The Spirit Sorcerer stood up, his expression solemn.

His violet eyes shimmered slightly as he glanced at the Hero one last time, but said nothing more, turning instead to walk toward the assembled soldiers.

Regardless of whether she was the Prophesied Saint, what he needed to do would not change.

The Hero also took a deep breath, lifting her head with resolute eyes.

No matter how difficult it was, what she needed to do would not change.

To save the people they wished to save, the man and the girl turned their backs and walked away.

[The Hero's proposal rejected, will not cooperate with the Kingdom Army]

[So which one do you want to fight?]

1-4. Four-winged King

5-7. Sub-key of Transformation

8. Key of Change♛

9. Divine Knowledge Saintess

10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure

D10=d10(8)=8

→☆→☆→☆→✧←★←★←★←

"Hero, what will you do next?"

Watching the Kingdom Army, now fully prepared, set out, the Demon Mage showed a trace of regret.

In her view, the Legendary Pastor clearly held the same high regard for the Hero as she did.

However, he could not abandon his followers and organization, dedicating everything to the Hero's will as she had.

Whether it was losing a handsome comrade or the Hero losing a powerful support, it was a regrettable matter.

"I have always been the Hero's companion. Whoever you want to kill, just give the order."

"...I will go to defeat the Key of Change." The Hero slowly uttered the answer after her consideration.

In the brief time just now, she had thought a lot.

With the situation developing to this extent, the difficulties and enemies that needed resolution were endless.

But in the end, the root cause of all these disasters was not the Four-winged King, who was not on the same level as goblins intellectually.

If no one had actively approached, He who had been sealed behind the door since ancient times would have been unable to interfere with this world.

Nor was it the human leaders who had betrayed the angels in the past, let alone the humans in the Capital or the Winged People in the Royal City.

The real root was the Black Gate, the Key of Change that presided over the most critical ceremony.

Hearing the Hero's answer, the Demon Mage wasn't surprised, only revealing a slightly amused smile, as if looking at a child full of naivety.

"Indeed, compared to the Four-winged King in the Sanctuary, the Key of Change, who acts as our superior, is relatively easier to resolve." She laughed lightly, "But Hero, do not forget he has opposed the Kingdom's elites for a whole month. Although he hasn't yet achieved the Ultimate Shift, he isn't someone small like you and I can handle."

There was one thing the Demon Mage didn't say.

Although she switched sides because of the Hero's charm, if faced again with the Key of Change... under that evil authority, it's doubtful whether she could continue being who she is now.

Her gaze gently swept over the Hero's petite figure, the Demon Mage's smile blooming.

At that time, what expression would the Hero show?

The Hero ignored the faint malice and just shook her head.

"No, you go help the Pastor and the others. As for me—"

[The Hero's next action—]

1.5. Sub-key of Change's Exchange

2.6. Demon Mage's Authority

3.7. Attempt to Summon the Gleaming Scale Serpent

4.8. Divine Knowledge Saintess's Prophecy

9. Slime King's Summon

10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure

D10=d10(8)=8

♛: Divine Knowledge Saintess's Prophecy

[Gospel Listener]

1. Four-winged King

2. Key of Change

3. Sub-key of Change

4. Spirit God Mage

5. Winged People Clan Leader

6. Noble Lady

7. Hero

8. Brother

9. Angel's Corpse

10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure

D10=d10(7)=7

♛: Hero

→☆→☆→☆→✧←★←★←★←

As she was about to speak further, the Hero suddenly paused, falling silent.

Seeing this, believing she had some secret plan, the Demon Mage did not press but bowed her head regretfully.

"Alright, since that is your wish, I will assist them as much as I can.

"Of course, after ensuring my safety, I will also release all the souls in my possession...

"I hope there will be a day when we can meet again, my dear Hero."

She didn't ask the Hero how he planned to return to the capital because, under the effects of space replacement, the boundaries between the two cities had long blurred.

In the strong fluctuations of the following ultimate exchange ceremony, for those skilled in space magic, crossing that boundary wouldn't be too difficult.

The Hero didn't respond, just watched as the Demon Mage left, following the Kingdom Army gradually fading into the distance.

The reason for her silence was not due to some secretive plan needing to be hidden.

In fact, the Hero's plan was quite simple.

The Key of Transformation was indeed powerful. Even if the previous Hero had no concept of the Pantheon Mage's power, after the battle with her father, the chasm-like gap between them had deeply imprinted on her mind.

No matter what means, she surely wouldn't be a match for that Key of the Door.

But she, too, had her trump card.

[Magic Origin Secret Medicine is]

1. On the Gleaming Scale Serpent ♛

2. On the Hero

D2=d2(1)=1

Did her father foresee this situation and hand her that bottle of potion?

The Hero didn't have the leisure to ponder, but as long as she drank the Magic Origin Secret Medicine, regardless of who the enemy was, she would have the strength to fight.

So her plan was: to call forth the Gleaming Scale Serpent, let it summon her to the capital, then find the Key of Transformation, drink the potion her father gave her, rely on the berserk power of transformation, and directly destroy the ritual of the Black Gate.

If the capital's ritual was destroyed, the one in the Ancient Royal City would naturally also fail to continue.

As per the Hero's understanding of the sub-key of transformation, after losing commands from the Key of Transformation which was considered her "father," she wouldn't choose to resist stubbornly.

As for the Four-winged King, without the assistance of the Key of Transformation, their plans likely wouldn't proceed in the short term, thus buying precious time.

By then, she could notify the Border Count and find a way to rescue the Noble Lady together.

But what if it failed?

The Hero deliberately avoided thinking about that possibility, but once she had formulated her plan, the same image from before resurfaced in her mind, forcing her to face that future.

[What the Gospel speaks of is—]

1.5. Rebellion of the Wing

2.6. Emerald Snake Disaster

3.7. Grey Moon Descent

4.8. Door Pusher

9. Space Annihilation

10. Great Success/Great Failure

D10=d10(2)=2

♛: Emerald Snake Disaster

→☆→☆→☆→✧←★←★←★←

'The Mountain Snake rampages among the ruins'

'The Snowfield Dominator and Winter Elf are summoned, freezing everything between heaven and earth'

'This is a magic creature, this is the Demon King — exiled, to be vanquished'

'Yet people do not realize, the corpses in the rubble are remnants of villains, and the frozen barrier is a wall of protection.'

"The severely wounded Big Snake - yet, will you still drink that bottle of magic potion?"

She saw herself gazing alone over the crumbling capital, countless black fissures swallowing the land like an abyss, cries and despair wove into a chilling symphony.

She saw countless professionals forming an army, the light of magic rising from the land, surging towards her like a tsunami.

She saw...

"Tsk."

The Depraved Hero clicked his tongue, interrupting the Hero's contemplation.

"What to do? According to her prophecy, after drinking the potion, we'll smash what's left of the capital to pieces and get taken out as the Demon King?"

"Don't take it out of context."

The Hero slowly shook her head, revealing a smile.

"The prophecy didn't say we died, just that we were driven out, and—"

She began channeling her magic power toward the stigmata on her ankle, into the familiar's contract.

"It didn't say we lost either."

In other words, it was feasible.

"If this is destiny — I'm willing to accept it!"

The Hero puffed out her chest, her gaze sparkling like a star.

[The Hero temporarily acquires the skill: Holy Word Puppet Rhyme: When executing instructions from the Saintess of future, all abilities gain a 1/2 minimum, immune to any control skills]

[The Hero temporarily acquires the skill: Origin of Destiny: Once per round, perceive D972 before action]

"Gleaming Scales, I'm counting on you!"

[The Gleaming Scale Serpent casts magic: Hero Summoning Ceremony]

The Hero's pupils turned azure, and the next moment, along with a burst of light, her form vanished into the waves of space.

[Origin of Destiny]

Effect: After a prophecy is revealed, the default success coefficient changes from 5 to 3, with a reduced margin *5. That is, in perception contests, attributes lower than 972/2 will suffer a reduction of 100, and those below 972/3 will default to failure.

Absolute prophecy — A prophecy given by the Divine Knowledge Saintess will inevitably come true.

Even if this foresight is made public, the outcome will not change. Any attempt to defy it will become an aid in fulfilling destiny.

Perhaps even the act of prophesying is a part of fulfilling destiny, like a vast source of gravitation, drawing everything towards the destined outcome.

... But, does absolute really exist in this world?

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