Defying the Fate of Beheading

One major misconception she had was why the Blue Sapphire Dragon attacked the Moonlight Cat Cat Group.

Initially, she thought it was simply because the creature was belligerent and bloodthirsty.

Looking back now, it didn't seem right.

Chronologically, from their departure to their near annihilation, it could be summarized in the following steps.

① Accepted the beast hunting mission

② Headed to the Burning Smoke Mountain Range

③ Completed the mission and returned

④ Encountered the past Limuru

⑤ Passed through Dragonbone Prairie

⑥ Suddenly got attacked

⑦ Near annihilation

Highlight, ④ Encountered the past Limuru!

Limuru had already acquired his unique appetite and iron stomach long ago.

At least this suggests that Limuru had already consumed the flesh and blood of the Blue Sapphire Dragon and inadvertently obtained its abilities at that time.

If the dragon had still been alive then, it wouldn't have allowed Limuru to devour its flesh.

This means there was only one answer, even when they found Limuru, the Blue Sapphire Dragon was already dead.

"Why... why didn't I realize?"

The undead dragon never appeared again, but was fighting with the undead underground in Dragonbone Prairie, at least showing—

The Blue Sapphire Dragon was clear about friend and foe.

Yet, for the young dragon resurrected as an undead, historical records show it was either in a state of frenzy or being controlled.

Regardless of which, the Blue Sapphire Dragon couldn't be considered the culprit for her comrades' deaths.

It was merely a weapon in someone's hand, no different from the Curved Saber she held.

Louis took off his helmet and patted her shoulder, saying:

"Actually, you've already realized it, but over these years, you've been exhausted too."

Alice lowered her head:

"I don't know."

Louis glanced at her.

Alice was indeed truly tired.

What Louis didn't say was that Alice might have been overstrained in recent years.

The students at Saint Louis Academy, who had interacted with Alice, were well aware of her talent.

But they believed no matter how strong Alice became these years, she'd be at most between LV7-LV8.

Yet in reality, when Louis met Alice, she was already LV9.

After the battle at Dragonbone Prairie, she let go of her inner conflict and directly advanced to LV10, even now showing signs of moving toward the legendary level.

Does this mean the Saint Louis students have poor judgment?

No, quite the opposite.

After his time at Saint Louis, Louis was indeed impressed by these new pillars of the empire.

Unlike himself.

He hadn't interacted with those students, so they didn't have a clear understanding of his talent and strength.

But they had plenty of exchanges with Alice back then.

Louis believed they had clear criteria for assessing Alice's professional level.

But Alice's current achievements had surpassed the students' understanding.

It's not so much about her extraordinary talent as it is—

She obtained growth beyond the perception of others through hard work.

Yet, even someone as strong as steel can feel tired at heart.

She truly was exhausted.

So tired that when she finally relaxed, she lost any motivation.

If possible, he hoped this somewhat sickly friend wouldn't continue exhausting herself, but he knew languishing wasn't what she wanted.

Her current state was even less than the students at the academy.

"Rudelson Organization, they are the masterminds behind the Dragonbone Prairie incident, remember them, they are your enemies."

Alice nodded, then said a bit speechlessly:

"You, finally taking a break, and you're ramping up intensity so quickly?"

But she indeed wasn't angry.

In fact, even if Louis didn't say it, she would come around to realizing it herself after a while.

The gap between a genius and ordinary people isn't necessarily just talent.

Some are born with clear goals and a strong sense of self, capable of converting targets into motivation effectively.

Louis, however, awoke her in advance.

Because...

He slightly lifted the corners of his mouth:

"Do you feel the pressure from the enemy? There are legends in their organization."

Alice calmly said, "Indeed, the pressure is overwhelming, but it's okay."

"Yeah, it's indeed okay."

The two exchanged smiles.

Alice calmly said, "In this millennium, I will be legendary."

Louis said as well, "Coincidentally, I think I will be too."

Their gazes met, and their eyes seemed to spark flames.

Alice bit her lip and said, "Then I'll achieve legend in this century."

Louis shrugged, "Be bolder, I think 50 years is enough!"

"Then I'll do it in 30 years!"

"I'll do it in 20 years!"

"I'll do it in 10 years!"

"I..."

At this point, both burst out laughing.

As they laughed, Alice felt the knots in her heart dissolving.

She looked at Louis, "Thank you."

Louis provocatively said, "Don't thank me, I just hope the road ahead won't be so lonely."

"Accept my thanks, just accept it."

"Alright alright, I'll accept it, but don't be too pressured."

A shadowed light flitted through Louis's eyes, and he said deeply:

"The Rudelson Organization is also an enemy I plan to eliminate, just follow my footsteps obediently."

In usual times, with Alice's temperament, she wouldn't stand for this goading.

But at that moment, she quietly lowered her head, softly murmuring "Mm."

Under Louis's scrutinizing gaze, she licked her lips again and silently changed her statement: