044: Facing Death Unflinchingly

As times changed, the technology of Azure Planet continued to decline, and the Governor dressed more and more plainly. They revived prosthetic technology, replacing their bodies with Titanium Alloy skeletons and Carbon Fiber lungs in an attempt to prolong their lives. However, it was all in vain. Governor came and went, and Gamos's eldest son always inherited the position.

Archduke Gamos gradually stopped showing affection to the children. At first, he would casually put his arm around the Governor's shoulder, but later he would sit with his hands behind his back. After that, he stopped going out of the country altogether. Just like his expression, his physical condition also deteriorated. He became visibly hunched over and decayed, his muscles began to atrophy, and his eyes became extremely cloudy.

Three hundred years have passed, and countless things have changed, but only Archduke Gamos has been clinging to life, controlling the country behind the backs of his sons. Later, he even stopped attending to state affairs and began to fawn over the Frostplate Citizen, with more and more Frostplate instruments on his body.

His immortal life, like that of a god-king, was bought with the blood and sweat of the Grantian, the common people of the Gland.

Alexia arrived at the final gate. The Grand Duke's guards retreated behind the gate, preparing for a final stand.

"This is it, the Flame Monarch Hall," Amanda said. "Ancient kings used to discuss state affairs here and lead their countries to prosperity. Gamos destroyed all of that, including the just deeds of the Wise Kings, and turned it into a mouthpiece for his arbitrary actions."

Her words were filled with resentment. The Grantian had endured for 300 years, during which time no matter how much they fought and struggled, they could not get the treatment they deserved. Their economy was in ruins, they had no industrial system of their own, and everything they had worked so hard to earn was exploited by the outsiders, the Frostplate Citizen- Dwellers.

This era should come to an end.

"You go and take control of the palace."

"What do you mean by this, Ms. Alexia— "

"I can handle the enemies here by myself," Alexia said calmly. "It would be more worthwhile to eliminate the dangers of the Surut Palace than to waste our forces here. To be honest—you are just throwing your lives away in front of Gamma Rank."

Amanda was speechless. She had witnessed Alexia's abilities, which allowed her to easily kill two Law Three Special Agent who seemed impossible to deal with, without even breaking a sweat.

Besides, Ms. Alexia was indeed a very honest and sincere person. Although her straightforward expression of her meaning was somewhat hurtful, Amanda and the others exchanged glances for a while and had no choice but to let it go.

They weren't oblivious to the chilling aura emanating from the Flame Monarch Hall. That power seemed to directly awaken the fear of natural enemies deep within their genes, coupled with a certain kind of emotional turmoil. Some people trembled involuntarily just standing outside the door.

In addition, not long ago, Bermudes attempted to assassinate the Grand Duke through an airborne raid, and that team was completely wiped out. Many of the soldiers were Alpha Rank warriors, who considered themselves no stronger than those suicide squads.

To say I wasn't afraid would be a lie.

Alexia, on the contrary, gave them a way out, and the several Alpha Rank assassination teams subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. Having come this far, although none of them were afraid of death, the physiological discomfort stemming from facing Gamma Rank enemies was something that human will and psychology could not overcome.

The warriors of Bermudes felt a pang of shame; they sensed their weakness and fragility, and for a moment dared not look up at Alexia.

"Please be careful," Amanda said kindly, not wanting her men to die needlessly.

Although Alexia was a great help to the Grantian, she was still an outsider, and everyone felt that outsiders were different from their compatriots.

The Grantian have already sacrificed too much in their struggle against the Grand Duke Rebellion; many have been separated from their wives and children, their families torn apart, and they have died. She simply could not bear to see her team members die, especially not in such a meaningless place.

"Rest assured."

Alexia picked up the communicator, indicating that Li Aoz be traveling with her.

Amanda was relieved and led her Alpha Rank warriors to disperse and wipe out the enemies in the Surut Palace.

Even after Amanda's figure had disappeared, Alexia still did not activate the communicator to call Li Aoz.

According to the plan, she was supposed to contact Li Aoz to coordinate their actions from the inside out.

But she could sense an extremely terrifying power behind that door. Even in the Old Era of the Amirelio Federation, such an aura was something that surpassed all things and was at the top of the food chain, making the entire Amirelio Federation feel troubled.

The mere sensation of that feeling was enough to send shivers down one's spine and send chills down one's spine. The closer Alexia was to that level, the clearer she became of the terror of that being.

'... This battle originally had nothing to do with you. I admire you, Alex— Ellie.'

Li Aoz's words echoed in her ears.

Alexia's gaze shifted, and she murmured softly, "This has nothing to do with me, Aoz."

Although the handsome Groom was a good person and seemed very strong, he still lacked the ability to step into this battle.

Rather, it would be more accurate to say that once he enters this realm, he will be directly overwhelmed by the Grand Duke's life level.

As someone who is close to this level, Alexia knows all too well how terrifying that level, known as the ' Gamma Rank,' is, to the point that even this planet cannot restrain or tolerate such an existence.

Li Aoz, and even these Alpha Rank team members, lacked the strength to fight the enemy.

'While I may not be able to defeat him, I can certainly take him down with me.'

In this world, the beautiful things of the past have vanished, but hope remains. People may not see the sun, but they still yearn for happiness and light, and idealists are still striving for it.

She had already seen what would happen five hundred years from now and met her future Groom —a handsome and charming young woman.

Five hundred years ago, the leaders and scientists of Yamiliao Ke told themselves, ' Alexia, you are too good; no one in this era is worthy of you.'

They left behind a selection mechanism called the "Yellow Rhododendron Blood Oath," a complex set of questions that included ideological level, political stance, intelligence tests, and psychological personality, in an attempt to select the most suitable partner to match her, the "bride from the past."

As for the purpose—there was no specific purpose; the federal government simply felt that every citizen should have the most suitable partner so that they could live happily and harmoniously, and society would become more stable.

Unfortunately, five hundred years later, compared to him, Alexia felt that she was no longer worthy of him.

If you say you're too young, you're actually too old, with outdated ideas, and far from being youthful and beautiful; if you say you're too old, you're not mature enough to be a wife who can shoulder the responsibilities of the family.

Alexia was very calm about it.

Her homeland had been buried in the annals of history, and her heart had died with the nation. It was only the harsh words of oppression and injustice that rekindled her faith and anger, making Alexia determined to continue fighting in the terrible times five hundred years later.

She witnessed how Archduke Gamos, a fellow ghost of the Old Era, succumbed to despair and became utterly numb—and Alexia knew very well that she herself was not far from the Gamma Rank.

Perfectly. If it meant becoming a walking corpse, living a painful life, Alexia would rather follow her homeland out of this era and leave everything to the people of today.

As long as, from now on, I will use my last breath to pass on the spirit of Yamiliao Ke —no, not the spirit of Yamiliao Ke, but the indomitable yearning for a new world that is etched into people's bones.

She put down the communicator and did not choose to call out to Li Aoz.

'Sorry, Li Aoz, you should find a better, prettier, and more modern bride.'

Alexia looked up, placed her hand on the door, and slowly pushed it open.

"It's on."

Squeak—

The gate slowly opened, and six Beta-rank Grand Duke guards immediately raised their heads and launched a surprise attack on her.