Chapter 576
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Chapter 576: Resentment and Hatred
Kaluoer stood in the dimension space, shimmering with silver light. She waited calmly, her heart devoid of any extra emotional ripples.
The game—no, the mission—was about to begin.
For many years, Kaluoer had transformed gradually. From a girl into a woman, and eventually, into a true mother. Yet, she never forgot… a certain identity of hers, another identity.
The assassin.
The purest kind, the one who takes lives. It was a past and present from which she could never escape.
Kaluoer used to despise that life, hating herself for being an assassin. Evie understood her sadness and despair like no one else.
But eventually, she lost her “heart,” to the point where hatred and disgust became feelings she could no longer even grasp.
Now, everything had changed completely.
Kaluoer realized she was no longer just a tool. Slaying was no longer for some evil entity’s benefit. It was for the sake of Babel Tower’s companions, to save their Savior, for their loved ones… and for herself.
Yes, for herself.
If there was one thing Kaluoer had learned since joining Babel Tower, it was this: People are not tools.
Live for yourself!
Whether loyal to Babel Tower or offering her body and heart to him, these were choices she had made without regret.
Just then, a voice emerged in her mind.
A voice that felt strangely familiar.
[Hidden Azure.]
[You’re the chosen one, for the fate of the World…]
[No, let’s fight for us.]
The Savior? Was it him, returning?
He really came back…
Then, I will not lose. Because the Babel Tower will never lose with the Savior by our side.
Kaluoer took a deep breath.
“I fight for those who need me… and I fight for myself, too.”
In the next moment, a shimmering silver light appeared before her, and the entire dimension began to shift and change.
After a moment of disorientation, she found herself standing inside a castle. The chilling atmosphere sent shivers down her spine. Outside, an endless frozen expanse stretched for miles, snow-covered and desolate. Inside, a warm fireplace flickered, and rows of candles lined the walls.
Before her was a summoning circle, outlined by intricate white lines. Surrounding it were various materials and a book specifically designed for summoning the extraordinary.
Then, a voice entered her mind. The Savior explained the specific rules and gameplay of the game.
“Turns out, you are my opponent.”
At this moment, Kaluoer looked at her opponent with a blank expression.
A liquid Mercury Mask floated in the air.
The mastermind behind the Mercury Ball was filled with “envy.”
The one who had once caused tragedy in Kaluoer’s life!
They were meeting again. And this would be their last encounter.
“Nice to see you again, my trusty tool, Hidden Azure.”
Jealousy had once been slain by the Babel Tower, and now, he loathed everything associated with it. What he despised most of all was his own Hidden Azure, the one who had betrayed him.
Such wickedness! Betraying oneself and gaining immense power through the Babel Tower. This person deserved the most dreadful fate.
“…”
Kaluoer remained silent.
Jealousy spoke again, “So, you don’t want to speak? Actually, the explosion that happened at your house was orchestrated by my subordinate. You weren’t the main target; someone else was.”
“Do you find it funny? That the explosion, which had nothing to do with you, changed your life?”
Kaluoer didn’t laugh. She simply stayed silent.
Jealousy continued, “This explosion killed your parents, and then we captured the broken version of you and brought you back for transformation. You underwent cruel training… In the following years, you worked for my Mercury Ball. During that time, not only did you lose your sister, but you also gradually lost your ‘heart.'”
“This is a past you cannot change.”
“You have a sad fate.”
“…”
Kaluoer didn’t respond, but in her breath, a trace of anger began to grow.
“Hidden Azure, you’re angry, aren’t you? You must be thinking, ‘Why is it always me? Why? It must be my bad luck!'”
Laughter echoed from the Mercury Mask.
“Hahaha, of course, it’s because destiny is jealous of you.”
“This is your destined fate. If we were to talk about the sins you’ve committed, we could only say you encountered me—’the catastrophe’—and couldn’t avoid it. That’s the cause of your misfortune. It’s your fault!”
With intense jealousy, he wished to see Kaluoer suffer. Only then could he find happiness.
“Now, Hidden Azure, you will live forever in pain and despair!”
Kaluoer shook her head.
“No.”
Her tone was calm but filled with determination.
“Now, I never live in pain and despair.”
“I have someone I love, someone I need, and someone who loves and needs me.”
“No matter what, I will never despair again.”
Kaluoer looked at her opponent.
“As for you… you are destined to perish along with everything in the tower… never to exist again.”
Jealousy laughed, filled with envy.
“Hahaha, how arrogant! Let the game begin, then! Hidden Azure, the losing side will lose everything. Let’s compete for that vital first score, under the witness of destiny!”
The summoning ritual was ready.
All the spell materials and the nearly universal ritual were prepared. Now, both sides just needed to perform the summoning.
Kaluoer had no experience with summoning. To be honest, she didn’t know how to do any of it.
So, she read a little and tentatively summoned the lowest level of creature.
She didn’t fail, but instead, summoned a palm-sized shadow monster with no combat power—likely on par with the weakest slimes.
“Um.”
Kaluoer wasn’t disappointed. She remained calm.
“Hidden Azure, you don’t even understand summoning. Why did you come to participate in this game? Is it part of your tactic—’lose first, win later’?”
Jealousy, on the other hand, grew alert and uneasy. He felt as though he was being outperformed.
Perhaps, it was simply a miscalculation on the part of the Babel Tower?
Jealousy and Kaluoer were completely different. Jealousy was a powerful sorcerer, well-versed in the art of summoning.
He possessed immense spiritual energy, and his innate strength made him an ideal summoner.
Back at the Mercury Ball, even though members were scattered across lands and seas, they would always gather for meetings, summoned by Jealousy’s immense strength.
According to the rules, each summoning ceremony couldn’t be spaced more than ten minutes apart.
Jealousy felt even more confident that he would win. Every time Kaluoer performed a summoning, she had to read a book. There was no way she could learn the steps for a new summoning in ten minutes.
How could she succeed in the mysterious ritual without months or even years of practice?
And so, Jealousy began summoning his next peculiar creature.
The small shadow monster Kaluoer had summoned was still there. She didn’t know how to undo the summoning.
“Watch closely, Hidden Azure. This is my power.”
From within the Mercury Mask, a powerful spiritual force was released. A gigantic tentacled monster emerged from the magic circle and immediately launched an attack on Kaluoer!
