Toward the Soulforge Citadel
"The first stop…" Nux's gaze hardened with resolve, his voice carrying the weight of a vow.
"…the Soulforge Citadel."
Felberta tilted her head, purple eyes narrowing with curiosity. "And the second stop?"
Nux shook his head slowly. "I haven't thought that far yet. If I had to guess, most likely the Heavenly Spirit Empire."
The truth was, he wasn't certain. The wife-taking system had marked Rose, the queen of the Soulforge Citadel, as the first target. But the second? That was a mystery. His gut told him it would be tied to Shrek—and the timing matched. William White's journey had barely begun; Spirita's tides of fate were still in their opening act.
"Then go," Felberta said simply.
"You won't stop me?" Nux raised an eyebrow, half-expecting her usual stubbornness.
Her lips curved into a faint snort. "If you're set on leaving, what good is my keeping you here? Go. The sooner you're gone, the sooner I can focus on recovering. The Demon God's blade was too domineering… my wounds won't mend overnight."
Nux nodded in quiet understanding and turned toward the door.
Felberta's face was calm, as cold and composed as always, yet her slender fingers betrayed her. They twisted the edge of her skirt, clenching tightly, as though holding herself together.
Just as Nux's hand reached the doorframe, he stopped. Without turning back, his voice carried across the chamber—low, steady, and brimming with unshakable promise.
"Fel… don't worry. Anyone who dares bully you—I'll make them regret it."
His tone darkened, sharp as a blade. "And the one who cut you down with a sword… I'll kill him."
Felberta froze. Her delicate brows pinched together, and she huffed, trying to mask the tremor in her chest.
"Stupid man. Stop bragging. Do you even know who wounded me? That was no ordinary God. That was the ceiling of the God Realm itself. Even in my prime, I couldn't match him. The Moonborn Dragon God himself would only barely be his equal."
Her words softened, a rare vulnerability bleeding through her voice.
"You don't need to avenge me. I only want you to live."
Nux pushed the door open, stepping into the light outside. His laughter rolled back into the room—bold, unrestrained, tinged with both scorn and roguish defiance.
"Little Fel, stop talking in riddles. Be honest with yourself—wasn't it the Demon God King of the God Realm Committee who struck you down? Whoever he is, no matter what kind of so-called God, I'll smash him apart like thunder breaking the sky."
Felberta's delicate frame quivered. His words shouldn't have touched her—but they did. Warmth surged through her chest, loosening a weight she had carried alone for centuries. Yet along with that warmth came doubt, sharp and unsettling.
He's not even of the God Realm. How could he know about the God Realm Committee… let alone the Demon God King?
Her mind replayed the agony of that sword strike, the scar it left on her soul. Fear curled in her heart, cold and merciless. Yet his voice—his ridiculous, overbearing promise—lingered.
She pressed her lips together. Slowly, against her will, a faint smile tugged at her face.
"Idiot," she whispered into the empty chamber.
"…I'll wait for you."
The moment Nux stepped out of the Astral Forest's core, a figure blocked his path.
A young woman stood there in the dappled light. She wore flowing pink garments that clung gracefully to her lithe form. Her eyebrows were fine as willow leaves, her skin whiter than frost, and her eyes—clear, luminous, yet tinged with longing—fixed on him with a mixture of awe and gratitude.
When her gaze met his, joy flashed across her face. She bowed deeply, her movement sending tremors down the lush curves of her chest. Her beauty was intoxicating, dangerous—like a siren in the woods.
"Syra pays homage to her benefactor."
Nux blinked. "What are you doing here?"
Her voice was respectful, yet filled with a soft tremor. "My lord sent a voice transmission. He told me you have been reborn… and ordered me to escort you to the human world."
Nux waved dismissively. "Don't bother."
Syra's expression softened, yet her determination held firm. "No trouble at all. For me, this is an honor. If not for your aid back then, I would have perished beneath the hunters of the Soulforge Citadel. I have carried that debt for years. Please… allow me this chance to repay you."
Her long lashes fluttered, tears shimmering in her eyes. Her whole bearing radiated the maturity of a woman who had suffered, survived, and still carried warmth.
"I don't need a bodyguard," Nux replied, his tone firm.
Syra sighed gently. "Benefactor, my daughter Shia has long since gone to the human world. As her mother, I cannot rest easy. Accompanying you allows me to both repay my debt and check on her."
Nux snorted. "Taking a beauty like you along will only cause me more headaches."
Without another word, Syra's body shimmered with pink light. In a flash, her womanly form collapsed into a small, delicate creature—a miniature pink rabbit with intricate patterns along its ears. Before Nux could react, she leapt directly into his arms.
Her voice chimed softly in his head, both shy and mischievous.
"Benefactor, think nothing of it. I'll be your pet. No trouble at all… and I can still protect you. Two birds, one stone."
Nux stared at the warm bundle of fur pressed against his chest, the corners of his mouth twitching.
Gods above… this woman calls it two birds, one stone?
It was ridiculous. What kind of magical beast throws herself into a man's arms and boasts about it? Were they all this shameless?
"You're making it hard for me. What's next—sleeping in my bed?"
"Benefactor, just treat me as an ordinary soft-boned rabbit."
The image of her long legs, flawless curves, and sultry beauty flashed unbidden in his mind. Nux's jaw tightened. Yeah right. An 'ordinary rabbit.'
But kindness was a debt, and Syra's plea was laced with sincerity. In the end, he could only sigh and accept his fate—along with this overly clingy, deceptively soft "pet."
They traveled onward.
Along the way, curiosity gnawed at him. "Soft-boned rabbit, huh? Does that mean your bones are really… soft?"
For science, he reached down and stroked the fur at her back.
"Hissss…" Nux drew a sharp breath, then exhaled in pure bliss.
"Ahh. Ba Shi indeed."
"This texture… Gods, this is addicting."
He really had no ulterior motives. To him, it was just like petting a cat. Yet the little rabbit remained utterly silent, her pink eyes shimmering so intensely they seemed ready to spill tears.
By the time half a day passed, the Soulforge Citadel's silhouette rose against the horizon.
The palace loomed, radiant and towering, gilded with divine light. Its spires speared the heavens, and its gates radiated a pressure like the will of a God.
Nux narrowed his eyes at the majestic city, lips curling into a smirk.
"Well then… let's see if that woman still remembers me."