Chapter 180: Having Been Filled

In the instant the massive tentacle lunged at Herbert, the Ice Goddess was indeed startled.

But it was only a brief shock—she had no intention of intervening.

She did not worry for the boy's safety.

On one hand, she felt no emotion toward Herbert beyond curiosity.

On the other, she trusted his strength.

After all, no matter how you looked at it, Herbert was someone worthy of the Saint's favor.

He couldn't possibly lack hidden cards.

And what followed proved exactly as she expected.

The instant he sensed the tentacle's attack, the boy standing in the water, eyes closed in meditation, reacted.

He snapped open his eyes, blinked at the purple tentacle, and smirked slyly: "I've been waiting for you!"

In the next instant, the Ice Goddess felt her power being invaded.

No.

It was being forcibly seized.

A weak presence had forcibly seized control of the ice authority in this small region.

What is going on!!?

Who dares encroach upon my domain… how is it him?

She quickly understood the truth—confirmed it was the boy who achieved this through unknown means.

"…"

She hesitated only a moment, then willingly relinquished that portion of her authority.

The Ice Goddess had come to spy—she still did not wish to reveal her presence.

And now, her curiosity toward Herbert had not diminished one bit; it had grown even stronger.

How exactly did he do it?

The petite snow shadow shattered and reformed on a nearer peak—she drew closer.

At that moment, the Ice Goddess's eyes widened further.

"That is…"

Had she not been certain Herbert was male, she might have thought she saw a Snow Witch!

Snow-white hair streamed down to his waist; ice crystals spiraled outward from beneath the pale-haired boy's feet.

"Freeze!"

Instantly, the lake water within ten meters froze, then rapidly spread outward, forming a swiftly growing ice path.

The tentacle seemed to sense something, instinctively trying to retract—but was momentarily halted by the frozen water.

"Don't you dare run!"

Though the pause lasted only a fleeting instant, the ice cracked the next second and the tentacle successfully retreated into the water—but the effect was astonishing.

It had actually been trapped!

The Ice Goddess's mouth slightly parted—she truly didn't understand.

The boy was clearly only High Rank, and unmistakably a melee-oriented Holy Knight, yet just now he unleashed power akin to a Legendary spellcaster—how…?

After drawing even closer, the Ice Goddess finally noticed the truth.

It was the water!

Herbert's feet had never left the lake.

In this moment, he was one with the entire lake—both indistinguishable as a single whole.

But Herbert had not controlled the water's elements through his own true strength, nor forcibly suppressed or molded them.

He had entirely relied on the water elements' power, using unique charm to make them willingly obey his commands.

Such high charm.

Such extraordinary water affinity!

At that moment, the Ice Goddess suddenly felt a pang of regret.

He clearly possessed astonishing magical talent in both ice and water—how had he ever become a Holy Knight?

Who made him a Holy Knight?

This was sheer waste—absolute, utter squandering of precious talent!

While the Ice Goddess inwardly scolded the person who had squandered such talent, Herbert still stood by the water's edge, unmoving.

But it wasn't because Herbert was posing or fearless—he simply couldn't move.

Though he still stood firm, his body's power had been utterly drained.

From just the scene moments ago, Herbert had seemed to perform brilliantly, effortlessly forcing the enemy to retreat.

But the truth was far less glorious.

A polished social media feed always hides a bare concrete apartment behind it.

Herbert had been tormented by the water elements.

He had been passive.

Herbert had been completely drained.

In those few breaths, he had activated every ability he possessed in spellcasting.

Including but not limited to: enhanced water affinity, hypnotizing water elements, inciting water elements… and the ability he had just received from Filia.

【Ice Body】: temporarily transforms the user into an elemental state, granting partial immunity to fatal injuries and greatly increasing control over ice.

By the way, Herbert thought this ability could just as easily be called something far more straightforward—【Ice Magic Girl Transformation!】

Trrrransform!

Hair grows longer, clothes flutter, special powers emerge… how isn't this a magical girl?

Of course, this power wasn't that extreme—it couldn't instantly turn him into an over-level fighter.

The power Herbert displayed was slightly beyond his expectations—the ice and snow energy in Misty Mountains was far stronger than he'd imagined!

Using it truly felt like divine assistance.

As for his other hidden card, it was his mastery over the lake's water elements.

The moment Herbert entered the lake, he felt the water elements wildly fawning over him—it felt like walking into his own fan club's headquarters…

Yet Herbert never lowered his guard—he never forgot this was Misty Mountains, an extremely dangerous life Jinqu.

Before the monster attacked, Herbert sensed a strong premonition—something was coming.

And soon!

Though the entity seemed to harbor no malice, merely wanting to take him away, Herbert dared not gamble—he immediately decided on self-defense.

As soon as he made the decision to retreat, the water elements sensed his intent.

They didn't need him to persuade them—they spontaneously flooded into his body.

One after another, scrambling, terrified they'd miss their chance to get in.

Ton… ton… ton… Herbert felt instantly swollen, his entire body brimming with power.

But the problem was, the water elements were too enthusiastic.

The power pouring in far exceeded his own limits.

Too much, too much—too many of them!

Had it not been for Herbert's innate elemental resistance and his hardened body, repeatedly enhanced, he felt he would have been blown apart.

No, this really won't do!

In that moment, Herbert suddenly understood—he empathized with countless generals forced to don the yellow robe.

Sigh… you've truly tormented me!

I never wanted to be emperor—you forced me into this!

In this critical state, on the verge of exploding as master of the lake, Herbert's only option was to unleash this wild power—fiercely expelling it outward.

Had the tentacle waited ten more seconds, Herbert himself would have collapsed first.

Now, with the crisis passed and the power spent, the water elements reluctantly withdrew from his body—Herbert felt a sudden emptiness.

Just now it was full… sigh!

Powerful? Yes. Fun? Absolutely. But why does it only last three seconds?

This is way too short-lived.

Herbert mentally complained about the water elements' lack of endurance, yet outwardly thanked them profusely, expressing deep gratitude.

Thank you! Thank you!

Even if you only lasted three seconds, you're still amazing!

【"Aha, you scared it off after all!"】

At that moment, Nenasha, who had watched the whole scene with delight, laughed merrily:

【"Haha~ You bullied it so badly this time, next time you'll have a hard time luring it out again~"】

Herbert raised an eyebrow and asked: "Stop teasing me—what exactly was that thing?"

He recalled the purple tentacle he'd seen, slowly moving his limbs as feeling returned from stiffness.

An octopus?

But why would there be an octopus in the lake?

Of course, Herbert did not voice such a stupid question.

In a fantasy world, anything bizarre is perfectly reasonable.

Things like zero-gravity skirts, bikini armor, tripling power after darkening, saviors without high school diplomas—each more absurd than the last, yet everyone loves watching them.

Better to mind your own business.

But Nenaisha did not directly answer Herbert's question; instead, she posed another: 【"Herbert, you know this is the ruin of my divine realm, right?"】

"Of course I know—that means the things here were originally part of your divine realm?"

No, buddy… why the hell did your divine realm have octopuses?

Are you really one of those ancient gods?

But I chat with Him every day, and I haven't lost my sanity yet.

【"Exactly!"】

Nenaisha, lost in memory, failed to notice Herbert's peculiar thoughts, and spoke of the hidden knowledge of the divine realm:

【"A divine realm is the foundation of a deity, filled with the divine power accumulated over countless years, a world crafted by the deity's own hands, inhabited by countless heroic spirits."】

The Harmonious God smiled pleasantly, then softly spoke with a touch of nostalgia:

【"Can you guess what the heroic spirits living in the divine realm desire most?"】

Herbert thought briefly, then said uncertainly: "The deity's favor?"

Though he didn't fully understand the relationship between deities and believers in this world, he could already sense something from Leila's earlier reaction.

Even for a believer of her rank, the deity's favor and affection remained the ultimate thing they craved—everything else came second.

Everything they did was not for personal desire, but solely to gain the deity's approval.

But Herbert's answer did not satisfy Nenaisha.

【"No, what you said isn't wrong, but the truth is different."】

She said:

【"They still desire the deity's affection, but far less intensely than when they were alive."】

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(End of Chapter)