Daniel stared out at the lake before him and spoke to Rose, who stood quietly behind him.
“Yes,” Rose replied softly. She quickly walked to his side and sat down next to him.
Looking at her, Daniel frowned. “How did you end up in this state?” he asked.
It didn’t take Daniel long to notice the lingering effects of her condition.
Rose had recently experienced an outbreak of her Inner Demon during her time in Bluecrystal City.
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Although Nina had been there to suppress it, the issue was far from resolved. Suppression was only a temporary fix, a dam holding back a growing flood.
As Rose’s strength grew, her Inner Demon would grow alongside it, becoming even more dangerous.
Short-term solutions were meaningless in the face of such an escalating threat. When the Inner Demon erupted fully, it would be nearly impossible to contain.
Daniel, understanding this, decided to address it directly. He reached out and lightly touched Rose’s forehead. freewebnoveℓ.com
As his finger pulled away, a faint, shadowy figure began to emerge from within her, slowly peeling itself away.
This was her Inner Demon.
Under the sunlight, the figure appeared fragile, as though a single touch could disperse it.
But Daniel knew better. It was merely a façade.
An Inner Demon’s true power and resilience far surpassed ordinary understanding. It thrived in the cracks of one’s psyche, exploiting any emotional weakness it could find.
For most, even brief contact with an Inner Demon could expose their inner flaws, leaving them vulnerable to possession.
However, in Daniel’s hands, the demon could do nothing but squirm feebly.
“Father! Are you going to kill me? I’m your daughter!” the Inner Demon suddenly cried out, its voice indistinguishable from Rose’s.
Even Daniel, for a fleeting moment, felt a twinge of hesitation. But he knew better.
Without hesitation, he clenched his fist, and the Inner Demon disintegrated into ash, scattering in the breeze.
In that moment, Rose felt a tremendous weight lift from her body, as though an immense burden had been removed. Her entire being felt lighter, freer.
“Thank you, Father,” Rose said gratefully.
Daniel gazed at her with warmth. “Don’t thank me. You’re my daughter. But tell me—what happened to you over these years to push you to this point?” His voice was gentle yet firm. “Don’t forget, I’m here for you.”
“Father…” Rose’s eyes welled with tears. She suddenly leaned into Daniel’s arms, seeking comfort.
“It’s all right now. You’re home. Tell me everything,” he said softly, his tone filled with reassurance.
“I… I failed to conquer all the cities in the East,” Rose admitted, her voice tinged with frustration and sorrow.
Daniel chuckled. “Is that all? Rose, even if you didn’t succeed in taking all the cities, I wouldn’t be disappointed.
Do you know how many stories I’ve heard about you along the way? To many, you’re already a legend.”
“So don’t put so much pressure on yourself. You’ve done remarkably well, Rose.”
Encouraged by his words, Rose continued hesitantly, “But… I’ve killed so many people.”
“That’s just a means to an end,” Daniel replied calmly. “If it doesn’t sit well with you, be more mindful in the future.”
He didn’t judge her choices. After all, not everyone could take the same path as Reed, whose charisma and leadership inspired loyalty rather than fear.
“And… because of my selfishness, I pushed a companion to their death.”
“If you recognize your mistake, then learn from it. What’s done is done; the past cannot be undone,” Daniel said gently.
“I feel like… like I’m just an executioner,” Rose whispered, her voice trembling.
Daniel sighed softly, finally understanding the depth of the pressure she had placed on herself. Over the years, the Death Legion’s name had spread far and wide in the East, but that reputation came at a cost.
Rose had chosen the most direct approach to achieve her goals—dominate or destroy. And that burden had taken its toll on her.
“Rose,” Daniel said firmly, “you don’t need to bear this weight alone. Remember, I’m your father. This is your home, and I am more than strong enough to support you. So don’t push yourself so hard.”
“I understand, Father,” Rose said, her voice steadier now.
As he spoke, Daniel cast a subtle spell of gentle hypnosis, allowing her mind to fully relax.
The setting by the Tree of Origin, which he had chosen deliberately, further amplified the effect.
The tree’s aura promoted growth and renewal, helping Rose regain her balance.
Daniel noticed something extraordinary as Rose breathed deeply.
A faint resonance formed between her and the Tree of Origin, its essence intertwining with her own understanding of the world.
It reminded him of their journey to the Land of Divine Punishment, where he had explained that lightning symbolized not only destruction but also rebirth.
The Tree of Origin, embodying creation and renewal, mirrored that same principle.
The resonance suggested that Rose was beginning to internalize this truth on a profound level.
Satisfied, Daniel leaned Rose against the Tree of Origin and allowed her to sleep peacefully. In Crossbridge Academy, she was safe.
Hours later, Rose woke feeling completely rejuvenated. She didn’t see Daniel nearby but felt deeply refreshed, as though a heavy exhaustion had been lifted.
The Inner Demon that had haunted her was gone, and her body felt subtly transformed.
Though she couldn’t quite grasp the changes yet, she resolved to explore them later in a more appropriate setting.
As Rose left the lakeside, she ran into Reed, who had just returned.
“Rose, you’ve won. I never expected you to bring all the cities in the East under your control in just a few years.
Even in Riverside City, the name of your Death Legion is widely known,” Reed said with a smile.
In comparison, Reed’s conquests in the West had been more modest, limited to a few major cities. His influence, while significant, was quieter.
“No,” Rose said humbly. “I’m not like you. You’ve earned your followers’ loyalty and admiration. I relied on fear and bloodshed to impose my will.”
“That’s not true,” Reed replied seriously. “If we were to fight right now, I believe I’d lose.”
“You’re joking,” Rose said, surprised.
“I’m not,” Reed insisted. “Your presence feels completely different now. I can’t sense any weakness or openings. You’re… complete, seamless. There’s no way for me to counter you.”
Rose thought for a moment, then smiled slightly. “If that’s true, then Nina must be the strongest among us.”
“Nina? What do you mean?” Reed asked, puzzled.
“At Bluecrystal City, she caught me completely off guard and plunged me into a dream. I didn’t even have time to react!” Rose said, shaking her head with a mix of admiration and disbelief.