Chapter 319

Rhein pondered the question Roa had asked him.

What, exactly, could be called chaos?

Riot? Fear? The unknown? Randomness? Deliberate destruction? Intentional mischief?

Were these things alone enough to be called chaos?

If the Secret Sea was destined to be destroyed—if that outcome was absolute—

Would you want to experience what it felt like to destroy it?

Rhein’s answer was...

Yes.

And no.

Because if he didn’t do it—

Maybe the Secret Sea wouldn’t be destroyed.

"If you really want to try it," Roa said casually, "I wouldn’t mind giving you the chance."

Then—

From his crotch—

He pulled out a large, bright red button.

"Wanna press it?"

"Doesn’t matter anyway—the Secret Sea is already doomed~"

This action—

Only Rhein saw it.

For the first time in his life, Rhein’s usually carefree demeanor felt... heavy.

"If you don’t press it, I will."

"And you won’t be able to take it from me."

"So this is something you absolutely cannot stop."

"Given that... what would you choose? Ahaha~"

Roa scratched the back of his head with one hand, laughing loudly.

His other arm stretched straight out—like Luffy from One Piece—elongating unnaturally as it extended toward Rhein.

At the end of it—

That massive red button.

It radiated an irresistible urge to press it.

Choice. Decision.

Rhein had always believed—

That everything in this world followed some predetermined path.

So there was no point trying too hard.

Just drift along.

If he died, then so be it.

After all, in this messed-up world, even doing nothing could get you killed—just from the aftershocks of battles between powerful beings.

And even if you did do something—

It all depended on luck.

If luck was good, everything would go smoothly.

If luck was bad, even the most careful plan would end in disaster.

So...

Effort was meaningless.

Decisions didn’t really matter.

At least—

That was what Rhein had always believed.

He had inherited the legacy of Yakatikto.

So what?

He knew his own strength.

He was just an ordinary Level 6 class-advanced individual.

Maybe a bit luckier than most—

That was all.

In terms of combat power, he was nothing special.

Among the inheritors of the various gods—

He would definitely rank at the bottom.

And yet—

Now—

Roa had placed this absurd choice before him.

What should he choose?

A normal person... wouldn’t press it, right?

"Uh, if you’re not interested..."

"How about this—add one gold coin?"

"If you press it, I’ll give you one gold coin."

"If I press it, you get nothing."

Smack—

Rhein slammed his hand down on the red button.

Thump—

Thump—

Thump—

His heart pounded wildly.

Never, in his entire life, had it beaten this fast.

Even he didn’t understand why he pressed it.

It wasn’t about the gold coin.

Not at all.

It was just—

This felt insane.

If the Secret Sea was destined to be destroyed—

Then why shouldn’t the decision be his?

"Haha... you’ve got to be kidding."

"There’s no way the fate of the Secret Sea is decided by a red button."

"I just pressed it for fun!"

Rhein laughed loudly.

But the way Roa looked at him—

There was no trace of humor.

"You’re actually quite crazy, Rhein."

"Maybe... instead of Yakatikto..."

"You should consider Aegmisa."

"Of course, I’m not speaking for that lunatic. I’m just saying... you suit it better."

Roa revealed a teasing smile.

And then—

Rhein saw it.

A massive golden light appeared before his eyes.

A pupil—

So vast it defied comprehension.

The moment he saw it—

He felt the end of his life.

At the same time—

He sensed it.

The approaching apocalypse.

The Secret Sea...

Was about to be destroyed.

"Lord Zhua..."

"I was defeated by someone... I lost the divine artifact..."

A faint oracle descended from the abyss.

In a remote corner of the deep sea—

A soft glimmer of light fell.

Yelia stood within the darkness of the abyss, listening to the distant voice.

It was the sacred voice of Zhua.

A call from afar.

The voice in the sky was gentle.

Like a divine hymn washing over her.

She had lost the artifact—

But Zhua did not care.

She had been forgiven.

So—

This, too, had been part of Lord Zhua’s plan.

Ah—

Lord Zhua, truly worthy of being the Moon Sovereign who knows all.

So even my failure... was within your design?

Understanding this—

Yelia felt a measure of comfort.

The oracle bathed her in its radiance.

She listened quietly to Zhua’s decree.

"I am your most loyal follower."

"No matter your will... I shall carry it out."

Yelia looked up toward the light.

From within it—

A golden key slowly descended.

"Open... the Seal of Light..."

"Lord Zhua... may I know... what lies within the seal?"

"Of course! If you do not wish to tell me, I will not press further!"

Yelia spoke devoutly toward the light.

"It is... the Origin Sea?"

"Isn’t that... the primordial taboo described in the scriptures?"

"If it descends upon the world..."

Yelia’s hand trembled slightly as she held the Key of Light.

Would she become—

The destroyer of the Secret Sea?

So...

It was her?

Then—

Everything she had just done...

What a joke.

She had tried to stop the destruction of the Secret Sea.

She had condemned that man.

Tried to stop him from performing the Pure White Descent Ritual.

Tried to prevent him from destroying the Secret Sea.

"Lord Zhua..."

"Why..."

Pain twisted within her heart.

She couldn’t understand.

Why would Zhua issue such an oracle?

She cried out in anguish.

But—

The light before her faded.

Zhua’s voice vanished.

Leaving her alone.

Alone in the abyss.

It was cold.

As a Level 6 class-advanced individual, she shouldn’t have felt cold.

And yet—

The dark abyss felt freezing.

Chilling her to the bone.

The light I believe in...

Is absolute justice.

But now—

What it commands me to do...

Is it truly just?

Yelia clenched the Key of Light tightly.

Her eyes were filled with confusion.

In the end—

She tightened her grip—

And continued descending.

I am Zhua’s chosen inheritor.

He entrusted me with this task.

There must be a deeper meaning behind it.

Perhaps—

This is to prevent an even greater sacrifice.

How could a mere mortal like me comprehend the will of a god?

And yet...

Must it really be done?

She tried to convince herself.

But the pain in her heart did not lessen.

More than anything—

She wished—

That at this moment, an enemy would appear.

That someone would come and kill her.

End her mission.

But the path downward was long and empty.

No living being appeared.

No danger.

She held the Key of Light to her chest—

Descending like a vertical beam of light—

Falling into the abyss.

It was a feeling she hated.

Yelia despised the abyss.

It stood in opposition to the radiant heavens of light.

And yet—

Now she was the one falling into it.

So cold...

As she descended further—

The space below gradually grew brighter.

The Key of Light guided her.

Before her—

A massive prison formed of countless rays of light appeared.

Yelia knew what she had to do.

There were no extra steps.

Even a fool would understand—

Insert the key into the lock.

Is there no one...

No one to stop me?

Her perception spread outward—

But she found no trace of life.

Click—

The Key of Light entered the lock.

It turned.

She felt countless chains snapping—

Breaking in response.

The Seal of Light was unraveling.

Something—nailed in place by light itself—

Was awakening.

But—

It did not fully awaken.

Even as the seal broke—

It fell silent again.

Yelia’s heart trembled.

Had it... failed?

If so—

That would be for the best.

If—

BOOM!

Her brief relief shattered instantly.

The entire palace of light exploded apart!

A golden-white wall—

Appeared before her.

In that instant—

Yelia’s body shattered.

So...

It was released after all.

The Origin Sea.

Lord Zhua...

I have completed the mission you entrusted to me.

But why...

Do my hands feel stained with an uncleanable sin?

What I’ve done—

Was it truly justice?

Will I—

Be the one who destroyed the Secret Sea?