Chapter 222 — Sacrifice

Liora listened to Eleanor’s speech without interrupting.

Though the meaning of Eleanor’s words was shocking and should have caused her to gasp in shock, her expression remained utterly calm.

She had already predicted such a thing long ago.

The only thing she couldn’t understand was why Eleanor had now revealed all of this.

Most importantly, Liora couldn’t understand where she gained the confidence to stand in front of her.

After all, Eleanor should have known that she managed to kill the Founding Emperor and the Zerg Hive.

Since the Will of the World lacked the confidence to deal with the Zerg Hive, it should also lack the ability to deal with her.

In Liora’s opinion, the moment she awakened her memories as its incarnation, Eleanor should have escaped instead of staying here and waiting to meet her.

"Could it be that she possesses a final trump card?", Liora couldn’t help but think, and her gaze grew increasingly wary.

But ultimately, she was quite confident.

Even if Eleanor became a True Devil on the spot, her life would not be in any danger. She could always escape.

Eleanor noticed Liora’s doubts and her wariness. Her smile grew even wider as a result, and most importantly, it became far more heartfelt.

After a slight pause, she moved.

With a sudden action of her right hand, she reached onto the right side of her waist and unsheathed the golden sword hanging on her waist.

Tracing her fingers against this weapon that had been blessed by the Holy Church and had followed her for quite some time, Eleanor took one final step forward.

With it, the two women were practically next to each other.

Only a few meters separated them, a distance that was practically nothing for beings like them.

Liora’s crimson eyes reflected Eleanor’s figure as she watched her raise the hand that was holding the sword.

Then, she watched the hand swing it down.

Liora had already predicted that Eleanor would attack her.

Thus, her aura immediately fluctuated, and the shadows around her rippled, ready to form a wall of defense.

But the next moment, her pupils shrank.

Blood splattered and fell on her face, dripping down her cheeks and onto her chin.

It was fresh and warm, full of vitality and life.

Liora had witnessed the death of many people before and had even bathed in her own blood several times in the past. Therefore, such a thing should not have surprised her.

Nonetheless, it did.

That was because this blood was not her own, but Eleanor’s.

Unlike attacking her like she had expected, the sword in Eleanor’s hand aimed at her own abdomen.

Instantly, her beautiful face turned pale as her own internal organs began spilling out.

However, Eleanor did not even so much as flinch.

Instead, an imperceptible smile of relief appeared on her face.

Her sword clanged as it dropped to the ground, together with the rest of her body.

Subconsciously, Eleanor stretched her hand out and reached in Liora’s direction.

Her fingertips passed only a few centimeters away from Liora’s face, blowing the few crimson strands on her forehead out of the way.

Unfortunately, Eleanor failed to touch her in the end.

In her last moments, a trace of reluctance flashed within her blue eyes.

Then, under Liora’s stunned gaze, she took her final breath.

Sunlight surrounded her lifeless body as it began dissolving into flickering golden light that was soon extinguished.

Perhaps by coincidence, Liora’s subconscious actions mirrored the final ones of Eleanor.

She also stretched her hand and reached out, as if trying to grab the few remaining lights before they could vanish.

Similarly to Eleanor, though, she also failed.

Her hand passed straight through them. She was unable to touch them, as if they lacked a material form.

In the end, Liora could only stare silently as the golden lights slowly dissipated, becoming one with the world around them.

Only the soul floated silently before her, the only evidence of Eleanor having ever existed in this world.

--

It took Liora a lot of time to recover and truly comprehend what had just happened.

Although she had imagined several scenarios before coming here, most of them ending with Eleanor’s death, she could never have predicted such an outcome.

Eleanor indeed died. But not in her own hands after a bitter struggle and battle, but instead on her own accord.

Liora couldn’t help but recall the last look of relief that Eleanor displayed before she took her final breath.

Despite her ability to keep her composure no matter what, a barely noticeable fluctuation flashed within her eyes.

There was worry, doubt, but most importantly, confusion.

Liora immersed herself in those emotions before she forced herself to calm down and shook her head.

After casting a last glance at the now-empty room, she exited the hall and walked towards another area of the palace.

--

It didn’t take long for Liora to find what she was searching for.

At the outskirts of the palace was a tiny library filled with bookshelves, and among them, a certain book lay silently.

It had the form of a diary, while the handwriting was quite familiar.

Although Liora had not seen these letters many times before, she still could recognize that they had been written by Eleanor.

With that in mind, she opened the book and her gaze landed on the first page. Unlike what she had originally expected, the diary did not start from the distant past.

Instead, the story began less than six months ago, the day right after the Day of Divine Punishment.

...

"The world has changed. Becoming a Great Knight is no longer possible. People claim that it is a blessing of the Gods, but I can’t help but wonder if it is a curse instead."

"I have a hunch that this matter will never end there."

"Also, that person is still missing. They have not returned."

...

"Using my power and status, I supported my brother and helped him be crowned as a King. This should have been a happy event, but I only felt worried."

"I can sense that something is awakening within me since the Day of the Divine Punishment. It’s as if another creature is trying to possess my body."

"Also, that person is still missing. They have not returned."

...

"I can feel that my situation is becoming increasingly serious. The awakening of the unknown being is beginning to affect my emotions and cloud my judgment. I have to help my brother establish his power over the Empire before that being awakens."

"I should also do my best to educate him in the remaining time."

"Also, that person is still missing. They have not returned."