He turned to Calca and Zesshi Zetsumei beside him and said, "Please buy me three minutes to summon the Holy Domain God Lord."
"No!"
The moment he finished speaking, Zesshi cut him off. Her delicate face turned cold as she declared, "I won't watch you burn your soul power."
Helant's handsome face first showed shock, a flicker of panic flashing in his eyes. Then he quickly composed himself and flatly denied it.
"It just needs a bit more mana. There's no price to pay."
It was the truth, but to Calca and Zesshi, it sounded like an obvious lie.
"You're a terrible liar," Calca said, her brows tightly knit, her heart heavy.
She had already made her choice between her people and Helant.
If Helant remained safe, there would still be hope.
High in the sky, Bastello, delighted to fan the flames, explained, "Hahaha~~ The Holy Domain God Lord is sealed. Without the Faith Power He requires, a Human Emissary must burn their own origin to forcibly summon Him."
"And only when the Holy Domain God Lord completely breaks the seal can the soul's origin be restored.
Kekekeh, if I remember correctly, you already burned your origin once in E-Rantel, and part of the Faith Power you gathered then was used to slay that 'evil god.'
Oh dear… so great and noble Sir Helant, why not flee now and settle accounts with me after your mana has recovered? Bahaha~"
The mockery on his face was unmistakable.
'So that's how it is!'
Zesshi Zetsumei silently clenched her fists, stared into Helant's eyes, and declared word by word, "You go first. I'll handle things here!"
Let Helant leave, then use The Goal of All Life is Death to threaten the demon. She could stall for time.
Helant drew a deep breath, sorrow appearing on his holy and beautiful face.
"If I run, what happens to the people of the Holy Kingdom? Who will stop this demon?"
His words echoed across the Southern Holy Kingdom through the light screen.
Far away in Diborne City, Quaiesse felt a stirring in his heart. As he gathered mana more quickly, he said, "Always thinking of the weak, of the many. Sir Helant truly is the ideal human powerhouse!"
Watching the same screen, Neia clutched an empty potion vial, warmth rising in her heart.
"As expected of Lord Emissary. Even at the brink of death, he still thinks of protecting us ordinary people.
But I would rather you thought of protecting yourself…"
Silently, she pressed her hands to her chest and began to pray.
'O great Holy Domain God Lord, please keep Lord Helant safe.'
There was nothing else she could do but pray.
As one person began, others followed. Everyone Helant had ever saved began to pray from the depths of their hearts.
From Helant's perspective, platinum Faith Power visibly swelled and flowed toward him.
'The heat is just right. Keep going!'
Just as Helant was about to signal Bastello to continue, a small white fist blurred and slammed into his head with a bang.
Eh? The fuck!?
Helant turned around in shock, only to see Zesshi Zetsumei's small face filled with determination.
"What are you doing?"
He reacted quickly, clutching his head and staggering back. Although the blow had not broken his guard, he had to pretend to be dizzy.
Seeing this, Bastello, who had been waiting for Helant's next signal, froze in place, his face filled with confusion.
'Fuck! fuck! fuck! Did our act get exposed? Impossible. Lord Helant is the all-knowing Supreme Being! A Supreme Being such as Lord Helant's acting was flawless!'
Zesshi Zetsumei and Calca stepped forward, standing on either side of Helant, and said coldly, "I told you. I will not let you burn your origin."
Then she turned to Calca. "Take Helant and go. I'm certain I can drive the demon back!"
Calca nodded firmly. With Zesshi Zetsumei here, casualties should remain around a hundred thousand for this city and not spread across the entire south. That was already the best outcome, short of having Helant summon the God Lord.
"Hmph, Sir Helant," Bastello said, his mind racing while his face twisted into a mocking expression at just the right moment, "since these ladies care so much, give up. Your soul origin cannot be burned many more times. It is not worth it for mere humans."
"How many times do I have to say it!" Helant's chest heaved, anger seeming to ignite in his eyes as he pointed toward the city. "My life is life. Aren't their lives life too?
Don't they want to live?
Aren't they innocent?"
His voice echoed through heaven and earth via the light screen, wave after wave striking at every heart.
Far away, Neia felt her nose sting as hot tears streamed down her face.
"Lord Emissary… no, Lord Helant… you truly care for us!"
High above, the Platinum Dragon Lord listened to every word, thinking, Good, just like that. Let me see you wear each other down. Let me see what this so-called Holy Domain God Lord can do.
At the same time, he sensed something unusual. The demon Bastello seemed to be waiting for something.
Moreover, since dusk, he had felt a strange sense of familiarity, something he had only ever sensed from the Dragon Emperor.
Helant's words forced Zesshi Zetsumei and Calca to face reality. Helant would never abandon the people of this city, nor would he flee and leave the Southern Holy Kingdom in danger.
But when they thought of the portion of origin he would burn, and the unknown consequences that would follow, both of them lowered their heads in despair.
Seeing this, Helant softened, drew them into his arms, and comforted them.
"It's all right. Not counting this time, I can still burn my origin three more times. Once the Holy Domain God Lord gathers enough Faith Power to break the seal, what I lose will not only be restored, I will become even stronger!"
"Really?" The two women raised their beautiful faces, a hint of doubt in their eyes.
If there was a way to recover, then perhaps it could be accepted, but they still felt pain for him.
"Really. If I'm lying, then I am not human."
Reassured, the two women let out a breath and stepped out of his embrace.
They looked up at the sky, battle intent burning in their eyes.
"You said you needed three minutes, right!"
Light rippled across Helant's body as a certain power began to gather.
"Exactly."
High above, Bastello's crimson eyes narrowed, his fangs bared in disdain.
"Then… die!"
____
15 Advance chapters:
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