Pitch-black light… Black is the absence of light—you only perceive black when light exists, because black absorbs all light. Therefore, “pitch-black light” is a contradiction.
Yet what manifested before Alreis was a reality utterly twisted, shattering her very understanding of magic.
For the phenomenon before her could only be described as “pitch-black light.”
“This… is your—Slave Magic?!”
Wude gave no reply. His pupils vanished, eyes turning cold and hollow. In his palm, pitch-black light coalesced into a rune of unknown meaning. He strode straight toward the Blessing of Life.
“Wait!” A chill ran through the Blessing of Life. The very thing that defied her magical knowledge now hovered in Wude’s hand—and seemed aimed at her.
“By the ancient covenant, witnessed by the will of the world: you, Blessing of Life, do you consent to become my slave?” Wude intoned the archaic incantation in a strange cadence, as if her plea hadn’t reached him.
“That… is a prehistoric language!”
Alreis froze in shock. Only while sealed within the River of Time had she glimpsed a fragment of that era—and recognized this tongue. Yet her vision of the prehistoric age was limited, like the Ascendant Sovereigns themselves; all that came before remained shrouded, utterly inaccessible.
Though she couldn’t understand the words, the Blessing of Life miraculously grasped their meaning. She realized she’d gravely underestimated this mere Level 3 man.
“Just a covenant? What can it do if I refuse?!”
Magical energy surged within her. A torrent of vitality erupted, and her body began to grow—shifting from an eight- or nine-year-old loli form to twelve, then fourteen, still expanding.
“Not good!” Alreis moved to intervene.
Unnecessary. Suddenly, the vitality within the Blessing of Life collapsed. Her body shrank back to loli size—and even smaller.
Alreis understood. During her final clash with the Ascendant Sovereign, she’d risked another River of Time backlash to strike the Blessing of Life with Temporal Magic: the half-executed “Return to Origin” spell. It sent the target back without return—unlike her own resurrection.
The Blessing of Life had resisted erasure through sheer vitality, leaving the timeline undisturbed. But she couldn’t fully withstand it. Every surge of power accelerated the spell’s erosion—which was why she avoided using magic. And if she were ever fully consumed… the River of Time’s backlash would follow. Alreis shuddered at the thought.
“I, Blessing of Life—Falos-Tini, consent to become your slave!” Tini declared with unwavering resolve.
??
Alreis was dumbfounded.
??
Tini reeled. She’d meant to refuse! What had hijacked her thoughts? A terror gripped her—what force could manipulate an Ascendant Sovereign’s mind?
“As you wish.” Wude replied in the ancient tongue, his voice still icy. The rune flared and shattered. To both women, the world trembled faintly. Pitch-black light flooded into Tini’s body. Wude’s pupils returned.
“Phew! Made it. When she resisted, I thought it’d fail.” Wude patted his chest, visibly relieved.
Alreis exhaled. This was the Wude she knew. His earlier presence had been utterly inhuman—eerily reminiscent of the Demon King from nursery rhymes and legends. She’d never found concrete records of such a being… yet her instincts had screamed it.
“You wretch! How dare you use this on me—and twist my thoughts?! This Slave Magic… wait till I regain my strength!” Tini felt no physical change and secretly sighed. A Level 3 man, however strange his magic—what could he truly do?
Wude paused, shooting Alreis a strangely meaningful glance. Usually, he read her easily; she rarely deciphered him. But this time, she understood perfectly. His look said: *Do all Ascendant Sovereigns have such inflated egos?*
Alreis facepalmed and turned away. Tini could only pray Elisa finished her bath soon… As a fellow Ascendant Sovereign, Alreis felt a flicker of sympathy.
“So your name’s Tini?” Wude eyed the green-haired little loli, cheeks flushed with indignation.
“Hmph!” She turned away—the very picture of tsundere pride.
“Tsk tsk. Cute trait, but not my style…” Wude stroked his chin. “Needs… training. Hehehe~” A creepy chuckle escaped him.
“Listen up, little Tini. Hug me obediently and say, ‘I love Brother Wude the most!’”
Alreis shuddered. She remembered being forced into a “nyan-nyan” pose—dignity thoroughly crushed.
“Hah! You can’t— Wait, my body?!” Before she could resist, her arms wrapped around Wude’s waist—barely reaching.
*Alreis reaches his chest… Tini’s more like a toddler. Guh.* Wude’s conscience twinged.
“I love Brother Wude the most!” Tini choked out the words, then scurried to a corner and crouched, her form seeming to fade to grayscale.
“I was supposed to marry a strong, handsome man… Now I’m unmarriageable…” she muttered despondently.
“Ahem!” Wude deliberately ignored “handsome and strong” and stepped behind Alreis. “Alreis—do we finally have what it takes to revive Lingyue?”
Alreis turned, startled. “Just… after toying with her like that?”
Wude’s expression darkened. “Want to try it yourself?”
“Well… reviving Lingyue might be problematic,” Alreis deflected.
“…Problem?” Wude had suspected it wouldn’t be this easy. Capturing an Ascendant Sovereign without resistance felt unreal—like a dream.
“Look at Tini. Her body’s unstable—partly my fault.” Alreis gestured toward the dejected girl.
Wude stayed silent, waiting.
“Let me show you.” Alreis unleashed her magic. Space warped, light shifted, and a radiant female projection shimmered into view. “See? This scandalous figure! *This* is the true Blessing of Life.”
Wude’s eyes widened. He glanced from toddler-sized Tini in the corner to the projection, then swept his gaze over Alreis.
Alreis instinctively covered her chest. “W-What are you looking at?!”
“You might grow into that figure someday too,” Wude said, voice oddly sympathetic.
… Alreis fell silent. Only a “lowly woman” like the Blessing of Life would care. A magnificent being like her? Never. Especially since she *used* to be a man. (Wait—what did “used to be” even mean?)
“Enough teasing. Explain what’s wrong with Tini.” Wude’s tone turned serious.
“Well… it’s like this…” Alreis began.
Meanwhile, the subject of discussion remained huddled in the corner, lost in grayscale despair.
