You Are Not Guilty

Outside Lakeside Town.

Boom——

The footprint completely formed by the Fire of Secret Source was already within reach.

If one were to look down from a high altitude at this moment, they could clearly see a long trail of enormous fiery footprints stretching from the direction of the volcano all the way to Lakeside Town.

A series of inaudible howls continuously rippled through the night sky.

It seemed as if an invisible giant was steadily approaching the town.

...

"It's time to visit an old friend."

Lynn wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, smiling as he strolled forward.

All troubles originated from the gods.

He wasn't sure when it started, but every time his emotions became overwhelming, he would smile.

He kept smiling, as if doing so could suppress those emotions deep within him.

He had seen many dead people.

Enemies, friends, family, lovers, acquaintances—few had survived until now.

Sometimes, he really didn't want to recall those memories.

Because in his memories, everywhere was filled with the dead.

"In any case, Galord, you were indeed a fool just like me. Since we're both fools, I'll help you settle this debt too."

Lynn smiled.

With a single step, he covered a thousand meters.

His figure instantly appeared on the city wall of Lakeside Town.

His memory of the King of Secret Source was still from the eve of the Divine War a thousand years ago.

He vaguely remembered.

On the eve of the great battle, to counter the descent of the gods, he personally went to the King of Secret Source's secluded retreat and convinced him to come out.

Of course, this involved a fair amount of coercion, persuasion, deception, and trickery.

He still recalled the helpless words the King of Secret Source had spoken when he was forcibly brought here.

"Lynn, you bastard, if you want to die, don't drag me along! I've been hiding for tens of thousands of years, and you're throwing me into the fire!"

"Hehehe, is that so? Since a hundred years ago, I've seen you gathering Secret Source, accumulating power. Do you dare to say you weren't waiting for this day?"

"I... I was preparing to hide even deeper. Winter is coming soon; can't I stock up a bit more for the season?"

"Coward →_→"

"Coward says who?!"

"Coward says you!"

"Oh, so the coward is saying me."

"......"

"In any case, Lynn, I can accompany you on this gamble. I know the hatred in your heart, but I still want to remind you that gods are gods because they are invincible."

"If we lose this time, then we truly have nothing left."

"If we win, I'll treat you to a drink—authentic Lin En's Special Mystic Source Wine!"

Damn it! Darn it, can you stop mentioning that wretched wine of yours? Last time I drank it, I was vomiting and had diarrhea for decades. Do you know how much Secret Source I lost?!

Whenever Lynn thought of those memories before the Divine War, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but lift.

During the Divine War, he was targeted by the gods and died too early. When he resurrected decades later, he wasn't sure what had happened afterward.

However, since he could sense the King of Secret Source's presence this time, it meant that at least he had survived.

After all, he was the ultimate survivor!

How could someone who had hidden for tens of thousands of years die so easily?

And just at that moment.

Boom——

Another loud explosion echoed from outside the town.

A massive footprint appeared beyond Lakeside Town.

Here it comes!

Lynn immediately looked up, smiling faintly as his figure slowly floated into the air, standing tall in the sky.

"Brother! Long time no see. Do you still remember this old man?"

Lynn's slightly teasing voice rang out.

Then, he released a portion of his suppressed aura.

In an instant.

The entire Lakeside Town seemed to freeze. Just a part of his aura caused the space here to warp as if it couldn't withstand it.

The invisible giant seemed to have sensed the change in the surroundings.

The massive footprint stopped for the first time and didn't move forward again.

Vaguely.

Lynn could feel a gaze falling upon him.

Lynn smiled as he faced forward, saying:

"It's me, Lynn."

...

A brief silence.

It was as if time itself had frozen.

But it only lasted for a few seconds.

Boom——

The massive fiery footprint appeared on the streets of Lakeside Town, and the invisible giant directly passed through Lynn, as if it hadn't heard his words.

What was eerie was that.

When the massive footprint touched the houses on the street, it passed through them without causing any damage to Lakeside Town.

As if they were in two completely different yet overlapping worlds.

Lynn frowned slightly.

He sensed something was amiss.

"Source King, didn't you hear me? What's wrong with you?"

But Lynn still received no response.

The footprint lifted again.

Heading toward the church at the edge of Lakeside Town.

Lynn's eyebrows shot up, sensing something strange.

In an instant, he stretched out his hand, gently wiping over his eyes. The glow of Secret Source instantly flickered in his vision, then extended to his ears.

And in the next moment, through the perspective of Secret Source, he finally saw the scene before him clearly.

And at that very moment, he was stunned.

"This..."

What appeared before him.

Was a towering flame giant several hundred meters tall.

Its body was entirely constructed from flame energy, with Secret Source auras constantly emanating from it.

At a glance, he recognized it.

This invisible flame giant was the King of Secret Source's favorite form during battles.

But at this moment.

Countless massive chains were wrapped around its body, with the other ends of the chains extending far into the sky from where it had come.

Gurgle——

Gurgle——

The chains seemed alive.

One could see streams of Secret Source being drawn out from its body by the chains.

With every step it took, the chains tightened, causing its entire body to twist and deform.

"Roar——"

A roar that shook the entire night sky.

Under Lynn's gaze, the massive flame giant roared, stretching out its enormous hand toward the church in Lakeside Town.

But as soon as its hand touched the church.

The church instantly glowed with blinding divine light.

Boom——

Accompanied by ripples.

The flame giant's hand was directly shattered into countless fragments.

A shrill and painful wail.

And at that moment, Lynn finally saw everything clearly.

A massive cage spanning the heavens, extending from the church all the way to the horizon, covering the entire sky.

"I... am guilty..."

The flame giant's throat emitted a hoarse and hollow voice.

Its arm slowly regenerated, roaring again as it charged toward the church.

Boom——

Its body was repelled once more.

But it still stubbornly stood up, hollowly attempting to break through the cage.

"I... repent..."

Boom——

Boom——

One attack after another, one failure after another.

Lynn stood in mid-air, trembling as he watched all this, his hands clenching tightly. A surge of indescribable, violent anger swept over him like a tidal wave.

"I... beseech... Your forgiveness..."

The King of Secret Source raised its massive flame hand, hollowly lifting it toward the sky.

Its legs heavily knelt down.

Pulling the countless chains rooted in its body, its head heavily struck the ground.

"I beg... for your understanding..."