In the Name of Empress

Chapter 741 410: If Not "Big Sister," Should I Call You "Aunt"? (Part 2)

The body of the Ginkgo Tree is certainly tough, but here it appears only as an illusion, with mere attack ability and insufficient defense.

He guessed correctly; the moment the scythe hit the Ginkgo Tree, the illusion merely flickered slightly before dissipating.

Dissipated?!

The Judge's eyes widened, cold sweat pouring down; he knew he had been deceived.

This is a trick.

There's no illusion of a Ginkgo Tree; it's clearly an illusion, nonexistent.

Just as he expected, this is indeed a scam.

Sif also knows that the illusion of the Ginkgo Tree is only a tenth as tough as the real thing; forcibly summoning it requires full effort to protect the tree, making it passive instead.

As long as the real Ginkgo Tree isn't summoned, it won't be chopped down.

Resolve the problem from the source.

Sif is no longer the simple and naive girl she once was; she can be even more cunning than Roland at times.

Though she has a harmlessly beautiful face, if anyone really takes her for an innocent, it's quite normal for them to be thoroughly fooled.

The Judge's fully charged attack was easily deceived by the simple illusion, losing half its force, with severe physical and mental exhaustion.

Though he's still desperately fighting, the outcome is already decided.

Sofia, floating in the air, gazed thoughtfully at the now somewhat tasteless battle.

Her previously recorded teaching video for Roland seems unnecessary now.

Though Roland's absolute strength is far inferior to his, his cooperation with Sif is perfect; their combat technique is flexible, and the Judge is no match for them.

Had it not been for the home field advantage, the Judge would have been defeated long ago.

Seeing no change in the battle, Sofia's gaze drifted skyward.

The Land of Death is divided into three layers.

The Sea of Annihilation is the true Land of Death, containing nothing and no powerful guards. This is true death.

The Netherworld is an Exile Land; though alive, its inhabitants might as well be dead, as this is death without hope.

Compared to them, the Netherworld is what people usually perceive as the Land of Death.

Every dying soul will be ushered into the Netherworld.

The majority of creatures only have one life; their souls enter the Netherworld and become cornerstones for its construction, unable to enter reincarnation.

Only souls strong enough or lucky enough can cross the Nether River and enter the true Netherworld.

Within the Netherworld are courts and lands of atonement.

Lucky souls chosen for reincarnation will atone for their sins here before returning to the human world.

Reincarnation within the Netherworld is by no means a pleasant experience.

To make reincarnating souls forget this purgatorial ordeal, they will be given water from the River of Forgetfulness, erasing the sorrowful world experienced in the Netherworld.

Sofia didn't understand why she knew this, but she simply did.

Time spent lingering in the Netherworld was long enough for the real master of the Netherworld, the Nether Empress Judica, to notice something amiss and calmly set up an intercept.

However, this doesn't faze her.

Any problem solvable by combat poses no real trouble for Sofia.

She even somewhat anticipates this battle.

Unlike those fake gods, the Nether Empress is a native-born deity of the Netherworld, ruling all its affairs.

The Death God is the nominal Dominator of the Netherworld, but he's already a Dominator Level deity, unable to return to his homeland. Since becoming a Dominator, his wife, the Nether Empress Judica, has been the ruling voice of the Netherworld.

Defeating a real deity on their home turf is as difficult as imaginable.

If luck were better, it would have been great if the one blocking them weren't the Nether Empress.

Sofia pondered silently.

She paused briefly before clenching her fists tightly.

How could she have such weak thoughts? Does she secretly think she's lesser than the Nether Empress?

Sofia frowned slightly, catching sight of Roland constantly wearing down the Judge's defenses and impatiently snorted:

"Don't waste time!"

Sofia's words were a command; Roland and Sif instantly sped up, combining their sword and spear, rapidly shifting the battle.

Once Roland and Sif exerted their full force, the Judge was defenseless, quickly suffering multiple hits.

He retreated continuously, growling like a wounded beast; realizing the final moment was near, he let out a shrill laugh and roared loudly:

"You have no idea what's waiting for you in the Netherworld. I'll wait for you by the Nether River!"

"I still have a chance for reincarnation, but your end is total death!"

"Hahaha, ah!"

The Judge's hysteria ended with Sif's spear to the head.

"Too noisy."

Sif said casually, using her Long Spear to detach the Judge's head and toss it aside.

No need for a follow-up, as the Judge's equipment had exploded all over the place.

After receiving a confirming nod from Sofia, Roland and Sif happily looted, sweeping away the wealth the Judge had accumulated over the years.

Watching these two little locusts, Sofia's lips slightly lifted, smiling teasingly:

"If you're going to rob, why settle for just this? Let's grab something big."

Roland and Sif simultaneously looked up; the Judge was down, is there a bigger fish?

Sofia casually pointed at the Netherworld Prison City below, smiling: "Since they've abandoned the city, by custom it's our spoils of war."

"You know what to do, right?"

Sofia glanced at the rings Roland and Sif wore, whispering, "The hidden space inside the Violet and Ice Crystal Blue Rings is immense; go on."

Her gaze made Sif a bit uneasy; she hurriedly bid farewell and went off to scavenge.

For some reason, Sofia's gaze grew increasingly strange, making her somewhat fearful.

The looting continued for a full seven days.

During this time, some Netherworld residents returned, but upon seeing the Judge's head hanging from the city gate, they very sensibly retreated the way they came.

They lamented their wealth being plundered, yet had no recourse.

Though being robbed was painful, none of the unwise dared stand up to protect their assets.

Money lost can be earned again, but life lost is truly lost.

Besides, surely not all of Netherworld Prison City need be scoured? Mine might be spared, right?

Most held onto a faint hope silently.

As the Netherworld residents neared the brink of collapse, the trio of misfortune finally left.

After confirming their departure, the Netherworld residents returned to the city with mourning faces, assessing the losses.

"My money, all gone!"

"My cherished treasures, oh no no no!"

"No, my wine, it was the finest red!"

"Ah, my library, not a single book left, not one single book!"

...

Through cries and roars, the Netherworld's strong finally understood what kind of enemy they had faced.

Everything takeable, taken. Not a single shred left.

Simply a gang of bandits!

While the Netherworld residents cursed Roland and others, the trio had already crossed the Netherworld and arrived at the entrance to the Netherworld.

They didn't rush to break through; instead, they took several days to tally their spoils and review the series of battles they had fought.

Sofia's teaching video ultimately came in handy.

Roland studied as if entranced.

In his eyes, though Sofia only simulates the Power of Light and cannot truly control it, she still displays combat skills like an art form.

He spared no praise, making Sofia feel somewhat conceited.

"Stop buttering me up; hurry and learn, there's more fighting ahead."

Roland immersed in learning, Sif watched the Crystal Ball display with envy, bit her lip, and timidly looked at Sofia, hesitantly pleading:

"Sister Sofia, can you simulate the Power of Nature?"

Sofia nearly fell from the air; she looked at Sif in astonishment and stammered:

"What did you just call me?"

"Of course, sister."

Sif whispered, "Can't call you aunt, right."

Sofia's fists tightened.

Sif had a unique magic, always pinpointing ways to make her angry.

She took a deep breath and said coldly, "I'll only accept... never mind, since I'm older and stronger than you, being called sister isn't too inappropriate."

"Though your intentions aren't pure, calling me sister can't be in vain; I've fought the first Elf King before and know a bit about the Power of Nature, watch closely."

Sofia extended her arms, as the sky suddenly turned deep green.

The past seemed fleeting, surfacing in her mind.

The Power of Nature actually isn't complicated; many elves mistakenly think it must be tied to the forest.

Of all existence, how much truly has nothing to do with nature?

The Power of Nature isn't as simple as you imagine.