Apotheosis

The three-eyed boy hesitated for barely a second, but Zen caught it immediately.

'He poured all efforts into arranging the three huts and this wooden bridge—clearly, he didn't want to get nothing.'

"If you let them go, Elvinia and I will work for you! No complaints! I promise they won't dare tell anyone what they've seen here." Zen looked at the boy in earnest, showing his sincerity.

To that, Dorothy stared at Zen blankly.

She had stayed by Zen's side for a long time on the Other Shore. He had always managed to get rid of the obstacles before him and marched forward as an invincible soldier. But when he did meet someone he knew he couldn't defeat, he chose to sacrifice himself to make a feasible compromise. It was something that never would've even occurred to Dorothy.

The three-eyed boy gave it a thought for a moment before sneering. "I don't care if they tell anyone else. So long as you two stay!"

With that, the eye on his forehead closed shut, making the green light that strung the Souls of Light together disappear. Everyone was then released from the hold of manipulation.

"Get out of here!" He pointed toward the wooden bridge.

With him and the giant ape there, no other creatures of the Dark Region dared to approach the wooden bridge. It was a safe route for them to return to the Grand Sky Temple.

"Dorothy," Zen suddenly started, "I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to meet Elvinia…your best friend… again."

This statement had Elvinia feeling confused. Dorothy was by no means her best friend. She had no clue as to what Zen was planning.

But Dorothy, clever as she was, understood the situation immediately. She turned around and gave Elvinia a hug. "Elvinia, my dear, I'm sorry that you must stay behind. If you get the chance to leave someday, I swear we will meet again!"

As she spoke lovingly, she grabbed Elvinia's right hand and entwined it with hers behind the latter's back. Simultaneously, Dorothy activated her space ring.

Elvinia could tell that both Zen and Dorothy were implyi

e light appeared in the darkness again.

"Boom... Boom... Boom..."

The giant ape's heavy steps had the entire Dark Region shaking, as well as the wooden bridge and even the Grand Sky Temple.

"He's gone!" Now filled with excitement, Dorothy started, "I… I want to go back!"

But Chaim shook his head firmly. "Dorothy, quit daydreaming. Our survival is already a great blessing. Even Thad would scold you for being stupid enough to return to that place!"

They couldn't quite perceive what special restriction was arranged by the powerful boy in the Dark Region. Going back there meant courting death.

"But..." She was still filled with reluctance.

"Fate will bless Thad. If anyone can get through this, it would be him," Hutton reassured her.

While the Nine Li people failed to gain much from their journey to the Grand Sky Temple, they had obtained something else—the strong man with a physical body just so happened to be of their royal bloodline.

At this point, everyone was concerned about Zen's life. They knew they had to report this to the race elders the moment they returned to the Source World.

Still gathered outside the temple were many Souls of Light. They had no chance of entering the temple, let alone knowing what had happened in the Dark Region. Instead, they pointed to the Blue Twin Stars and discussed amongst themselves.