With my intelligence, I've come to one conclusion.
That we have no true care for each other.
We only use each other.
The Evil Dragon needs Minerva and me to accomplish something.
The strongest proof of this is that he hasn't killed me, even when I've done things he didn't like.
Minerva needs me to survive the Evil Dragon.
And lastly, I need the Evil Dragon to survive in this unknown world and to expand my knowledge.
I also need Minerva to investigate the special abilities that exist only in this world.
In the end, we are merely holding each other back from killing one another.
No, with the Evil Dragon's strength, he should've been able to severely injure us.
But not kill me.
As the saying goes.
A relationship between two intelligent people is nearly impossible, unless one of them is an idiot.
Fortunately, I am clever enough not to be exploited recklessly.
Again, again, again, and again.
I could never trust anyone.
Oh, I forgot.
The idiot I mentioned in the saying has now appeared.
"Can you change forms?"
"Um..."
The fuzzy ball form of Little Azure transforms into a young girl dressed in clothes that remind me of an immortal cultivator.
Her skin is smooth and white as jade, her long hair adorned with silvery blue highlights, and her cuteness is something I've never seen in any other world.
The little girl hides behind the Evil Dragon's legs.
Occasionally, she peeks at me.
Upon further thought, Little Azure and Minerva's sizes are almost the same.
If it weren't for their clearly different auras and natures, I would almost call them siblings.
"Don't be afraid, Little Azure. I control this 'Monster.' See? Watch me spin."
I spin around.
"Jump."
I make a quick jump.
"Feet up, head down."
I perform a headstand.
"How's that?"
Nod—
Nod—
It seems like Little Azure didn't quite understand, but she nodded.
"Alright, I'll assume you got it. Let's wrap this up. I have a few things to tell you."
An ethereal throne made of flames reappears behind the Evil Dragon.
His expression hardens, clearly signaling this conversation will be serious.
Roots from the Yggdrasil tree rise from the ground, forming a throne for Minerva.
Whether by design or not, why didn't he create one for me?
Fine, it seems I have to make my own.
I used Midnight Haven as a basis for my previous experience, with the four basic elements—fire, water, earth, wind—as support.
Finally, the throne of the four elements is complete.
"You all must know why I haven't killed any of you."
His gaze becomes icy as he looks at me.
"I, too, am indifferent, just like you."
His tone suddenly turns flat.
"But I have an offer for both of you."
A spatial ring on the Evil Dragon's hand glows faintly, and a strange crystal emits an aura familiar to us.
Minerva's expression tightens, clearly recognizing this item.
"Let me explain for those who don't know about this object. This crystal is called the Will of Eternal Phoenix. As the name suggests, inside it is the will of one of the strongest races in the Hongmeng Vault, the Eternal Phoenix."
The Evil Dragon's explanation ends, seemingly leaving nothing else to say.
But Minerva raises her hand.
"Miss, I have a question. Whose will is inside? As we know, every member of the Eternal Phoenix is a hegemon and famous on the 7th floor."
"Good question! This will belongs to Lady Feng Rouyi, an 8th-tier Sage renowned even on the 8th floor. Don't worry, Lady Feng Rouyi gave this to me as a gift."
"There are many uses for this. You can use it as material to forge or strengthen artifacts, help boost your cultivation to the 8th-tier Sage, or extract the will within it to inspire techniques. As long as it's yours, you can do as you please."
I was slightly skeptical that he'd use such a valuable item as a gift.
Although I'm greedy, I must consider the conditions required to obtain it.
I raise my hand and ask.
"What does Miss want in exchange?"
Of course, I must seize the opportunity while I have the time.
The Evil Dragon grins.
A bad feeling settles within me.
"Minerva, could you explain it briefly?"
"Alright."
Minerva nods, her expression turning serious.
"The Evil Dragon race is a powerful race that has been one of the rulers of the Hongmeng Vault for hundreds of thousands of years. The Evil Dragon has many clan foundations, one of which is the Blazing Fiery Evil Dragon. It's said that the ancestor of the Blazing Fiery Evil Dragon was a 9th-tier Sage who ruled the 9th floor. Meanwhile, Miss Isolde is the most outstanding talent, appearing only once every several hundred thousand years. Because of this, the son of the clan leader wanted to marry Miss Isolde to gain more political influence. Miss Isolde, who didn't want the marriage, fled from the clan, but her escape plan failed, and she became under house arrest. Now, Miss Isolde's body is sealed, and only her will wanders on the 6th floor. But there is a way to cancel the marriage..."
So that's her name, Isolde. She's beautiful, powerful, brave, and noble. The name fits her perfectly.
"There's a tradition in the Evil Dragon family to reject or deny such matters. That is, by fighting!"
Her eyes blaze with fiery determination.
"But because I've been weakened to this point, even if I regain my body, it'll take a long time to recover my strength. So, the rules were changed. Each party must send three representatives to fight on behalf of one side. Now, I choose Minerva The Glimpsed One and Arov The Human."
I hesitate for a moment, then ask again.
"Hmm… How strong are the opponents we'll be facing?"
"They will adjust according to your strength."
Wait, aren't we missing one member?
"Then who is our final member?"
"There is someone very powerful, even when they were only a 5th-tier Warrior… But they're currently on the 7th floor."
"That's why we'll go directly to recruit them. How does that sound?"
"Ah, I have one more question."
"Go ahead."
"How did you find me? I'm sure our meeting wasn't a coincidence."
This is what I've been dying to know.
All this time, it feels as though our meeting has been arranged by someone.
"Pfft..."
Isolde laughs.
"...?"
Minerva beside us explains.
"Ahem. In your opinion, what's the difference between a Warrior tier and a Sage?"
"Umm… Power?"
"That's just one part of it. A Seventh Star Sage actually has incredibly, incredibly strong power. As a comparison, one Seventh Star Sage can kill 10,000 Sixth Star Warriors with a single strike. Also, the Ascension Gate provides them with many benefits, such as the ability to predict the future, wisdom, and more."
"Correct. I've foreseen that this situation was inevitable. But there's one difference."
Isolde's elegant finger points at me.
"That is you! My prophecy shows that you can fight against my inevitable fate. That's why I've been waiting for you here for thousands of years."
"... I'm a little touched by this."
You ran away from home and your suitor, waiting for another man for thousands of years?
Are you okay?
Is the son of the clan leader such a scoundrel that Isolde didn't want him?
"Don't think of him like that, he's a good man who cares about his clan."
"Then why didn't you accept his proposal?"
"... It's complicated."
Alright, I won't ask further.
"I'll take it as you've accepted my offer. I'll give you all one night to rest. Tomorrow morning, we'll head to the Sky Dock to go to the 7th floor. Any questions?"
"We'll follow your orders, Miss."
"We'll follow your orders, Miss."
Isolde looks at Little Azure.
"Fufufu~ Little Azure, it seems you'll have to come with us. Don't worry, Arov won't bite."
Nod—
Nod—
The little girl still hides behind Minerva.