Volume 6, Chapter 17 – The Goddess’s Farewell?

The characteristic trance and floating sensation of teleportation magic surrounded her body. Unlike in the past, where she could tightly grip Fia’s arm to prevent falling into the void, this teleportation involved only herself. Nola couldn’t help but feel a subtle unease.

Especially since Fia had been left behind. Even though Nola knew Fia was stronger than her, she couldn’t dispel the worry in her heart. The most terrifying thing about the Weeping Mountains wasn’t the monsters, but the labyrinthine illusion barrier. Once calm was lost and one wandered aimlessly inside, they would soon die of thirst or hunger. Even if they managed to survive, they would gradually lose their reason under the influence of the illusions, eventually going mad and dying.

After speaking with the Goddess, I will immediately implore Her to send me back to Fia.

Thinking this, the disorientation brought by the teleportation magic became even stronger. Nola couldn’t help but close her eyes, resisting the erratic colors flashing before her. Only after about ten seconds, when she felt the light emitted by the Flame Greatsword in her hand becoming increasingly brilliant and a light like an exit appeared ahead, did she finally relax. This meant she was about to arrive before the Goddess. She forced herself to calm down, then tidied her long fiery-red hair and white dress. Although the Goddess had never required Nola to kneel or bow when meeting, Nola still wanted to appear before the Goddess in her most presentable state.

Finally, the sensation of stepping on solid ground came from beneath her feet. Nola quietly opened her eyes and saw the familiar scene—a world of gold, as if bathed in intense sunlight. If her feet weren’t firmly on the ground, Nola would have definitely mistaken this for being teleported close to the sun.

A sense of solemnity and holiness rushed over her. The warm sunlight shining on her body made Nola’s tense heart slowly relax. She habitually knelt on one knee, offering her respect to the Goddess.

“Goddess, Nola requests an audience.”

The light was silent for a moment, then emitted a sigh filled with sorrow. The sigh was light, but it sounded as if it came from all directions, adding another layer of mystery to the Goddess.

This sigh tightened Nola’s heart. She had never heard the Goddess make such a sound before; it was as if some irreversible, major event had occurred. She hurriedly asked.

“May I ask if something happened?”

“Nola, you and I must part for a time.”

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Not a discussion, but a calm statement. The Goddess hidden within the golden light spoke quietly, her voice incomparably mature, like the mother of all things.

“The reason I waited until now was to explain this matter to you. Although the collapse of the World Tree Continent has reached an irreparable stage, we still need to make one last attempt. If successful, I think you and I can meet again.”

“What… what are you saying…”

The sudden words sounded almost like a final farewell.

Nola’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up with a bitter smile, holding onto a one-in-ten-thousand hope, begging that the Goddess was just joking with her.

However, the Goddess only praised Nola in a gratified tone. Nola even felt that the Goddess was looking her up and down while nodding slightly, like watching her own daughter grow up.

“When you and I first met, you were just a fourth-rank warrior using magic outside the system. Now you have grown to the seventh rank, strong enough to dominate a region. Truly an enviable growth speed. You no longer need my protection. You can go do what you want to do.”

“Even at the seventh rank, my strength is no more than a child’s in your eyes. Where are you going? Is there nothing I can do for you?”

By the end, Nola’s tone carried much urgency. She didn’t have the piety a believer should have for her Goddess; instead, it felt more like relying on a mother. Therefore, she absolutely did not want the Goddess to leave her, even if only temporarily. She had already been rejected by Claire; she couldn’t lose her Goddess too.

The Goddess fell silent again for a moment, then sighed deeply. Her voice seemed to traverse thousands of years, filled with helplessness and regret.

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“Sigh—must I tell you the truth? Nola, do you know what the collapse I spoke of is?”

“I don’t know.”

This was only natural. If she knew the problem the Goddess was facing, she wouldn’t be this anxious.

“We originally lived on the vast continent beneath the World Tree Continent. It was rich and full of life. You know what happened later. The Darkborn challenged us, and the war eventually created Chaos, a disastrous product. We had no choice but to leave our homeland and flee to this World Tree Continent, which was originally treated as a Land of Exile.”

This was knowledge Nola knew. She waited patiently for the Goddess to finish.

“Chaos consumes everything it can consume. Its numbers are endless. Even us and those of Absolute Evil’s ilk are no match for them. For tens of thousands of years, we have been resting and building our strength on the World Tree Continent. We originally thought that given enough time, we would one day be able to counterattack. But looking at it now, we were too naive.”

“While we were accumulating strength, Chaos was also growing. Over the long passage of time, Chaos has long since completely devoured the continent where we once lived. Its power has grown to a level we can hardly imagine, so much so that it can shake our current habitat.”

“Saying it this way, you won’t understand, Nola. What I mean is, Chaos already possesses the power to directly affect the World Tree Continent. They will eventually either climb up from the Primordial Continent or cause our world to collapse and fall. Just like a dam eaten hollow by ants will eventually burst, the foundation of the World Tree Continent will also be completely devoured by them.”

The Goddess’s words reminded Nola of the fall she heard about in Blossom. Although she didn’t know what the “opposite shore” of the Holy Tree originally looked like, she could imagine the Wasteland from the maids’ descriptions. It should have been a vast land, perhaps half the size of the Fire Cat territory. Yet, without warning, the entire thing fell into the sea of gray clouds, creating an earthquake strong enough to affect Cold Night.

She had imagined what the situation would be like if the same thing happened in her own territory. The final answer was: just wait for death. Losing the support of the land, only those with the ability to fly could survive. Assuming such a disaster happened in her city, the number of people who could wake up from their sleep and react in time to escape would probably not even reach three digits.

Cold sweat began to appear on her forehead. Nervousness made her swallow a mouthful of saliva.

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“So the fall that happened in Blossom was actually caused by Chaos…”

The moment her voice fell, Nola felt the surrounding air seem to solidify. A terrifying pressure assaulted her with the force of a toppling mountain and an overturning sea, making her feel as insignificant as a fallen leaf in the ocean. It seemed that as long as the Goddess had the thought, she could kill her at any time. She sensed something like hostility. Her scalp went numb, her body began to tremble, and goosebumps appeared on her skin.

Fortunately, the suffocating time lasted only an instant before the surrounding air resumed its flow. The Goddess sighed softly.

“So you’ve been to Blossom… That Wasteland lacked magical support to begin with; it was only logical for it to fall first. Since you’ve seen the consequences Chaos creates, you should understand that if Chaos is left unchecked, the entire continent will eventually become fodder for Chaos. We must fulfill the duties of gods. Even if we don’t engage in a final decisive battle with Chaos, we cannot let them continue to erode the World Tree Continent. So you and I must part for a time. While I am away, the Darkborn may be restless. The rest will depend on you.”

“I…”

Nola opened her mouth but couldn’t say anything. Hearing the reason for the Goddess’s departure, she couldn’t stop her anymore. Her Goddess was working to save the World Tree Continent. She couldn’t ask her to abandon everyone for her own selfish desires.

But even so, the feeling of reluctance to part wouldn’t dissipate. She bit her lip and said with difficulty.

“When will you return…”

“A year? Or ten years? Perhaps I won’t return until the day you die of old age. All I can do is do my best to stop Chaos. Do you have any other questions? Say them all now.”

In other words, the meeting now might become a final farewell.

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Bitterness surged from her throat to the tip of her tongue. Nola’s nose stung, and her eyes blinked uncontrollably. Losing two important people in one day, a strong sense of loss surrounded her entire body, making her sway.

If I were strong enough, it wouldn’t be like this. Why do the people I value always have to leave me?

No, I can’t think in the worst direction. Maybe, maybe my Goddess will soon defeat Chaos and return to the Weeping Mountains, continuing to be the senior I trust the most…

Swallowing with difficulty, Nola gritted her teeth to cheer herself up. She looked up, trying to find the true form of the god hidden in the golden light, wanting to imprint it firmly in her mind.

“Then… then before you go, can you let me see you once?”

“Is it not good to let me reside in your heart in my current image? A god is only qualified to be called a god when they do not reveal their true form. I cannot grant this wish of yours. Time is running out; the sooner we act, the better. What other answers do you seek?”

Nola wanted to say, “Is there anything I can do?” But she knew the difference in strength between her and the Goddess was vast. Even if she went to help, she would only become a burden to the Goddess. Even if she was unwilling, she could only hide it. Praying for her Goddess at this time was the only thing she could do.

She recalled the purpose of her coming. Those purple cat eyes gazed at the non-existent figure behind the golden light, asking with extreme seriousness.

“Please tell me… how can I lift the curse on Claire?”