My Love Debts Are Everywhere!

Leon spread his wings, descending, and released his hold on Ruri.

Ruri looked around at the flattened ground. The monsters had vanished completely, as if they had never existed.

"Gulp!" She swallowed hard. "Is this the power of the Fated One? How incredible!"

She had never seen Leon unleash his power before. This was the first time—and she had to admit, it was truly impressive.

Leon noticed her awestruck expression and smiled. He gently patted her head. "Let's go."

"Um!" Ruri nodded eagerly.

She led Leon toward the Valley of a Thousand Whispers, only about five hundred meters away.

Since they were on a plateau, they had to descend to the bottom, where a vast valley awaited. It was flanked by two steep slopes on either side.

Leon summoned his holy power, staying alert for any threat.

But after only ten steps, the world before him shifted entirely.

The blue sky, bright sunlight, and lush greenery faded, replaced by a silent, dim, mist-shrouded gloom.

As far as the eye could see, there was only mist and sinister-looking swamps.

"So, this is the Valley of a Thousand Whispers?" Leon muttered, narrowing his eyes.

No wonder the Dragon Ancestor had said this place was frightening. What lay before him was indeed terrifying.

The air was cold, silent, and thick with mist, as if no living thing resided here. About fifteen meters ahead lay a dark swamp whose depth he couldn't guess.

It could be hiding monstrous creatures, ready to drag anyone under.

"Be careful, Fated One. The Valley of a Thousand Whispers is very dangerous—especially for people who have never entered it," Ruri said solemnly. "Otherwise, you might get lost, and I'll have trouble saving you later."

Leon gave a small nod. "I see."

From her words, he gathered that this place was dangerous even for spirits like Ruri. Still, it made sense. As the old saying went, "The most dangerous place can be the safest place."

It was probably why the ancestors of the Spirits had chosen to settle here—they considered it the perfect place to hide while awaiting his arrival, the Fated One.

Ruri then walked ahead, with Leon following behind. To make sure they didn't get separated, she held his left palm tightly.

Leon, naturally, didn't object. But Ruri still felt embarrassed for making a request she thought was improper. Even so, she didn't let go and kept her firm grip on his hand.

"Do spirits live nomadically, or are they sedentary, Ruri?" Leon asked curiously.

"We are sedentary, Fated One," Ruri replied softly. "Our ancestors built a great city to house all our people. We live in harmony and peace, with no conflict at all."

"So, that's how it is..." Leon gave a small nod.

He had already learned much about the Spirit race from Ruri back in the cave. But after witnessing the strange atmosphere of this valley, his curiosity about them surfaced once more.

This place was indeed unusual—shrouded in mystery.

As he was speaking with Ruri, a whisper suddenly echoed inside his head.

"Leon..."

Leon froze. His eyes widened, and he glanced sharply to his left and right.

"Liliana?" he called out.

Ruri was startled to see him suddenly say a name.

"What is it, Fated One?" She asked in surprise.

A thought crossed her mind, and she asked cautiously, "Don't tell me... you heard a whisper?"

Leon gave a small nod. "Yes, I just heard it."

Ruri didn't overreact—she simply tightened her grip on his hand.

"Don't let those voices distract you. They're not real—just illusions. What you're hearing now is only the lowest level. Later, you may even see illusions of the people you love. Just remember, it's all fake. Don't fall for it, okay?" She locked her eyes on him with a serious gaze.

Leon was momentarily taken aback by the sincerity in her gaze, but he said nothing—only giving a reassuring nod.

"I understand. You can trust me," Leon said firmly.

Ruri let out a small sigh of relief. Without another word, she continued walking.

As they moved forward, the whispers lingered in Leon's ears. At first, it was only a single voice, coming every five to ten seconds. But the longer they walked, the more frequent the voices became.

Soon, different voices came every second—Liliana, Arshley, Luna, Zelda, Fiona, Iris, Charlotte, Stella, and everyone else he knew.

Leon refused to be fooled; he knew these voices were illusions. Yet, as an ancient saying from a thousand years ago warned, "Falsehoods repeated over and over will eventually feel like the truth."

And deep within his heart, a dangerous thought began to take root—what if the voices were real?

"No... I can't be swayed!" he kept telling himself. But his will was weakening.

His breathing grew heavy, and his golden pupils dilated slightly, as though he had lost control of his body.

Realizing this, Ruri's eyes widened in shock. She grabbed Leon and shook him with all her strength.

"Fated One! Don't be swayed!" She shouted.

But her efforts were in vain—Leon didn't respond at all. His gaze remained fixed straight ahead.

In his eyes, he saw the people he loved—Liliana, Luna, Arshley, Athena, his four daughters, Zelda, and the others.

Subconsciously, a faint smile formed on his lips as he whispered, "Don't worry. I'll go with you."

He started striding toward them, ignoring Ruri's desperate attempts to wake him.

"Fated One!" Ruri cried, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist to keep him from moving forward.

Only fifty meters ahead lay a deep, pitch-black swamp thick with mud. If Leon fell in, pulling him out would be nearly impossible.

But her efforts were useless—Leon ignored her completely, his gaze fixed on the figures of his loved ones ahead.

When he was just two meters from the swamp's edge, something startling happened.

The Great Sword of Chaos and the Holy Sword of Zenith burst forth from his sea of consciousness, floating around him in a dazzling swirl of black and white light.

A comforting warmth swept through him, and the illusion of his loved ones began to fade away.

The beautiful meadow before him warped and vanished, replaced by the grim reality of a foul, black swamp.

Leon gasped, his eyes widening in shock.

"What… just happened?"