"In that case," Gwen summoned up her courage and said, "you might as well just—"

"This disaster certainly can't be unrelated to the Silver Lamp. Ash is down there, he's definitely trying to find a solution; Black Crow, Harvey, and the others must be on their way. Maybe they have a plan as well." Igula said, "I told you, I know what you're thinking. Don't assume that just because you're my assistant, you can make decisions for me."

"But I'm just your prisoner," Gwen said, "you don't have to—"

"Because you're still valuable to me, just like Black Crow and Qikara." Igula said coldly, "Haven't you noticed? The three of you are all bound by heavy chains. Qikara is the contract, Black Crow has the friendship given by Ash, and you... you think I don't know you like me?"

"You heard Ash mention it casually during chats; we used to be inmates in the same prison. Interestingly, we all ended up there for manipulating others. Harvey controlled the dead, Ash controlled believers through religion, and I, I'm a swindler who toys with emotions."

"People like you, would have been ranked beyond thirtieth in my contacts list. It's just that, in Senluo, unfamiliar lands, and you being somewhat useful, that I bothered to pay a bit of attention to you." The swindler said, "Those unintentional concerns, those sudden cold shoulders, those praises, those impatience, they're all just means to make you fall for me."

"I didn't expect it to be this easy. When it comes to relationships, you Senluoians are as innocent as your fantasies about the starry sky. There's no better shackle than emotions, I just need to touch the softness in your heart, and you'll be devoted to me."

"So I will save you." Igula coughed, laughed coldly, "Because even after hearing all this, you still won't want to leave me. How could I let go of such a useful slave? Serve me for at least ten years."

A throbbing headache came over, Igula had quietly used several mind technique spirits to make his words sink deeper into the heart. Yet the severe physical injuries seemed to also affect his soul. His magic power recovery was slow, and this simple emotional charm already pushed his magic power close to the coma warning line again.

Yet Gwen wasn't angry, not even crying. Her eyes just reddened as she bit her lip and looked at the bleeding swindler.

"You didn't have to say those hurtful words." She said softly, "I never wanted to ask you for love."

Igula was slightly taken aback.

"Also, you said after spending a month and a half together, there's no secret you see in me. But Mr. Igula, you're quite easy to understand too." She sniffed, smiled, "I may feel a little sad, but I also heard your good intentions. The courage these good intentions give me is far greater than the anger and hatred you wished to ignite in me."

"But just trying hard isn't always useful." Gwen turned her head to look at the rain of people falling from the crack above, "This must be the real end of the world, right... I just saw the silhouettes of Holy Sanctuary Mages and Legendary Mages, and they are definitely trying harder than me, but sometimes things just can't be done."

"I've always been like this, even if I desperately want to do something, I always fail." She looked at the scarred Igula, "Knowing this, you should have let me be the bait earlier. That was my only chance to gamble with my life, but you protected me again."

"Next time, the time after that, and the time after that, you will have plenty of opportunities to repay." Igula said, "No one can owe a swindler."

Gwen suddenly gasped rapidly, her whole body trembling, but she still managed to squeeze out a smile, "I'm honored."

"Don't be stupid!" Igula shouted, "Who knows, maybe Ash will—"

"But before that, you will bleed out first." She lifted the dagger, scraping it along her arm. Igula's blood flowed onto the blade, filling the gap where Gwen's name was engraved.

"Although I don't know why, it's wonderful that Mr. Igula doesn't seem to be affected by the apocalypse."

Gwen aimed the dagger at her own wrist.

"I actually," tears welled up in her eyes, lips pouting, her face full of fear and unease, "really want to visit other countries to see if the real starry sky is beautiful..."

She sniffled, her tear-filled eyes watching Igula, crying and laughing, "In the future, when you look at the stars, remember there's a debt someone can never repay you."

Just at the moment Gwen pressed the dagger, Igula suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood foam, even bits of his internal organs. He could no longer hold on, let go of his grip, and Gwen seemed relieved, leaping into the abyss of the crack.

"Damn it!" Igula instinctively cursed out Ash's catchphrase, dragging his injured body and jumping after her!

He wasn't jumping blindly; he could unfurl the Void Wings to accelerate, catching up to embrace Gwen within three seconds, desperately flapping the wings to pull her upwards! But the momentum of the fall was already unstoppable, not to mention Igula was severely injured, his all-or-nothing attempt could only barely slow Gwen's descent.

The two of them appeared like fallen angels, embracing as they plummeted into hell.

Yet Gwen looked at him in fright, stammering, "This is too dangerous, you quickly—why do you go to such lengths?"

Yes, Igula asked himself the same question, why go this far. His earlier words were not a lie. He had already noticed Gwen's affection for him back in Dead City, so he deliberately led her on, showcasing a swindler's true skill, successfully gaining a high-quality tool man.

This was his daily routine under the Blood Moon. Igula understated the number; his contacts had at least a hundred regular individuals, with 90% being women. It wasn't just for money, many were to gather intelligence, like Emi, whom he originally intended to be a planted agent in the Crime Hunting Hall.

His primary goal in securing Gwen was to utilize her information network within the Four Pillars God Sect. But as Gwen showed considerable attentiveness, Igula half-heartedly let her become his assistant, otherwise, he would have dismissed her long ago.

It was like picking up a flyer, with boring colored pencil words and a picture on the front saying 'I like you', so the swindler uses the blank back page to doodle and make waste useful. Now that the flyer is crumpled and useless, why bother fishing it out of the trash?

Like her? Impossible. People like Gwen, Igula could find a dozen just by taking a stroll through the commercial street. There's no way he could have feelings for Gwen.

Reluctant? His hundred contacts were replaced every month, sixty of them.Dating a pretty face occurs for others at a slower rate than he changes people.

Igula didn't know why he rushed up, but before he could think, his body had already understood. He was sure that his past self would never have acted like this. Just seeing Gwen falling, he would have instantly given up.

The past Igula wouldn't care about a woman's life or death.

The past Igula's body wouldn't act before his mind did.

The past Igula's heart wouldn't feel sadness.

He had the gall to mock the Senluoians for their chaotic love and hate, yet he was also a mess himself...when did he become like this?

"Perhaps because," Igula said softly, "I often looked up at the starry sky when I was a child."

Gwen stared at him, tightened her lips, tears filling her eyes. After a hiccup from crying, she gave a bright smile and asked, "I heard that the most beautiful scene is the starry sky reflected in the sea, two elements of heaven and earth coming together?"

"Yes." Igula nodded: "Starlight is the sea's dream."

"Starlight is the sea's dream…" Gwen murmured. She suddenly widened her eyes and looked at Igula anxiously, moving closer on her own. Igula did not dodge, but Gwen brushed lightly against his lips before retreating.

"Starlight is the sea's dream," she smiled and said, "and you are my journey."

Igula suddenly felt the weight in his arms vanish in an instant. He desperately tried to hold onto something, but could only feel the water slipping through his fingers.

He stared dumbly at the seemingly bottomless crack of the Abyss, standing there like an idiot, not knowing what he was waiting for.

But soon, pain, dizziness, ringing ears, limbs weak from severe injuries, all surged in and exploded within Igula, making it impossible for him to distinguish up from down, as if hundreds of excavators were working in his mind, his body as heavy as being filled with lead, and his eyelids were wrestling to close.

Using his last ounce of will, knowing he must not fall, he flew blindly like a headless fly.

After crashing into walls several times, he was suddenly lifted by someone who grabbed his neck and hoisted him onto a shoulder.

He used his last bit of strength to open his eyes, a trace of confusion and amazement passing through them, but eventually he peacefully closed them once more.

...

...

Silent Spiral, eighteenth layer.

"Have too many people died?"

Whitedove's voice was like a sudden thunderbolt, startling Ash and Weiser who were healing their injuries.

Since the apocalyptic crack opened, the three Divine Beings no longer paid attention to anything else, silently watching the human rain falling from the crack, but yet did nothing.

"Yes." Fire Cat replied, "Too many have died."

"If this continues, will they all die?"

"Probably will."

"If everyone dies, then Lord Zhan wouldn't die." Whitedove said: "That's not good."

Fire Cat and Blue Bird nodded: "Not good."

"So, no more people can die."

"Right, no more dying."

The three Divine Beings glanced at the crack on the ground, Whitedove asked, "Can we do it?"

Fire Cat asked, "Can we do it?"

Blue Bird replied, "We can."

The discussion ended, and the three Divine Beings stood together, each showcasing a special posture: Whitedove crouched on the ground, feathers on their cloak spread like wings; Fire Cat was lying on the ground, resembling a cat; Blue Bird stood, hands raised high like wings.

In an instant, the Divine Beings' aura exploded completely, leaving not just the Technique Spirits, but Ash and Weiser, the two Legendary Mages, bowing their heads, unable to meet the Divine Power head-on!

Rumbling——

With the three Divine Beings exerting their full power, the entire forest suddenly turned into a sea of fire, while tsunamis surged from the distant ocean! But the most astonishing aspect was the narrow crack on the ground leading to the Void Realm, which seemed pressured by an immense power, slowly closing! Although the pace was slow, it was indeed closing!

The three Divine Beings could actually seal the crack and prevent the apocalypse!?

Ash and Weiser felt their emotions fluctuating wildly, but before they could express joy, they saw a shadow attacking the three gods!

"Ghost Prophet!"

Ash instantly shot out the Heart Sword, confronting Vishi, and yelled angrily: "What do you want!?"

"Impossible, is this so hard to understand? Do we need to ask?"

The Ghost Prophet Vishi retreated into the burning forest, shrugged, "But considering the significant contributions you've made, I'll explain. Right now, you've triggered the apocalypse—"

"It was you!" Weiser nearly ground her Silver Teeth: "You controlled us!"

"Alright, it was me. Anyway, after the apocalypse strikes, the three gods will focus on killing Lord Zhan to block the apocalypse, rendering them incapable of minding the outside world. And this, this is the opportunity I've been waiting for, a once-in-a-millennium chance."

Vishi's face glowed with delight, and he spread his arms like a conductor at a concert, "The chance to hunt Divine Beings."

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