When Caelus came back to his senses from the dizziness, he found himself in a place completely different from the previous scene in Belobog. There was no sky here, replaced by rock walls. The surrounding streets looked dilapidated and worn, like an old shelter buried underground.
And strikingly out of place amidst the gray, dirty environment was the person sitting before him, looking as pure and beautiful as snow at first glance.
However, upon seeing this beautiful woman, Caelus's gaze didn't soften. Instead, it instantly filled with vigilance and faint hostility. After quickly scanning the surroundings and not finding his companions, this hostility became even more pronounced.
"It's you?! What exactly are you planning... Where is this place? Where's Twilight? And the rest of the Express crew, what did you do to them?!"
*Isn't she standing right in front of you?*—Although Twilight really wanted to say this, she could only think it for now.
Looking at Caelus before her, now somewhat resembling a bristling cat, Twilight couldn't help but sigh at how drastically people change. Just a short while ago, the Caelus she saw in Penacony showed no hostility towards her upon seeing her; his attitude was quite intimate. But now, this undisguised aversion, almost as if she wanted to kill his wife—though perhaps that was indeed the case.
One could only say this happens when time flows contrary to normal perception. You think you're seeing a close friend you've spent a long time with, but in their eyes, you might just be a stranger suddenly acting overly familiar. This feeling, as if the bonds forged never existed, was quite awful. If it weren't Twilight, it would likely deal a considerable blow to one's psyche.
However, although Twilight didn't feel much personally, it didn't stop her from using this to harvest more energy.
"This is Belobog's Underworld, also the underground of Belobog."
Unexpectedly for Caelus, this woman who had previously attacked Twilight showed no malice this time, nor did she speak in cryptic riddles. After Caelus asked, she simply smiled and answered him, her gentle attitude surprising him. "Rest assured, your Twilight is still alive... at least for now. And March 7th, Dan Heng, and Yan—Mr. Welt Yang, are also unharmed. They are all still fine up in Belobog's Overworld."
"The reason I brought you here is so that before you violently resolve the Stellaron crisis without knowing anything, you first understand the real Belobog, learn what truly happened on this land, and then consider how to handle it all."
Huh...?
What was this woman talking about? Just now, Twilight had already grabbed the Stellaron; they could have solved everything immediately. Why bother coming to this Underworld...
"Think it's unnecessary trouble? After all, you have Twilight, who can solve everything, right?" Caelus felt as if the woman before him could see right through his thoughts. He had just thought of it, hadn't even said it yet, and she already gave the answer. "Don't place all your hopes on others, Caelus. What if your Twilight isn't there one day?"
"You bastard! You still intend to harm Twilight!" Caelus raged. He knew this person before him still harbored ill intentions towards Twilight!
Even if this woman suddenly kissed him at the space station earlier and showed goodwill, Caelus absolutely wouldn't waver and watch her harm Twilight. "Give up! If you want to harm her, you'll have to step over my dead body first!"
"...Rest assured, Caelus. No one in this world can step over your dead body," After a moment's silence, Caelus saw the woman before him shake her head and say softly, "But you always have to consider various possibilities. If you lose the power that helps you overcome difficulties, you must rely on your own wisdom to gather information, find clues amidst hidden trails, and deduce conclusions. Experience the true culture of each destination, get to know everything here, then make decisions—that's what a true Trailblaze journey should entail, isn't it?"
"So, while there's still someone who can protect you and solve troubles for you, observe carefully, think, and summarize your experiences."
Her words were so sincere that Caelus momentarily didn't know how to refute them. He could hear the genuine concern in her tone. Although this woman attacked Twilight earlier, she seemed to genuinely mean well for him?
"Even if you're right, why are you helping me? And if so, why didn't you bring Twilight and the others here too?!"
"Because I wanted to spend a little more time alone with you... Is that okay?"
Sincerity is always the ultimate weapon, especially against protagonists; its effect is exceptionally potent.
Besides, honestly speaking, seeing a beautiful white-haired woman looking at you pitifully, expressing from the bottom of her heart that she wants to spend a little more time alone with you... Who could refuse? Caelus himself found it a bit hard to resist...
"Fine. As long as you don't harm Twilight, I have no objections for now... Let's just see what this 'real Belobog' you speak of looks like." Caelus finally scratched his face and chose to concede.
"But I remember you said last time that this was the last time we'd meet?"
"The last time we meet..." Caelus noticed a fleeting, inexplicable sadness and weariness in her eyes, but the next moment, it turned into a slightly teasing smile. "Caelus, don't you know? The prettier the woman, the more deceitful she is?"
?!
Hearing this answer, Caelus felt like asking her if what she just said about wanting to be alone with him was true or false... But asking that question seemed like he cared a lot.
So he ultimately didn't ask, instead opting for a simpler question.
"Speaking of which, what's your name anyway? I can't just keep calling you [You] or [Hey], right?"
"...Whatever you like is fine," she smiled. "Just address me however you prefer."
Call her whatever he liked?
Caelus raised an eyebrow, several malicious options instantly popping into his mind.
Since she wanted to harm Twilight before, he could call her Bad Guy. She just teased him, so Annoying Ghost seemed fitting too. And although pretty, her pale skin looked a bit sickly, not healthy at all; Sickly Ghost also seemed appropriate...
But all these malicious thoughts vanished upon seeing the faint trace of expectation hidden deep within her eyes.
"Well, your hair is white, your eyes are white, even the dress you're wearing is white... I'll just call you Dabai [Big White]."
"Okay."
Twilight nodded. Though smiling on the surface, disappointment filled her heart.
Such a pity. Couldn't he come up with some harsher nicknames...? The meaner the name, the greater the future rewards!