Death of the Strategist

"I never thought I would stay in this instance for ten years."

Tian Xiaotian sat on the chair, muttering to herself.

Furthermore, all her teammates were dead. Some were infected by the corruption, some were assassinated while drinking, and others simply went missing and vanished without a trace.

"The bigshot told me that my constitution is that of a lone star of misfortune... I didn't expect it to even bring death to my teammates."

But it was true that Tian Xiaotian had survived, and not just because of her own strength.

Her ability to eradicate the corruption had also allowed Tian Xiaotian to be hailed as a goddess-like existence in the kingdom.

With status and reputation—

However, this was an instance in the eerie world!

"There's no goddess, I'm just an ordinary player... If this continues, I might also die in this A-rank instance, without a single clue or lead..."

Tian Xiaotian looked at her arm. Purple spots had already appeared on it, and hideous blood vessels were pulsing.

She was also infected by the corruption.

Every time Tian Xiaotian used her spiritual energy to save someone, a portion of the corruption on their body would be absorbed by her.

It was a very painful sensation. The corruption was not a poison, but an agony mixed with intense negative emotions.

"Mother!" A voice came from behind.

Tian Xiaotian turned around and found a young girl standing behind her.

This was a child Tian Xiaotian had picked up while saving a town. At that time, the girl's parents had been completely infected by the corruption and turned into muddy monstrosities, which was beyond Tian Xiaotian's ability to cure.

Because this child insisted on following her, even kneeling and refusing to leave, Tian Xiaotian was forced to temporarily adopt her as a foster daughter.

But Tian Xiaotian was in pain. Her lone star of misfortune constitution was both an amulet and a deadly weapon that doomed those around her.

Looking at her adopted daughter, Tian Xiaotian could only try her best to keep her distance.

"Mother, the King summons you to the palace."

"Understood."

"Why is the King looking for you?" Xiao Tian asked curiously.

"Probably another plague outbreak somewhere. At this rate... it will eventually collapse," Tian Xiaotian muttered.

"Isn't the King setting up an altar to hold a ceremony? It seems to be to find the source of the corruption," Xiao Tian said.

"By the way, Mother, how do you think the King knows the exact locations of the corruption? In many places, the corruption had just appeared, yet it was reported immediately."

"Who knows..." Tian Xiaotian said, but soon, she seemed to realize something.

A moment later, as if understanding something, a touch of sorrow appeared on Tian Xiaotian's face.

"So that's how it is..."

"From the very beginning, our choice was wrong."

...

Tian Xiaotian arrived at the altar in the royal city, and there, she met the King.

"Goddess, you're finally here. Today, we discovered the source of the corruption. It seems to be right beneath this ground," the King said with a smile, sitting on his throne.

After speaking, he pointed to a deep hole nearby, which was filled with an ominous aura.

But Tian Xiaotian looked at the King coldly and spoke, "You are the one spreading the corruption, aren't you, King?"

Her words made the guards present freeze for a moment, and then look at the King in disbelief.

"Goddess, what nonsense are you spouting? As the King of the Hill Empire, why would I spread corruption?!" The King's face instantly darkened.

"No, you would," Tian Xiaotian said loudly. "Those initially infected by the corruption feel no pain, do not fear death, and can be controlled! You've always wanted to use the corruption to create an army for war!"

"We were misled by you from the very start!" Tian Xiaotian said.

The King: "..."

The guards and the accompanying ministers showed strange expressions and began whispering among themselves.

"You are not a goddess at all, you are deceiving the masses! I could tell at a glance that you are no longer human! You have been infected by the corruption!" The King raised his hand.

"Guards, seize her!"

"This..." The guards looked at each other in dismay, but ultimately stepped forward with their weapons.

"You want to attack me?!" Tian Xiaotian looked at the guards, as many of them had had their lives saved by her.

The guards showed hesitation.

But right at this moment, the sound of flesh being pierced rang out, and Tian Xiaotian froze.

She looked down and found a sword protruding from her abdomen, a sword she was very familiar with.

A spiritual sword!

Tian Xiaotian turned her head and found a young girl holding the sword, a smile on her face. "Hehe..."

"You..." Tian Xiaotian's pupils trembled, but she quickly understood.

"That makes sense... I am a lone star of misfortune... How could anyone stay by my side forever..."

"You are also the King's..."

Just then, Xiao Tian tore Tian Xiaotian's sleeve, revealing the purple marks underneath.

"I am the Holy Maiden, and she is a goddess disguised by the corruption! My mother was killed by her!" Xiao Tian proclaimed loudly.

The King also immediately said, "Seize her!"

Seeing the purple on Tian Xiaotian's body, the guards reacted immediately.

Right, the Goddess is an existence capable of purifying corruption, how could she have such marks on her body!

"Fire the arrows!"

Perhaps fearing Tian Xiaotian's strength, the King had long prepared an archer squad. Upon his command, countless arrows instantly pierced through Tian Xiaotian's body!

Tian Xiaotian staggered, her eyes full of despair.

Looking at the smiling King and Xiao Tian not far away, as well as the disgust of the watching residents and the killing intent of the guards, Tian Xiaotian only felt as if her body was being taken over by something.

I hate this so much...

So much hatred...

Why didn't I notice it in time?

I am so full of hate!

Tian Xiaotian's body fell uncontrollably into the empty hole, disappearing into the darkness.

"From today onward, the Holy Maiden shall be the new Goddess!" the King announced at this moment.

But right then, an anomaly occurred.

A mournful, shrill wail echoed from the hole. "I am so full of hate!!!!!!!!!!"

Subsequently, countless streams of black mud surged out of the hole, shooting straight into the sky!

The color of the world changed.

"W-what is this?!" The King's face changed drastically.

He had no idea that Tian Xiaotian had absorbed so much corruption to save people, and now, it was finally all being released at once!

The corruption and those negative emotions seemed like living creatures, merging with the clouds in the sky and causing the sky above the royal city to change color!

"Run!"

"This is bad!"

"These are all corruption!"

Amidst the sounds of wailing, black storm clouds finally shrouded the entire sky.

The moment the first droplet of water, laden with corruption, splashed down,

Black rain began to slowly fall.

[All challengers have died. Due to special circumstances, the A-rank instance has been upgraded to an S-rank instance — Kingdom of the Seasonal Rain]