Chapter 122: Strength and Weakness (23)

"Indeed, while they were legendary in power, their final moments were far from impressive."

Herbert, though outside the Third Oath Chamber, knew everything happening inside thanks to Nenasha's help.

No one understood what transpired within better than he did.

That battle, hey!

It was horrific. Unbearable to watch.

"To put it bluntly, their performance was clumsy—even shameful."

Burned by lava, dissolved by song, charging fearlessly at dragons, lost in illusions, slaughtered by blood kin...

Is this the power a legendary should possess?

Is this even a battle?

No.

It was nothing but one-sided slaughter.

These legendary dark elves made almost no ripple before dying.

Like a pebble dropped into a lake, though ripples spread faintly, they vanished instantly—leaving no splash at all.

But were they truly weak?

Just a bunch of trash?

Herbert shook his head, rejecting that notion.

Of course not.

"To judge strength or weakness, one must first choose a reference point."

"Compared to myself a month ago, I am now unquestionably a powerful Legendary Qiangzhe."

"Aside from my mind remaining unchanged, I have utterly crushed them in strength, speed, physique, charm, and perception."

He raised his arm toward the moon; the holy scar glowed from his fingertips, tracing downward, finally illuminating sacred patterns through his sleeve.

High-tier holy power, high-tier physique, and a month's intensive combat training—combined, they allowed him to charge alone into the wilderness and fight his way in and out seven times.

Herbert had a clear, objective understanding of himself.

He was truly not weak—he could easily dominate the weak.

But at the same time—he was still far from strong.

"Yet compared to those legends... I am nothing but an absolute weakling."

"Whether it's the 'Good Man' or the 'Sage,' I have no confidence I could survive ten strikes against either."

Especially the 'Sage'—he sacrificed others and still held out against Kreti and Flora's combined assault, nearly escaping to another zone.

"Not to mention the 'Madman,' the most destructive among them—if I faced him in that berserk state, I wouldn't even have time to run."

Inferior in speed, strength, and physique—whether I could even break his defense is debatable. Face him directly, and it's Loki vs. Hulk—I'd be smashed flat.

"But now they're dead. All of them."

"Killed by the monsters I casually interacted with, chatted with, joked around with... and they died so pathetically, so easily."

Herbert's expression shifted subtly, one eyebrow raised as he recalled the scenes he'd perceived.

He wasn't unaware of the monster girls' strength; he'd estimated their capabilities roughly.

But witnessing it firsthand, he still couldn't help but marvel.

I was really fucking brave back then!

How the hell did I dare?!

Never mind Valentina—Miss Hungry Dragon's destructive power in rage has always been astonishing.

For the first time, Herbert saw clearly how terrifying Freyme's song could be—killing without a trace.

Victims felt nothing upon hearing the melody, showed no visible change—until wounds appeared, then the corruption took immediate effect, rapidly devouring them whole.

The song was like a deadly poison—odorless, colorless, tasteless, yet lethal at the first drop of blood.

Most surprising to Herbert, however, was the Chest Mimic (coffin-shaped) girl.

Elisa, weren't you just that comedic character who lounges in a coffin?

Always dreaming of fine food and drink, always getting burned half-dead, looking like a slumped, defeated corpse in a coffin.

Herbert feared she'd slack off and prepared extra safeguards—none were needed.

Elisa opened with a mass forced-control move, dragging every enemy—including the legends—into a single illusion, then leisurely drained each one's blood.

This... this isn't right!

Why did she pull off something so cool this time?!

Did you cheat?

Or did you summon Blue Ran onto yourself?!

When did you release Mirror Flower, Water Moon?!

Since the beginning?!?!

This chest mimic has terrifying cunning—she must not be left alive!

Next time, I'll add chili and spice to her blood bags...

After witnessing their performances, Herbert was deeply shaken, his awe for his own past recklessness growing.

What is ignorance-born boldness?

What is the fearless calf?

What is the virtuous woman who can't resist persistent pursuit... cough.

Seriously.

Had Herbert known their true strength earlier... he might still have acted the same, but not so naturally—and the outcome might have differed.

Thus, knowledge is often a curse—a curse that makes one increasingly cautious, increasingly timid.

The more ignorant, the more inflated; the more learned, the more humble.

Ignorance isn't necessarily wrong, but excessive arrogance certainly is.

"It's not me who is strong. I have no right to belittle their power."

Herbert shook his head, correcting his stance: "The truly strong have always been Valentina and the others."

Though he now commands them, this power stems from his role as Warden, from his Permission to Control the Third Oath Chamber.

It is power—but not power truly his own.

To forge steel, one must be strong oneself.

To truly become their master, he is still far from enough—he must keep striving.

【"You're calmer than I expected. I thought I'd have to... counsel you properly."】

"Didn't you plan to give me a good scolding?"

【"N-nope~"】

Herbert smirked at the slightly guilty tone but let it pass, asking instead a question he'd been curious about:

"Are Valentina and the others... unusually special even among legends?"

【"Huh? You're only noticing now?"】

Nenasha paused, then grinned:

【"Forget the rest—just consider that little dragon. Normal dragons are nowhere near a hundred meters long. Half her size is already enormous."】

Size doesn't define all power—but it reveals much.

【"Sea Empress, Vampire Prince, Blood-obsessed Dark Elf alchemist, Demon Sage, Devil devoted to noble blood, Primordial Fallen Angel..."】

【"Yes. Just as you suspected."】

At the highest point of the abbey, the Miss Xie Shen whispered softly into the boy's ear:

【"The prisoners locked within this prison..."】

【"Are all anomalies."】

(End of Chapter)