Chapter 1189: Section 1190 Lucia’s Path in Aoluxiya
Popota, engulfed in flames, fell from the sky like a meteor, crashing into Dust.
After the colossal impact, the ground bore a huge crater, and Popota lay at its center, drenched in blood, momentarily unable to move.
Meanwhile, the unscathed Lord of the Flameless descended leisurely.
In terms of strength, the avatar of the Lord of the Flameless was actually not much different from Popota. Yet, His ability to perfectly suppress Popota and remain completely unharmed revealed a gap in their combat consciousness.
This disparity was an immense chasm. For Popota as he currently was, it was fundamentally impossible to bridge.
“Strength that has been forcibly enhanced is just like a mirage of a building in the sky, beautiful to look at but collapses at a touch,” the voice of the Lord of the Flameless was calm and steady, seemingly critiquing Popota’s battle tactics, but to Popota, it sounded more like mockery.
The Lord of the Flameless looked at Popota, who was struggling to survive, with a trace of pity in His eyes.
To Him, the Baiyuanians possessed an extremely ‘adorable’ quality. If He, rather than the Master of the Abyss, had been the first to encounter Popota, perhaps He also would have taken Popota as a devotee, using him to research a new avatar. Regrettably, a good body had been ruined by Popota’s own doing – it might appear stronger, but as He said, it was illusory, coming at the cost of all one’s potential and value.
Now, even if Popota still clung to some stubborn obsession, fundamentally, he had been completely altered.
The Lord of the Flameless no longer paid any attention to Popota, because with Popota’s currently unbalanced state, even if He didn’t take action, Popota would gradually disintegrate on his own.
The Lord of the Flameless turned back to look at Aoluxiya.
“Since you’re already awake, why pretend to be asleep?” Aoluxiya didn’t respond, continuing to lie with eyes closed.
The Lord of the Flameless walked slowly to Aoluxiya’s side and sighed without emotion, “Disobedient child.”
He stretched out His hand towards Aoluxiya, but just as His hand was about to touch her, Aoluxiya suddenly opened her eyes. A flash of crimson light, and her figure appeared behind the Lord of the Flameless – a fierce strike full of terrifying energy, hoping to destroy His avatar from both inside and out.
However, just as the fierce strike was about to hit the back of the Lord of the Flameless, Aoluxiya’s arm was suddenly restrained by an eerie power, and the energy carried by the palm wind scattered as well.
“Attacking your own father, that’s not cute at all,” the Lord of the Flameless turned His head, His eyes carrying a disapproving hue towards Aoluxiya, “But you’re better than that Baiyuanian, for he is beyond saving, whereas you can be reforged.”
Aoluxiya’s pupils shrank, and she concentrated all her strength in her arm. With a thunderous sound, they separated, and Aoluxiya quickly retreated to put distance between herself and the Lord of the Flameless.
The moment the Lord of the Flameless mentioned being “reforged,” Aoluxiya knew that the words she heard Angel say about “returning to silence” were not false.
The Lord of the Flameless really planned to lay hands on her!
Perhaps that was why the Lord of the Flameless used an avatar to pursue her all the way from the Abyssal Depth.
“I really don’t like the look in your eyes. I gave you life, you should be grateful to me every moment, rather than looking at me with eyes full of hate,” the voice of the Lord of the Flameless carried reproof, but one could see from His gaze that there was no fluctuation of emotion.
“If somebody were trying to kill you, would you be grateful to them?” Aoluxiya retorted coldly, “Oh, I’m mistaken, perhaps you’ve already forgotten what the emotion of gratitude even is?”
“I won’t kill you; I will just bring you to silence. When you awaken, you’ll be better,” replied the Lord of the Flameless calmly.
“Once the soul is silenced, I will no longer be myself,” said Aoluxiya, her eyes flickering, “Become better? More like becoming more in line with your intentions, right?”
The Lord of the Flameless: “Your very birth is the extension of my will, serving my wishes is your duty.”
“Duty? I have my own path.”
“No, you don’t. This path you call your own is nothing but a bubble of illusion, imagined to evade me. You can’t possibly continue on it.”
“Asgard will give me answers,” said Aoluxiya.
“Asgard will give you answers? That must be what the Cruel Scholar told you, and that’s why you went searching for the Fire Relics, seeking Asgard?” The Lord of the Flameless suddenly laughed, although His eyes remained as cold as ever, “The Cruel Scholar is a manipulator of words. Have you not carefully considered that His words didn’t actually promise you hope but might also spell despair?”
Aoluxiya was taken aback, recalling when she once asked the Cruel Scholar, who told her with a profoundly meaningful expression, “You seek your own path? Go to Asgard then, there you will find your answers.”
But the Cruel Scholar didn’t specify whether those answers would be good or bad. Aoluxiya naively assumed she would find her own path in Asgard, but what if the answer were bad? She wasn’t unaware of the possibility, but she dared not consider it.
Now, as the Lord of the Flameless cruelly laid bare the truth, Aoluxiya began to waver internally.
“My path is your path. Asgard is a place long lost; your search for it from the beginning was a mistake.”
Was it really a mistake? Aoluxiya’s defenses began to subtly shake.
She didn’t notice that when the Lord of the Flameless mentioned Asgard, His eyelids drooped slightly.
Tap, tap, tap—
The Lord of the Flameless methodically approached Aoluxiya, “Your future shall be crafted by me, which is the best outcome for both you and me.”
Aoluxiya looked at the Lord of the Flameless with some bewilderment as he moved toward her.
“The tranquility of the soul does not mean you will disappear, rather, a better you will be reborn from your shell, rising from the ashes.”
…
As the Lord of the Flameless took steps toward Aoluxiya, she showed no reaction, which greatly worried Greerwu, who was watching from a distance.
Especially since the Lord of the Flameless had already gathered energy, and Aoluxiya was still unconscious, Greerwu finally couldn’t help but shout out “Lady Aoluxiya, be careful!”
Greerwu’s voice awakened Aoluxiya, who had been torn at heart.
When she came to her senses and saw the Lord of the Flameless with destructive energy gathered, she instinctively dodged, avoiding his strike.
The Lord of the Flameless glanced at Greerwu and then looked again at Aoluxiya, speaking with a faint voice filled with regret, “Why? I thought you had become obedient.”
“Isn’t it nicer to perish gently?” The Lord of the Flameless moved again, seemingly slow but swiftly closing in on Aoluxiya.
Aoluxiya’s heart flickered once more; her emotions toward the Lord of the Flameless had always been complex.
There was admiration and also fear.
However, listening to the Lord of the Flameless’ now ‘matter-of-fact’ words, the decline in admiration felt by Aoluxiya deepened her turmoil.
She even didn’t know how to react or respond at this moment.
“Don’t!”
Aoluxiya heard Greerwu’s shout again, and as she lifted her head, she saw the Lord of the Flameless was already in front of her. Even though the Lord of the Flameless’ avatar looked exactly like her, in face and height, inexplicably, Aoluxiya felt a sense of being looked down upon.
Greerwu’s voice was in her ears, and the Lord of the Flameless’ attack was before her eyes.
Aoluxiya was somewhat bewildered for a moment. She suddenly recalled Angel’s previous question: “Would Aoluxiya resist the Lord of the Flameless if she awakened?”
To this question, Aoluxiya herself did not know how to answer.
But Greerwu answered without hesitation and with certainty, “Yes! She will definitely resist!”
As Greerwu’s voice exploded in her ears, Aoluxiya’s confused eyes finally regained their luster.
That’s right, I will definitely resist! Aoluxiya suddenly remembered her previous decision; she would not let Greerwu down, because that was her own will as well.
Besides, she had already made up her mind to resist, and even taken actions before, so why hesitate now?
With that thought, Aoluxiya no longer hesitated, unleashing powerful energy to counter the Lord of the Flameless’ attack.
After a burst of dazzling brilliance, Aoluxiya and the Lord of the Flameless each stepped back several paces.
“Ah, why won’t children just be obedient?” the Lord of the Flameless mused with some emotion, “Perishing gently, realigning onto the right path, that’s the choice you should make.”
Aoluxiya lifted her head, her eyes becoming resolute.
“I have my own path, even if Asgard does not provide an answer, there will always be a place that gives me a satisfactory response.”
“I will never walk with you!”
As her resolve rang out, Aoluxiya unleashed her powerful strength, attacking the Lord of the Flameless.
The Lord of the Flameless paused for a moment, then sighed softly, “It seems my attempt was a failure, letting my bloodline mature from an infant to adulthood created a soul, but the uncontrollable elements are too many. Indeed, it might be better to start over from scratch.”
Two identical beams of light entangled in the dark sky.
Unlike Popota, Aoluxiya’s power was gradually mastered, and her combat awareness even enhanced her own strength.
So, for a time, Aoluxiya and the Lord of the Flameless’ Demon God avatar were evenly matched in combat.
Moreover, Aoluxiya was relieved that they were not in Lassudral. Although she didn’t know how she arrived here, or why the others were absent, it provided a good space for her, least of all she could focus on facing the Lord of the Flameless without having to worry about anyone attacking from the sidelines.