Inner Destroyer

　"I want to give it my all from the start. You guys just distract me."

　He spoke calmly, yet with a firmness that shocked Remina and the others for a moment.

　Is this... truly a rational decision? While Remina understands the desire for intense combat between powerful individuals—after all, she's also a free-spirited dragon—she's also the monarch of a nation, and knows she can't just act on impulse. Is it really okay to make a haphazard decision about a battle that could determine the lives of tens of millions?

　Captain Gwendolyn frowned even more after hearing this. Because, for the Church, this is not just a battle between the strong, but also a battle between two "Silver Coin Messengers", two demon kings in the world.

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　The fight for silver coins. How could she not be on guard nearby?

　For a moment, although the masters did not directly object, it was obvious that everyone disagreed.

　Although they did not agree, if Qi Xing refused, they obviously could not do anything to him.

　The scene seemed a little awkward for a moment.

　Until Sister Elaine suddenly spoke at this moment, breaking the silence: "Qi Xing, can I talk to you alone?"

　When she said this, she winked at Father Amos and Captain Gwendolen, as if to say - It's okay, leave it to me!

　Honestly, Gwendolen was very worried about this. But what else could they do? They could only leave it to her.

　Elaine dragged Qi Xing to the lounge where they had been earlier. Qi Xing frowned, waiting to hear what she had to say.

　"Let me be clear, I definitely won't be taking you this time."

　He says,

　"You're not that stupid, are you?"

　"I certainly didn't mean to say I was going with you."

　Elaine's reaction was also very calm. Then, she actually asked a question that Qi Xing had never expected: "Qi Xing, do you remember asking me before...what is my problem with these Haitian voodoo people?"

　After a moment's silence, Qi Xing's frown finally relaxed: "Tell me about it?"

　“It’s nothing special, actually.”

　Elaine replied calmly,

　"Fourteen years ago, when I was less than seven years old, my parents took me on a trip to Haiti. I know you're thinking, 'How could anyone be so foolish as to travel to a place like that?' But in 2011, Haiti's security was actually relatively good, and there were even UN peacekeeping forces there."

　"Even though we said that, we were still kidnapped by the Voodoo Gang... Then, Father Amos rushed into the Voodoo Gang's stronghold and rescued me before I was sacrificed. I was taken to an orphanage in Rome."

　She didn't directly say what had happened to her parents. But only a fool would ask, and only a fool would ask at this time.

　"I grew up in a church orphanage. The Vatican discovered my talent and asked me if I would like to join the exorcist nuns for training. After I turned eighteen, I officially began to carry out missions. But when I went on my first mission... do you still remember me?"

　Qi Xing did remember.

　That was over two years ago, before Qi Xing joined the "Association." On the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, a mad and evil wizard summoned a great demon, fused it with himself, and transformed it into an indescribable human-demon monstrosity that utterly routed a small group of exorcist nuns.

　At the time, Qi Xing was nearby, taking on his own mercenaries and hunting down bad guys. Receiving the SOS, he flew over and knocked the hybrid demon to the ground. Defying its super-regenerative abilities, he smashed its head in with punch after punch, ripping it apart with claw after claw, ripping out its heart, bones, and brain piece by piece with his bare hands, repeatedly burning them with lightning and fire.

　He rescued half of the surviving exorcist nuns, including Elaine.

　A few days later, Father Amos brought Elaine over and invited Qi Xing to join the "Association".

　Qi Xing had noticed Elaine at that time, but since she didn't say anything, he didn't ask. After all, Elaine was just his assistant... right?

　He wasn't even sure why Elaine was bringing up these old things now.

　"I don't mean to say how miserable I am."

　Noticing Qi Xing's confusion, Elaine explained helplessly,

　"I'm actually very lucky. I was picked up by Father Amos and trained, and you arrived just in time to save my life. If I still complain about my own misery, what about those who can't be saved?"

　"So what has been bothering me most all along is actually the part of me that is doing nothing."

　"Others were fighting to save the world, fighting on a much higher level than me, like lightning and thunder in the sky. And I was hiding in the basement, hoping the storm would end."

　"For so many years, this realization has been stuck in my throat - I am a victim who was saved by others, a note in the symphony of others' lives... This is my biggest fear, the secret I have never dared to tell anyone... Not even the priest knows."

　Amos only knew that Elaine was afraid of voodoo. Even he didn't know that Elaine's true fear wasn't the "appearance" of voodoo at all, but the state of being powerless and helpless, waiting to be rescued.

　Now, after hearing her confession, Qi Xing finally understood why Elaine had suddenly seemed so nervous sometimes before.

　but……

　"I'm honored to know your greatest secrets and fears."

　Qi Xing lowered his head, puzzled.

　"So why are you telling me this now?"

　"Rep Master, are you really a blockhead?" Elaine finally said something sharp. "If you keep going like this, one day all the women you saved will turn into yanderes and stab you."

　Alas.

　"I want to be honest with you, and I hope you can be honest with me."

　At this point, she raised her eyebrows.

　"In fact, you can clearly use silver coins to make everyone shut up and accept your decision. Captain Gwendolyn may be able to resist remote control. But if you defeat her, hold her head down, and inject divine power into her, she will definitely submit."

　"I just read the history of silver coins in the forbidden library last night. Those who obtain the "Domination" silver coin are the most terrifying. If they have enough willpower and crazy desire, they can rule a country in just half a day."

　"What stopped you from doing that?"

　good question.

　Qi Xing was speechless for a moment. But in fact,

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　He had been asked this question twice recently, and had answered it twice. However, the first two times the devil was mocking and torturing him, instead of sincerely probing him like Elaine did.

　So he couldn't hesitate any longer.

　"We've all seen Professor Vanstra use silver coins to hypnotize people, and he ended up losing everything."

　When the professor really wanted love, true love had already been buried under hypnosis.

　"We all saw how Romani Domingo trampled on everyone and trampled on the lives and souls of others."

　Finally, Qi Xing admitted it directly, suppressing the fear in his heart.

　“I don’t want to be like them.”

　"You, Amos, the Dracula family... I consider you all my friends. I don't want to lose you."

　"I already have no home in this world. I don't want to even... well, you know what I mean. This is also my biggest fear."

　It was still very embarrassing to say these words. Qi Xing couldn't help but put up a hand to cover his face halfway through his words.

　He didn't know how Elaine would react, but no matter how Elaine reacted, Qi Xing was going to accept it, even if Elaine complained about him.

　But when Qi Xing put his hand down, he discovered——

　——Elaine was smiling, and it was a smile that came completely from the heart.

　Qi Xing had never understood the mystery of the Mona Lisa. But if he could capture Elaine's helpless yet delighted smile at that moment, he instinctively knew he could stare at it for hours and still never understand.

　"You may have said this to yourself, and it's very likely that the captain and the others haven't said this to you yet, but I want to say it to you."

　She reached out and held Qi Xing's hand that was covering his face, stopping him from covering his face again.

　"They are them, you are you, wake up together."

　"Of course I hope so." Qi Xing rubbed his temple with his left hand, "But...how can I know? A madman never thinks he is crazy."

　Professor Vanstra and Romani clearly didn't think there was anything wrong with them. Samael kept nagging Qi Xing all day.

　"It's simple. Because there's a truth none of them understand, especially the devil."

　So Elaine smiled, because she already knew that this must be what she was going to do next to Qi Xing, and this was the role she was going to play in the melody of life, a role that belonged only to her.

　This is something Satan will never be able to do or know.

　"A person who is alone and has no ties can be a strong person."

　"But only those who take responsibility will be the winners."

　"For the tyrant tramples upon those who love him, and the devil despises her own creation."

　"So even if they own the whole world, they are still alone."

　After saying that, Elaine glanced at Qi Xing's shadow and expressed her greatest contempt for the devil hiding in the shadow.

　Because what Qi Xing needs is her, not the devil.

　Qi Xing was still surprised. He was so dull that he probably didn't understand the meaning of these words for a moment. But it didn't matter. Elaine didn't intend to stop at this half-baked place.

　After this battle is over—she won't say such leisurely words.

　It wasn't a nun's thing—whatever.

　What mattered the time and place? The best time was when she woke up. She wanted to pierce this paper in the most straightforward way.

　Stop worrying about it, stop procrastinating, and stop putting it off.

　Now is the time. Only now.

　"Captain Gwendolyn and the others may not trust you so quickly. But I believe in you and believe you will make the right decision."

　"I believe this isn't a fight between the Silver Messenger and the demon king, but a battle between heroes and monsters."

　Elaine took a deep breath.

　"because I like you."

　054: Pure Love God of War Thunder Man

　Three hundred miles south of Rome are the ruins of the ancient city of Herculaneum.

　This is a place where time seems to have frozen in time. An ancient Roman world frozen for two thousand years.

　As dawn rose, the world around them remained serene and solemn. This ancient city, slumbering beneath volcanic ash, still retained traces of its former glory. The streets, paved with ancient stone slabs, the subtle wear and tear on the surface and the mottled dust bore witness to the passage of countless days and nights.

　Along the street, the remains of once-magnificent residences are faintly discernible. Colorful murals are preserved on the walls. Though the colors have faded with time, the delicate and elegant compositions still convey the luxury and refinement of ancient Roman aristocratic life. The exquisite mosaic floors radiate a subtle glow, each colorful stone whispering stories of bygone feasts and pleasures.

　Because this is the ancient city of Herculaneum, once a seaside resort for the upper class elite of ancient Rome. But now, all of this is sealed under the volcanic ash, becoming an eternal still picture.

　This is a remnant of the world before the "Christian era" left in the modern era.

　Perhaps this is why "Black Spartacus" Romani Domingo particularly likes this place.

　This morning, he walked into the ancient city early and looked up to the north.

　Because Romani's power allowed him to sense in advance that the person he had been waiting for for a long time had finally arrived!

　However, he did not anticipate the way the other party would come to visit him.

　The sky at dawn was suddenly torn apart by an even more dazzling light.

　A huge and strange object was crossing the sky at lightning speed. The blue-white flames ejected from its tail were

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　Dancing wildly, making a deafening roar.

　It was a NATO AGM-86B cruise missile. Over six meters long, its nuclear warhead replaced with a high-energy explosive, it was barreling towards Romani at a speed of 800 kilometers per hour.

　Instantly, the missile's massive shadow fell upon him. He could feel the scorching heat of the flames and even smell the stench of burning metal. For a moment, even Black Spartacus couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Rep Master, you're such a joker!"

　Because what really impressed Romani was not the missile's lethality. What was far more powerful than the missile itself was the person standing on top of it.

　He was dressed in a simple yet majestic white coat, like a god of war, exuding an incomparably powerful aura, dominating and controlling this steel behemoth, and commanding the entire sky with his powerful will.

　What is much more powerful than a cruise missile is his strength.

　Romani Domingo.

　Experience the power of God.

　"boom--"

　Instantly, a white-hot light exploded across the earth, as if a tiny sun had suddenly been born amidst the ruins of an ancient city.

　The light first engulfed everything. Immediately afterwards, the shockwave swung like a giant hammer, carrying a destructive, violent force that swept out with the force of thunder. Ancient stone pillars were instantly shattered into dust, and the solid walls collapsed in all directions like fragile sand. The air seemed to be squeezed into a solid mass, and a fiery flame of crimson, orange, and yellow raged wildly in all directions.