In mid-air, the dusk wind caressed the Hero's skirt hem. She hovered silently in the sky, her emerald green pupils reflecting the setting sun in the west.
The maiden watched as the afterglow was slowly swallowed by the horizon, with everything between heaven and earth gradually being enveloped by the night. Above her head, only the dim outline of the Ashen Moon remained, as if no light would ever rise again.
"——Alright, let's depart."
After a brief moment of contemplation, she took a deep breath.
In the next instant, the dreary Depraved Wind swept beneath her feet, the air currents lifted her up, and the maiden slightly leaned forward, transforming into an arrow shot off the string, flying forward.
'What, have you already decided the date of your demise? Can't wait to go meet her?'
From the depths of her heart came the sneer of another self, mocking her audacious actions.
The Hero wasn't shaken, still charging straight ahead. The ceaseless winds high above embraced her, propelling her speed ever higher.
'I haven't used a transformation, so the consumption of magic power isn't high. This speed can stay maintained, so probably in three days, no, two days I will arrive——'
"Also, I have no intention of committing suicide."
While paying attention to the scenery sweeping below, she responded internally to the other self. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel·fiɾe·net
'You can fool others, but let's not fool yourself.' The Depraved Hero snorted coldly.
'Though I still don't know the specifics, from this distance one can perceive the chaos of magic elements, I fear it's already in a half-ruined state there.
'The people at the border think the nobles of Capital have been at ease for too long, but no matter what, it is the capital, the defensive strength won't lose to the border. Even the Corrupted Phoenix in its prime wouldn't find it easy to attack head-on. '
The Hero did not answer, only flew with concentration, the sound of the wind howling beside her ears.
Then the indifferent voice of the Depraved Hero echoed in her heart:
'The Fourteenth Princess last communicated with Royal City less than two months ago. To destroy a nation's capital in such a short time is too brief, especially since on the way we haven't noticed any signs of war...
'So the culprit isn't the Arcane Surge, nor a simple calamity of war.
'——but internal chaos.'
The Depraved Hero let out a cold laugh.
[Royal City displacement occurred [] days ago (decide casualties)]
'To achieve such a disaster there is only one method: large-scale ritual magic, and it was arranged within the city with a lot of traitorous cooperation beforehand.'
One of the most notable differences between ritual level magic and lower-level spells is that it can enhance the scale and power of magic substantially through multiple chants or using materials to set up an array.
The complex yet stable structure of ritual magic can carry more magic power, although the essence of the spells may not change significantly, a quantitative change can lead to qualitative change.
A scene flashed in the Hero's mind: on the highland, a woman with red hair laughed crazily, then the light of ritual magic suddenly bloomed, the earth was torn apart, transforming into an abyss...
'Indeed, it's those crazy believers who did such a thing, isn't it?
'Once a large-scale ritual is activated, destroying a city overnight isn't a problem.
'But this kind of magic can't be set up in a day or two, for it to start smoothly proves the Capital is already riddled with holes... I see, it's to trap that woman so as not to be discovered.'
A flicker of realization rose in the Hero's heart, she whispered: "Seizing the opportunity while the Divine Knowledge Saintess was absent—"
'That's probably correct, and those sect followers have unclear relations with that four-winged bastard...'
The Depraved Hero clicked its tongue slightly.
'So even if we hurry to the Capital, it won't be enough to solve this incident. This opponent isn't the kind of magic creature that gets blown away with one punch, it is humankind, a large number of humankind, even including the upper-level nobles originally belonging to the Kingdom.'
Without those in high positions openly sheltering them, it's hard to imagine how the Black Gate could complete the ritual setup so clandestinely.
"...but there will definitely be places where I am needed, things I can do."
The Hero did not refute, gently responding.
"Moreover, my friend is there, I must go."
The visage of the Noble Lady floated to her mind, causing her to smile slightly, within her smile was firm determination.
"Thank you for analyzing so much for me."
'As you wish then, just don't forget to release me before dying.' The Depraved Hero lazily yawned.
"Haha, didn't I say, I have no intention of committing suicide." The Hero's lips curled up.
Her silhouette sped over the Airport City, the magic power of the wind trailing a faint arc of light behind her, slicing straight through the night sky like a meteor.
Within the brief few minutes of flying over the city, through the connection with her familiar, the Hero sent a message to the Gleaming Scale Serpent.
Then she took a deep breath, accelerated to the limit, leaving a short-lived yet dazzling light in the night.
[Noble Lady's fortune (1+ no incident, 4=+ in Royal City, 4- for fragmented displacement)]
[Brother's fortune (1+ no incident, even numbers in Ancient Royal City, 8=+summoning Hero)]
[Noble Lady fortune Great Success~ current location is——]
1. Center of Ancient Royal City
2. Royal Capital Cathedral
4. Royal Capital Academy
6. Escaped outside Capital
7. Escaped outside Ancient Royal City
8. Met the Hero's brother
10. Great Success/Extreme Failure
[Brother in Western Realm——]
1.5. Encountered a formidable enemy
2.6. Encountered Noble Lady
3.7. Encountered Saintess
4.8. Future Calculation