Chapter 122
She suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her like a tidal wave. She didn't want to think about anything, didn't want to see anything, and just lay on the bed with her eyes closed.
The doctor stared at her silently, the overhead light flickering and swaying.
After a long while, the doctor got up and came to Hou Qing's bedside to check her breathing.
Hou Qing is dead.
The doctor nodded, pushed open the door of the ward and walked out—outside was a bright and magnificent white light, with no superfluous facilities, no hospital, and no burly caregivers. As for the pointing crowds and the flowing cars, there was none of them.
Throughout the entire ordeal, there was only one enclosed hospital room.
The doctor took off her white coat—her movements were careful and cautious.
After taking off her white coat, she pulled her legs out of her skirt.
The doctor was only wearing underwear, but she didn't care at all. Instead, she carefully buttoned up and zipped up her white coat and skirt.
After she finished doing all that, she changed into a loose-fitting outfit.
In the center of the magnificent Golden Theater, Hebe looked at the empty human skin lying on the ground, picked up some metal and white stones from a short distance away, stuffed them whole into her body, and then blew on it.
In an instant, the human skin swelled up and stood up, swaying precariously.
Hebe thought for a moment and then put Skadi, who was in her arms, inside.
The Muddy Water Spirit flowed into the seven orifices of the human skin without any hindrance.
After a few seconds, she opened her mouth. "Who am I?"
Hebe glanced at her. "You are my disciple, Skadi."
189 The First Opposition
Not all Golem Knights were sent to the battlefield by Nero.
Throughout Nero's long life, she was assassinated by her enemies more than once.
The closest they came was decades ago. The assassin was a blind musician who concealed a dagger within her instrument. At the height of the melody, the blind musician drew the dagger and plunged it into the drunken Nero.
However, the musician only made a thrusting motion before being shattered into an unrecognizable mass of minced meat by the sudden burst of music.
Having survived numerous assassination attempts, Nero clearly did not need the protection of others, but as a representative of the common people, she needed these attendants to demonstrate her status... at the very least, to create the impression that she was loved and respected by others and received their spontaneous protection.
This is an artificially created "image".
In contrast, there are "symbols" that arise from the influence of the wasteland.
Images and symbols that align with the Tao can elevate the status and abilities of the ascendant; conversely, they can suppress the ascendant.
Titus was a member of Nero's guard. He was tenacious, skillful, and had reached many inhuman places and committed many cruel acts.
He always stood firmly by Nero's side, and he did so again today.
He spoke with great pride about his achievements to the girl who came walking on the water, and the girl nodded in agreement.
Then Titus witnessed a scene far more horrific than he had imagined—he saw Hebe hollow out Nero's mind and, literally, wear Nero's skin on her own body.
Titus was terrified.
He could no longer maintain that proud and steadfast self, and his consciousness melted into the spiritual dew.
What happened to that person?
While pinching Skadi's cheek, Hebe answered her question, "He's been scared out of his wits."
Why would someone be so terrified?
That's certainly a good question.
Nero is no pushover. As a direct descendant of Remus the Philosopher King, one of the Three Grand Harmonizers, she was born a "hero" of the Daytime rank. And over the long course of time, she should have taken a solid step toward the twilight rank.
It's quite simple: if one is not in the Twilight rank, the Ascended cannot live forever; and if the Ascended can live forever, it must be in the Twilight rank, or even higher.
The Philosopher King has been playing his Grand Symphony for centuries, during which time the Three Grand Harmonizers have controlled the situation in Atlantis. From this perspective, it would be utterly incomprehensible if Nero were not a Twilight Lord.
From the very beginning, Hebe regarded Nero as Twilight, who was of equal status to her.
Not to mention that the latter occupies the center of the organ and has a significant advantage.
But when Hebe actually arrived at the Golden Theater, she discovered that Nero was merely an empty shell with a title.
Yes, it's just an empty shell.
Nero's sense of self had become so fragile that she let her five senses run wild, acting almost in a state of chaos and relying on instinct.
So she can go wherever she wants and do whatever she wants.
"That explains Nero's atrocities," Hebe said.
To put it bluntly, Nero's mind had already been weakened and rendered utterly fragile by Eris's ravages.
—Or perhaps Nero in this Lostbelt is just that fragile and naive.
When her defenseless senses were captured by Hebe's illusion, her fate was sealed.
"All done." Hebe looked at her work with satisfaction. The body in front of her was now closer to the image she remembered.
With Nero's sudden defeat and death, the fifteen legions originally stationed along the northern border collapsed completely.
The situation was most dire for the three legions in the center of the battlefield.
At this moment, Hebe's Completion Rate has reached 30%.
Furthermore, as the war continues to escalate, Water and Soil on the islands near the battlefield is becoming increasingly severe... Despite these adverse phenomena, Hebe's Completion Rate continues to rise slowly but steadily.
Throughout her journey, Hebe provided only the bare minimum of assistance to the civilians affected by the disaster.
This is because Hebe still needs war and natural disasters to drive dramatic changes throughout the Lostbelt.
This is not contradictory at all. She can empathize with the suffering of individuals, yet she is also willing to sacrifice the present for a more long-term goal.
The former has delicate emotions, while the latter has a detached perspective.
But when Hebe followed the trail back to her unit, she saw Joan of Arc of Arc leading the army, building shelters for the disaster-stricken civilians. Joan of Arc had braided her disheveled long hair back into a ponytail, letting it hang loosely behind her, and she herself was moving a stone on the road. Clearly, she had no time for anything else.
Hebe watched quietly, while Joan of Arc looked up and glanced around before quickly turning her gaze toward Hebe.
"What are you doing?" Hebe pointed to the bustling scene around them. "It's too early to establish a base in Burgundy."
"I'm not establishing a base," Joan of Arc replied. "And you, Ishtar, what are you doing?"
Before Hebe could speak, Joan of Arc gave her reply.
"You are killing Nero. That's fine; but you are killing her in the middle of the assembled legions by assassination. That's not good."
Joan of Arc frowned, even finding her words somewhat ridiculous, but she had to express her opinion. "An army without its commander will collapse in an instant, and the ensuing disaster will be extremely devastating..."
She didn't want to be too impolite, but the Northern Territory was currently powerless to defeat and incorporate those scattered, defeated generals one by one.
"Are you done?" Hebe replied. "You want to save... but can salvation be achieved without any sacrifice? If the clock tower is not destroyed, the army of Tuners will surely return with ease; if the spiritual dew is not extracted, the knights can rush into the battlefield after some repairs."
"Now, a golden opportunity to kill Nero is right in front of us. Are you going to let it slip away?"
Hebe's voice gradually rose.
She knew this was the first sign of the conflict between the two sides.
Even though Hebe knew that there would be conflict between the two sides, Hebe was still stung by Joan of Arc's attitude—what a naive theory.
You were the one who wanted to kill Nero, and now that you've done it, you're telling me that you shouldn't have killed him?
"Are these costs really necessary?" Joan of Arc also found it somewhat incomprehensible. "Every life is sacred, every life is worth saving. The point is not Nero's death, but the consequences of her death."
She immediately evacuated everyone on Domremy Island, attempting to minimize the long-brewing crisis.
However, due to Nero's instinctive reaction within the illusion, the three legions were routed and began to wreak havoc in the North and Orleans region in accordance with Nero's dying wish.
Hebe didn't speak, but just stared into Joan of Arc's blue-violet eyes.
What did Boudica say?
Joan of Arc's lips trembled slightly.
Yes, Boudica is dead... even earlier than before.
"Didn't you boast that you would redeem everyone?" Joan of Arc seemed to hear a voice sneer in her ear.
"It's my fault..." Joan of Arc gritted her teeth, her voice filled with self-blame and guilt.
"That is precisely why I must adhere to my principles. Queen Boudica's death serves as a reminder of this once again."
190 Ismara must stay, stay for me...
"I insist that every life is sacred."
"I firmly believe that everyone has the value to be saved."
"If they are enemies, I will kill them openly and honorably on the battlefield. Our struggle is a battle for survival!"
Joan of Arc said firmly.
This was her vow, but Joan of Arc did not utter the last two lines of it.
'I must correct every regret and minimize the sacrifices.'
'I must save you, Ishtar. In the deepest hell, you are the last person I must redeem.'
Hebe sighed.
She completely understood what Joan of Arc of Arc was saying. It was simple: Boudica's death had triggered her, leading her to establish a principle-based "oath" at that moment.
This is the fastest step to advance a mark in the daytime rank.
Once a vow is made, it cannot be broken.
The greater the vow, the greater the power it gains, and the more difficult it is to fulfill.
The more precise the oath, the more profound its effect, and the more complicated the steps required to follow.
For example, if someone takes a vow to abstain from money, then he must keep his vow, remain poor, not possess more than the minimum amount of property needed to sustain life, and be deprived of expensive luxuries... Otherwise, he may fall from grace or even become distorted and lost on the spot.
Of course, understanding doesn't mean that Hebe will side with her.
Not to mention that Hebe, as an "The Knower," has the power to judge history; as a user of the Secret History Simulator, her primary goal is to advance the Lostbelt Completion Rate, and for this, she is willing to sacrifice the present to secure a longer future.
Hebe always does that.
From a philosopher's perspective, Jeanne undoubtedly belongs to the "theory of total good," firmly believing that her rebirth will allow her to make up for all her regrets.
But in the eyes of Hebe, who adheres to the "cost theory," this is too idealistic, too unrealistic... and too dazzling.
Indeed, Hebe even had the illusion of being directly scorched by the sun.
Joan of Arc now possesses the quality that makes everyone open their hearts, cooperate sincerely, and be willing to entrust their lives to her.
But historical change is never without sacrifice. Hebe once had this brief but beautiful idea, but she gave it up after dying several times in the Lostbelt.
It's impossible! To drive change, to bring about change... there must be sacrifices, some sacrifices, only varying in scale. And some will never find salvation...
Joan of Arc's lips twitched bitterly.
She was well aware that her ideas were too unrealistic and too abstract, but they were indeed her most fundamental desires after her rebirth.
So she could only ignite herself, becoming the first spark to pierce the darkness.
She would never put down the iris flag in her hand, no matter what.
Ideals are beautiful, but reality is cruel. Some people will inevitably be beyond saving, but before that, I will fall into the abyss before you.
Joan of Arc took two steps forward and, seeing that Hebe was not in a position to run away, she quickly grasped the hand of the Pure Water Spirit.
"Please, I beg you... Ishtar."
Joan of Arc hung her head, her golden braids hanging down from her shoulders, her voice filled with struggle and pain.
"From now on, can you fight alongside me on the battlefield? If those truly unforgivable villains receive a death worthy of their status and honor, they won't fight to the death, and they won't drag more victims down with them..."
Hebe's eye twitched slightly.
How is that possible?
"Let me go," Hebe said in a low voice. "I won't argue with you about this now."