What did you do with the dice?

But then again, if Phoenix's expression was as vivid as Hydra's, wouldn't he start to think that it would be better if she was just a cold and silent cat?

Ahem, anyway, after being stared at by those beautiful eyes, Rusalka glanced at the lower right corner of her vision and found that the system did not pop up the [Immunity Successful] prompt.

Rusalka: (Why didn't she charm me? Did I fall for her? But my [Eel Transformer] skill didn't activate either.)

Sanita: (No, brother, you're missing Theresa like crazy, right?)

Rusalka: (Oh, yeah, sorry, I'm used to it. It's over. My spirit has taken on the shape of Theresa.)

Hydra stood up from the chair, leaned forward, and put his little face close to Rusalka. He stared at her up and down repeatedly. The predatory eyes coupled with the face that was exactly the same as Phoenix's awakened his biological instincts, and he almost wanted to cover his crotch with his hands.

Fortunately, Hydra quickly sat back down, tilting his head with a curious expression, "Strange, I can't see you at all."

Rusalka couldn't help but laugh at her. If she wasn't her sister-in-law, she would have almost blurted out a hellish joke about a blind person: "Are you kidding me?"

Hydra knew what Rusalka was angry about. He slowly closed his eyes and explained, "Don't get me wrong. I don't mean that I can't see you visually. My eyes are special. I can see people's future. Sometimes I can see a lot, and sometimes I can only see a picture, but I can see a little bit. But you, I can't see your future, not even a little bit."

Rusalka was a little speechless: "Can I take this as you praising my flexibility? Otherwise, it sounds a bit like you are cursing me for having no future. Phoenix, you can come in!"

After Rusalka said this, black mist suddenly appeared around her, and Phoenix walked out of the black mist. She said nothing, just quietly looked at Hydra with an embarrassed face.

Rusalka: (Good boy, Phoenix is ​​such a bad cat. On the surface, it seems to have gone out obediently, but in fact it has entered the shadow plane and is lurking next to me. This little camera is really bad.)

Sanitta: (Huh? I always thought you liked yanderes because Phoenix had that kind of personality?)

Rusalka: (Huh? No way? She's nothing like a yandere. She's just a little clingy.)

Sanitta hesitated to speak. It was difficult for him to explain to Rusalka the difference between a yandere in the broad sense and the narrow sense people had of the various forms of yandere in the bilaterian world. In the end, all he could say was this: "As long as you're happy."

Hydra sighed slightly. "I actually forgot about your abilities, Phoenix. Oh, it would be great if everyone in the world was like the male you chose. That would be great too. I also understand why I didn't see you in Phoenix's future before. You're quite special. Are you also a demonic power possessor?"

Phoenix: “Yes.”

Rusalka: “No.”

After they answered at the same time, they quickly exchanged glances.

Rusalka remembered the story he had written for Phoenix, and immediately realized that Phoenix was trying to cover up his identity as a time traveler. Phoenix, on the other hand, realized that Rusalka might want to conceal the matter of fel energy and "Gul'dan", and he also understood. Then the two of them spoke again at the same time:

Phoenix: “No.”

Rusalka: “Yes.”

Haidra was puzzled: "Is it true or not?"

Phoenix sat aside, kicked her chair back a little, and put on an attitude of "She's not talking anymore, let Rusalka do it."

Rusalka hesitated for a moment and said, "This is difficult for me to explain to you. I have demonic powers, but they are not the same as the demons from hell that you know. You can think of them as, um, some kind of special divine power."

Hydra nodded to show that she understood. "That's fine. Everyone has their own secrets. It's not a big deal. As long as you're nice to Phoenix, that's all. I came to see you today not only because I want to know why you came here, but also because I have something very important to tell you."

Rusalka: "You can say whatever you want."

Hydra put on a serious expression and asked, "Do you believe in the prophecy?"

Rusalka: (If I say I don’t believe it, does that mean the story ends?)

Sanitita: (Well, I think she will convince you until you believe it.)

Rusalka chose to skip the plot dialogue and start what he thought was the Hydra Line mission: "I believe it~ I believe it very much~ Bring out the chicken soup, no, bring out what you have to say."

Hydra was suddenly at a loss, mainly because the human in front of her believed it too quickly, causing all the persuasive words she had prepared to rot in her stomach.

No, generally speaking, especially for a species as suspicious as humans, wouldn't everyone be skeptical after hearing this? Even if you believed it, you couldn't be so sure, right?

If you do this, I will look ridiculous even though I am trying so hard to be solemn.

Chapter 198 Prelude to the Banquet (6)

Since there was no need to convince Rusalka, Hydra said directly: "I saw Phoenix's death in the prophecy, so I dare not meet her. I have been trying to change this future in Esdi for hundreds of years."

Rusalka looked at Phoenix and asked a question that was difficult for Hydra to answer: "Is there any direct connection between Phoenix's death and your fear of meeting her?"

Hydra's tail stopped swaying, the tip slowly drooping, and her ears drooping slightly. She spoke in a manner almost identical to Phoenix's when she was lost, "Because of my existence, the prophecy will inevitably come true."

Rusalka: "But everyone will die eventually. Some people just need a little help... Oh no, sorry for the confusion. What I mean is that everyone will die when their lifespan is up. What's there to be nervous about? It's like me saying that people will die if they are killed. It's not a prophecy at all."

Hydra was silent for a moment, then said, "My prophecy about Phoenix is ​​very clear, just like when I saw Roland's hint in the prophecy back then. I didn't believe the part of the prophecy that said 'he would be killed by the power and belief he trusted most in his life,' because I thought it was impossible for us to harm him. But the result is that the prophecy came true, and it happened right before my eyes."

Phoenix glanced at Rusalka and said, "But you can't be blamed for Roland's death."

Hydra smiled bitterly and shook his head, indicating that the matter did not need to be mentioned again: "The prophecy is not single, it can also be diverse. If I had chosen to stay with Phoenix, she would have died in Esdi's Shadow Association, and it was still Theresa who killed her.

Let me be frank, Phoenix, never come into contact with Theresa. I avoided the death of the Shadow Association for you, and you also obediently came to the border of Snidi, which makes me very relieved.

But it is not safe in Sinidi. The reason why I let you stay at the border is because I saw that you would die in a war about the city, and after you die, Theresa will still take away the power of faith in your body.

However, it is impossible for the knights of Esidi to appear in large numbers in any major war in Sinidi. This prophecy clearly refers to the war in Alice City. Therefore, in order to avoid the prophecy coming true, you must not go to Alice City in the center of Sinidi.

Rusalka was stunned for a moment. After exchanging a glance with Phoenix, she frowned and said awkwardly, "It's just... I'm just assuming. If this has already happened, can she still go?"

Phoenix nodded.

This was the umpteenth time today that Hydra was shocked. She asked in disbelief, "What are you talking about? Isn't Phoenix still here?"

So Rusalka told Hydra about the things in Moon City.

After hearing the story, Hydra's expression changed drastically. Finally, he took out a mercury dagger from somewhere and stabbed it into Rusalka's right chest like lightning.

Phoenix, who was standing next to him, took out the black mist dagger with an expressionless face and quickly blocked the weapon in Hydra's hand.

Hydra snorted coldly, sheathed his knife, glanced at Phoenix with a hint of disappointment, and said to Rusalka with gritted teeth, "Is this how you treat my sister? You almost killed her! How could you drag her into the war?"

Rusalka rubbed her fingers awkwardly. "No, it was just an accident, really. Besides, before the incident in Mingyue City, Phoenix and I hadn't even gotten married yet. We were just colleagues back then."

Hearing Rusalka's tone of shifting the blame, Hydra wanted to poke Rusalka a few times to teach him a lesson.

But not long after, Rusalka said happily again: "So, your predictions have all come true, and Phoenix will not die. Then everyone will be happy."

Hydra said to Phoenix, "Even so, I still forbid you to go to Alice City. It's too dangerous there. And given Theresa's personality, she will definitely come to Alice City in person. I will never allow you to meet her."

Phoenix replied stubbornly, "I will follow Rusalka."

Knowing that Rusalka would definitely go, Hydra frowned again and asked, "Don't you want to live and avenge Roland?"

Phoenix: "The living are more important."

Rusalka was so touched that she peeled the peanut shells for Phoenix herself. "Alright, alright, these are just small things. I will definitely keep Phoenix by my side from now on. Don't worry, I promise she will die after me."

Hydra was still furious with Rusalka, the evildoer who had led Phoenix into this hell. "If you can't speak, just shut up. No one thinks you're dumb."

Rusalka felt her temperature suddenly rise, and she crushed the peanut shells with her palm to bolster her spirit. "Damn you, arrogant black cat! I've tolerated you for so long. If it weren't for Phoenix's sake, I would have scolded you long ago. Just because of this ridiculous prophecy, you left Phoenix alone for two hundred years. You acted like a hands-off boss and now you blame me for not protecting her? Are you even human?"

Okay, you are indeed a cat, not a person, cough cough, but do you think your behavior is appropriate? What qualifications do you have to criticize me? "

Hydra snorted disdainfully, "Foolish human, you know nothing about the power of the devil, yet you are here to question the prophetic power that the devil gave me that would bring disaster?

Do you realize how ridiculous your statement at the dinner table, "The Demon Lord is nothing special," was? Have you ever even met a follower of a Demon Lord? I'm only sparing you for Phoenix's sake. To me, you're just like a thirty-year-old Philin child, blindly arrogant, who hasn't even experienced his coming-of-age ceremony yet.

So she was listening to me talking at the dinner table, hehe,

Oh, no, they should be arguing now. I have to act angry, but I can't let this guy look down on me. When I first met Phoenix, I also asked her to eat two Holy Slashes. Hydra is her elder. According to the good custom of Kong Rong giving up his pear, shouldn't I ask her to eat four?

Rusalka immediately grasped the sword behind her, slammed the table, stood up, and shouted, "Fuck you, Phoenix, don't stop me! Today, I'll let you, your ungrateful sister, experience what it's like to be a 30-year-old Holy Slasher... Uh, Phoenix, you really won't stop me?"

Phoenix had already moved her chair to the corner, holding the peeled peanuts. Rusalka thought she wanted her to beat up Hydra to vent her anger.

But after thinking about it, he thought using the Holy Slash was too outrageous, so he just pretended. So he loosened his grip on the sword and clenched it into a fist. "My fist is as big as a casserole. See? If you apologize to Phoenix now, I will forgive you."

Hydra kicked the table aside, sat on a chair, and said to Rusalka face to face, "Why don't you try hitting me?"

Rusalka: (Should I hit her? If I do, she has the same face as Phoenix, and she's really cute, so I can't bring myself to do it. If I don't hit her, Phoenix is ​​watching, and I've already said harsh words, which would be embarrassing.)

Sanitieta: (You asked me about this problem that you caused yourself? Then I suggest you give her a fight. She's been in Esdi for so long, she must be quite skilled. Don't worry, you won't make her cry with just one punch.)

Rusalka felt more relieved after hearing his brother's words. Without any further ado, he bent down and punched the opponent in the abdomen.

Hydra's counterattack was also very quick. She kicked the chair away, dodged the straight punch sideways, then grabbed Rusalka's arm with both hands, turned her back, and made a gesture as if to throw Rusalka to the ground.

Then, her movement got stuck and she didn't fall. To use gaming terms, the athletic confrontation failed.

Rusalka also snorted and laughed, and wanted to lift Hydra, who had a surprised look on her face, up high with one hand to let her understand the difference in attributes between the two. A female little ghost cat like this should be severely humiliated.

Then, his movements got stuck and he didn't stand up. To use gaming terms, this was also a failure in the power confrontation.

Rusalka was truly baffled: (No, my friends, I have a one-handed giant weapon build with 20 strength, and I can't lift a Filin?! As the saying goes, cats' bodies are liquid. Could it be that her body is made of Trisolaran water droplets?)

Sanita: (What? Didn’t you always like to make loli warriors? What’s wrong with them being heavier?)

Rusalka: (That was a game, and now it's reality. This is too outrageous. A Filin tribe with 20 strength?)

Sanita: (I think she's not that outrageous. She's just at a high level, or has some ability that prevents her from falling or leaving the ground.)

Hydra didn't know that Rusalka was as surprised as she was. She thought the same as Sanitta, that Rusalka had some kind of divine blessing that prevented him from falling, so she let go, flew to close the distance, and hit Rusalka in the face with a side kick.

Rusalka was kicked in time because she didn't dodge, but she didn't lose any blood. However, he regretted it very much - because she was wearing shoes. If he had known earlier, he would have changed her into slippers after letting her in or simply let her not wear shoes. Then this kick would have restored some of his blood mentally.

Rusalka pushed her away with her face, wiped her face, and said angrily: "Damn, how uncultured! You shouldn't hit someone in the face!"

Hydra, on the other hand, had a look on his face that said, "You deserve it." "Who told you to squat, rookie?"

How could Rusalka lose in a verbal battle? "It's because you're short. I was afraid you'd jump up and hit my knee."

Hydra was silent for a while. Instead of arguing with Rusalka, he took out a dagger that was flashing white light.

Rusalka: "Damn it, pulling out weapons in a fight, that's not fun, right?"

Hydra: "Don't worry, you won't die. I will cure you."

Rusalka: "You medical students are so cruel! More than thirty stab wounds can only be considered minor injuries, right? Phoenix, save me!"

After Rusalka shouted like that, Phoenix finally patted the peanut shells on her palms, jumped off the chair, and walked over to stop Hydra from approaching Rusalka with a dagger in his hand.

Hydra was probably just trying to scare the other party, just like Rusalka. Seeing that Rusalka had given in, she contentedly put away her dagger, pulled the chair and table back, sat down, drank a sip of tea, and said:

"Well, to be honest, I'm very grateful for your care for Phoenix over the years. Love always makes people full of hope. She feels much better to me now than she did when she was in the Shadow Association.

However, I want to make it clear that I have not ignored Phoenix. Over the years, I have been secretly protecting her."

Rusalka said bluntly: "That sounds disgusting."

If Hydra hadn't dared to open her eyes, she would have glared at Rusalka. "In my prophecy, no matter what kind of death Phoenix suffers, she will definitely be harmed directly or indirectly by Theresa. So, over the years, Theresa and I have reached an agreement that she cannot take the initiative to do anything to harm Phoenix, and I will do things for her that are inconvenient for her but not against my will, such as collecting the power of faith.

On the day the Shadow Association was destroyed, Phoenix should have died there. It was me who had Theresa specifically instruct Roland's teacher to lead the team personally, which gave her the future to go to Sneidi."

Rusalka: "Excuse me, what if the old knight didn't choose to be soft-hearted, but was ruthless?"

Hydra: "I've said before that prophecy is absolute."

Rusalka definitely didn't believe in such nonsense, so she immediately went looking for her brothers to gain recognition. Her method was very simple: (Brother, I don't agree. Let me hear some rebuttal.)

Sanita: (I don't understand, and I won't comment, but one thing is certain: once a prophecy is made, it is definitely not absolute.)

Rusalka: "Then why don't you tell the prophecy in advance? Once the prophecy is told, it will definitely not be absolute."

Hydra picked up a peanut and said, "I predict it will shatter into pieces in the next second."

After she finished speaking, she squeezed the peanuts hard with her fingers and they broke into pieces. "See, that's it, exactly like this."

Rusalka was so angry at this way of debating that she laughed: "Aren't you just being argumentative?"

Hydra gave a bitter laugh. "To those gods and the most terrible and ancient demons, a hundred years can be equivalent to a second. And aren't we just peanuts at their mercy?"

Rusalka leaned back in her chair, resting her head on her hands and crossing her legs. "Hydra, you're too pessimistic. You should learn from Phoenix. The greatest difficulty in life is figuring out what to eat next."

Seeing Phoenix's dagger, Rusalka immediately moved on to the next topic: "By the way, how did you know Theresa was the Messenger of the End?"

Well, just because Phoenix can't say it doesn't mean Rusalka can't say it. Since Hydra has already mentioned the power of faith, Rusalka thinks she probably knows Theresa's identity, so she can just say it directly.

As expected, Hydra wasn't surprised by Rusalka's words. Instead, she was curious about how Rusalka, an outsider, knew about it. "Theresa has existed for a long time. I even suspect she might be from the Age of Gods. Even I don't know what she's thinking. She is collecting the power of faith from the Twelve Gods, but I've studied that, and it's completely useless to mortals.

As for the Messenger of the End you mentioned, I actually guess that it was a wanted order issued by the Twelve Gods after they noticed the loss of the power of faith. So I don't understand why she would rather be wanted than collect that thing."

Phoenix has the most experience with the power of faith. After losing it, she became stronger instead. It is obvious that there is no connection between strength and faith.

Rusalka: "Then will Theresa be able to use it? Maybe if I collect all twelve, I can become the thirteenth god?"

Hydra shook his head decisively: "Absolutely impossible."

Rusalka: "Why are you so sure? No one in the world has ever gathered all 12 gods' faiths."

Hydra: "If she could become a god in the future, I would not be able to see her future. In fact, I saw her future, although it was very one-sided."

Rusalka: "What did you see?"

Hydra: "I see a tightly closed door."