Chapter 119: The Plan for Maximum Gain
Nolan knew perfectly well that his proposal sounded utterly insane. It practically amounted to suicide.
But he had his own reasoning.
There was less than half an hour left before the outer seal of the Gap of Ages closed again. Against an enemy like a Demon Overlord, a being with countless abilities and terrifyingly unconventional methods, combat strength alone was no longer enough. Time had now become a critical factor as well. Winning probably would not be the problem. Controlling the time required would.
And Nolan hated uncertain gambles.
Besides, he wanted to use this opportunity to maximize the rewards. With timing and circumstances both favoring him, he might as well go all in.
“That’s right.” Nolan’s tone remained calm, as though he were simply talking about visiting a neighbor’s house. “I need both the sacred spring and the holy relic. Under normal circumstances, removing the seal would be the only option. But if we enter its spiritual world, then we won’t need to break the seal at all. We won’t need to fight it in the material world either. In fact, the outer seal won’t last much longer anyway. We don’t have the luxury of trial and error. If we only invade its spiritual world, we completely eliminate the risk of failing against it physically and accidentally allowing it to escape, or worse, getting trapped here alongside it. Even if the chance is only one in ten thousand, I’m unwilling to take that risk. I imagine you feel the same.”
He paused, glancing at the worried expressions on Vivi and Romina’s faces.
“The soul imprint sequence will function within the spiritual world as well. As long as I alone confront Qroshu’s spiritual essence directly…” He spread his hands slightly. “This is the method with the lowest risk and the greatest possible reward.”
Ailindel’s beautiful brows knit tightly together. Clearly, she did not share Nolan’s casual confidence. “That is the spiritual world of a Demon Overlord. It is its domain, the manifestation of its own will and emotions. In the spiritual world, strength depends solely on force of will. Even if you possess some artifact capable of suppressing the mind, you won’t be able to bring it inside. There, it can use every one of its special abilities, while you will have nothing but yourself.”
She stepped forward, her pure white armor ringing softly with crisp metallic chimes as she fixed her eyes on Nolan.
“Once you enter, those of us outside will have no way to interfere. If you fail, the best possible outcome is that your consciousness will be completely erased or assimilated, leaving your body an empty shell without a mind.”
Renee had been hiding behind Nolan the whole time. Hearing that even the best outcome sounded horrifying, she could not help asking timidly, “Th-then… what’s the worst outcome?”
Ailindel turned toward her, her expression becoming graver than ever before. “The worst outcome? There are far too many possibilities. Perhaps Qroshu will assimilate and devour Nolan’s consciousness, using his soul as nourishment until its strength gradually recovers to the point where it can threaten the seal again. If that happens, we would face a monster even more dangerous than the one from ten thousand years ago. Or…”
She hesitated briefly, as though searching for an even more dreadful phrase.
“Qroshu could seize Nolan’s body. It would cast off the limitations of its demonic soul imprint and obtain a completely new vessel, one unaffected by anti-demon wards of any kind. At that point, it would have eliminated the weakness of its soul imprint and could continue taking new bodies indefinitely, achieving true immortality in every sense. The domains of spirit and soul are the most mysterious of all. No one can predict what might happen.”
The worst outcome was not simply Nolan dying.
It was Nolan becoming the source of the world’s next catastrophe.
“No!” Vivi finally could not hold back any longer. She rushed forward and grabbed Nolan’s arm tightly. “Nolan! This is far too dangerous! How can you be sure you’ll win? You’re the lord of all of us now. Do you even realize what you’re saying?! Let’s think of another way!”
Her voice already sounded pleading.
This man was always like this, shouldering the heaviest burdens himself and leaving the most terrifying risks for his own back alone.
“The tigerkin lady is correct.”
Ailindel’s tone softened, carrying recognition toward a courageous younger generation.
“I understand your desire to protect your territory. Your resolve is admirable. But there is no need to resort to something so close to suicide. I can help suppress Qroshu and allow you to take the spring water before the altar replenishes itself. That alone should be enough for the five of you.”
Once again, she proposed the compromise, trying to dissuade him.
“Brother Nolan…” Little Donnie scratched his head and stepped closer, his face full of confusion. “After all this talk… what exactly is this Demon Overlord Qroshu anyway? It sounds even scarier than the undead scourge.”
Only then did the others realize they still did not fully understand what they were dealing with, and they all looked toward Nolan expectantly.
Nolan blinked, then answered in an oddly relaxed tone, “Oh right, I forgot to explain. But don’t worry too much. He’s the youngest of the Eight Demon Overlords, the ruler whose territory in the Sulfur Abyss lies closest to the surface world. The Eighth Serpent Head of the Seven Serpent Thrones, the ‘Rebellious Serpent Head.’ And during the War of Heaven ten thousand years ago, he was infamous for betrayal and deception. The one responsible for the greatest destruction and slaughter among them all, Qroshu, the Shadow of Betrayal.”
The words themselves were simple. Yet they carried the crushing weight of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. That title alone filled everyone present with overwhelming danger.
How was that supposed to qualify as “don’t worry too much”?!
Nolan ignored their horrified reactions completely. “Relax. I know what you’re worried about.” He looked at Vivi, who was still pouting stubbornly, and reached out to pat her soft ears, ruffling her hair in the process. Vivi immediately grabbed his hand, baring her small tiger fangs as she waited for him to continue. “Think about it from another angle. For demons, the soul imprint is their greatest weakness. That already gives me a massive advantage. Once I enter Qroshu’s spiritual world, it’s true that I won’t be able to rely on any external tools anymore.”
A slight smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
“But neither will it. It’ll basically become a forced fair fight. We’ll both be dragged onto the same playing field. Its overwhelming physical advantages will become completely useless. According to Lady Ailindel, after being sealed for ten thousand years, Qroshu’s current strength has likely regressed to roughly mid-Gold Rank. Meanwhile, my normal combat strength is currently around Silver Rank.”
He looked at everyone and blinked innocently.
“No matter how you look at it, I’m the one profiting here, right?”
The group exchanged uncertain glances. Something still felt terribly wrong about this logic… But somehow, it also sounded weirdly convincing.
After saying that, Nolan turned back toward the Heavenly Judgment Knight. The casualness vanished from his face, replaced by unwavering determination. “Let me go. Qroshu may have maintained its will for countless ages, but I also have reasons and convictions that absolutely cannot lose. When it comes to a contest of willpower, I fear no one.”
He glanced at Mountain’s Resonance.
“Even the holy sword Hoden and the Earth Elemental King acknowledged that.”
His eyes met Ailindel’s amber gaze directly.
Neither side looked away.
There was no arrogance common to young men, nor the madness of someone cornered into a desperate gamble.
Only absolute confidence. The confidence of someone who understood everything and controlled everything.
Ailindel had seen eyes like that before.
They reminded her of the heroes from her own era, those who dared to raise their swords even against tides capable of destroying the world itself. Before charging into battle, they had worn the exact same look in their eyes.
And once more, that ancient prophecy resurfaced in her mind.
“The Omniscient One descends from the unknown; doom in the left hand, glory in the right.”
Could it truly be speaking of him? This young human who defied expectations at every turn?
The thought made even her soul tremble.
At last, amid the clear dripping sounds of the sacred spring upon the altar, Ailindel let out a long sigh. Within it lay helplessness, admiration, and also the strange relief of finally entrusting the fate of the world to someone else.
“In our era, refusing a request from a warrior with eyes like yours would have been considered deeply disrespectful. Very well. I agree. I will open the altar and connect your consciousness to Qroshu’s spiritual world. But remember this: you only have one chance. And only one life.”