CHAPTER 213: PURE FATE ENERGY

’Is this the Sacred Temple?’

Zarek narrowed his eyes. This place resembled the one he’d only heard about, descriptions passed down from Drayken.

He had never visited it himself, but the details matched.

There was only one religion among the human race, and they all prayed to the Human God, just as the dragons worshipped their Dragon Gods.

Towering white walls loomed overhead, and crowds of people dressed in white robes filled the grounds. This was the Sacred Temple, a place built solely for the worship of the Human God.

Mirabella walked forward, step by step, with Zarek still bound in the golden cage.

As she approached, everyone turned toward her and bowed deeply, completely ignoring Zarek, as though he didn’t even exist.

Mirabella simply smiled and nodded before stepping briskly into the temple.

Inside, it was the same bland, white, and overly sumptuous space, so white that it was almost nauseating.

Rows of people dressed in white robes knelt silently on the floor, their lips moving in constant murmurs that Zarek couldn’t quite decipher.

Then, his eyes narrowed.

He could feel it, an odd energy flowing out of their bodies and dispersing into the empty air above.

’Is that divine energy or fate energy?’

At that moment, his title, Creator of Energy, activated, allowing him to gain insight into unfamiliar energies. A faint blue panel shimmered into view in front of him, presenting a concise summary of what was happening.

...

Pure Fate Energy

The devoted and sincere prayers of living beings, free from any external influence.

Conversion rate to Divine Energy: 10x.

...

’Pure Fate Energy... Damn, this place is like a farm, he’s being endlessly supplied with energy.’

Zarek couldn’t help but think that as Mirabella continued dragging the golden cage across the pristine floor.

They entered yet another white room, this one furnished with a white table and matching seats, everything just as blindingly clean and sterile.

A lean man appeared, dressed in half-red, half-white robes. He wore glasses and carried a black grimoire in one hand.

His gaze landed on the golden cage, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Who is this?" he asked, clearly puzzled.

’Finally, someone acknowledged me.’ Zarek almost sighed in relief. All this time, people had looked at him, but it was as if he were made of air.

Not a single reaction, no surprise, no curiosity, not even a twitch of expression.

"He is a special person," Mirabella said, a grin tugging at the corner of her lips.

That grin chilled the heart. Zarek’s own heartbeat quickened, pounding against his ribs.

"...What are you going to do with this ’special person’?" the lean man asked, his eyes lingering on Zarek for a moment longer than necessary.

"First, I’ll give him the chance to lift Excalibur. And if he can’t..."

The corner of Mirabella’s lips curled even higher, so far they nearly touched her brows. It was the smile of a witch.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the room.

In an instant, Mirabella’s expression shifted, her eerie smile vanished, replaced by her usual cold, emotionless face.

"Mother, what are you doing?"

Zarek turned towards the voice and froze.

A girl stepped forward, her face nearly identical to Mirabella’s. Her golden hair was slightly shorter, her frame smaller, and unlike Mirabella, she wore no blindfold. Instead, her captivating golden eyes gleamed with curiosity.

"Alice... why are you here?" Mirabella asked, her voice still cold.

"I was bored," Alice said simply, tilting her head. Her golden gaze locked onto Zarek, who stared back with his boundless blue pupils.

"Who is he?" she asked.

"He might be the Chosen One," Mirabella replied without hesitation.

"Then why is he bound like this?" Alice asked, her confusion deepening.

"Because he might not be the Chosen One," Mirabella replied, her voice colder than ever. "He might be a traitor to humanity."

Zarek squinted, locking eyes with her:

’This woman will die.’

In his heart, Zarek sealed her fate. No matter what she did from this moment on, it wouldn’t matter, her end was inevitable.

The humiliation of being paraded in a cage. The tone of disdain, as if he were beneath even contempt.

Her fate was now written by his will.

Call it immature, call it petty, Zarek didn’t care. He had made his decision, and it would be final.

He would end her.

"He doesn’t seem like someone who would join hands with vile dragons," Alice said, tilting her head thoughtfully.

"I’ve thought the same," Mirabella replied. "But I have a hunch, something in my heart tells me he’s connected to the dragons. If he truly isn’t the one, then I’ll use him."

Her lips curled again, unable to suppress that familiar, unsettling grin.

"Okay," Alice responded with a casual shrug, her tone light. She stepped closer to her mother:

"Can I take a look too?"

"Sure," Mirabella chuckled. She turned away, walking toward a specific spot on the floor. Then, without warning, she stomped her foot down.

The ground rumbled and parted, revealing a hidden staircase leading to a basement below.

Without hesitation, she descended, dragging Zarek’s golden cage behind her.

"Follow me."

"Yes, Mother," Alice replied, quickly following her down.

The lean man with glasses said nothing and silently followed.

It was a void of darkness, so thick that Zarek couldn’t perceive anything around him.

After walking for a while, a faint light finally pierced the gloom, revealing a wide underground space littered with debris and forgotten relics. A mountain of shattered artifacts and discarded remnants rose before them.

And at its center, in the midst of the rubble, stood a simple sword.

It looked plain and unassuming at a glance.

Excalibur.

Mirabella stopped and opened the cage. The golden chains loosened, not fully undone, but enough to allow Zarek a fair degree of movement.

"Come out," she said.

Zarek stepped out in silence, then tilted his head toward her.

"You know, if I really was the Chosen One, and you treated me this badly, wouldn’t I want revenge for it?" he asked, his voice laced with casual curiosity.

Mirabella chuckled softly, her tone low and deliberate:

"Haha. That wouldn’t matter, because you won’t be able to pull out Excalibur. I’m certain of it. This is just a formality."

"As you say." Zarek shrugged nonchalantly and turned.

Step by step, he climbed the small hill of debris and reached for the sword.

Then...