NOVPUBNorth Border of Protoss Empire.
In between the North Border Province and Xue Yuan Province, there lies Dandron City, nestled within two towering mountain ranges and sitting upon a short snow-covered plain.
Like many of the city-states in the northern border, this independent town is often shrouded in ice and snow, with shorter periods of sunlight, and longer nights than days.
Due to the abundance of surrounding resources, it frequently serves as a stopover for scholars, hunters, explorers, adventurers, and other travelers from the Xue Yuan Province.
By a small square at the town center, there’s a three-story building constructed from dark wood and gray stones. It has a conical roof covered with a thick layer of ice and snow, as if donned in a silver cloak—wooden wind chimes hanging from the eaves ringing intermittently in the breeze.
In the town’s best hotel, a spacious room is found on the third floor.
Regardless of how fiercely the snowstorm rages outside, the interior remains serene under soft, natural light.
Occasionally, the sound of book pages being turned disturbs the silence at a round, high-legged wooden table.
Beyond that, only the sound of Sigrid’s breathing can be heard from beneath the heavy cotton comforter on the bed.
She seems devoid of caution, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.
She finally opened her eyes after what felt like an eternity of unchanging silence.
Winter in the northern border is severe. Most of the dwellings in these towns are designed with a warm ambiance, using native wood or a warm color scheme.
Sigrid quickly noticed the elegant figure sitting not far away on a chair, holding a book in one hand, as poised as an old school principal.
Under the faint light, the figure appeared tall and imposing—dressed in traditional, dark-colored formal attire. His downward-looking eyes exuded deep wisdom, a blend of an experienced and enlightened demeanor.
His left hand gripped the spine of the book firmly. After a while, he gently turned the pages, the sound of which seemed especially crisp in the wooden house.
It seemed as if the entire world lay between the pages of his book.
He slowly turned his head.
"Cat boss has gone out to buy groceries."
Perhaps Lanci assumed that Sigrid’s dazed look meant that she was hungry, but lunch wasn’t ready yet.
They could have bought lunch from town shops, but Cat boss claimed that outside food was unhealthy and that its homemade meals were more balanced.
Now that Sigrid, who was severely injured and needed rest, Cat Boss began to take care of her, losing its formerly apparent fear of her.
Even if Sigrid doesn’t admit it, Cat Boss can tell that she’s much more resilient than she seems.
Her wounds appear to fluctuate between healing and reopening, causing her constant unbearable pain. Most humans wouldn’t be able to endure this without showing signs of discomfort.
"Ah, I feel so weak; like I’m being weighed down by my body, pinned under the blanket, unable to move."
Sigrid cuddled in the warm quilt, whining softly.
She had fallen asleep before when it was still pitch dark, but it was daytime when she woke up again.
For this cold weather to make her fall into a deep sleep for a full ten hours, with complete disregard for her surroundings, was a remarkable change.
Every day, to put her at ease, the Saint Heir and the Little Black Cat resolved themselves to find a town to rest in.
From the comfort of a house, looking out the window, the gently falling snowflakes appeared incredibly beautiful.
She could imagine how these cotton-like snowflakes would soon turn the town into a white wonderland.
"If you feel sleepy, just go back to sleep. I’ll wake you up when Cat Boss has made food."
This weather was not conducive to traveling.
In the northern parts of the empire, during the end and beginning of the year, the death toll caused by weather outnumbers those caused by bandits and magical beasts.
"Mmm."
Sigrid slid under the blanket, mumbled softly, and covered her face halfway.
The Saint Heir, already having a gentle voice, seemed even more soothing at that moment.
She closed her eyes, but didn’t seem to fall asleep immediately.
"Can you use that explosion of yours again?"
Sigrid knew that the Little Black Cat was a scaredy-cat, so she waited until it was away to ask.
The farther they go, the closer they draw to the Nirvana Branch’s blocked-off area.
Given how difficult it is to reach the Xue Yuan Province, let alone Hezishan Province or breakthrough the northern border blockade, it’s almost impossible.
On the other hand, Lanci is the Governor of the Xue Yuan Province, making it his home field, and it’s unlikely that the Bishop of Nirvana would suspect the Saint of Hegemony’s true identity.
"It will be about ten more days before we can use it again."
Lanci casually pulled out the Orange Epic card, [Nuclear Fusion Wolf], which was still in recovery, and showed it to Sigrid.
[Nuclear Fusion Wolf] could not be used at present, being in self-repair for a month after each explosion.
All non-bound Purple Rareness cards obliterated by its explosion had turned into dust.
If he had more of the [Abyss Black Worm], akin to uranium-235, and other fuel sources, it would be more useful.
"So, can you fight a sixth-order now?"
Before, Sigrid felt indifferent towards the fourth, fifth, and sixth-order as she had her own capabilities. But now that she had to rely on the Saint Heir, she realized the vast differences between the orders.
"I can deal with a fifth-order, but I can’t beat a sixth-order."
With Sigrid, they might stand a chance against an average sixth-order by combining forces.
But, against top tiers like the Goddess of Destruction or the Saint of Nirvana, there was simply no way they could win head-on.
Although [Nuclear Fusion Wolf] is powerful, its explosion cooldown is simply too long.
Without [Great Love Poet] at hand, Sigrid felt as if there was not much difference whether she was around or not. In fact, her absence made it quieter and peaceful.
Perhaps, it would be better to use the [Great Love Poet] as fuel for [Nuclear Fusion Wolf]; it would shut her up for a month, and yet still be useful. It would be a win-win situation.
But if he did that, she might never listen to him again.
"What would you do if the Saint of Nirvana finds us?"
Sigrid knew just how powerful she used to be as the Saintness of Hegemony, and she also knew that the Saint of Nirvana, who had defeated her, would be even stronger.
"Then we would have to call upon a god."
Lanci sighed, closing his book.
For a moment, Sigrid couldn’t understand what "calling upon a god" meant.
However, she got the impression that when he "called upon a god", he wouldn’t need the god’s permission.
"I look forward to seeing who you would be able to summon then."
That’s the way her Saint Heir was. He hadn’t panicked even while facing the Bishop of Nirvana and the man in the black cloak. Now, even when besieged by the Saint of Nirvana, he remained calm and composed.
As unpredictable as their journey with him was, she found it surprisingly enjoyable.
These were times when he scored points in her view.
