"Apart from continuing to obey us, you and your clan have no other way out."

The Key Changing delivered the verdict calmly.

The tall Winged Person clenched his fists, the knuckles gripping the heavy sword turning white.

His gaze carried deep pain, anger, helplessness, and unwillingness interwoven, silently watching the mechanical, emotionless expression of the Key Changing.

He knew that the other party was not threatening him, but merely stating a harsh reality.

On the other hand, the Hero listened to the words carried by the breeze, also pressing her lips together in unwillingness.

'...What should we do? She seems to be preparing for some ominous ritual. Should we try synchronizing again?'

'Idiot, trying again won't change the result.' The response of the Depraved Hero carried a touch of irritability:

'I'm also frustrated, but her new will is too immature. We cannot make an unready child rebel against her parents.'

'Such a thing... I understand.'

Recalling her past self, the Hero had to admit the truth of these words.

She forced herself to calm the waves in her heart, choosing to hide on the side for the time being, continuing to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two.

"...What do you want me to do?"

After a few seconds of silence, the Clan Leader with a gray defeated face lowered his head and responded in a low voice.

"You need to gather all remaining Winged People in this Central District to guard my ritual preparations."

The Key Changing responded quickly, blandly stating the predetermined arrangement.

"The remaining areas of the Capital, especially the royal palace and the headquarters of major guilds, are hard territories filled with immense Magic Power.

"To replace those places, we need enough equivalent materials, and the only thing that can meet the requirement is the Central District where the Gate of Heaven is located.

"But the scale of this exchange is exceedingly large, surpassing the total of the past month and more. If an error occurs, the Gate of Heaven might suffer tremendous damage. At that time, even Father will not know what will happen.

"Therefore, the final ritual must not have any errors. Absolute stability is the priority, and you need to have all Winged People stationed here, allowing no one to interrupt me."

Upon hearing the Key Changing's arrangements, the Clan Leader breathed a slight sigh of relief but immediately tensed up again.

The pupils of the Key Changing shifted slightly, gazing in the direction where the Hero was hiding.

"As for her—"

1.5. Persuade

2.6. Seal

3.7. Delay

4.8. Expel

9. Exchange

10. Great Success/Extreme Failure

D10=d10(10)=10

Note: Great Success results in the activation of the Doctrine of Reason + direct exchange kickout, Extreme Failure results in the Hero gaining the upper hand first.

D2=d2(2)=2

♛: Extreme Failure~

"Dealing with the Hero is indeed tricky. Just with your words, there's no way to defeat her, but we don't need to kill her."

She knew that the injury of the Winged People Clan Leader hadn't fully healed, and she herself had personally experienced the strong recovery ability of the Hero's Elemental Body and her astonishing speed.

Although the Exchange Ceremony has always been under Father's control, so the strongest in the Capital won't be transferred to the Central District. Even if they could break through the outer defenses to come here, under the intimidation of the Four-winged King's aura, no one would dare recklessly intrude.

However, as of now, if we cannot effectively limit the Hero's actions, the final ritual cannot proceed.

"But in other words, as long as we deal with the Hero, the final exchange can proceed smoothly."

All it takes is to pray to the King, then use the exchange authority assigned by Father—

The Key Changing raised her hand, her gray pupils zooming and focusing precisely on the distant Hero.

She prayed lowly, her voice detached:

"Oh King, please—"

[The Hero activates the skill: Grudge Marks, transforming the Key Changing's hate mark into a friend mark]

[The Key Changing's action penalty (100) is canceled, the Hero's bonus (100) remains and gains 1/2 of the baseline]

[The Key Changing's action Extreme Failure~ (D Intelligence 199, baseline 99-30)]

D100+99=d100(24)+69=93

[The Hero's response (Seven Seas Witch status, Intelligence 177, baseline 88, Grudge Marks +100)]

D89+88+100=d89(37)+188=225

From afar, at the moment the Key Changing raised her hand, the Hero shuddered.

Even though after the Key Changing said "thank you," the Hero could no longer see her as an object of hatred, the Hero's thorough understanding of the Key Changing did not disappear.

'She's going to make a move against us!'

"I know!"

Just seeing her raising her hand, the Hero instantly guessed her next move.

'She wants to use the power of the Four-winged King to imprison me, then transport us away!'

The magic patterns on her back slightly heated up, the surrounding space began to distort.

No time left to hesitate, so—

[The Hero's next action—]

1.5. Split and Run!

2.6. Anti-Summoning Device

3.7. Split Action

4.8. Do Not Resist

9. Sacrifice!

10. Great Success/Extreme Failure

D10=d10(5)=5

♛: Split and Run!

"Oh King, please punish those who are insolent."

The Hero's actions were faster than words.

Before the prayer of the Key Changing fell, the Hero's figure split into two.

One had black hair and red eyes, the other had white hair and Emerald Eyes, both figures dashed in opposite directions.

The Winged People Clan Leader stared in astonishment at this scene, his Hunting Intuition telling him that those two figures were not illusions or clones created by Magic, but two real individuals—two Heroes, the same yet distinct.

Despite the immense difference in their appearances, keen Perception allowed him to realize that both were the same person. This paradoxical confusion left the Clan Leader momentarily unable to decide which Hero to focus on.

But the face of the Key Changing remained unruffled, her pupils eerily moved in different directions, each locking onto the two Heroes.

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