Chapter 174: Removing the Roots
As events unfolded, the three girls not only understood Abyss’s plan but also their own predicament.
The reality they had perceived was a dream, a meticulously crafted illusion by the Lord of Nightmares. They had eliminated most of his followers, but not all, allowing him to maintain a foothold in this world. He had anticipated their actions, leaving himself a way to retaliate, even if he couldn’t directly confront Abyss. He might have abandoned his desire for Abyss’s fear, but he wouldn’t surrender so easily.
And it wasn’t just Abyss and his companions who were deceived. The entire world was under the Lord of Nightmares’ influence. Flora’s sharp ears, enhanced by her undead nature, picked up the confused whispers of those whose memories had just been erased.
“Wait, who are you? I don’t recognize you. Which family do you belong to?”
“Hey, I remember now. Didn’t Mr. Daberin die a few years ago? I met him… But this isn’t him! He looks completely different!”
“Damn it! Who are you?! You’re not Lady Levadin! Guards!”
Several nobles, their voices hushed, ordered the guards to detain the two confused individuals, their memories wiped clean by Abyss. They didn’t want to cause a commotion. Givia’s coronation was about to begin. The ceremony proceeded, its solemnity undisturbed, except for the bewildered Paladin on stage, his mind now a blank slate.
The royal orchestra began playing a majestic anthem, and the former king, his composure regained, prepared to crown his daughter.
He sliced his palm, the blood collected in a skull-shaped bowl, and Givia drank it.
Leona and Rebecca, meanwhile, had identified a suspicious individual, someone carrying a concealed object. But his memory had been erased. He stood there, dazed and confused. He must have been planning to escape with the artifact after the Lord of Nightmares’ attack failed, only to have his memories wiped before he could leave.
As in Abyss’s dream, the crown and the scepter were presented to Givia.
Leona swiftly knocked the confused man unconscious, and Rebecca, coating her hand with a protective potion, retrieved a small gardening rake from his bag.
Clang!
Givia struck the ground with the scepter, the sound echoing through the square. The transfer of power was complete. She had received the throne from her father, the fate of the Ossi Kingdom now resting on her shoulders.
Abyss, his memories still fragmented, watched the ceremony, then turned to Flora, his voice filled with confusion. “Flora, is that woman on stage our friend?”
“Yes, that’s Givia. She’s the queen of this kingdom now,” Flora explained patiently. “We challenged an evil Outer God who tried to break her spirit, to plunge this kingdom into despair. But with her courage and our help, she overcame her fear. We’re here to witness her coronation.”
“Who is this Outer God? Have we defeated him? Did my memory-erasing spell work?” Abyss asked, his questions tumbling out, like a child discovering the world for the first time.
“We’ve destroyed his influence in this world… Oh, Leona and Rebecca have returned. They’ve found the Lord of Nightmares’ last artifact,” Flora said, pointing at the two approaching figures. Rebecca was carrying a small gardening rake, coated in a gelatinous substance.
Abyss’s knowledge of artifacts remained, although fragmented and incomplete.
“Artifacts… Outer Gods use them to influence our world. If we control their artifacts, we can contain their power, right?”
“Yes, one last step, and we can banish him from our world,” Flora said gently, like a teacher instructing a young student.
Leona and Rebecca returned to their seats. Rebecca handed the rake to Abyss. “We found it. If the Lord of Nightmares doesn’t have any other hidden artifacts, this is his last one in this world.”
Abyss took the rake, examining it curiously.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Rebecca, your fiancée,” she said, extending her hand towards him. “You’ve lost your memories. We’ll take care of you.”
Leona, hearing this, felt a pang of jealousy, but she couldn’t bring herself to make such a bold claim. She repeated the words Abyss had once spoken to her: “I’m… I’m Leona, someone more precious to you than a wife…”
“My daughter?” Abyss asked, looking at Rebecca, winking playfully. “You’re not her mother, are you? You seem too young.”
“Not a daughter! A follower!” Leona exclaimed, exasperated.
“Let’s not get sidetracked. We can banish the Lord of Nightmares now. But Abyss, your plan before you lost your memory wasn’t just to banish him,” Rebecca said.
Flora and Leona, surprised, looked at her.
Abyss’s plan to temporarily erase his memories to counter the Lord of Nightmares’ manipulations had been brilliant, a risky but effective strategy. They should have been content with this victory, but Rebecca seemed to want more, to have him continue with his original plan? It was a daunting task, even for Abyss with his memories intact, let alone now, with his mind a blank slate. And how could they possibly control a powerful and arrogant Outer God?
But Abyss, as if his instincts had been triggered, his eyes lighting up with a newfound excitement, asked, “What other plan? Did I intend to acquire the Outer God’s power?”
“Well… it seems so,” Leona said, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and amusement. “Was ABC always this wicked?”
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