Chapter 381: Waiting (Please Subscribe)

"Mm..."

The towering commander of the Heroic Spirit Legion stood silently, his lifeless gaze seeming to pierce through the thick fog, falling toward the direction from which the abnormal fluctuation had come.

It seemed the holder of another Heroic Spirit Pool shard had experienced an anomaly.

But this was unimportant.

Over these long ages, there were always powerful beings who found shards of the Heroic Spirit Pool and claimed them for themselves.

They slaughtered one another, fighting for control of the shards, and the victor would, for a very long time, enjoy the aid the Heroic Spirit Pool brought him.

Just now, the legion commander had sensed a peculiar disturbance.

It was a feeling he had never experienced before!

It was as though he could feel destiny calling out to him.

He seemed to have seen something, yet also seemed to have seen nothing at all.

"That is..."

The legion commander fell silent, pondering quietly in his heart.

He seemed to be waiting for something.

And also seemed to be hoping for something.

But in the end, he did nothing.

He neither sent subordinates to investigate nor made any defensive preparations, merely silently withdrawing his gaze and looking toward the training ground before him.

And ahead of him, the Heroic Spirit Legion was slaughtering one another in silence.

Their battles had no deafening war cries, only the silent clash of limbs and surges of energy.

They had split into two camps, attacking each other.

Every Heroic Spirit fought with all their might, their eyes gleaming with steadfast fighting will, launching attacks against their comrades without the slightest hesitation, tremendous power erupting with every swing.

One Heroic Spirit suddenly charged at his opponent, the weapon in his hand carrying a chilling cold light; after a stalemate of several minutes, he seized an opening and struck viciously at the other's body.

Boom!!!

The struck Heroic Spirit was grievously wounded on the spot, his body flying outward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily to the ground.

The victor did not gloat, but seized the chance to charge at the next "enemy."

The loser struggled on the ground, his wounds shattering, dissolving into drifting streams of light, collapsing and unable to rise.

The other Heroic Spirits in the battle paid this no heed at all; not a single one glanced sideways.

No one cared, no one minded — this was simply a scene they had witnessed countless times.

Only the supervising Heroic Spirits watching from the side dragged the grievously wounded comrade away and casually tossed him into the Heroic Spirit Pool radiating light behind them.

The energy of the Heroic Spirit Pool gently enveloped the heavily wounded one, swiftly repairing his riddled body, and he soon opened his eyes once more.

During this time, the other Heroic Spirits did not rest either; they swiftly adjusted and began the next bout of combat.

When the grievously wounded Heroic Spirit was fully restored, he immediately rose and, without the slightest hesitation, threw himself back into the battlefield.

The battle drew its curtain once more.

They savagely charged at one another, sparks of combat flying in the silence.

They fought in an endless cycle, as though to one another they were not only comrades who had fought shoulder to shoulder, but sworn mortal enemies.

The battle never ceased.

And such a scene had already continued for many, many years.

In truth, they did not know what they were fighting for, but only a single notion remained in their minds — they could not stop; they were forever preparing for battle, waiting.

Even though the deity they served had already departed.

Even though their efforts might forever be worthless.

They still fought on.

They were waiting.

Waiting for the return of their deity.

Waiting for a chance to prove themselves.

To prove their loyalty, to prove their worth.

"Huu..."

After watching for a long while, the legion commander let out a silent sigh, seized the weapon beside him, and walked slowly toward the center of the battlefield.

And the instant the legion commander entered the battlefield, the Heroic Spirits on both sides halted their attacks, simultaneously turning fierce yet reverent gazes upon him.

Crack!

Without a word, all the Heroic Spirits took up their weapons once more.

But this time, they were no longer each other's opponents, no longer needed to slaughter one another.

Because they now shared a common enemy.

The legion commander!

Thus, the Heroic Spirits let out their first roar.

"Fight!!!"

And the legion commander, facing his subordinates' attacks, merely silently raised the enormous weapon in his hand.

"Fight!!!"

He roared, and slammed the weapon heavily into the ground.

Boom!!!

Under the tremendous shockwave, the surrounding Heroic Spirits were all sent flying!!!

"Eh?"

On the other side, Valentina, who was also fighting, twitched her ears, as if hearing a sound.

Huh?

Her swaying body froze; she turned her head toward the distance.

Over there, it seemed someone was fighting?

Young Lady Hunger Dragon thought for a moment, then casually withdrew her gaze.

She paid no mind to that unusual fluctuation.

"Hmm… whatever! Not worth worrying about~"

What's strange about fighting?

Isn't that normal?

I'm fighting too!

But her instinct told her the opponent's strength was probably decent.

If the chance arises, better find an excuse to fight!

Valentina loved combat.

Yet since her advancement, she had yet to meet a worthy opponent.

That three-headed chimera didn't even let her warm up—she crushed it effortlessly.

How disappointing!

While she was distracted, Herbert did not slack off; he seized the moment of her lapse.

"There's an opening!"

Herbert seized the gap in Valentina's movement, surged forward, and instantly turned the tables, pinning her down.

One second, two seconds, three seconds—taken!

Young Lady Hunger Dragon suppressed!

But before Herbert could gloat, Valentina, regaining her senses, smiled contentedly.

"Hehe, you finally got excited too!"

"If that's the case, then I'll get serious too!"

She gave Herbert no chance to react. Her long leg moved, locking tightly around his waist.

"Hehe! I won't let you run away~"

Herbert felt the pressure, until he could no longer struggle, and clenched his lips.

In that moment, he understood—he had no escape left.

So Herbert took a deep breath, abandoned all thoughts of retreat, and fixed his gaze with the determination of someone saving the world.

"Then let's fight!!!"

In the end, this battle lasted until dawn the next day, barely ending with Valentina's humiliating defeat.

Valentina had overestimated her own strength.

Though her stamina bar was nearly infinite, her sensory endurance still had limits.

After multiple defeats, she gave up, exhausted and disheveled.

Herbert, barely victorious, held the lazy, cuddling Young Lady Hunger Dragon, watching the slow rise of the sun, his mind too empty to devise a new sunrise law.

His kidneys were drained.

His mind was empty too.

He was no longer in Sage Mode—he was nearly entering monastic oblivion.

He had longed to increase his strength, yet after advancing, he still fell short of his expectations, unable to crush Young Lady Hunger Dragon effortlessly.

After much thought, he slowly nodded, murmuring: "Hmm… strength… I still need to increase my strength…"

When the sun fully rose, Herbert's hollowed consciousness gradually returned, no longer blank, and Valentina awoke from the intoxicating bliss.

Yet the two remained entwined, still like conjoined twins, sitting in the Spirit Pool, feeling the water wash over them, savoring each other's warmth.

Valentina's normal body temperature was always high—even in human form, her skin radiated forty to fifty degrees, like a roaring furnace.

Most people could not endure such warmth, and would avoid her entirely.

But for Herbert, who feared no heat, Valentina was like a warm pack—comfortable to hold.

Warm, cozy, thoughtful.

"Valentina, will you come with me to Elda later?"

Herbert looked at the Young Lady Hunger Dragon, whose eyelids kept drooping, and sighed: "Never mind, forget I asked."

She was this exhausted—how could she possibly have energy to go to Elda Domain?

"Aww—I'm kinda tired!"

Valentina lazily cuddled, rubbing against Herbert's chest.

She had affection for the Elda Domain she had cultivated with Herbert, but felt little emotion toward its other residents, and had no particular thoughts about them.

One reason: she didn't know them.

The main reason: Valentina was extremely sleepy.

She wanted nothing more than to sleep.

After her breakthrough, her spirit was already exhausted, not to mention she had kept fighting nonstop afterward—though she had sought out those fights herself.

Satisfied. Content. Exhausted.

Right. Time to sleep.

Herbert had no expectations for the Sleep God of the Discipline Hall's energy.

It seemed Valentina's post-breakthrough habit of excessive sleep hadn't improved at all… whatever, as long as it didn't get worse.

Herbert had no special expectations for Valentina.

The child doesn't have to go to school or work; let her sleep whenever she wants.

"Can you get back on your own?"

Herbert looked down at the calm surface of the Spirit Pool, his gaze flickering—he successfully saw the Mirror Space.

As long as he wished, he could return at any moment—even right after Valentina had forcibly taken hold of him.

Don't ask him why he didn't run away just now.

If you ask, it's feigned resistance and playful teasing; don't dwell on the details.

But according to Herbert's own speculation, this ability of his was limited to himself, with certain restrictions on others.

Indeed, Valentina didn't understand Herbert's meaning; she blinked without thinking and said, "Of course! I'll just fly back~"

From Young Lady Hunger Dragon's perspective, the water's surface showed no change; she couldn't see the Mirror Space, and thus couldn't teleport back.

"Then I'll fly straight back now, ha—" Valentina yawned widely, rising to fly straight back to the convent.

But as she was about to stand, Herbert grabbed her cheeks and yanked her back.

"Eh! Don't pinch my face—"

Though she complained incessantly, Valentina didn't struggle; she simply pouted, gazing at him with mournful eyes.

Why are you doing this?

Herbert couldn't help laughing at her expression, tapping her forehead with his other hand and saying irritably, "Where are you going? Are you going to fly to the sky?"

"Mm!" Valentina nodded.

Exactly! I'm going to fly up to the sky!

Herbert laughed in exasperation, his other hand joining in, pinching her cheeks symmetrically and tugging left and right.

Pulling, tugging, squeezing, pinching.

As he kneaded Valentina's cheeks like dough, he said, "Young Lady, why don't you use your brain a little? Think about how we got out."

"If you just fly back so openly, aren't you clearly telling everyone you escaped?"

How did we get out?

Smuggling.

So we must smuggle ourselves back too!

Valentina blinked, then suddenly understood.

"Oh? Oh—oh!"

Herbert looked at her expression of sudden comprehension, his lips curling slightly as he asked, "Do you really get it?"

"I don't!"

Young Lady Hunger Dragon answered with bright energy.

As expected.

Herbert looked into Valentina's clear eyes and thought of some classmates from his past life's school days—the rear-row battle gods who were always deep in thought.

Whether they understood or not didn't matter, nor did their grades; they simply had excellent class attitudes and were always cooperative.

As long as they didn't disrupt order, the teachers didn't bother them, treating them as mood-lifters.

Herbert's attitude toward Valentina was much the same as the teachers' toward those students—let her be happy however she liked.

After all, he didn't need her to be a wise character; a brawler who'd rather act than think was quite fine.

"Then what should I do?"

Though she could simply ask the Sage for answers, Valentina had completely abandoned thinking whenever she was near Herbert.

She was already a useless dragon—though she'd never been particularly strong to begin with.

"Alright, listen to me."

"Oh!"

Under Herbert's direction, Valentina dressed herself, jumped in place, then plunged straight into the water.

At that moment, Valentina's figure in Herbert's eyes transformed into another animal—not the destructive large dog he remembered, nor the dim-witted black-and-white cat.

He seemed to see a fox from a documentary of his past life, hunting in polar ice.

Leaping high, then crashing headfirst into the snow, diving in with a single thrust.

Thud!

A muffled sound came from beneath the water, followed by a string of bubbles.

Glub glub glub—

Valentina suddenly surfaced, pouting, "You lied! It doesn't work!"

Though it didn't hurt, after her head made intimate contact with the bottom of the Spirit Pool, she still felt embarrassed.

Are you deliberately teasing me?

Young Lady Hunger Dragon glared dangerously at Herbert, clearly ready to pounce and devour him again if he said one wrong word.

Herbert watched her flustered expression and nodded inwardly—he now understood the teleportation's limitation.

Relying on others wouldn't work; even if he stood beside them, it wouldn't help. He had to make direct contact with them himself.

"Haha, why would I lie to you?"

Herbert smiled cheerfully, took her hand, and led him to plunge both palms into the "mirror."

Eldar领.

Sophia waited silently, whispering inwardly: "My Lord, isn't it supposed to be tomorrow? It's already… why haven't you returned?"

"Could you have encountered danger?"

Probably… not?

(End of chapter)