Book 5: Chapter 149: Different Constitutions
Disregarding the unsettling term master, Myre stated flatly, âI used my innate ability, Heartbeats of Resolve, on her. Both my heart and hers have ceased beating.â
She gestured toward the two hearts amidst a pool of blood on the ground.
âI see, I see. Thatâs a rare innate ability,â Luna applauded. âBut if your hearts ceased beating together, how come youâre still alive?â
âThatâs because Myre has two hearts,â she replied honestly.
âTwo heartsâ¦â
With another sigh, Luna remarked, âThis world is indeed filled with wonders. The existence of someone with two hearts must be unsettling to many.â
âThis is the first time Myre has encountered someone as terrifying as she was as well.â A trace of fear appeared in Myreâs expression as she recalled what happened earlier.
âAll right, I understand the situation now. I have a few questions for you.â
âPlease, go ahead.â
âWhy arenât you afraid of my presence?â Luna tapped her cherry lips thoughtfully, tilting her head to the side. âAfter such a strenuous effort, having paid a steep price, and even sacrificing one of your hearts to temporarily best a formidable foe, you would normally be reveling in victory. I was expecting you to be astonished, in disbelief or in denial at my unexpected appearance. How can you stay so calm?â
Approaching Myre, Luna met her gaze as if seeking an answer in her eyes.
âThatâs becauseâ¦â A mysterious smile spread across Myreâs face. âI have achieved my goal.â
Luna gave her a puzzled look. âHm? Goal? Was it not to win this match?â
âVictory in a single match signifies little.â
âIndeed, itâs all about the score.â Luna nodded in agreement.
âSo, what now? Will you continue to fight?â
âIâm sorry. Weâve reached our limit. For this match, we concede.â Myre bowed apologetically.
âOh, how boring. I was looking forward to witnessing your innate ability,â Luna expressed her disappointment.
âMyre regrets to inform you that, with only one heart remaining, she can no longer use that ability again.â
âYou actually spent your once-in-a-lifetime ability here. Thatâs true determination.â
Luna scanned the surroundings, taking in the giant crater that seemed bottomless, the walls glowing red like embers from the heat, fragments of rocks that were scattered around, and the thick and sweltering air. It was not difficult to imagine what had transpired here.
âIt canât be helped. Weâre simply outmatched,â Myre admitted with a resigned smile. âHowever, thereâs one last thing Myre would like to ask of Princess Luna.â
âWhat is it?â
âWould you kindly end Myreâs life?â Myre suddenly pulled out a dagger and handed it over to Luna. âMyre is afraid of pain, so please make it a swift end,â she said, pointing to her chest.
âSomeone who endured the agony of ripping her own heart out actually fears pain?â Luna played with the dagger in her hand, seeing her own smirk on its shiny blade. âNever mind that. I know what youâre trying to do.â
Myre froze for a moment, before forcing a smile. âMyre is just surrendering.â
âOh?â Luna gave her a teasing look. âThen, let me ask you. Are you sure you can use your innate ability only once, right here and now?â
She pointed toward the sky.
ââ¦Myre will fight you!â she declared abruptly, lunging at Luna with a second dagger she had concealed.
Luna effortlessly stepped to the side, dodging the attack with ease.
However, Myre was only feigning an attack. She exploited the brief opening created by Lunaâs dodge to drive her dagger deep into Lunaâs chest.
âWhy the hurry? I still have questions for you.â Luna caught Myreâs wrist in a firm grip, her tone light and mocking. âDid you really think such simple tricks would work on me?â
Myre pursed her lips and shut her eyes, resigning herself. âKill me, do whatever you wish.â
âThereâs no need to be scared. I told you, I only want to ask you a question,â Luna reassured, her tone unexpectedly gentle, reminiscent of a middle-aged uncle coaxing a child with candy.
âWhat question?â Myre opened her eyes.
âNothing much, itâs just a very simple question,â Luna replied, pointing toward the two hearts on the ground. âDo you believe Master Lilith is truly dead?â
âClearly. With her heart gone, she must be dead!â Myre responded, exasperated, as if her intelligence was being insulted.
âBut weâre in the Immaculate Tree Domain. How could it be possible to die?â
âOf course, you wonât really die, until the Immaculate Tree Domain determines youâve suffered a fatal injury and transports you out of the match. This is common sense, donât⦠you⦠knowâ¦â
Myre seemed like realization had just struck her. Her confidence waned and she turned a shade paler as if she had lost more than just a heart. She stiffly turned her head around and looked past Luna, her gaze settling on Lilith, who lay motionless in a pool of blood.
Hm, good. She is lying in the pool of blood lifelessly. But⦠Why⦠Why hasnât the Immaculate Tree Domain sent her out of here yet?
âHow foolish,â Luna whispered into Myreâs ear before gently pushing Myreâs wrist, driving the dagger into Myreâs own chest. The sensation of the cold blade piercing her heart was immediate, yet strangely, Myre felt no pain.
Haha⦠I must be dreaming⦠right? No one can survive without a heart.
Myre slumped onto the ground. Tasting the blood that came up her throat as she gasped, âW-Whyâ¦?â
Luna crouched beside Myre and sympathetically explained, âBecause⦠she isnât a human to begin with. Consider this a small punishment. Donât try pulling anything funny again the next time we meet. The Immaculate Tree Domain wonât be there to protect you.â
Luna gently shut Myreâs eyes with her hand, a flash of white light then appeared and Myre vanished. Turning her attention to Calvin, Luna nonchalantly tossed the dagger at his feet.
âWhat do you mean by that?â Calvinâs expression darkened.
âWhat do you think I mean?â Luna countered with a playful tone.
After a lengthy stare, Calvin looked down at the dagger and clenched his jaw. âIâll settle the score someday,â he vowed.
âFine, I heard you. Do you want me to give you a little book for free to jot that down?â Luna yawned, clearly unimpressed by Calvinâs resolve.
âYou!â Calvin glowered in frustration. Picking the dagger up without much of a choice, he slit his own throat and disappeared in a flash of white light.
With Calvin gone, Princess Estelleâs body hit the ground hard. The impact dealt the final blow, and she, too, turned into a white light and vanished.
âItâs so silent all of a sudden.â
Luna attempted to rouse Lilith without success, then stood and surveyed the cavern and the paths connected to it.
She eventually spotted a black shadowfish struggling for life under a pile of rocks, coated in mud.
âLifeâs been tough on you, hasnât it? Let me free you from your suffering.â
Luna recalled Skarst demonstration earlier and proceeded to clumsily descale and gut the fish. She started a campfire and without any seasoning, she placed the fish directly over the flames.
The scent of the grilled fish soon filled the air.
Holding her cheeks, Luna waited patiently. Lilithâs fingers twitched first before she abruptly sat up. Her eyes lit up akin to brass lanterns.