Ye Chui had originally planned to send Aqua straight back to her summoning world the moment she was used as bait and thrown into the Necropolis. But the situation had been critical, and tricking Elisa into the realm had taken every ounce of his concentration, so he completely forgot about her.
Summoning Heroic Spirits constantly drained points, but a spirit like Aqua, who basically only caused trouble and contributed nothing useful, cost very little. Ye Chui had simply never paid attention. Only when Celty mentioned her did he suddenly remember, his face filled with embarrassment. Then he asked Celty, “So how is Elisa doing?”
The Necropolis had two moons in its sky. Those moons were actually Celty’s eyes, allowing her to watch everything within the realm at all times. She knew every detail of what was happening inside.
“Elisa is still alive. You have to admire his tenacity. It has been nearly seven hours. He is surrounded by the undead army yet still holding on stubbornly. But he is at his limit. His faith body has already dissipated. He is extremely weak now and could collapse completely at any moment,” Celty explained, eyes closed.
When her eyes were closed, it meant she was focusing on the Necropolis.
Suddenly, however, she let out a surprised sound. “Huh?”
“What is it?”
“Elisa seems to have detected Aqua. He is charging straight towards the cave where she is hiding!” Celty said. “His senses are incredibly sharp. He must have picked up some trace of the aura she gives off! It looks like… he wants to take her down with him before he dies!”
…
The Necropolis.
A desolate, deathly still world. Two full moons hung in the sky, casting cold, pale light.
Inside a hidden cave, a small fire burned. Beside it lay the remains of food. On a pile of warm bedding, a blue-haired girl was curled up, sleeping soundly, drooling copiously.
Well, although Celty had just described the goddess’s pitiful state to Ye Chui, after receiving the delicious food and warm blankets Celty sent over, the simple-minded goddess had completely relaxed once her stomach was full. It was as if even the end of the world could not disturb her current comfort.
But disturbing her sleep did not require the end of the world. The sound of frantic running quickly jolted her awake.
She sat up from the bedding in confusion, rubbing her eyes and staring blankly at the cave entrance. It took her a moment to remember where she was. She leapt to her feet in alarm, instantly on guard. The undead that filled the Necropolis would not harm her, but the aura they gave off, so similar to the undead of her own world, still filled her with instinctive disgust and aversion.
Most importantly, her purifying holy power, which was the natural bane of undead, had no effect here.
That had been quite a shock.
Hearing footsteps outside the cave, she instinctively assumed the undead had found her. Her body began to tremble. But what rushed into the cave was not an undead creature. It was someone far more terrifying to her: Elisa.
Elisa looked utterly wretched. He had lost his sanctified form. He was no longer clad in radiant pure white but had reverted to his blood-red cardinal robes, now tattered and torn in many places. His hair and beard were dishevelled, his body covered in blood. He walked with a stumbling gait. One arm had been severed outside, yet somehow it had reappeared on his body.
He was panting heavily, constantly glancing behind him. He no longer carried the calm dignity of a Cardinal Archbishop. He looked more like an innocent old man being chased by street thugs.
The moment Aqua saw him, he saw her too. A cold glint flashed across his face. This woman! The root of all evil!
“False goddess…” he growled weakly, his voice faint from exhaustion. Then his body gave out completely and he collapsed with a thud.
At that moment, Elisa’s heart was filled with utter despair.
He had never imagined his final moments would be like this. The Necropolis was a completely sealed world. Here he could feel no divine glory. His faith could not reach the great gods. Cut off from the outside world, he would simply die quietly. The iron-willed Cardinal Archbishop had never felt so frail and sorrowful.
The grotesque undead generals had already stormed into the cave, each one ferocious and terrifying.
Their footsteps sounded like the death knell for the Cardinal. He began to accept his end with regret.
But…
At that very instant, a petite figure suddenly flashed before his eyes. Aqua spread her arms and stood protectively in front of Elisa, facing the terrifying undead!
“You…” Elisa stared in stunned surprise at her actions.
“Hmph! My wayward believer, since you came seeking my protection even in your hour of danger, I, as your goddess, will naturally not abandon you. Rest assured, I will hold these creatures back for you,” the goddess declared.
Elisa: “…”
In truth, he had sensed Aqua’s presence and rushed over intending to use his last strength to kill this blasphemer. Yet Aqua’s logic had completely misunderstood. She thought he was a lost lamb returning to her for shelter.
“This woman really is an idiot…” Elisa thought weakly. He looked at her small, stubborn silhouette. He wanted to feel contempt, but instead a faint trace of emotion welled up in his eyes. This was the moment his will was at its weakest. Certain feelings that had previously forced their way into his heart now broke through his powerful self-control and spread uncontrollably.
My goddess, my goddess…
That tiny spark of gratitude for Aqua’s actions was rapidly growing within him. He was moved by the goddess’s magnanimous heart.
Whether from sheer exhaustion or the upheaval in his beliefs, Elisa’s head lolled to the side and he passed out.
Meanwhile, Aqua was already regretting her impulsive decision. Why did I step forward just now? Who cares if this old geezer lives or dies? He beat me so badly outside! What do I do now? Will these undead attack me? I’m so scared…
Fortunately, the undead, seeing Aqua standing in front of Elisa, seemed to receive an order to halt. They stood motionless.
At that moment, a figure emerged from behind the undead and slowly walked forward. It was Ye Chui.
He had confirmed that Elisa was at the end of his strength, so he entered the Necropolis through the portal to check on the situation and to bring Aqua out.
The moment Aqua saw Ye Chui, her face twisted into an expression of pure rage, as if she wanted to tear him apart and eat him alive.
Ye Chui glanced at Elisa, confirming the stubborn old man was merely unconscious, though extremely weak. Then his gaze shifted to Aqua. He grew slightly wary. Anyone treated the way he had treated Aqua would be furious. The goddess’s combat ability might be rubbish, but if she truly lost it, even Ye Chui would have to be careful.
Then…
After staring at each other for a few seconds, Aqua suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud.
She knelt neatly, knees together, hands raised, letting out a loud “Ha!” as her upper body pressed perfectly to the ground. Her kneeling posture was textbook perfection. “I apologise! Whatever I did to upset you, please forgive me!!!”
Ye Chui: “…”
The goddess’s kneeling form was so flawless it was almost criminal.
Seeing Ye Chui remain silent, the goddess continued, “Do whatever you want with this guy. I’m just passing through. I absolutely won’t interfere!”
Ye Chui continued: “…”
Just as Ye Chui stood there sweating profusely, unsure what to say, Elisa let out a soft groan and suddenly woke up. The Cardinal’s recovery ability was truly impressive. With a pained groan, he slowly pushed himself up from the ground. Though still weak, he could move freely again. He looked around the cave in confusion. When he saw Aqua kneeling before Ye Chui, his body jolted and he roared in fury, “Ye Chui! You dare make my goddess kneel to you! The goddess’s honour must not be defiled! I will never let you get away with this!”
After shouting those words, he began panting heavily again, as if he might collapse once more.
Yet Ye Chui’s expression turned strange. Hang on. Has Elisa been completely won over by Aqua again?
“Stop yelling!” Aqua, still kneeling, hurriedly called to Elisa. “Quick, kneel like me! Hurry! Mr Ye Chui looks very, very forgiving. As long as our posture is perfect, he’ll definitely let us go!”
“Goddess…” Elisa looked hesitant.
“Hurry, hurry!” Aqua urged.
So after glancing at Ye Chui once more, Elisa lowered his head. “Yes…”
He slowly knelt beside the goddess. Throughout the process, Aqua kept whispering instructions. “Bring your knees together. Don’t sway. Neatly, it has to be neat. You need to learn the goddess-style kneel…”
“Yes, Lady Goddess…” Elisa replied, his voice a mixture of humiliation and devotion.
And Ye Chui, standing before them: “…”
This… this was a little beyond his expectations.
Immediately afterwards, a flash of inspiration struck him. He had just thought of a brilliant way to deliver a devastating blow to the Church: perhaps he could try establishing the Axis Cult and send it into Church territory to cause chaos…
