While Priam’s mind was still spiraling from that shocking truth, the weight on his back suddenly disappeared. Dandara’s body detached from him and began to levitate, floating in the air in an ethereal trance.
Priam slowly turned around. She hovered a few centimeters above the ground, her eyes gently closed. The monumental aura flowed around her skin like strands of mystical silk, being absorbed pore by pore back into the core of her being.
Priam clenched his fists tightly, trying to tame the storm of emotions in his chest.
That half-beast girl...
...the same one who seemed to have absolutely no talent for becoming a Mage, yet would occasionally awaken a terrifying "Final Boss" side...
Everything finally made sense.
The Goddess had reincarnated into the mortal world, but had been forced to completely seal her Fate Wheel and Anima to escape the relentless pursuit of the Sovereigns. Even so, an existence of that caliber could never be completely suppressed.
A giant doesn’t simply turn completely into an ant.
Dandara carried a chaotic and fragmented personality, as if several facets existed within a single vessel—possibly, this was the inevitable result of an immortal being, one above the laws of existence, forcing her own soul to fit within the limitations of a simple mortal.
That Final Boss version of Dandara wasn’t an outburst: it was the lingering, pulsating remnant of her divine essence.
’Dandara...’ Priam murmured inwardly, remembering the months they had spent side by side, practically glued to each other.
He also remembered their days in the Sect.
He remembered the weight, guilt, and quiet depression she carried because she believed herself to be weak and useless.
Mirra had even told him once that she had secretly entered Dandara’s room to play and found her sitting on the bed with her head lowered, looking deeply sad. When asked what was wrong, Dandara had simply sighed and said that the life of a half-beast was just too difficult.
Priam had witnessed it himself.
She worked a thousand times harder than any other Mage just to level up. Yet despite all her effort, her gains in strength were miserable.
Even when they were at the same level, the disparity only grew. It was as if, with every stage she climbed, the distance between her and ordinary Mages grew even wider.
At that rate, becoming a Sage was practically an unreachable miracle. And even if she somehow accomplished such a feat, her foundation would be so fragile that even an ordinary Mage could defeat her.
How ridiculous and cruel would such a fate be? She was afraid of tarnishing Priam’s name, and it was destroying her from within.
She hated her own weakness.
She desperately clung to the one area in which she excelled—her ability to train and organize the army’s soldiers—the only aspect in which Priam had openly recognized her.
But carrying that inferiority had been a constant source of pain.
Now...
Minutes passed in reverent silence. All the overwhelming energy and power from before completely converged inward, merging with her essence.
Her bare feet gently touched the ground once again.
Her eyes opened.
A completely new light—deep, unfathomable, and majestic—burned within the depths of her pupils.
Priam focused his gaze on her, thinking of the System.
[Name: Dandara Growlyn]
[Race: Growlyn / Cursed Forest Elf]
[Magic Title: Fighter Mage Master - 9th Level]
[Karmic Title: The Fang of the Healer of the Heavens]
[Bloodline: 50]
[Anima: Transcendental (Partially Sealed)]
[Fate Wheel: Transcendental (Partially Sealed)]
[Loyalty: Unwavering+]
Priam forgot how to breathe.
Partially sealed. Dandara’s Anima and Fate Wheel had finally changed, and she was now at a level equivalent to his.
An intoxicating wave of warmth and genuine joy filled Priam’s chest. There wasn’t a hint of envy or jealousy in his heart; it was as if he himself had obtained the greatest treasure in the world.
"Boss..."
Dandara’s voice echoed softly and trembled, breaking the silence as her eyes met his.
Then, she looked at her own skin. She raised her hands and opened and closed her fingers, staring in complete shock as all the weakness, crippling pain, and curse marks had simply disappeared. Her body was one hundred percent healed.
Taking a deep breath to calm the turmoil inside him, Priam murmured, "Do you remember anything... different?"
Dandara looked back at him. Her expression wavered and her pupils unfocused for a few seconds, as if she were assimilating an encyclopedia recorded directly into her soul.
"I... Supernal Beastmaster Art... what... what is that?" she stammered, struggling to pronounce the name of the Goddess’s supreme technique, which Priam had heard earlier.
Priam smiled faintly. It had happened exactly as the deity had predicted: Dandara hadn’t recovered her past memories. But part of her power had returned, along with a few useful things.
"Do you know how to use it now?"
Dandara swallowed hard, immersed in deep confusion. However, after a brief moment of inner reflection, she quickly nodded.
"It’s... It’s all recorded in my mind. It’s a complete description, divided into thirteen stages... Heavens... this seems insane."
Priam nodded, his voice warm and filled with unmistakable pride.
"Great. Don’t be scared; you were chosen by the Goddess to inherit her legacy. It seems her affinity with you was infinitely greater than with me. The Seed healed your body, and her blessing fused with your soul. Now... you’ve practically been reborn."
"!"
Dandara’s eyes widened almost comically.
"Did... did I steal something from Boss...?"
Priam let out a light, genuine laugh.
"Not at all. That thing was never meant for me. If you hadn’t been here to be accepted in my place, its power would have been lost or fallen into the wrong hands in the future. Actually, this outcome was much better. As my vice-leader, you needed exactly this boost. From now on, no one else in this world will be able to bully you. You have everything you need to make the universe tremble someday."
Dandara remained catatonic, unable to process the magnitude of those words.
Priam silently watched her, savoring the moment.
Ever since he began his path as a Mage, he had heard a lot about that Goddess—she was a benevolent protector of several races, as well as an ally from another world; one who certainly hated the Sovereigns.
Knowing that this same entity was none other than his vice-leader, the person he trusted completely, was simply perfect.
Dandara’s green eyes trembled. Pure tears overflowed and began gently rolling down her flushed cheeks.
Priam lightly snorted, unsure of exactly what words to use to comfort her.
"!"
Before he could react, Dandara lunged forward.
Priam felt a firm impact against his chest and took half a step back, startled.
He held his breath for a second. That soft scent and comfortably familiar warmth he had grown accustomed to over the months were still there, but now they were accompanied by a pulsating strength and vibrant vitality.
Dandara hugged him with all her strength, pressing her face against his chest.
’Boss... I won’t disappoint you...’ she murmured, her voice muffled by the fabric of his clothes.
After spending so much time physically close to each other, she no longer had any embarrassment or hesitation. Priam was the same. In fact, he felt energized by the physical contact and wished he could have it whenever possible.
Priam smiled silently. His hands instinctively moved to her head, gently stroking her soft hair with a calm, protective affection.
"I know you won’t."
Minutes passed in that warm embrace until Dandara, as if waking from a trance, suddenly jumped backward, startled by her own boldness, her face burning red.
Priam quietly laughed at her embarrassed reaction, relieved to see that the expressive girl from before had returned.
"There’s still something left for me here," he said, turning toward the crater that had opened at the epicenter of everything.
His steps were steady, and Dandara quickly ran alongside him.
When they reached the edge of the crater, he looked down into its depth of only ten meters.
Down there, a silvery glow could be seen. It was a broken blade, clearly belonging to an ancient sword.
Priam jumped down and picked it up with his hands.
’It’s the same as my other brother. He only managed to absorb a tiny bit of the central power here, enough to recover some of his internal energy, but not enough to awaken.’ The shield’s voice sounded euphoric.
[Central Special Mission Completed!]
[+50,000 GP]
Priam smiled excitedly, storing the third Heroic Relic in his spatial ring. That was a generous reward.
Now, he only needed to wait for the right time and head to the central region. These relics would possibly help him fulfill the Sovereigns’ mission.
The only problem was obviously the Sorcerers. He now had little time to prepare for the possible great battle at the final moment.
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