Borrowing the momentum of others to fulfill one's own desires.
Helbo demonstrated his control over the situation with tangible actions.
No wonder he was nowhere to be seen at the Divine Hall previously. It seems he had already planned to use the Fierce Goddess, even Ian and Riddle Malfoy, these three outsiders.
In comparison to Riddle's cunning.
Helbo's mind appears much more vicious. He isn't gambling on possibilities but has precisely controlled every step, deceiving Ian, perhaps even a Goddess, and possibly the celestial deities.
"You're right, maybe we really should escape first." Upon hearing the Fierce Goddess's explanation, Ian didn't have time to think long before noticing many black lines appear around his body.
They resembled silken threads drawn from unknown realms, swirling around him like eels, constantly attempting to latch onto Ian but failing.
However.
Even though those black lines didn't penetrate Ian, he could still feel a strong pull emanating from Helbo's direction, gradually growing stronger.
This was undoubtedly Helbo's power at work.
The third "Angel's Position" was trying to affect Ian. Honestly, regardless of Helbo's current grotesque form, even if he were a cute white-haired girl, Ian wouldn't want to become a part of someone else.
"Quick, let's run now, or we'll be stuck." Ian, being someone who knew when to advance and retreat, didn't harbor an "Invincible Heart" of fighting spirit against strong foes.
He simply grabbed Cassandra, and before the Fierce Goddess could react, he climbed onto the back of the slender, tall Fierce Goddess, riding on her neck.
"You're treating me as a mount, aren't you? Seriously!" Despite her grumbling, the Fierce Goddess didn't hesitate. Brilliant lights emanated from around her.
The light danced and flickered in the air like countless fragments of gold leaf. Her hair whipped around in the glow, every strand seeming like a living golden thread.
"Hold on tight."
The Fierce Goddess offered a brief warning.
Each syllable was filled with power, making the surrounding air buzz and hum.
Without hesitation, Ian clasped the Fierce Goddess's neck.
The next moment.
Ian felt a dizzying spin, as golden light enveloped him and Cassandra completely. In that instant, he felt a warm and powerful force surge into his body.
It was as if his soul would be ignited into a blazing fire. The Fierce Goddess transformed him and Cassandra into a pillar of golden light, dispersing much of the cold brought about by Helbo's Ascension to Divinity, shooting up like the first beam of dawn, drawing a brilliant trajectory across the dark stormy sky.
The spectacle was grand and breathtaking.
Like the most direct connection between sky and earth.
The golden light, like a bolt of lightning, pierced through the thick clouds in an instant. The black clouds were torn apart by this immense power, emitting a deep rumble as if a large hole was ripped in the sky.
The Fierce Goddess's escape speed was swift.
As fast as light.
However.
Just as they plunged into the clouds, a strange force rushed at them. That force felt like an invisible hand yanking them back forcefully.
The entire world suddenly sounded like grinding gears stuck in place.
"What's happening?" Ian felt the scene before him suddenly twist, like a painting being crumpled. In the next second, they found themselves back in the place they had just left.
Looking at the familiar surroundings, the Little Wizard still couldn't figure out what had happened. It's impossible to learn this at Hogwarts, just like college advisors don't teach you how to rise in position and salary.
"Damn it! It's Helbo!" The Fierce Goddess, however, understood what was happening. Her expression turned grim, her hands clenched into fists, emitting sparks of gold.
"Time reversal?"
Ian furrowed his brow, trying to guess based on his own knowledge.
But.
"Worse than that."
The Fierce Goddess shook her head, looking up at the massive, mocking serpent face in the distant city. Mockery flowed in Helbo's eyes.
"The power of paradox?"
Ian made another guess.
This time the Fierce Goddess nodded heavily.
"Yes, the power of paradox. He is on the Divine Tier, and while he hasn't mastered full power yet, the area around him is already filled with paradoxes."
"This means we are in a paradoxical domain."
"In this domain, there's an unbreakable logical dilemma. Whenever we try to leave, we trigger this power. Simply put, we're trapped in an inescapable cage, and every attempt to leave merely results in bringing us back here."
The Goddess's voice was low and hoarse, carrying a slight tremor—a quiver at the unknown, a worry for the power that shouldn't exist, now so close at hand.
And not just her.
The words struck Ian deeply, making him disregard the discomfort of transforming into a light pillar earlier, filling him with a profound shock. The concept of such a power was incredible, even to an imaginative mind.
"It seems there's no escaping it. I thought you'd be a bit more capable." The Little Wizard could only pull out his magic wand, sighing heavily with some resignation.