"Who?!"

  Noble Indolence barely manages to rise from her bed when three women appear in her room. In the dim light, she could sense they were hunters far stronger than herself, and the only way to confront them was through careful planning, magic formations specially designed to kill them.

  She is not one to use her body to fight, such a thing would be a waste of her talent. By focusing her entire being on magic formations, she has glimpsed a Way related to them, but she can also feel it is a Way that will not lead her to the top, yet she has continued trying to break through all barriers.

  Because she knows that at some point, she will achieve authenticity.

  Maintaining her pride, she sits up in bed.

  "I'll be honest, I have never seen any of you in my entire life, I have a good memory, I know what I'm talking about. I do not wish to deepen this grudge, could you tell me who you are and what I did wrong?"

  Unexpectedly, the woman named Coldness Divine reveals her name and that of the others, 'Why does she do it? Do I seem so inferior in their eyes that they don't even try to lie to me?'

  After the introduction, she discovers the reason for these women's arrival and the reconstruction of a magic formation. Initially, she read the spellbook without any motivation, but after reading the last page, she understands why these women are willing to go so far.

  After securing her own life by trusting the word of a dragon, Noble Indolence is surprised once again when she receives a scheduling and the first part already resolved.

  'How is it possible? Did these women investigate me? How much do they know about me?'

  Her body freezes the moment she grasps the indecipherable first part and the meticulous scheduling.

  'It's as if it were written by my own hand!'

  She has certain idioms, personal terminology to summarize complex problems. On these pages, they abound. If that were all, it would not cause much of an impression, but there are results that are taken for granted, processes continue, and only in the end is an answer obtained, just as she would do it!

  'Someone is behind these women. Coldness Divine might have been chosen because of the hostility she feels towards me, have I harmed one of her loved ones? The loved one of a heartless dragon? Hmph, impossible.'

  Noble Indolence puts aside her thoughts and writes the second part of the development of the magic formation Denial Domain, but hours later, a chance to escape arises.

  "Commander, have you decided to take the day off?"

  'This insolent man... At any other time, he would be punished for using the code offensively. Take the day off? Ha! As if I could!'

  Without changing her expression, she casually replies, "That's right. Carry out the usual rounds, do not disturb me for today."

  "Understood, I will let the rest know."

  Her subordinate's response satisfies her. He may have infuriated her on purpose with the sole intent of drawing her attention, she knows many of her subordinates, even from other barracks, are attracted to her. Only this foolish subordinate is willing to go to such extremes to gain her interest.

  That he immediately understood that she was in trouble makes her feel satisfied.

  But then, she notices that the two women who have not spoken so far seem to exchange glances, the next second her discomfort becomes a reality and a sound is heard behind the door.

  'It can't be...'

  Serene Will opens the door and her subordinate is dragged into her room. The man's eyes never left her.

  "What do you think you are doing?! I thought only I would be--!"

  "Spoke in code, punish her."

  The man is killed by that woman while he continues to look at her, at the same time Coldness Divine holds her and pulls a knife from her storage ring.

  Cutting off her ears.

  'I'll kill her, I'll kill her!'

  She still maintains the magic formations of the room and according to Coldness Divine, something will happen after 24 hours. If she can endure a few more hours, a new opportunity will arise, and she will not miss it!

  Time later the second part ends successfully.

  "Now keep your word and leave here."

  The 24 hours are about to be fulfilled, Noble Indolence has succeeded. No matter what happens, as long as a small gap is created, she is sure in knowing how to use it wisely. But no matter how much she waited, nothing seems out of the ordinary. As if... As if there was never any danger to these women, that those 24 hours meant something completely different. Something impossible for her to use.

  Then the tragedy occurs.

  Coldness Divine does not keep her word and tries to kill her, she uses the magic formations in the room to escape, but all are destroyed by a magic artifact named Cardinal Inscription. Although Coldness Divine looked at her companion with hatred, she still did not stop her fan from trying to take her life.

  From her insults, Noble Indolence was able to discern a few things.

  'Why does this woman insult me with deeds I never committed?'

  Her last action is to spit in her face before losing consciousness forever.

  Noble Indolence has died.

  Coldness Divine breathes more easily and then looks back. She clicks her tongue upon seeing those expressions again.

  "And this is only the second time…"

  After consuming the Boundless Fruit, her innate ability grants her immunity from the fear of death, but this does not mean that death does not harm her.

  With her own hand, she ends her life.

  Coldness Divine has died.

  +++

  Regression number 3.

  "I already know what will happen, these two variations are enough."

  After controlling Noble Indolence and forcing her to continue with the third part, Coldness Divine turns to Sky Petal.

  "That time you followed Lawrence trying to discover the flora you couldn't find while being in this place, you can go and try again. Even I am curious if there might be a plant that only grows in this subspace."

  Sky Petal's eyes sparkle upon hearing her words. From the beginning, her intention to come to this place was to discover the unique flora that may inhabit a subspace, it was then and it is now.

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  "Will she be all right? Our level might be sufficient, but if a problem occurs..."

  Only Serene Will argues about this.

  "Ha! Sky Petal may be the weakest of the three, but in life-or-death battles, she will be the last to die... if that's even possible."

  Serene Will blinks with curiosity upon hearing this. She knows that Coldness Divine has witnessed futures that never materialized and perhaps, in one of them, glimpsed the potential of Sky Petal.

  "I can't say no if you put it that way." Serene Will sighs and this time looks at Sky Petal, "But you must tell us where you're going and must return bringing the plant, only that way Coldness Divine will know where it is located and what it looks like."

  Coldness Divine agrees and adds: "I'll take it as you found nothing if I don't see you again in this regression."

  Cheerfully, Sky Petal tells them the place she is heading to and then jumps out the window, "I'll be right back!"

  Once she leaves the place, Serene Will remembers something.

  "In the next regression bring Ruk with you, that will make things easier for Sky Petal."

  Lawrence needed him to communicate with queen Reminiscent Euphony, but that is no longer the case. There won't be any problems in bringing him back, especially since this day will never happen.

  "..."

  She nods silently.

  The third regression ends. Sky Petal was not seen again.

  +++

  Regression number 31.

  "Noble Indolence, I've always been curious about something."

  "Hm! Hmm! Hm!"

  "Your innate ability is related to magic formations, isn't it? Otherwise, someone without a background like yours couldn't have defeated a dragon. That reminds me, how did you manage to do it?"

  "Hmph, if you're going to do something to him, end his life quickly."

  "This man? Ha, don't pretend to be someone you're not. You never cared about one of your subordinates... or perhaps, did this trash catch your attention?"

  Unlike other regressions, this time the subordinate couldn't even touch the door, Serene Will skillfully brought him into the room and handed him over to Coldness Divine at her request. Normally she wouldn't do something like this, but seeing the appearance of Coldness Divine, Serene Will understood that the regressions were affecting her slowly but insidiously.

  She needed to find something to entertain herself to mark a change.

  As subtle as it might be.

  "If you think having that man will make a difference, you are very mistaken."

  Coldness Divine sees the indifferent look of Noble Indolence and smiles. "What's the relationship between those two?"

  "He has been courting her for a while. He may be weak, but his thoughts toward her are different from the rest."

  Initially, Noble Indolence thought that question was directed at her, but she shuddered when she realized that Serene Will was the one who answered. 'Who is this woman? Is she the one who investigated me before?'

  "I'll give him a quick death if you satisfy my curiosity."

  "Kill him."

  Coldness Divine smiles at her response. This is the woman she knows, who has stood in her way countless times with vanity and pride, ready to retract her word when something did not suit her.

  "That's the woman you fell in love with, choose better next time."

  At first glance, it appears that her fan is not a weapon for cutting, but that is exactly what is happening with the fan in her hand. Coldness Divine slowly cuts the flesh of this man and listens as his laments spill from his lips, his hatred towards her, and his broken heart whose owner is that elf who didn't lift a finger to help him.

  When the subordinate dies, there's nothing left that can classify him as human. Despite this, Coldness Divine has not a single drop of blood on her body.

  She puts away her fan and approaches Noble Indolence. "I'm glad you didn't speak, seeing your pathetic side once more would ruin the little esteem I have for you."

  Noble Indolence frowns, her response different from what she expected.

  "Don't continue writing, I gave up in this regression. I also don't think you have the mindset to keep doing it, so let's do something different. Something out of the routine."

  When the hands of that dragon reach for her head, Noble Indolence feels the danger, but even knowing it beforehand, she couldn't escape from her reach.

  "What are you doing?! Will you break your word--?!"

  The next moment all her resistance disappears and although she cannot move her body, her thoughts still fluctuate. The only thing she can feel at this moment is... fear.

  Seconds later, Coldness Divine steps away from her and says: "Bark."

  "Woof!"

  Noble Indolence's memories have been completely manipulated.

  "Now, answer my questions."

  "Yes." Noble Indolence nods submissively, "My innate ability is Pillars of Fate, I can understand all the magic formations and their foundations."

  Coldness Divine is surprised to hear her description. "All? Can you recreate all the formations you've witnessed?"

  "That's a difficult question to answer, because while it's true that so far I have been able to recreate many of them, I can feel that it's not an absolute skill. At my current level, I have no rivals, but that's only at this level."

  Noble Indolence explains that she has obtained all her current knowledge by witnessing the magic formations of recognized rankers in the Heavenly Path Kingdom. Thanks to this, she has not needed any spellbook or a manual to learn. Someone like her, without a background or a sponsor, has achieved her current position through arduous efforts.

  "As for your earlier question..."

  She explains how she defeated a dragon and why she did it. Her description did not stray too far from what Coldness Divine imagined. Noble Indolence really killed a level 600 dragon, even when a ranker of level 699 might not necessarily be able to do it. Perhaps a ranker of level 700 could gain an advantage by demonstrating their Way, but the outcome would only be clear once the encounter was over.

  Such is the feat accomplished by Noble Indolence.

  Which brings up a new question.

  "Why is a woman like you in this kind of place?"

  Her hatred may be directed towards her, but this elf is not the same as hours ago. She obediently apologizes without knowing what her mistake is, but her trust in Coldness Divine is such that she doesn't doubt that she must be right and she herself who is wrong.

  "Tsk, just answer."

  After hearing her story, Coldness Divine snorts.

  "Ha! How stupid. A whole life wasted for that."

  The regression ends differently than previous ones, Noble Indolence did not die this time. It wouldn't please her to kill her while in these conditions.

  +++

  Regression number 74?

  Coldness Divine lies back on the bed, regardless of the sound made by that woman's pencil as she writes at great speed, she closes her eyes and remembers her conversation with Lawrence.

  [If what you say is true, Noble Indolence may be able to reconstruct this magic formation, but what's the point in telling me when both of us know we won't be able to get her out of that place? Are you mocking me?]

  At this point she even misses that bad talk of her husband.

  [Coldness Divine, we both know that if a woman like her disappears, it will complicate the plans I have for Prescribed Dream. I'm already risking my neck by being the only common dao protector in all the previous cases. If you add to this the renewed security after Noble Indolence's disappearance, why not just put the noose around my neck and ask me to die?]

  Remembering this, she smiles. Her response was something like...

  [She's the only one who can do it, or... Do you have such confidence that Decaying Flame could achieve something similar? Lawrence, that man had daggers at his waist, magic formations are not his main specialty. He might be a chosen child in his sect, but against someone who achieved the same as him and without help, Noble Indolence would be the next sect master in his place.]

  Lawrence reacts with surprise, not at the compliments from Coldness Divine, but at the intent of her words.

  [Are you...?]

  [I'll repeat that day as many times as necessary to update the magic formation Denial Domain.]

  [You're crazy. You'll be even more so if you achieve it.]

  [That's the importance I've given to that little book you were tossing in the air as if it were nothing.]

  [You know I like to play with what others treasure. The look on Serene Will's face at that moment was quite entertaining, you would have liked to see it.]

  Even more memories swirl in her head, all with the single goal of maintaining her sanity. This day has been repeated so many times she doesn't remember how many they have been, no, she doesn't want to remember them, there's no reason to do so.

  Today she just felt that she knew the future, this is her first time living it in the flesh. The memories of past regressions are not hers, nor does she need them.

  Deep down she knows she is lying to herself, since among her past regressions there are memories she doesn't want to forget. They may be memories that will never happen, but they are no less true than the reality she is living at the moment.

  Reality that will become just memories for her next regression.

  'If one day I had to witness the death of Lawrence countless times in one day, could I endure as much as now?'

  If an enemy like that appeared, capable of forcing her to repeat a day indefinitely, she can't assure that she will remain the same. Because of this fear she decided to accept this challenge, knowing that in the future a catastrophe will arise in which she will have no choice but to face it.

  When Noble Indolence finishes writing, Coldness Divine looks at Serene Will and, contrary to other regressions, this time she shakes her head.

  "She created intentional flaws, errors very difficult to find."

  Noble Indolence stands up from her seat and shouts: "How dare you say such--?!"

  "You never cease to amaze me, Noble Indolence."

  "No, wait. I didn't--"

  Time played against her, so in this regression Noble Indolence was unable to resolve the cracks in her development, but she was able to mention them and indicate their location. Serene Will confirmed the truth of these and only then did Coldness Divine kill her.

  As she was about to end her own life, an eagle with dragon's eyes appears at the window. It opens its beak and then, a plant and a note appear in the room.

  After memorizing them, Coldness Divine ends this regression.

  Time and again this day was repeated, but it was never the same day. There were always variations, changes that Serene Will or even Coldness Divine brought about.

  Until at some point the distant goal is within her reach.

  The next regression is the last.

  The end of this endless day.