Chapter 186
Chapter 126: The End of a Parting Gift (Extra Update)
The ice giant claws, infused with the power of vengeful spirits and frost, swiped down from above, and at that moment, the surrounding frost currents suddenly turned violent, clashing with the white robe of the Priestess, creating a sound that would make anyone’s teeth ache.
Clearly, their intention was to restrain Vilyric from using her astonishing speed to dodge Rebecca’s full-force attack.
“Going head-to-head, huh… then let’s do it.”
“Radiant Protection.”
Calmly raising her holy staff, a golden curtain spanning hundreds of meters expanded just as the icy dragon claw approached.
The pure power of Holy Light clashed with the vengeful energy surrounding the ice claw, erupting in a deafening hiss like two enemies locked in a struggle, unable to coexist!
However…
The barrier created by 【Radiant Protection】 continued to expand outward. On the other side, though it struggled to resist, both magic’s level as a 6th tier—meaning it surpassed standard levels—was unambiguously dominated by Vilyric in attributes, level, equipment, and elemental affinity over Rebecca, making this magical face-off entirely one-sided.
The ice giant claws were pushed back relentlessly, the grayish mist on them visibly purified by the barrier’s holy light, and within mere moments, the range of 【Radiant Protection】 had already expanded over a kilometer away.
Even Rebecca was sent flying by that overwhelming force, her frost domain having been completely dissipated long ago.
Yet, because 【Radiant Protection】 was merely a defensive magic, Rebecca didn’t sustain serious injuries.
Eventually, once the light barrier reached a diameter of two kilometers, it ceased to expand. There was no need to go further, and besides, the limit of that 6th tier magic was just that.
As the dragon lady was propelled backward, the ice giant claw disintegrated completely as she spun through the air like a hamster, and now that she had returned, she was still blocked by the barrier of 【Radiant Protection】 two kilometers away.
After trying several methods without being able to break through that grand curtain, Rebecca realized the futility of the situation, refraining from useless attacks and instead floated outside, glaring impotently.
From the previous chaotic exchange of skills, it was evident that the long dress made of ordinary fabric that Rebecca wore couldn’t withstand such turmoil and had long since turned to shreds amidst the tidal energies.
Fortunately, Rebecca clearly wasn’t new to battle; as her clothes were ripped, a set of blue ice armor formed around her body, with delicate dragon scales emerging on her youthful skin, thankfully providing her some modesty.
However, this reminded Vilyric of her pet’s ultimate battle form—though the styles were different, there was a certain similarity; one could say these were indeed traits of dragons!
“How about it, Miss Rebecca? Do you want to keep fighting?”
Turning her holy staff, the Priestess smiled and asked.
As they were now over two kilometers apart, Vilyric also widened her voice with magic, fearing that the other party wouldn’t hear.
After pondering for a moment, realizing it was quite troublesome, Vilyric simply waved her hand and retracted the fully formed 【Radiant Protection】. She believed that as long as Rebecca still had her wits about her, she would see the vast difference in their combat powers.
Sure enough, after canceling the barrier, the dragon lady merely stood silently in place, opting not to attack again.
After a moment, she sincerely nodded.
“Miss Vilyric, you are indeed powerful, stronger than any other powerful beings I’ve encountered, even more so than those members of the 【Dusk Council】 who made me feel this overwhelming sense of helplessness.”
“The Dusk Council? What’s that?”
A bunch of question marks appeared over the Priestess’s head.
“Oh, just a troublesome organization… never mind, our battle isn’t over yet.”
Tilting her head, Vilyric showed a puzzled expression.
“You still want to fight? The previous battle was already enough to prove the point; you can’t defeat me, continuing this is just throwing your life away…”
“Wait, you can’t possibly…”
Her brow furrowed, the Priestess suddenly understood Rebecca’s reason for challenging her here.
“Exactly.”
At this point, Rebecca decided not to hold anything back. Through her firsthand battle experience with Vilyric, she had deeply felt the other’s strength.
Strong enough to kill a dragon.
“For a long time, in the City of Courage and the United Kingdom, countless innocents have died in this conflict, and in many ways, I am one of the instigators.”
“As Aaliyah, the Blue Dragon, I am also my father’s daughter, the figurehead of the Adventurer’s Guild; I must give an account to everyone who trusts me.”
Pausing, the blue-haired girl solemnly spoke.
“…even if they can’t see.”
Irrespective of stance or power, this was Rebecca proving to everyone, and to herself, that deep within, she still held on to her humanity.
It seemed that from the moment she agreed to become the second seat of 【Throne of Immortality】, to become the 【Twin Dragon Lady】, the girl had resolved that, if necessary, she would use her life to atone for the suffering of all those who had endured.
This was the complex and unpredictable nature of humanity.
“Is that so…”
Vilyric also fell silent.
With a conversation led to this point, saying anything more would only tarnish the resolve of the girl before her.
Vilyric was not among the victims.
She may have the strength to crush all enemies, but in this matter, she had neither the position nor the qualification to say to Rebecca—“It’s okay, this isn’t your fault” and such.
Rebecca had killed many people, an undeniable truth.
In this world, the strong could perhaps disdain the judgment of the law, but as long as there remained a shred of conscience and bottom line, they could not ignore the blame coming from within.
Clearly, Rebecca was such a person.
“I understand now; since you are determined to seek death, I won’t stop you. But have you thought, if Rebecca dies, what will happen to your father, President Herbert?”
“…”
A flicker of turmoil passed through the blue-haired dragon lady’s eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
“It’s fine, I’ve falsely claimed to be traveling and have asked a trusted person to imitate my handwriting and expressions to write to my father at regular intervals. It shouldn’t cause a huge commotion.”
“Ha…”
What the other party said was obviously an intentional sidestep from the core of Vilyric’s point, but the Priestess was neither Rebecca’s babysitter nor could she patiently coax her like an elder would, directing her heart.
All she could do was fulfill Rebecca’s last wish—using death to cleanse the sins she bore.
“Come now, as a recognition of you, I’ll use my true abilities. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt much.”
“…”
The second seat of 【Throne of Immortality】, envoy from the 【Dusk Council】, daughter of President Herbert from the Adventurer’s Guild… the blue-haired girl, who held various identities, closed her eyes, as if recalling her past life and everything.
In an instant, she opened her slit pupils, her gaze devoid of attachment; that longing and yearning had been deeply buried within her heart.
“Sacrifice Technique, Frost Dragon’s Roar!”
The black-haired girl smiled gently.
She opened her arms as if to embrace someone, and from her mouth, words that echoed like the utmost truth rang out.
“I say, let there be light.”