West Cliff Apartments——

In the center of the living room, Carette has a pair of godless blue eyes half-open, and her body stands upright in place, like an immobile sculpture.

"Quack-quack-" ......

Beside her, the antique floor-to-ceiling clock swayed with a round pendulum, constantly making a mechanical and dull sound, adding a touch of eerie feeling to the quiet atmosphere in the living room.

Suddenly, Karete's eyes widened, and she gasped as hard as she had held for a long time, and her chest rose and fell violently. On her body, her long golden waterfall hair was scattered a little messily, setting off her bloodless face even paler.

Subconsciously checked himself, there was nothing abnormal in the front and back of the body, the white floor gauze skirt was still intact, and the skin was not damaged at all, it was still so slippery and delicate.

Turning her head to look around quickly, Kareta recognized the scene at this moment as being in the Underworld's Apartment, which was inside the Twenty-Eight West Cliffs.

Strange, why am I here?

Karette was puzzled.

She still remembers the horrific and brutal experiences in hell, especially the experience of being burned at the stake in the "Infernal" of the Nineteenth Prison, and when she thinks about it, the burning pain on her body is so strong and real.

Are they really just dreams? Or am I in the middle of a dream--

Recalling what had just happened, Kareta felt a chill all over her body, and her hairs immediately stood on end. With a few heavy breaths, cold drops of sweat slid down her forehead.

Looking around in horror, it was hard to tell whether what she saw was real or illusory.

"Messenger Kareta, you have returned safely. ”

The man who spoke was none other than the child-like Hades, who stood in front of the retro couch opposite Karet, holding a silver pot with long ears in his arms, and his green eyes looked directly at Karet, as if he had seen through all the doubts in her heart.

"Hades...... Hades, what the hell is going on? Why...... Why did you ...... just now?"

Hearing him say this, Carette was even more bewildered.

"You and I have just entered the underworld out of the body, and returned to the human world after making a contract in the Infernal Hell. What you have heard and seen in the eighteenth layer of hell is the real experience of your primordial spirit wandering through the underworld......"

"Original...... So ......"

Hades's explanation made Carette no longer nervous, and she slowly raised her hand to wipe the cold sweat from her head.

Hades took a few steps closer to her and handed over the silver kettle he was holding in his arms:

"In accordance with the previous agreement, I hereby present the Treasure of the Underworld, the 'Broken Mind' Demon Pot. This treasure can be hidden into the body at your will, and it can sense your summons at any time, and it can be retracted freely. After sealing the evil spirit of the Sea King, I will take the initiative to come to the door and ask for the treasure back. ”

"Okay, I see. ”

Breathing a little quieter, Carette reached out and grasped the ears of the silver kettle, holding it up.

It's finally here -

Is this the magic pot called "Broken Thoughts"? Is it a magic weapon that I did not hesitate to sacrifice my life in exchange for my own souls.

Looking at the magic pot in front of her, Kareta had mixed feelings in her heart, and her eyes lingered, and she looked at every part of the pot quite carefully.

The 40-meter-tall long-necked silver kettle is full of texture and shimmers with a bright yellow metallic sheen under the illumination of a crystal chandelier.

The thick wall of the pot is carved with a ghost-faced fangs, a human body and a dragon's tail, holding two clawed arms high The appearance is lifelike, and a pair of open bat wings almost surround the entire body of the pot.

The material that adorned the beast's eyes were two amethyst stones, and although the color was so deep that the bottom could not be seen, the whole body exuded a demonic luster, which made Carette fascinated by those dazzling brilliance when she first looked at them.

A faint whistle was released from the pot, and if you listened carefully, it was very much like the howling of the cold wind, and like the neighing of wild horses, eerie and harsh.

Startled, Carette curiously reached out and grabbed the round handle on the lid of the pot, and was about to uncover it, when Hades's voice suddenly sounded in her ears:

"Don't touch—"

With a loud stop, Kareta shuddered and nearly knocked over the entire magic pot.

"If it's not to suck evil spirits, don't open the lid of the pot, you have to remember that!"

Hades kept an eye on Kareta and told her again.

"I ...... Remembered ......"

Kareta gave Hades a cramped look with the pot in her arms, nodding her head in fear.

"Now that you have the fire on your body, that is the proof of the soul contract between you and me. ”

"Fire branding?"

Carette was a little confused, and was about to continue to inquire about the Immortal, when there was a burning sound behind her, and then Betherphone, the queen of the underworld, ran in.

As soon as she entered the living room, she raised her hand in front of Hades and pulled down the bud sleeve of the left shoulder of Carret's dress.

"Wow, Bethany, what are you doing!"

Kareta screamed in embarrassment, and hurriedly covered it up with her hands. As she turned her head, she suddenly noticed the scarlet mark on her shoulder.

Its shape resembles a burning flame, three centimeters in size, the color is like a flower blooming in hell, it is brilliantly red, red like dripping blood, reflected in the snow-white skin like fat, extremely enchanting.

Before she made a soul pact with Hades, there had never been such a strange mark on Karet's body.

Betherphone was also staring at the pattern on Carette's left shoulder, her gaze glazed and dim.

When Hades and Carreta traveled through the underworld, Besephone, the queen of the underworld, came to the fountain in the courtyard and used a spell to turn a pool of clear water into a speculum, watching the movement in the underworld.

Now, the glaring red mark on Karete's shoulder had taught her to be completely dead, and everything was irreparable......

"Fire branding...... Fire ...... Carreta ......"

Betherphone shook her head in disbelief and took a few steps back, muttering sadly to Carret.

Sure enough, this mark was what the Hades King called the Covenant Fire......

Kareta glanced at the flame pattern on her left shoulder again, smiled sadly, and then turned her head and calmly lifted her sleeve.

Hades sighed and pulled out a small glass bottle from his pocket.

"Take it, Messenger of Karete. ”

Kareta took the glass bottle, looked at the inky liquid that flowed slowly like liquid oil, and asked lightly:

"What is this?"

"The Poison of Bliss 'Larenia' will help you to go on the road without any pain after your wish...... Remember, you won't be able to turn back if you succeed or fail!"

"Good!"

Kareta nodded melancholy, clenching the glass bottle in her palm firmly. Her arm trembled slightly, and her palm hurt from the small glass bottle inside, but she didn't care, because her heart hurt even more at this time.

She understood what Hades meant, and the reason why he did things so ruthlessly, leaving no way for her to live, was to avoid all the possibility of accidents, and not allow his plan to fail in the slightest.

This moment may be a time for a girl to cry out loud and mourn for the end of her life, but Karete, who has a strong personality, does not want to do so.

After a trip through hell, death or something else had made her no longer feel afraid and panicked.

Is there any punishment in the world that is more horrific than the criminal law of the Eighteen Prisons? Is there any separation that is more lonely than eternal existence in the 'infernal' hell? Is there any injury or illness that is more painful than the burning of karma?

At this time, Karetta's inner world was like a clear lake, unusually quiet and peaceful.

"Woo...... Carreta ......"

Betherphone still couldn't bear it, and she covered her face and whimpered again.

Hades didn't comfort her too much, but said indifferently:

"You two have a good talk, a chance to meet...... Not much. ”

Then he left the living room with his hands behind his back and a solemn expression.

Hiding the Broken Pot, Kareta stepped forward and hugged the trembling Bethany. The way she sobbed made Carreta feel that it was not herself who was about to die, but a heartbroken her.

Carreta understood the reason for Bessephone's sadness, and was grateful for it.

"Don't cry, my good sister......"

"I'm sorry...... I can't really help you...... Kareta, I don't want to lose you......"

Betherphone lay in Carette's arms, crying and sobbing.

"Thank you! You've helped me many times in the human world. I voluntarily made a contract with the Immortal King, and my life was not important to defeat the Sea King, or to maintain the coexistence of the two worlds of man and god. ”

Carette dipped Besephone from her tears and spoke to her with a firm voice.

"But what about the dark gods when you die? What about Big Brother Jose? Do they know your decision? Have you considered their feelings? How painful their lives must be without you?"

Betheven asks a series of questions, sadness and deep reproach, which finally plunges Karete's expression into a state of misery.

“...... If I don't end all this, my life with Demos and Jose ...... It's only going to be more painful......"

Kareta looked ahead in confusion, thinking about the unforeseeable future in a trance, and couldn't help but whisper.

Besephone, no longer weeping, left Carette's embrace, looked at her with a slightly sad expression, and suddenly asked:

"Can you tell me, Carlete, do you love the God of Darkness in your heart, or do you love Big Brother Jose more?"

“......”

Kareta looked tense and didn't answer immediately.

"I didn't ...... It's nothing, I'm just asking casually, and if you don't answer well, forget it......"

Betherphone waved her hand again and again, and after explaining uneasily, the expression on her face was melancholy:

"At the beginning, I was very optimistic about you and Brother Jose's ......"

After speaking, the two girls recalled the past half a year ago.

In the sweet and half-astringent memories, Carette looked far, and after a moment of serious thought, finally replied:

"Actually, there is nothing inconvenient to answer, and I have always wanted to find someone to talk to. Do you know, if I didn't have the experience of the world, I still wouldn't understand that as the messenger of Eros, although I am in charge of the love of men and women in the world, I don't know anything about true love. ”

"What do you mean?"

"True love is a harbor to rely on, a destined destination. It's like a one-of-a-kind attribute that perfectly combines each of us with the other half of our fate. The advantages they have with each other are the shortcomings that each other lacks, and this perfect match is the attribute of love. Me and Demos are men and women with this attribute. ”

"That'...... You mean, the man you love is still the god of darkness?"

"Because I've experienced it, I can really experience that feeling. True love is not born of happiness, but of suffering. Demos and I have gone through too many joys and sorrows, and after the ups and downs, we are still obsessed and have no regrets about our original choice. Even if you continue to taste misfortune, you will not change your feelings for your other half, this seemingly stupid concept is the truest love. ”

Kareta spoke slowly, her face no longer pale, but gradually revealing a cloud-like pink.

Then she remembered what Triton had said to her:

can taste the taste of pain, that is the truest love-

Now I finally realize the true meaning of that sentence!

"Where's Big Brother Jose?...... What kind of feelings do you have for him?"

Betherphone asked tentatively.

"With Jose, I really need to review myself. All along, I remembered the vows of God and Hector and simply treated Jose. Helen, the demon queen, also warned me before, I really fell in love with Jose just because I loved Hector, and that kind of derived feeling is indeed not love, but a kind of responsibility, a warmer and closer emotion than love. ”

"Responsibility?" Bessephone said, confused.

"Yes, responsibility! It is completely different from love, but it is more extensive than love. Now, I will not turn a blind eye to the evil act of persecution of my relatives, and that is why I want to save José at all costs!"

By the end, Carette's gaze had become sharp and determined.

While chatting with the queen of the underworld, she secretly made up her mind that this time she would fight against Poseidon, the king of the sea, alone and end all her sins-