The fate-bound Flame-Chaser forced Mei to choose: go and die, or stay and let her die

The Dragon God's answer made the Dragon Prince's face even uglier.

"What fate excels at most is making you actively walk towards it."

In the scene, Mei finally sheathed her long sword.

She didn't continue her attack, but instead stared intently at Apponia.

Why should I come to see you in ten days?

Because you want to know the answer.

What's the answer?

"The answer regarding that person."

Mei's fingers suddenly tightened.

Apponia didn't say her name, but just that one sentence made Mei's expression change.

At that moment, she no longer resembled a warrior facing a formidable enemy.

It's more like an ordinary person who is about to hear news from a loved one, but instinctively resists the truth.

"You saw her?"

I have seen the paths of many people.

"She's going to die?"

Death is just one possible end.

Don't dodge my question!

Mei approached step by step, the lightning in her eyes almost solidifying.

"You see her and she'll die, right?"

Apponia was silent for a moment.

"I saw that you were willing to give your life for her."

This is not an answer.

But it was even crueler than the answer.

Mei's breathing became rapid.

"So, ten days from now, I will die at your hands because I want to get from you a way to save her?"

"Yes."

What if I don't go?

She will die.

The lightning surrounding Mei instantly subsided.

Every word Apponia uttered was like pushing her onto a narrow path with only two directions.

Go, and die.

If I don't go, someone important will die.

What appears to be a choice has actually been predetermined by prophecy, regardless of which way one goes.

Zhou Weiqing clenched his fists, veins throbbing on his forehead.

"This is not a choice! This is coercion!"

"But Mei can still not believe it," He Caitou whispered.

"That's the problem." Rong Nianbing looked at the Light Screen. "She doesn't necessarily need everyone to believe her, as long as she makes it impossible for them to bear the consequences of not believing her."

The Lie Yan sighed softly.

"If people know that someone might die because of their inaction, how many can truly turn away and leave?"

Ji Dong's expression also darkened.

"So the cruelest thing about fate isn't telling you what you'll lose, but making you believe that only by sacrificing yourself can you salvage everything."

A'Dai looked at Mei, a complex expression in his eyes.

"She knew perfectly well that this path would lead to death, yet she still chose it."

Hai Long said slowly, "Because that's not courage, nor is it merely persistence."

"She had already put herself last."

Tian Hen nodded.

"People like this are most easily manipulated by fate."

In the Light Screen, Mei suddenly raised her head.

I will not die.

Apponia did not refute this.

You will.

I will leave this place alive.

"Ten days from now, you will die by my hand."

I will change the future.

"You'll try."

I will definitely succeed.

Apponia looked at her, her expression unchanged.

You've said that to yourself before.

Mei frozen in place.

The next moment, countless Fragments appeared on the screen.

The decisions she made, the knife she once held, the people she once wanted to protect, and the figure that repeatedly chose to bear the burden alone in times of crisis.

Every image points to the same conclusion.

She would take her own life for someone else.

She would give up her chance to live to someone else.

She will take all the blame upon herself at the last moment.

This is not fate.

Mei said in a low voice.

"This is my choice."

"Choose something repeatedly enough, and it becomes your destiny."

Apponia reached out and touched the frozen lightning blade with her fingertips.

In an instant, the light on the surface of the lightning blade began to disintegrate.

You think you're making choices time and time again.

"But in reality, you're just becoming the same person over and over again."

Mei's gaze wavered violently.

What she hated most was perhaps not the prophecy itself, but that Apponia had spoken the truth she didn't want to admit.

She did have a choice.

But every time she truly had to make a choice, she would choose the same answer.

Sacrifice yourself.

Protect others.

"Then I'll change myself."

Mei suddenly swung her sword, the lightning abruptly receding, no longer slashing towards Apponia, but instead cutting directly towards the Crimson Gate behind her.

Boom!

The stone gate was cleaved open with a single stroke.

The scarlet eye behind the door vibrated silently, as if some enormous creature was awakening in the depths of darkness.

Apponia finally frowned.

You shouldn't have turned it on.

"Didn't you say everything was predicted?"

Mei turned around, her long sword held horizontally in front of her.

"Then let me see who decides whose fate ten days from now!"

She stepped into the crimson.

In an instant, countless black chains surged out from behind the door.

Each chain was intricately Entanglement text.

There is "loss," "betrayal," "death," and "irreversible loss."

They shot towards Mei from all directions, but were forcibly repelled by the purple lightning just before they touched her body.

Mei continued forward, her speed increasing.

Just as she was about to reach the scarlet eye, a black figure swept past from behind.

Apponia appeared before her.

There was still no murderous intent.

He still didn't draw any weapons.

Just one hand, gently pressed against Mei's chest.

"Discipline."

Two words were uttered.

The lightning on Mei's body suddenly went out.

She was thrown back by an irresistible force, crashing heavily to the end of the stairs.

"You have broken the first Discipline."

Apponia stood before her, her butterfly-shaped eye patch covering her eyes once more.

Don't open a door that doesn't belong to you just to avoid finding the answer.

Mei struggled to get up, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

You said I would die in ten days.

"Yes."

"Then why don't you kill me now?"

"Because it's not the tenth day yet."

Apponia's voice was so soft it was almost pitiful.

I will not end your journey prematurely.

Mei stared intently at her.

Are you waiting for me to fall into your hands?

I'm waiting for you to understand.

Apponia raised her head and looked into the depths of the Crimson Gate.

"Death is not the punishment I am imposing on you."

"It's the price you willingly pay to reach a certain answer."

Outside the Light Screen, everyone fell silent.

After a long while, Niu Tian spoke in a low voice.

"Is this woman an enemy, or is she giving her a warning?"

Tai Tan shook his head.

"Her words sounded like a warning, but every single one of them was pushing people to the brink of despair."

Ning Tian said softly, "Perhaps for Apponia, the prophecy itself is the help she can offer."

Ning Rongrong looked at her.

"Knowing the other person is going to die, but only telling them the ending, what kind of help is that?"

"At least, she didn't hide anything."

As soon as Ning Tian finished speaking, Xue Ye said in a deep voice, "Sometimes, if the truth cannot bring about change, it will only become a boulder that crushes people."