'Greater good,' Neo thought.

A hollow chuckle escaped his lips.

Apollyon believed the same thing.

In the end, there was no greater good.

Only personal choices.

Only beliefs people clung to and forced onto others.

Everyone fought for what they thought was right.

"So," Neo said after a moment, "how do you know so much about Julie's plan?"

"It's a long story," Elizabeth replied. "But in short, one of Ultris and Julie's accomplices works in the palace Apollyon has here."

Neo's eyes narrowed.

"He came to talk to me," Elizabeth continued. "Apollyon has started a witch hunt. For you, for me, and for anyone related to you who is in this place."

Neo clenched his jaw.

The familiar weight of responsibility pressed down on him again.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "For all the trouble I've caused."

He bowed his head.

But before he could lower it completely, Elizabeth flicked his forehead.

She did not use much strength.

But she was a Martial Artist (Extreme God).

Neo, right now, was a mortal.

The flick landed with terrifying precision.

A sharp pain shot through his head.

"Ow—!"

His forehead swelled instantly, his body reacting on instinct.

He stared up at her in disbelief.

"What was that for?"

Elizabeth looked down at him, her expression calm, and amused.

"Did you forget what I told you last time?"

"Ah…!"

Neo froze for a second, then recalled her words in Tartarus.

It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself.

He let out a small breath and smiled wryly.

"I guess I did," he admitted.

Elizabeth's lips curved upward, just slightly.

"We have many allies. And we can hide from Apollyon quite easily. You just need to recover your strength. After that, we can deal with him properly," she said.

Neo nodded without hesitation.

"That sounds reasonable."

"Oh," Elizabeth added, her tone casual, "and don't fight our 'allies,' okay?"

She gave him a charming, mature smile.

Neo nodded again, a little dazed from the beautiful smile.

He did not notice that Elizabeth had deliberately avoided naming those 'allies.'

"When do you want to meet Amelia?" Neo asked after a moment. "Her condition is serious. Mother is helping her, but she still falls into depression often."

Elizabeth's gaze softened.

"But wouldn't you need to burn your Life Flame to let me enter your Cosmos?" she asked.

"It's fine," Neo replied. "I won't need to burn much."

Elizabeth looked conflicted.

She wanted to meet her daughter.

But she did not want to burden Neo, especially when he was already in such a fragile state.

"Don't worry about me," Neo continued, as if reading her thoughts. "I can just reincarnate again. Besides, it's actually a bit funny, knowing that Apollyon is the one providing the energy for my resurrection."

Elizabeth watched his smile carefully.

She knew that smile.

Neo had already made up his mind.

He would make sure she met Amelia one way or another, even if it affected him.

That was the kind of person he was.

He would never accept her refusal.

So she sighed.

"Thank you—!"

Before she could finish, Neo flicked her forehead.

It was nowhere near as painful as hers had been, but it was sudden enough to catch her off guard.

"There's no need for thanks," he said, putting on a mock offended expression. "We are a family. Don't make it awkward."

Elizabeth blinked, then nodded.

"…Alright."

"Let's go now. You have a base, right? I want to meet that brat too. Why hasn't she come to see me yet?"

"Brat…?" Elizabeth frowned. "You mean Vivi? What is your relationship with her?"

Elizabeth's soft eyes suddenly sharpened, taking on a dangerous edge.

"Why is she your Avatar?"

"Huh? She is—"

Neo froze.

What do I say?

'She is my daughter?'

No. No way.

'If I say that, she's going to kill me.'

Neo had no idea why Vivi had not revealed their relationship yet, but right now, it was saving his life.

He began organizing his thoughts carefully.

He had to make it absolutely clear that Vivi's mother and him had no romantic involvement.

"Why are you silent?" Elizabeth asked.

"Uh… wait… let me think…"

"What—"

"Neo!"

The cloth that acted as the door to the hut was suddenly pulled aside.

Neo's childhood friend, Sarah, rushed in.

"I brought breakfast—"

Her words died in her throat.

She stared at the woman inside the hut.

Elizabeth was there calmly, her snow-white hair falling loosely, her red eyes clear and sharp. Her presence was overwhelming, like something that did not belong in a small village hut.

Sarah swallowed.

The woman looked like a goddess.

Her skin was flawless, her posture elegant, and her aura carried a strange weight that made Sarah instinctively lower her gaze.

If someone told her that the woman in front of her was a deity walking among mortals, she would have believed it without question.

Then Sarah's eyes shifted.

She saw Neo.

Lying on the lap of that goddess-like woman.

"Neo!?" Sarah shouted. "What are you doing!?"

Elizabeth turned her head and looked at Sarah.

Then she looked at Neo.

Then back at Sarah.

Then at Neo again.

Neo could already read her gaze.

Why is a young girl entering your place without permission?

He began shaking his head quickly, silently insisting that there was nothing between them.

"Neo?" Sarah called again, her voice trembling slightly.

"She a Sect Master." Neo blurted out, grabbing the first excuse that came to his mind. "She owns a martial arts sect. She was friends with my mother. She came after hearing about my parents' deaths."

Sarah blinked.

"A Sect Master…?"

Elizabeth smoothly covered Neo's mouth before he could say anything else.

"He started crying when I asked him about what happened. So I was consoling him," she said calmly.

"I—I see," Sarah replied, forcing a strained smile.

She glanced at Elizabeth again, then at Neo.

Something did not feel right.

If Uncle and Aunty had known an influential figure like a Sect Master, why had they lived in a poor village like this?

And why had no one ever mentioned such a relationship before?

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