Chapter 39: Seele: Oh no, they're raiding my base!

Theresa stared at the "Accept Yourself" mission with a conflicted expression. She felt that completing it would likely shatter her moral compass.

While the unknown reward piqued her curiosity, she was more determined to complete the mission to terrify Cocolia. After all, the Core of the Herrscher of Binding would be a perfect fit for her. This Herrscher had been notoriously difficult to deal with, and the tragic Binding incident remained etched in the memories of the Fusion Warriors from the Previous Civilization.

Legend had it that the Binding Tragedy was the most devastating catastrophe in the Previous Civilization's history, so tragic that it could hardly be considered a victory.

The Binding Barrier

To overload the Herrscher of Binding's Binding Barrier and create an opening for Kevin, tens of thousands of Fusion Warriors fearlessly charged into the barrier. They filled every inch of the barrier with their lives, countless soldiers surging forward like ants swarming across a river. The first Fusion Warriors to breach the barrier were inevitably slain.

The Sacrificed Fusion Warriors

The second wave of Fusion Warriors successfully penetrated within a hundred meters, followed by the third, and then the tenth. As nearly all the Fusion Warriors surged into the Binding Barrier, they sacrificed their lives to fuel Fenghuang Down's ultimate attack, unleashing the Taixu Sword God. Su, controlling Kalpas, charged forward, and finally, Kevin, wielding the Might of An-Utu, delivered the final blow to the Herrscher of Binding. Amidst the deafening explosion, the Herrscher of Binding was successfully vanquished.

Elysia rescued Kalpas and Hua from the mountain of corpses. Kevin's frigid aura transformed nearly all the fallen Fusion Warriors into crystalline ice tombs, marking the origin of the Red Ice Incident. After the Binding tragedy, only thirteen Fusion Warriors remained out of tens of thousands, becoming the legendary Thirteen Flame-Chasers.

The Core of the Herrscher of Binding that Theresa was about to acquire would be far more terrifying than those of the Previous Civilization. Without the Cocoon of Finality's limitations on its power ceiling, Theresa would become a fully realized Herrscher of Binding, as formidable as an Emanator. At that point, forget the Stellaron—even Nanook himself would face a daunting challenge.

Because the Binding Barrier could suppress nearly all forms of energy absorption, Theresa would become immune to energy attacks and even grow stronger by absorbing them.

By the time the train arrived in the Underworld, Theresa and the others had already dressed Bronya in a captivating evening gown. Bronya's shapely figure left even Theresa speechless, unable to find a single flaw. After all, Bronya's previously small chest was simply due to her binding it; in reality, her figure was quite similar to the Duckling's.

Subconsciously, Theresa began to see Bronya as a substitute for the Duckling.

"Alright, everyone, we've reached the Underworld! Wow, Bronya, you look absolutely stunning! Those young men won't be able to sleep tonight!" Sampo exclaimed as he emerged from the driver's compartment, utterly stunned by Bronya's dazzling transformation. He had never imagined she could be so beautiful without her uniform.

"Wait, wasn't she smaller before? Did you... pad her?" Sampo stroked his chin, eyeing Bronya with a teasing grin.

"Of course not!" Theresa retorted. "She probably bound her chest to avoid hindering her combat abilities. Combined with the bulky Silvermane Guards uniform, her figure looked completely different."

Theresa rolled her eyes at Sampo and offered her explanation, prompting him to nod in surprise. He immediately pulled out his camera and snapped a series of photos of Bronya's sleeping face, confident they would sell like hotcakes in the Underworld.

But Sampo didn't stop there. He also took pictures of Theresa, March 7th, and Stelle, chuckling as he dodged their indignant pursuit and leaped off the train, leaving them with a parting shot:

"I'm off to find the Wildfire Leader! You guys do whatever you want!"

With that, he vanished as quickly as he had come.

"He tricked us again! He's so infuriating!" March 7th muttered, glaring at Sampo's rapidly retreating figure.

"Indeed, I've never encountered someone so utterly shameless!" Stelle agreed.

"After all, he's purely motivated by profit," Dan Heng said, unfazed. "To him, our trust is worth less than a Shield or Credit Points."

"Alright, you two, stop grumbling. Bronya, stop pretending to be asleep," Theresa called out, approaching the feigning girl. Bronya sat up, her face flushed crimson, and lowered her gaze to her ample chest, remaining silent.

"Will you resent us for bringing you to the Underworld?" Theresa asked Bronya, who remained silent.

"And you need to understand, your Silvermane Guard uniform would make you a target here. That's why we had to change you into this lovely dress. Since we're all girls, you don't mind, right?"

Theresa watched Bronya, who sat silently, her gaze fixed on the floor.

"Sigh, I don't know how to face these people," Bronya said, looking bewildered. "I heard everything you said, and I feel so sorry for the people of the Underworld."

"I don't know how to face them," she murmured, her gaze wandering aimlessly as she turned to Theresa.

"It's simple," Theresa replied. "Just help us resolve the Underworld's problems and regain their trust. After all, the order to withdraw the Silvermane Guards came from your mother, not you. As the future Supreme Guardian, all you need to do is be better and more competent than her, ensuring everyone can live happily and peacefully. That's the best way to make amends."

Theresa said soothingly, feeding Bronya a dose of inspirational platitudes.

"Here's your weapon. Sampo sold us out again, but he wasn't too thorough. He only took our photos and the Silvermane Guards' weapons. Cocolia will definitely replace them for the Guards."

Theresa returned Bronya's weapon with a smile. Bronya, deeply touched, gazed at Theresa and embraced her tightly under the astonished eyes of March 7th and Stelle.

"Thank you, Theresa," Bronya murmured, her face flushed. She looked down at Theresa in her arms and smiled tenderly.

Theresa found herself once again under attack by Bronya's overwhelming affection, leaving her utterly flustered. Should she struggle? This was the Duckling's embrace—how could she bear to break it? But if she didn't struggle, she'd suffocate! She was nearly crushed to death by the Great Duckling's... assets.

Theresa was in a state of bittersweet torment. Fortunately, March 7th and Stelle quickly pulled Bronya away, allowing Theresa to gasp for breath, her face still burning red.

"Why didn't she struggle? She was practically suffocating!" March 7th muttered in bewilderment.

"If it were me, I wouldn't struggle either~" Stelle declared triumphantly, hands on her hips.

"(⊙o⊙)... Um, are you guys serious?"

"It's just breasts. Don't you guys have your own?" March 7th muttered, slightly embarrassed.

"March, don't forget, their preferences are different from yours," Dan Heng calmly retorted, his gaze fixed on the curious Underworld residents gathering outside the Train. They buzzed with speculation, hesitant to approach because of Dan Heng's weapon.