*Chi-chi-chi-chiik!*
In an instant, the interior of the mansion was shrouded in steam.
The residual heat of the Sun Elixir within Ether clashed head-on with Ezekiel’s intense cold. It was a fierce battle of elements.
‘Luckily, it’s just steam. Quiet, the warriors outside won’t notice.’
There were only three witnesses — Ether, Ezekiel, and the messenger. The warriors must not find out.
*Kwaang! Kwang!*
The sound of explosions was getting closer.
It meant that the front line had been pushed back, which was only natural. After all, what was more threatening to warriors engaged in close combat than self-destructing Undead?
Ezekiel took a moment to glance through the window and observe the warriors’ expressions. Indeed, their faces had lost a lot of their composure; they were worried about the First Princess, and it was no wonder.
If the warriors’ confidence in the First Princess was shaken, the situation would quickly spiral out of control and lead to defeat.
Moreover, there was another problem.
How many people would risk their lives to challenge the ‘strongest’ title? If Ether’s weakness were to be revealed, there would be no end to those who would challenge her.
Chaos was the last thing he wanted.
Ezekiel had to succeed.
The messenger exclaimed, his eyes wide.
“Inspector Ezekiel! What are you doing?!”
Not just the messenger, but Ether also looked surprised.
“Teacher, I warned you that I was in danger…”
“You and the First Princess are both crucial assets. With the current situation in the Demon Realm being so volatile, if something were to happen to either of you…!”
The messenger’s voice was filled with urgency.
Such a desperate moment was rare. But it was too late to turn back now. The heat of the Sun Elixir held him fast.
Ether asked, her voice laced with a hint of sharpness.
“Teacher.”
“Yes.”
Ezekiel replied calmly, trying not to show the pain from the Sun Elixir’s heat.
“You said my life was more important than yours. Did you truly mean that?”
Ether’s question was sharp.
Of course, Ezekiel, being human, had a natural desire to live.
But Ezekiel did not waver.
“…Yes.”
He would rather die than see Ether die before his eyes and spend the rest of his life regretting it.
That was even more unbearable.
“…………”
Ether was silent for a moment, her eyes fluttering closed. She seemed to be both moved and shocked by Ezekiel’s sincerity.
After a moment, she spoke up.
“The heat from the Sun Elixir is unimaginable. It’s even more chaotic now that it’s mixed with my own energy. It won’t be easy to inject your ice mana into me.” ṞᴀΝ𝖔ᛒЁ§
“I’ve never done anything easy in my life.”
Ezekiel replied calmly.
“But I’ve always managed to do it, no matter how difficult it was.”
Ether’s expression was skeptical.
“Truly?”
Time seemed to stand still.
Finally, the First Princess nodded her head.
“Teacher, you have my permission to touch my body.”
It was a clear sign of trust, granting him complete permission.
The messenger’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“You can’t be serious! If you make even the slightest mistake, it could cost both of your lives! Not just the First Princess’, but yours as well!”
“I’ve already made up my mind. As my vassal, you will respect my decision.”
Ether’s voice was firm, and she leaned forward, exposing her back to Ezekiel.
It was a shocking sight.
The First Princess was exposing her bare skin, and a warrior was turning her back on him. Both actions spoke volumes about their trust in each other.
Ether slowly closed her eyes.
“Teacher, my words just now were almost a confession. You must be prepared to take responsibility for me.”
“I’ve always been prepared.”
“You have a remarkable control over your ice mana… I trust no one else but you. From now on, do as you see fit, without hesitation.”
Ether’s tone was almost casual, but Ezekiel knew that she was placing her trust in him.
It was a truly grateful moment.
“A… ah… “
The messenger was on edge, unable to calm down.
Ether’s gaze turned to him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Putting both of your lives on the line like this is… it’s unacceptable! I’m deeply worried…”
“In other words, our lives are tied together now.”
Ether smiled wryly.
“Isn’t that a romantic notion?”
But despite her words, her ragged breathing betrayed her worsening condition.
At the same time, a voice shouted from outside the mansion.
“Your Highness, the enemies’ momentum is getting out of control! If you could just…!”
“We can’t keep dealing with these Undead! They just keep coming back to life in strange ways!”
Everyone’s words conveyed the same message: the situation was not looking good. It was truly desperate.
Ezekiel also knew this, which was why…
He placed his hand on the nape of Ether’s neck, where her skin was exposed. He could feel the softness of her skin and the firmness of her back muscles at the same time; the soft skin immediately began to burn, and the process of healing and repeating itself began.
‘I can end this chain of pain with my own hands.’
Ezekiel thought, as he poured all his ice mana into his hand.
He had always wanted the Sun Elixir, but could never get it. Ether, on the other hand, had never wanted it, but was forced to endure the pain it brought.
Neither of them had been truly happy.
‘Now, I want us all to be happy.’
Ezekiel wished, and to make this happen, he first needed to calm down the heat within Ether’s body.
*Sssssss!*
The ice mana poured out of Ezekiel’s hand like a snowy cave.
Ezekiel shut out all distractions.
Yes, all he thought about was saving Ether.
.
.
.
It was unbelievable.
The First Princess, who was like a goddess, had allowed him to touch her bare skin.
The Unmatched, the Invincible… she was the one with the most powerful titles. Who could have ever imagined that a man would be able to touch her skin like this?
Ezekiel’s hand was on the very top of her back, almost at the base of her neck.
The neck.
It was a vital spot, where the blood vessels converged, and at the same time, it was a place where the energy flowed strongly. For Ether, who controlled her energy, this was a crucial spot.
Now, everything was in Ezekiel’s hands.
*Chi-chi-chi-chiik!*
His hand was burning, as if it was on fire.
He had never felt such heat before in his life, and the Sun Elixir still seemed like a mystery to him. How could such a thing exist?
“The Sun Elixir is blocking my blood vessels and causing me pain. You need to use ice mana to break through.”
Ether whispered, her voice barely audible.
“The meridians for energy are already open, so if you just pour in the ice mana, it will flow naturally. Just push it in strongly, and it will take care of itself.”
Indeed, Ether’s meridians for energy were incredibly wide, a testament to her incredible spiritual power.
The meridians for energy are affected by one’s spiritual power.
How much training would it take to reach this level of mastery? It was no wonder, considering she had to endure the pain of her skin burning every moment.
*Kuung!*
Just then, the sound of the mansion’s gate crashing into something echoed through the air.
“Don’t let this gate open under any circumstances!”
“Defend it! We must defend it!”
“Push forward as much as possible! If the Undead explode here, it will be a disaster! This is the First Princess’s mansion, after all!”
The sounds coming from outside conveyed the desperation of the situation; the Goddess of the Demon Realm was hoping for the First Princess’s downfall.
It was easy to understand why.
If the First Princess were defeated, it would make it much easier for the Demon Realm to conquer the continent.
Crisis.
Ezekiel slowly closed his eyes.
“Ah, I’ll join the battle too. Please, take care of yourself, Your Highness and Inspector!”
The messenger’s voice faded into the distance as he rushed outside.
*Ssssssss…*
As Ezekiel’s eyes closed, a vivid scene unfolded before him. In the darkness, he saw two branches, one blue and one red, stretching out like a tree.
He saw the First Princess’s blood vessels and meridians for energy, all of them visible to him.
Suddenly, he remembered a phrase the Emperor had once said.
— The Sun Elixir seems to be afraid of your ice mana. I’ve never seen anything like this before.
It meant that the Sun Elixir was inferior to him.
Perhaps, he could overcome it.
No, perhaps he could control the Sun Elixir spirit.
With newfound confidence, Ezekiel poured all his concentration into his ice mana, which had grown stronger from all the battles he had fought.
Ether’s coughing fit echoed in his mind a few times, but soon faded away.
And then, at some point.
Ezekiel felt like he was in a vast world.
The First Princess’s energy meridians were so wide that they felt like a world unto themselves. Her mastery was on a completely different level, truly unmatched. However, her internal world was also incredibly unstable, as if it was being affected by the Sun Elixir’s side effects.
*Huuuuuuuuk!*
Ezekiel poured all his ice mana into her body.
He remembered the First Princess’s advice. She had said that her energy meridian were wide, so he just needed to pour in the ice mana without worrying.
He did just that.
As a result, Ezekiel felt the heat from the Sun Elixir entering his body.
His head spun with fever, and he could even smell the scent of burning.
But still.
He refused to give up.
*Huuuuuuuuk!*
As he continued to pour in his ice mana, he heard the First Princess’s dazed voice.
“…Huh?”
At the same time, Ezekiel was certain.
He had a chance to control the Sun Elixir spirit.
END σϝ CHAPTER
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