Chapter 84: The Hero's Paradox

I promptly drew my sword, ready for whatever lay ahead. Despite the figure standing directly before me, I couldn't discern their appearance clearly. One thing was certain: this individual was directly tied to the reason for my presence here.

"Finally, we meet," a grating voice, akin to scraping metal, pierced my ears.

I tightened my grip on the sword, knuckles whitening. "I need to kill her," I affirmed to myself, memories of blood, sweat, and the horrors of past battles flooding my mind. All were consequences of this adversary.

Though her face remained obscured, her voice remained unmistakable. I equipped a shield on my left arm, steadying my breaths as I assessed the situation, contemplating the best course of action against her seemingly limitless power.

Suddenly, a realization struck me. "Damn it," I muttered, struggling to see an escape route. At level 10 with just one star, I was a mere legend with six low-level abilities, while she possessed boundless power. I vividly remembered how she effortlessly decimated my previous party of high-level heroes.

As I adjusted my distorted vision, she drew closer, her figure shrouded in an eerie fog. The part that seemed to be her mouth twisted into a smirk. "Aren't you going to rush at me? You must hate me," she taunted.

"If you're going to spew nonsense, you can just..." I began, but she interrupted with a mocking laugh.

"Hehe, good, very good. If you didn't have such restraint, you would have perished already," she mocked, her arms swaying in amusement.

The headache intensified as I stepped back, preparing to strike. "Is this how all legend advancements are done?" I questioned, to which she replied, "Of course not. You are a special case."

The mist dissipated, revealing her true form—a woman, or rather, more akin to a child than a woman. Her features resembled perfection, like that of a doll. She approached slowly, a fairy fluttering around her, the one who brought me here.

"I don't know how to introduce myself to you," I said, my tone sharp.

"That's a bit harsh," she replied, unfazed.

Ignoring her comment, I observed her closely. She bore a resemblance to Iselle, if Iselle were to grow up. The girl noticed my gaze and chuckled softly.

"I don't resemble Iselle; Iselle resembles me. That child is merely my clone," she explained casually.

She handed me a business card, and as I read it, I realized her name field was filled with strange characters. "Are you playing games with me?" I questioned, tossing the card aside.

"I don't have just one name. I change it depending on the situation," she clarified.

I refused to entertain her further, fixing her image in my mind. "Are you the one who brought me here?" I asked, to which she replied cryptically, "Possibly."

I nearly reacted with surprise, but she seemed to anticipate it. "Don't despise me too much. It was an accident, a sort of mistake," she explained.

"I don't care about your circumstances. Send me back," I demanded.

"Considering killing me, a mere 1-star legend? Your ambition is quite grand, isn't it?" she remarked.

The tension between us escalated, but she refrained from delivering a fatal blow. I realized she had a different purpose for summoning me here.

"What is it that you want?" I inquired, restraining my boiling emotions.

"Not much. I simply wanted to have a conversation with you," she replied, her demeanor shifting.

"A conversation?" I echoed incredulously.

"Yes, Loki. The fifth-ranked master in the world, undefeated. I'm your fan," she admitted, her tone sincere. "I've come to reveal the truth of this world to you."

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