Chapter 220: Ch 219: Putting Calamity to Rest

"What the hell? This is not fair! Why can’t I help Kael when he needs it the most? Darn it!"

Lyra had never cursed out loud like this because she had never felt as hopeless as she did at this moment. She knew that none of it was her fault, but she still could not help how she felt.

In the first place, a demon was not supposed to have holy magic, and they were not supposed to fight corruption either. It was a disease that served as a punishment for their race.

"Tsk, I need to get rid of this old way of thinking. Just because those old fools were not able to get rid of the corruption does not mean I am the same. I am the great Demon Queen, a talent unparalleled through the generations. And I will overcome you."

Lyra’s instincts were flaring with the need to prove herself. She could feel her desire to rip this corruption apart, and her power itched to get out.

It reminded her that she was leaving Kael behind, and Lyra wanted to rush back toward the human immediately. But Kael’s instructions were the only thing holding her back.

So even if she was conflicted, Lyra ran toward her destination—the Duke’s castle—until she could not progress any farther. Entities filled with corruption blocked her way, which made her grit her teeth.

"Tsk, if you are going to stop me, then try it. But I am going to tear through you all and make it to the end."

She promised, taking a fighting stance. At this moment, Lyra had only one goal—to fulfill the orders given to her by Kael. And as his faithful family, she would die fulfilling those orders if she had to.

"I am going to show you the true power of the Demon Queen."

Lyra’s consciousness started to fade, and her body began to change shape as well. Soon, she no longer stood there as herself, but a pale imitation of her body stood in her place, ready to charge into battle.

If she were to fall, she wanted to fall while being of help to Kael.

...

’Darn it! How long will I be able to hold her back? My powers are beginning to weaken.’

Kael looked at the calamity he was holding inside his holy barrier and flinched at the rate the corruption was degrading his powers.

It was a miracle that the barrier had even held on for this long, but it was only a matter of time before it fell.

But the physical onslaught was not the real problem for him. He could strain his powers and even his body.

The real reason he felt like he could not take it anymore was the words spoken by the calamity.

"Selene loved you in her own way. Do you know that she was devoted to you in the future? She was going to give up everything for you, only to be betrayed. I am just helping her prevent this tragedy."

The corruption spoke, striking Kael in his weak spot and causing him to flinch.

Objectively, he knew that this was not his fault. The future Selene saw was a possibility, but there was never any guarantee that it would come to pass.

But the calamity was making it out to be entirely Kael’s fault.

"To think that a kid like you would become the end of all elves. It’s a tragedy that Selene wanted to avoid for your sake and for the elves. But who knew she would end up like this? This is also your fault."

The calamity continued in a teasing voice, but Kael could not see what was so funny about it.

"Shut your mouth. Stop using her face to say all this."

Kael did not have fond memories of Selene, but he still remembered her as a decent elf. He felt like the corruption had no right to take over Selene and speak with her voice.

But his anger only seemed to amuse the corruption further.

"Oh! You don’t want to hear where you went wrong? Then perhaps you would like to hear Selene’s own words. We can allow you this much."

The corruption reassured Kael before its voice turned into a softer, more desperate whisper.

"I love you! I hate you! No-! This is not your fault, but mine. But can’t you help? Help us! I am begging you. Please-!"

Selene’s voice sounded so desperate that it no longer even felt like her own. Kael unconsciously took a step back, only to realize that he had nowhere left to run.

The pressure he felt was immense, and it threatened to swallow him whole.

"Don’t speak her name or use her voice. Just don’t...don’t look at me with her face."

Kael warned the corruption, only to be met with amused chuckles. That made him feel even more unnerved than before.

He instinctively knew that the reason he felt so sensitive was because he was standing in the middle of a corrupted area and talking to an avatar of corruption. But he could not help himself.

Everything was starting to feel like his fault.

"Hmm, it is difficult, right? I can imagine. You not only let someone down, but your mere presence sent their world into a hopeless spiral. And she’s not the only one. Every elf from now on will face the same dilemma. They are going to see the same future as soon as they inherit my power. And the end result will never change."

The corruption was putting more and more pressure on Kael, and it was starting to get to him now.

The fact that he could see Selene’s dead body walking toward him, along with his barrier steadily weakening, only made things worse.

But the corruption was not satisfied with this much. It wanted to make Kael suffer even more, and soon it started to giggle at his plight.

"Hmm, my poor little Kael. You were dragged into this mess against your will and made to fight a battle that is no longer yours. Now, why don’t you come and rest in my embrace? This way, you will finally get the sleep you deserve."

The corruption offered, and Kael felt tempted.

But he was not foolish enough to give in to that offer.