Chapter 270: Commander? What are you doing, Commander!?
"...May I ask, what is your relationship with Fina-sama?"
The voice of the remnant soul Saul, echoing in Cheng Tian's mind, was even a little shaky.
"Uh, Contractor and Guardian?"
Suddenly asked, Cheng Tian himself wasn't very sure, and this answer made Fina, who was still in sorrow, roll her eyes at him in exasperation.
The special contract of Sun and Moon Radiance, in terms of status alone, would indeed make the Twin Moon Goddess slightly inferior to Cheng Tian. However, being protected was also a fact; her powerful magic was only used for creation and assistance, so Fina, with almost no combat ability, truly couldn't refute Cheng Tian.
"...Even if it means sacrificing your life?"
Saul continued to press, his expression exceptionally serious.
But for some reason, Saul's expression instinctively reminded Cheng Tian of a wedding chapel, where the priest, as a witness to the marriage, would question the groom.
It was like an entrustment, yet also like a confirmation of Cheng Tian's intentions.
Not just Cheng Tian, Fina also heard a strange undertone. Her face immediately changed from the pallor it had moments ago to a blush, though it was hard to tell due to the surrounding magma.
Facing such an extreme question, Cheng Tian first glanced at his item bar. After seeing the golden knight statue quietly placed there, he nodded at Saul.
"If necessary, I can die once for Fina."
The straightforward Cheng Tian gave an answer that contained not a shred of falsehood, based on the current situation. He really could die once, and in some ways, he was even a little eager.
He truly hadn't died yet.
Bazett, on the other hand, looked utterly confused. It was only after a reminder from Utan's subtitles that she remembered Cheng Tian had indeed told her about the golden knight statue.
As a straightforward woman, she immediately understood that Cheng Tian genuinely could die once.
But when these words entered other people's ears, it was a completely different matter.
Saul's tightly furrowed brow had already relaxed. With the remnant soul's ability to sense inner thoughts to a certain extent, he knew Cheng Tian was serious; he truly could die once for the Goddess-sama.
And Fina, beside him, had her eyes wide open, staring at Cheng Tian with an incredulous gaze, completely unable to believe that Cheng Tian would make such a solemn promise.
Although similar promises could be made by almost every Knight of the Temple Knight Order, their promises were entirely due to the long-standing social influence of Yisu and the loyalty to the Goddess they had been taught since childhood.
But for Cheng Tian, a mysterious outsider completely unrelated to the Yisu Kingdom, to also make such a promise, it inevitably made Fina start overthinking.
Why would he say that? What does "I can die once for you" mean? Does he really feel that way about me... "Then, please grip the hilt of this Greatsword of the Red Lotus on the altar with your right hand."
"Like this?"
Following Saul's instructions, Cheng Tian gripped the hilt with his right hand, which was equipped with the Oni Gauntlet. The remnant soul Saul, floating above, first showed a relieved smile. Afterward, Cheng Tian's Oni Gauntlet actually entered an activated, highlighted state.
Saul's remaining soul power condensed, and under Cheng Tian's equally astonished gaze, it transformed into a heart-shaped entity with a purple glow on its surface, yet crystalline and transparent within.
It was a special soul fragment possessing both the characteristics of a Purple Soul and an Innocent Soul!
And at this moment, Cheng Tian's stats panel changed.
On the "Oni Gauntlet" icon, which was already linked to all template skills, another line branched out, connecting to the additional skill 『Soul Salvation』.
[Under the multiple interferences of the remnant soul "Saul Tobar" and the Yisu Divine Artifact "Greatsword of the Red Lotus," your template armament "Oni Gauntlet" has formed a special linkage with 『Soul Salvation』.
『Soul Salvation』 has gained new effects.]
[Soul Salvation: Additional Skill, Composite Skill. (Previous description omitted).
When you encounter certain friendly soul units in a dungeon that possess both "Innocent Soul" and "Purple Soul" characteristics, you can absorb them through the Oni Gauntlet as a medium, converting them into a third type of soul resource—Guardian Spirit—other than "Innocent Soul Small (1 point)" and "Innocent Soul Large (5 points)".
Your Innocent Soul storage limit +50, currently 199.
For every 100 points of Innocent Soul storage limit you possess, you can store 1 additional Guardian Spirit. The current maximum storage for Guardian Spirits is 1; Guardian Spirits will not be reset upon leaving the dungeon.
You can actively summon a Guardian Spirit to materialize its soul and fight alongside you. The Guardian Spirit will inherit its abilities and attributes from its lifetime based on its soul strength; summoning a Guardian Spirit requires an immediate consumption of 99 Innocent Souls, and consumes 1 soul per second it exists. Additionally, for every effective hit it takes, 1 additional soul is consumed; summoning a Guardian Spirit requires at least 199 Innocent Soul reserves; if a Guardian Spirit is eliminated or its soul is depleted, it will require at least 24 hours to re-condense its soul power. If a Guardian Spirit is actively recalled, no rest time is needed. (Permanent enhancement added)
You can use a Guardian Spirit as a casting material, utilizing the Oni Gauntlet as a casting tool, to activate a special "Oni Warrior Transformation / Oni-fication"; a Guardian Spirit used as a casting material will fall into slumber after the Oni Warrior Transformation and cannot be used again in the current dungeon.]
[Remnant Soul "Saul Tobar" has chosen to actively transform into a "Guardian Spirit".]
The deep red heart-shaped soul, enveloped in purple radiance, plunged directly into Cheng Tian's Oni Gauntlet without question, occupying Cheng Tian's sole Guardian Spirit slot.
Saul never regretted his active sacrifice; it was a devotion to the Goddess, to the Temple, and to the safety of the entire Yisu Kingdom. He had no regrets.
But despite saying that, there were still too many things in his heart he couldn't let go of.
The Goddess-samans for whom he would give his life, the still-immature members of the Knight Order... and his own beloved daughter, who was currently only an apprentice knight and a magic-less individual.
Perhaps it sounded a bit selfish, but as a father, even just one glance, Saul wished to see his daughter again.
The resonance between the Greatsword of the Red Lotus and the Oni Gauntlet was not yet over. As Saul's entry was completed, the effect of the Oni Armament also began to activate.
A two-handed greatsword, slightly narrower in scale compared to the blade of the Greatsword of the Red Lotus, with many visible Splicing marks on its blade when looked at closely, and very similar in appearance to the Greatsword of the Red Lotus, directly materialized.
[Your template armament "Oni Gauntlet" has resonated with the Yisu Divine Artifact "Greatsword of the Red Lotus"—]
[『Oni Armament』 activating—]
[You have obtained a brand new exclusive armament "Flame Dragon Sword" and the corresponding 『Tactical Shell』 ability.]
"Cheng!"
And at this moment, Kishu Gal's incredibly furious voice finally arrived late.
However, upon seeing the Greatsword of the Red Lotus in Cheng Tian's hand, the entire Berserker Asura froze, and then an incredibly complex expression appeared in his eyes.