"I'm the one who turned everyone into ice statues, and everyone still wanted to save me!" Looking at the surroundings, Lia said with emotion.

"You recalled the 'Past' and witnessed the 'Regret'. Next, you must find the answer… the answer for the 'Trial'. To bid farewell to your most intense regret is to overcome the first 'Trial'. Will you affirm your past self or deny yourself?"

"After all, it was your own sin that turned your mother, friends, and family into ice statues. Your decision to save everyone isn't even idealism… it's mere delusion. What is left of such a you?" Subsequently, Echidna spoke calmly to Emilia.

"I'm no longer lost about this. Mother... I really wanted to save Mother Fortuna back then. I wanted to be held by Mother and sleep together in bed. I wanted to tell her over and over again that I loved her." Hearing Echidna, Emilia took a deep breath and spoke.

"Then, do you have 'Regret'?"

"I have no regret. I kept the promise. I didn't yield that place. I have no regret about that. If I were to regret anything, it would be regretting that my power wasn't enough back then, regretting that I wasn't wiser. As for regretting not breaking the promise with my mother and obeying Pandora… that is absolutely impossible!"

"Because, in the end, Mother told me I kept my promise. She was proud of me and said I was her pride!" Emilia said with firm determination.

"Your mother cannot be saved anymore. Then haven't you lost your reason to fight?" Hearing Emilia's words, Echidna frowned.

"That's not true. I couldn't save Mother back then, but the villagers are another matter. Everyone is sleeping inside the ice statues, waiting for me to save them. Only I can save them." Emilia spoke seriously.

"The forest has been tainted by the Black Serpent. Even if you can melt the frozen earth, what if their bodies have long been corroded by illness? What if they can no longer stay on the land where their ancestors lived for generations?"

"That's a malicious imagination. Everyone is waiting for me to save them. I must quickly awaken them, let everyone scold me, and then they'll smile and say: 'It's good to be alive'."

"What ridiculous delusion!" Hearing Emilia's words, Echidna couldn't help but say.

"Wrong. That's a vision of a happy future. Mother once said that everyone would eventually leave the forest together and live normal lives, just like how Geuse and the others could get along with the villagers. Just like how Takeru said he believes in me. A world where everyone can live together will surely come!"

Faced with Echidna's sharp tongue, Emilia firmly refuted it. She had grown too much now… she wouldn't become disheartened by others' objections but would strive to achieve the result she ultimately desired.

With Emilia's firm resolve, the space completely shattered...

"The 'Trial' is over. No matter how selfish the conclusion, you have truly severed ties with the past. Go ahead and use your mother's sacrifice as an excuse to carry out your selfish wishes to the end!" Hearing her, Echidna spoke again.

"Say whatever you like. I'm used to Echidna's sharp tongue by now." Compared to Echidna, who disliked her, Emilia harbored no hostility towards her.

"There are still two more 'Trials' left! I look forward to seeing your ugly struggles!"

"Huh? There are other 'Trials'? Three in total?" Hearing Echidna, Emilia was stunned.

"The remaining 'Trials' are probably beyond what you can bear. You are shameless. I don't get along with you at all. I despise you!" Finally, Echidna stated frankly her dislike for Emilia.

"Is that so? But I don't dislike you that much." Hearing Echidna, Lia responded with a smile.

As her consciousness returned, Emilia indeed cried softly again. Clearly, she wasn't as strong and carefree as she appeared before Echidna. Fortuna's sacrifice still caused her immense pain.

But unlike before, she wouldn't escape anymore. Just as she told Echidna, she would find a way to save the other villagers in the Elior Forest and have them live well in this world.

As Emilia slowly walked out, Takeru and the others quickly went to greet her.

"Congratulations, Lia!" Looking at Emilia, Takeru spoke sincerely, feeling relieved inside. At least the two days of comfort weren't wasted.

"Thank you, Takeru, and everyone." Seeing the caring looks in Takeru's and the others' eyes, Emilia showed a grateful expression.

Afterward, everyone returned to the house in the village, happily celebrating Emilia passing the first trial. Subsequently, Ryuzu Meyer, accompanied by Shima and Garfiel, came to visit.

For the arrival of the three, Takeru and the others let them in. Unsealing the Sanctuary had always been Shima's wish, which was why she first led Takeru to Echidna's tomb upon his arrival. But she also feared that unsealing the Sanctuary might violate the original Meyer's wish...

After some discussion, under Emilia's assurance, everyone left. As for Garfiel, Takeru signaled him to come to a quiet place and had a talk with him.

He informed him that regardless of his will, the removal of the Sanctuary's barrier was inevitable and wouldn't change based on his wishes.

However, he could undergo a trial before Emilia's trials concluded, where he could resolve his inner conflicts.

Takeru naturally knew about Garfiel's situation. Although Garfiel believed his mother abandoned him, he held no grudge against her.

Instead, he felt he hindered his mother's happiness. The accident when his mother left the Sanctuary caused him even more immense pain.

Thus, under Takeru's semi-provocative words, Garfiel entered the trial again. This time, through dialogue with his sister in the memory, he completely resolved his inner conflicts and no longer resisted the Sanctuary's impending unsealing.

Or perhaps he understood that no matter how he resisted, he couldn't change the outcome because Takeru's power was simply too terrifying...

Takeru dealt with Garfiel's matter merely as a side task. Takeru knew that although Garfiel was weak compared to himself, his strength was actually quite good.

Takeru wasn't sure if Emilia would continue the Royal Selection after he left, but regardless, gaining one more ally would be very beneficial for Emilia.

For persuading Garfiel, Takeru naturally used some special methods: one was enhancing emotions via Nen, the other was mental suggestion via the Sharingan...

The pros and cons were obvious: they were completely ineffective against strong-willed individuals and could even have side effects. Although Garfiel was decent, he was ultimately just a fourteen-year-old boy. Especially since Takeru knew the plot, he first shook his heart with words, then applied psychological suggestion.

After easily handling Garfiel's matter, Takeru and the others stayed for two more days. During these two days, Emilia completely passed the trials, and the ritual was completely lifted by Emilia.

Subsequently, under Beatrice's complex gaze, Shima accompanied the core Meyer as they vanished from the Sanctuary together, and the Sanctuary was completely liberated.

As for the remaining Meyer clones, they were taken in by Takeru and the others to the Roswaal Mansion.

After resting at the Roswaal Mansion for three more days, the group set out again toward the Elior Forest.

This time, the goal was simple: to kill the frozen Black Serpent and thaw the frozen forest.

Traveling on the giant eagle-type magical beast created by Takeru, it took a full day's flight to reach the remote Elior Forest. Looking at the completely icy world and sensing the lingering powerful mana, Takeru felt emotional.

In terms of innate mana, Emilia had far more than him. However, with the Gluttony, even dozens of Emilia couldn't compare to Takeru if he diligently collected mana.

Some humans still lived on the edges of the Elior Forest, instinctively staying away from the forest interior due to the magical beasts inside.

Seeing the great forest she frozen with her own hands again, Emilia felt immensely emotional. If it were before, she might have been unable to bear the blow and fallen into depression.

But the current her, having passed the trials, now only felt the thought of striving upon seeing this.