The villain's way to tame the protagonist

"You have done a great job. I didn't expect you to save so many civilians who were about to be burned to death."

"Ah... well, because Ming Fuluo is very powerful, she can create many things at once, and she is very efficient in saving people."

Xitana scratched her head, and surprisingly, she did not take credit for herself, but instead took the initiative to give the credit to Ming Furo.

Ming Fuluo glanced at her and said calmly, "I can't go deep into the Flame of Feasting. All the dangerous places were entered by Xitana. I don't know how many times her skin and flesh have been replaced. You should pay more attention to her."

"You guys..." Anser looked at the two of them in amazement, "When did your relationship become so good?"

Then Miss Scholar and Miss Wolf punched Ansher at the same time.

Looking at the two girls who looked at each other and then immediately looked away, the young Hydra laughed heartily, with a gentle light shining in his sea-blue eyes.

It was only a short year, but he experienced so much and changed so much.

Even if they cannot fight for him now, they are still the most powerful force he possesses, Anser firmly believes this.

"Wait a moment, I'm going to kill Ivora."

Anser's voice was gentle but firm: "It won't take too long, and there won't be any problems. Believe me, I'll be back soon."

He did not intend to tell Xitana and Ming Furo about his plan to kill other extraordinary people, otherwise they would never wait for Ansher to come back.

Anser's only worry was that they would infer this possibility themselves, because he was becoming increasingly unable to hide his feelings in front of the two girls.

"I know!" Xitana hugged Anser's shoulders and said with great confidence, "That guy will never be Anser's opponent!"

Ming Fuluo gently held Anser's hand: "At most... just close those cracks. No matter what, you must put yourself first. Don't forget what I told you. Don't sacrifice everything to defeat Him again. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, if we weren't here...well I know I'm useless in that situation."

Xitana said gloomily, "If Mingfuluo is not here, Anser can't turn into that huge iron lump. He is not at his most powerful. If he can get rid of these flames, it is actually enough. Don't lose your head again, Anser."

Anser poked Xitana's head with a smile: "I should be the one saying this to you."

"... Humph, ah, there's more!" Xitana snorted lightly, and then stared at Anser's eyes very vigilantly, "Anser... Have you ever thought about taking this opportunity to kill all the other extraordinary people as well?"

This was a possibility that Xitana had guessed intuitively before coming, and Ming Furo determined that it was absolutely possible. Ming Furo knew that she was no match for Ansher in this regard, so she asked the more perceptive Xitana to ask.

"Of course not." Anser smiled casually, "Those are twenty-nine top-level fifth-order transcendents. I am not so arrogant as to overestimate my own abilities."

He turned around and asked Xitana curiously: "Do you really think I am crazy to this extent?"

"…It's hard to say what happened in the past." Xitana muttered, "If Ming Fuluo hadn't woken you up, you would have been thinking about how to fight against fate."

Young Hydra couldn't help laughing and said, "Is it that exaggerated?"

"Now that I think about it...of course it was an exaggeration! Don't you think so, Ming Fuluo?"

Ming Fuluo said helplessly: "Don't let Anser think about the past anymore. Everything is fine now."

"That's not what I meant! Anser, you... don't take it to heart, okay."

While Anser was comforting the bewildered Xitana, what the two girls had just said was on his mind.

He was somewhat glad that the two girls had misunderstood him. Trying to kill the other extraordinary people in the maze was not entirely out of utilitarianism. It was a decision he had to make as he had been pushed into danger by fate.

Fighting against fate... I won't do such a thing now.

But at that moment, at that time, I clearly felt such intense hatred and... joy because I was able to confront Him head-on, because I was forcing Him step by step to pull out his trump card.

"So, Anser, are you leaving now?"

Xitana's words interrupted Ansher's thoughts. The girl bit her lips lightly, looking a little hesitant.

"I have something to tell you, about...Linna."

Looking at her expression, Ansor knew what was going on, but Ansor did not expect... Shitana had actually noticed Marina's abnormality. He thought Shitana was still immersed in anger towards Marina.

"Is Lina now already..."

Faced with Xitana's sad eyes, Ansher's determination wavered slightly, but ultimately did not change.

In other words, this was no longer something he could change even if he wanted to. At this point, Marina, Number Nine, was already beyond redemption and there was no possibility of climbing out of the abyss. It was just a matter of how deep she would fall.

"…I'm sorry, Xi'er."

Anser hugged Xitana gently and whispered: "I can't change Marina now."

"It's okay, it's not Ansher's fault." Xitana shook her head and looked at Ansher with pleading eyes, "It's just for this period of time. As long as you don't contact Lina anymore, I will find a way. I will do everything I can to bring her back, okay?"

Even though she knew that it was useless to open her heart to Marina or to keep Ansel and Marina at a distance, Hitana still wanted to try. No matter what, she would not sit idly by and watch her kind and wonderful sister fall into the abyss of losing herself and losing her value.

"..."

Just... this period of time?

The influence of emotions is always long-lasting. No matter how much fate pushes, it is impossible for Marina to have any influence on him in such a short time.

...Or, he was using Seele indirectly, which was indeed a possibility. In that case, Seele would have to -

At this moment, Anser's thoughts froze.

Because he realized that his thoughts were so naturally and smoothly connected to how to control and use Xitana, as if it was innate.

——This is certainly not innate, but it is an instinct that was formed during the long struggle against fate after his awakening and is now difficult to abandon.

He would instinctively analyze and think about anything that involved fate. It was only Xitana who made him think in this way without erasing his emotions, saving him from the cage of self-imprisonment. Ming Fuluo even erased the crazy obsession in his heart, so that his life no longer existed just to defeat fate.

But... this instinct, which even Anser ignored, cannot be erased. Without this instinct and vigilance, he will be like the foolish child six years ago, and will be easily manipulated by fate.

"I... will try my best to keep a distance from her without affecting Marina."

Anser's expression was still gentle, and he even kept comforting Xitana: "Don't put too much burden on yourself, Xier. No matter what Lina becomes...it won't be your fault."

disgust.

hate.

Disgust.

The devil who could once say with a smile "Hydra never lies" and use all kinds of clever words to easily manipulate and dominate Shetana in a way that really did not lie, now feels a surging and extremely strong sense of disgust for his own words.

It was indeed not Hitana's fault what Marina had become, but the person who had the least right to say such things was the one who knew what Marina would become, yet still indulged her and even pushed her to indulge in his Ansir.

It’s just that the devil of the past would never feel even the slightest bit of guilt about such things, but now, facing the sad Sitana, Ansor, who realized his unchangeable instinct, was filled with... karma.

"I know."

As if she didn't want Anser to worry too much, Xitana, who was holding Anser, tried to force a smile: "I am also wrong... But I won't just blame myself, that's useless. What I should do is to wake Lina up."

She looked up at Anser and said in the same concerned tone: "Anser, don't blame yourself, okay? You are the one who did nothing wrong."

You are the one who is not wrong.

"I know... you hate that power and don't want to use it at all, but you just can't. So, no matter what Lina becomes, don't blame yourself."

"...Okay." Anser lowered his eyes, stroked Xitana's hair, and whispered softly, "I won't blame myself."

After getting Anser's promise, Xitana immediately showed a bright and innocent smile: "I will rescue Lina, don't worry, Anser!"

Her trust and love are always so pure, so pure... that Anser is somewhat speechless.

If he said more, he might not be able to hide the truth about Marina's transformation.

This can't go on any longer. Xier and A'Luo have to leave.

Anser felt that he needed to adjust his mood. In this volatile state, it was hard to say whether the plan in the rift could be concealed. However, it was too abrupt to let them leave directly...

Let Xier and A Luo go and save——

Just as he instantly thought of using Xitana, Ansher's thoughts froze again.

And this time, he finally understood why he always felt an indescribable discomfort in his heart, a kind of... resistance, towards the so-called "salvation" and kindness spoken of by Xitana and Ming Furo.

Because too many times, it is not an end for Anser, but a means.

Similarly, if it were him in the past, he would not have cared about such things at all. For the devil of the past, having a trace of mercy when doing evil without hesitation could be considered a gift, not to mention taking the initiative to do good deeds.

It is no exaggeration to say that the devil of the past would contemptuously regard Anser today as... weak.

The devil who manipulates, plays with and controls everything has no worries in his heart except the desire to crush fate.

But now Ansir Hydra... has it.

It made it increasingly difficult for him to tolerate his past self and the ugliness and viciousness of his present self.

But he... had no choice.

"Xi'er, A'Luo."

The boy's voice was very soft: "I actually want to talk to you more, but... there are still many people waiting for you to save, right?"

"Ah!" Xitana screamed, and immediately reacted, looking a little anxious, "I was just planning to take a short rest and let Shadow Marsh take us to other places. I forgot to talk to Anser!"

"It's too late now, and it was also too late to go before."

Ming Fuluo was very calm, and at the same time, she did not forget to complain about Xitana: "But you also have to change your habit of emptying your mind when you see Anser. Anser remembers those civilians better than you do."

"Well...what can I do? This habit can't be changed just by saying so."

Xitana couldn't be stubborn and could only hum: "And doesn't this prove that Anser cares about them?"

"I know Anser is kind by nature. You don't need to emphasize it again and again." Ming Fuluo said with empty eyes, "If you waste time any more, you might really miss a person who can be saved."

"Yeah, that's right. Then Ansir, we'll leave first!"

Shitana put her arms around Ansel's neck and kissed his lips passionately.

"After you come back, I will definitely rescue more people. I won't let Anser down!"

The girl, with a slightly red face, punched hard, and then ran out with full energy. Ming Fuluo glanced at her back, then lifted her hair and pecked Anser lightly on the lips.

"Be careful. If an emergency comes, call me no matter what."

Ansher nodded, and a smile appeared on Ming Furo's usually indifferent face, then turned into particles and disappeared without a trace.

After about three or four minutes, the smile on Ansel's face gradually disappeared.

He found the reasons for his fluctuating emotions and self, and found out why the confusion existed, but what was the use?

Should he change the instinct that he had developed to fight against fate and that had long been impossible to change, or should he abandon the two girls who were equivalent to his life?

Young Hydra sat on the windowsill in silence. He looked at the refugees outside, but this time his feelings were completely different. A self-deprecating smile appeared on his face.

Save...what exactly does he want to save?

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of the room.

"……come in."

Anser, with his head against the window, spoke indifferently. Of course he knew who was coming, but he didn't have any idea at the moment. He just wanted to adjust his mentality before the upcoming bloody battle.

Number Nine, wearing a mask, pushed the door open and walked in. She stood at the door, staring at Anser who was sitting on the windowsill. Emotions that no one could see flashed across her deep dark eyes.

"Mr. Anser." Her hoarse voice rang out in the room, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

There was silence in the room for about three or four seconds.

Then, Anser said softly: "During this period of time... keep some distance from me, Marina."

"There's only number nine here, Mr. Anser."

Number Nine's tone did not fluctuate at all because of this order.

"Xier is worried about you." The young Hydra finally turned to look at her. "You are a smart girl, Marina. You should have realized that your current situation is very bad."

This time, it was number nine who remained silent.

Anser thought she had taken his words to heart, so he said nothing more and turned to look at the street outside the window. The blurry scenes of the world were reflected in his sea-blue eyes.

"Just now, you were silent for three and a half seconds."

In the room, although the voice of No. 9 was hoarse, it was still calm and gentle, and it sounded again.

She still did not have any breakdown or anxiety.

Before Anser, who was a little surprised, could speak, she continued, "That's not your style. You will always maintain your best state in front of anyone and won't show such obvious abnormality."

"Ms. Xitana and Miss Ming Fuluo, have they added any burden to you?"

She said, again.

Anser turned his gaze back to the mask of No. 9, his eyes grim and serious.

"Number Nine, do you know what you are talking about?"

"Isn't it?"