Chapter 92 : No Longer Afraid

In midair, Hitana exhaled the scorching breath from her lungs, feeling the fiery blood and surging power flow within her, unable to resist letting out a long howl.

Only now did Hitana understand what Anselm meant by true power.

It wasn’t just the blood splattering in fistfights, the fleeting glints of clashing blades, or the sparks bursting from roaring spells.

It was… the true might to alter the heavens, split mountains, and crack the earth!

The scenes seen in dreams, in Anselm’s memories, were mere illusory wisps.

Only when she truly held this trembling power, igniting the beastly nature in her heart, could she feel such ecstasy, such…

Happiness!

“You had fun crushing me earlier, huh? This punch…”

Her taller, more athletic, graceful body plummeted from the sky with astonishing force.

Almost instinctively, she mobilized her muscles and ether, exploding layers of airwaves behind her.

That figure, still infinitesimally small compared to the Red Ice Python, now seemed like a meteor crashing down!

“Is for you!”

Boom!

Her still delicate, pale fist struck the midsection of the Red Ice Python’s massive body.

This time, Hitana’s arm didn’t break from fragile muscles or bones.

The force, beyond even Anselm’s predictions, erupted like a volcano in that tiny space… unleashing destruction!

First, a massive shockwave of shattered air spread outward.

Then, the Red Ice Python’s crystalline shell was blasted with a crater-like dent, dense cracks spreading to both sides with a crisp shattering sound.

This was just the initial force of her punch.

When the full impact, combined with gravity and her own strength, truly struck, the initial crater exploded into an even larger fracture!

From a distance, it looked as if an invisible blade had carved a chunk from the Red Ice Python’s body.

The Red Ice Python let out a piercing, pained hiss.

Its massive, slithering body trembled.

From the section where Hitana stood, a visible red cold wave began to emanate.

Earlier, the Python’s unconscious cold wave had stiffened Hitana’s muscles and bones, making running nearly impossible, punching a struggle, and lingering longer would’ve frozen her dead.

Now, this red ice mist, clearly several times more dangerous, posed an even greater threat.

But… Hitana felt nothing.

Her transformed intuition gave no warning.

The girl raised her brows, striding toward the spreading ice mist.

The moment she touched it, her body was instantly coated in fine red ice crystals.

The color drained from the veins on her hand, her snowy skin turning deathly pale.

“Whoa, this is—”

Feeling the chill seeping into her veins, freezing her blood, rooting into her marrow, and frosting her bones, Hitana said in surprise: “Sure enough, third-tier casually beating fourth-tier isn’t that simple… if I’m not careful, this guy could still kill me.”

“Hm… actually, not really.”

She lifted her chin, a hint of the future tyrant’s fierce arrogance glinting in her dark red eyes:

“Such a big guy, and all you’ve got is this?”

“Come on!”

The wolf-beast stepped forward, laughing heartily: “Try killing me!”

She raised her hands high, clasping them into a hammer.

The blood, nearly frozen by the cold, boiled like lava, surging like a tide, channeling energy throughout her body in an instant.

Her perfect body, transformed by the Head of Strength, retained unmatched aesthetic power even with bulging muscles, not the exaggerated bulk of a beast.

Her brows and hair were covered in red ice crystals, but Hitana showed no fear, her smile unrestrained.

She took a deep breath, actively drawing the deadly cold wave into her lungs!

As her fragile airways and organs froze instantly, the hammer, charged with terrifying force, smashed down amid the air’s sharp whistle!

Flesh met crystal, but no blood or broken bones flew.

Instead, the ice-crystal shell, forged by extreme cold, shattered like a child’s paper toy, fragile and vulnerable, kicking up shockwaves visible hundreds of meters away!

“wyyy—!”

The Red Ice Python’s pained, furious shriek echoed in the air.

The red ice mist spreading from its back was blown away by the impact of Hitana’s hammer!

“Hoo… cough, cough, cough…”

Hitana exhaled slowly, accidentally coughing up a large patch of blood, even some frozen organ fragments, but she wiped her mouth like nothing happened, stretching lazily.

The ice crystals on her body shattered as she stretched, and the girl rubbed her head: “Feels like I’ve got a lot of power left to unleash… at least entertain me and Anselm a bit, big guy.”

She sprinted along the Red Ice Python’s body—sprinting, but to a third-person view, it was almost like flying, leaving afterimages at terrifying speed, appearing on the Python’s head like teleportation.

“Hey, big guy.”

Hitana put one hand on her hip, looking down at the ether creature’s massive eyes: “Just punching holes in you isn’t fun.I’ll give you a chance to face me head-on.Don’t waste it.”

As if deliberately humiliating the creature, she stomped on its head.

Though its head was massive, it seemed to sense the tiny insect’s provocation, roaring in fury.

“So noisy.”

Hitana leaped down, her cloak fluttering in the cold wind, landing lightly seconds later, looking up at the colossal beast.

To it, the old her was indeed an ignorable ant.

Given the size difference, one might worry she’d be crushed to dust any second.

The enraged Red Ice Python gathered an immense ether vortex in its mouth.

The red cold wave, capable of freezing air, combined with summoned water vapor, formed thousands of dense, sky-blocking ice spikes.

With a mad roar, the extreme cold surge, like a storm, mixed with near-endless ice spikes, poured toward Hitana!

The girl, standing in the snowy storm under this red cold tempest and torrential ice spikes, was as tiny as dust.

Bang, bang, bang, bang—

Terrifying explosions, like cluster bombs, echoed across the snowfield.

The shockwaves and snow buried everything.

The red cold wave froze the scattered debris, turning it into finer bullets, relentlessly bombarding Hitana as the cold wave advanced.

And Hitana?

She was… wandering through this hair-raising destruction.

The moment she became Anselm’s Contract Head, Hitana knew the power she accepted, the duty she bore.

Besides the Head of Strength, the other ring she took from Anselm’s heart wasn’t powerful in “combat.”

It was the ring symbolizing the Head of Wind.

This “wind” wasn’t just the elemental wind, not mere breezes.

It was the world’s breath, its pulse, its… flow.

The Head of Wind governed a Hydra’s perception of all transcendent elements, insight into the world, catching countless secrets, piercing illusions, reaching truth.

Amid countless complex transcendent elements, the Head of Wind’s power allowed the Contract Head to analyze everything to its primal essence.

—But!

Hitana couldn’t use it that way.

Contract Head power wasn’t rigid or fixed; it adjusted perfectly to the bearer’s nature.

The Head of Strength suited Hitana perfectly, reshaping her body to absolute perfection, while the Head of Wind…

This role, in past Hydras, was for gathering intelligence, probing secrets, drifting across the continent.

On Hitana, it had a different flavor.

It vastly enhanced her perception, letting her discern any flaw or weakness in battle without thinking or even looking.

Her terrifying perception dissected her opponent’s entire existence from within.

In simple gaming terms, Hitana’s attacks were guaranteed critical hits, always exploiting weaknesses.

One punch, at minimum, tripled or quintupled damage; at most, it could kill outright.

And Contract Head power wasn’t limited to this.

Enhancing Hitana’s perception was just a small part of this power to sense the world’s flow.

It focused on amplifying her astonishing intuition, achieving a tangible transformation.

If her past intuition warned her of danger, now she could, to some extent… briefly foresee the future!

No exaggeration—Wolf Miss was strongest when she emptied her mind, abandoning thought.

With near-future sight intuition, godlike perception, and a monstrous physique, facing the relentless barrage of thousands of ice spikes, Hitana strolled as if in a garden.

She even leisurely plucked a small ice spike, pocketing it as a keepsake.

Hitana’s inheritance of the Head of Wind brought Anselm bad news and good news.

The bad news: its primary role—gathering intelligence, probing secrets, analyzing transcendence—was completely incompatible with Hitana.

The good news: Anselm now had an almost invincible super-fighter, with combat potential so terrifying it was unthinkable.

And Hitana herself?

“So, just a newborn, so dumb.”

Hitana casually dodged the rain-like giant ice crystals, kicked one aside, then flickered, evading countless spikes, looking up at the red cold wave about to engulf her.

“Crude as hell, like a forest bear relying on brute force.”

The beast, symbolized as a wolf, sneered contemptuously at the freezing cold wave:

“You couldn’t kill me earlier with this, now it’s too late.”

The cold wave storm, freezing air into layered ice crystals, blew directly onto Hitana’s face.

Her body was instantly encased in ice, the extreme cold, like the earlier red frost mist, trying to invade her skin, flesh, and bones.

Her skin turned deathly pale, bloodless, as if her veins were frozen.

But the next second, the frost inexplicably began to recede.

Her blood surged again, the fiery power mocking the feeble cold and death.

Then, not only did the frost retreat, but Hitana, standing in the cold wave storm, withstood the Red Ice Python’s chilling breath.

Her skin gradually regained color, as if… entirely unaffected!

The wolf-beast, walking toward the Red Ice Python, slowly clenched her fist, grinning:

“Did your mom ever teach you the basic survival rule of beasts?”

She stepped forward, sinking her stance, her punching arm drawing back.

Her tall, supple waist arched like a taut bow.

Staring at the Python’s abdomen, Hitana lectured the newborn creature:

“It’s called… survival of the fittest, kid.”

Any attack that didn’t kill Hitana instantly would deal less and less damage until she… became immune!

Be it physical cuts or strikes, magical burns or freezes, soul shocks or crushes, or mental torment and erosion… any existence, any damage, if it couldn’t kill Hitana quickly, would become ineffective.

Though this effect reset after battle, preventing her from becoming invincible through self-harm, it was despair-inducing enough.

And this was just one of her Spiritual Essence’s many powers.

This was the Spiritual Essence, praised by the Emperor, that propelled the Celestial Wolf Empress to the supreme peak, named—

beast king!

As her words fell, her fist, drawn back, stirred a spiraling gale with the slightest forward motion!

Not driven by elements, but purely by physical force, this storm tore a path through the Red Ice Python’s chilling tempest!

The fist’s wind pressure unleashed savage destruction.

The spiraling storm, unyielding even to the Python’s wind element, roared like a raging beast as it shredded the icy breath!

The giant creature’s eyes showed fear for the first time.

Hitana’s fist hadn’t touched its abdomen, but the brutal storm, like a living beast, broke, crushed, tore, and ravaged its crystalline shell.

Its seemingly sturdy body couldn’t withstand her fist’s wind.

Under the beast king’s advancing fist, the wind alone carved a massive gash in the Python’s abdomen and Hitana’s fist, through that breach, plunged directly into its body!

In that instant, the world seemed to fall silent.

Then came a piercing, wretched scream that stretched for miles, making some onlookers unable to sit still any longer.

“Who… is that guy?”

The man carrying a giant hammer stared blankly into the distance, watching… the Red Ice Python writhing on the ground.

From their vantage point, they could see this colossal beast, over fifty meters long, had nearly been smashed in two!

Literally, one punch had almost broken it in half!

Hitana’s terrifying punch had struck the Red Ice Python’s body, spreading the utmost violence and destruction in all directions, nearly tearing its entire body apart from the inside out!

The Revolutionary Army, who had been lying in ambush here, ready to hunt the Red Ice Python with utmost speed, were not only shocked by the beast’s overwhelming strength and its utter lack of resistance, but even more stunned by… the tall woman who had taken the beast’s extreme cold breath head-on without a scratch, still standing proudly in the blizzard.

No one had ever seen her before!

When had such a figure appeared under the command of Grand Duke Ironblade or Grand Duke of Gray Tower?

A lone woman planning to take down the Red Ice Python single-handedly?

In this team, a woman holding a staff gazed at the white-haired lone wolf in the distance, murmuring in disbelief: “This… this can’t be…”

“Professor,” the man with the giant hammer turned to her, “you know her?”

“She…”

The Professor opened her mouth, speaking in a dazed tone she herself didn’t believe: “She’s very much like… someone I know.”

“That person’s name… is Hitana.”

“…Hitana? Is there such a figure in the Northlands? Hita—”

The man’s words halted, and he immediately turned his head, exclaiming in a voice even more incredulous than the Professor’s:

“That Lans? The Lans that Wendigo said had become Hydra’s Contract Head, the calamity?!”

“No way, that little girl fought Albatross and the others just three or four days ago, and back then she was only Tier 2! Sure, she was ridiculously strong… but still Tier 2!”

His face looked as if he’d seen a ghost: “You’re telling me a Tier 2 can, in just three or four days, punch a Red Ice Python in half?”

Are you insane, am I insane, or is the whole world insane?!

“Though her build has changed, and her aura’s a bit different… It really does seem like her. It’s probably the only explanation.”

The Professor said with a bitter tone: “Mr. Furnace Hammer, you said it yourself—she’s become… that Lord Hydra’s Contract Head.”

“…”

Furnace Hammer’s expression darkened.

They had paid a steep price and steeled their resolve to take down the Red Ice Python.

It had been six years since high-tier universal materials last appeared on the market and they couldn’t afford to wait any longer.

But their opponent was Hydra’s Contract Head.

If it was Hydra…

Did they really dare to make an enemy of that Hydra?

As the team grappled with this dilemma, one of them suddenly shouted:

“High-tier forces from Fengjing City and Daliuguang City, under the command of the two Grand Dukes, have suddenly appeared! They’re calling for help!”

“What?”

Hitana was unaware of the events unfolding nearby.

All she knew was that she was in high spirits.

“Phew…”

The girl exhaled. That punch had drained eighty percent of her strength and Ether, an immense expenditure.

But the result… Well, it was clearly even more impressive.

If you shouted at the gates of the Ether Academy that someone at Tier 3 could nearly one-punch a peak Tier 4 beast, the guards wouldn’t arrest you—they’d calmly escort you to a mental asylum.

“Perfect timing.”

Hitana twisted her waist and swung her arms, doing simple stretches to recover and maintain her condition, licking her lips excitedly: “You rest, I rest. After we’re done resting, we’ll go for round three!”

She had no intention of pressing her advantage.

Hitana wasn’t just here to enjoy the fight—she was here to fulfill her promise.

I promised Anselm I’d show the world how strong I am, to make this performance… utterly perfect!

Her wolf-beast eyes blazed as they locked onto the beast struggling to restore its massive form.

Her unmasked hunger and desire pierced through the creature’s dim awareness, reaching the depths of its chaotic soul.

You look… absolutely delicious.

“Wyyyyyy—!”

The Red Ice Python let out another cry, but this time it wasn’t anger or pain—it was… fear.

It wailed in abject terror.

The hunger of a supreme beast king, the terrifying pressure of a dual Hydra Contract Head, had shattered the soul of this newly born, pitiful creature.

All that remained was its survival instinct.

It had to flee, to escape this monster, this amalgamation of multiple terrifying auras that threatened to devour it alive, a creature of utmost danger.

The Red Ice Python’s wing-like structures flapped violently, stirring up a massive cold wave and gusts of air. The gathered Ether lifted its body, gradually rising into the sky.

“…”

Hitana froze for a full two seconds before reacting, shouting in disbelief:

“Running away!? A peak Tier 4 monster is actually running away?”

She bent her knees, preparing to leap into the sky with her terrifying physical strength, aiming to land on the Red Ice Python’s body. But the moment she tensed to jump, something else occurred to her.

“Anselm—!!”

The girl straightened up, shouting excitedly: “Where are you!”

“…No need to yell like that.”

Anselm appeared beside Hitana, saying with a hint of exasperation: “You just ruined the image you built up.”

“Let it crumble. I’ll just build it again.”

Hitana grinned, wrapping her arms around Anselm’s: “Can I use it? I want to try it.”

“You’d better hurry,” Anselm said with a smile, pointing at the sky. “Your little guy’s about to get away.”

Hitana looked up and was startled to see how high the Red Ice Python had already flown: “How does something that big fly so fast… Whatever!”

She cleared her throat, her cheeks slightly flushed as she looked at Anselm: “If I don’t get it right the first time, Anselm, don’t blame me.”

“You’re my Contract Head. There’s no such thing as you not getting it right.”

Anselm stepped behind Hitana, whispering in her ear:

“Now, take everything you need from me.”

“Wrong—”

Hitana turned and kissed Anselm’s cheek, guiding his hand to the collar around her neck:

“You should let me become your strength, silly Anselm.”

The Red Ice Python, fleeing skyward, suddenly stiffened, nearly falling from the air.

It immediately exerted all its strength, almost draining the Ether that formed its body, just to escape this place.

Because it felt… it felt it!

It sensed that thing, that most terrifying, most despairing monster… had descended upon this land!

Its crystalline wings vibrated again, Ether surging wildly as it tried to climb higher into the sky, and then—

Then, it could no longer move.

Its massive body was… ensnared by something even larger.

The Red Ice Python’s entire form trembled uncontrollably in fear, nearly disintegrating from the sheer terror.

What had coiled around it was none other than… the Hydra’s serpent body!

On this snowy plain, only a handful of people witnessed this majestic sight.

The nine-headed serpent, unseen for ages, had reappeared in the world!

Behind Hitana, the Hydra’s true form stood upon the earth. Its massive serpent body split into nine distinct forms from the midsection.

Of these nine, only the central body, the one immediately to its right, and the one on the far left bore heads; the other six were shrouded in thick black mist where their heads should have been.

Upon closer inspection, though the Hydra’s form was complete and its overwhelming, ferocious aura undeniably real, its outline was not entirely solid, faintly ethereal.

This was not the Hydra’s true body but one of the abilities of the Head of Strength—

With the Hydra’s permission and support, the Head of Strength could summon… a projection of the Hydra’s true form!

Before the Hydra had split its heads or achieved omnipotence, it possessed the ability to create a projection several times larger than its true body using Ether.

This ability was naturally inherited by the Head of Strength.

However, the Ether reserves of Anselm and Hitana couldn’t even support projecting the Hydra’s full size, let alone something larger.

But this, clearly, was already enough.

“How does it feel?” Anselm whispered in Hitana’s ear.

“So strange…” the girl murmured, “It feels like… I’ve become one with Anselm.”

“We don’t have much Ether to burn, especially you, Hitana.”

Anselm chuckled softly, letting the collar release a faint electric current: “Hurry up, Hitana.”

The loyal hound let out a soft “ah,” a faint moan escaping her lips.

For her now, electricity was little more than a tingle.

“Your way of rushing me is pretty unique.”

She shot Anselm a playful glare, then lifted her gaze to the Red Ice Python, tightly bound by one of the serpent bodies.

“I didn’t want to use this move. It makes Anselm look strong, not me.”

“But thinking about it… maybe it doesn’t matter.”

The Contract Head, bound to the Hydra until death, raised her hand, thumb slightly bent.

The second serpent body shot skyward, coiling around the Red Ice Python’s form.

“After all, I want to show the world how strong I am—”

Her index finger bent slightly, and the third serpent body viciously wrapped around the Red Ice Python, eliciting agonized, piercing wails from the beast.

“To prove—”

Her middle finger bent, and as the fourth serpent body surged into the sky, coiling around the Red Ice Python, the massive creature’s body was almost entirely constricted by the Hydra.

“That Anselm—”

Her ring finger bent, and the fifth serpent body wrapped upward, completely locking the Red Ice Python in a stranglehold.

“Never…”

Hitana slowly clenched her five bent fingers into a fist and the peak Tier 4 beast, like fragile paper, was effortlessly crushed, ground, and destroyed. As the girl’s eyes reddened, she roared hoarsely:

“Misjudge anyone!”

Bang!

As Hitana’s fingers fully closed, the colossal beast was shattered into pieces by the Hydra’s projection, its countless ice crystals falling from the sky like crimson meteors.

Hitana stood beneath this rain of red ice, panting as she leaned into Anselm’s arms.

But only for a moment.

She straightened, stepped forward, and surveyed the boundless snowy plain, as if no one else existed but the two of them.

She took a deep breath, raised her voice, and let her hoarse yet resonant cry echo across every corner of the snowfield.

“Listen up, spectators. I don’t know where you’re hiding or what you’re thinking, but I want you to know one thing.”

“All—every single one of you—who dares to oppose the Hydra, to oppose Anselm, I want you to remember—”

Anselm’s expression shifted slightly, then he gave a wry smile.

With a thunderous crash behind her, Hitana knew the Hydra’s projection had descended once more.

Filled with courage and strength, the exhausted girl’s voice rang out, unwavering and powerful, carrying her unique wildness as she boldly declared:

“Your fate is sealed.”

“You will fall for me, Hitana Lansmarlos!”

“To the Hydra’s… strongest Contract Head!”

After saying this, Hitana felt immense relief.

Though she was exhausted and could collapse any second, she still wanted to go another round or two with that big guy.

Oh, right—she needed to dispel the projection quickly. Using it was so draining, really…

Huh?

Why… from just now until this moment, had no Ether been consumed?

The girl froze, instinctively turning her head.

She saw it—a pitch-black entity.

Massive, ferocious, terrifying, clearly a monstrous beast… yet Hitana felt no trace of fear.

Her hand gently stroked the Hydra’s scales, smooth and cool, incredibly pleasant to the touch.

Then, for some reason, the beast standing at the abyss’s endpoint slightly lowered its body, and at the same time, Hitana let out a startled cry as she floated upward, landing on the central head of the Hydra.

“Anselm!” Hitana clung to the Hydra’s head, saying nervously, “What are you doing? You scared me to death! Why did you turn into your true form… Is this okay?”

“Hitana,” Anselm’s voice sounded in her ear, “are you afraid?”

“…Afraid of what?” Hitana pouted, “I’m not scared of heights.”

“I mean, of fate.”

“Hm?”

“Love and courage cannot defeat it.”

“Ugh…” Hitana mumbled vaguely, “There’s always a way, right?”

In truth, she had already sensed the changes within herself.

Even though she had devoured that greedier version of herself in her heart, Hitana couldn’t be entirely certain… whether she would become like that.

But at that moment, Anselm laughed: “Though there’s no way to defeat It, Hitana, you’ve already overcome It once.”

Hitana didn’t understand what Anselm was saying, confusedly asking, “What do you mean, no way to defeat it… yet I overcame it?”

“Because you saved me.”

Under the guise of absolute rationality, trusting no one, not even himself.

Anselm had once believed this was the best way to resist fate, as it had indeed worked before.

Perhaps… it might truly be the best method, but it wasn’t as infallible as Anselm had thought.

Anselm had considered it omnipotent for one simple reason.

He was afraid.

Afraid of making another mistake, afraid his choices and decisions would falter again, so he numbed himself with “self-scrutiny,” believing that by viewing everything through a sufficiently rational lens and reexamining it, he would never err again.

The more accustomed he became to this, the more Anselm would tread a path of compressing himself, repeatedly severing his emotions, ultimately descending into complete madness.

It was Hitana who awakened the unaware Anselm, telling him not to be afraid.

“Hitana, I’m no longer afraid.”

Anselm’s gentle voice sounded in her ear.

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Hitana smiled joyfully, stroking the serpent scales on Anselm’s head, “I’m happy for you.”

And Anselm continued, “So, I want to tell you too.”

“Don’t be afraid.”

“…”

Hitana froze.

“Hitana.”

The world-destroying beast, cradling the tiny girl on its head, spoke in a voice so soft and warm:

“You don’t need to emphasize to me, or to anyone, that you’re my Contract Head, that you’re Anselm’s.”

“You don’t need to keep reassuring your heart that you won’t betray me.”

Having walked out of that fear, how could Anselm fail to notice the unease hidden in Hitana’s heart?

After Anselm chose to let go and allowed Hitana to awaken her Spiritual Essence, this ever-defiant girl kept repeatedly emphasizing her identity, even just moments ago.

She was afraid too.

When Anselm truly embraced his heart and reconciled with himself, Hitana, in turn, began to fear that the future where she betrayed Anselm might actually come to pass.

Hitana had used her love and courage to step out of the cage she had built for herself.

Anselm had given her love, and now he felt it was time to give her courage.

He lifted Hitana higher, to an even loftier place.

“Hitana, look, we still have a long, long way to go.”

“You said that as long as I’m by your side, you won’t be afraid, right?”

Perched on Anselm’s head, Hitana gazed blankly at the vast scenery.

She saw the endless snowy plains, the dense forests, the simple villages, the majestic cities.

From the journey so far to now, and onward, she truly wanted to go to even farther places.

She really wanted to travel with Anselm to those far, far places.

So, Hitana let out a soft hum.

“Is that so? That’s wonderful.”

The beast that once ravaged the continent smiled so gently: “Then you don’t need to belong to anyone, nor worry about becoming some other version of yourself.”

“Because I’ll always be by your side, and in my eyes, you’ll always be Hitana, forever Hitana.”

Everything fell silent.

After an unknown amount of time, Anselm softly asked:

“Are you still afraid, Hitana?”

“…”

No response came.

The girl lying on Anselm’s head had already fallen into a deep sleep, resting on her arm, sinking peacefully into a blissful, sweet dream.

***

“Miss Zege!”

Inside the Babel Tower Research Institute, a decent-looking man hurriedly followed a stern woman in a white coat with her ponytail tied high, constantly flashing smiles: “Regarding your latest design, I’d like to represent the Grand Duke of Gray Tower…”

“Please keep a distance of ten meters or more from me.”

The woman walked forward without glancing sideways, her steps quick yet without any sense of haste: “For your safety and the cleanliness of my clothes, thank you.”

The man’s expression stiffened, recalling countless terrifying rumors about this Babel Tower genius.

His instinct to retreat surged, but thinking of the task he bore, he gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm:

“I have something you’ll definitely be interested in, firsthand information about the Hydra’s Contract Head—”

Snap.

Something pressed against the man’s face.

Feeling the cylindrical shape on his cheek, he knew exactly what was against his head, and a cold sweat broke out instantly.

Second-generation Ether Floating Cannon, Hummingbird.

A revolutionary product of alchemical weaponry.

When everyone thought the genius sorceress Mingfuluo, who invented “firearms,” had fallen into obscurity after the failure of the first-generation floating cannon, this renowned prodigy of the imperial capital, after years of silence, released the second-generation floating cannon last year.

In a crushing display, she single-handedly defeated seventeen challengers from the Ether Academy.

No one doubted Mingfuluo’s talent anymore.

She was surrounded by praise and glory, bathed in endless radiance.

But Miss Zege, who might claim the Sage’s Crown within a decade, never seemed happy.

No matter when or where, her expression was always icy, as if all the glory she received had nothing to do with her.

“Hydra’s Contract Head.”

Mingfuluo, holding the floating cannon against the man’s head, spoke expressionlessly: “When did this happen, and how authentic is it?”

“It’s one hundred percent real. This is the Shadow Crystal the Grand Duke of Gray Tower ordered me to give you—”

Before he could finish, a floating device snatched the Shadow Crystal from his hand.

Mingfuluo activated the Shadow Crystal while continuing to walk forward, and the man, for the sake of his life, obediently kept his distance at ten meters.

“…”

Having quickly reviewed the footage, Mingfuluo’s brows furrowed deeply.

“Ridiculous.”

The woman spat out those two words coldly.

Her face seemed to frost over, and she muttered indifferently:

“You think this uncivilized beast is more qualified… to be your Contract Head than me?”

The icy, glacier-like sorceress stopped in her tracks, glancing at the man.

“If you have business, go to the Commerce Department. The person in charge will contact me.”

With that, she walked away without looking back.

“Anselm Hydra.”

This future sage, who almost never showed emotional fluctuations in front of others, had a tone tinged with… unmistakable anger?

“You and I… this isn’t over!”

***

“Uwaaaah—”

Hitana rolled around on the sofa, covering her face: “I don’t want to watch! I don’t want to see it!”

Anselm, resting his chin on one hand, smiled as he watched the projected footage in the air, commenting seriously: “Doesn’t this capture you perfectly, Hitana? I think it’s quite flawless, hm, flawless.”

Hearing herself loudly proclaiming “Hydra’s strongest Contract Head,” Hitana couldn’t bear it, her ears turning red as she shouted: “Anselm, stop playing it! No more! If you keep going, I’ll, I’ll never forgive you!”

When she said it, she hadn’t felt anything, even felt thrilled and satisfied, but now it sounded so mortifying!

“Alright, it’s done playing.”

“…” Hitana, covering her eyes, peeked through her fingers, checking the spot where the projection had been, and sighed in relief when she confirmed it was gone.

“Who… who was it!”

Hitana gritted her teeth, punching the sofa: “Who was sneaking around recording me? How could I not sense anything? Why didn’t the Head of Wind work?”

Anselm gave Hitana a subtle look for a moment, then chuckled softly, comforting her: “The power granted by the Contract Head grows with our strength. It’s strong, but not yet omnipotent.”

“…” Still blushing, Hitana exhaled, muttering resentfully, “Anyway, that sneaky thief better not let me catch them.”

Our young Lord Anselm smiled without a word.

Knock, knock, knock—

A knock sounded at the door, and Anselm raised an eyebrow: “Enter.”

Marina pushed the door open and bowed slightly to Anselm: “Mr. Anselm, I have some matters to report.”

“Uh…” Hitana raised her hand, “Should I step out for a bit?”

Anselm glanced at Marina, who had her head slightly lowered, and waved his hand lightly: “Hitana, go grab some fruit from the kitchen.”

“Oh!”

Eager to eat something, Hitana cheerfully agreed and dashed out.

“Sit, Marina.”

Anselm patted the spot beside him: “What’s the matter?”

The girl in the black dress sat obediently beside Anselm, answering gently: “It’s about the Revolutionary Army.”

“…Oh?”

Anselm was somewhat surprised: “What’s happened with the Revolutionary Army?”

Marina wouldn’t report meaningless matters.

Things like the Revolutionary Army being struck by the Grand Dukes’ forces didn’t need mentioning, as that was Anselm’s arrangement.

“Some time ago, I established trade routes in Fengjing City and Daliuguang City for two reasons… vindictive extraordinaries under the Grand Duke of Gray Tower and Grand Duke Ironblade.”

The girl’s voice was soft and calm: “These two cities were occupied by the Revolutionary Army, albeit briefly, and they were affected. More importantly… they lost face.”

After all, Marina had initiated this, and to some extent, she represented Anselm.

The two “lucky ones” Marina selected wouldn’t care for an ordinary baron’s territory, but crucially, they couldn’t refuse dealing with Marina, who represented Anselm.

They might even see it as a shortcut to aligning with Anselm.

Once the connection was established, when the Revolutionary Army occupied the cities, that route was severed.

These two, serving under the two Grand Dukes, were naturally furious and prepared to settle scores with the Revolutionary Army privately.

“As such,” Marina slightly bowed her head, “whether the Revolutionary Army’s losses expand depends on your intentions.”

If Anselm wanted to escalate the Revolutionary Army’s losses, he could let it unfold unchecked; if he wanted to do them a favor, he could subtly warn them.

With a bit more effort, Anselm could orchestrate a scheme to make the Grand Dukes lose their extraordinaries while dealing a heavy blow to the Revolutionary Army.

In these two months, it wasn’t just Hitana who had transformed.

Marina, who had received little direct attention from Anselm, had grown to this point, driven by her obsession and desire, coupled with near-limitless resources.

She knew she couldn’t compare to Hitana, so she chose to excel in what she could do perfectly.

She couldn’t contribute to Anselm’s plans for Hitana, but upon learning he was targeting the Revolutionary Army, she immediately began planning—investigating the extraordinaries under the two Grand Dukes, traveling across territories, gradually building her image…

Though it was never mentioned openly in Anselm and Hitana’s lives, Marina had worked with meticulous precision, almost to a fault, achieving this result without Anselm’s knowledge.

Even with vast resources and Anselm’s backing, the plan was executed flawlessly, leaving Anselm entirely uninvolved, with only the Revolutionary Army and the two extraordinaries taking the fall.

Even if something went wrong, Marina had prepared contingencies, ensuring all blame pointed to her, leaving Anselm untouched.

“This is true…”

After hearing Marina’s account, Anselm was genuinely surprised.

He knew Marina was up to something privately and had allowed it, curious to see what she was doing and how far she could go.

But he hadn’t expected Marina to orchestrate a private feud between the Grand Dukes’ extraordinaries and the Revolutionary Army.

While she largely relied on his influence, this wasn’t something easily done without any mistakes.

Just two months ago, Marina Lansmarlos was an ordinary village girl.

“Impressive, Marina,” Anselm praised sincerely, “I didn’t expect you to achieve this much.”

Marina’s smile grew with a touch of relief and joy: “I’m glad I haven’t caused you unnecessary trouble.”

“No, no… this arrangement…”

The wicked Hydra murmured thoughtfully, then chuckled delightedly: “It might play an even bigger role, but… it’s already excellent, very excellent!”

He turned to the delicate-faced girl, saying warmly: “So, what reward do you want?”

“…”

Marina’s breathing quickened, her hands slightly clutching her skirt as she tried to calm herself.

“Mr. Anselm…”

The girl’s eyes shimmered with a moist, ambiguous glow as she leaned toward Anselm’s ear, her lips parting slightly.

After hearing her whisper, Anselm paused, then gave a meaningful smile.

“If that’s the reward you want, then… no problem.”

He placed his hand on Marina’s soft thigh, exhaling gently at her neck: “I agree.”

“Thank… you… for your kindness.”

Marina, her body trembling with suppressed excitement, maintained her last shred of rationality and composure.

When Hitana returned to the lounge with a basket of fruit, she caught Marina preparing to leave.

“Lina? Leaving so soon?”

Hitana tilted her head: “Sit down and have some fruit. Anselm’s leaving the Northlands soon, so there shouldn’t be much work left, right?”

“It’s precisely because Mr. Anselm is leaving the Northlands soon that handover tasks are especially important.”

Marina rubbed Hitana’s head: “Don’t slack off either. Listen to Mr. Anselm.”

“No need for you to tell me, Lina.”

Hitana nuzzled her sister’s palm, holding up the fruit basket: “Want some fruit?”

“No, you and Mr. Anselm rest well.”

Marina smiled lightly, then whispered in her sister’s ear:

“Tonight, before that thing, come to my room first.”

“…???”

Before that thing?

What thing?

What’s that?

Confused, Hitana sat beside Anselm with the fruit basket.

“Hitana.”

“Hm?” The girl, chewing a peach, looked at Anselm curiously.

“Do you remember what you said to me that night?”

Anselm smiled at her.

“That night? Which night?”

Hitana mumbled unclearly: “Anselm, you always talk so vaguely.”

“The night you said you wanted to bear my child.”

“Pfft—”

The girl spat out the fruit in her mouth, nearly spilling the basket.

“Why so nervous?” Anselm raised an eyebrow, “You said it yourself, Hitana, and that wasn’t all.”

Not all, of course not all!

Reminded by Anselm, Hitana immediately recalled how much nonsense she’d spouted that night.

Fame and glory, equivalent to giving her first…

The flush at Hitana’s neck rapidly spread across her face.

Clutching the basket, her body trembled slightly, a mix of embarrassment and excitement.

“Tch, that, I…”

Her gaze darted away, unable to meet Anselm’s: “I… I’m not going back on my word, but, but Anselm… you can’t just, in a place like this…”

Anselm suddenly stood, chuckling: “Marina’s right, handovers are troublesome. I need to deal with some documents first.”

“…Huh? Wait, Anselm, you—”

“Tonight.”

The wicked Hydra turned, saying meaningfully:

“Hitana, if there’s anything, come find me tonight.”

Watching Anselm’s retreating figure, Hitana suddenly recalled Marina’s words.

Before that thing…

“…”

The girl’s mouth fell open, her already flushed face now practically boiled red.

You two…

You two! I won’t forgive you!

***

“I, I won’t forgive you, Lina!”

Hitana protested stubbornly but didn’t stop Marina from removing her clothes: “How… how could you do something so shameless!”

“If Hitana feels it’s not okay.”

Marina’s hand paused slightly, and she blinked at her younger sister: “It’s not impossible for me to go to Mr. Anselm alone.”

“No way!” Hitana, flushed with embarrassment and indignation, pinched her sister’s cheeks: “Why do you have to butt in? I’m getting mad!”

“Mad?”

Marina tilted her head: “I… can’t?”

“…”

The girl froze instantly, looking at her sister’s increasingly radiant and strikingly different face.

The thought of that future flooded her with guilt.

“It’s not that…” She gently hugged Marina, “Of course I don’t hate Lina. You’ve been so good to me, it’s just, just…”

Hitana bit her lip, stomping her foot in frustrated embarrassment: “The thought of Anselm getting the better of us makes me furious!”

Marina patted Hitana’s head, her gaze filled with emotions.

In an instant, she’s grown so much…

Not just outwardly, but her character had truly matured.

Marina could feel her sister’s transformation.

Compared to her former reckless, arrogant self, she was now truly like… a wolf capable of patrolling her own territory.

All of this… every single thing, was given by Mr. Anselm.

“Hitana,” Marina stood on tiptoe, chuckling softly in her sister’s ear, “Are you really furious, or are you just too shy to handle it?”

Marina knew this, and she knew Hitana understood it even better.

So, her sister’s current resistance and struggle were nothing more than the tiniest defiance born of her shy nature.

“In our respective domains, providing the greatest support to Mr. Anselm is the best way to repay his kindness.”

“So, everything tonight… is a gift to Mr. Anselm, but not just a gift.”

The elder sister whispered provocatively in her younger sister’s ear:

“It’s also a reward for ourselves, isn’t it?”

“You know how joyful that is, don’t you, Hitana.”

Hitana’s body trembled slightly, letting out a shy, pitiful whimper.

“But, but…”

She murmured softly: “Do we really have to wear those clothes and and put on…”

“Mr. Anselm will like it, trust me, Hitana.”

And so, Hitana, her face flushed red, nodded faintly, her gaze drifting hazily to the clothes on the bed.

About twenty minutes later, Anselm pushed open the door to Hitana and Marina’s room.

Two loyal hounds, one in black and one in white, knelt on the soft bed.

Black and white ears, black and white lace, black and white stockings.

“Master~” “M-Master…”

“Woof” ×2

This time, Anselm had to admit.

Even he, seasoned and battle-hardened, couldn’t quite control himself.

***

In the morning, Anselm, who hadn’t slept, stroked Hitana’s snowy hair, listening to her soft, endearing murmurs in her sleep, and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Marina had risen early, tidied the chaotic room, and gone to work.

To keep up with him and Hitana, Marina had deliberately taken a stamina potion… though it was still a bit much and she’d fainted for a few hours in the night.

Hitana had only fallen asleep an hour ago, exhausted—not so much physically, but mentally fulfilled.

In terms of stamina, she still had plenty left.

The young Hydra, head lowered, grazed his finger along the girl’s tender cheek, a sudden surge of indescribable, unprecedented satisfaction and joy welling up in his heart.

“…You’re truly remarkable, Hitana.”

This story was supposed to be about a rebel defying fate, turning a vast territory into a cage to imprison a hero, ultimately transforming the captive into his ally.

But in the end, the prisoner in the cage became the rebel who sought to defeat fate with love and courage.

This rebel might not have defeated fate, but she truly saved him—the one who seemed a rebel but was, in truth, another prisoner, self-imprisoned—with her love and courage.

Rebel and prisoner.

Prisoner and rebel.

Anselm quietly savored the warmth and fulfillment flowing in his heart, leaning down to kiss her.

No grand words, no moving vows.

The Hydra, having rebuilt himself, merely whispered in the gentlest voice:

“I love you, Hitana.”

Anselm hadn’t triumphed over fate in this game, but he gained something far more precious than victory.

His loyal hound, his prisoner, his rebel—

His Hitana.

(Volume 1, Prisoner and Rebel, Concluded)

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