After Petra and the girls left the Black Market, a few things happened over the next few days.
First, there was news about the city lord's mansion experiencing a strange series of sudden disappearances. They claimed that the city Lord was personally looking into this strange phenomenon and would be unavailable for a short time. This was the aftereffects of the sleeping poison Petra had left in the underground prison. The city Lord was likely the first person to investigate what had happened, which also meant he was the first person to fall asleep. It was impossible for the city lord's mansion to hide the fact that the city lord had disappeared, or 'fallen asleep', so they twisted it into a story about self sacrifice.
Next was a large group of 'officials' from the eastern region suddenly appearing in the city. These people were naturally looking for Dorthy, and they intended to find her no matter the cost. The sudden disappearance of the city lord only further enraged this already irritable group of people. The disappearance of the eastern regions Heavens Chosen was already a massive accusation, and what appeared as the City Lords' undisguised indifference towards the situation only further solidified his involvement in the eyes of these people.
The easterners disappeared shortly after they arrived, leaving the common people confused and concerned.
Petra knew that these people had descended into the Black Market. After Dorthy's original disappearance, she was pursued, but her pursuers were incapable of chasing her all the way to the underground city.
Finally, there was a short period of silence, followed by a sudden announcement that shook the world. The 'Cross Continents Grand Gathering', a massive competition that was hosted by the Sky Tower. This was announced on a continental scale, allowing those who wished to attend two months to arrive.
Petra had already stolen one of the personalized invitations from an official in Sevensen, but this announcement reached the ears of the common people.
There was an immediate uproar.
Petra could feel the city coming alive as people began to prepare for the long journey into the central region. This came at a good time, reviving the city from its previous gloomy state. Further fuelling this excitement was the massive prize pool announced by the Sky Tower. Fame, Fortune, Power, and a massive list of materials that was even taller than Petra.
-
On the day of their departure, Petra and the girls ate at a famous vegetarian restaurant for breakfast.
Dorthy and the new maids had been taken back to the Tower Spider, so now it was just the original group left.
After eating, Petra called Mell over to help make a large purchase. She asked her to buy a bunch of food, clothes, and various materials. As for where Petra got the money, the assassins of the Grey Snake had no lack of coin and naturally donated everything they had to the 'Petra Fund'.
After eating, they finished up and prepared to leave.
They walked through the city one last time, before exiting through the front gate.
After returning to the Tower Spider, they suddenly heard the loud sound of an argument coming from the front door.
Standing in front of the Tower Spider were three people.
Dorthy stood weakly in the doorway, wrapped in bandages, and using a long stick as a crutch. Opposite to her were two people, one mage from the Storm Tower, and Albert, Dorthy's trusted friend from school.
Dorthy had woken up yesterday, and she had received the same explanation as the other thirty girls. To Petra's surprise, just like the other girls, Dorthy didn't complain, she didn't object, and she didn't even mention her identity. She just accepted her new life as a 'servant'.
For Petra, this was a good thing. Having another like-minded slacker around was always nice.
Back to the dispute.
As for how this young man found Dorthy, it wasn't that unreasonable. Petra recognized him as the man from the insect place a few days ago. He was probably keeping an eye on Petra for whatever reason when he happened to spot Dorthy by accident.
Petra got closer, perking up an ear.
"How can you say that! Are you really running away?!"
Dorthy huffed. "It's too late anyway. Even if I did go back, all that's waiting is enslavement."
"Then why did you run, why… We, we need you!"
"Albert! Why are you like this now! You've known me for so long! How can you not understand my feelings! I thought you said you didn't want to join the Storm Tower! Now look at you!"
Albert clenched his fists. "I understand, I understand all too well, but think about what will happen!"
Dorothy lowered her head. "I never wanted to be a hero, I'm a loser, a shut-in! I never wanted to be a part of this madness! Now, just look at me! My body's so damaged that I won't be able to fight, even if I wanted to! It was just a moment, and everything collapsed! I don't want this kind of life!"
"You're just running away! Do you think they'll let you go! No, you'll face endless pursuit!"
"Then do it!" Dorthy yelled.
"Dorthy!"
"I won't go back!" She spat.
Albert's eyes flickered, and spiritual energy began condensing around him. "Don't make me do this! Were friends! I don't want to hurt you!"
Dorthy stepped back, her eyes widening.
She couldn't believe that Albert would attack her.
"Listen! I know things you don't! Without the five Heroes, there's no path forward!"
"You're crazy!" Dorthy yelled.
Flames flickered around Albert. "I'm not crazy, you're crazy! Do you think you can avoid the calamities! It's impossible! You're just as bad as that green haired traitor!" The flames surrounding him twisted into spheres that pulsed with a ferocious heat. "I've already alerted the team from the Storm Tower! It won't be long before they arrive! Neither of you can escape, so just come willingly! If you do, I can ask for leniency!"
Dorthy's eyes widened. "Why!"
"Because it's your duty!" Albert roared.
The spiritual energy surrounding him flickered with rage, ready to pounce. The crimson light drowned out the sun, dying the forest in a red glow.
Tension drew taught, and Albert was about to attack.
"Nonsense."
A chilling voice cut through the air.
Albert's attack paused.
He turned, meeting the bottomless abyss that was Petra's gaze. She approached, each step as crisp as a knife. Her small body looked harmless and light, like any cute child that you could find playing around on the roadside. Unfortunately, Albert was not so easily fooled.
All the alarms in Albert's head went off at once, telling him that this was not a young child!
He recognised her, but that didn't seem to matter.
A chill ran down his spine. 'What kind of eyes are those!' He felt like all the light in the world had been absorbed into those bottomless pits. His body uncontrollably stiffened, and the magic that surrounded him flickered out of existence.
Petra spoke, her voice cold. "There is no duty, no divine right. Everything you've said is nonsense. The title of Heaven's Chosen is just an empty title that people like you throw at the innocent and uninvolved. Do you think that by labeling us, you can force us to do as you wish? Heh!"
Petra was originally going to just stand by and watch, but she couldn't stand this guy's nonsense. "Then let the world burn, what's that have to do with her? If the gods really wanted to save us, then let them. If they can't, then that's just that."
Albert's eyes darkened.
For a moment, his body was too tense to respond.
Petra continued. "These calamities have nothing to do with me, with us. This girl (Dorothy) is now my property, therefore, what she does is up to me. Uncle, I think you need to go play somewhere else, because I have no patience for hypocritical garbage like you and your people." Such words would normally be very comical coming from such a small child, but Albert could not laugh.
He gritted his teeth.
As he listened, his eyes flickered. From behind, he saw the mages from the Storm Tower emerge from the city gate and approach quickly.
He narrowed his eyes. "You understand that if you just hide away, the world will end, right? How can you be so selfish!"
Petra tilted her head.
She pursed her lips into a cute smile. "Su?"
Albert's heart dropped. The speed at which she changed between expressions was unnerving. Those innocent eyes could fool most people, but he had already seen past her veil. Even if she didn't mean it, this girl was definitely not the kind of person who would come with them willingly. Unfortunately, he knew that this would devolve into a bloody battle.
He glared at Petra, extremely frustrated. "I don't know what you are, but your selfishness will kill millions of people! What I want is to protect the world. If you just want to hide away and watch, then, what do you want? After everything is over, and there's nothing left, what do you hope to achieve?"
The mages had closed in, their aggressive approach clearly audible to the ear.
Albert's face turned red while Dorthy's face turned white.
Petra just chuckled. "I don't want anything, just to live my life!"
Whoosh!
A colossal crimson wave exploded from her body and crashed down into the ground, quickly spreading out into the nearby forest. It splashed the trees and soaked into the earth like a sticky oil. The mages were pushed back, their exposed skin soaking in the poisonous red sea.
"Ah!"
Albert's eyes widened at dozens of elite mages suddenly collapsing. The screams of men mixed with the crimson landscape created a horrifying scene, one that Albert would never forget. The red sea brought pain at an unimaginable level. This did not destroy the body, instead, it wore down the mind. It was torture on a level that couldn't be described with words.
In a moment, hundreds of elite mages, all third order, fell.
Petra took a step towards Albert, her eyes returning to the cold and indifferent gaze from before. Her body seemed to be cloaked in a shadow, its ethereal form dancing freely in an unrestrained form.
"What I do is none of your business. Remember that. I am free to do as I will! Neither you nor the Gods can stop me. If people insist on continuing to pursue me, then I don't mind ending the calamities early." These words made no sense, but to Albert, he could feel an inexplicable sense of truth lingering on their tail.
Petra walked past, patting Albert's thigh as she moved.
"I am not your Hero."
Albert froze in place, paralyzed by Petra's touch.
Petra passed by, continuing without turning her head. "Neither I nor she is your Hero. We are wanderers, unbound to your nonsensical game."
Petra turned to Dorthy and smiled widely. "Let's go, big sister, it's time to leave."
Dorthy nodded slowly.
Her mind was still reeling at what she had just seen.
The little green haired girl took her hand and pulled her away.
From this moment forward, Dorthy finally felt as if she were free. She understood that it was never about escaping fate, no, you just needed to hold the whole world hostage. She understood this for one reason and one reason alone,.. Dorthy understood the significance of this little green haired girl and her physique, what it meant, and where it came from. Dorthy was one of the few who knew its secrets, and this 'truth' brought her endless comfort.
She was led away, a smile finally cracking on her face.
Albert forcefully resisted the poison, turning around with all his strength. He stared at Petra with bloodshot eyes, and forced the words through his teeth. "You can never escape! As long as you're on this continent, the Storm Tower will find you!"
Petra turned and looked at him.
She tilted her head.
"Then I'll just kill them all, isn't that normal?"
Albert's forehead throbbed.
He wanted to roar, he wanted to scold, he wanted to tell this unruly brat that if she did that, if she really could, then she would be dooming countless people! Unfortunately, his body had already locked up.
Albert was like all the other twisted minds that inhabited this continent. They believe, unconsciously, that the 'script' should be followed without question.
They were like actors that would react violently to change.
With each passing encounter, Petra could feel this more and more. To these people, logic didn't matter.
There was no point in talking to them at all.
Albert's eyes widened as a sudden rumbling shook the world.
The tower that seemed to have existed since forever suddenly lifted up and disappeared into the void. There was one more shake before Albert felt as if he was finally alone. He stood there, surrounded by the dreadful cries of agony from the surrounding mages.
His frustration boiled up, but he also understood.
That little girl was no hero... She was a monster, a monster in human skin.
* * *