Divine Emperor of Death



Sophie and Bylai fell into the cracked surface, passing through the hole before they quickly appeared out of it.

Swiftly, Sophie turned around and yanked the forging table above, causing it to compress in size and shoot towards her through the cracked surface. It was unknown how much damage it endured, but she retrieved it beside her and watched the magma pour out like a heavy wave, almost splashing her and Bylai in its heat.

However, it quickly lost momentum and fell straight down.

Sophie looked down and saw a sea of magma.

The searing heat made her feel dizzy, causing her to turn to look at Bylai and see that she was safe. She was looking around, trying to find a safer place in this hellhole.

Sophie also cast a look around, seeing that the air was distorted while the ceiling appeared quite wobbly, as though it could melt and sink anytime. There were also numerous cracks in the ceiling that let magma flow down like tiny lavafalls.

The situation didn't look good at all, causing her brows to twitch.

"There…!"

However, Bylai stretched her hand and pointed in a direction.

Sophie followed Bylai's direction and saw a tiny rock surface that had yet to be overflowed by the dangerous magma. It was no more than a dozen meters wide, hovering eight meters taller than the sea of magma. They were like a bunch of parched women seeing water, quickly flying towards it as they dodged the magma that boiled below and shot upwards occasionally.

They also easily weaved their way through the lavafalls, quickly landing on the tiny island that was like a place of shelter for them now. There were also many delicate formations of crimson stalactites and stalagmites, which they used as a cover to hide behind the flying magma projectiles that were thrown out from below.

Once they assumed they were safe, Bylai heaved a light sigh.

*Boom!~*

Their hearts shook as they saw the crack they came from had collapsed now, that entire part of the ceiling was now a wide lavafall.

"…"

Bylai didn't know what to say.

Her adventure to find a treasure she needed turned deadlier than ever, even implicating one of her sisters. Biting her lips, she turned to look at Sophie but saw that she was checking her forging table.

Sophie saw that the surface of the forging table was fully scorched, so many runes embedded in it were damaged, meaning that it wouldn't be as efficient as it was before. The blacksmith's seat was fully burned, while the anvil survived despite looking scorched beyond the compare.

However, she saw that the entirety of the table was damaged badly, leaving it unable to be used until it was repaired.

"Well, it's as good as a defensive shield now…" Sophie heaved a sigh.

Fortunately, it didn't have a spirit yet. Otherwise, she would've found it harder to sacrifice it.

Bylai's expression turned even more apologetic, but Sophie cast a glance at her and shook her head.

"It's not your fault, so stop with that sorry look…"

"Sophie…"

However, Bylai still seemed unconvinced, "Why did you jump to save me…?"

"What are you saying?" Sophie narrowed her eyes, "Aren't we sisters?"

"No, I didn't mean it that way. I mean… You have your child, Aurelia, to look after, so how could you decisively leap to save me…?"

Bylai explained, causing Sophie to be taken aback. She blinked, wondering the same at the moment.

That's right. How could she be this irresponsible, sacrificing her own life to save another when she had a child to look after?

She thought about it for a few seconds before she shook her head.

"If I die, you can take care of my child, but… we're not going to die."

"But the situation tells otherwise!"

Bylai screamed out, her eyes turned watery, "Even if you died saving me, how can I answer him? How can I look after your child knowing that I basically caused your death!? Look!"

"…"

Sophie blinked as she could only stare at Bylai, who began shedding tears now. However, looking in the opposite direction she pointed, Sophie flinched in shock.

Purplish-black apocalyptic flames bloomed in the distance!

Although they were vague and could be said to be tens and thousands of kilometers away, that didn't ease her heart one bit. It was no wonder Bylai freaked out and broke down right now. She could already see her death- no, their deaths closing in on them.

Still, Sophie didn't have the fear of death in her eyes.

She turned to look at Bylai, giggling in a delighted tone.

"Hehe~ Bylai… I never thought you were the compassionate type…"

"Wha-"

Bylai went confused. She saw that Sophie wasn't hiding any kind of fear, causing her to wipe her own tears and look into the distance where the apocalyptic flames were burning before returning her gaze with a complex expression on her face.

"You seem ready to die…"

"Perhaps." Sophie shrugged before she extended her fingers, "I mean, I married the love of my life, made love with him, and gave birth to our child. Even a while ago, we made love, fueling me with all the affection and determination in the world, so what do I have to be scared?"

She smiled brightly and clenched her fists, "Although I'm sad I can't experience these emotions tomorrow, I'm… satisfied!"

"…!"

Bylai's heart shook as she saw Sophie's courageous figure, even looking heroic.

The former had her heart struck with a sense of admiration, not knowing she was with such a woman from the very beginning as back then, she imagined that Sophie wouldn't amount to much when she had first met her because she had been the Golden Dragon Queen while Sophie was nothing but an ordinary Alstreim Family woman.

"Did I look cool?"

Suddenly, the super cool image of Sophie came crashing down in Bylai's mind, causing her to blink. Her mouth was slightly parted, unable to believe the playfulness of this woman who posed before her like a little girl with a bright smile.

"Heh~"

She couldn't help but let out a giggle, which made her sunken heart rise from the hopelessness of the situation before her eyes gleamed with determination.

"Fine. You looked cool, elder sister."

Sophie raised her brows on being called elder sister. It looks like the prideful Golden Dragon Queen admitted that she was better than her from the bottom of her heart.

"But leave it to me to find a way out. Even if I die, I'll somehow use all my energy to allow you to escape as a last resort…"

Bylai uttered, causing Sophie's smile to widen.

"Well said. Let's just wait for our husband then~"

"…"

Sophie whistled away while Bylai gave her a flabbergasted side eye, although she had no choice but to believe that was the only option left for the both of them to survive realistically.