NOVEL NEXT Chapter 414: Chapter410-Owen and His Admirers
When Leslie shifted her focus to Venus, the atmosphere among the gathered crowd became tense. No one dared speak, each one watching the two women with wary eyes.
Venus, however, refused to back down, meeting Leslie's gaze head-on.
The intensity of their standoff was palpable, mana rippling in turbulent waves as their gazes locked. The very fabric of the pocket dimension trembled, the air thick with the potential for an explosive confrontation.
Everyone else instinctively retreated, their hearts pounding with apprehension.
Since Venus had declared publicly her intention to marry Owen, tensions between the goddess and Leslie had been mounting. The two were like opposing titans, and any clash between them promised catastrophic consequences.
Yet, before things could escalate further, Venus suddenly withdrew her aura, breaking the tense standoff.
She glanced at Owen and said calmly, "Focus on your training. When you face Sargeras, I'll be there with you."
Her voice lingered in the air as she vanished from the pocket dimension.
Though Venus had departed, the oppressive atmosphere remained.
Her parting words—her intent to accompany Owen in his duel with Sargeras—hung heavily over the group. The upcoming battle had already drawn widespread attention across Pure Land, with countless individuals speculating about its outcome.
This wasn't just a personal grudge match; the duel would determine the future of Pure Land.
Sargeras was infamous, a nightmare-inducing name whose strength and malice were legendary.
On top of that, with The Celestial and Loki working in the shadows, there was little doubt Sargeras's power would be elevated to unimaginable heights in the two months leading up to the duel.
For Owen, the stakes were growing exponentially higher.
"Brother, let me go with you when the time comes!" Madelyn stepped forward, her expression resolute.
Though her power couldn't compare to Owen's, she had grown significantly stronger and was confident in her ability to face celestial god-tier mages.
But Owen shook his head.
"You need to stay here and look after your sister," he said firmly. "The situation is far too dangerous for you to come along."
Madelyn blinked, momentarily stunned by his outright refusal.
"But why?" she protested, her voice rising. "I'm not a child anymore! I can handle myself!"
Her words were filled with sincerity. She had worked tirelessly to grow stronger, not just for herself but to shoulder some of Owen's burdens.
Owen, however, remained unyielding. Placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, he said, "There will be other opportunities. But not this time."
Tears welled in Madelyn's eyes. "No, I want to go! The more dangerous it is, the more I want to stand by your side!"
Her determination was clear, but Owen's voice hardened. "Not this time. It's too risky. Please, listen to me."
His uncharacteristic sternness caused Madelyn to falter, her lips trembling as tears spilled from her eyes.
Leslie watched the exchange with growing curiosity. Owen, usually so gentle with Madelyn, was now resolute in his refusal. His willingness to allow Venus to accompany him, however, raised questions in her mind.
The explanation was clear—whatever Owen was planning, it was more perilous than he was letting on.
While the group settled back into an uneasy calm, the looming shadow of the death duel persisted.
As word of the battle spread throughout Pure Land, discussions among mages grew louder and more fervent.
"The duel is only six days away now," one mage remarked anxiously.
"Time flew by too fast. If Owen loses, we'll be plunged back into an era of terror and cleansing."
"Owen has to win!"
"Sargeras is terrifying, but Owen isn't ordinary. He's the greatest prodigy in history, and his strength only grows when challenged. He'll triumph this time too!"
"That's right. All we can do now is believe in him!"
As the days dwindled, the impending duel consumed the thoughts of mages and leaders alike. Even top-tier strategists couldn't predict the outcome, their foresight clouded by uncertainty.
For many, the duel represented the thin line between salvation and ruin.
Meanwhile, Owen seemed remarkably calm, spending his time in the pocket dimension with Leslie and the others.
The usually tense and reserved Leslie appeared to have softened, treating everyone with an uncharacteristic warmth.
At one point, Owen accompanied Leslie on a stroll through the pocket dimension, where others busied themselves with various activities:
Seraphina and Audrey splashed playfully in the Spring of Life beneath the Tree of World.
Madelyn and Diana meditated under the tree, absorbing its Order energy.
Rachel led the Dragon Princess on a leisurely exploration of the dimension.
Ysera and Charlotte delivered fresh fruits and delicacies to share with everyone.
Even rivals like the Lord of Celestial God Palace and Flora had set aside their differences, their attention focused squarely on Owen and the implications of his duel.
After their walk, Owen and Leslie returned to the palace.
"Only six days left," Leslie said, her tone unusually solemn.
Owen gave a quiet nod but avoided delving into the matter further.
He didn't want Leslie to worry any more than she already did. Her sharp intuition might also lead her to uncover things he wasn't ready to share.
Noticing his stoic demeanor, Leslie's expression softened. A rare, sweet smile graced her lips as she said, "Let me accompany you to Demon Realm when the time comes."
Owen shook his head, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
"Little Leslie will arrive soon. Focus on her and stay here to rest. I'll handle everything. Trust me."
Leslie nodded but hesitated. A thought crossed her mind, and she looked at Owen intently.
"If that's what you're worried about," she said, "then know this: Little Leslie can arrive sooner than expected."
Owen blinked, momentarily confused.
Leslie raised one hand, forming a series of intricate seals.
Mana and life energy from the pocket dimension converged toward her, swirling into a massive inverted pyramid above her head.
The immense surge of energy drew everyone's attention, leaving them stunned and wondering what was happening.
"What an incredible phenomenon! What is Leslie doing?"
Inside the pocket dimension, everyone was drawn to the powerful energy radiating from the central palace.