Chapter 69: Linsley's Discussion With Evangeline
[You nodded again, leaning back against the bed. "I do. I also saw everything that happened after my death. I watched what you went through, what you did…" You paused, then added, "The timeline was reset because of my ability, and you retained your memories because of it too."]
[You hadn\'t lied, but you hadn\'t told the whole truth either.]
[It was true that your system was the reason behind the reset, and you considered it an extension of your abilities, though you didn\'t mention anything about the system itself.]
[To prove your point, you recounted everything Evangeline had experienced after your death. Every detail, every struggle, even the revelation of her true identity as the Goddess of Winter.]
Experience the excitement on m_vl_em_p_yr
[As you spoke, you could see the flicker of recognition in her eyes, the confirmation that you knew things only someone with true knowledge of her past could.]
[She sighed softly, relief and determination mixing in her expression.]
["So you really do know," she said, her voice quieter now. "If that\'s the case, then we stand a chance. The Outer God will finally be defeated. With someone like you, a regressor who can keep trying until he succeeds, even the first failed attempt won\'t matter."]
[Hearing Evangeline\'s words, you pointed out, "That might be true, but we still have one problem left."]
["If I absorb and complete your Winter godhead, using it as my own—like what I\'m doing now since you know I\'ve already reached Celestial status and become a god—then you won\'t be able to restore your former power and become the Goddess of Winter again."]
["And then there\'s the fact that you currently have seven avatar crystals, which I need to attain Ascendence. I don\'t want to kill you, but I also need to become stronger. So, it\'s really a huge dilemma."]
[As Evangeline listened to your concerns, she replied without hesitation, "That\'s not a problem. I want to eliminate the Outer God more than anything. That monster will enslave all of humanity and corrupt this world with its vile existence."]
["If it\'s you, I don\'t mind giving you my avatar crystals," she added. "Unlike others who need to die for their avatar crystals to drop, I have full control over mine since they\'re the shattered fragments of my Winter godhead. I can easily remove the seven avatar crystals from my soul."]
[Evangeline\'s assurance continued, "So, I can give you my seven avatar crystals without having to sacrifice my life. I can also offer you the Solstice Family\'s avatar crystal, and as for the last thirteen, you can eliminate Hellhound to obtain them."]
[Feeling relieved that Evangeline didn\'t need to die, you pondered aloud, "Since you don\'t have to die, you could still become the Goddess of Winter if I die first. But right now, the only ones who can kill me are the Forest God Kania or that damn Outer God."]
[At the mention of Kania and the Outer God, Evangeline hesitated for a moment, as if deciding whether to tell you something important. Finally, she spoke, "I think the Outer God isn\'t our only problem."]
[Evangeline\'s tone grew more serious as she added, "I suspect Kania has colluded with the Outer God. His actions have been suspicious. He\'s never risked his life to attack the Outer God, as if he\'s in cahoots with him. Of course, there\'s a chance Kania is just a coward, which he is, but I believe there\'s more to it."]
["If Kania has truly betrayed the world and humanity, then it\'ll be up to the two of us to stop him," Evangeline said gravely. "We\'d have to face not only the Outer God but Kania as well."]
[You nodded in agreement. "After seeing the events of the past timeline following my death, I also have my suspicions about Kania. Even if he isn\'t involved, we\'ll confirm it after I reach Ascendence. If both the Outer God and Kania try to stop us, make sure you take the godhead from my body."]
[With a firm tone, you added, "If Kania really did ally with the Outer God, I\'ll kill him, even if it costs me my life. But if I fall, I need you to take my godhead before the Outer God can. I\'ll handle Kania, and I\'ll leave the Outer God to you."]
["If I die, I\'ll use my last strength to escape and ensure my body ends up near you so you can retrieve my godhead," you promised.]
[Although Evangeline trusted your ability to reset the timeline after death, she couldn\'t help but feel uneasy. Yet, she didn\'t try to dissuade you and instead offered her full support.]
[Evangeline vowed, "I swear, if you fall, I\'ll kill the Outer God. And after I regain my full power, I\'ll find a way to resurrect you."]
[While her resolve was strong, you had your doubts. You weren\'t sure if Evangeline\'s attempt to resurrect you would work—after all, this was still a simulation, and your death would likely reset the timeline. You didn\'t know if the simulation would restart if she succeeded in reviving you or if it would result in failure.]
[Still, you outwardly agreed with her, but you decided to warn her, "I\'m not sure whether you\'ll be able to bring me back after I die. My death could reset the world, and that might conflict with the rules of my ability. Honestly, I don\'t fully understand the limits of my power."]
[You continued, feeding her a mixture of truth and misdirection, "I\'ve never encountered a situation where I\'d be resurrected after my ability activates. You can try, but don\'t be too hard on yourself if it doesn\'t work. Even if I die, I won\'t truly be dead as long as my ability is still in play."]