Annelisa confidently patted her chest, "Of course, a good woman like me is second to none in the world. So even if it''s not about good character, it must be sufficiently stable, calm, and resilient, not easily disturbed by the abyss''s erosion."


    "Hmm... And then?"


    "And then?"


    Annelisa tilted her head, "There''s no more, as long as these two criteria are met, and the stronger these qualities are, the more suitable one is to be the Head of Soul."


    Ansel looked towards thewn, his voice even, "Are there no requirements for strength?"


    "The Head of Soul is not a fighter! The requirements for strength are for the Head of Strength, the Head of Magic, those pact heads."


    Although Annelisa had just been unting her strength to Ansel, when it came to serious education, she ceased her yful antics. Prodding Ansel''s head, she teased, "Do you really wish for eight heads, all bred solely forbat? Your prowess, Hydral, stems from a broad spectrum of abilities."


    Despite Annelisa''s remarks, Ansel seemed reluctant to concede. Holding his mother''s hand gently, he whispered, "But isn''t the soul, as the foundation of an extraordinary being, indicative of immense power?"


    "It''s only because I''ve devoted my main efforts tobating the abyssal corruption," Annelisa retorted with a pout, yfully throwing punches, "Otherwise, I alone could defeat Lawrence and all them!"


    "Really?"


    "Uh... not currently, no."


    "What if five fifth-stage extraordinary beings attacked together? Could mother not ovee them?"


    "I''ve told you, I''m not a mere fighter!"


    Annelisa, flustered, thumped Ansel on the head, "Promise me, Ans! You mustn''t seek a head of soul with the same criteria used for finding a fighter, understand?"


    Amidst his mother''s constant care, Ansel responded tenderly, "I understand, Mother."


    After wandering a bit more, Ansel suddenly inquired, "So, Mother, as the mightiest Head of Soul... can you make contact with Father, even now he''s deep within the Zero Realm Enigma?"


    The soul of the head of soul would intertwine with Hydral''s soul in a union profoundly distinct from other pact heads, akin to a seamless integration, enabling a perfect sharing of burdens. Even should the Head of Soul perish, the integrated part will remain within Hydral''s soul, ensuring to the greatest extent the preservation of Hydral''s sanity.


    Such intimacy, beyond verbal expression, allows for a connection that transcends the understanding of extraordinary beings.


    "Well..."


    Annelisa closed her eyes, and after a moment, shook her head, "Last night, we managed to exchange a few words intermittently, but now I can only faintly sense that Mel is still out there."


    "That idiot, always wandering so far!" she eximed irritably, "If he keeps wandering off after he returns, see if I don''t thrash him!"


    "Hmm... That must be very important to Father."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Is it more important than staying with me and you? To neglect his wife and son, what a scoundrel!"


    Lady Hydral huffed in annoyance, then looked solemnly at Ansel, "You must not follow in your father''s footsteps, Ans. Be a boy who is gentle with girls, understand?"


    "I will, Mother."


    "Good boy~"


    After engaging in casual conversation, Ansel informed Annelisa of his intention to visit the study of melle. Understanding his nature, Annelisa casually permitted him to leave.


    Once he hadpletely left the garden, Ansel still endeavored to maintain hisposure, not wishing any passing servant to witness the distress on his face.


    It won''t do...


    Young Hydral murmured in his heart: Informing his mother in advance and having her face it was not an option either.


    From the moment he foresaw the futurest night, he hadn''t closed his eyes for a second, rejecting one n after another.


    Initially, Ansel''s first thought was to flee—to a ce unknown to anyone, even if it meant escaping to the Zero Realm Enigma.


    But within seconds, he dismissed the idea.


    Because... the assassin''s preparations were too thorough.


    The operationmanded by melle to search for materials by the pact heads was conducted in secrecy. They not only knew about this but also knew exactly when melle would withdraw all pact heads and gather them in the Zero Realm Enigma, and even the specific location of the assassination—the floral space specially created by melle for Annelisa!


    It is known that although Hydral was nominally "granted" a fief by the empress, owning his own territory within the empire, there was never a subordinate rtionship. The awe Hydralmanded in his territory, having been established over a millennium, had formed a domain that not even the empress could easily spy into.


    And these people could breach Hydral''s domain, even seeing through this secret space known only to their family of three, which meant... no matter where he fled, it would be futile.


    His second thought was to seek asylum.


    Whose protection? Only the empress''s protection, of course.


    But this idea was also quickly dismissed.


    In a world with only four divine species... who could achieve this? Who could execute such a definitive act?


    Although the empress ostensibly had no conflict with Hydral, relying instead on Hydral to ascend to the seventh stage by burning and absorbing vast world information, who could rify what the increasingly senile and mad Ephesande was thinking? Nothing she did woulde as a surprise!


    Then, there was his recent probe with Annelisa—hoping by informing her in advance, to prepare his mother for a confrontation with those five fifth-stage extraordinary beings.


    But as it turned out... those five assassins, capable of nearly instantaneously killing Annelisa in two seconds, were not opponents that Annelisa, not adept atbat, could confront with mere preparation.


    Meanwhile, Summoning other fifth-stage extraordinary beings as reinforcements was indeed a desperate measure. Should he inadvertently alert the adversaries, the meticulously nned timing would transform into an uncertainty. Before melle''s return, they couldunch an assassination at any moment, thereby stripping Ansel of his sole advantage.


    Moreover, the hope of summoning melle back through the profound connection between the head of soul and Hydral''s soul had be a luxury: His father... had ventured too far into the depths.


    -->