Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Daring to utilize energy that one knows nothing about naturally leads to backlash.

It’s not just this chaotic energy, even a true elixir shouldn’t be consumed continuously!

As for this Princess of Danboro, Hill didn’t know what was going on, but he had already figured out Ellie’s life trajectory.

She relied too much on her own luck... However, the first time, the second time, her meager fate did indeed help her suppress the minor damage that came with power, but as she wanted more and more, and the energy she absorbed grew stronger, her wall of soul, which was at the mortal level, could no longer save her.

Even if Hill’s arrival didn’t push her into this madness, she would have eventually led herself into another kind of spiritual disorder.

Hill recalled her original fate... Alexis would have let Lind kill her, probably because she was no longer of any use to him.

Though none of them were good people, Hill understood well that anyone who plays politics must not be a Saint, else they die early.

Moreover, it wasn’t a secret about the hazards of Aesces energy baryte.

Nobles, especially the Great Nobility, surely all knew.

Everyone must be responsible for their own choices.

Hill wouldn’t sympathize with her because of this.

He merely understood why that Princess of Danboro below could speak such ignorant and shallow words with such pride, and he didn’t intend to meddle.

Hill glanced at the sea where Ambori was amusingly harpooning devilfish... She seemed very interested in their pair of blind eyes and was attempting to pierce them.

Perhaps, even Deities enjoy de-stressing by popping bubbles?

He understood why the enemy from the sea wasn’t Ellie... Gaia probably discovered her last escape and worried she’d hold back at a critical moment.

She could tempt Ellie due to her extreme possessiveness, but when dealing with Hill, she had to worry if this possessiveness would be great enough for Ellie to break free from her soul cage again.

Hill observed for a while longer, muttered about Gaia’s adept skill at withdrawal, then silently waited for the right moment within the mountain wall.

-----------------

The Young Master of Eden stood at the forefront, frowning.

"Ivan." A delicate girl in green, tender as water scallion, softly walked up beside him, "What are you thinking about?"

"Till now, the last wave of people hasn’t rushed in." ’Ivan’ moved a bit uneasily, "I always feel we’re short on numbers."

"Our mission was completed when we entered this mine!" the girl in green asked him with a puzzled face, "You don’t really think they, who take a day just to gather, could be a match for the Proud Sky Alliance, do you?

Although numerous, the gap in combat effectiveness isn’t something mere numbers can bridge."

The people standing next to them showed visible dissatisfaction.

The girl in green noticed but didn’t care at all.

If not for Ivan, why would she cooperate with such useless guys?

Truly... even the newbies on the Black and White Path were better than these.

Unfortunately, life seldom goes as one hopes. Choosing love means giving up the hope of becoming strong in the game.

As for the so-called difference in status... the beautiful and proud Paintbrush lady wouldn’t consider that.

What she wanted was beautiful romance, but the kind of elegance and romance she admired was a trait that only money could nurture.

Her family might not be as prominent as ’Mobi Chenxin’, but it wasn’t so mismatched.

Not to mention those rich kids over in Eden.

Even if Ivan’s family was slightly wealthier than ’Mobi Chenxin’, in terms of status and position... people from their nation didn’t need to hide their identities when going out to play.

Ivan’s family... outside the game, could they dare step out of the country’s borders so openly?

She looked around proudly at the women staring at her... Ha, it was her who chose Ivan, not Ivan who chose her.

Ivan shook his head helplessly.

He really liked Paintbrush, but sometimes he couldn’t handle her little haughtiness... Yet this was the pride nurtured in Paintbrush, growing up in that country.

But, how should one put it... this innate pride filled her with the noble demeanor that their nation’s citizens develop over years.

This was the reason why Paintbrush could stand beside him and not just be a temporary girlfriend.

’Ivan’ patiently explained to her: "Even if we might lose, we can’t not try.

Otherwise, next time there will be even less opportunity."

"Didn’t you say there’s nothing to play for really in Aesces anymore?" Paintbrush asked, blinking with curiosity, "It’s either returning to the vast lands of Toril to find some place untouched by the Proud Sky Alliance or waiting for the next world to fight for, isn’t that what you said!

Then why still..."

"It’s precisely because we want a better future that we need to hassle a few more times now... At least offer these people enough benefits for them to feel it’s advantageous to fight with us, then they’ll be willing to follow behind our Alliance!" ’Ivan’ smiled, "If they can earn their living expenses in the game, they absolutely won’t betray us!"

Paintbrush asked with a bit of confusion, "To make a living, one needs to work hard?

Isn’t the game just for fun?"

She didn’t know much about these so-called commercial studios, but generally these kids used such money to live better lives, like buying luxury items they couldn’t afford before or eating lavish feasts they couldn’t previously indulge in.

’Black and White Path’ would initially give some so-called salaries to their family members, but those were game-related gold coins and such... to make the gaming experience more enjoyable.

’Ivan’ sighed, "In our country, not everyone has national welfare.

```

Some impoverished people don’t register their children to evade certain legal restrictions... you’re talking about household registration, right?"

He purposely steered the topic in another direction, to prevent Paintbrush’s overly naive reactions from irritating those proud nerves.

Though they always reminisced about the good old days... before entering the interstellar age... and how hard they used to oppress Paintbrush’s country, once they reached the universe and started competing with each other, bickering to the point of almost perishing, they had to establish what they called Eden, and ended up watching as the opposing country surged ahead because their citizens were honest.

What a pity, if before leaving their homeland they could have caused that country to split apart... Making honest citizens dishonest, wouldn’t that work?

’Ivan’ shook his head slightly, his ancestors were still too gentle.

"Forget it, it’s none of my business anyway." Paintbrush slightly lifted her chin, "I haven’t agreed to marry you, have I!"

’Ivan’ said gently, "Yes, my princess~ I will keep trying~"

"Princess?" An arrogant voice came over, "Which country’s princess is she, yours in the Undead Tribe?

Ha~

Is the princess doing these things because her country is gone?"

’Ivan’ slightly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forcibly held back Paintbrush, who wanted to turn around and curse... this girl used to be in the Proud Sky Alliance, she could curse endlessly.

Besides, she was used to not bowing to any irritating NPCs.

But they, the Eden, couldn’t do that.

When you’re weak... you have to play the fool.

Once you’re strong, that’s when you can sweep this trash into hell!

Paintbrush was stunned for a moment, taking a long time to understand what ’Ivan’ meant.

She looked at ’Ivan’s pleading eyes, unhappily pushed his arm away, and moved to the other side.

Only then did ’Ivan’ turn around, smiling politely and gently, "Of course, it can’t compare to Danboro, it’s just a small duchy, she’s here just to accompany me."

The Princess of Danboro suddenly looked at him curiously, "So, does that mean your status is equivalent to hers?

Indeed, you do look like a true noble.

How about it?

Do you have any interest in staying in Danboro?

I am the future queen... there could be a palace for you in my royal palace!"

’Pfft~’

"Hahaha~"

"Oh my gosh~"

"A palace, huh~"

"What a grand gesture, hahaha~"

"Oh dear~ Paintbrush’s rival this time is much more intriguing than that innocent little Chalk girl!"

Rumble!

Accompanied by deafening explosions, a burst of earth-shattering laughter came from all directions.

Paintbrush didn’t care at all about the mockery, the moment the first jeer sounded, she started sprinting down the path they came from.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t help but try to pull ’Young Master Ivan’.

But that young master just confusedly tugged her back.

So, when Paintbrush heard the explosion, she ended up pulling him and running back together.

Hill watched her series of reactions from above, shaking his head helplessly.

Clearly, she’s a pretty smart and capable girl, so why does she keep getting tangled up in emotions?

He’s seen lots of emotional entanglements among the Undead Tribe, but most people are straightforward in love and hate... loving passionately, breaking up cleanly.

There are very few who still insist after being repeatedly rejected.

The most intense one was still that unforgettable... Spaceship Oil Painting Courage Contest.

But even that was a few girls teaming up to mess with a jerk, not the girls tearing each other apart.

Hill always found the Undead Tribe’s typical behavior quite comforting.

So he really couldn’t understand Paintbrush.

Perhaps that’s a kind of emotion he will never be able to comprehend... whatever, he’d rather never understand it.

’Ivan’ suddenly broke free from Paintbrush’s hand, rushed over, and pulled the still-stunned Princess of Danboro to safety.

Seeing he was safe, Paintbrush quickly found a hiding spot for herself, poked her head out, and said, "Lanyuan, you hide here too!

The Black Rose people won’t let you go.

We can die, but not too... humbly."