Hate Me, Witch!-Chapter 75: Forgive Me, Sylvia. This Is the Last Time.

The crystalline Star Chalice emerged.

It was the crystallization of all the remaining divinity and authority gathered from the sealed half-body of the Ancient God.

Or rather, it could also be seen as—

A fragment of the Divine Throne.

Under normal circumstances, divinity like this would be scattered and hidden by its owner to prevent it from being completely seized.

However, to break the seal, the Twilight Half-Body had previously gathered all its divinity into Norton’s body, seeking a chance to escape its predicament.

Then, Xia Ya mercilessly forced it out.

At the moment the Star Chalice appeared—

On the vast snow-capped mountains, in the resplendent Holy Church, within the solemn and grand Imperial Palace, and amidst the silent and shadowy Lost Kingdom…

At this very moment, every Legendary being on the Western Continent felt a sudden stirring in their hearts, instinctively turning their gaze toward the Cangting Principality.

Above Cangting Royal City,

from the distant night sky,

several lofty, ethereal gazes descended from the Starrealm—

and locked onto the brilliant Star Chalice.

Such a complete, ownerless divinity was an exceedingly rare occurrence, even in the entirety of Western Continent’s history.

It was the result of a series of extraordinary coincidences.

Normally, those who wielded divinity would rather destroy themselves than let unclaimed divinity fall into someone else's hands.

The next moment.

Boom—

Boom—

An ordinary person wouldn’t have been able to perceive it.

But for those with heightened spiritual intuition, they could hear the thunderous reverberations from deep within the Starrealm.

At that instant, countless diviners across the Western Continent were struck with unease.

With fear and confusion, they speculated—wondering what had happened in the depths of the Starrealm to cause such a massive disturbance.

Meanwhile, Xia Ya, the one who set everything in motion, simply leaned against a rocky wall, gazing up at the boundless, dazzling starry sky.

"One, two, three…"

"Good grief. At least five beings who have stepped into the Divine Realm are now crossing the Starrealm and the Material Plane's barrier, preparing for a divine descent here."

"They’re really giving me a lot of attention, huh."

"Not a bad return for all the gold I burned in this Historical Echo. Definitely worth the price of admission."

A smile curled up at the corner of Xia Ya’s lips.

Five full-fledged demi-gods descending.

And yet, from the countless gazes descending from the Starrealm, it was clear that there were more than just five.

This meant even more beings beyond the Starrealm were observing this place.

If the ownership of the Star Chalice were to change, those watching might also intervene, descending with their own power.

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"With so many divine descents, it looks like Cangting Principality is truly about to be reduced to history."

"But at least they're only here for the divinity. Once the Star Chalice’s ownership is decided, they likely won’t linger too long or involve civilians."

Xia Ya supported himself against the ruins of broken stone, struggling to his feet.

The blood-red armor covering his entire body had long since disappeared.

Scarlet had withdrawn from the Soul Pact Resonance, and the "Armor Fusion" was lifted.

Now back in its star-spirit body form, Scarlet’s surrounding glow had dimmed significantly.

In a flash of light, Little Silver Spirit swiftly returned to Xia Ya’s Soul Pact Space.

The azure mana flames that had once enveloped Xia Ya’s body had also completely vanished.

The so-called "Bloodburn" was the act of overriding the instinct to sustain life through sheer willpower, forcibly drawing forth a power that should not be used from deep within one's soul.

And a technique that allowed one to battle beyond their tier—how could it possibly come without a price?

Burning the body.

Scorching the soul.

Even though his mastery mitigated the life-shortening effects, when that limit-breaking power faded—

Right now, his internal organs, every muscle in his body, were all screaming in exhaustion.

His mana and mental energy were both nearly drained.

And yet—Xia Ya still forced himself to stand, step by step, moving forward.

Then, beneath the countless gazes descending from the Starrealm—

He reached out and seized the brilliant Star Chalice.

The instant he grasped it, a powerful hunger surged from deep within his soul—a nearly irresistible urge to absorb it.

In terms of raw quantity, the divinity within the Star Chalice wasn’t particularly overwhelming.

Even if Xia Ya absorbed it, his tier and strength wouldn’t increase significantly in the short term.

But—this was a chance to ascend in one step.

If he absorbed this divinity, then his very nature as a living being would undergo a fundamental metamorphosis, just like Norton, whose body had been used as the Twilight Incarnation’s vessel.

He would transcend humanity, evolving into a mythical being—becoming what people called "angels" or "demi-gods."

Not only would his lifespan stretch indefinitely, but he would also have the potential to truly step into the Divine Realm one day and become a true god.

Or to put it in even simpler terms—

From "he"

To "He."

This was the dream opportunity that countless powerhouses of the Western Continent sought for their entire lives.

And yet—

At this moment, Xia Ya suppressed the deep hunger surging from his soul.

His dark eyes flickered with a touch of gentleness.

"No choice."

"I used you earlier, after all. I owe you this much…"

The next instant—

The young man's figure vanished from the ruins of the Grand Ducal Estate.

Using up the last remnants of his mana, Xia Ya activated his final "Blink."

Sylvia felt as if she were trapped in an endless blizzard.

The deep, pitch-black night stretched endlessly before her, devoid of any light, path, or direction.

Dressed in thin clothing, she wandered through the snow, step by step.

Until—

Her strength was completely exhausted.

She stumbled, collapsing onto her knees in the frozen wasteland.

Countless snowflakes gnawed at Sylvia’s body, burrowing into her very bones with their biting cold.

They stole her warmth, little by little.

Sylvia could feel her body growing colder—

but it wasn’t just the temperature that the blizzard was stealing.

It was also her life itself.

Like a flickering candle in the wind, her existence wavered, growing weaker and weaker.

Her body’s senses crumbled—

first, her numb hands and feet—

then, her torso—

Until finally, even her consciousness and memories began to fade away.

Sylvia’s precious memories—few in number yet infinitely treasured—were fading like fleeting dreams, gradually swallowed by the frigid darkness of the blizzard.

In the garden, the conversation over milk tea, and the moment when she resolved to become a Beastmaster.

On the beach, the promise they made to one day see the world across the sea together.

And on that winter night, in the Grandet Sea, the warmth of that embrace.

"Xia Ya gege... Xia Ya gege... Xia Ya gege..."

The storm’s roaring winds carried the girl’s sobs. Her memories had blurred, even the face of that black-haired boy had begun to fade.

Yet Sylvia still repeated his name, a name she refused to forget—even at the very end of her life.

And then, in that moment—

A faint warmth stirred within her soul, spreading gently.

The hollow void that had been eroding her life was filled.

The blizzard dissipated quietly, along with the consuming darkness.

And in its place—was a vast, endless expanse of brilliant starlight.

Sylvia’s eyes fluttered open as she lay on a soft bed, her gaze lost in the unfamiliar room of a commoner’s house.

She felt better than she ever had before.

Even though the seal of the Bronze Cross had already been broken.

Yet now, within her spiritual world, a brand-new Star Chalice—one far denser yet gentler than the Bronze Cross—had taken its place.

The corrupted power that once stained the depths of her soul was no longer dark and cold. Instead, it had become warm—so intimately connected to her will that she could control it at a thought.

But then—

Sylvia's eyes froze.

Through the flickering firelight of the burning city, she saw him.

Not far away, a black-haired boy leaned weakly against a pile of ruins.

In her memory—

No matter the time, no matter the place, Xia Ya had always been calm, unreadable, as if he had everything under control.

Even when facing Norton, he had been no exception.

But now—

In the flickering firelight, Sylvia saw the bloodless pallor on Xia Ya’s face.

Forgetting her own body’s changes, her mind went completely blank as she rushed toward him.

When she finally reached him—

Grief overtook her.

Between Xia Ya’s fingers, the last remnants of starlight were slowly fading away.

And in stark contrast to Sylvia, whose life force was now brimming, her spirit world aglow with endless starlight—

Xia Ya, in his black trench coat, his skin utterly devoid of color, looked so thin and ephemeral.

To Sylvia’s eyes, he no longer seemed real.

He looked like a Night Orchid reflected on water—

Visible, yet fragile.

A single ripple—

and he would vanish forever.

"Xia Ya gege..."

A sorrowful cry escaped Sylvia's lips, so raw and desperate that even she could barely recognize her own voice.

With her heightened spiritual perception, she could feel it—

Xia Ya’s presence was fading.

In a way that could not be reversed.

Perhaps in a minute—perhaps in a second—

He would be erased from this world forever.

She was going to lose him.

The moment she realized this, a surge of fear consumed both her body and soul.

"I'm sorry, Sylvia."

"That promise to take you beyond the Grandet Sea—to see the mountains and rivers of the world—I won’t be able to keep it."

Xia Ya’s voice was calm.

He could feel it.

This place—the Historical Echo known as Cangting Ancient Kingdom—was already beginning to collapse after the Twilight Incarnation’s death.

Soon, it would cease to exist.

The overwhelming force of the River of Time was relentlessly erasing him, an intruder who did not belong to this timeline.

He had little time left.

And to the people who lived in this history, five hundred years in the past—

This farewell was no different from death.

So, in these final moments, Xia Ya let go of all his masks.

He looked at the teary-eyed girl before him, his gaze soft—a gentleness that Sylvia had never seen from him before.

"My story ends here. Cangting Principality is about to meet its end too."

"But your story—it has only just begun."

"The flaw in your soul has been healed. From this moment on, Sylvia, you can truly call yourself a Beastmaster."

"Do you remember what we once talked about? You will become a great Beastmaster—far stronger than I ever was."

"Then, you will meet all sorts of people. You will experience many wonderful things."

"You will live a life more dazzling, more beautiful than you can imagine."

"You don’t need me to accompany you. You can go see the Three Sages’ Snow Mountains. You can stand before the Golden Plains beyond the Grandet Sea…"

Tears, like large pearls, rolled down the girl’s pale cheeks, soaking into Xia Ya’s coat.

"Xia Ya gege… you’ll be fine… you’ll be fine…"

"I can feel it—there’s something inside me, like starlight. It must be useful to you, right? It can save you, right…?"

Sylvia ignored Xia Ya’s words.

She frantically reached for her chest, fumbling as if she could take out the very power that had filled her soul’s emptiness and brought her back from death.

And give it to him.

But—it was useless.

Even the Twilight Ancient God had failed to fully harness divinity, let alone Sylvia, who had no experience at all.

There was no joy in her heart over her soul being healed.

Only a fear so overwhelming it threatened to consume her entirely.

A stronger Beastmaster?

Meeting new people?

A whole new life?

None of it mattered.

If Xia Ya gege died…

Then no matter how beautiful the lands beyond the sea were—

What meaning would they have?

If she could choose—

She wished none of this had ever happened.

Even if it meant losing all their power. Even if they fell from nobility, stripped of their titles and status, reduced to ordinary commoners—

She wouldn't care.

She would rather they build a small home in some remote, uninhabited wilderness, raise a few children—

Then, one day, when they both grew too old to walk, she could still be by Xia Ya’s side, sitting in a rocking chair, watching the sunset grow old with them…

That simple future—

That was all Sylvia ever wanted.

Looking at the tearful girl before him, Xia Ya let out a soft sigh.

Then, he reached out, his cold hand gently brushing against her face, and spoke in a weak voice.

"Sylvia."

"When do you think people truly die?"

Feeling the icy touch of his fingertips, Sylvia lifted her tear-filled eyes in confusion.

"Is it when a bullet pierces their heart?"

"Is it when they succumb to an incurable disease, breathing their last on a sickbed?"

"Is it when their coffin is buried, and the mourners have all dispersed?"

"No, none of those."

"A person truly dies—"

"When the last person in the world who remembers them forgets."

Through the blur of her tears, Sylvia met Xia Ya’s dark eyes.

They were still so clear, so bright—just like that winter night when they had first met.

"So lift your head, Sylvia."

"Be proud, Sylvia."

"One day, the history of this royal city, of this principality, will be told by you."

"And then—you will tell the world, tell everyone."

"That the Cangting Principality was not just some nameless country buried in history. It once stood at the very frontlines, resisting the Abyss."

"And that you had a brother—"

"Who slew a resurrected Ancient God."

Xia Ya wiped the tears from Sylvia’s face.

Beside her, a metallic disc appeared in the air, floating silently.

"The divine authority and divinity that once belonged to Twilight—now within you—will be your strength in the future."

"But it will also make you a target."

"Not just for cults, but even for the True Gods."

"In no more than thirty minutes, a Divine Descent will occur here. When that happens, you will become their prey."

"This teleportation array leads to the borders of Cangting Principality. Your body is unique—you can perfectly assimilate divinity, and those ancient beings of the Starrealm won’t be able to track you anymore."

"But until you have the strength to protect yourself, you must be careful. Change your name—don’t let others see through you and covet what you have…"

"Go now. Don’t let my sacrifice, or your father’s, be in vain."

Xia Ya’s words echoed in Sylvia’s ears.

Her rational mind told her she had to move.

If she hesitated, she would betray Xia Ya’s sacrifice, his expectations.

But the emotional, fragile part of her refused to leave.

She remained by his side, unable to bring herself to walk away.

She wanted to be strong, wanted to turn around and leave as Xia Ya wished—

But on her face, in the flickering firelight, was an expression far more painful than crying.

Seeing her like this, Xia Ya’s gaze softened with helplessness.

"I really can’t do anything about you, Sylvia."

"You’re too kind… and still so naive."

"Without me, I worry that someone will bully you, steal your money, snatch your summoned beast, deceive you…"

"You’re still too young…"

"I can’t let go."

Xia Ya’s words left Sylvia bewildered, but also with a flicker of hope as she turned back toward him.

Xia Ya gege was saying this…

Did it mean—he had found a way to save himself?

But in the next moment—

The raging fire sent hot winds swirling, lifting Sylvia’s bangs.

And in her eyes—

She saw Xia Ya’s pale, bloodless face.

Saw the tranquil smile of acceptance upon his lips.

And—

That single finger, lightly tapping against her smooth forehead.

In Xia Ya’s dark eyes, a faint silver moon shimmered—resembling a tomoe—dim and hazy.

Then, the silver moon slowly turned, its light seeping into reality.

The final "Tsukuyomi" was unleashed.

"And so—"

"Forgive me, Sylvia."

"This is the last time."