Pandora watched Carlisle silently, a faint hint of disappointment in her blue eyes. She shook her head gently, her snow-white hair swaying with the movement.
"I leave your destiny for you to choose..."
Her voice was like coaxing a child who refused to see reason.
"Why can't things end on a good note?"
Carlisle did not answer.
His gaze was as cold as ice, the Flame Sword in his hand blazed, and the next second, he swung his sword without hesitation!
"Boom!!"
The crimson flame slash tore through the air, and a scorching wave of fire instantly engulfed Pandora's petite body. Her body was split in two by the flames, the severed sections didn't even spurt blood, but rapidly carbonized and disintegrated in the high heat, finally turning to ash and scattering in the night wind.
However
"How mean..."
Pandora's voice drifted from not far away, her tone still calm, tinged with a subtle sense of grievance.
Carlisle turned his head sharply, only to see her standing completely unharmed on the other side, not even a trace of scorching on her clothes.
"We're meeting for the first time, so why do you have such strong hostility towards me?"
Carlisle stared intently at Pandora, the Flame Sword's flames flickering restlessly in his hand.
"What did you do to Subaru?"
His gaze swept to Subaru, who was unable to speak beside him. The girl's throat was still sealed by an invisible force, and she could only convey with her eyes, anxiously, that he shouldn't believe Pandora's words.
Hearing this, Pandora gently raised her hands.
"I see... Is this your chosen creed in life, Knight? Your uncompromising attitude towards 'evil.'"
Her voice suddenly took on a hint of inquiry.
"But why do you think I am 'evil'?"
She took a step forward.
"Let's talk."
Her voice was soft, almost seductive.
"After communicating, perhaps we can understand each other."
Carlisle's brain raced, considering all possible countermeasures, but the more he thought, the stronger the sense of despair became.
Unkillable... No matter how many times he attacked, Pandora could easily rewrite reality, making death 'never happen.'
What exactly was the essence of Pandora's Authority?
The Flame Sword could 'reject' the influence of Authority, but facing an Authority that was almost a rule, he couldn't find a breakthrough.
He must find a way... to 'unseal Subaru's restrictions and get her out of here.'
Subaru, not far away, suddenly widened her eyes. She wanted to shout, but her throat was still sealed by an invisible force; she couldn't make a sound. Her eyes were filled with anxiety and unwillingness.
However, Pandora gently shook her head.
"I cannot grant that request."
"Inside that girl's body, there is also a soul that came with that sword."
She tilted her head slightly.
"However... in this situation, Knight, is the first thing you think of to protect that girl?"
A faint smile played on her lips.
"I understand... How wonderful... Your actions... are undoubtedly a gift from 'love.'"
Since further negotiation was impossible, Carlisle ignored her words, and the Flame Sword suddenly erupted in dazzling crimson flames!
"Boom!!"
The scorching wave of fire instantly engulfed Pandora's figure again. Wherever the flames passed, even the air was distorted by the high temperature. Her body rapidly carbonized and disintegrated in the flames, finally turning to ash and scattering.
However
"Why don't you consider my suggestion?"
Pandora's voice sounded again. She was indeed standing unharmed not far away, not even a trace of scorching on her clothes.
"I don't want to hurt you."
Her tone carried a subtle hint of regret.
"If you just accept my suggestion, this standoff will end immediately."
"That sword does not belong to this world."
Her voice suddenly deepened a few shades, carrying a certain undeniable sense of pressure.
"To obtain it... or to expel it, I will stop at nothing."
Carlisle's gaze did not waver in the slightest.
Of course, he wouldn't be foolish enough to agree to her suggestion. He couldn't even imagine the disaster that would ensue if a Witch suddenly gained power from outside the world.
"I appreciate your 'kindness.'"
His voice was cold and resolute, and the Flame Sword's flames surged again.
"But I will never be your pawn."
Pandora looked at him silently, an unfathomable emotion swirling in her eyes.
"What a pity..."
She sighed softly, "Then, it seems I can only use a more direct method."
"Boom!!"
Flames erupted again, the Flame Sword's slash carrying a scorching torrent that completely engulfed Pandora's body. Her body rapidly carbonized in the high temperature, turning to ash and scattering once more.
However, just a moment later.
Her figure coalesced again, as if the death just now had never happened.
Damn it... Is there really no limit to how many times she can revive?
Carlisle's breathing quickened slightly, sweat trickling down his forehead. The Flame Sword's flames were still scorching, but if this continued, his stamina would be slowly depleted by this endless battle.
Pandora's lips parted slightly, as if she was saying something, but Carlisle didn't hear her voice.
Suddenly, a hint of disappointment flashed across her face, but she quickly returned to her indifferent expression.
"Come on... find a way to repel me, Knight."
"If you don't..."
A subtle curve formed on her lips.
"Everything important to you... will be destroyed."
The moment her words fell—
Pandora's Authority activated again.
——————
Subaru stood in the distance, watching the battle on the field grow increasingly fierce.
Carlisle's figure moved through the firelight, the Flame Sword slashing at Pandora again and again. Flames engulfed her body, ashes scattered, but then she re-formed the next second.
Was he gambling... was he gambling that Pandora's resurrections had a limit?
But Pandora's expression remained unchanged; that indifferent smile still lingered on her lips.
Carlisle's attacks grew more violent with each strike, the Flame Sword's flames almost illuminating the entire sky. His eyes burned with resolute fire, as if he intended to pour all his strength into this battle.
However
A sudden change occurred on the field!
Subaru's eyes widened sharply.
Carlisle had just killed Pandora again, but this time, his movements suddenly froze in place.
The tip of his sword drooped, the Flame Sword's flames flickered slightly, as if losing their supporting power... Carlisle?
Subaru's heart rate suddenly accelerated. She watched Carlisle slowly lower his head, looking at Pandora's 'corpse' on the ground, and on his face... there was an unprecedented sorrow and terror.
His pupils contracted violently, his lips trembling slightly, as if he had seen something unbelievable.
"No... this... Subaru... how is this possible...?"
His voice was so hoarse it was almost inhuman, like a desperate whisper squeezed from the depths of his soul.
Subaru desperately wanted to cry out, to warn him, but her throat was still sealed by an invisible force, unable to make a sound.
Pandora's figure silently appeared behind Carlisle.
Her Fingers gently rested on his shoulder.
"This can't be helped..."
Her voice was as soft as the wind, yet carried a chilling tenderness.
"You... merely 'misinterpreted.'"
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.