Chapter 125: Can It Truly Make You a God? - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

Chapter 125: Can It Truly Make You a God? Lucius's voice was quiet, yet in the silent night, both girls heard it clearly. "...Deception?" Eilene looked at him, softly murmuring to herself. She opened her mouth again, but this time, no sound came out. Her eyes, which resembled a clear spring in the night, gradually lost their luster. "So, indeed, everything about us was just a deception...?" Eilene had imagined numerous answers. It might have been just a casual remark by the man, or perhaps a joke, neither too big nor too small. But now that the man had spoken the words himself, it brought her face to face with the answer she least wanted to consider. Yes, she should have realized it long ago. Why would he, if not for the chance to touch divinity, risk everything, face death, abandon the esteemed status of a priest, and forcibly bring two calamities like them into his home? And in doing so, end up being labeled a traitor by the church. Thinking this, a trace of sadness appeared on the girl's face. She hung her head low, remaining silent for a long time. Lucius sighed softly in his heart, then turned to look at the other girl beside him. At this moment, Selina also wore an incredibly complex expression. She met the man's gaze, still harboring a glimmer of hope, and spoke softly. "Lord Lucius, is it really true?" "As Eilene said, was everything we've been through just a carefully laid-out scheme by you?" Selina's question prompted the dark-clad girl, who had been silent, to quietly lift her head. Clearly, both girls had an unusual trust in Lucius. Even if he had confessed such a harsh truth, they found it hard to accept. Over two years of living together daily, the man had given them experiences they had never had before. Experiences they couldn't even imagine during the days of merely surviving. He was the first to care about their feelings, willing to pause and listen to their pleas. It was not an exaggeration to say that, after bringing them to the manor, his actions were god-like in their eyes. Could all of this truly just be a meticulously crafted deception? When facing the church's pursuit, Selina could confront it calmly. Even considering walking towards death for Lucius was not beyond her thought. In any case, she believed she could face it with equanimity. Yet in the face of such deception, maintaining composure was difficult. Lucius remained silent, offering no response. Sometimes, silence is the best answer. Selina suddenly smiled. Her eyes reddened slightly as she walked towards him, clasping Lucius's hand. A gesture she had done many times over the past two years. Many, many times. She knew their path together could not be long-lasting, but she hadn't expected it to end so soon. Today might be her last chance to do such a thing. Lucius stood silently, letting her act. Selina placed his hand on her chest. She looked up at Lucius. He was tall, and whenever Selina wanted to look at him, she needed to gaze upwards like this. Her voice was steady, without a hint of quiver. "Lord Lucius, can this strategy truly turn you into a god?" Without waiting for a response, she chuckled self-deprecatingly and continued, "I've thought a lot about what would happen with Lord Lucius, despite knowing it might not end well and could even implicate you." "Yet, I was greedy and wouldn't let go, hoping maybe someday you would tire of this game, lose interest, and just cast me out of the manor." "That way, no matter how greedy I might be, I wouldn't implicate you, Lord Lucius." "Sorry, Selina is truly a selfish girl..." She spoke softly, her gaze gradually dimming. By the time she finished, her voice was barely audible. "It's just, Selina never thought her story with Lord Lucius would end in mere deception..." Lucius listened, intending to say something. Suddenly, a loud cry of battle came from the entrance of the manor. An almost palpable killing intent aimed straight at Lucius. The protective magic circles around the manor disintegrated in an instant. Within mere breaths, the violent cries and the sound of hooves from the Judgment Army reached them. The once glorious garden and elaborate scenery crumbled instantly. The air was filled with dust clouds, roaring like a landslide. Under the night sky, malice, long embedded, surfaced. The soldiers of the Judgment Army raised their long spears, charging towards them with destructive intent. There was no negotiation, no words exchanged. War is brutal. There was no turning back the moment Lucius openly defied the church. The church wouldn't allow a heretic to exist, even a former priest. The charging army formed a silver-white river, surging forward with fierce momentum. Above them floated five figures. Leading them was a person dressed in the same white robes as Lucius, while the other four wore red. Each had a stern expression, emanating endless killing intent, with terrifying magical energy swirling around them. Eilene stood frozen, not moving, nor intending to dodge. There is no greater sorrow than a heart that has perished. At that moment, her mind was blank, as if all strength had been drained from her body. If not for Selina coming over to support her, she would have collapsed to the ground. While Eilene remained dazed, Lucius took a step forward, shielding the two girls. His tall figure was not particularly robust but was just enough to protect their petite forms. Without uttering any superfluous words, Lucius's aura unfolded. Around him, violet lightning crackled. The lightning was as thick as serpents, with a faint rumble of storms. Simultaneously, Lucius's domain unfolded. The night sky collected countless shreds of clouds, rendering the already dark night even more profound. Within those clouds appeared numerous storms, flashes of lightning illuminating the man's flawless face. The wind intensified until Lucius's hair began to dance wildly in the air. Performing his magic, his body ascended into the sky. The first to reach them were batches of silver-white knights. Their horses were tall and robust, holding their spears aloft. Their united charge was simply breathtaking. Lucius maintained his calm expression. He pointed into the sky, where terrifying electric lights flickered at his fingertips. Slightly tipping his head back, he gazed at the infinite clouds above. Then, he softly whispered, lowering his hand. "A thousand pounds..." "Drop." As if his words had power, innumerable bolts of lightning tore through the sky, plummeting from high in the clouds. The lightning formed a curtain that severed the silver flow. (Chapter End)