(TL/N: There's 10 chapters left till the end of the novel.)
The land had decayed.
Everything was collapsing.
Ruined machines and the corpses of gigantic beasts could be seen everywhere.
Of course, Su Han also saw traces left behind by many old friends.
A stone pillar over a thousand meters tall.
A stretch of land that had been devastated by blades of wind.
"It seems the Seven Archons truly are powerful."
"Next, I should hide the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata first."
Su Han swept his gaze across the area and quickly discovered the cemetery.
With a casual glance.
Everything inside the tomb was completely destroyed.
A seal descended.
From this moment on, no one would ever be able to enter this place again.
Entering the tomb.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata slowly opened her eyes. Her aura had become incredibly weak. It could be said that she was only one step away from complete collapse.
"Who are you?"
Her eyesight had already been destroyed.
She could barely make out a person's appearance anymore and could only rely on her senses to perceive them.
"Don't worry yet. I'm here to save you. But before that, there's something I need to tell you."
Su Han placed the Serenitea Pot on the ground.
He then brought the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata inside. There were abundant supplies within, and if she wished, she could even cultivate flowers and plants.
After arranging everything.
Su Han finally walked over to her.
She sat among the flowers, appearing very satisfied with this little world. At the same time, she showed no fear toward him.
"You seem to trust me."
Hearing Su Han's voice.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata turned her head slightly, a gentle smile appearing on her lips. She lightly touched the horrifying wound on her chest and softly said, "Although I don't know what you intend to do, this body is already destined for destruction. Whether for Sumeru or for the entire world, my demise is inevitable."
"And I can also feel the kindness radiating from you."
"So what is there to fear?"
She truly was a gentle goddess.
"You're mostly right." Su Han smiled back before shaking his head. "But there's one thing you're wrong about. I really did come to save you, and I want to tell you something."
"What is it?"
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata looked puzzled, only to see Su Han place his hand atop her head.
A vast, boundless power rapidly flowed into her body.
That power was both immense and gentle, overflowing with endless vitality. Her body, which had been as lifeless as rotten wood, miraculously stopped deteriorating.
She could continue living.
That was the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's first thought.
But even so, she could not remain alive.
Otherwise, the world would collapse.
"I deeply appreciate everything you've done and thank you for all you've done for me. But I'm truly sorry. This body cannot continue to exist in this world."
"What if I told you I could free you from the control of Irminsul?"
Su Han interrupted her.
His words left her stunned.
What was he saying?
Free her from Irminsul's control? That was impossible. It was the very core of the world.
"You really have a way?"
The goddess who had just been determined to die immediately changed her attitude.
Seeing her expression, Su Han proudly replied, "Of course. Otherwise, why would I have traveled through time? Here's the thing. To save time, I'm going to pass your own memories back to you."
He took out a green sphere.
Inside it was the message left behind by the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata five hundred years in the future.
After absorbing it.
She instantly understood everything.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata let out a long sigh, and at last, a smile returned to her face.
"So that's how it is. You've really worked hard."
Traveling back from five hundred years in the future, painstakingly setting up seals, and even bringing so many resources.
She truly was fortunate.
Su Han shook his head.
"I wasn't being that kindhearted. From now on, you'll have to support me properly. Otherwise, I'll have suffered a huge loss."
"Hehe, don't worry. Since you saved me, then from this day onward, I belong to you."
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata chuckled after being amused by him.
Soon afterward, she thought of something, and sorrow filled her face.
"I always called myself the God of Wisdom, yet I never imagined that this wisdom would bring destruction upon the world. If only I had discovered all this sooner."
"No, this isn't your fault."
Su Han gently shook his head, his voice turning cold.
"If anyone is to blame, it's that malicious Flower Goddess."
Had she not harbored such resentment, the world would never have been damaged to this extent.
Before coming here, Su Han had considered many possibilities.
Could Khaenri'ah alone really have affected the entire world?
After repeated verification, the answer was actually no.
The Flower Goddess had contributed enormously to damaging the very foundation of the world. It was even possible that the catastrophe of Khaenri'ah had something to do with her.
There simply wasn't any evidence yet.
Hearing Su Han defend her.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's expression finally eased.
"Yes. If only she hadn't longed for revenge."
The first time she had seen the Flower Goddess's true face had been not long ago.
It had also been the last time.
The Flower Goddess had sacrificed herself to open the gateway to the Abyss.
Fortunately, the other gods had been powerful enough to erase the calamity.
Otherwise, she would never have been able to atone for her sins.
After settling the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata in.
Su Han prepared to leave.
Before departing, he placed a large stack of manga on the ground and also taught her several cultivation methods.
"The Golden Light Mantra and Haki are both resistant to the power of the Abyss. You can spend these five hundred years researching them."
"You're leaving?"
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata sensed the intention to depart from his words.
Su Han smiled helplessly.
"My time is limited. We'll meet again five hundred years from now. There are still many things waiting for me outside."
"Very well. Then I wish you a safe journey."
"Thank you."
Leaving the Serenitea Pot.
Su Han carefully confirmed the seal's security several times before heading to find Raiden Makoto.
At this moment.
She could no longer hold on.
Ei was embracing her as she wept.
The surrounding order had fallen into chaos, with strange black energy everywhere.
Was she about to die?
A trace of reluctance appeared in Su Han's eyes.
But then he noticed a wisp of aura drifting toward him.
It carried a message.
He froze for a moment before activating the power of space-time.
Silver energy resonated with the power scattered throughout the air.
Raiden Makoto, who had already died, appeared before him in a unique form.
"Phew. You finally came. I almost thought it wasn't going to work. By the way, it's only been a few days since we last met. How did your strength improve so much?"
Makoto had originally been complaining about being on the verge of disappearing.
But the moment she noticed Su Han's transformed power, her eyes widened in shock.
How had he done it?
His growth was even more astonishing than hers.
"I just encountered a few opportunities. It's nothing worth mentioning. Let's discuss something important instead."
Su Han interrupted her curiosity.
Right now, saving her was far more important than discussing such things.
"Something important? You can save me?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Su Han took out the fragment of true spirit he had brought back from Takamagahara.
The immense power and familiar aura immediately allowed the goddess to recognize its origin.
"You... You went to Takamagahara?"
"That's right. So now you have two choices. First, absorb this true spirit, restore your power, and return to Inazuma. Second, absorb it and come with me to five hundred years in the future."
"Is there really any difference?"
Makoto asked in confusion.
The two choices sounded almost identical.
"Of course there's a difference. If you stay in this era, you'll have to hide your identity and never reveal yourself. Otherwise, you won't be able to escape your predetermined fate. Going to the future skips that entire stage."
This time, Su Han chose to be completely honest.
He explained everything that had originally happened.
After learning that history recorded her death.
Makoto chose to leave without the slightest hesitation.
"Aren't you worried about Ei?"
"Fate is a set of shackles. Since I've already died once, I don't want to go back. As for my sister, I believe that five hundred years from now, she'll forgive me."
As she spoke.
Makoto looked toward the Abyss.
Even if she stayed, she still wouldn't be able to fight it.
Besides, remaining in Inazuma would alter established history.
The cost simply wasn't worth it.
Since Makoto had decided to leave.
Su Han naturally had to deal with the aftermath.
The Sacred Sakura at Mt. Yougou had already been confirmed as the contingency Makoto had prepared in advance.
He only needed to strengthen it a little later.
Now, the only remaining issue was her body.
Su Han looked at the goddess in her true spirit form and asked, "Makoto, what about your body? Do you still want it?"
"No."
"It has already been branded by Irminsul. Besides, with Mother God's power, I can reshape my body. This time, it will truly be a rebirth."
Makoto abandoned her physical body.
Although it could still be purified and used.
It bore Irminsul's mark.
Continuing to use it would leave her vulnerable to its schemes and surveillance.
She disliked that feeling.
"Then let's go."
All the preparations had been completed.
Su Han was finally ready to leave Khaenri'ah.
Just before departing.
He suddenly thought of something.
Aether had disgusted him for so long.
If he didn't return the favor, it would hardly be fair.
Spreading out his senses.
He quickly found him somewhere within Khaenri'ah.
"Heh, brother-in-law. So this is where you've been."
Su Han smiled coldly before flying over.
"Why... Why did it end up like this? Has everything been destroyed? These citizens have all become monsters. Heavenly Principles... This isn't what you told us would happen!"
Aether knelt on the ground, letting out a heart-wrenching roar.
At that moment.
A silent attack struck from the side.
He had no time to react before his body was sent flying.
"Who?"
Aether reacted quickly.
Even while airborne, he had already regained his balance.
But his attacker gave him no chance whatsoever.
The fists were as hard as steel.
Every punch made him cough up blood.
"Cough... Who exactly are you...?"
Aether clutched his abdomen as he dropped to one knee.
It felt as though his kidneys were about to shatter.
The shadow in the distance smiled coldly.
"If you want someone to blame, blame yourself. You're always ambushing me. Still, seeing as you're my brother-in-law, I'll spare you this time."
"Brother-in-law?"
Aether failed to react at first.
Moments later.
His expression changed dramatically.
"Lumine... You... You actually..."
The thought of his younger sister ending up with another man made his heart ache unbearably.
His opponent laughed even more cheerfully.
"Stop stammering. I'm the father of your future nephew. Anyway, I'm done here. One more thing, your thinking isn't just narrow-minded, it's downright disgusting."
A golden light transformed into a whip and mercilessly lashed Aether.
His screams filled the air.
Listening to them made Su Han feel incredibly satisfied.
Every ambush Aether had carried out against him.
Had finally been repaid in full.
If Aether hadn't caused so much trouble.
None of these problems would have happened.
Half an hour later.
Aether fell unconscious.
Only then did Su Han step forward.
Killing him was naturally out of the question.
But collecting a little more interest wasn't impossible.
After thinking for a moment.
He came up with an amusing idea.
Since Aether cared so much about Lumine, he'd leave him with a Rinnegan illusion.
"You only have yourself to blame. Otherwise, I really did want to get along with you peacefully."
His eye technique activated.
The unconscious Aether began dreaming endlessly about his sister.
Unfortunately.
Every single time, another man would appear beside her and take her away.
Watching Lumine happily throw herself into that man's arms.
Aether felt as though his heart were breaking.
The nightmare repeated endlessly.
At least until Su Han removed the technique, Aether would find no escape.
Everything had finally been dealt with.
Only then did he leave Khaenri'ah.
"So, where should I go next?"
The war had already ended.
Should he pay Fontaine a visit?
After thinking it over, Su Han decided it was worth going.
At the very least, he could leave a little gift for that young girl.
Furina.
A human who had taken on the responsibilities of a god.
At this moment.
In Fontaine.
After the great war.
Most of the Oceanids had either died or been severely wounded.
Very few remained alive.
Meanwhile.
The new Hydro Archon looked utterly nervous.
"Can I really accomplish that goal? This is just too dangerous. Five hundred years..."
The young girl's face was filled with anxiety.
When she looked up.
She realized someone was watching her.
At that instant.
Furina's heart skipped a beat.
This is bad.
He discovered my secret.
"Shh."
The man raised a finger to his lips, signaling her not to speak.
Then he jumped down from the rooftop.
"Y... Who are you?"
Furina tried her best not to be afraid.
But she was truly terrified.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
She didn't know who this man was.
Nor what he wanted.
At this moment.
Only one thought remained in Furina's mind.
She had to protect the secret.
After all, as long as that other self existed, she would never die.
"As for me, I'm simply someone who cares very much about you. I know what you're about to do, so I've come to give you a little help."
"Help?"
"That's right. It's only a small thing. But it will let you sleep peacefully, allow you to relax within your dreams, and teach you a few cultivation methods. However, you must remember one thing."
Su Han's expression became serious.
Because what he was about to say was extremely important.
"The techniques I'm giving you may only be used to protect yourself. You are absolutely forbidden from teaching them to anyone else. I've placed both a mark and a restriction on them. Do you understand?"
"Mm. Thank you. But... why are you treating me so well?"
They had never even met.
Why did he care about her?
Furina couldn't understand.
Su Han crouched down and gently stroked her blue hair.
"You don't need to ask so many questions. There will always be kind people willing to help you, Furina. Believe in the love this world has to offer."
His eye technique activated.
Furina quickly fell under Su Han's illusion.