Lawrence, having mbered back onto Toradon, wiped away an imaginary tear with his paw. "This is the pure love between young people, so wonderful, so delightful... Even without experiencing it, just witnessing it brings joy, don''t you agree, Toradon?"


    Toradon, stroking his chin, agreed, "Yes... I''m quite happy too, but it seems there''s someone here... who can''t seem to share in the joy."


    "Who! Who is so blind!" Lawrence stood up in anger, "They''re ruining the atmosphere, take them out and feed them to the dogs!"


    Toradon couldn''t help butugh, "Well, they''re clearly not happy, yet they still manage to blend into the atmosphere, they must be forcing themselves..."


    He sighed and shook his head, though his expression seemed somewhat schadenfreude, "The young lord seems... to hold quite a grudge against her."


    No feeling.


    Ravenna emphasized to herself that she shouldn''t feel anything.


    Firstly, she wasn''t in a romantic rtionship with Ansel three years ago, nor was she now, so there was no reason for her to be emotionally affected by Seraphina''s intimate gesture.


    Secondly, Ansel''s actions were clearly intentional, which went without saying.


    Thirdly, showing any negative emotions now would be greatly detrimental to herself.


    Under the pressure of these three factors, Ravenna managed to control her outward emotions well — a mere guest, not overly intimate, yet not too isted.


    She took her seat, numbly picked up her knife and fork, and waited for the birthday celebration''s protagonist to speak.


    "Now that Ansel''s gift has been given, little Seraphina, please also ept mine and Anne''s gift," melle said with a smile.


    He snapped his fingers, and the butler Saville instantly appeared behind him with a tray, walking towards the expectant Seraphina.


    "Please ept the lord and madam''s gift, Miss Seraphina," Saville said, bowing slightly and cing the tray before her.


    The girl leaned forward, eager and anxious, to see that the modestly sized te held nothing overly ornate, just a seemingly ordinary emblem.


    "This, this is..."


    "This is the emblem of Hydral, well... let''s just say, it oveps a bit with the pact head''s symbol."


    melle exined warmly. "It''s an emblem that only core members recognized by the head of the Hydral family can possess. You, little Seraphina, wouldn''t normally need it, as the pact head''s proof is more direct, but the gift Anne and I are giving you is contained within this."


    "Since it''s a storage-capable device, I initially thought to give you a ring or a pendant for convenience, but Anne reminded me... the jewelry you wear shouldn''te from me."


    He looked at Seraphina''s hands, adorned with two rings, and she, btedly realizing his intent, touched the snake ring symbolizing her pact head status, her cheeks flushing as she understood melle''s meaning.


    "So after much thought, this emblem seemed most appropriate. Carry it with you or imprint it on your clothing for its effects."


    "As for the specifics, I don''t need to be as secretive as Ans," the man said with a heartyugh.


    "It includes the essential resources for your cultivation, living funds, and various materials you might need, as well as a set of clothing that is average in protection but never wears out."


    He nced at his son, his tone somewhat resigned, "ording to Anne, I wanted to make you a suit that, once you reach the fourth stage, would allow you to y those at the fifth stage as if they were nothing, but Ans said you don''t like to rely on external things to strengthen yourself, so we made this set of clothes instead. The style...


    was chosen by Anne and Anstogether, you''ll definitely like it."


    "This is my gift to you, little Seraphina," Annelisa said with a beaming smile. "Remember to try it on tomorrow and show me, it''s sure to look wonderful."


    "Yes! Thank you, Sister Anne!" Seraphina nodded vigorously, her cheeks aglow with gratitude.


    "The gift I give you is a key, apanied by a protective spell—already imbued within the emblem itself," melle dered nonchntly.


    "Ans informed me that you require extensivebat to advance in the beast essence. Given your current strength, little Seraphina, it might not be easy to find a worthy opponent after the fourth stage. Therefore, the key is meant to unlock a Zero Realm Enigma I''ve designated—consider it a grand arena. There, you should find the inspiration to ascend to the fifth stage."


    "Fifth stage…"


    Seraphina''s eyes sparkled, "So, if I advance to the fourth stage and then go to that Zero, uh, Zero what that Mr. melle mentioned… I would have a chance to ascend to the fifth stage?"


    "I can''t speak for others, but if it''s you, little Seraphina…"


    melle, stroking his chin, smiled, "It would be a breeze."


    In short, melle had already prepared the path to ultimate power for Seraphina. As long as she followed it, she was destined to be an invincible war machine capable of crushing everything for Ansel.


    "As for the protective spell, I''ve remelted the emblem because of yourbat style, little Seraphina… it''s a bit reckless. If something happens to you, Ans would be heartbroken. The spell on the emblem can withstand any lethal attack. If the ether is exhausted, just recharge it. It won''t break all at once."


    melle shrugged, "Unless you pick a fight with a divine species. If ites to that, it will overload directly, ensuring that even if you face the full onught of a divine species, you can survive for ten seconds."


    Seraphina''s mouth fell open, "The full force of a divine species… ten seconds?!"


    "This full force… can''t really be considered a true full force. If it were a true full force, it wouldn''t be able to withstand it." melle chuckled, "But by then, Ans certainly wouldn''t let you face this situation alone. This protective spell can also help you."


    The value of these gifts… needs no further exnation.


    The depth of Hydral, as divine species, was undoubtedly revealed here—without a doubt, they should be this powerful, this invincible.


    This was just a birthday gift.


    However, although Seraphina was shocked by the value of these gifts, her mind was not entirely on them.


    Because once something bes valuable to a certain extent, she can no longer understand its level of value.


    What she felt more was… melle, Annelisa, they treated her like family, and Ansel was involved in these gifts.


    "Mr. melle, Sister Anne… thank you!"


    "You don''t need to thank us, little Seraphina."


    Annelisa spoke softly, "You just need to do what you can do, and do it to the best of your ability. That''s more meaningful than anything else."


    "What I can do…"


    Seraphina looked at Ansel, and Ansel smiled, taking the emblem from her hand and gently pinning it to her chest.


    "Not just for me, Seraphina."


    The young Hydral said, "What mother means is, live your life well."


    "I''m not that generous and kind."


    Annelisa covered her mouth and chuckled, "At the very least, there''s one thing Seraphina needs to remember, that is—"


    "I will definitely stand by Ansel''s side!"


    That decisive, firm, passionate voice made Ravenna tremble slightly.


    How… familiar words.


    She instinctively turned her head to look at the girl who had spoken these words. She was radiant, confident, and even filled with a kind of… heartfelt joy.


    Seraphina Marlowe, she was genuinely happy that she could contribute her strength to Ansel.


    "No matter what happens, no matter what I encounter, no matter who it is! Even if it''s a divine species… as long as they are Ansel''s enemies—"


    Seraphina swung her fist with force, her confident and fierce demeanor like a wolf baring its fangs.


    The fiery, unwavering light in the girl''s dark red eyes, "I will smash them all, I won''t let anyone threaten or harm Ansel!"


    Once upon a time, Ravenna had also made a simr promise.


    But now, looking at Seraphina, looking at her confident demeanor, she realized something—


    Even though she had responded to Ansel as decisively as Seraphina.


    But she didn''t have the determination to match.


    She didn''t ce Ansel… in such an important position.


    And now, why would Ansel treat her… as three years ago?


    *