Gods, Mortals, and the Turning Points of an Era

The battle is over.

As Miss Surtr herself had predicted, once the fortress's protection was gone, the battle would end in a relatively easy and simple manner.

So she descended, raised her hand, and the lava on the ground instantly solidified—she flew lightly above the church where the Fire Keeper was. Despite her victory, her brow was slightly furrowed.

"It got away." Miss Surtr snorted. "A slime is a slime after all. Even after its core was split off, it was still able to maintain the combat power of a Lord of Cinder. No wonder it's trying to survive until the next Aldrich. It even managed to fool me. I'm afraid it had this backup plan prepared when we first came."

She complained sullenly, while her attendants listened quietly—an imperfect victory was still a victory. Now that Miss Surtr had uprooted Aldrich's power this time, dealing with the fugitive Lord of Cinder would naturally be even easier next time.

It's just a fast-moving crawler; if it wasn't killed this time, it will be the same next time.

So Miss Surtr finally calmed down and turned her gaze to her surroundings.

"Sorry for rambling on—where's Kal'tsit? The protection I set up on her should still have a few more chances to activate—hmm, it just activated again?"

"That lady is currently hunting her prey," the Fire Keeper in black said softly. "The barrier has been broken, and I can now pinpoint her location—she is in good condition while her prey is weak and exhausted. Would you like me to teleport to her side and lend her a hand? If you need to see her immediately."

"...No need." Miss Surtr thought for a moment and waved her hand. "Since she's in the mood for hunting, let her enjoy it to the fullest—in my world she's a busy office worker. It'll be good for her to relax."

"You truly care for her." The Fire Keeper nodded lightly, then changed the subject, displaying the Purification Chapel beneath her feet to Miss Surtr. "And the civilians you sought to rescue are all here—I used magic to put them into a temporary state of dormancy so they wouldn't interfere with your battle—would you like to release them now?"

"No need. Doing good deeds doesn't necessarily require leaving a name," Miss Surtr shook her head. "Let them get a good night's sleep. Before we leave, we'll open the cages and leave them weapons and signs to guide them. I'm sure they'll find a suitable way to survive."

"As you wish, Miss." The Fire Keeper, of course, would not disobey her decision. She simply landed lightly with her on the top of the only remaining church structure and extended an inviting hand. "Would you like to rest a bit, Miss? You seemed to be in rather poor spirits when you arrived this time. Perhaps I can share some of your burden?"

Miss Surtr shook her head and chuckled.

"I haven't become weaker, it's just that my recovery process has slowed down a bit. But after defeating Yhorm, I've already reached a level beyond that of ordinary Lords of Cinder. And this Profaned Flame..." She raised her hand, and between her fingers, red and black flames danced lightly.

"I have high hopes for this flame. It comes from the abyss and has just proven its ability to extinguish the darkness. All I need now is to find a piece of firewood so I can test one of my hypotheses."

"What do you mean?" The Fire Keeper sat down at the top of the church, smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress. As she spoke, she gestured to Surtr, Flame-haired maiden readily sat down, leaning back to rest the back of her head comfortably on the Fire Keeper's lap.

This may become a habit over time.

"I created the First Flame, just like the old witch did ten thousand years ago—of course I know that the witch's failure created the demon race we have today. But my approach is somewhat different from hers."

"I intend to use fire to ignite fire—to supply the Profaned Flame. And then to supply the First Flame with the Profaned Flame. And if a stable cycle can be established, then perhaps from now on, there will be no need to link the fire on this continent."

"But I'm not sure yet whether this cycle can be stable."

The Flame-haired maiden sighed softly. "In many worlds, I have found seemingly convenient paths to salvation more than once. But when I actually started walking them, I found that there were difficulties and obstacles everywhere, or even dead ends—it requires a long period of trying and effort. And I may not be able to make it through every time."

"But you will eventually succeed, won't you?" the Fire Keeper said softly, her slender fingertips tracing the girl's disheveled crimson hair, and at the end of her gesture, she lightly took Miss Surtr's hand.

"No matter how many hardships and obstacles you encounter, I will be by your side. I will serve you and share your burdens. And even now..."

She gently lifted Miss Surtr's hand and placed it on her full breasts.

"The darkness within me can also offer you some assistance."

"Hmm," Miss Surtr hummed softly. She wouldn't deny the established facts, nor would she feel any shame about doing something she had done more than once.

She simply relaxed her fingers, brought them closer, and then let them sink into that soft, elastic texture.

The digestion of unclaimed souls thus begins.

And just then...

"Surtr! I've found something that might be useful to you!"

With a soft shout, a verdant figure appeared at the edge of the still-unburnt forest, holding in her hand the head of a Sunken Cursed One. Within this bizarre head, an amorphous black worm was suppressed within its grotesque cage by the Profaned Flame emanating from her!

"This seems to be—"

Miss Lynx's voice abruptly stopped. Watching the interaction between Miss Surtr and the Fire Keeper, she was momentarily speechless and her limbs went numb.

Miss Surtr turned her head and glanced at her. Her eyebrows twitched slightly as her gaze swept over the head of the cursed one.

Ah... what's this? Someone's already bringing me a pillow just as I'm taking a nap?

Kal'tsit actually played a surprisingly useful role...

"You've been a great help, Kal'tsit," she said with a smile, as a wisp of flame shot out and sealed the skull containing Aldrich's escape core. "But please wait a moment, I have some important business to attend to."

She turned her head away, leaving Kal'tsit standing there on the cooled lava ground. She gently closed her eyes and continued to feel the darkness purifying the soulless wanderer.

Kal'tsit was stunned.

She instinctively wanted to shout something, but before she could move her tongue, she realized what she was doing and quickly covered her mouth.

A hot wind blew by.

Miss Lynx's emerald green hair swayed lightly amidst her blank stare, disbelief, and self-awareness that 'it's my own fault.'

I feel like I'm going to die.

The writing is so boring without any breaks... Oh well, I'll try harder for a few more days. I don't even have the heart to look at the subscription status anymore.

I have a feeling someone's trying to be sarcastic or sarcastic towards me... Oh well, whatever, I'll just keep writing.

I'm just trying to console myself with these beautiful pictures of the Fire Keeper in the group _(:з"∠)_

Chapter 190: Gods and Mortals, and the Milestones of the Times

Meanwhile, on another border of the world.

At the summit of the mountain where the ancient dragon dwells, golden lightning fills the clear sky.

No rain fell, yet bolts of lightning rained down like a torrential downpour. Rocks were torn apart, and ancient buildings crumbled. Warriors seeking the path of the ancient dragons hid in caves, afraid to venture out. Those descendants of Dragon Kind who had been reduced to flying dragons, and the serpent- Dragon-man, huddled in the shadows, trembling with fear.

This is because divine authority is as vast as the sea, Divine Might is as imprisoned as a prison.

Even just approaching the area not obscured by the rock strata, the almost tangible sense of oppression and suffocation is enough to make even the most valiant and battle-hardened warriors gasp for breath.

'Crack!'

With a piercing shriek that seemed to tear the heavens apart, the battle between gods was decided. One after the other, two meteors chased each other as they plummeted from the top of the sky. They crashed into the largest, desolate mountain range, and a colossal peak, comparable to a fortress, was reduced to dust.

The last ancient dragon defeated the hybrid Storm Dragon, and the youngest Princess defeated the oldest prince.

Filianore, hovered silently in mid-air, the tip pointing downwards. Above her spear, the imposing sun god of war struggled to emerge from a humanoid depression in the stone.