Bang!

As Seraphina’s five fingers completely closed, the colossal creature was directly crushed into pieces by the projection of the Hydral’s true form. The countless ice crystals falling from the sky onto the earth were like red meteors. Seraphina stood under the rain of red ice crystals, panting and leaning into Ansel’s arms.

But for a brief moment, she straightened up, took a step forward, and surveyed the boundless expanse, as if there were no one else besides the two of them in the snowy wilderness.

She took a deep breath, released her voice, and let her slightly hoarse yet resonant sound echo through every corner of the snowfield.

“Listen well, spectators, I don’t know where you’re hiding or what you’re thinking, but I want you to know one thing. All those who attempt to oppose Hydral, who attempt to oppose Ansel, remember this—”

Ansel’s expression shifted slightly, followed by a somewhat helpless smile.

As the earth-shattering noise erupted behind her, Seraphina knew that the projection of Hydral’s true form had descended once more.

Thus, even though the courageous and powerful girl was utterly exhausted, her voice that spread across the snowfield was incredibly resounding and forceful, even carrying her unique wildness, arrogantly and fiercely declaring:

“There is only one outcome for you all.”

“That is to be defeated by me, Seraphina Marlowe!”

“Defeated by the strongest pact head of Hydral!”

After uttering these words, Seraphina felt invigorated, even though she was extremely tired and longed to fall asleep, she still wanted to fight a few more rounds with that giant creature.

Oh right, I need to quickly dispel the projection; using this thing was truly exhausting.

But, huh? Why haven’t I consumed any ether from just now until now?

The girl’s expression froze, and she subconsciously turned her head.

She saw the pitch-black entity.

Massive, ferocious, terrifying, clearly a demonic creature… yet Seraphina felt no fear whatsoever.

Her hand gently stroked Hydral’s scales, which were smooth and icy to the touch, and felt incredibly comfortable.

Then, for some reason, the demonic creature standing at the edge of the abyss lowered its body slightly, and Seraphina, with a cry of surprise, gradually floated up and landed on the central head of Hydral.

“Ansel!” Seraphina, lying on top of Hydral’s head, said nervously, “What are you doing? You scared me to death! How did you turn into your true form… Is this okay?”

“Seraphina,” Ansel’s voice sounded in Seraphina’s ear, “Are you afraid?”

“… What’s there to be afraid of?” Seraphina pouted, “I’m not afraid of heights.”

“I mean, fate.”

“Huh?”

“Love and courage cannot defeat it.”

“Well…” Seraphina mumbled, “There must be a way.”

In truth, she had already sensed her own transformation; even though she had devoured the more greedy version of herself in her heart at that time, Seraphina couldn’t be entirely sure… if she would become like that.

But at this moment, Ansel laughed, “Although there is no way to defeat it, Seraphina, you have defeated it once.”

Seraphina didn’t understand what Ansel was saying and asked in confusion, “What do you mean, ‘can’t defeat it’… but ‘defeated it’?”

“Because you saved me.” freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Under the illusion of absolute rationality, Ansel distrusted everyone, including himself.

He once believed that this was the best way to defy fate, as it had indeed been effective. Perhaps… It was really the best method, but it wasn’t as powerful as Ansel had thought.

The reason he considered it omnipotent was due to one thing:

Fear.

He was afraid of making mistakes again, afraid that his choices and decisions would deviate. So, he numbed himself with “self-examination,” believing that a sufficiently rational perspective would prevent errors.

The more he grew accustomed to this, the more Ansel walked a path of self-repression, repeatedly cutting off emotions, and ultimately descending into madness.

It was Seraphina who awakened the oblivious Ansel, telling him not to be afraid.

“Seraphina, I’m not afraid anymore,” Ansel’s gentle voice echoed in her ear.

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Seraphina smiled with immense joy, stroking the snake scales on Ansel’s head, “I’m happy for you.”

Ansel continued, “So, I want to tell you too.”

“Don’t be afraid.”

Seraphina was stunned.

The world-destroying monster gently cradled the tiny girl in its skull, its voice soft and tender, “You don’t need to emphasize to me or anyone else that you are my pact head, that you belong to Ansel.”

“You don’t need to stress to your heart that you won’t betray me.”

How could Ansel, who had emerged from fear, not detect the unease hidden in Seraphina’s heart?

When Ansel chose to let go and allowed Seraphina to awaken her spirit, the once arrogant girl kept emphasizing her identity, even until now.

She was afraid too.

When Ansel truly accepted his heart and reconciled with himself, Seraphina began to fear that the future of betraying Ansel would indeed come.

Seraphina took out her love and courage, freeing herself from the cage she had built.

Ansel had given Seraphina love; now, he thought it was time to give her courage.

He lifted Seraphina higher and higher.

“Seraphina, look, we have a long, long way to go.”

“You said that if I’m by your side, you won’t be afraid, right?”

Sitting atop Ansel’s head, Seraphina stared blankly at the distant scenery.

She saw vast snowfields, dense forests, simple villages, and magnificent cities.

They had come so far, and she truly wanted to go even further with Ansel.

So, Seraphina softly nodded.

“Really? That’s great.”

The once-ravaging monster smiled tenderly, “Then, you don’t have to be anyone’s possession, nor worry about which self you’ll become.”

“Because I’ll always be by your side, and in my eyes, you’re just Seraphina, and you’ll always be Seraphina.”

Everything fell silent.

After an unknown amount of time, Ansel asked softly, “Are you still afraid, Seraphina?”

There was no response.

It turned out that the girl lying on Ansel’s head had already fallen into a deep sleep, resting her head on her arm, utterly at peace in a blissful dream.

*