The star gate trembled violently under everyone's combined strength, emitting a blinding light. Loki's body slipped further into the gate, but the resistance grew stronger.
Seeing Hop's plan take effect, the group hadn't even had time to rejoice when the star gate suddenly flickered.
Lucy's magic had reached its limit.
In the end, the Star Spirit Gate is merely a temporary passage linking the mortal realm with the Star Spirit Realm, and the magical energy required to sustain it is obvious.
Lucy gritted her teeth and pressed on, sweat streaming down her cheeks, her legs trembling as she struggled to stay upright. Having finally glimpsed hope, she was determined to get Loki back to the Star Spirit Realm, no matter what.
"Lucy, eat these first,"
Hop pulled out a small vial and tossed it to Lucy. Inside was a cluster of sun‑flower light she had gathered, but the magic it could provide would only keep the gate open for about ten more minutes.
Given Loki's current progress, ten minutes would be nothing more than a drop in the bucket.
"Lucy! Stop right now!"
Loki, anxious, shouted, "If you force the magic after your mana is exhausted, you'll contract mana deficiency!"
Mana deficiency!
Everyone felt a chill; mana deficiency is a fatal disease caused by overusing magic, where the body can no longer absorb magical particles from the air and dies in agony.
Hearing the name, Lucy couldn't help but recall that when she was very young, her mother died from this disease. After that, her father's temperament changed, and he grew distant from her... "Lucy, and everyone, let go."
Loki looked at his companions who still wouldn't give up, a flash of emotion in his eyes. He forced a smile, "I don't want to see you get hurt because of me. Don't let me add more sins onto this."
But Loki's willingness to give up infuriated Lucy. She grabbed his collar, "What crime have you committed!! It's the Star Realm's excessive punishment that's killing you!"
"If this is the rule of the Star Realm, then let me change it!"
With those words, the Taurus Gate shook violently, a massive pressure from the Star Realm surged, and a great force thrust Taros outward.
In the next instant, the canyon waterfall inexplicably flowed upward; the once azure sky turned into a star‑filled night, and a colossal figure of starlight coalesced, spanning the heavens.
"No way..."
"How could this be..."
Loki and Taros stared up in shock at the starlit giant in the sky, never having imagined their 'king' would appear here.
Indeed, that majestic silhouette that made heaven and earth change color was the mightiest Star Spirit, the supreme ruler of the Star Realm.
—Star Spirit King!
When Lucy saw the Star King's gaze fall on her, she felt a sudden weakness. She had just declared she would change the Star Realm's rules—had she now angered this big boss? Could she still apologize in time? "Old friend, we Star Spirits have a covenant with humans not to harm the covenant‑bound..."
"Although Leo didn't kill the covenant‑bound directly, his actions indirectly caused their death, so I refuse his return to the Star Realm."
The Star King's voice echoed across heaven and earth; Lucy felt the giant's stare and realized that the "old friend" he mentioned was actually herself.
She didn't know why, but it seemed the Star King bore no malice toward her.
"Even if Leo was at fault, it was unintentional; he never meant to harm Karen. The punishment is too harsh!"
Summoning courage, Lucy stepped in front of Loki, confronting the Star King's pressure, "When you created this rule, didn't you think it was absurd?"
The Star King looked at Lucy, whose body trembled slightly, and immediately softened his aura, "Old friend, I understand your feelings and share your sorrow... but the Star Realm's rules cannot be altered."
"Don't bring up 'old friend'! I'm talking about my friend!"
Lucy gestured, "Karen's incident was a tragic accident. Loki has suffered for three years because of it, but didn't he only want to protect his companions from further abuse?"
"You're now saying Loki is guilty... I can't accept that!"
Seeing Lucy boldly confront the Star King for his sake, Loki felt moved yet worried for her, "Enough, Lucy. I don't seek anyone's forgiveness; I just want redemption. Let me disappear like this!"
"I won't allow it!"
Somehow, Lucy felt a surge of magic again; the key pouch at her waist—both the golden and silver keys—blazed with radiant light.
In the next instant,
Aquarius, Cancer, Virgo, Sagittarius, Clock, Southern Cross, Lyra, Canis Minor... plus the Taurus she had summoned earlier.
All the Star Spirits Lucy had bound appeared beside her.
They appeared silently, then vanished just as silently the next moment, as if merely to show their support for Lucy.
With her magic drained, Lucy collapsed weakly, yet she stared fiercely at the Star King, "Protecting comrades isn't a crime; you saw it yourself—my Star Spirit allies think the same."
"You are the king of the Star Spirits; you should understand how Alyes felt when she was abused, and you should comprehend Loki's desire to protect his companions!"
The scene moved the Star King slightly; he fell silent, then after a moment spoke, "Since an old friend has gone this far, the only thing at fault must be the Star Realm's rule."
"For Leo, who protected Alyes, and for Leo's old friend… given these beautiful bonds, I will reconsider this matter."
"Leo, you may return to the Star Realm now."
"If you still feel you haven't atoned, then become the power of my old friend, protecting her as she protected you, even at the cost of your life."
The Star King gave Lucy a gentle smile; his towering figure gradually faded, the world's black and white reversed once more, the canyon returned to calm, only the waterfall's sound remaining.
As the Star King departed, Loki felt the Star Realm no longer reject him; a lion‑symbol gate appeared behind him, its starlight guiding his weakened form back to the Star Realm.
The lion that fell to the mortal world… can finally return to its own starry sky.
Though my sins have not vanished, you have given me the courage to move forward. Thank you, and from now on I will protect you.
Please take care of me from now on, Lucy.
The golden key representing Leo fell, conveying Loki's heartfelt words; Lucy looked at the key in her hand, a smile appearing on her face.
"Please guide me."
----------------------------------
I've already uploaded over 40 new chapters on Patreon!
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead, feel free to check it out.
Your support truly means a lot to me!
patreon.com/Kazenova223
Thank you so much for being here!
And if you're having fun with the story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone for me!