"Why are you obstructing the progress of this The Rite/Sacrifice, big sister? If... if The Rite/Sacrifice could proceed smoothly, everyone could... everyone could..."
"Could what? You should know what the content of The Rite/Sacrifice is, A-Liu."
Durandal interrupted A-Liu, saying, "Those people want to satisfy Kapatcir by sacrificing you, so that he can protect Tsurumi Island, and everyone can achieve happiness."
"You also know what your fate will be, but you accepted it. But... have you considered the feelings of the other people on Tsurumi Island? Have you considered Kapatcir's feelings?"
A-Liu, who had been unable to listen to anything, heard Durandal mention Kapatcir and couldn't help but look up at her: "Kapatcir's feelings?"
"Yes. To the other people on Tsurumi Island, Kapatcir is the Thunderbird, but to you, he is your friend. The other people on Tsurumi Island mean nothing in Kapatcir's eyes, but you are his friend, A-Liu. Do you still remember your promise to him?"
"Yes, I promised him that when he returns to Tsurumi Island next year, I will sing for him again."
"Then, you answer this question. Do you think Kapatcir would be satisfied when he returns to Tsurumi Island and sees the person he cares about sacrificed by ignorant people, his blood spilled on the ground, and he can no longer see your smiling face or hear your singing? Do you think he would be satisfied?"
The reason A-Liu wanted The Rite/Sacrifice to proceed smoothly was in hopes that Kapatcir would be pleased with this The Rite/Sacrifice, and then protect the residents of Tsurumi Island, making them happy.
But Kapatcir never cared about the people of Tsurumi Island, nor did he care about the sacrifices Tsurumi Island had made all along.
Then, in his life, suddenly appeared the only person who interested him, who wasn't afraid of him and wanted to be his friend. They made a promise to reunite here next year, and the other person would sing that beautiful song for him.
Although it's unclear what Kapatcir was thinking, during the time he was away from Tsurumi Island, he must have been looking forward to reuniting with A-Liu.
Yet what he saw was A-Liu lying on the ground, barely alive. How could he possibly be satisfied with such a sight?
"You see, A-Liu. Tsurumi Island was previously stuck in an endless cycle of that last The Rite/Sacrifice. After we destroyed all the perches, the cycle was broken. But... it wasn't completely destroyed, because it entered the next chapter."
The once silent sky was once again covered in red, and lightning continuously struck down from above, as if venting anger.
"This... this is how Kapatcir reacted when he returned to Tsurumi Island and saw you die. This scarlet lightning represents Kapatcir's wrath."
"...How do you know, big sister?"
A-Liu questioned in return. Although he thought what Durandal said made a lot of sense, she had never met Kapatcir, nor had she personally experienced what happened at the time, so how did she know so much?
To fully convince him, she needed to provide more evidence, otherwise... he might still be stubborn.
"I saw it through a certain ability. If you want, I can let you see it too. It's just that with your current state, I don't know if you can accept memory fragments."
Durandal took a few steps forward to A-Liu, touched his forehead, and under A-Liu's gaze, shared the fragment she had seen from the ley lines about what Kapatcir had said. All of Kapatcir's wrath, his declaration, all these contents were shown to A-Liu, making him understand that what he had previously believed was wrong.
"Kapatcir... so that's how it was."
"So don't be obsessed with the so-called The Rite/Sacrifice anymore. What you want to accomplish only brings pain to Kapatcir. Because that The Rite/Sacrifice made him lose an important friend, do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand, big sister."
This time, A-Liu accepted Durandal's explanation. At the same time, scarlet lightning began to fall continuously, like a scene of the apocalypse.
Seeing this, A-Liu quickly pulled everyone away from the place. He knew there were a few spots where lightning wouldn't strike, so they could take refuge there first.
"Why isn't there any lightning here? It's as if it's deliberately avoiding this place, not wanting to destroy it."
Paimon looked at the lightning continuously falling from the sky in confusion, not understanding why it didn't attack this place.
"This place... is where I often returned. Because I was shy, I would often leave the village and come outside to sing, and this was one of the places where I sang..."
"So... because this is where A-Liu often returned, Kapatcir's wrath avoided this place?"
Lumine and Paimon accepted this explanation. Although it was an unintentional act, given Kapatcir's regard for A-Liu, it didn't seem impossible.
If this place was really that important, then... Durandal took out the feather she had borrowed from Lumine earlier and tried to use its power, wanting to see if there would be any reaction.
But when the feather's power Swirled out, the surroundings changed. Many monsters appeared out of thin air nearby, surrounding them.
"What... what's going on? How did these monsters appear here?"
Paimon, scared, quickly hid behind Lumine. Facing these aggressive monsters, Durandal, Shenhe, and Lumine silently drew their weapons and shouted.
"Don't get in the way!"
The monsters, which should have been terrifying, were easily dispatched by the three, like chopping vegetables. The scene was quite brutal, leaving A-Liu stunned and at a loss.
"Don't mind them. These monsters are indeed not worthy opponents for them. At least, they should be of God-level."
"God-level?"
A-Liu looked at Durandal in confusion. Trapped in the Tsurumi Island cycle, he didn't know what a God was, only that Durandal and her group were very powerful.
The monsters were quickly dealt with. When they were finished, the feather on Durandal reacted again, emitting light.
Following the direction of the light, everyone discovered another feather. This was a feather from Kapatcir, but… why was it in this place?
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