Chapter 239 - The Sealed Place (9)
“Seems like your companions know that you’re here.”
The giant of light said as he turned to Lapis who was tied up. Tears appeared in her eyes and the crystal at her chest vibrated as several rays of white light revolved around it.
Rafah was surprised.
It was no easy task as completing the Spirit Crystal required the owner’s absolute acceptance. If the owner had even the slightest resistance against accepting the power, it would undoubtedly fail. Even though Rafah managed to forcefully pull out the Spirit Crystal hidden within Lapis’ body, it realized that her resistance made it impossible to accomplish his task. If it tried to bend her will forcefully, it might trigger an irreversible backlash and end its goals once and for all.
That was something Rafah would never want to see. Thus, it used the ‘persuasion tactic’ in an attempt to change Lapis’ view. However, no matter how hard it tried to convince her, the timid lady never backed down. Even when Rafah threatened her, her will remained the same. This left Rafah speechless. From its perspective, it didn’t understand how a woman with such a major lack of confidence could be so stubborn. Wasn’t it supposed to be an easy task to convince her?
“I don’t understand why you would reject.”
Rafah shook its head and gazed at Lapis, puzzled.
“I went through your spirit and seen your past. You’ve faced such situations before, haven’t you? We, Berhermes, is neither spirit nor human, but an abnormality. Humans are afraid of us, hate us, and keep a distance from us. You should know how it feels like, so why are you still hesitating? You can control your fate after becoming a perfect being, Lapis.”
“…”
Rafah was shocked. He felt that this was absurd. Lapis had no reason to trust those humans! According to the information it obtained from her spirit, Lapis had been hiding her identity from those people and not even her closest friend knew of her secret. Rafah thought that exposing Lapis’ secret would be her greatest fear. But why wasn’t she affected?
Where did she get her confidence from?
Rafah just couldn’t figure it out.
Although he might be able to read through her memories, Rafah still couldn’t read or alter her conscious thoughts. In fact, at this moment, Lapis’ sole source of confidence stemmed from the young black-haired man displayed on the image.
Rhode.
Perhaps if it were others, Lapis would have second thoughts about this matter. However, if it was Rhode, she knew that he would be able to do something. Moreover, Gillian and Anne’s presence proved that Rhode wasn’t afraid of other races.
In Anne’s previous mercenary group, Mark White, she saw how Anne distanced herself away from other mercenaries. Other than the late leader of Mark White, there weren’t many people who wished to get close to her.
However, Starlight was different. Although Anne had revealed her true identity, Rhode had neither displayed any hint of fear nor dissatisfaction. Also, Gillian obviously wasn’t a human from her appearance.
Thus, if Rhode could accept them, he should be able to accept her.
That was her faith towards Rhode that the woman carried deep in her heart. It was filled with hope, trust, and confidence. Even if she couldn’t trust herself, she could trust Rhode.
Indeed, the human heart was contradictory, yet oddly fascinating.
Boom!! At this moment, the huge door burst open.
Rhode entered the room with large strides.
The first thing he set his eyes upon wasn’t the projected image or his surroundings, instead, after entering the room, he immediately locked his gaze on the woman who was tied up in chains — of course, that meant that he saw the Spirit Crystal on Lapis’ chest.
She indeed was the Perfect One.
Rhode was rather surprised. Although he had heard of similar stories, this was his first time seeing a Spirit Crystal. Luckily he had rushed here in time. Lapis’ death would be unacceptable according to Rhode’s standards. If it were the game, the dead NPC could simply respawn, but if he were to fail here, it would be irreversible. Rhode didn’t wish to have such an ending.
Thinking of this, he turned his attention to Rafah.
It appears that this is the mastermind.
“Whoever you are, I hope you can release the lady. After all, no matter what, she is part of my mercenary group.”
Rhode’s tone sounded refined and polite, however, the motion of drawing his sword and pointing to the enemy spoke otherwise. Rhode’s follow-up proved this point. “If not, I don’t mind doing it myself.”
“Ignorant humans.”
The giant of light gave a cold laugh after listening to Rhode’s threat. He extended its arm and suddenly the crystal that was hanging in the air flew above Rhode’s head and formed a circle which shrouded him within.
“Do you really think you can defeat the power of the Behermes? This is the holy central control room of the Behermians. In here, everything is under our control. And you are the same!”
Along with the angry howls from the giant of light, the floating crystal ball immediately erupted with an incredibly bright light. Then, a beam of light ejected from within, aiming straight for Rhode who was still shrouded in the circle.