CHAPTER 1544: CHAPTER 330 INSTINCT

"So, do you think you’re now facing Danacus again?" Denia asked pointedly, "You know, I’m referring to the battle you just described."

"No, I already said no." Pannis shook his head forcefully, very certain in his reply, "That might not have been Nellie, but it definitely wasn’t Danacus either, I can be one hundred percent sure of that. If I can’t even distinguish this much, then my eyes might as well be for nothing."

"Then who do you think it was that you were fighting?" Denia asked, frowning, "There must have been an opponent."

"The Grimreaper," Pannis said with narrowed eyes, "The one I was fighting just now, that was the Grimreaper."

"Speak plainly," Denia said unsatisfied, "At least talk in a language that others can understand."

"Alright, what I mean is, the person I was fighting was Nellie’s body, controlled by the instincts of Divinity," Pannis explained, his head bowed in thought, "At that time, Nellie had lost control of her body, but Danacus hadn’t successfully taken control of Nellie’s body either. What controlled the body wasn’t some individual consciousness, but rather Nellie’s instincts, or the instincts of Divinity, more likely a mix of both instincts."

"That doesn’t quite add up," Denia said, puzzled, "Although the Grimreaper governs death, it’s not a slaughter fanatic that kills everyone it sees. If it was really the instincts of Divinity controlling Nellie’s body, it should have ignored you. Instead, it chose to attack you, which doesn’t make sense. Moreover, it’s not in Nellie’s instincts not to attack you, right? Given your relationship, even if you killed her, she would not attack you."

"That’s why I’m saying that it’s most likely a mix of both instincts, the instincts of Divinity tinged with some of Nellie’s characteristics," Pannis explained, "As for the unreasonable aspects you mentioned, Lady Denia, they actually make perfect sense; it’s quite simple, really. If it were just me, the Grimreaper’s instincts would indeed treat me as non-existent. However, what I was carrying is the Hunting Arrow, Lady Denia."

"A natural reaction to a threat?" Denia was taken aback, pondering as she nodded, "Indeed, having a weapon in one’s own domain that can harm oneself, and that weapon is being used against one, would logically trigger the body, controlled by instincts, to view the other as the greatest threat and to eliminate them; it wouldn’t make sense not to do so."

"Yes, that’s why Nellie was attacking me with the ferocity of a mortal enemy," Pannis said with a squint, "It didn’t matter if I put away the Hunting Arrow. In its own world, a deity is omniscient. As long as I have it with me, it remains the greatest threat to the Grimreaper. Unless I give up the Hunting Arrow, which clearly, is not an option. Hence, I could only face Nellie’s relentless assault with no breathing room."

"Well, this is getting interesting," Denia’s expression relaxed a bit, and she said with a smile, "What are your thoughts?"

"It’s quite interesting indeed," Pannis said with folded arms and a sneer, "By this point, I had roughly figured out a few things."

"The first being that Nellie is safe for now," Denia said with a teasing tone, "You wouldn’t have been able to come out here if you weren’t sure of that, right?"

"That’s beyond any doubt," Pannis admitted naturally, unfazed by Denia’s ribbing, "Whether for her sake or for the world’s, I had to ensure her safety before I dared to come out and discuss with you."

"What about her now?" When Denia showed no intention to continue on this subject, Flare couldn’t help but ask, "Has she come to?"

"Hmm, she definitely came to, otherwise, it wouldn’t count as ensuring her safety," Pannis’s mouth twitched unwillingly as he spoke, "As for now... well, she got tired from fighting. She’s sleeping."

"Uh, she ate her fill, got tired, and then started sleeping..." Flare understood why Pannis had such a reluctant look and said with a bitter smile, "She really hasn’t changed one bit over the years. But it’s good that she came to."

"It is indeed good news, precisely because she has awakened, I said that I’ve almost sorted out a few issues," Pannis said contemplatively, stroking his chin, "The first issue, is as Lady Denia just mentioned—she has awakened, meaning she is safe for now, at least not having to worry about being devoured by Danacus in the next minute. As for the second issue, I think I’ve figured out her current state, no, more precisely the state she’s been in during this period, or at least, I believe I’ve figured out part of the reason."

"You’re referring to what your Nellie said, about why she would issue incomprehensible orders?" Denia asked, "Do you believe that she was also controlled by her instincts at that time, which is why she gave orders completely contrary to her own thoughts?"

"Exactly, I believe that’s the reason," Pannis nodded and said in a grave tone, "Her actions were actually harming her own interests. Well, to be precise, her interests weren’t harmed but were greatly reduced, which equates to indirectly harming them. Instincts, obviously, won’t willingly let their holder’s interests be damaged. So when Nellie’s body was controlled by instincts, it made many emotionless moves to recoup its interests. Hence, orders like sending the majority of the troops out through Death’s Gate were issued. To instincts, the existence of these sentient Undead would seriously affect the gathering of the Power of Faith—better to eliminate them if possible. Nellie’s plans would also severely affect the status of Divinity, which had to be disrupted, hence such orders were given to achieve both ends."

"Wouldn’t it be easier for it to order the Undead to go to war directly?" Catherine asked softly, "No need for such complications."

"That’s exactly the issue, which is why I said it’s Divinity’s instincts, interfered with by Nellie, carrying some of her traits," Pannis explained seriously, "Take her attacks, for example. They were with a lance, and even the manner of attack was Nellie’s old style. I don’t think Danacus used to fight like that. Thus, it’s more appropriate to think of it as a Nellie utterly devoid of sentiment."

"I remember, Nellie really hates war, doesn’t she?" Flare said, "So even when controlled by instincts, she still unconsciously avoided starting a war?"

"Heh, that’s the kind of person she is," Pannis chuckled and nodded, "That’s why instincts chose a method that at least wouldn’t trigger a war outright."