Chapter 231: I Beg You, Save Him - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

With a crisp sound, the silver-white teleportation screen shattered like a mirror. As the sole gateway connecting the Lunar Rift and reality, once this portal is destroyed, outsiders will no longer be able to reach here. After all, this is a buffer zone created by the Moon Goddess to lead to her divine realm. It does not exist in the real world, and it is impossible to trace its whereabouts even if you search the entire continent. The members of the Silent Church regard it as sacred. Many have come here to hear the Goddess's gospel, their bodies and minds cleansed, always longing to reach the Lunar Rift after death, a beautiful land existing only in dreams. Yet now, the teleportation screen, the foundation of the Silent Church's standing, was shattered by a madman. He knew exactly what he was doing and understood the consequences. This scene was something he had anticipated even before he arrived. As the last specks of the teleportation screen faded away, the girl's heartbroken, pale face lingered in front of him. Her hand, reaching out to the boy, was so weak. Even though they were within arm's reach, they could no longer feel each other's warmth. "No!!!" Tiya's cry, like a wailing cuckoo, ceased with the disappearance of the teleportation screen. The rift that reflected reality slowly closed, dimming the view before him, replaced by the void of another realm. I'm sorry, Tiya. Watching the direction where the girl disappeared, Lynn silently mouthed the words in his heart. He had deceived her once more. Just as he had been brutally honest in the inn, without regard for her wishes, forcefully imposing his will upon her. As for the deceit... Feeling the ceaseless, excruciating pain in his body, like swarms of insects gnawing away, Lynn's expression was calm. From the start, he had deceived Tiya. This power was far beyond what he could handle in his current state. The black mire from the leftover power of the Creation Demon was corroding his body every second, keeping him exhilarated, all the while piercing him with excruciating pain. Even the Witch of the End would gasp at his half-human, half-monster state. But Lynn had long steeled himself. As a second-rank extraordinary, he was an ant in the eyes of the gods. In such a predicament, if he wanted a seat at the table, he had to be willing to stake his life. To change Tiya's destined tragic fate while hoping to remain unharmed would be excessively selfish. Thinking of this, Lynn clenched his trembling fist. Feeling the replenishing wish-fulfilling force within him, he took a deep breath. At this point, the first step was achieved. Though he had promised her he would accompany her on the path ahead, he must first ensure his own survival. This involved Lynn's second lie. Technically speaking, the power within him was merely a fragment of a level-0 sealed artifact. Considering a small portion of its laws had been absorbed and consumed by Yveste in the underground ruins of the Solon Mountains, the core properties remaining in Lynn were not at their peak, especially mixed with demonic power. The harm it caused Lynn far outweighed the power he gained. Moreover, even in its prime, the Wish-Granting Jar was just another level-0 sealed artifact. Although sealed artifacts of this sequence were rare, each carrying a deep and secretive history, to the gods, they were ultimately mere handy tools. Such power could not threaten beings like the gods. It was only because Beatrice's true self, trapped in her divine realm, was severely polluted, leaving the Lunar Consciousness fragmented and weak, that Lynn, driven by immense rage, could drag Her into a fierce battle She was not adept at. Thus achieving a minuscule edge. In reality, Lynn was acutely aware of whether his previous assaults had harmed Her. Even if her true self was polluted, She remained a high, exalted goddess! Being a god, how could She be felled by such a paltry trick? Therefore, from the start, Lynn had no illusion that he could topple Beatrice with such tactics. Sensing the cold intent looming behind him, Lynn slowly turned around. The radiant white sphere, caught up in the spatial turbulence earlier, had returned to its original form, floating quietly like a small moon at the highest point of the Lunar Rift. Simultaneously, a voice whispered softly in Lynn's ear. "It appears you are the truly wise one." Compared to the previous anger and malice, Beatrice's voice now sounded exceedingly calm, carrying an undercurrent of coldness, as if rational to the utmost. The moonlight energy surrounding the Lunar Consciousness was unthreatening, casting a hazy and gentle glow that illuminated everything in its path. Yet the calmer it was, the stronger the oppressive force She exerted on him. "Oh? What makes you say that?" Lynn responded with casual composure, although his body was tensed, ready to respond to Her every move. He understood that Beatrice had unlocked her confines, reuniting the fragmented divinity into Her being, subtly gaining the upper hand. The more She embraced Her divinity, the closer She came to reclaiming Her previous supreme powers. "If you're not really clever, how could you have released only the vessel I chose, leaving yourself behind?" Beatrice's pleasant voice echoed from the Lunar Consciousness, "Because you know escaping blindly is futile; even if you delay for a moment, as soon as I recover, it will all be for naught." "Besides—" "Moreover, you left a curse named 'Blessing' within her. Unless the root issue is solved, the tragedy will soon unfold again," Lynn interjected calmly, cutting off before She could finish. That was why he did not leave the Lunar Rift with Tiya and chose to stay. After all, he had promised her she could live as "Tiya Yuheste," in peace and contentment. Though the gap now seemed insurmountable, the core properties gave Lynn a fighting chance. If he dared not take a gamble at this stage, even the last opportunity would vanish. Hearing Lynn's words, the Lunar Consciousness was silent for a moment before gently speaking, "From my perspective, intelligent people often choose what's in their best interest." At these words, the luminous orb expanded and elongated. Before Lynn's eyes, it gradually formed into a slender and graceful silhouette, with flowing hair and bare feet touching the ground, a moon-white halo floating behind Her head, appearing both divine and ethereal. "For you, turning a blind eye would be the optimal decision." As Beatrice revealed Her true form, Her unparalleled beauty seemed capable of freezing one's soul in that moment. Her voice was ethereal and otherworldly, "Why, in the end, did you choose a path destined for death?" Lynn bit his tongue hard, trying to shake himself free from Her unintentional allure. Standing there, processing Beatrice's question, he was momentarily taken aback. "Maybe it's because we have similar tastes." After a moment of silence, Lynn cracked his neck, producing crisp popping sounds. "I have to admit, your chosen vessel matches my taste perfectly for women," he said with a bold, devilish smirk. "Since our first meeting, I've silently vowed to snatch her away by any means." These words, coupled with his demonized visage, brimmed with audacity and dominance. Yet Beatrice replied coldly, "Do you question a goddess's ability to discern lies?" She saw through his deceit. In other words, he was not, as she believed, one of those typical males driven by desire, pursuing Tiya for her body. This stirred a slight movement within the human aspect of the Moon Goddess, igniting a desire to know the truth. "Fitting for the goddess indeed, your instincts are sharp." Having his lie exposed, Lynn didn't flinch with embarrassment but instead bared his teeth in a radiant grin. "As for the reason, it's actually quite simple..." Before he could finish, the previously dormant core force surged once more like a tide. "You made her cry." In the next instant, Lynn's form swelled, his foot shattering the earth as he launched himself skyward toward the Lunar Goddess, "Is that reason enough?" Enveloped in the black mire, his muscles expanded several times over. With a single punch, even the space bent and collapsed under its pressure! Yet Beatrice showed no panic, remaining utterly unmoved by Lynn's self-destructive charge. Upon hearing his ambiguous answer, the Moon Goddess's expression grew slightly indifferent. Clearly, his response did not satisfy Her. In fact, it stirred a faint irritation deep within Her. To think he was willing to sacrifice his life for such an absurd reason?! What a joke! Lynn's demonic fist tore through space, plunging straight into Beatrice's form. Yet this strike, imbued with incredible violence, seemed to splash against a lake, creating only silver ripples that did nothing to harm Beatrice. Before Lynn could react, the Moon Goddess's figure flickered and silently appeared behind him. She didn't know the reason, but this boy was unbearably irksome. Though he was merely a man saying nonsensical things, perhaps thinking himself dashing, She found him utterly ridiculous. Tonight's series of disruptions far exceeded Beatrice's expectations. She had exerted some of Her true power, which carried significant risks. Overuse could intensify the demonic corruption. And it was all because of this boy. She decided She wouldn't entertain him any longer. Gazing at the boy's back, Beatrice's expression turned icy as She slowly raised her glowing arm and placed it gently against his back. "Die." Her voice was dismissively indifferent. It was as if the vicious boy, possessed by demonic power before Her true might, was merely an ant to be crushed at will. The next moment, a circular hole now fully penetrated Lynn's chest. His expression froze, coughing up blood like a broken toy, plummeting rapidly from the sky. Meanwhile, in the Pantheon. Recalling the faint heartbeat she heard earlier, the Witch of the End knitted her brows slightly. She turned her gaze toward the serene girl cocooned in light before her and sensed something peculiar. No, it wasn't an illusion. At that moment, the sound of a heartbeat reached her ears again. Faint but resilient, it seemed filled with a life force striving to wake this delicate body from its slumber of thousands of years. Undoubtedly, it was defying the path laid by fate. What in the world is happening? Reflecting on the white cocoon that had accompanied her for millennia, the Witch found herself perplexed. A thought flickered in her mind — the image of her follower. Evidently, the transformation in the Pantheon might be related to him. The Witch didn't know whether the change in this vessel was a boon or a bane for her, nor whether she should stop its awakening. Once awakened, would the consciousness within belong to Beatrice or Tiya? This she could not determine. Yet, the emergence of trace blood-red energy in her palm suggested she was ready to strike and prevent the awakening if necessary. However, an unexpected turn of events unfolded. Under her cool gaze, the girl within the moon-white cocoon began to "grow." Her stature steadily increased, her once-flat chest swelling into an alluring shape, hips curving into a well-rounded outline, and even her slender legs transforming into long and elegant forms. Her chestnut, slightly curled hair cascaded down her waist like a waterfall. More stunningly, her youthful features matured into a gentle and gracious visage. The entity known as Tiya Yuheste, after slumbering in the cocoon for millennia, had time reignite its flow, evolving a cute and charming girl into a fully grown woman. A breathtakingly stunning woman. Her beauty seemed to transcend essence, touching souls, and stood equal to even Shirina. But these were not the Witch's focal concern. For some reason, two streams of tears trickled slowly from the corners of the woman's tightly shut eyes. Her previously serene expression vanished, replaced by an unprecedented profound sorrow. "I beg you, save him." In a daze, the Witch of the End seemed to hear a sorrowful plea.