Chapter 244: The Awakening of Saint Tia - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

Chapter 245: The Awakening of Saint Tia Lost girl, Awaken quickly. The moon, shattered. Like a soft murmur from a dream, the whisper echoed faintly in Tia's ear, pulling her gradually back to consciousness. She seemed to have just woken from an incredibly long and sorrowful dream. The specifics were lost to her, but the one memory that lingered was of a bright full moon high in the sky being cleaved in two by a demon wielding a bloodstained blade. It was the faith she had once sworn allegiance to. Even though much had transpired, the dream left Tia with an inexplicable sadness. She should have been filled with unprecedented anger and hatred for that demon. Yet surprisingly, as she discerned the demon's slender and slender form, an inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over her, compelling Tia to want to embrace him tightly. Then she awoke. The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was the mature silhouette of a woman bathed in moonlight. Though the silhouette was somewhat difficult to discern within the radiant holy light, Tia could sense a hint of relief in that woman's eyes. "Awake?" The woman's voice was clear and pleasant. Whether it was an illusion or not, Tia faintly felt that the gentle tone was familiar, as if she had heard it someplace not long ago. Gazing at the vast and empty sky and land, Tia soon realized that the scene before her was not real. It appeared more like she was in some peculiar extradimensional space. With this realization, layers of fragmented memories came into view, reminding her of everything that had transpired. Indeed, this must be the Moon Rift. Not long ago, she had inadvertently communicated with her future self to save Lynn. It was as if Tia suddenly understood something. Weakly supporting her body, she looked at the mature woman surrounded by the gentle white moonlight. She appeared very much like Beatrice in her first form, yet bore no hostility. Instead, she held Tia's hand gently and knelt beside her, seeming to have remained by her side throughout her slumber. From the ethereal form, it was evident that this woman had likely crossed the river of time; her mission likely completed, she had separated from Tia's body, now a spiritual entity standing there. In other words, The gentle elder sister figure before her seemed to be none other than herself from ten thousand years in the future. To think that I would become so beautiful and well-shaped in the future... Tia couldn't help but feel a surge of self-consciousness. Fortunately, she soon realized something else. Her future self appearing so composed before her now—did it mean that Lynn was out of danger? She quickly lifted her head and scanned her surroundings. The following moment, an unexpected scene greeted her eyes. Her heart's desire, Lynn, was indeed safe, allowing Tia to breathe a sigh of relief, but it also left her slightly puzzled by his current situation. He was kneeling quietly beside her, his lean and tall upper body bare, hands behind his head. As tonight's hero, he should have received her worship and gratitude. Yet looking at her future self, there seemed to be no objection to his current state either. However, Tia in her current state couldn't concern herself with these things. Even with her face pale and bloodless, she still wanted to stumble towards Lynn. The joy of regaining what was lost filled her heart. But before she could turn that intent into action, her future self caught her eye with a slight shake of the head, as if signaling something. Simultaneously, a chilling sensation came from ahead. Tia's expression changed, sensing a terrifying and ancient presence. Instinctively glancing up, she observed two other women standing nearby. One was a dark-haired woman in a red dress, her sharp features as regal as a blade—Ivest. The other woman, with white hair and a black dress, bore a cold and world-weary expression. Her appearance was strikingly similar to someone Tia knew, making it obvious she was likely Ivest from ten thousand years later. Recalling the story Lynn had told her the night they parted, the other's identity became clear. She was the End Witch, the deity Lynn worshipped. Looking upon these two, whose power far overshadowed her own, Tia took a deep breath and asked, "What... happened?" "Where is the Moon Goddess, Lady Beatrice?" "Oh, her? She's been disposed of by us..." "Silence!" Lynn barely had the chance to make a playful face at Tia before both women sternly cut him off, his unfinished words swallowed back. Realizing he was trying to amuse her, warmth seeped into Tia's heart. She then tried to lift the corners of her mouth, attempting not to appear too sorrowful in her pale state. "Hmph, as expected of a fox from the 'Bright Moon' faith, learning to seduce men without any formal training." Casting a glance at Tia's fragile "lovable" demeanor, Ivest commented icily with a hint of murderous intent. Hearing this, Tia froze for a few seconds, then quietly lowered her head, internally digesting the astonishing news of the "Goddess's death." Her nature constrained her from arguing, but she remembered Ivest's words deeply. Seeing this, though Ivest remained angry, she took a deep breath, recalling the hard-fought outcome previously reached. Not long before, after the beam of light had annihilated the mythic form of Beatrice, those worn down to nothing were left breathless for a long time before catching any relief. For Ivest, after all, it was a feat to slay a deity. Even though most of the work was done by that despicable woman, she had used Ivest's body and naturally gained some benefits. Perhaps once this is over, back at the manor, she wouldn't take much longer to become the country's youngest seventh-order Saint, just a step away from divinity. Yet none of this mattered. Upon learning her disobedient "puppy" had been taken, her mind was consumed with a single thought: to kill Tia Yuhesdi, that despicable woman. Dealing with one End Witch ten thousand years later was more than enough, only to find another "sister" in Tia. Especially since the other had future Ivest backing her, creating an unprecedented sense of threat. However, because Lynn's fate had been on the line and because Goddess Tia's earth-shattering kneel had stirred her competitive streak, Ivest's hatred was temporarily subdued, her focus solely on saving Lynn. Now that it was over, she had no further qualms. Thus, upon partially regaining her strength, Ivest attacked, intending to kill Tia on the spot. Unexpectedly, at the critical moment, the End Witch blocked her attack. "I have a deal with her ten thousand years later. Until it’s completed, you're not allowed to harm her." Facing the two women, seemingly forming an alliance, Ivest's expression was icy. Yet the true blow was yet to come. "Additionally, there’s something you need to know," the End Witch offered no time for her to ponder, stating, "I’m taking my follower with me." "He has already caught the world's attention and will subsequently face numerous retaliations and specific targets, and your strength is insufficient to protect him." "Impossible." Ivest rejected the offer without a second thought, her face dark, with a fleeting murderous glint in her eyes. She understood Lynn's nature was somewhat peculiar, existing without past or future, so even if taken to ten thousand years hence, he wouldn't disrupt the established world line. But there was no way Ivest would stand by and watch them dictate Lynn's future. The only one who would decide her "puppy's" fate, would be herself. "I'm not negotiating with you." Despite having just slain a deity, the End Witch appeared calm, as if such feats were routine. "Even a vote excluding Lynn would tilt the advantage in my favor." "Do you actually think you have the standing to challenge me?" Future Tia, who had become the second-generation Lunar Goddess, remained silent, her stance implicit. Therefore, as the End Witch declared, no one sided with Ivest. Her Highness narrowed her eyes: "Mere spiritual projection, yet you dare boast before me, the Imperial Princess..." "Why not put it to a vote then!" Sensing the tense atmosphere on the verge of erupting, Lynn, who had planned to stay out of it, found himself compelled to step forward. Initially, he thought that having cooperated to resolve a major crisis, these people would at least maintain some semblance of civility in this moment of survival. But to his dismay, a scene he had hoped to avoid unfolded before his eyes. As his words hung in the air, three pairs of distinct eyes turned to focus on him. Bracing himself, Lynn spoke, "I think, in deciding the future, my own wishes—well, alright, my wishes don't really matter." Sensing the cold gaze from the End Witch, and Ivest's stone-faced demeanor, he took a deep breath, ignoring Tia's plaintive look. "But even if we're to decide by vote, there's still another party here who hasn't had a say." Lynn gestured towards Tia, who was still unconscious, and spoke slowly. For a long moment, silence fell over the group. Finally, the End Witch spoke softly, "If that's the case, let's do as you suggest." Hearing this, Lynn breathed a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Ivest cast a playful glance at him, her crimson iris harboring a distinct note of mischief, underscoring an implicit threat of future repercussions. "So, you mean... I have to cast the deciding vote on Lynn's fate?" Having finally grasped the situation, Tia admitted with some hesitation, facing the scrutiny of the four others. She was still coming down from the joyous relief of Lynn's safety, and the lightness of breaking free from destiny's chains, yet she was hurried into making a decision. Even Tia found herself at a loss. However, one concern lingered prominently for her. If she aligned with her future self and cast her vote for the End Witch, did it mean her past self would never again have the chance to see Lynn as regularly as she did now? Seeking the answer to this question, she instinctively looked towards her future self, only to see her enveloped in holy light, gazing at Lynn with unbroken devotion. Such profound love... In a daze, Tia felt she knew the answer. "You shouldn’t even be considering this," the End Witch's cold voice cut through. "As I recall, that woman was just recently threatening your life over Lynn's whereabouts and tried to kill you while you were vulnerable to eliminate future risks." "If not for my intervention, you would be dead by now." At these words, a flash of anger briefly crossed Ivest's face, though she showed no inclination to plead with Tia. Agreeing to this preposterous vote was merely to stall for time to restore her strength and await a chance to whisk her "puppy" away. As the End Witch had pointed out, she harbored no hope of Tia taking her side. And of course, with Ivest's pride, she would never accept fighting alongside an adversary. In that moment, the attention of everyone, including Lynn, centered on Tia. After an indeterminate span, she gradually bowed her head. "I once heard my math teacher mention that a triangle is the most stable structure in the world," Tia voiced softly. "It seems, excluding Lady Ivest, the three of us could form a temporarily balanced triangle." Goddess Tia nodded, "That's right, this is—" But before she could finish, the girl's voice interrupted her. "But the premise is that each point of this triangle offers equal support. I'm well aware of my limitations." "If Lady Ivest is excluded, who’s to say I won't be the next target, given the formidable power you both possess? Were it not for being set in the distant future, I wouldn't even have a chance to compete." With these words, the seemingly frail Tia returned to the determined and intelligent demeanor she displayed when facing Beatrice. Understanding her implication, the future Moon Goddess Tia appeared surprised. It seemed this young girl harbored hostility towards her. The future Tia had hoped to get along smoothly with her past self, avoiding any rifts. But to her astonishment, Ivest's animosity towards the End Witch mirrored itself in Tia's stance. The girl took a deep breath, her pale fingers instinctively clenching, and with Ivest's surprised gaze upon her, she spoke softly, "Therefore, I choose to stand with Her Highness." Feeling the oppressive gaze from the End Witch, a shiver ran through her soul. Lynn, on the other hand, seemed to relax with a look of "I didn't save you in vain" satisfaction. With a two-to-two tie, he mentally cheered. "Wait!" Just then, Goddess Tia spoke up. Seeing this, Lynn retorted irritably, "No takebacks; a tie means—" "That's not it," Goddess Tia shook her head gently, her eyes flashing with an unusual seriousness, "I mean someone seems to be coming." Being the second-generation Lunar Goddess and with Beatrice now deceased, she naturally became the sole ruler within the Moon Rift. Therefore, her perception of impending crises within this domain was keener than anyone present. "Crack, crack..." With a dense and jarring sound, everyone instinctively looked up. A massive fissure stretched across the sky, resembling a fractured mirror spreading webs of cracks outward. The next second, it shattered with a thunderous roar! (End of the chapter)