I Became the Villainess, But My Beast Husbands Can Hear My Mind?!

”We’re ready,” Azul said as soon as everyone had finished putting on their protective suits.

Orion and Tian were still wondering where Roxanna had suddenly gotten something like that, but since Azul had told them not to ask his wife too many questions, they chose to keep quiet.

Besides, they were just relieved that they finally had a chance to save the Queen of Aquilian.

”Our time is limited, so we have to move quickly,” Zeir said after glancing at Mr. Kraken in the distance. Even from where they stood, it was clear the giant creature was slowly running out of strength.

”I have observed the cage from the edge of the crater,” Azul continued. ”It looks like the bubble cage is only being held in place by the rocks around it. If we can destroy those rocks, we should be able to free my mother and bring her out.”

He then turned to Roxanna. ”Roxanna, I want you to come with us too, in case something goes wrong.”

His expression was unusually serious, and there was a trace of guilt in his eyes. ℴℴ𝘮

This was probably the first time he had asked Roxanna to help him so directly. Normally, her husbands did everything they could to keep her away from danger because they always wanted to protect her.

But now, both Azul and Zeir had finally realized that Roxanna wasn’t just the person they needed to protect, but she had always been the one saving them, whether it was from their broken hearts or their physical wounds.

”But you have to promise me one thing,” Azul said firmly. ”Stay close to Zeir while I lead everyone into the crater. Can you do that?”

Without thinking twice, Roxanna nodded quickly. ”I will. Don’t worry.”

Hearing her answer, Azul wasted no more time. ”Alright,” he said. ”Let’s go.”

With Azul leading the way, the group rushed toward the edge of the crater and the heat hit them almost immediately.

Even through the protective suits, they could still feel the intense warmth pressing against their bodies. Waves of scorching air rose from the crater without end, making the ground beneath their feet tremble from time to time.

Fortunately, the suits blocked most of the heat. Otherwise, none of them would have lasted more than a few seconds in this place.

When they reached the edge, everyone looked down.

The massive bubble cage stood at the rim of the crater, held in place by several thick rocks around its edges. Inside, the Queen of Aquilian remained suspended in silence, her eyes still fixed on the endless flames below.

”That’s her,” Azul whispered.

”We’ll split into two groups,” Azul said firmly. ”Zeir and Orion will destroy the rocks. Tian and I will be ready to catch the cage if it starts to fall.”

”Stay with Zeir,” Azul said to Roxanna.

She gave him a firm nod. ”Got it.”

Azul took a slow, steady breath before raising his hand. ”Everyone...” The group immediately turned to him. ”We only have one chance.”

His sharp eyes swept over each of them before settling on the bubble cage once again. ”So... let’s bring my mother home.”

Without another word, everyone moved into position exactly as Azul had planned.

As Azul and Tian swam beneath the cage, the Queen of Aquillian suddenly froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

”Azul?” the Queen of Aquillian, Maristella, called his name in a trembling voice. She had been staring blankly into the distance for who knew how long, but now she pushed herself up and hurried toward the edge of the bubble cage.

”Is it really... you?” she whispered. ”Azul? My son?”

Azul stopped in front of her and gave a small nod. ”Yes.”

His voice trembled slightly, but he tried as hard as he could not to shed any tears. ”I’m here to save you, Mother.”

Maristella had never been the kind of mother who openly showed affection. She had never held her children close or sung them lullabies before they fell asleep. Yet as she looked at the little boy she once knew, now standing before her as a grown man, her heart filled with emotion.

”We don’t have much time, Mother,” Azul said gently. ”We’ll talk after I get you out of here.”

Only then did Maristella notice the strange layer covering Azul and the others, protecting them from the unbearable heat of the crater.

”If you remove the rocks supporting my cage, the edge of the crater will collapse,” she warned. ”The Devourers will notice right away.”

Azul looked at her without the slightest hesitation. ”Then we’ll do it quickly.”

He looked up at Zeir, who was waiting above the cage. A single glance was enough to tell Zeir he was ready to catch it.

At once, Zeir drove Azul’s spear into the rocks above the cage, trying to break them apart, while Orion used his old spear to help.

The sound of breaking stone echoed beneath the boiling water as pieces of rock fell into the crater below.

”Again!” Azul shouted.

Zeir tightened his grip on the spear and drove it down with all his strength.

Crack!

The rocks supporting the bubble cage finally gave way.

”It’s falling!” Tian shouted.

The massive bubble cage began to sink at once. Before it could drop into the crater, Zeir dove forward and caught the thick chains wrapped around it. His arms tensed as he struggled against the cage’s weight.

”I’ve got it!” he shouted through gritted teeth.

Orion immediately swam over to help, grabbing another chain.

”Tian!”

Without waiting for another order, Tian rushed to the opposite side and lifted the cage together with them.

”Pull!”

The three of them strained with all their strength, slowly dragging the heavy cage away from the collapsing edge of the crater.

At the same time, pieces of the cliff continued breaking apart behind them.

Boom!

A huge section of rock crashed into the crater, sending a cloud of hot ash and bubbles in every direction.

Maristella looked at the collapsing crater with a pale face. ”They’re coming...” she whispered.