The great demon sealed beneath the volcano is—the Phoenix.
At the moment of conclusion, the Hero's pupils suddenly constricted, and a chill went down her spine.
Dirty and polluted flames silently ignited at her chest and then rapidly swelled, enveloping her in a reddish-black fiery flame.
Under the astonished gaze of the Snow Women, she transformed from the inside out into a dark torch.
The moment she was ignited by the depraved flames, a piercing sneer exploded in her mind, as if coming from the depths of her soul, and a myriad of indescribable emotions surged forth.
Beautiful, pleasant, happy—all seemed blurred at this moment, twisted...no, it should be said that the definitions of all these things were about to be altered.
She saw the smiles of dear friends melting in the flames, turning into hateful glares; the figure of a Little Girl running on the streets turned to ash, along with the city, ravaged by demon flames; Grandfather's kind hands were blown away like smoke, turning into obsessive greed.
Let go of these things that bind you—
Throw away these things that support you—
Only by losing them can you obtain true liberation—
Fall, fall into the bottomless abyss... Stop thinking, stop clinging, just indulge yourself—this is the only truth.
In the flames, the Hero's eyes gradually lost focus, emotions were burned away, the spark of thought extinguished, leaving only the empty void of sinking.
Always trying to meet the expectations of others, aren't you exhausted? Aren't you ashamed?
Why not just become useless, and if you don't want to hear demands, kill those who dictate to others—yes, start with your elder brother!
Grandfather would likely be happy to see those unworthy descendants die, right?
Facing hordes of Goblins, aren't you tired? Don't you see any hope?
Since you are still a *girl, why not try groveling at their feet, to gain pleasure you've never felt before?
Maybe, your dear friend committed suicide in despair because she couldn't return to the nest?
The depraved flame sneered and mocked, speaking as if the girl was talking to herself.
That voice seemed like a reflection in the mirror, lacking wisdom and will, just a reflection, mirroring an opposing and corresponding image.
—The more beautiful things are, the more vicious flames they can ignite.
"I understand now, why Goblins do not die under your pollution but instead mutate."
Surrounded by poisonous flames, the Hero's eyes suddenly cleared up a bit, and she whispered so deep within her heart.
Although initially some Goblins died from pollution, later on, more Goblins gained strength from it.
These flames were a blasphemy to life, but the Goblins were not severely distorted; rather, it seemed they had evolved to become much stronger.
"Because like you, there's nothing of value in the heart of a Goblin."
When something reaches its extreme, it reverses; there is no beauty to be burned, no further depravity to endure, so gaining strength becomes the only outcome.
...I never would have thought that the so-called great demon would be on the same level as Goblins.
All doubts, all fears disappeared in the moment this conclusion was drawn.
As if trapped in a nightmare, suddenly waking to the sound of morning bells, the Hero's heart throbbed like a drum, and the magic power that had unknowingly become sluggish inside her body surged insanely.
The girl lifted her head, her eyes aflame with crimson fire.
Her response to the likes of Goblins has always been one and the same.
"—Exterminate without mercy."
[Hero's Detection reached the standard, activating Beast Spirit Embodiment]
[Hero (Phoenix) LV32]
Constitution: 283 (+202)
Intelligence: 85 (+35)
Perception: 105 (+46)
Beast Spirit Magic Power: 2000
It all happened in just a flash.
One moment they were standing on a shore a distance from the lake's edge, watching as the barrier of wind and snow closed in.
But in the next instant, the Hero was swallowed by polluted flames,
"Cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep!!!!!"
However, before the Snow Women could move to rescue the Hero who had abruptly become a torch, with a loud bang her Jewelry and Equipment clattered to the ground,
The Hero vanished, and only a small red fluff ball was left there, screaming, bursting forth with brilliant fire, expelling the black flame from its body.
The fluff ball soared high into the sky with the propulsion of flames, directly breaking through the thin blizzard, rising above the polluted lake with the Sun.
Meanwhile, the murky depraved flame rose without warning, billowing poisonous flames engulfing the tuft in the air.
In the hissing alarm of the Gleaming Scale Serpent, the Snow Woman Archer and Frost Matron quickly reacted.
"It's the Depraved Flame! Hurry, support her!" The Snow Woman Archer's face was solemn, as she raised her hand, ice formed in her palm like ice flowers, and when those petals scattered, they became Elemental Arrows that pierced through everything.
The Frost Matron and nine Snow Women immediately controlled the wind and snow, trying to suppress the demon flames that were about to break through the Sealing.
But before they could take action, the clear Phoenix cry drowned out all other sounds, echoing above the mountaintop.
[Hero activates skill: Sacrifice (Sealing Power+54)]
D48+d283+40+54=d48(44)+d283(224)+54=322
[Exceeds Pollution 189, Depravity determination failed]
Anger burst forth like a volcanic eruption from within the Hero, completely dispersing the remnants of the depraved flames on the feathers.
On the Highland's highest point, close to heaven's lake, near the Sun's nearest patch of Earth, the sunlight suddenly intensified, the howling wind and snow bowed their heads as if in submission.