Chapter 746: Sending You on Your Way

The bloody battle leaves Henwell mentally exhausted.

The fight against the Glory Rank Executioner Demon demanded every ounce of his concentration. One mistake could have killed him on the spot.

Henwell knows that once he becomes a Glory Knight, he will rarely have another chance to risk his life in combat personally.

Glory Rank professionals are all cagey veterans. Their long lives have taught them never to take an unnecessary risk.

Even when battle is unavoidable, they usually prepare several ways out.

During the Battle of Sunflower Fortress, the Abyss Sin Shepherd relied on his many hidden tricks.

Confident in his status as a bloodline professional, he did not flee at the first opportunity.

That gave an anomaly like Henwell the chance to catch him off guard and bring him down.

Of course, Henwell's backing mattered most. Most people would think twice before killing a bloodline professional.

Henwell has powerful backers of his own, so he could eliminate the threat without the slightest hesitation.

That is why Henwell treasures every chance to fight a Glory Rank opponent.

Whether it is his opportunistic victory over the Abyss Sin Shepherd or this clash with the Executioner Demon, chances like these are exceedingly rare.

At this level, genuine life-or-death battles are hard to find. Every bit of experience benefits him.

Henwell has also confirmed that he can anchor his spiritual power beyond this place.

With the Light of Civilization, he can escape to the main plane on his own if he truly cannot hold out.

If the Executioner Demon dares to follow, the laws of the main plane and the Chains of Civilization will suppress it together. Under those conditions, Henwell would gladly kill it.

With his escape route secure, Henwell can afford to keep taking risks.

More importantly, he does not want to return yet.

He has already guessed what the Lady of Calamity is doing, and the feeling of being watched sets him on edge.

Given his status as a traitor to this world, Henwell avoids exposing himself to the gods' gaze for too long whenever possible.

Not even fallen gods are an exception.

After being driven back, Henwell pretends to inspect the ruins while putting as much distance as possible between himself and the temple grounds.

He looks unwell because he is using all his strength to suppress his breakthrough to Glory Rank.

This is not the right time. He must return to Peace Haven before he breaks through.

If he advances here, the powerful laws left by the gods will bind him to this place and turn him into a dungeon boss trapped here.

Henwell can sense that the Lady of Calamity is nearly finished.

Sure enough, several hours after Henwell is forced back, the idol's light begins to fade.

When the idol becomes ordinary once more, the Lady of Calamity opens her eyes.

Only after sensing this does Henwell return from the edge of the level.

The moment he arrives, he finds Steve holding Alex close and gazing at her face.

Steve cannot resist touching one of Alex's ears, then gently caresses her cheek. "You are far more beautiful than I imagined."

Henwell rolls his eyes. "You two have been married for ages. Why are you still whispering sweet nothings?"

Steve looks back with a smile. "This is the first time I've ever opened my eyes and seen her. I haven't opened them since my extraordinary power awakened."

"Whenever I opened my eyes, the Fate Rail could activate. It was a power beyond my control."

"It used the power of fate to erase concepts directly. No mortal could wield it."

"That was why using it demanded such a steep price."

"The first time I opened my eyes was to kill my teacher."

"The second time was to save Alex."

"After that, I never opened them again, because I no longer had eyes."

"You wondered why I always kept them closed, didn't you? It wasn't some hidden killing move. The very concept of my eyes had been erased."

"I could only perceive my surroundings through the power of fate. That world was almost impossible to describe."

"I could see each person's fate trajectory and watch fate weave their destinies together."

"It was a formidable ability, especially in the hands of an assassin."

"But it could never compare with seeing the world through my own eyes. More importantly, I couldn't look at the woman I loved."

Henwell scoffs. "So you came here to seal away your power of fate?"

"All you wanted was to regain your eyes so you could admire your wife's beauty?"

Steve's eyes brighten, and he gives Henwell a gentle smile. "Shouldn't I have?"

With that, he turns another loving gaze on the petite beast-eared woman in his arms.

Alex looks up at him. "You have lost your extraordinary power. This wasn't worth it."

"Of course it was," Steve replies. "The moment I saw you, I knew it had all been worth it."

Alex speaks with conviction. "I will protect you, just as I did before."

The two look ready to kiss at any moment. Forced to endure their public display of affection, Henwell's mood sours.

"Enough! Tell me what we are doing next. Is this really the time for romantic nonsense?"

The couple glance at Henwell with undisguised pity.

Henwell explodes. "What is that look supposed to mean? I have a wife too! We love each other very much!"

"Henwell, I will use the remaining power in the idol to open a portal," the Lady of Calamity says. "Then we can leave."

She sways on her feet as though drunk.

After a moment's hesitation, Henwell steps forward to steady her. "Why don't you rest a little longer?"

"Your spiritual power is in chaos. Don't open the wrong portal."

"If you open a portal to the Abyss, we'll be in real trouble. I took one look through the window earlier, and the environment there was terrible."

The Lady of Calamity shakes her head. "There is no need. I can handle it. We must leave as soon as possible, or something will notice us."

Seeing her determination, Henwell stops trying to persuade her.

A short while later, under the Lady of Calamity's guidance, the idol's last glimmer fades.

In its place, a glowing circular spatial portal more than two meters across opens at the idol's feet.

Henwell frowns. "Does this lead outside?"

The Lady of Calamity shakes her head. "No. It leads to the Abundant Continent. It will contract afterward and connect to our continent."

Henwell steps forward and examines the portal carefully.

The assassin couple also move closer, ready to leave the ruins at a moment's notice.

They fear that once the portal locks onto its destination, Henwell might block the entrance and leave them trapped.

Just then, Henwell makes a puzzled sound.

"What is it?" Steve asks.

Henwell frowns. "There is something beyond the portal. Why does it look like your Fate Rail?"

Steve instinctively leans closer for a look.

Without warning, Henwell reaches out and shoves Steve through it.

Alex flies into a rage and swings her warhammer at him. "What are you doing?"

Henwell dodges the blow with a wicked grin. "Sending you two home, of course!"

"You'd better hurry after him!"

"Your husband is as fragile as porcelain right now."

"The portal destination is still changing. If you wait any longer, a wild beast might eat him!"

Alex glares viciously at Henwell, then leaps through the portal with her warhammer in hand.

An instant before she disappears, Henwell tosses the Fate Rail in after her. "Don't leave your things behind!"