"..." Alreis fell silent. Wude’s words struck her with shock—but she knew he wasn’t lying. Some deep instinct within her, as an Ascendant Sovereign, confirmed their truth.

She never imagined other worlds could exist. After she shattered the "Barrier of the World," eons passed before humanity even reached this realm—a miracle to her. Yet now Wude claimed more worlds existed… and that he came from one. The thought sent a chill through her.

By that logic, a third world? A fourth? Countless others? How insignificant she felt. Even as an Ascendant Sovereign, her lifelong pursuit of power seemed to crumble into dust—meaningless.

Chasing strength, paying endless prices… only to remain so small. A quiet weight pressed on Alreis’s heart.

Wude couldn’t grasp this. In his original world, "multiverse theory" was casual chatter—even children debated it. As a transmigrator, he found nothing strange.

But Wude had no mind for her turmoil. Only one question burned in him—the one he’d feared asking. Today, on this anniversary, he had to speak it.

"Al… Reis… honestly… answer me… one question…" Wude stammered, fighting to steady his voice.

His words jolted Alreis from her gloom. She composed herself instantly. She knew it was coming. This question might decide her fate.

"Lin… Lingyue… is she… dead?" Wude trembled, forcing the words through clenched teeth.

"..." Alreis knew. She’d delivered the final blow. They struck each other simultaneously—she was certain her hit landed, and so had Lingyue’s. What she hadn’t expected: that strike didn’t kill her… it sent her here, to Wude.

"Alreis, you know! Lingyue came looking for you, didn’t she?!" Wude’s voice cracked. For years, he’d whispered to himself she’d just left temporarily—she’d appeared before him one last time, hadn’t she? Suppressed grief now shattered his control.

"You’re the Ascendant Sovereign of Spatial Magic! You fought her in the Sovereigns’ war—didn’t you?! Did you… kill Lingyue?!" He grabbed Alreis by the collar.

"…It was me." After a silent beat, Alreis met his distorted face with flat neutrality. "In that battle, the only Ascendant Sovereign I killed… was likely the Lingyue you speak of. Perhaps… the Blessing of Life."

She wasn’t sure if he’d use the Slave Contract to command her death. But an Ascendant Sovereign’s dignity forbade lies.

"…Why?"

"Why couldn’t you lie?! Say she was gravely wounded! Hiding to heal! Or that you banished her with Spatial Magic to another dimension—lost, so I could search!!!" Wude shook her violently, roaring.

"…It is… respect… for a worthy foe." Unshaken, Alreis enunciated each word clearly.

"…" Wude released her, gaze fixed on the field. Silence stretched.

"Will you… kill me?" Alreis smoothed her clothes, stepped behind him, and asked.

"…If I kill you, will Lingyue come back?" Wude finally spoke.

"The moment you appeared… when I saw Lingyue’s last words were just a magical projection on you—I knew she was gone. I just… refused to believe it." His voice was calm now, but tears glistened at the corners of his eyes.

"Three years ago, I arrived here. Lingyue was tilling this field. Funny, isn’t it? An Ascendant Sovereign, hiding in this corner, farming. She was so happy to see me…"

Sorrow soaked every word. Alreis felt powerless. Even with Temporal Magic, reversing time to resurrect the dead was impossible.

"I won’t harm you. You’re… Lingyue’s final legacy to me."

"…" *Legacy*—a word for objects, not people. In that instant, Alreis understood: to Wude, she was no mascot. Just a vessel for memories of Lingyue. Nearly a month together. Resentment still lived in him. And why wouldn’t it? She’d killed his… beloved. No regret in battle. Yet… why did a faint sadness stir?

"Lingyue and I marked my arrival day as our anniversary. Today is it. Sit with me… here… awhile." Wude sank onto the muddy ridge without hesitation, eyes on the land.

Alreis sat beside him, silent. *Would this be her life?* Wude remained Level 3 after three years—even with an Ascendant Sovereign’s guidance. He’d likely never surpass Level 5 or 6. Waiting out his lifespan—decades, a century—meant nothing to her. Her real fear: another Ascendant Sovereign finding her while restricted. She’d be doomed.

*Should she stir trouble?* Restricted, but not helpless. With a sliver of mana, she could still enchant… even trigger an explosion.

They sat in shared silence until dusk bled across the sky.

Suddenly—an anomaly erupted!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The earth heaved, hurling them to the ground.

They scrambled up. Before them hung a massive black sphere at the field’s heart—pure void, as if the abyss itself stared back.

"What is this?!" Wude’s voice trembled.

"Wrong!" Alreis tackled him down. A black streak shot over their heads.

"How… that’s not Lingyue’s…" Wude gasped, having seen it clearly.

"Release my restrictions—now! I’ll explain later! This isn’t what you think! I can’t fight it like this!" Alreis shouted, urgency sharp in her tone.

"If I release you… you could break the Slave Contract yourself, couldn’t you?" Wude replied, voice quiet, unexpected.