"This is a command brand."
Daidalos displayed the back of her right hand. On it was an imprint encircled by an astral ring, featuring at its center a crown set with four gemstones. "It also represents the ranks the Observer of the End has assigned to us.
"Although he cannot speak, the authority he wields is distributed through the command brands to those he holds dear, based on the bonds he maintains. The five gems represent, respectively, the 'Queen' who shares his power, the 'Prime Minister' in charge of administration, the 'Advisor' who offers counsel, the 'Vicar' who carries out missions, and the 'Messenger' who conveys orders."
Daidalos glanced at the back of Sonia's hand. "You are the supreme 'Queen,' and I am the 'Prime Minister,' one rank below you. We both stand within the chain of authority belonging to the Observer of the End. You should already feel the suppression you hold over me, my Queen."
Indeed, it was so.
Though it was hard to believe, Sonia truly sensed that her status was superior to Daidalos's. The sudden ambush by Felix and Daidalos earlier had left her thoroughly enraged; with a single shift of her thought, Felix fell to her knees with a sharp thud.
The second young miss of the Vosloda family felt profoundly aggrieved. Since growing up, when had she ever knelt before anyone? She felt an urge to simply fight the Sword Princess to the bitter end.
Yet when she lifted her head, she saw Daidalos kneeling on the floor as well. Unlike her, however, the Chaotic Songstress gazed at Sonia with tear-filled eyes, her face brimming with contrition and sincerity.
"I'm sorry, Queen! It was Daidalos who lacked foresight, not realizing you are the companion the Observer of the End loves best, values most, and wishes to spend his entire life with." Daidalos shuffled forward on her knees before Sonia, hugging the Sword Princess's thigh and pleading for forgiveness. "From now on, I will strive solely for the Queen's happiness and never allow outsiders near the Observer of the End. In the Secret Garden, there will only ever be the two of you!"
*Little trumpet!*
Although Sonia truly wanted to remain furious, seeing Daidalos bow her head in pitiful apology—assuming a submissive posture that screamed, *I was wrong, I lost, Sonia is number one under the heavens*—and uttering such sweet words, she found it utterly impossible to stay mad!
*Damn it! She really is the greatest actress in the world—she's too good at this!*
The Country Girl forcibly suppressed the delight in her heart and snapped in a cold voice, "But what use is any of that? Yaxiu... he's been brought under the Four Pillar Gods' control once again!"
"No, he hasn't," Daidalos said, shaking her head. "If Yaxiu were truly controlled by the Four Pillar Gods, then the Que—cough, cough—then he would certainly have 'accidentally' given the position of Queen to me, because he and I are indeed the fated partners ordained by the Four Pillar Gods.
"I don't know whether he was influenced by the Four Pillar Gods, but since he still gave the Queen's seat to you, it proves you are still the most important person in his heart—so important that he is willing to share authority, life, and everything with you.
"Whether death can do you part remains to be seen, but at the very least, the Four Pillar Gods can never tear you apart."
At this point, Daidalos's eyes sparkled like stars, full of adoration. "How incredible! A love that not even gods can sever—not even cinema dramas would dare script such a thing! You two will surely become a model couple envied by countless people!"
These words struck straight to the heart of the Paw-Extending Sword Saint. She felt pleased, sweet, and a little shy, even believing that her trust had not been squandered in vain—*Yaxiu and I have a bond officially certified by the Four Pillar Gods themselves! Witch Diya, you've lost for good!*
"In order to rescue Yaxiu, and to make better use of his authority..." Daidalos asked, "the Queen must surely be willing to take helm of the Four Pillar Cult and advance our plan to destroy the starry sky, right?"
She paused. "If you decline, then as the 'Prime Minister,' I can only step up as acting leader—"
"To rescue Yaxiu from the Nation of Stars, this is my inescapable duty."
Sonia declared decisively, "I am willing to become the new leader of the Four Pillar Cult!"
Previously, Sonia had been unwilling to join the Four Pillar Cult. First, she feared Yaxiu would once again become a plaything of the Four Pillar Gods; second, she worried she wouldn't be able to keep the Four Pillar Cult under control; third, she feared being deceived by Daidalos.
Now the deed was done. Yaxiu had already completed the enthronement ritual, but since her place in his heart remained unchanged, it proved there was still hope; the "Queen" command brand allowed her to wield authority perfectly, freeing her from any worry of being sidelined by Daidalos.
Conversely, if she refused to cooperate, not only would it be difficult to protect Yaxiu, but the Four Pillar Cult would fall into Daidalos's hands. *That belongs to Yaxiu, which means it belongs to me! How could I possibly give it away!*
Sonia was decisive and ruthless by nature. Having already resolved to commit treason earlier, becoming the female head of an evil cult was, in comparison, hardly worth fretting over.
Daidalos kissed the back of Sonia's hand. "The Chaotic Songstress pays homage to the new leader."
Felix watched this scene in a daze, and in the end could only bow her head helplessly. "The Duke of Malice pays homage to the new leader."
Not long ago, Felix had still been thinking of ways to rope Sonia into the Four Pillar Cult, even preparing a fresh set of persuasive arguments. Yet in the blink of an eye, Sonia had actually become the cult's leader?
Was joining early worse than joining late, and joining late worse than not joining at all?
The course of history and individual effort were truly impossible to fathom...
Still... Felix looked down at the two-star hat imprint on the back of her hand, thinking that this man Yaxiu was truly bizarre. To bestow the command brand of "Vicar" upon someone he had never even met—did he trust her that much?
"I still have one question," Sonia asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Even without Yaxiu, you would have plotted to shatter the canopy of the starry sky anyway, wouldn't you?"
Daidalos nodded. "Shattering the canopy has always been the core objective of the Four Pillars of the Stars."
"Yet you said earlier that the Canopy of the Nation of Stars is crucial to imprisoning the angel, and that the Four Pillar Gods crave the angel's death. However, shattering the Astral Canopy will also cause the Canopy of the Nation of Stars to collapse..." The Country Girl frowned. "Isn't that a contradiction? You want the angel dead, yet shattering the canopy will let the angel break free..."
Daidalos did not answer right away. Lowering her gaze submissively, she asked, "My Queen, may Felix and I stand up now?"
"You may."
Instead of sitting on the edge of the bed like Sonia, Daidalos pulled over an upholstered armchair and sat opposite her, positioned so Sonia happened to block the space between her and Yaxiu. This posture left Sonia thoroughly satisfied; far from remaining angry, she was even beginning to take a liking to the Chaotic Songstress again.
"The Four Pillar Gods' goal differs from that of the Divine Lords," Daidalos explained. "The other Divine Lords not only want to kill the angel, but also seek to seize the angel's divinity. The Four Pillar Gods merely wish for the angel to die."
"Then..."
"However, the Four Pillar Gods do not want the angel to die inside the Cage of the Nation of Stars."
The foremost beauty beneath the starry sky said solemnly, "An angel dying inside the cage and an angel dying in the Void Realm will bring about entirely different consequences.
"The death of an angel is destined to usher in a grand era. But dying inside the cage would endlessly suppress the impact of the angel's death, delaying that grand era by centuries or even millennia. Taking advantage of this time lag, the Divine Lords would seize every possible advantage and pull ahead in development, leaving not the slightest chance for latecomers.
"Yet dying in the Void Realm would serve as the fuse that ignites the grand era, and the entire Void Realm would be swept up in its wake. The Divine Lords would no longer be able to suppress the progress of sorcerers. All creatures under the frosty sky will vie for freedom! Everything will be reshuffled, and latecomers will also have the chance to attain the seat of a Divine Lord.
"Even if we shatter the canopy, the Divine Lord of Stars and the other Divine Lords would never let this opportunity slip away. They will spare no cost to kill the angel—yet the angel will fall within the Void Realm, frustrating the Divine Lords' conspiracy to suppress the grand era."
Sonia raised an eyebrow. "The Four Pillar Gods are so noble, looking out for the welfare of all sorcerers and fighting against the Divine Lords who shut the doors once they've gotten on board?"
"Your prejudice against the Four Pillar Cult runs too deep, Leader." Daidalos shook her head. "Though you might not believe it, the Four Pillar Cult is truly the organization that most wishes for sorcerer civilization to flourish and grow.
"The more glorious sorcerer civilization becomes, the more powerful the Four Pillar Gods will be."
"Let's say that's true," the Paw-Extending Sword Saint said noncommittally. She looked down and gently stroked Yaxiu's cheek with the back of her hand. "Whatever the case, at least you are sincere about wanting to shatter the canopy."
"We are."
"Whether the angel escapes or not, I don't care—as long as Yaxiu can escape, that's enough." Sonia looked at Daidalos. "If I take helm of the Four Pillar Cult, I will shatter the canopy at all costs, without hesitating to sacrifice any of you if necessary."
"That is precisely what we need." Daidalos beamed. "You make for a worthy Queen."
At this, Sonia couldn't help feeling a trace of shyness. "Don't call me Queen... He isn't a king, after all... and I'm not his queen yet."
"Within the Four Pillar Cult, members usually have codenames. For example, I am the Chaotic Songstress, and little Felix is the Duke of Malice." Daidalos suggested with great interest, "What codename do you plan to use? Sword Princess?"
"Wouldn't 'Sword Princess' point directly to me, though?"
"You might not know this, but ten years ago, your Professor Trozan was known as the 'Black-Robed Sword Princess,'" the Chaotic Songstress smiled. "Every exceptional female sword sorcerer bears the title of Sword Princess. You are merely one of them.
"What's more, our organization already has a member whose codename contains 'Sword Princess.' Of course, if you want it as your exclusive title, Leader, we can have her change hers."
"No need," Sonia said. "My codename will be..."
She paused, recalling the very first name Yaxiu had ever called her.
"Dead Frenzy Sword Princess," Sonia said solemnly. "My codename in the Four Pillar Cult will be Dead Frenzy Sword Princess."
Chapter 803