Chapter 1805 - 1337: Cruelty

So beautiful.

Teetering on the edge of reason and emotion, sinking into the mire of love and hatred, dignity, sorrow, anger, despair, self-pity, distress—countless emotions intertwined within Sonia, fermenting into a potent, sweet poison that poured from her ruby eyes, intoxicating Ash’s soul.

So beautiful.

Despite her pitiful state, despite her suffering, despite being nearly crushed by the torrent of emotions, suffocated by the despairing reality, Ash was irresistibly drawn to the aura of her downfall, like a moth rushing fervently toward the boiling, searing flame.

The soul trembles, the body longs.

Sonia was already beautiful, but at this moment, in Ash’s eyes, she was breathtakingly stunning. All his rational defenses crumbled in that instant, all moral laws vanished into thin air... He seemed less like a king prepared to accept submission and more like a slave on the verge of losing himself.

The remnants of final judgment lay with her; the defeated, mountain-toppling disaster lay with him.

Let me become yours.

No words could be crueller or curse sweeter. Ash felt like he lived all this time just waiting for this eternal contract.

From now on,

Perpetual descent into purgatory.

"Okay," Ash said.

Upon finally receiving this awaited response, Sonia sighed deeply, her entire being softly leaning into Ash’s embrace, her lips gradually curling upward, the light in her eyes dimming, yet tears continued falling upon Ash’s shoulder, blurring vision and extinguishing hope.

She had imagined another possibility, a whimsical possibility where happiness belonged solely to her, even if they needed to betray everything and pay the full price for it... but it was forever just a possibility, akin to a light in the darkness, not true illumination, merely serving as a solace in desperation.

Now, even that small flicker of light was extinguished. Her world seemed to endure a downpour, forming a small lake devoid of any light, yet she was no longer troubled, as she would sink within, until the end.

On the palace of the ancient battlefield, a Divine Being resembling the Shattered Lake emerged quietly, a white Bride of gods. It held a sword scabbard, shining alongside the giant sword-wielding Shattered Lake, like twin sisters.

The Tear Lake Divine Being descended.

But from the moment of its birth, its form quickly faded, disappearing without a trace. Though a new Divine Being was summoned, joy was absent from Sonia’s heart; she didn’t even wish to see it. She summoned the blade-wielding Shattered Lake to create miracles, and now called forth the scabbard-wielding Tear Lake to accept reality.

Her Divine Beings always seemed tied to lakes—Shattered Lake, Tear Lake... perhaps because her favorite Void Realm was always the Sea of Knowledge.

The white misty ocean that bore the small boats.

Sonia grasped Ash’s face, initiating a kiss. Salty, tender, sweet; they had shared countless kisses over the year, but none compared to this tear-stained kiss.

Ash could no longer take the lead; Sonia maintained control of the situation, amidst teeth and lips, she delved into Ash’s soul, and he permeated her heart-sea; they entwined like two serpents, finally merging. Not even during their closer-than-ever connections were they as united.

This was a vow-kiss, the forbidden ritual of total self-surrender to the lover. From henceforth, no Sword Maiden, only Ash’s six-winged Sword Maiden, the red-haired Queen ruling the harem.

No miracle, yet more akin to one.

Ash felt keenly that his Bonds with Sonia deepened to an unprecedented level. Bonds Level 5 allowed sharing of Void Wings’ Wonders, Bonds Level 6 enabled sharing of knowledge realm experience, and now he and Sonia had surpassed Bonds Level 6, elevating to a Bonds Level 7 that even the Final Observer had not comprehended.

A realm neither imagined by the Creator.

Yet no joy was felt; Sonia watched him through tear-blurred eyes, sniffed softly, and smiled tenderly, love infusing her voice: "Ash."

"Sword Maiden," Ash drew her into his embrace, "will you listen to everything I say?"

"Of course." Sonia nodded lightly, her voice cheery: "I will comply with anything you want; I will support whatever you say because... I’m yours."

"Not regret it?"

"No regrets."

"Then I request of you," Ash took her hand, interlacing fingers: "If you see me getting intimate with others in the future, I want you to get jealous, even angry, and snatch me back."

Sonia paused, then turned away saying: "If you mean to play along with some fun..."

"Whenever alone with me, be unreservedly affectionate; when seeing me alone with others, find ways to intrude; when tired, come to me for cuddles; if you see me tired, be the first to care for me; when seeing me giving gifts to others, demand you deserve one too; and when I give you a gift, flaunt it before others; have a grand wedding with me so everyone knows you’re my lover; let me tie your ponytail, and kiss me afterward; guard me like watching over a treasury, showing displeasure to any woman daring to approach, full of jealousy, suspicion, and sensitivity..."

Ash continued with enthusiasm, less a request than recounting Sonia’s past deeds. Sonia remained silent, just quietly observing him, waiting until he stopped, then softly asked: "That’s all?"

"And the most crucial point."

Ash gazed intently at her, serious: "You should aim for the Supreme of Magic, and when you eventually surpass my power, whether breaking my legs or imprisoning me, you must monopolize me by any means, even if I resist, you should find your way to turn me into yours."

Sonia rubbed her eyes, and Ash reached out to wipe the tears off her face.

She pondered a moment, then looked up at him, saying: "In other words, you hope I maintain my desire for possession over you."

"Mm."

"Simultaneously, I must accept your entanglement with the Witch, your intimacy with Freyja?"

"Mm."

Smack!

The loud sound of a slap shattered the room’s serenity, Ash’s head tilted to one side, Sonia stared intensely at him, her hand trembling slightly, eyes moistening once more.

"The first time."

Ash blinked, surprisingly smiling: "This is your first time slapping me."

Smack!

Sonia retaliated with a second slap, her ruby eyes flowing with molten gold resentment. She bit her lower lip, stared fiercely at Ash, her voice edged with tears and grievances: "What did I do wrong? Why do you insist on hurting me this way? I’ve already surrendered, just wanting a life with fewer wounds, but why do you insist on leaving me battered, making me constantly feel wronged because of you, forcing me to ruin your happiness like a vile woman?!"

"Why..." As she spoke, her voice choked in sobs: "Are you so cruel to me?"

"Because the person you love is me," Ash said softly: "A person believing to be faithful yet actually fickle, stubbornly thinking he can please everyone but often ends up hurting everyone; refuses to let go of the disappointed lover, continually giving her warmth and hope, gradually dragging her into the mire, cursing all who love him, despicably shameless yet greedy, crawling from a dumpster... Ash Heath."

"You fell for a cruel man, thus you must bear a cruel fate," he said: "I will not give up on you, nor you shall give up on yourself."

Smack!

Sonia reddened Ash’s face, pleadingly asking: "Can’t you—"

"No!"

Ash firmly declared: "I will not accept a flawed conclusion; I vowed to ensure everyone’s happiness and won’t let anyone down... that includes you, Sword Maiden! You are a cost I cannot afford, an unforgettable memory, how can I let you—"

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Sonia abruptly kicked Ash silent, climbed on top of him with reddened eyes, and fiercely straddled him, even the ancient battlefield awoke to the war between Six-winged God and Seven-winged Supreme. Sonia was genuinely angered this time, channeling her entire force into each blow, treating Ash like an adversary to unleash upon.

Mere minutes ago, she was Ash’s obedient Queen; now she was the vengeful Evil Concubine bent on regicide and murder. A year’s worth of resentment accumulated, countless days and nights of suppressed grievances, erupted into a storm, vented entirely onto Ash.

Ash remained silent, even voluntarily deactivating his Holy Domain defense, lying on the bed to endure this belated judgment.