Darkness crept like a malicious demon, crawling over the prison chair and gnawing at Raven's heart.
She didn't know how long she had been imprisoned.
A day? A week? A month?
She had no idea.
But captivity—combined with the suffocating silence of the dark—made the time stretch into something that felt like years.
She struggled slightly. The chains on her body rattled mockingly.
Heh… I really believed Jackal's nonsense…
Raven shook her head, a trace of bitterness surfacing in her wine-red eyes.
But wasn't it her own greed as well?
Thinking back now, that Archbishop of Schicksal had likely been waiting to turn the tables from the moment she began her little "evangelism."
Her mind replayed that day.
Less than a second after she struck Otto, she was surrounded by Valkyries equally adept at fighting in darkness. Then the brown-haired woman descended from above and seized the Divine Key from her hands.
Only then did Raven realize their target had been the Divine Key all along.
What was laughable was that she had the chance to send Seven Thunders of Purgatory back via quantum transmission. But out of caution, she had asked it to shift into katana form and worn it at her waist—planning to break out with it if escape proved impossible.
Heh. She had even thought at the time—better not use it unless necessary. Wouldn't want to ruin the Divine Key's favorability.
Turns out, they had come for the Divine Key.
Within seconds of the battle starting, her transmission device was destroyed.
Right. What value did she have as a prisoner?
She was nothing more than a weak, helpless, pitiful little Raven.
The fact that she still had consciousness was already a blessing.
She wasn't afraid of death. As a mercenary, walking the line between life and death was routine. Of those who dreamed of earning enough to buy a villa on an island and retire peacefully, ninety-nine out of a hundred never made it.
As a friend of hers from Shenzhou once said—if you choose this profession, your head hangs from your belt, ready to be handed over at any moment.
She didn't fear the dark.
What a joke—mercenaries don't fear darkness.
What she feared… was what lurked behind it.
That man seemed to remain hidden within the shadows, seated upon Schicksal's throne, smiling with cruel amusement, looking down upon her struggle.
Just like during her so-called "missionary work."
He had entered the trap without deviation—
And then netted them all in one sweep.
Click.
The lights suddenly turned on.
The glare stabbed into her pupils. After a long moment, she forced herself to look up.
A blond man sat opposite her, legs crossed, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
Otto Apocalypse.
Raven shivered.
This posture—this casual authority—matched exactly the image she had formed of him. The only difference was that he had yet to ascend Schicksal's throne in that memory.
She lowered her head, then glanced sideways—
And saw a familiar figure.
Jackal.
"Congratulations," Otto said lightly, rolling a feather between his fingers. "After Gray Serpent provided data sufficient to improve the artificial Stigmata project and fully repair the Fourth Divine Key's weather satellite, the two of you are cleared for return."
"In one hour, you may leave Schicksal and go back to World Serpent."
—He deliberately omitted that Gray Serpent had also provided certain information related to Void Archives.
Information useful enough to surprise even him.
Though, in hindsight… perhaps inevitable.
Raven said nothing.
Jackal, however, had recovered enough to glare viciously at Otto.
Her mask was gone. Her body radiated weakness. Though her eyes burned with fury, something deeper lay hidden within—something not quite anger.
Fear.
"Otto, you b—"
Raven sucked in a breath.
She strained against her restraints, desperately trying to distance herself from the lunatic beside her.
Hadn't she heard? Even Gray Serpent could only trade resources for their release.
Repairing a Divine Key… improving artificial Stigmata…
Each priceless.
"Noisy."
As expected, Otto uttered the word lazily.
Jackal's voice abruptly cut off, as though her throat had been seized.
Raven saw Otto flick a fingernail.
The golden feather floated upward, drifting slowly toward Jackal.
Her heart dropped.
She had seen something similar in World Serpent's archives.
The Eighth Divine Key—
Fenghuang Down.
"—Ah! No! Don't!—"
Jackal's scream was weak, terrified.
Raven swallowed hard and lowered her head, trying to make herself smaller.
"I agreed to send you back," Otto said mildly, each word striking Raven's nerves. "But I never specified… what kind of you would be sent back."
Jackal's screams faded.
The golden feather drifted past Raven's vision and returned to Otto's hand.
"I know that within Elysian Realm, Fenghuang Down was first deciphered," he continued lazily. "But I have no need to control you, little one. Once I know what's in your head, I gain the method to use the Rod of Hel—and World Serpent's grassroots structure."
"When the time is right, Schicksal won't need to waste resources devouring the Serpent."
???
"Elysian… Realm?!"
Raven nearly jumped from her chair before the chains yanked her back.
In the clattering echoes, she stared at Otto, terror searing into her memory.
World Serpent was finished.
No high-end combat power to rival Schicksal. Divine Keys seized. Foundational intelligence exposed. And now—even Elysian Realm known.
If he truly intended to swallow them whole—
What did World Serpent have left?
Unless—
Unless a miracle occurred.
Unless their "undefeated leader" returned.
But…
"Sea of Quanta's Eye is an entrance to the Sea of Quanta," Raven suddenly said, her voice clear. "Our Sovereign is trapped within it. If he wishes to return to reality, he must—"
"Oh?"
Otto arched a brow, cutting her off.
"I know Kevin requires external force to return from the Sea of Quanta. I know the coordinates of Sea of Quanta's Eye."
He leaned forward slightly.
"But World Serpent executive—Raven, Natasha Cioara—what exactly are you doing?"
Raven felt hollow.
If he already knew of Elysian Realm, then what was Sea of Quanta's Eye?
World Serpent endured because of their Sovereign's might.
But what if he never returned?
What if, under Schicksal's designs, their faith became nothing more than empty words?
"I wish to defect," Raven said. "No need for Fenghuang Down to search my memories."
"I'm just a mercenary. I have no grand ambition. I just want to live."
"And save enough to buy a villa island?"
Otto tilted his head teasingly.
"You even know that."
Raven slumped back.
"Then you know exactly what kind of person I am. My surrender is sincere—as long as you don't use Fenghuang Down."
"Are you certain, little Raven?"
Otto stood and pressed a hand against her forehead, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"Abandon all of World Serpent? Abandon mercenary life? Walk into Schicksal bare and exposed—and serve me?"
Her thoughts raced.
Suddenly—
Understanding dawned.
"Very well, adorable little Raven."
Otto smiled knowingly.
"If you wish to submit to me, say 'woof.' If you prefer to return to World Serpent, say 'meow.'"
"Kitten or puppy? Which will you choose?"
Raven swallowed.
Without hesitation—
"Meow."
Otto's smile deepened.
The room fell silent, save for Jackal's weak groans.
Then—
A second, clear sound.
Soft. Submissive.
"Woof."
"Good girl."
Otto lowered his hand, stroking Raven's soft gray hair like a pet, fingers brushing her smooth cheek.
Then—
Golden light ignited in her widening eyes.
"Only," he said gently, "once I use this, you're no longer qualified to know."
The feather shimmered.
And memory unraveled.
◇ You can read 60+ chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ElaraVance1
✨ Bonus Chapter Goals ✨
10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter