her body dissipated, first her numb hands and feet, then her torso.
Until finally, even her consciousness and memories were being drawn away.
The few precious scenes in Sylvia’s memory, like a dream and an illusion, were gradually swallowed by the bone-chilling darkness of the blizzard.
The conversation in the garden, holding milk tea, and the determination to become a Beast Tamer.
On the beach, the agreement to visit the world on the other side of the sea together.
And in the Grant Sea on a winter night, that warm embrace.
“Brother Shaya… Brother Shaya… Brother Shaya…”
The girl’s mournful cry came through the roaring blizzard. Although all her memories had become blurry, even the face of the black-haired youth had faded.
But Sylvia still chanted this name, a name she was unwilling to forget even at the end of her life.
However, it was at this moment.
Sylvia felt a faint warm current slowly ripple from her soul.
The void that eroded her life was filled.
The blizzard quietly dissipated, along with the darkness that devoured the light.
In its place was the boundless, brilliant starlight.
…
Sylvia opened her eyes in bewilderment on a soft bed, in an unfamiliar civilian house nearby.
She felt that her physical condition was better than ever.
Although the seal on the Bronze Cross had been broken.
But at this moment, a new Star Goblet, far more potent but gentler than the Bronze Cross, was filled into her Spiritual World.
And the foul and turbid power in the depths of her soul was no longer dark and cold, but had become incredibly intimate, as if it could be summoned at Sylvia’s will.
However, then.
Sylvia’s gaze froze.
By the firelight burning in the city outside the window.
Sylvia saw the black-haired youth leaning gently against some ruins not far away.
In Sylvia’s impression.
No matter when or where, Shaya always maintained a demeanor of having everything under control, a nonchalance that no one could see through.
Even when facing Norton, it was no exception.
But now, by the flickering firelight, Sylvia clearly saw the bloodless pallor on Shaya’s face.
No longer caring about her own physical condition, Sylvia’s mind went blank, and she rushed towards Shaya.
When she arrived by the ruins.
Sylvia’s previously blank mind was instantly enveloped in grief.
The last wisp of starlight was slowly dissipating between Shaya’s fingers.
And in stark contrast to Sylvia, whose life force was full and whose Spiritual World was illuminated by myriad rays of starlight.
Shaya’s thin figure, clad in a trench coat with skin as pale as a ghost, appeared ephemeral and illusory in Sylvia’s eyes.
Like a night-blooming cereus reflected in water.
Although there was light and shadow, it was illusory and ethereal, and would shatter with just a ripple.
“Brother Shaya…”
Sylvia uttered a cry of grief that she could barely recognize.
In her mental perception, strengthened by the Star Goblet, the black-haired youth’s presence was irreversibly fading, fast approaching nothingness.
Perhaps in the next minute, perhaps in the next second.
He would be forever erased from this world.
She was going to lose Brother Shaya.
The moment this premonition struck, Sylvia’s body and mind were consumed by immense fear.
“I’m sorry, Sylvia.”
“The promise of taking you to see the vast mountains and rivers on the other side of the Grant Sea is probably unfulfillable.”
Shaya’s voice was calm.
He sensed that this Historical Echo called “Ancient Azure Court” had begun to collapse after the Twilight Incarnation was killed and would soon cease to exist.
The majestic power from the river of time was constantly washing over him, attempting to erase Shaya, an intruder who did not belong to the current timeline.
His remaining time was running out.
And for the people living five hundred years ago in this Historical Echo.
This parting was equivalent to a farewell between life and death.
So, in this final period, Shaya dropped all pretense.
He looked at the tearful maiden before him, his eyes filled with a tenderness Sylvia had never seen before.
“My story ends here, and the Azure Court Duchy will likely face ruin.”
“But, your life is just beginning.”
“The deficiency in your soul has been mended. From now on, Sylvia, you can also call yourself a Beast Tamer.”
“Do you remember what we said? You would become a very strong Beast Tamer, much stronger than me.”
“Then, you can meet all sorts of people and embrace many beautiful things that are about to happen…”
“You will have a more brilliant and beautiful life.”
“You don’t need my company, you can go to Three Sages Snow Mountain and the Golden Plains across the Grant Sea by yourself…”
Large tears rolled down the maiden’s plain white cheeks, soaking into Shaya’s clothes.
“Brother Shaya… You’ll be alright… You’ll be alright.”
“I feel something inside me, that starlight-like thing must be useful to you too, it can save your life…”
Sylvia ignored Shaya’s words.
She fumbled around her chest, trying to take out the treasure that had filled her soul’s void and saved her from the brink of death, and use it on Shaya.
However, Sylvia’s fumbling was ultimately in vain.
Even the Twilight Ancient God had not fully developed his divinity, let alone Sylvia, who was inexperienced at the moment.
There was no joy in her heart for her soul’s deficiency being mended.
The immense fear grew, almost engulfing Sylvia’s entire body and mind.
What a stronger Beast Tamer, what all sorts of people…
What a brand new life, belonging only to her.
At this moment, Sylvia had no room in her heart to consider these things.
If Brother Shaya died…
What meaning would the magnificent beauty of the mountains and rivers on the other side of the sea hold for her?
If she could choose, she would rather none of this had ever happened.
Even if both of them lost their powers, lost their identities and statuses as daughters of the Grand Duke, and became ordinary civilians.
Casually build a civilian house in a remote, uninhabited wilderness, and raise a few children…
And then, when they were both too old to walk, she could still be by Brother Shaya’s side, sitting in a rocking chair, watching the sunset as they grew old together…
Sylvia would be content with such a simple future.
Looking at the teary-eyed maiden before him, Shaya sighed lightly.
Then he reached out, caressed the maiden’s face, and spoke in a weak voice.
“Sylvia.”
“When do you think a person dies?”
Touched by Shaya’s icy hand, Sylvia raised her tear-filled eyes in a daze.
“When their heart is pierced by a bullet?”
“When they die of an incurable disease in bed?”
“When the coffin is buried and the funeral attendees disperse?”
“Actually, neither.”
“A person truly dies—”
“When they are forgotten by the last person in the world who remembers them.”
In the blur of tears, Sylvia met his dark eyes.
They were still as clear and bright as when they first met on that winter night.
“So lift your head, Sylvia.”
“Be proud, Sylvia.”
“The history of this Royal Capital, this Duchy, will one day be recounted by you.”
“Then, tell this world, tell everyone.”
“The Azure Court Duchy was not just a small country buried in history, it also fought on the front lines against the Abyss.”
“And you had a brother—”
“He killed a resurgent Ancient God.”
Shaya reached out and wiped away Sylvia’s tears.
Beside her, a metal disk silently appeared.
“The authority and divinity that once belonged to Twilight within you… will be your future aid, but it will also make you a target coveted by all sorts of cults, and even true gods.”
“In about half an hour, divine descent will erupt here, and you will become their prey.”
“I have placed the other end of this teleportation array at the border of the Azure Court Duchy. Your physique is very special, and you are naturally compatible with divinity. Those old fellows in the Astral Realm will not be able to track you anymore—”
“But, until you have enough self-preservation power, you must be cautious. It’s best to change your name to avoid exposing yourself and attracting others’ covetousness…”
“Go quickly, don’t let my and your father’s sacrifice be in vain.”
Shaya’s instructions echoed in the maiden’s ears.
Reason told Sylvia that she had to act.
Otherwise, she would be betraying Brother Shaya’s sacrifice and expectations.
But her feminine sensibility and weakness kept her lingering by Shaya’s side, unwilling to leave.
Looking at the maiden before him, who was trying to be strong and forcing herself to turn around, but whose side profile revealed an expression uglier than crying.
Shaya’s eyes showed a hint of helplessness.
“I really don’t know what to do with you, Sylvia.”
“You are so kind, and so naive…”
“Without me accompanying you, I’m really worried you’ll be bullied, have your money stolen, your familiars snatched away, and your feelings deceived…”
“You are still too young…”
“I can’t rest assured.”
Shaya’s words made Sylvia look back with some bewilderment, but also a hint of surprise.
Brother Shaya said this—
Did he find a way to cure her?
But the next moment.
The strong wind stirred by the raging fire blew Shaya’s hair away from Sylvia’s forehead.
What came into Sylvia’s eyes was the relieved smile on Shaya’s bloodless face.
And the finger lightly tapping on the maiden’s smooth forehead.
In Shaya’s dark eyes, like magatama, a dim silver moon appeared.
Then, the silver moon slowly rotated, gradually manifesting into reality.
The final “Tsukuyomi” was activated.
“Then—”
“Forgive me, Sylvia.”
“This is the last time.”
