044. Facing Death with Composure
As times changed, the technology of the Azure Star regressed continuously. The governors' appearances became increasingly ordinary. They re-adopted prosthetic technology, replacing their bones with titanium alloys and their lungs with carbon fibers, trying to extend their lives, but it was to no avail. The governors were replaced generation after generation, always with the eldest son of Gamos inheriting the position.
The Grand Duke of Gamos gradually stopped displaying affection towards his children. Initially, he would casually place his hand on the governor's shoulder, but later he sat with his hands behind his back. Eventually, he stopped appearing altogether. His expression, like his worsening physical condition, grew increasingly haggard. His body became visibly hunched and decayed, his muscles began to atrophy, and his eyes grew incredibly cloudy.
Three hundred years passed, with many changes in people and affairs, but only the Grand Duke of Gamos clung to life, always controlling the kingdom from behind his sons. Later, he even stopped concerning himself with state affairs, turning instead to bowing and scraping before the people of the Frost-Plated Republic, using more and more devices made by them.
His seemingly immortal life, like that of an emperor, was sustained by the blood and sweat of the people of Grant and its civilians.
Alexia stood before the final door. The Grand Duke's guards retreated behind it, preparing to make their last stand.
"This is the place, Flame King's Hall," Amanda said. "In ancient times, kings deliberated state affairs here, leading the kingdom to prosperity. Gamos destroyed it all, erasing even the just deeds of the wise kings, turning it into his mouthpiece for absolute rule."
Her words were filled with resentment. The people of Grant had endured 300 years of suffering. No matter how they fought or struggled, they could never obtain the treatment they deserved. The economy was in decline, with no industrial system of their own. Everything they worked hard to earn was exploited by the outsiders from the Frost-Plated Republic.
This era should end.
"You go and secure the palace."
"What do you mean by this, Miss Alexia—"
"I can handle the enemies inside by myself," Alexia calmly and frankly said. "Instead of wasting manpower here, it's better to go clear out the dangers in Sulut Palace. To be honest—in the face of a Gamma Tier, you would just be throwing your lives away."
Amanda was left speechless. She had seen Alexia's power, easily killing two Law III agents that she herself couldn't even begin to approach, without even breaking a sweat.
Besides, Miss Alexia was indeed a very straightforward and sincere person. Although her words were somewhat hurtful, Amanda and the others exchanged glances and had no choice but to acquiesce.
They could also sense the murderous aura faintly emanating from within the Flame King's Hall. That power seemed capable of awakening a primal fear of a natural enemy buried deep in their genes, coupled with a certain stirring of the soul. Some people couldn't help but tremble just standing outside the door.
Moreover, not long ago, Bermudes had launched an airborne assault, attempting to assassinate the Grand Duke, and that team was completely wiped out, including several Alpha Tier warriors. Compared to those suicide squads, they couldn't even claim to be stronger.
To say they weren't afraid would be a lie.
Alexia actually gave them an excuse to back down, and several of the Alpha Tier assassination teams subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. They had come this far, and although they weren't afraid of death, when facing a Gamma Tier, the physiological discomfort that arose was something no human willpower or psychology could overcome.
The warriors of Bermudes felt a bit ashamed, aware of their own weakness and frailty, and for a moment, they didn't dare to look Alexia in the eye.
"Please be careful," Amanda said kindly. She didn't want her people to die in vain.
Although Alexia had greatly helped the people of Grant, she was still an outsider. Everyone felt that compared to a fellow citizen, an outsider was different.
The people of Grant had already sacrificed too much in their struggle against the Grand Duke. Many families were broken, and many lives were lost. Amanda couldn't bear to see her team members die anymore, especially in such a meaningless place.
"Don't worry."
Alexia picked up the communicator, indicating that Li Aozi would act with her.
Only then did Amanda relax, leading her Alpha Tier warriors to scatter and clear out the enemies in Sulut Palace.
Once Amanda's figure had disappeared, Alexia still delayed activating the communicator to call Li Aozi.
According to the plan, she should have contacted Li Aozi to coordinate their actions.
But she could sense an extremely terrifying force behind this door. Even in the old days of the Yamiryoko Federation, such an aura was something that stood above all else, at the pinnacle of the food chain, causing the entire federation to feel threatened.
Just the slightest sense of it made her tremble all over, sending a chill down her spine. The closer she was to that level, the more clearly Alexia understood the terror of such an existence.
'...This battle originally had nothing to do with you. I admire you, Alex—Ellie.'
Li Aozi's words echoed in her ears.
Alexia's gaze shifted, and she murmured softly:
"This has everything to do with me, Aozi."
Although the handsome groom was very nice and seemed powerful, he still lacked the ability to step into this battle.
On the contrary, if he entered this realm, he would surely be crushed by the Grand Duke's life level.
As someone close to this level, Alexia knew all too well how terrifying the so-called 'Gamma Tier' was. Even this planet couldn't constrain or tolerate such an existence.
Li Aozi, and even these Alpha Tier team members, had no power to face such an enemy.
'Although I can't defeat him, taking him down with me is still within reach.'
In this world, many beautiful things had vanished, but hope had emerged as well. People couldn't see the sun, yet they still yearned for happiness and light, and idealists continued to strive for it.
She had already seen the scene five hundred years into the future and recognized the new groom—a well-groomed, extraordinarily charming young beauty.
Five hundred years ago, the leaders and scientists of Yamiryoko had told her, 'Alexia, you are too excellent; no one in this era is worthy of you.'
They left behind a selection mechanism called the "Yellow Rhododendron Blood Contract," a complex set of tests that included ideological depth, political stance, intelligence testing, psychological profiling, and more, in an attempt to find the most compatible match for her, the 'Bride from the Past.'
As for the purpose—there wasn't much of one. The federation believed that every citizen should have the most suitable partner, so they could live happily and harmoniously, making society more stable.
Unfortunately, five hundred years later, compared to him, Alexia felt she was no longer worthy.
If she was too inexperienced, her actual age was too old, carrying outdated thoughts, far from youthful and radiant; if she was too old, her mind wasn't mature enough, unable to bear the heavy responsibilities of being a wife.
Alexia's mindset was very calm.
Her homeland had already been buried in the long river of history, and her heart had died with it. Only the harsh words like oppression and injustice reignited her faith and anger, making Alexia determined to continue fighting in this terrible era five hundred years later.
She had witnessed how the Grand Duke of Gamos, a fellow ghost of the old times, had deteriorated, becoming utterly numb—and Alexia knew very well that she wasn't far from the Gamma Tier either.
Just as well, if she were to become such a walking corpse, painfully living on, Alexia would rather exit this era with her homeland, leaving everything to the people of today.
As long as, in the time that remained, she could use her last life to pass on the spirit of Yamiryoko—no, not the spirit of Yamiryoko, but the deeply ingrained human desire for a new world.
She put down the communicator and chose not to call Li Aozi.
'Sorry, Li Aozi, you should find a better, prettier bride who fits this era.'
Alexia raised her head, placed her hand on the door, and slowly pushed it open.
"Here we go."
Creak—
The door slowly opened, and six Beta Tier guards of the Grand Duke immediately looked up and launched an assault on her.