Chapter 299: Let's Go Home

With Celia and Freya joining forces, the battle ended without any suspense.

As the demon lay dying, it let out a final roar with the last of its strength:

“Die! All of you, die!!”

Its lava-like eyes flared up, churning with overwhelming malice.

“I want... all three of you... to die a miserable death!”

As its voice fell, its body suddenly exploded. Nauseating dark energy swept out like a tide, enveloping the entire cliff.

Celia and Freya instinctively moved to shield Ansu. Holy light and magic flared up in succession, straining to withstand the invasion of this filthy power.

Ansu couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

This guy... he actually turned himself into a human dirty bomb at the very end.

Even with their combined defense, the three of them were jolted back by the impact. The filthy power only gradually dissipated after a few moments.

However, the mental impact was unavoidable.

Among the three, Ansu was in the worst state. He felt as if his brain had been struck hard with a blunt object; lights and shadows danced before his eyes, and a loud ringing filled his ears.

Countless negative emotions and poisonous thoughts burrowed into his consciousness like maggots, frantically tearing at his sanity.

Fortunately, his reactions were still fast enough. The moment he identified this suicidal black magic—

【Magic Immunity Lv2】

【Zak-Eos's Curse】

【Activated upon death. At the cost of burning its own soul, it infuses the target with endless malice and madness, causing irreversible mental pollution】

【Immunity skill selected: Zak-Eos's Curse】

“Ansu! Are you alright?”

Celia and Freya turned around almost simultaneously, each supporting one of his arms, their voices urgent.

Ansu raised a hand to rub his throbbing temples. “I should... be fine.”

He truly wasn't in much trouble. Magic Immunity had blocked the core of the mental pollution for him, leaving only some discomfort similar to a concussion.

Ansu lightly touched his forehead and looked at the two women. “What about you? Were you affected by the corruption?”

“It was just black magic,” Celia said with a slight shake of her head, her tone carrying a hint of disdain. “This so-called ancient demon only seemed troublesome because of its unique soul domain. In reality, there's nothing to fear.”

Freya also shook her head slowly, her fair skin glowing with a faint, lustrous radiance. “I'm even less likely to be corrupted by black magic.”

After all, she was currently bolstered by dual divine powers. The righteous gods naturally countered those evil spirits and demons lurking in dark corners.

“That's good...” Ansu breathed a sigh of relief, though he muttered silently to himself.

One is a beauty of stats, and the other is a beauty of mechanics.

Basically, they both possess the beauty of power right now...

Celia and Freya didn't believe for a second that he was truly fine. Without giving him a choice, they crowded around him, insisting on treating his injuries.

Helpless, Ansu could only sit cross-legged on the ground and let them fuss over him like a patient.

On one side was healing magic, and on the other was Holy Light divine arts. The two powers slowly intertwined within his body.

After just a moment, he felt his blood surging and his body becoming unbearably hot, so he quickly waved his hands.

“Stop, stop! I'm really fine! There's no need for all this trouble!”

If they kept treating him, he was going to pass out from the heat...

Freya concentrated on observing him for a moment. Seeing that his breathing was steady and his complexion had recovered slightly, she let out a sigh of relief.

“Mhm, I knew Lord Ansu would surely be able to...”

Before she could finish her sentence, the smile on her face slowly froze.

Celia, unable to restrain herself any longer, lunged forward and hugged Ansu tightly.

“Ansu, I missed you so much...” Her voice was thick with an affection so intense it was almost palpable. This was an emotion she had suppressed for many, many days with nowhere to express it.

“During this time, there wasn't a single word from you... I was worried to death out here! But no matter what I tried, I couldn't save you. I'm so useless...”

She buried her face in the crook of his neck, her warm breath brushing against his skin.

“What exactly happened in the divine realm during these days... Did you face many dangers?”

Their foreheads were pressed tightly together.

Ansu looked at her beautiful face, which was inches away and much more haggard than before. He said softly, “A lot of things happened... When there's time, I'll tell you everything.”

“Mhm... no rush.”

Freya stood where she was, silently watching the two as they held each other.

That natural intimacy seemed to belong only to the two of them, turning everything around them—including herself—into a blurred background.

At that moment, Celia slowly lifted her head, her gaze meeting Freya's.

Her brow furrowed slightly, and a hint of imperceptible annoyance flickered in her eyes, as if she were saying:

Why are you still here?

Freya simply stared back at her calmly, without the slightest intention of backing down.

A faint feeling of discomfort welled up in Celia's heart.

Seeing the two of them again, she could vaguely sense that something between Ansu and Freya had changed...

During this period, Freya had been by Ansu's side. Perhaps they had shared many stories and created many memories that belonged only to them...

And none of it included her.

At that thought, Celia's eyes instantly darkened.

Suddenly, she leaned close to Ansu's ear and spoke in a voice that was soft and gentle. “Ansu, it's not safe here... Let's go back first.”

Ansu was about to respond.

In the next instant, Celia's voice dropped. Her dark red eyes churned with a paranoid, even crazed, possessiveness.

“This time... I will never let you out of my sight again.”

Ansu snapped his head up.

“Huh?”

With a click, Ansu felt the cold touch of metal on his wrist.

It was a pair of silver-white mithril handcuffs, their surface densely engraved with magic runes. One end was firmly locked around his wrist, while the other was fastened to Celia's own wrist.

Celia looked at the astonished Ansu and spoke tenderly. “Let's go... Let's go home quickly, and I'll take good care of your injuries~”

“Celia!?” Ansu's brow furrowed deeply.

“Lord Ansu!” Freya's expression changed drastically, and she reached out to grab him. “Let go of Lord Ansu! What are you do—!”

A circle of deep, dark purple magic light suddenly flared up, firmly enveloping Celia and Ansu.

It was a teleportation circle that Celia had already prepared in secret.

In a flash, the magic light dissipated. The figures of Ansu and Celia completely vanished from the cliff, leaving not a single trace behind.

Freya was left alone, standing by the edge of the wrecked cliff.

She stared in the direction where the two had disappeared, her hands clenched into tight fists, her eyes churning with frustration and resentment.

“Lord Ansu...”

“Wait for me... just wait! I'm coming to save you right now!!”

...