Stop Going Up

"Oh, right, my name is Elisa. You can call me Sister Elisa. And I'm so beautiful—one look tells you I'm a good person. Trust your big sister!" Elisa said with a kindly smile.

Such an adorable Little Witch would meet a miserable end if someone else found her. It would be better to bring her into her own empire, where she could protect her properly.

Hekate shook her head. "Mom said that the prettier someone is, the better they are at deceiving people. I can't go with you."

Elisa's smile froze at those words. "I'm a powerful person, you know. You're only an Intermediate Mage. What would I gain from deceiving you?"

Hekate still shook her head.

"Fine, then what would it take for you to come with me? A Witch like you living alone in a place like this could easily be captured by bad people. But I won't, because I'm a Witch too!" Elisa patted her chest proudly.

Hekate shook her head. "...Pretty Sister, I'm not leaving. And I'm not an Intermediate Mage—I'm a Grand Magus. Stop trying to abduct me."

Elisa was dumbfounded. A... a Grand Magus? You had to be joking. How old were you?!

She floated before Hekate, her icy little hands gripping Hekate's shoulders. In an instant, she sensed the violent magic power within Hekate and was utterly stunned.

"My God, why is your magic power like a massive flood? How have you managed to endure it?"

"You really are fifteen?"

"A fifteen-year-old Grand Magus? Are you kidding me?"

Elisa was so shocked that she could not close her mouth. Her eyes were filled with one question: Are you a monster?!

Elisa was extremely shocked by your Magic Level. She thought she had seen much of the world, but this was still the first time she had seen a fifteen-year-old Grand Magus. Her favorability toward you has increased.

It increased again?

No way...

If it kept rising, would she capture me and take me away?

"Sister Elisa, I didn't lie to you, did I? So I'm not going with you," Hekate said cautiously. This Ice Snow Witch was above even an Archmage. Hopefully, she would not resort to force.

Elisa frowned and asked, "What are you staying here for? These barren Kingdom Lands may have somehow allowed you to cultivate, but this environment clearly isn't suitable for your growth."

"It's very safe here," Hekate said, remaining firmly unwilling to leave with her.

Fortunately, Elisa did not press the matter. She merely said, "I can help you straighten out the magic power in your body."

Hekate's eyes lit up. Good—as long as she did not force anything, they could discuss anything. She then asked, "What price do I need to pay?"

Elisa chuckled. "Be my body pillow for a few days! The icy aura around me can calm the violent magic power inside you. It'll be very helpful for taming your magic power."

Good grief, another one? Was my charm really that great?

Hekate narrowed her eyes and agreed despite herself. It was only being a body pillow for a while, so it was not a big deal. As long as it helped her quickly straighten out her magic power, anything was negotiable.

"Very good. Then let's sleep!"

Elisa floated over. An icy aura instantly enveloped Hekate, and the magic power in her body truly calmed down, no longer as violent as before.

"Oh my, you're so cute. You have this special mysterious air about you." Elisa turned her head to look at Hekate and sighed again.

Elisa's favorability toward you has increased again.

Stop going up! I'm scared!

Hekate: "..."

"What kind of Witch are you?"

"A Star Witch."

Elisa's eyes instantly widened, her azure eyes full of speechlessness. "You little rascal. A Star Witch's greatest ability is divination. Did you know who I was from the very beginning?"

"...Yes."

Elisa was speechless. She curled a finger and flicked Hekate on the forehead. "What a little rascal. You were putting on an act for your Sister Elisa."

"One must always be on guard."

"Oh? You're a little coward too. But that's fine. Being vigilant is the right thing."

Within the Chaos Kingdom.

In the Underground Altar, several black-robed people were filled with worry.

The two spies they had sent to poison the Uruk Kingdom had been burned to death by the other side's Fire Curse Technique. Based on the Peters Kingdom's experience, these masterminds behind the scenes would soon face retaliation as well.

This group could neither eat nor sleep in peace. Only here, beside their god, did they feel even a trace of safety.

They were clearly a secret organization that had already controlled two kingdoms, yet they were trembling in terror because of an unnamed mage.

One of them collapsed limply onto the ground and said with a trembling heart, "What do we do? I feel like the Fire Curse Technique could descend upon me at any moment..."

"Me too. I've never been this terrified of an apprentice-level spell before..."

"Hiss, how about we kill ourselves? We'll die sooner or later anyway."

"Bullshit! What if he doesn't intend to hold us accountable?!"

"The people from the Peters Kingdom told me that they arranged for someone to scheme against the Uruk Kingdom a month ago, and their queen was sent away a month later. So, we won't be safe for this entire month!"

"Ah... Do I have to live in fear for an entire month? That's too miserable. How about..."

The black-robed man could not say the final two words, "surrender." They were still in their god's chamber. If they angered their god, they would die before the Fire Curse Technique descended. And being tortured to death by their god was terrifying as well.

The black-robed people all sighed heavily, as though the rest of their lives had already become meaningless.

At that moment, the Flesh Staff floated up from the Blood Pool.

Seeing these useless people sighing and groaning, it flew into a rage and cursed, "You worthless trash! Two lackeys died, and you're already whining here? If you're so cowardly, go home and nurse milk! What kind of masterminds are you supposed to be?!"

"M-My God!"

All the black-robed people fell to their knees in terror.

"Hmph. Rest easy. I'll soon recover to my peak. When that happens, forget some Mysterious Curse Master—even that Storm Mage, I'll tear her head right off!"

Recover to its peak!

The black-robed people stared at the Flesh Staff in shock. One of them cautiously asked, "My God, are you going to recover to the realm of an Archmage?"

"That's right! As long as I turn everyone in the Yelm Kingdom and the Bangato Kingdom into my flesh-and-blood slaves, I will certainly return to my peak!" the Flesh Staff said calmly.

At those words, all the black-robed people immediately knelt down and shouted, "Long live My God! My God is invincible! My God shall shatter the High Heaven!"

Turning the millions of people in two kingdoms into flesh-and-blood slaves was incomparably cruel in others' eyes, but to these black-robed people, it was merely a trivial matter.