Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: The Saintess’s despair Chapter 81 - The Saintess’s Chains They reappeared inside the endless white realm.

Solaris collapsed onto her knees instantly, white chains snapping around her.

But they didn’t bind her body—

They bound her soul.

Solaris gasped, feeling her very existence shackled.

Elira’s power wasn’t something an SS-rank could resist.

Not even close.

It was a lucky thing that only the chosen Champions could intervene in this world’s fight.

If outsiders could assist them, these overpowered monsters would have already torn the system apart.

Blood would flood the earth.

Solaris looked up, eyes wide with terror and disbelief.

She had never imagined this.

Being kidnapped, bound, and rendered helpless so easily.

Her heart pounded as her gaze locked onto two smiling faces.

Noah and Elira.

Both grinning.

"Hey again, Saintess," Noah said warmly, as if greeting an old friend.

"I didn’t expect us to meet again so soon."

He chuckled lightly.

"How was the gift I left you? I really put a lot of effort into it."

His smile was sweet, almost genuine.

But Solaris felt only cold.

She struggled to think clearly. The shock, the pain—it blurred her mind.

But she was SS-rank.

A powerful existence.

She forced herself to calm down.

Quickly, she assessed the situation.

She had been kidnapped.

By Noah and Elira.

Her golden eyes hardened.

"Do you realize what you’re doing?" she hissed.

Elira tilted her head playfully.

"Kidnapping?"

She laughed.

"Please. It’s not even the first time. Won’t be the last either."

Solaris’s voice turned frigid.

"You’re not just kidnapping anyone."

"You’re kidnapping the Saintess—the chosen messenger of the Goddess of Light and Justice."

"You really think you’ll survive this?"

A heavy silence fell.

Then Noah shrugged.

"Maybe we will, maybe we won’t."

He crouched down in front of her, smiling so brightly it almost hurt.

"But one thing’s for sure—"

"You definitely won’t survive if you don’t cooperate."

Elira grinned and clenched her fist.

Pain exploded inside Solaris.

A soul-deep, unbearable agony.

"Ugh—!"

She gritted her teeth, refusing to cry out more.

Noah clapped his hands lightly.

"Let’s not drag this out."

"The Church will notice your absence soon, and then things will get... annoying."

He turned.

"Shadeva. Come out."

A pool of shadow peeled itself from beneath Solaris’s feet, materializing into a tall woman with deathly pale skin and flowing black hair.

Shadeva.

An Original.

The first of her kind.

Even at A-rank, her mere existence bent the air around her.

Solaris’s face paled.

"You—you were inside my shadow?!"

The realization made her shudder.

She had been watched this whole time.

Elira chuckled.

"My, my. Dear disciple, you really are full of surprises."

Noah just smiled.

"I’ll explain later."

He leaned in close, his silver eyes gleaming.

"Listen carefully, Saintess."

"You felt the power hidden inside your shadow."

"You already know Elira’s strength."

"And this realm?"

He spread his arms.

"Fully under Elira’s control."

"You can’t escape. You can’t teleport. You can’t even call for help."

"And even if you somehow did—"

He smiled wider.

"My shadow would latch onto yours and hunt you down instantly."

"And besides—"

His voice lowered to a whisper.

"I can feel it. I didn’t completely sever your light affinity last time."

"But it’s weakened."

"You’re slower now. Vulnerable."

He tilted his head.

"So let’s not pretend you have options."

"There are only two paths for you now."

"Either join us—and fight against your precious Goddess and the other invaders—"

"Or stay imprisoned here forever."

A pause.

"Or worse."

His grin sharpened.

"I kill you... and take your soul for myself."

Solaris trembled slightly, her mind racing.

Noah was right.

She tried to teleport out earlier.

Nothing happened.

She was trapped.

The Goddess would not intervene.

She knew that better than anyone.

The Goddess only cared about her true Chosen One.

Solaris clenched her fists, bitterness swelling inside her.

She was human after all.

In the face of true despair, even the strongest mortals falter.

Solaris gritted her teeth, forcing herself to raise her head. She was the Saintess—the living vessel of the Goddess’s will. She had preached about hope, light, and unbreakable faith for decades. Was she really going to crumble the moment her own life was threatened?

No. She refused. Her pride as the Saintess roared against the despair gnawing at her heart.

But even pride couldn’t shatter soul-chains. Even faith couldn’t undo the reality wrapping around her like a vice.

For the first time in decades, Solaris tasted helplessness—and it was bitter beyond words.

Still—

She wasn’t giving up yet.

"You said it yourself," Solaris said coldly.

"If you waste time here, the Church will notice my disappearance."

"And the problems you’ll face then—"

"You won’t like them."

Noah chuckled.

"You underestimate me, Saintess."

He pointed at Shadeva.

"She’s a shadow. Formless. No limit."

"She can take your appearance perfectly."

"And even if that wasn’t enough—"

He grinned wider.

"I have someone with perfect shapeshifting abilities too."

"So no," he said lazily.

"I’m not worried."

Solaris fell silent, her mind whirling.

She lowered her head, sighed softly.

"You still don’t understand."

"My soul is linked to the Goddess."

"Even if I betray her, I won’t be useful to you. I can’t tell you anything."

She turned her golden eyes to Elira.

"You can manipulate souls well. I can tell."

"But this is different."

"My soul has been with her for decades."

"I can’t defy her."

Noah’s brow furrowed.

’This Goddess has a really bad habit of chaining people to her,’ he thought irritably.

He turned to Elira.

"My dear," he said sweetly, "any ideas?"

Solaris flinched.

"W-What? My—?"

"Ah, shut up," Noah said, his tone suddenly cold.

"Nobody asked for your opinion."

"If you keep talking, I might just kill you now and save myself the headache."

He sighed in frustration.

It wasn’t the same as Shadeva. The World Core didn’t mind removing Shadeva’s influence from his core.

But against a living Goddess?

It would be messy.

Shadeva spoke up suddenly.

"Bind her shadow."

Noah looked at her, intrigued.

"You are the Lord of Shadows," Shadeva said simply.

"Take her shadow."

"Once her shadow is yours—"

"You’ll hold a part of her soul."

"And the Goddess?" Shadeva smiled coldly.

"She has no authority over shadows."

"Once you have a piece of her soul—"

"The rest will fall into your hands easily. Just take the other half of the her soul."

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Shadeva’s dark eyes glinted.

"And aren’t you two already quite skilled in matters of souls?"

Elira smirked.

Noah paused.

Then laughed.

"Shadeva..."

He stood up dramatically, spreading his arms.

"Will you marry me?"

Shadeva blinked expressionlessly.

Elira rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched into a smile.

Solaris, chained on the ground, could only stare in horror.

What monsters had she fallen into the hands of?

—End of Chapter 81—