At Celeste Grant’s words, the voice of the Heavenly Dao echoed throughout the world. "When this world was first born, a Heart of Origin was nurtured between heaven and earth. This Heart of Origin contains the purest power in all of existence, and it can merge with the Great Dao to mend the world."

’The Heart of Origin? And one that was nurtured at the very beginning of the world’s creation?’

Celeste Grant glanced at Nina Kaye, who stood beside her, a suspicion already forming in her mind. But she asked anyway, "Where is the Heart of Origin? And how can one obtain it?"

’I just hope it isn’t what I think it is.’

The moment she asked, it was as if someone had hit the pause button on the world. The entire scene froze.

Celeste Grant and Nina Kaye found themselves in a separate dimension. The golden cloud appeared with them, floating right before their eyes.

Before the Heavenly Dao could speak, Nina Kaye, standing beside Celeste Grant, pointed angrily at the cloud. "Heavenly Dao! What do you think you’re doing, dragging us here?"

The Heavenly Dao then spoke.

"Time is short, so I will be brief. Nina Kaye, you are the Heart of Origin nurtured by this world. You were meant to merge with me and return to the Great Dao. However, by a twist of fate, you developed an independent consciousness and later took human form. Now, this world is facing its demise. It is time for you to awaken."

As the voice faded, Celeste Grant saw a ball of golden light descend upon Nina Kaye.

In that very instant, Nina Kaye saw the story of her own birth.

Celeste Grant said nothing. She had already guessed.

After a moment, Nina Kaye slowly opened her eyes. "I remember now," she said. "I am the Heart of Origin, nurtured at the dawn of this world’s creation."

Her purpose at birth was never to destroy the world, but to protect it. Her mission was to return to the Great Dao and complete this world. It was only by a bizarre twist of fate that she’d somehow lost her senses and made some terrible mistakes.

Nina Kaye looked up at the cloud in the sky. "Heavenly Dao," she began, "you knew from the very beginning that I was formed from the Heart of Origin. This was all part of your plan, wasn’t it? You’re truly devious."

The entity merely replied with a single sentence.

"All is as it is fated to be."

"Heh. ’All is as it is fated to be.’ So, what if I’m not willing to return to the Great Dao? Will the world just be destroyed?"

This time, the Heavenly Dao answered. "Yes. This world’s Great Dao is incomplete, which is why the Outer Realms Race was able to find it and breach it so easily. In the Great Dao’s incomplete state, my current power is insufficient to repair the void rift. The world will be swept into the chaotic currents of spacetime and be annihilated."

Celeste Grant spoke up. "Is there no other way?"

The Heavenly Dao’s voice replied.

"This is the only way."

At this, Nina Kaye did not throw a tantrum. Instead, she was remarkably calm. She simply raised her eyes to the golden cloud and said, "This was my mission from birth. Heavenly Dao, I am willing to sacrifice myself and return to the Great Dao to help you mend the world. However, my Primordial Spirit is bound to my lady’s. If I return to the Great Dao, she will be annihilated along with me. I hope you can save her. That is my only condition."

’I can’t believe it.’ Celeste Grant never thought this once-clueless World’s Will would think of saving her at a time like this. ’And to think The World’s Will was actually the Heart of Origin all along...’

Before Celeste Grant could say anything.

A sigh echoed through the space.

"You have your mission, and she has her own karma. I cannot interfere. The outcome depends on the choices you both make."

Celeste Grant looked up at the cloud. "Isn’t there a solution that works for everyone? I’m just a nobody. You’re not actually going to ask me to sacrifice myself to save the world, are you?"

’Unbelievable.’

’This kind of trope is so played out.’

’It was hard *not* to see this coming.’

"Child, the Heart of Origin chose you. Your fates are intertwined. This means you are now the host of the Heart of Origin. Therefore, to awaken its true power, you must sacrifice yourself and merge with the world. Only then can this world be saved."

"Bullshit! It’s this clichéd old trope again. Why does saving the world always mean sacrificing yourself?" Celeste Grant found this hard to accept. "I knew it wouldn’t be this simple. No way. Get that idea out of your head. You want me to sacrifice myself? Impossible. I won’t do it. Aren’t you the Heavenly Dao? You figure something out! You want to save the world, save all of humanity. Well, I’m part of humanity too, so you have to save me!"

"Child, I know this is very unfair to you."

"It’s not just unfair, it’s completely unreasonable! Do I look like a saint to you? Do I look like the kind of person who would sacrifice herself for the greater good?"

"Therefore, I respect your choice."

’Choice? How is this a choice?’

’Right now, there are only two outcomes laid out before me: either I die, or everyone dies! That’s not a choice at all.’ 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

’I thought this kind of melodramatic crap only happened in TV shows and novels. I never imagined it would happen to me. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if my whole world is just some story someone else wrote.’

Celeste Grant paced back and forth, anxiously running her hands through her hair. She looked completely lost. She stared at the cloud and began to ramble, "Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? Why wait until now? If you had told me earlier, I might have been able to find another way."

"Child, although I am the Heavenly Dao, the course of this world is in constant flux, changing from one moment to the next. I was born not long ago, and with the Great Dao still incomplete, I can only make deductions. I cannot truly interfere."

The implication was clear: this world’s Heavenly Dao was still in its infancy. With the Great Dao incomplete, the Heavenly Dao’s own power was weak. It was already doing everything within its power to protect the world.

Nina Kaye grabbed Celeste Grant and pointed a trembling finger at the Heavenly Dao, cursing, "No! I won’t allow it! Mending the world is my mission! What does it have to do with my lady? You damned Heavenly Dao, I see it now! You just can’t stand to see me happy, can you? You can’t stand seeing someone treat me well!"

As she spoke, tears began to stream down her face, and she burst out crying. "Celeste, you can’t agree... I don’t want you to die! This is my mission, it has nothing to do with you!"

Seeing her cry like a child, Celeste Grant reached out and hugged her. "Don’t cry."

"Celeste... SOB... it’s all my fault." At that moment, Nina Kaye, The World’s Will, hated herself. ’I must have had rocks in my head to bind myself to Celeste Grant back then, and now it can’t even be undone!’

Celeste Grant gently patted her shoulder. "I don’t blame you. If it really comes to that, it won’t be your fault. It will be my choice. But you... Nina, if I make that choice, you will have to return to the Great Dao."