Chapter 205-The Manga Pariah's Guide to Self-Salvation
Swirling dust shrouded the entire training grounds. A silver sword, carrying a killing intent, lit up Ye Zheng's eyes. She was somewhat surprised—Bai Muqing had actually chosen close-quarters combat.
Bai Muqing's vision relied on her ability. Its advantage was an extremely wide field of view; its disadvantage was that it was inferior to the naked eye when it came to capturing fine details. Drawing a sword for close combat was not in her favor.
Ye Zheng drew her golden sword in a reverse grip to block. A crisp clang rang out as the two blades met, and their eyes locked.
Bai Muqing's eyes never revealed emotion—they were like an endless expanse of snow. Ye Zheng pressed against her blade while gazing curiously into her opponent's eyes. "Why did you start using a sword?"
"The sword is a Knight's honor."
Bai Muqing's answer was brief. Suddenly, Ye Zheng felt an intense wave of dizziness and ringing in her ears. Her grip faltered for a moment, and the opponent's silver sword seized the opening, flicking the sword from her hand.
Ye Zheng retreated, dodging the flash of silver. She raised her hand to the side, and the water threads wound around her wrist and the blade rapidly tightened. The hilt returned to her hand.
This was her first formal sparring match with Bai Muqing. Bai Muqing's [Divine Domain] was an ability that held sovereign power within a specific range. From their exchange just now, the closer one got to Bai Muqing herself, the stronger her dominion became—she could even affect an enemy's body and mind.
Ye Zheng now understood why Bai Muqing practiced close combat. The closer to the enemy, the more dangerous it was, but it also allowed her to maximize her ability.
As for why she chose the sword—it was probably what Bai Muqing had said: "The sword is a Knight's honor." Although swordsmanship was no longer the standard for measuring a Knight's strength after the emergence of abilities, this honored tradition had been preserved. Since Bai Muqing had chosen to be a Knight, she would hold herself strictly to the code of chivalry.
Ye Zheng's eyes curved in a smile. Bai Muqing was also using this sparring match to challenge her own potential. She liked this kind of fight.
At the center of the training grounds, two figures darted near and far. Sword shadows and the flying sand and stone stirred up by their abilities flashed in alternation.
They continued until the sun hung directly overhead, when the two gradually and tacitly came to a stop. Ye Zheng picked up the sword that had fallen to the ground, sheathed it, and handed Bai Muqing a handkerchief to wipe her sweat—it was easy to catch a cold in winter, and even ability users with strong constitutions couldn't afford to be careless.
"Ye Zheng, you're stronger than me. I hope that next time we spar, I'll be able to make you fight at full strength."
Bai Muqing took the handkerchief and said this abruptly.
Her [Divine Domain] could perceive the energy activity on another person's body. Ye Zheng's abilities had grown enormously in recent times. She didn't know the reason, but judging from their sparring just now, Ye Zheng seemed to have acquired a second ability beyond [Stream].
Although dual ability users were rare in the Empire, Bai Muqing had encountered quite a few. But Ye Zheng's second ability was clearly extraordinary. When she tried to probe deeper with [Divine Domain], a shudder rising from the depths of her heart stopped her.
Even Sykes's 3S-rank ability [Destruction] didn't carry this kind of oppressive force.
Noticing Bai Muqing's tightly pressed lips, a helpless smile flickered in the depths of Ye Zheng's eyes. She said, "Alright, next time let's find a more open venue."
It wasn't that she looked down on Bai Muqing. She herself couldn't yet fully control [Mother of All Things]. Currently, she could use [Stream] to carry the might of [Mother of All Things], controlling the life activity of everything the water touched, but she couldn't control it precisely—it could easily cause irreversible damage.
The two walked side by side toward the base's cafeteria, chatting briefly. Bai Muqing soon relaxed, a faint smile like thin snow under winter sunlight.
After finishing lunch, the two returned to their respective posts. Ye Zheng headed back to the Papal Palace, idly thinking along the way that once the finances were in better shape, she must remember to improve everyone's cafeteria meals.
[Just a reminder—the manga has updated!]
Ye Zheng had just returned to the Papal Palace and sat down in her high-backed chair when she heard the System's voice. She took out her phone to check the manga's latest update.
The moment she opened the manga, Percy's face filled the screen. Ever since he had fled to the West District, Ye Zheng hadn't received any news about them from the Sei Curia. She could only monitor his movements through the manga.
Scrolling through Percy's latest experiences, he had actually infiltrated Sierra's territory and run into Lucy, who was in the middle of escaping. The four of them accidentally alerted the guards, and after a battle, they escaped Sierra's territory together.
She and Sykes also had screen time. Sykes's real birthday turned out to be the same day as hers. Ye Zheng's mood was somewhat peculiar—like stepping in something foul while walking down the street.
Ye Zheng propped her forehead on one hand, her dark eyes flickering.
Sierra would absolutely not let Percy go. If she wanted to catch someone in the West District right now, she was probably even more efficient than the Sei Curia.
After a moment of thought, Ye Zheng picked up a pen and wrote a secret letter.
—She was going to secretly help the Cloud-Soaring Squad escape Sierra's pursuit.
In the original storyline, Sierra was a lone wolf with limited capabilities—just a minor obstacle on the protagonist party's path. But now, she could cause the protagonist party serious trouble.
Ye Zheng needed the Cloud-Soaring Squad to be present, just as in the original storyline.
Even though Percy might bring her trouble, there were certain mysteries—such as the Blood of the God and the Divine Sword in Percy's hands—that Ye Zheng needed him to bring in person for new clues.
In the original storyline, Percy attending his teammate Ye Zheng's coming-of-age ceremony was a matter of course. But now, Percy had absolutely no reason to appear at Pope Ye Zheng's birthday celebration... Ye Zheng's pen tip paused, and she ultimately set the pen down.
She believed in the plot's gravitational pull. Percy would surely have a reason to appear at the coming-of-age ceremony.
Ye Zheng lowered her gaze to the golden sword Percy held on screen. It looked heavier than the gold swords forged by the Royal Family. Ye Zheng had once gripped its hilt too—it weighed more than a thousand pounds, and she couldn't draw it.
The coming-of-age ceremony would be held as a grand and lively affair. On that day, as Pope, she would deliver a sermon and prayer at the plaza before the Imperial Palace. The upper district had opened a certain number of spots for lower district and Middle District residents to enter, allowing the entire Empire to celebrate together.
That day would be the best opportunity for Percy and his team to sneak into the upper district and the Imperial Palace.
"He will definitely appear at the Imperial Palace with the Divine Sword."
[But wouldn't sneaking into the Imperial Palace be walking right into a trap?]
The System couldn't help but ask. Ye Zheng had been issuing warrants for their arrest all along—why would they be foolish enough to barge into her celebration?
Ye Zheng smiled without warmth, her dark eyes deep and heavy. She said, "Percy has found out that I used a fake sword to deceive everyone. He and I are now absolute enemies."
"But the gap in strength between us is too vast. If he wants to expose the truth about the Chosen One, his own weight alone is far too light."
The System caught on as well.
[I understand.]
[I just ran a data analysis. The probability that Percy will choose to reveal the truth to the Emperor is 55%.]
"Too low."
Ye Zheng didn't know the System's analytical logic, but she felt the probability was close to one hundred percent. After all, the Emperor's planted agent had been in the Cloud-Soaring Squad all along, right by Percy's side.
Even if Percy didn't intend to seek the Emperor's help, the Emperor would quietly steer him onto that path.
The System's voice took on a hint of worry.
[Aren't you afraid of being exposed for faking your identity as the Chosen One?]
The System had watched Ye Zheng come this far and knew how difficult it had been for her to reach her current position—like standing atop a teetering pyramid.
Once the true Divine Sword appeared before everyone, it would undoubtedly pose a serious threat to Pope Ye Zheng's legitimacy. The Sei Curia had yet to be fully brought under Ye Zheng's control, and quite a few dissenters were stirring in the shadows. The System couldn't imagine how difficult Ye Zheng's situation would become.
[Perhaps you should stop Percy from entering the upper district instead...]
"System, you understand the plot's gravitational pull better than I do."
"Besides..."
Ye Zheng's fingertip swiped across the phone screen. A terrifying scene suddenly appeared—the sky was nearly torn apart, countless monsters bared their fangs and claws, and crowds of people fled in all directions.
This was the latest spoiler.
"Time waits for no one."
Before the world-ending catastrophe arrived, she had to understand the existence of the demon dragon, the Divine Sword, and everything else—even at the risk of losing everything she had built.
One week later.
The spacious, tidy streets of the upper district had always calmly accommodated an unhurried flow of people. But today, the streets were packed with bustling crowds, making it extraordinarily lively.
Today was Her Holiness the Pope's birthday celebration—her precious coming-of-age ceremony. She had generously invited citizens from across the Empire to come celebrate together and bask in the gospel. It was the Empire's first major festivity in months.
The tightly bundled young men listened to the middle-aged man beside them boast endlessly about how he had obtained his precious spot. Their expressions could barely contain their impatience and embarrassment. Percy quickly found an excuse and led his teammates away from the lower district's group.
The upper district couldn't possibly open to everyone. Even for a single day's event, the Sei Curia set the number of invitations per district and then drew spots fairly.
Percy glanced at his teammate Roy. Their spots, of course, hadn't been won by luck—Roy had obtained them.
Roy refused to tell them how he'd gotten them, but regardless of Roy's methods, they had finally entered the upper district according to plan.
Percy instinctively pressed down on the sword beneath his cloak, his gaze fixed on the magnificent palace in the distance. His grave expression carried a conflicted emotion.
"Let's go. We'll follow the crowd to the Imperial Palace."
After a moment, Percy said in a low voice, and stepped toward the palace.
Bang!
Brilliant fireworks burst open, and colorful streamers drifted down onto the streets of the upper district. At the same time, somewhere in the lower district, a shelter erupted with a thunderous boom. Solid walls collapsed with a crash. Through the billowing dust, a figure slowly emerged, golden eyes gazing toward somewhere in the distance.
Inside the Papal Palace, Ye Zheng donned the magnificent Triregnum, walked to the window, and gazed into the distance as if sensing something.
Author's Note
Many readers have been asking about Ye Zheng's birthday. Since I want it to sync with reality, I plan to set it on the date the chapter where Zheng kills Sykes is published. Should be around this week?
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