Luo Wei continued to look down and then noticed that at the end of the book of experience, there was actually a short paragraph written in small print:
[The Holy Deed has a complete set of judgment rules. Please do not implement any bold ideas on Sally Whitemane, or the challenge will be judged as a failure.]
Bold idea?
Luo Wei was stunned for a second, then suddenly understood. If the Book hadn't warned him, he probably would've tried something outrageous. Now that he thought about it, a sense of regret welled up within him… Whitemane's long, pale legs—tsk tsk tsk.
Let's just go in and take a look.
The moment Luo Wei entered the experience space, his vision blurred for a second, and then he found himself in a grand hall.
It was somewhat dim inside, the only illumination coming from the torches along the walls. Elegant yet chilling carvings covered the structure. Golden and crimson tones intertwined, creating a bizarre blend of sacredness and slaughter—the distinct style of the Scarlet Monastery.
In World of Warcraft, the Scarlet Monastery was one of the most iconic strongholds of the Scarlet Crusade.
The Scarlet Crusade, a splinter group born from the division of the Knights of the Silver Hand, was a fanatical organization obsessed with the Holy Light. Despite fighting against the Scourge of the undead, their zealotry led them to kill indiscriminately, often causing more harm to the innocent than the wicked.
Sally Whitemane served as the High Inquisitor of the Scarlet Monastery. Her original partner, Renault Mograine, was referred to as part of the infamous "Scarlet Duo"—the Scarlet Dog and Girl.
Renault eventually met his demise, and Whitemane's partner changed afterward. At this moment, the figure that appeared before Luo Wei was none other than the man who had replaced Renault: Scarlet Commander Durand.
Durand stood tall with a blood-red sword in his hand. Looking at him, Luo Wei realized that—just like in the game—he would have to defeat the male partner first before Whitemane would make her entrance.
"You've come here only to die. I'll grant you a swift death!" the bearded Durand snarled, drawing his sword as a chilling aura emanated from it.
In the blink of an eye, Durand lunged.
Clang!
Warhammer met greatsword, and a shockwave of sparks exploded between them.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Blow after blow, they clashed rapidly—an intense duel unfolding in seconds.
The Scarlet Crusaders were also Paladins in essence. As such, the Scarlet Commander's combat style closely mirrored Luo Wei's own. They were evenly matched, at least at first glance.
However, Durand wielded his massive blood-colored greatsword with terrifying might. Each swing was brutal and overwhelming. Slowly but surely, Luo Wei began to fall behind.
Seizing a brief opening, Luo Wei slammed his Fist of Verrigan into the ground.
Sword of Justice!
From beneath the floor, a glowing blade erupted upward, cutting into Durand's leg.
But instead of being staggered, Durand roared an ominous line: "I—I am a legend!"
In the next instant, his figure vanished in a blur—either teleporting or moving too fast to see—and reappeared in front of Luo Wei. With a ruthless slash, the blood-red sword tore through his arm.
Luo Wei's eyes widened. Compared to previous enemies, Durand's weapon was far more lethal—sharper even than Hogg's fangs. Even with inner armor, his limb had been severed with ease.
Again, Durand blinked behind him and slashed, repeating the same chilling line: "I—I am a legend!"
Luo Wei managed to barely block the blow and, realizing the gap in strength, immediately exited the experience space.
"Phew—" Back in the real world, Luo Wei exhaled sharply, his face pale.
He had long known that holy challenges increased drastically in difficulty with each level, but he was still shocked by this vast jump.
Whitemane's experience trial was a duo challenge—and even the male half had already exceeded the strength of Hogg.
Seems like it's not yet time to meet Whitemane… Luo Wei thought.
Of course, he definitely wasn't looking forward to Whitemane because of her long legs. It was purely for understanding the Holy Light better—through the lens of this negative example, of course.
…
Sometime later, Luo Wei carried the little milk wolf to visit Hela once more.
To his surprise, the little wolf had finally opened its eyes. It hadn't done so in the past few days, and Luo Wei had been secretly worried that he might have picked up a blind cub.
Now, with eyes wide open, the little wolf looked far more spirited. Its big, gleaming eyes sparkled with intelligence. Though still quiet except when hungry, it curiously looked around its surroundings with a calm demeanor.
"So cute!"
Hela, who had initially looked hesitant, melted the instant she saw the wolf cub. Her voice softened, and she cradled the little creature in her arms, stroking its soft fur with genuine affection.
Though proud and usually stoic, Hela was still a woman—and the maternal instinct was deeply embedded within her. Against such a soft, innocent cub, her defenses crumbled.
The milk wolf clearly liked her too, licking her hand affectionately: "Woof."
Hela smiled warmly. "I think I like this one."
"Does it have a name?" she asked, still stroking its fur.
"Not yet. Your Highness, would you like to name it?" Luo Wei offered.
Hela pondered for a moment. "Fenris… how does that sound?"
Luo Wei had expected something like that but still asked, "Why that name? Does it have a particular meaning?"
Hela paused, continuing to stroke the wolf's tiny frame. After a long silence, she said, "It comes from a prophecy."
"A prophecy?"
Her smile faded, and her expression darkened with past memories. "The Spirit of Norn told me that Fenris will fight for me… at Ragnarok."
Then, almost hesitantly, she added: "Luo Wei… would you fight for me too?"
Luo Wei's emotions churned inside. "I will stop Ragnarok. I won't let anyone around me die because of it… including you, Your Highness."
But Hela misunderstood his intentions. Shaking her head, she sighed. "The true Ragnarok is far more complex than what you imagine… I hope you can achieve what you say."
Luo Wei didn't respond. He just stood in contemplative silence.
…
On his way back, Luo Wei felt a heavy weight on his heart.
It was now clear—Hela had already received prophetic visions from the Cave of Time, and she knew she would one day stand against Asgard.
Was prophecy truly immutable? Could fate really not be changed, even by those who were aware of it?
By the time he returned, night had fallen.
El had already gone home, but as Luo Wei approached the entrance, El stepped out, carrying a small stone being in his arms.
"Luo Wei! You're back!" El grinned. "Did you pick him up during the Hunting Festival?"
"That's right," Luo Wei replied, smiling as he flicked the little stone being on the forehead.
"He's so cute! And it's the first time I've seen a creature that eats rocks… What's his name?" El dangled a small stone in front of the creature.
"Shroot," Luo Wei answered.
"Hey!" The little stone being eagerly reached for the rock, but missed several times.
El chuckled, eventually placing the stone into the little creature's mouth.
Shroot munched happily, but then paused, his expression changing. His glowing eyes blinked as though he had just made a discovery.
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