Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
The men roughly pulled Vanessa away. They wanted Vanessa to clearly understand that she was nothing more than a tool.
They tore open Vanessa’s clothes and even intended to trample on her last shred of dignity in front of Mole.
Perhaps it was Vanessa’s protection that finally jolted Mole awake, or perhaps Vanessa’s pained gaze pierced Mole’s heart. At this moment, the still young Mole struggled like a frenzied beast. Basam’s two sons were restraining him, and he twisted his head to bite down on one of the youths’ hands.
With red eyes, he tore off flesh along with the skin.
“Ah! This little bitch bit me!”
“Beat him!”
*Slap*
Mole ultimately couldn’t break free. He wasn’t some Legendary hero who could suddenly awaken great strength.
A heavy, resounding slap made his vision go black, his mind filled with golden light. Blood streamed down his lips from his nose, and a front tooth flew out.
Vanessa witnessed this scene.
She, who had been lying motionlessly like a corpse, suddenly began to struggle wildly.
The surrounding men were also seeing Vanessa so “active” for the first time, and they couldn’t help but flash lewd smiles.
Normally, Vanessa maintained a cold demeanor no matter what, even when being whipped during the ordeal. She would merely blink or twitch her lips, which was undoubtedly a major buzzkill.
They pinned Vanessa down despite her struggles, but failed to notice her eyes turning red and shining, nor did they sense the Fire Elementals gathering towards her.
Many people with strong elemental affinity could unconsciously draw upon magic power when emotionally agitated, even before formally studying magic and becoming mages.
If this were on the South Continent, Vanessa would have been immediately handed over to a magic academy.
There, she would have been identified as having extremely high fire elemental affinity and recognized as a magic prodigy.
The academy would have assigned her to the best classes with the most outstanding mages.
She could have even learned magic alongside princes and princesses.
She could have enjoyed a life of luxury even before graduation.
However, there are no “ifs” in this world.
The ugly duckling endures humiliation before transforming into a swan.
But not every ugly duckling has the chance to become a swan.
One or two sparks appeared in the air, unnoticed by anyone. It wasn’t until these sparks gradually coalesced and ignited the clothes of those around them that these men, driven by lust, awoke as if from a dream. They screamed and retreated from Vanessa, their voices shrill and more ridiculous than a woman’s scream.
“Witch!” someone yelled, pointing at Vanessa.
“Vanessa is a witch!”
“She can control fire, she’s really a witch!”
“Run, the witch has gone mad!”
Vanessa soared into the air, enveloped in flames.
Her consciousness was already blurred; her body was controlled by the will of the elements.
Flames, a representative element of destruction. Mages could wield fire because they possessed mental strength far beyond ordinary people through meditation. But Vanessa didn’t have that, so she was controlled by the flames. Yet, even with her consciousness blurred, she still tried her best to steer the rampaging flames and explosive spells away from Mole, only to reduce Basam’s father and son and some villagers around him to ashes.
All of this happened in an instant.
After a chaotic scene, Vanessa fell from mid-air.
Her nascent magic power couldn’t withstand any waste.
Her magic and mental power were completely depleted. Now, the only difference between her and a dead person was that she could still breathe.
When she worked at the Lord’s castle, to escape the advances of the Lord’s son, she awakened her magic in a moment of desperation and released flames. The fire burned down the Lord’s son’s room, and the fat man was so scared he trembled, pointing at Vanessa and calling her a witch.
After a near-death experience, Vanessa escaped from the Lord.
She knew she wasn’t a witch, but she couldn’t explain the strange power within her.
What knowledge could a girl raised in the countryside possess?
Perhaps the Lord knew Vanessa wasn’t a witch, but he didn’t care. He only wanted to maintain his authority and appease his terrified son.
That night, it wasn’t until the raging flames died down that the villagers dared to approach.
Vanessa lay amidst the ashes, naked, but no one harbored any impure thoughts. They looked at Vanessa with only fear in their hearts.
As for Mole.
The exploding fireball engulfed the villagers next to him, also knocking him unconscious.
…
Mole woke up to the heat.
He was tied to a cross with a pile of dry hay underneath. The village chief stood before him with a cold expression.
Not far away—
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The villagers dragged Vanessa out of the woodshed like a dead dog.
She was covered in blood, riddled with wounds, and on the verge of death, having clearly suffered inhuman torture and abuse.
“Vanessa, you damned witch!
You killed the Basam family, Fielding, Matthew, Obadiah, Bechir… You killed so many people! You devil!”
The village chief didn’t hold back and kicked Vanessa in the stomach.
Vanessa remained silent, merely giving the chief a cold glance and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
This gaze further enraged the chief. He stamped his feet and waved his hands like a madman, roaring:
“Put her on the guillotine and chop off her head! We’ll collect 500 gold coins as a bounty. Then we’ll distribute this money to the families of the deceased as compensation!”
The guillotine was quickly brought forward.
The village chief looked coldly at Mole, who was dizzy from the sun, and said cruelly:
“Watch your sister be beheaded, and then it will be your turn!
The witch’s brother must be a child of the devil. You must have some evil plan lurking in our village. To deal with a devil like you, we must use pure flames to purify!”
Mole seemed not to hear the village chief’s words.
He just watched his sister, watched Vanessa being placed on the guillotine.
Vanessa’s face turned towards him, her sapphire eyes like the sea, her gaze extending towards Mole, full of worry and guilt.
“Behead her!”
*Clack.*
The guillotine fell without suspense.
“No—!” Mole’s eyes split open in fury.
The scene seemed to freeze at this point.
In the shrine of the Church of Light, the Pope of Light, who was guiding the power of Holy Light, roared with all his might.
Why did he have to recall these sealed memories?!
His sister was beheaded, and he was almost burned to death by an immolation. A traveling priest of the Church of Light had saved him.
To alleviate his pain, the priest had helped him seal away these painful memories.
“Keke… These are the humans you tried so hard to protect!”
“The descendants of these people are still living well in this world…”
“How about accepting my power? This way, you can get revenge immediately!”
…
Endless whispers echoed in the Pope’s mind.
Fragmented and disordered images churned in his mind, like a kaleidoscope spinning.
The world was inverted, angels and demons merged into one, smirking at him.
He could no longer distinguish between reality and dreams—
Vanessa’s head was covered in dirt and sand. A smile played on her lips as she looked at him gently.
But her eyes had lost their former luster.
Four Saintesses surrounded him, their eyes closed in concentration, fully guiding the power of belief.
Outside, a legion of ghouls was wreaking havoc.
Above was the magnificent palace of the Church of Light?
No… it was the scorching sun, the flames rising from the pyre.
The doctrine of the Church of Light: exterminate evil, protect the world.
Exterminate what evil?
Protect whom?
The world itself is evil!
Sister…
A blood-red eye emerged on the forehead of the Church of Light.
The pupil reflected the universe, reflecting the figure of Bagh-Shas, who was roaring with laughter.
In the shattered memories—
Mole broke free from the pyre, slaughtered all the villagers, and cried and laughed while holding Vanessa’s head.
In the Church of Light—
The Pope ceased guiding his divine power. With a wave of his staff, the four Saintesses, spitting blood, were sent flying backward.
