Their romance storyline only begins on the second playthrough

Furthermore, the instant the giant stone gate was smashed open, a storm-like substance surged forth, beginning to slice through Rhodes and his companions' bodies like sharp blades.

"Clara, let's go."

Rhodes didn't bother to think too much. His sharp eyes tightened, and he used his body to block the sharp winds in front of him.

His physique had been further enhanced after killing the monster that had just leveled up four times, and with the rapid recovery effect of his skills, this level of wind was nothing to him.

He grabbed Clara's arm and leaped into the extended space in front of him.

Clara stood behind Rhodes, stunned, feeling her arm being gripped, her mind inexplicably dazed.

He was so wary just a moment ago... but now he's instinctively protecting her behind him.

What a gentle person she is.

……

...

[Two-sided space]

It was pretty much exactly what Rhodes had guessed.

After entering correctly from the four directions, they eventually arrived at a space where only the East Gate and the West Gate remained.

The overall space is based on a bronze-green tone, but this time it is no longer vast and empty.

Because, what appeared before Rhodes and his companions were twelve statues.

The twelve statues are located at the front of the space, exuding a sacred aura. The statues have delicate and smooth lines and are over ten meters tall, seemingly reaching the sky.

Rhodes and Clara, standing beneath the statue, were like ants, being looked down upon by the statue.

Meanwhile, in the center of the statue, there is a blue Rubik's Cube, which seems to activate something when touched.

Seeing this, Rhodes pondered:

"No matter how the Deep Sea God uses Carmen's space to create a chaotic domain, it is still basically using the original Carmen's world, so this is Carmen's [Forgotten Space]."

"The Twelve Statues... It's actually a world that includes statues. No wonder it's called [Carmen]."

"But Carmen is something for training, so these twelve statues are probably for activating and then challenging others to get rewards."

Rod swept across from the left—

These statues are not made up.

Although the face was still somewhat blurred, the first statue of the Dragon God, with its carved stripes and the Dragon God's unique arrogant dragon eyes, was vividly displayed.

The second [Star God] is clearly a statue of the previous [Star God], Lilith's master.

Rhodes had seen this statue before when he and Lilith were worshipping together.

Then, glancing over the others, he found no problems with the other deities either.

But when Rhodes glanced at the [God of the Deep Sea], he was slightly taken aback.

Upon realizing what was happening, Rhodes' face froze completely, and his body stiffened.

"this……?"

The statue of the sea god is sculpted with exquisite detail.

She is the ocean overlord who transformed from a whale into a human body. The statue fully embodies her vastness and also showcases the beauty of her body.

She has an elegant, natural curve, pretty, fair skin, and a face as smooth as cream.

Although they were just statues, these things seemed to come alive and rushed into Rhodes's eyes.

But these aren't the key points...

Her blue, fish-like, yet incredibly deep eyes instantly made Rhodes tense.

Yes, it's because his eyes are in such bad condition that he looks so dazed.

Because he's very good at reading eyes, just like when he first saw Ivina and immediately thought she was connected to Cecilia.

The moment he saw the statue, he immediately turned his gaze to the girl beside him—Clara.

"Um……?"

Clara was still speechless, stunned by the statues.

However, the moment Rhodes looked at her, she obediently yet questioningly uttered a sound:

"What's wrong, Rhodes?"

Rhodes gazed into the girl's eyes, then glanced at the eyes of the Deep Sea God.

It's so similar, so incredibly similar.

Even based solely on feedback from the statue, these eyes show at least an 80% similarity.

Their divine and serene states are almost identical.

In any case, a strange and absurd idea popped into Rhodes' mind.

Lilith said something before he entered the dungeon—

The Deep Sea God could not possibly be affected by a mere pollution event that caused it to ascend six times; the fundamental problem lies within the Deep Sea God itself.

So here comes a simple question.

If one has lost their memory, forgotten their combat skills, and is left with only instinct... then, wouldn't it be reasonable for the Deep Sea God to be unable to resist pollution?

The more Rhodes thought about it, the faster his breathing quickened, and the more profound his expression became as he looked at Clara.

After some deep thought, Rhodes finally tried to speak and probe:

"Clara, have you ever heard of a certain name?"

"Name? I don't know anything about it right now." Clara shook her head gently.

Rhodes ignored her denial, simply gazing at her before saying, "Charlotte Sinclair, does that name ring a bell?"

"..." Clara's pupils suddenly began to freeze.

The name pierced her mind like a chaotic mess.

Charlotte?

Her mind was in complete disarray, and her breathing became increasingly erratic.

Can……

I just can't remember anything.

The name is so familiar, and it should feel like something very clear and distinct.

She frowned: "Perhaps, there is..."

"..." Rhodes remained silent.

Is this all the reaction is?

It is only natural that 'maybe' exists.

After all, no marine species could possibly be unaware of the name of the Deep Sea God.

Therefore, Clara's statement of "maybe" is completely insufficient to prove that she has a definite relationship with Charlotte.

"What impression do you have of that statue? It might be related to your identity."

Rhodes stretched out his hand and pointed to the sixth statue—the [Deep Sea Dweller].

Clara, naturally with a hint of doubt, looked in the direction Rhodes was pointing.

"what."

Clara's pupils completely lost focus.

His body seemed to have lost all strength, and he collapsed weakly to his knees on the ground.

It was as if a fog had enveloped her mind and soul, leaving her unable to grasp anything.

Yes, my whole body was limp, as if I had lost all my bones, and my body felt like a puppet doll.

Her thin lips murmured:

"God of the Deep Sea, God of the Deep Sea...?"

The pain in my head intensified, and my mind began to become confused due to the colic.

But at that moment, Clara felt the statue begin to move.

"Rhodes, the statue is moving, He is moving...!"

Clara uttered these words weakly, her lips trembling.

"I know."

Rhodes shielded Clara behind him with his own body.

Clara was not hallucinating.

The statue... has really started to move.

Just a moment ago, when Clara and the statue locked eyes, the entire space seemed to be activated, beginning to shimmer with an incomparably sacred and dazzling golden light.

Yes, the golden beam of light, like a divine punishment, turned the blue Rubik's Cube in front of it crimson.

At that moment, a voice entered Rhodes' ears.

God will send down trials, granting the brave the strength of their ancestors.

[Follower of the God of Soul Evolution... your opponent is a soul deity who ascended four times to a higher level in ancient times.]

After you defeat him, you can obtain his divine remains and inherit his power.

"As expected, it's a testing space." Rhodes waved his hand and once again conjured the Elf Dragon Sword, his eyes calmly fixed on the distance ahead.

Clara doesn't seem to have activated the corresponding [Assessment], why is that?

Moreover, in theory, this kind of test requires touching the Rubik's Cube in the center to activate it, but it was activated directly in this case.

Was it because Clara made eye contact with the deep-sea statue? Or because she had just pointed a finger at the statue?

The situation was too chaotic, just like this chaotic space itself. Clara's identity and the rules of the space were all in disarray.