The Heroine Must Die

Butcher pounded his chest in rage and spat out a mouthful of blood.

One step. He had been one damn step too slow.

Viper crossed his arms, grinning. “I knew you were up to something the moment I heard that sheep.” Then he turned to Light with exaggerated respect. “Right, Master?”

Light nodded solemnly. “Absolutely.”

Butcher’s eyes turned bloodshot.

“You bald monk!” he roared. “You stole the pig. You stole the chicken. This sheep should’ve been mine!”

Light ignored him entirely. “Disciple,” he said calmly to Viper, “bring the lamb here.”

“Yes, Master.” Viper obediently scooped up the sheep—then deliberately winked at Butcher.

Butcher nearly vomited blood again from fury.

I’ll kill you all one day. Drink your blood. Rip out your tendons. Skin you alive and chop you into minced meat—

Of course, he only dared curse them in his heart.

Out loud? He didn’t have that kind of death wish.

Light removed the jade pendant from the sheep’s neck and scanned its contents. His brows slowly drew together.

Viper immediately sensed something was off. “Master… was it that girl who sent this?”

Light nodded faintly.

“Did something happen?” Viper pressed. “Every time she sent a letter before, you were happy after reading it. Why do you look like someone just stole your incense money?”

Light didn’t answer. He simply handed him the pendant. Viper read it quickly. His expression darkened.

Seeing both of them look grim, Butcher forgot all about the lamb. He wiped the blood from his mouth, staggered up, and snatched the pendant from Viper.

“Let me see.” He read through it once. Then his face twisted in fury.

“They dare reinforce the seal?!” he roared. “I’ll turn them into minced meat on a chopping board!”

They had been watching the crack in the sky widen day by day, praying it would open further so they could escape. If the seal was strengthened—

Wasn’t that the same as cutting off their only path out?

Light spoke calmly, “Lauren said they may try to sweet-talk you into helping them. Disciple. Butcher. You two are the most easily swayed by greed. Be careful.”

Viper: “…”

Butcher: “…”

Butcher’s face turned red. “Bald monk, that’s fucking rude. What do you mean we have bad hearts? I think you’re the most dangerous one here. Watch yourself. Don’t turn into some black-hearted monk and start slaughtering innocent people.”

Light ignored him. “Disciple, take the sheep back to the village. Inform everyone.”

“Yes, Master.” Viper obediently carried the lamb away, still casting smug glances at Butcher.

Butcher ground his teeth so hard it sounded like bones cracking.

......

Outside Sky-Covering Valley.

Lauren lay hidden with Briar, waiting. If Indiana used teleportation, she could arrive instantly.

By airship, it would take two to three days. Two to three days was more than enough for Lauren to bury talismans across the terrain—layer upon layer of traps.

When she finished preparing everything, she crouched in silence, waiting for her prey.

One day passed. Two. Three. No one came.

Lauren’s unease grew heavier. Did I guess wrong?

No… the direction was right. Unless Gerald caught up and delayed them?

On the fourth day— They finally appeared.

Two figures descended. Indiana. And Timothy—bound tightly by a golden rope. But the voice that spoke wasn’t hers.

“This is Sky-Covering Valley.” It was the old man inside her body.

The moment they stepped into the trap’s range— Lauren detonated.

Talismans buried underground ignited all at once. Gold Silk Talismans burst upward in a storm, snapping around them in an instant, binding them from head to toe.

Lauren moved like lightning. She grabbed Timothy and flung him far out of the formation’s core. Then she triggered the Explosive Spirit Talismans.

BOOM—

The explosion tore through heaven and earth. The entire valley entrance shook violently.

Lauren’s sequence had been flawless—swift, decisive, merciless. Before they could react, she had completed the entire chain of attacks.

When the smoke cleared, she brushed dust from her sleeve. “Briar. Check for remnants. Don’t leave even a wisp of soul behind.”

Briar immediately extended countless vines and leaves, spreading across the massive crater. After a moment, it frowned. “Nothing.”

Lauren’s eyes narrowed. “Impossible. Those Explosive Spirit Talismans could blast a Nascent Soul cultivator into fragments. Not even ashes?”

Briar shook its head. “No blood. No soul fragments. Nothing at all.”

“…Then where the hell did she go?”

“They must have some kind of treasure. I’ll expand the search.”

Briar extended its perception farther—

Lauren suddenly inhaled sharply. “No need.”

“What?”

“Timothy is gone.” The spot where she had thrown him—empty.

Indiana was gone. Timothy was gone. Lauren’s face turned ashen. “They went in.”

She didn’t know how they had done it. But they were most likely already inside Sky-Covering Valley. She immediately sent urgent transmissions to Dante and the others.

.....

Inside Sky-Covering Valley.

Indiana’s face twisted with anger. “Why didn’t you let me kill her? I ended up like this because of her!”

The old man’s voice was cold. “You’ll have chances to kill her later. The mission comes first.”

He was furious as well. They had only survived because they hid inside the jade bottle at the critical moment.

That bottle was a divine artifact he had brought down from above. Once the mission was complete, he needed it to return.

Now it had cracked under the explosion. If it could no longer shield him from the Boundary Force and Gale— He might not be able to return at all.

Damn that woman. Once the seal was reinforced, he would personally go out and tear her apart.

Not long after, Gerald and the others arrived. “Junior Sister! What happened?”

Lauren explained everything in brief. “If I’m not mistaken,” she said grimly, “Indiana is already inside Sky-Covering Valley.”

Gerald blinked, still confused. “Strengthening the seal? I thought we were chasing them because Timothy stole something.”

He slowly turned to Dante.

Dante swallowed. He hadn’t expected the lie to spiral this far either.

Only Herbert fully understood. His face had already turned pale. “She brought Timothy in with her?”

Lauren nodded. “She said she needs his Dragon Spirit Root to reinforce the seal.”

Silence fell. Lauren hadn’t finished reading the original storyline of this world.

But based on how events had unfolded— She could already guess the ending.

Why had Indiana gone to find him? Because Timothy’s ultimate fate was probably this:

To sacrifice himself for all living beings. To give up his chance at ascension. To offer his Dragon Spirit Root to seal the ancient dragon.

For the greater good. For love. For the world.

A perfect, tragic ending. How fucking poetic. How fucking cruel.

Herbert’s jaw tightened. Without another word, he strode toward the entrance of Sky-Covering Valley.

“Hey—!” Gerald reacted instantly, grabbing him by the arm. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m going in,” Herbert said coldly. “I have to stop them.”

“This valley is a one-way street,” Gerald snapped. “You want to die in there?”

Herbert’s eyes burned. “No one wants to die. But I’m going anyway. Gerald, move.”

“No.” Gerald blocked him again. “Do you even know who’s inside? Every single one of them is vicious. You were part of the siege against Light back then. Light is in there. If he sees you, he’ll kill you on the spot.”

Herbert’s voice didn’t waver. “So what? I still have to go.”

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