Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 233: Chapter 232: Everyone Has a Rebellious Phase (Part 2)

Facing Shana’s dissatisfaction, Wilhelmina nevertheless turned a blind eye.

“But he killed a Fire Mist Warrior, which means there was a hostile act between him and the Fire Mist Warrior. We can’t ignore that, can we?”

“Most certainly not.”

“Isn’t that because they tried to steal his Noble Phantasm first? Fang Zheng isn’t someone who backs down easily; don’t we all know that?”

Indeed, both Shana and Wilhelmina had once fought to take away Fang Zheng’s Zero Hour Resurgence. However, when facing Shana, Fang Zheng only defeated her. As for Wilhelmina, she was left half-dead by him. So Shana knew better than anyone else that despite the man’s usual pleasant demeanor, he wouldn’t hesitate to show no mercy when he truly got serious.

As for the Fire Mist Warriors who were killed, Shana didn’t think it was a big deal either. She was actually quite similar to Nanoka, for not being born out of vengeance, thus always feeling out of place among other Fire Mist Warriors. Moreover, the fact that they had ganged up on Fang Zheng “in numbers against few” really irked her. Had she been there, Shana probably couldn’t have resisted drawing her sword to help eliminate those bastards herself.

After all, there was not much sense of camaraderie among the Fire Mist Warriors. Fighting and killing each other was common, so Shana didn’t understand at all why Wilhelmina insisted on joining forces with her to crusade against Fang Zheng, who wasn’t even a Follower of the Crimson Realm!

“The Zero Hour Resurgence is not a Noble Phantasm meant to be possessed by humans.”

However, what puzzled Shana was that Wilhelmina seemed to be quite persistent on this point.

“Great power leads to losing one’s way. From what I see, that man has already lost himself in power and has become our enemy,” Wilhelmina declared.

“I don’t believe Fang Zheng is that kind of person.”

Shana shook her head; having spent so much time with Fang Zheng, she saw no signs of him losing himself to power.

“That is merely the man’s façade in front of you.”

“Wilhelmina, why do you always have such a dislike for Fang Zheng?”

This time, Shana couldn’t hold back anymore, or perhaps she’d had enough. Ever since Fang Zheng left, Wilhelmina had been telling Shana that she was deceived and tempted by him, hoping she would come to her senses and reclaim the glory of being a Fire Mist Warrior. But Shana just couldn’t understand why Wilhelmina would say that; she and Aralastor had been with Fang Zheng for so long, while Wilhelmina had only fought him once, probably not even for a full hour. How could she think she understood Fang Zheng better than Shana and Aralastor?

Were she and Aralastor blind?

In the past, Shana could tolerate Wilhelmina’s words; after all, the woman had raised her from a young age and meant well. But now, Wilhelmina was even planning to take her to attack Fang Zheng? This was something Shana could not abide.

“I’ve learned a lot from Fang Zheng, and my abilities have improved, haven’t they? You saw it for yourself during our confrontation with that mad professor, didn’t you?”

What Shana referred to was a battle that had taken place in Goki City not long before. For unknown reasons, the mad professor Dantalian, a Follower of the Crimson Realm, had come to Goki City and used a strange Free Method that the Formal Rider Kamsin had set up there to repair the distorted pitch.

Although his intentions were unclear, ultimately, Dantalian’s assault was repelled with the combined efforts of Shana, Wilhelmina, Kamsin, and Marjorine.

In that battle, the power Shana demonstrated earned the admiration of both Kamsin and Marjorine. This pleased Shana greatly, as it proved her efforts were fruitful.

But only Wilhelmina seemed unsatisfied with this.

“As a Contractor of Catastrophic Fire, such a level of power is expected. Even without that man, you would have mastered this power sooner or later,” Wilhelmina insisted.

“Wilhelmina, that comment is a bit too biased!”

At this point, Aralastor, who could no longer stand idly by, finally broke his silence.

“This child’s growth to this point is certainly due to Fang Zheng’s teaching, but her own hard work is indispensable. You saying this…”

“Yet, compared to the previous ‘Fiery Eye,’ she is still far behind,” Wilhelmina persisted without letting the Demon God’s objection stop her.

“This child is not yet mature enough. No matter what, she must become a qualified ‘Catastrophic Fire’ Contractor. But looking at her now, I am very disappointed,” Wilhelmina concluded.

“Disappointed… is that so?”

It was at this moment that Wilhelmina realized Shana had lowered her head and was clenching her fists tightly.

“Yes, to boldly and resolutely strive to survive with confidence, strength, and determination. To live with tenacity and strength of will by oneself, that is the true Fire Mist Warrior,” Wilhelmina proclaimed.

These were the words Shana had heard from Wilhelmina since she was young, but for some reason, this time, Shana suddenly thought of Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng had taught her the same, to live with confidence, strength, and perseverance, but his approach was entirely different from Wilhelmina’s.

Wilhelmina sought to keep herself distant from all things in the world, content to reign supreme alone. Because a Fire Mist Warrior is solitary, there is no need to invest emotions in unnecessary things.

But Fang Zheng’s understanding was different. In his eyes, even an elephant would frolic in the mountains and play with rocks and flowers, yet it would never forget its identity as the sovereign of the forest. It could lie leisurely on the riverbank, spraying water while coexisting peacefully with other animals. But it could also, when danger approached, bare its tusks, lift its trunk, and emit an angry roar to intimidate and kill its enemies.

Because an elephant will always be an elephant; it doesn’t become a sheep just by mingling with them.

“But isn’t that… cowardice?”

Shana raised her head to look at Wilhelmina, her eyes revealing emotions devoid of any hint of wavering.

“Shana?”

Aralastor also seemed surprised by the change in his Contractor.

“Wilhelmina, you always keep me away from everything. Why is that? Will everything I come into contact with really make me forget the mission of the Fire Mist Warrior and turn me weak? Do you have so little faith in me?”

“But your current behavior is far from ‘the Fiery Eye that persecutes,’” continued Wilhelmina. “The previous ‘Catastrophic Fire’ was one loyal to her desires, completing everything without relying on others, a formidable being who would triumph over any obstacle by her own strength… ”

“But that was the predecessor!”

Shana’s roar interrupted Wilhelmina’s speech, and she glared at Wilhelmina, then placed her hand on her chest.

“I am different from her; I am the current ‘Fiery Eye that persecutes’—Shana! Not Matilda!”

“……….”

“……….”

Facing Shana’s sudden outburst, Wilhelmina, Tiamat, and Aralastor were all stunned.

“I am Shana, I have my own way! Why can’t you understand that, Wilhelmina?”

“Because it is not right,” Wilhelmina said after a moment of silence.

“I once promised Matilda to foster a Fire Mist Warrior as remarkable and excellent as herself. This was my promise to her, and my mission.”

“Ten Thousand Skilled Hands!”

Struck by what Wilhelmina said, Aralastor suddenly thought of something and wanted to shout a warning. However, Shana had already stepped back abruptly as if she did not recognize the woman before her, staring at Wilhelmina.

“So you mean to say, if I’m not as exceptional as her, then you won’t acknowledge me as a Fire Mist Warrior?”

“Exactly.”

“I……….”

Hearing this, Shana turned pale. She clenched her fists and ground her teeth.

“I hate you the most, Wilhelmina!!!”

Shana roared with all her might at the woman before her, then turned and rushed off the balcony. Flames then sprouted wings behind her, carrying the girl away in a streak of fire into the night.

Wilhelmina stood there, dumbfounded, watching the girl’s retreating figure. Her eyes rounded, showing an unfathomable shake—indeed, as a Caretaker, Wilhelmina truly believed that. Raising the girl before her into a Fire Mist Warrior as strong as her good friend Matilda, living up to the name of “Catastrophic Fire,” was her belief and her practice.

What could possibly be wrong?

Why, why did things turn out this way?

Wilhelmina did not think she was wrong, this was her duty, her mission. The girl had never shown any resistance to it before, but why did she utter such words this time?

Endless sorrow welled up from within, but it quickly turned into anger.

It was all because of that man.

If it wasn’t for him, the girl would not have lost her way; she would have followed the path Wilhelmina envisioned, step by step, to become a perfect Fire Mist Warrior. Not like now; if it weren’t for him, she and the girl would not have come to such an impasse…

“Fang Zheng…”

Muttering this name under her breath, Wilhelmina looked at the letter in her hand once more.

There was a call to arms.

To be precise, it was a call for the Fire Mist Warriors to hunt down Fang Zheng.

Humans were not allowed to prevail over Fire Mist Warriors, and many warriors could not tolerate such a challenge. Wilhelmina had been undecided until now, but she had made up her mind.

“He must be eradicated, at all costs…”

“Completely eradicated.”

Clenching the letter in her hand, Wilhelmina resolved herself.