Chapter 279: Wildly Burning Raging Flames, Thousand-Mile Pursuit

"The answer is quite obvious, isn't it?"

"Sif" wore a smile that could only be described as mischievous, the glimmer of excitement in her eyes revealing how delighted the devil currently occupying her body truly was.

"Although you disrupted my plans this time and left me a bit displeased, honestly, I prefer watching special individuals struggle and suffer when faced with a choice far more than I enjoy toying with an entire race."

"The value of a soul cannot be measured by simple means. Sometimes I feel like quite the musician, watching my lovely targets trapped in a web woven of harp strings, every struggle producing such a melodious sound."

"That hesitation, that helplessness—how crave-worthy it is! Especially those with immense wizarding talent; their souls are always so delectable to me. The movements they compose while struggling are etched into my memory, impossible to forget."

"Sif" licked the corner of her mouth, speaking of her depraved tastes with a playful tone. The malice born of her very nature, like a pervasive, foul stench, had seeped into every crevice of the devil's words, inseparable and absolute.

"Avia Dove, and that partner of yours who disgusts me, you succeeded in saving the mother of the Liaheim elves, but now, can you save your own? You have half a month. I shall be waiting for you by my brother's side and the side of Miss Avia's mother."

"Perhaps it is a conspiracy, perhaps a ruse, but you must come, must you not? If I do not see you in fifteen days, I am afraid my brother and I will drag Ms. Mira Swain into the void. So, what will you do? Make your choice."

Watching with satisfaction as Avia’s complexion turned ghastly, the devil "Five" stated its purpose. It would wait for Wang Yu and Avia by her mother's side; as for what it intended to do, it seemed the devil had no intention of telling them just yet.

"What is it that you want...?"

Avia’s voice was frigid, a rare, deathly murderous intent surfacing in her words. There were two people in this world who mattered most to her: Wang Yu, and her only remaining kin, her mother, Mira Swain.

When the safety of these two was threatened, the girl’s gentleness vanished into thin air.

"Hehehe, my dear genius wizard, Lady of the Keys, do allow me to keep you in suspense. Once you have completed this first step, let us continue this interesting game, shall we?"

The girl’s murderous intent did not cause the devil "Five" the slightest panic; instead, it laughed even more wantonly. It loved nothing more than to see its targets enraged to the point of madness, yet forced to follow its rules.

"It seems we are a bit far from your mother. For us, the void will help us cover this distance, but you will have to hurry, won't you? Until we meet again."

With a radiant smile, "Sif" performed a standard, elegant bow to bid them farewell. Then, her body went limp and she collapsed to the ground; clearly, the devil "Five" had departed.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Footsteps echoed. Wang Yu, who had remained silent, walked to the side of the semi-conscious Sif, placed a vial of smelling salts under her nose, and tapped it gently.

"Achoo! Ah, Mr. Wang Yu, why are you here? Thank you..."

"You were possessed by a devil. Go back and rest first; we have matters to attend to."

Sif opened her eyes and saw Wang Yu’s calm face. She was stunned for a moment, then recalled what had just transpired and offered a grateful smile, wanting to express her thanks.

But before she could speak, Wang Yu pressed a finger to her lips, cutting off her words with a statement devoid of emotion.

"I... a devil?... Very well..."

After being interrupted, Sif clearly had other thoughts upon hearing about the possession, but at that moment, she felt a bone-chilling coldness surge up her spine.

Although the source of this chill was clearly not directed at her, her desire to ask what had happened or if she could help withered away after a few stammers, replaced by submissive obedience.

"..."

As she turned to leave, Sif’s gaze lingered on Wang Yu’s calm face. She was certain the source of that chill was Wang Yu; the knight, who looked no different than usual, had undergone a fundamental change.

Without hesitation, Sif turned and left Wang Yu and Avia. Her keen elven intuition told her that leaving now was the best course of action.

"I think it is time to make some changes..."

The words, spoken in a tone no different from usual, left Wang Yu’s lips, but as Sif had sensed, something had changed irrevocably.

A fire had been fully ignited within Wang Yu. His anger had two forms: simple irritation, and a deeper, more profound state. If one were to describe it, "a cornered dog jumping over a wall" was a fitting analogy.

Since arriving in this world, Wang Yu had felt simple anger often—the vengeful rage toward Obi-Wan, the disgust at Avia being persecuted by her own kin, the contemplation after witnessing the tragedy in the small village on the way to the capital, and so on...

But the "cornered dog" state had only occurred once before: when Hela invaded their house on Red Maple Street and used the girl as a threat to force him into a contract.

At that time, he had stood in silence, pushing the Blood-Red Fury Knight secret technique to a limit he might not even be able to reach now.

And the depth of that "cornered dog" state was perhaps not as profound as it was now. After all, he could have signed the slave contract knowing it would be ineffective, using it to deceive Hela; he had a way out.

But now, there seemed to be no way out. The devil had laid its scheme bare, using Avia’s mother as a hostage to threaten them.

Wang Yu hated being threatened above all else, especially when it involved those he cared for—Avia, or now, her mother, Mira Swain. This was why he had been so cautious about his relationship with Avia.

He was a man who disliked being bound.

Like a towering cliff, he was strong because he had no desires; when alone, he was truly free, with no qualms about his actions.

But when he was no longer alone, he developed a soft underbelly. The things he cared for would, at times, become weaknesses for a blade to pierce.

However, once he resolved to be responsible for someone or something, he would see it through to the end. That was simply how he was.

He, Wang Yu, did not accept threats and would never compromise. When someone threatened what he held dear, he would push his "by any means necessary" attitude to the extreme.

Now, the devil "Five" had used someone Wang Yu cared about to threaten him. Wang Yu was desperate, and he was "jumping over the wall." What he would do next would be completely beyond control.

"My way of handling things has always been to avoid meddling in matters outside my capability, whether back in the capital of Alestler or elsewhere."

"This has led to us being passive when facing certain events, rarely taking the initiative. The demon invasion, the academy incident, the descent of the Fear God—it was all the same..."

"These things always seem to find us. It’s too passive; this won't do. The method of steadily growing stronger seems unfeasible now. We must make some changes."

"I think I was wrong to believe I was 'nothing.' My body, my soul, my different identity—they are bound to bring something. This isn't a mission, but a reality we must face that others do not, like these... disgusting devils..."

"Perhaps in other aspects, I should maintain the idea that I am actually 'nothing,' but regarding these devils, I am truly special. Passively waiting for these damned things to stir up trouble and burn us is not an option!"

"I cannot tolerate these maggots, this filthy shit. I must do something. I will wipe them from this world..."

Wang Yu calmly narrated his intentions. Avia listened quietly; she could feel the shift in his state. Wang Yu rarely spoke at length, but she did not feel the chill Sif had. A similar flame was ignited within the girl’s heart.

"Yes, you said it yourself: some things may not be rational or correct, but not doing them only leads to regret. Whatever you intend to do, I will be by your side."

The girl nodded. She didn't know what Wang Yu planned, but they were family. Trusting him was enough. Saving her mother, eradicating the demons—together.

"Let's go."

"Okay."

...

"Mr. Gawain, please provide us with a magical beast or something capable of long-distance travel. The elves should have such things, right? We must reach the human kingdom within fifteen days."

Gawain looked at Avia, who had suddenly sought him out, feeling slightly stunned. She had stated her request bluntly. Although the Elven race would never refuse their great benefactor who had saved Liaheim, it still felt a bit strange.

"Let Angora take you. As a commander-level Storm Eagle King, its speed will be more than enough to meet your requirements."

"Many thanks."

With a brief exchange, the girl took the token Gawain gave her and headed toward where Angora was kept.

"..."

Staring at the girl’s retreating figure, a strange premonition suddenly arose in Gawain’s heart. Something major was about to happen, though perhaps this "major event" would remain unknown to the world.

...

"The devil signed a contract with the Dove family, and that devil is now with Avia’s mother, Mira Swain? The devil that twisted the Tree of Life is using Ms. Mira’s life to threaten you?"

Zieg summarized what Wang Yu had told him and looked to him for confirmation.

"Indeed, Avia and I are returning to her mother’s Spire of the Hex-Bound, and I intend to slaughter every last one of those devils."

Wang Yu nodded, his tone as flat as if he were discussing the weather, despite the earth-shattering nature of his declaration.

"Count me in. My research into the Void may pale in comparison to a wizard’s, but I have my own part to play, don't I?"

Zieg struck Wang Yu’s chest with a fist, offering his support without a flicker of hesitation. He found Wang Yu’s words absurd, yet he reminded himself that the man had already committed more than his fair share of madness.

"My thanks. Avia has gone to the Elves to secure transport; we depart shortly."

Between friends, elaborate gratitude is superfluous; a simple thanks suffices.

"My apologies, but there are matters to attend to. We shall discuss the Iron King, Borgul, another time. As for those runic studies, I... never mind, let us postpone all arrangements. Farewell."

Zieg approached Toby, the dwarf with whom he had been debating, and under the dwarf’s bewildered gaze, he offered his parting words, leaving in such haste that he did not even pause to settle his affairs.

"What is the meaning of this? We were getting along so well. Such a learned professor—what a pity."

Dwarf Toby tugged at his beard, unable to fathom why Zieg would depart so abruptly. They had been deep in a spirited discussion on runic theory, and Toby, deeply impressed by the professor’s erudition, had even intended to invite this outsider to join the restoration and upgrade project for the Iron King, Borgul.

...

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

High above, the giant eagle Angora beat its wings, churning the air into a gale that merged with the tempest of its own innate magic, propelling its massive frame at breakneck speed. As a true darling of the skies, it moved with a velocity that far outstripped Zieg’s draconic form.

Upon the eagle’s back, a barrier of woven mana shattered the howling winds, shielding the three passengers from the fury of the flight.

"How do you intend to deal with these devils? We have yet to grasp their true nature; even the holy arts of the Light God cannot force them to manifest unless cast directly upon a confirmed target. Wang Yu, what is your plan?"

Zieg looked at him intently, needing to know the strategy and to ensure that rage had not clouded Wang Yu’s judgment.

"Professor, you are aware of certain peculiarities regarding my soul and flesh—they are tied to a specific identity of mine. I shall explain it to you later."

"The connection between the devils and the Void makes it nearly impossible to harm them in the material world, or even to perceive them."

"If they remain hidden and target us, I would indeed be helpless against them, but..."

A memory flashed through Wang Yu’s mind: the Void-infused 'Wish Coin' potion passing through his physical form, only to be seized by the power of his Chariot.

He was more unique than he had imagined. The reason mattered little; he would understand it in time.

"If they intend to drag Avia’s mother into the Void, then I suspect that within the Void, they must possess a physical form."

"I am going to enter the Void, and then, I am going to butcher them."

The power of the Chariot surged, boiling with the heat of rising fury.