The Thorn of Refusal? Burn It! / Doing What I Can as a Human Being.

Gwen slightly, then, meeting Aponia's questioning gaze, suddenly revealed a troubled expression—

"However... this is not the place to meet..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of shattering glass rang out. The bright and picturesque world in Gwen's eyes suddenly crumbled inch by inch, and the astonished Aponia within it turned into countless fragments and drifted away with the wind.

Returning to that pitch-black expanse, Gwen, with a cry of hell, strode forward once more—

"After all, it would be quite troublesome if that system malfunctioned..."

This time, Gwen stopped walking after a short while.

He was already able to "see" the soul that imprisoned itself there.

"Aponia?"

Although it was already confirmed, Gwen still asked a question tentatively.

"If you wish to see me, the Elysian Realm will always welcome you."

Why did you search so hard to get here?

Words filled with an overwhelming sadness rang out, confirming Gwen's guess.

"But some things are better said face to face."

Gwen smiled, and a faint light suddenly emanated from his body. The light quickly expanded, making Gwen appear like a campfire in a dark world, illuminating a patch of darkness.

In the light, Gwen was able to see Aponia clearly in front of him—

The illusory spirits knelt in prayer as if in the Elysian Realm, surrounded by thorns that bound the wandering souls.

439

Chapter 439 The Thorns of Rejection? Burn!

"As expected, you've bound yourself to this place..."

Gently reaching out, feeling the resistance and stinging pain in his fingers, Gwen couldn't help but sigh.

"This is my own choice, and it is the fate I deserve. Please... don't waste your energy on it."

Seeing Gwen's actions, Aponia sighed softly and offered him some Gwen.

As Aponia finished speaking, Gwen could feel an invisible force descend upon him, causing him to stop what he was doing, just as Aponia had instructed...

Is this what the Law?

Feeling the invisible force influencing him, Gwen's eyes revealed a hint of interest—

"It bears some resemblance to the Eye of Suggestion I envisioned, but it's not simply a mental ability; rather, it possesses a certain degree of..."

Carefully controlling his power so as not to directly obliterate the power affecting him, Gwen meticulously analyzed the Law of Aponia.

"So... you've come for the Law?"

Listening to Gwen's soliloquy, a look of understanding appeared on Aponia's full face, but her voice held even more compassion—

"Please believe me, this is by no means some kind of omnipotent power."

"If you hope to achieve something from this, you will only reap a greater tragedy..."

"First, I have no intention of abusing the Law, or rather, I do not wish to replicate the Law. I simply wish to analyze the principles of this ability and absorb it as nourishment."

Gwen chuckled as he spoke, meeting Aponia's surprised gaze.

"Secondly, I am not here for the sake of so-called the Law— "

As soon as he finished speaking, Gwen, which had been rejected by the "Thorns of Rejection" that covered Aponia's body, was pierced through. The dripping "blood" stained the withered thorns red in Aponia's suddenly constricted pupils.

"No, this isn't..."

The expression of pity was finally shattered; Aponia raised her hand to push Gwen away—

The thorns that bind Aponia also reside in the realm of the soul, and are intertwined with a certain power originating from Aponia's innate talent, which is of the same source as the so-called the Law.

The blood that gushed from Gwen was not actually blood, but rather...

However, Aponia's attempt to push Gwen away failed, and Gwen's blood-stained hand grabbed hers instead.

Aponia looked up in surprise, only to meet Gwen's smiling eyes—

"But it's for you, my nun..."

With those words, the bloodied arm suddenly exerted force, pulling Aponia out of the thicket of thorns.

The thorns that had originally bound Aponia failed to pose any real obstacle.

The thorns, already soaked in Gwen's blood, had silently ignited with golden flames.

When Aponia looked on in disbelief, she saw only a faint flame and a pile of ashes.

"As expected, Aponia's talent is quite unique..."

As Aponia's compassionate face was filled with astonishment, Gwen was silently reflecting on the thorny "resistance" in his heart—

"If we can make good use of it, the Illusory Demon Emperor Fist might be able to reach another level..."

"You...

Too impulsive...

"Don't resist, please—let me see your condition..."

Unaware of what Gwen was thinking, Aponia looked up, pulled Gwen closer, and pressed her forehead against Gwen's.

Unable to bypass Gwen's mental protection through conventional means, Aponia had no choice but to try a more direct approach.

However, even with direct mental contact, Aponia found herself facing a towering mountain range or a bottomless abyss, unable to see clearly...

"Please rest assured, this injury is nothing to me."

Sensing Aponia's extremely active mental energy, Gwen smiled and gently patted Aponia's shoulder.

"..."

Taking a half step back, Aponia looked at Gwen's gentle smile, pursed her lips, and said nothing more.

Although this was beyond her comprehension and didn't align with her understanding, the Thorns of Rejection did indeed fail to reject Gwen.

And she was indeed pulled out of the thorny cage that Gwen had gradually grown from over fifty thousand years.

Let me introduce myself—

"I am Gwen. As for my identity... just think of me as a warrior fighting against the Honkai in the new era."

Seeing that Aponia didn't delve further into the previous question, Gwen didn't continue explaining and instead got down to business—

"As for why I twice ventured out of the Elysian Realm... it's because someone really wants to see you..."

"Someone... wants to see me?"

Upon hearing this, Aponia frowned slightly.

Aponia knew very well how attractive the Law were to those who didn't understand them.

However, before Aponia could say anything, a faint Honkai Energy appeared, and three figures quietly coalesced around Gwen, transforming into three forms that caused Aponia's pupils to involuntarily contract—

"Hey, Aponia, did you miss me~?"

Upon appearing, Elysia immediately pounced on Aponia, grabbing her arm and beaming with joy.

"Elysia?"

Sensing the real, tangible soul aura beside her—a soul that no Remembrance from the Elysian Realm could possibly possess— Aponia's voice trembled without her realizing it.

Mmm~

It's me~?

Seeing that Aponia recognized her at a glance, Elysia's smile deepened, and she nuzzled her delicate face against Aponia's shoulder.

"But... why..."

The person she could only long for over fifty thousand years had reappeared before her, and Aponia was thrown into chaos. Looking at the cheerful girl beside her, she didn't know how to speak for a moment.

"To think that even Aponia could show such an expression..."

Hmm... As expected, only you, Elysia, can make Aponia show that kind of expression..."

Seeing Aponia's bewildered expression, Velvie stroked her chin and said with a grin.

However, despite saying this, Velvie did not approach the two of them and remained standing beside Gwen.

Eden, however, had already arrived beside Elysia and Aponia.

"Long time no see, Aponia— "

Although, in my memory, it has been less than a year since we parted ways.

But... you have spent fifty thousand years here alone..."

Looking at Aponia, whose elegant, unadorned face still held a hint of helplessness, Eden sighed softly, but a gentle smile still appeared on her exquisitely beautiful face...

440

Chapter 440 Doing what I can do as a human being.

"But after 50,000 years of waiting, I finally witnessed Divine Miracle, didn't I?"

Upon hearing Eden's sigh, Aponia simply shook her head and smiled at Elysia beside her, her somewhat haggard face filled with a genuine smile.

"No, it's not like that~?"

Upon hearing Aponia's words, Elysia raised her index finger, met Aponia's questioning gaze, and shook it with a grin, her eyes turning to Gwen, who was watching them with a smile—

"This isn't some divine Divine Miracle, but a human miracle!"

"A miracle belonging to humanity...?"

Following Elysia's gaze, Aponia saw Gwen smiling at her.

"The ability to bring back souls like us, buried in history, into this world—it's something that can't be described by magic or anything like that, can it?"

Velvie stood with one hand on her hip and the other on Gwen's shoulder, looking quite pleased with herself.

"..."

Listening to Elysia and Velvie's words, Aponia's gaze toward Gwen became even more serious, as if she wanted to see through the young man.

Do you remember what I said before?

Seeing Aponia in this state, Eden couldn't help but smile, seemingly recalling the time he faced Gwen alone. A faint smile graced his elegant face.

"In today's terms, it means—"

Gwen... he will become the fire that illuminates this world...

"..."

Upon hearing Eden's words, Aponia couldn't help but show surprise again, and her gaze toward Gwen became even more serious.

Gwen, facing Aponia's gaze that seemed to see right through him, neither flinched nor avoided it, but simply smiled in response.

Once the intense gaze subsided, Gwen spoke with some curiosity—

"So, from your perspective, can you see anything in me?"

"..."

Upon hearing Gwen's question, Aponia closed her eyes, gently shook her head, and only after a moment opened her bright eyes again to meet Gwen's gaze—

I saw a lot, but it was all blurry—

I saw the sun set from the sky, and I saw flames rise from the ashes...

Under Gwen's gaze, which instantly turned serious and solemn, Aponia began to explain what she had seen.

However, after saying only two words, Aponia's body trembled, almost disappearing like a wisp of smoke in the wind.

With lightning speed Gwen rushed to Aponia's side and, together with Elysia, supported her and helped her steady herself.

A moment later, Aponia opened her eyes again, her pale face showing a hint of confusion.

When Elysia and Eden asked her with concern, Aponia simply shook her head.