Chapter 29 - Well… That Escalated Quickly

Chapter 29 - Well… That Escalated Quickly

Ella shuddered. She hadn't expected their breakthrough to be so immense that even the laws of the God Realm would take notice. An intense sense of crisis surged within her, making her even more cautious.

"This is really bad. It looks like when the next breakthrough opportunity arises, we will have to do our best to conceal everything as much as possible," Ella said gravely. She hadn't anticipated that the consequences of their advancement would be this severe, and now, regret crept into her heart. A new resolve formed—next time, she would not be this reckless.

Ella was deep in thought when suddenly, a trembling voice called out to her.

"Y-Young Sister, please refrain from destroying the Secret Realm... Please, spare me! I still have to inherit my family's legacy!" Jun's voice was filled with fear.

Hearing his words, Ella's expression turned cold. Her true nature almost surfaced in her anger.

"What?" Her gaze landed on Jun, who felt as though she were peering into his very soul. A chill ran through his body, but he steeled his resolve and forced himself to speak.

"I-I mean, Young Sister, look at the sky!" He hurriedly ran towards her, pointing at the shattering space above. Cracks had formed in the sky, revealing a dim, black void, crackling with streaks of lightning.

Ella followed his gaze, and her eyes widened in shock.

Damn it! Have we been discovered by a peerless expert?!

Her heart pounded as nervousness swelled within her. She immediately began formulating a plan—her priority would be ensuring Olivia's escape. If a dangerous entity arrived, she had already resolved to sacrifice herself if necessary.

Looking at the massive spatial crack, Ella couldn't help but curse inwardly. It wouldn't be surprising if something emerged from within it.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Jun."

Jun flinched slightly at her tone but nodded, awaiting her response.

"Do you have any idea what's happening? Any clue about what will happen next?" Ella's voice was serious.

Jun hesitated for a moment before responding. "Young Sister, I believe the Secret Realm is about to close. The first sign is the decrease in natural energy within it. No—perhaps this thin energy is not even enough to sustain the realm anymore. It's likely that the realm's last resort is to forcibly eject all remaining participants," he said gravely.

Ella also sensed the dwindling natural energy.

Is this happening because of us? Did our breakthrough cause this phenomenon?

Her heart tightened at the realization. The scale of their power was unlike that of their peers—far beyond anything normal.

"Aren't breakthroughs to the Inferno Realm usually like this?" Ella asked, seeking confirmation.

Jun frowned at her question before shaking his head.

"Not at all, Young Sister. Typically, when Lesser Gods break through to the Inferno Realm, the surroundings only ignite with pure flames, reflecting their foundation. But nothing like... this." His voice was solemn.

He thought to himself: In fact, this is the first time I've ever seen something like this.

But he didn't dare voice those thoughts aloud, fearing he might offend Ella or confuse her further.

Meanwhile, Ella frowned deeply.

Damn it. This is so unfair. We'll become an easy target every time we advance!

A bitter realization struck her—the sheer impact of their growth would never go unnoticed. That meant they would always draw attention, making them prime targets for those who sought power or feared their existence.

I won't make this mistake again.

With a sigh, Ella contemplated how to escape the Secret Realm without being detected.

Suddenly, a shift occurred. The remaining natural energy in the realm was rapidly absorbed by the realm's laws—a final safeguard to forcibly expel everyone.

CREEEAK.

A massive spatial force activated, enveloping the entire Secret Realm. Ancient, mystical patterns appeared in the sky—symbols of ancient laws.

Jun sighed in relief. "This is good news! The Secret Realm is about to expel everyone!" he said excitedly.

But Ella wasn't relieved. She remained deep in thought, her mind racing.

This isn't good at all. If we're thrown out into a crowd, people will definitely try to capture or kill us.

Her conclusion was grim, and she didn't want to take any risks. Without hesitation, she strode toward Olivia, embracing her tightly. Her soft, white skin was cool to the touch.

No matter what happens, I will protect her.

A few moments later, their bodies began to glow with mystical energy. Their figures started to fade—the teleportation process had begun.

Jun didn't waste the opportunity. He hurriedly spoke, tossing something toward Ella.

"Young Sister, please, if you ever need anything, use this card to contact me!"

It was a golden card. A direct line to him—a calculated attempt to form a connection with her.

Ella caught the card midair. She gave Jun a silent nod before storing it in her spatial ring without a word.

Jun, however, took this as acceptance.

A few minutes later, various Lesser Gods were teleported away from the Secret Realm. However, due to the realm's dwindling power, the teleportation process malfunctioned—causing random destinations.

Ella and Olivia, still locked in their embrace, vanished.

But just as they were being transported, a strange force surged forward—trying to separate them!

Ella immediately reacted.

"Tch!"

Without hesitation, she punched the spatial force.

BOOOOM!

The space shattered. The teleportation pattern crumbled under her sheer power.

Olivia, startled awake by the sudden disturbance, opened her eyes slightly.

"Mm... this again?" she murmured, rubbing her drowsy eyes.

Ella looked at her, embarrassed.

"I-I mean... it was trying to separate us, so I destroyed it," she admitted.

Olivia couldn't help but shake her head, but she didn't complain—after all, she didn't want to be separated from Ella again either.

"Don't worry, Eri. I'll fix it," she said softly.

With that, Olivia extended her delicate hand.

A mysterious power surged from her fingertips as she began to repair the shattered spatial principles. The scattered patterns gradually reformed, reconnecting effortlessly under her control. With practiced ease, she altered some of the principles within, refining the structure to ensure they wouldn't be separated again.

Within a minute, she was done.

"There. Now we won't be separated anymore," Olivia said lazily, stretching her arms as if it had been the simplest thing in the world. "Also, Eri, hold on tight. If I hadn't fixed that, we would have been lost in this dim void forever."

Ella's eyes widened in shock.

"What?! Are you serious?"

Olivia yawned lazily, closing her eyes again.

"Yeah, pretty serious. If I didn't fix this, we'd be stuck in this void for eternity."

Ella's face paled. "What?!"

"Don't touch anything else. The spatial force is guiding us now."

Olivia leaned closer into Ella's embrace, drifting back to sleep.

Ella didn't dare move.

She silently waited, heart pounding, as the teleportation finalized.

Hours later, the space ripped open.

When they emerged, they were not alone.

They had arrived at the Grand Arena.

And countless Gods turned their gazes toward them.