Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 520 - 83 Never Compromise_1

Chapter 520: Chapter 83 Never Compromise_1

"Have you ever considered, sister, how Pannis would feel if you proceed with this?" Lina sighed hesitantly, asking, "He wouldn’t approve of this course of action, would he?"

"Why should he object?" Catherine retorted, "Because of Doris? Doris is now under my control, but apart from this shift in loyalty, everything else remains the same. So why should he oppose? Besides, the world will be better off after, that’s something he should be happy about given his character, right?"

"I don’t like it." Vivian, looking straight into Catherine’s eyes remarked, "But if this is truly your desire, sister, I’ll support you unconditionally. Not for any particular reason, but simply because you’re our elder sister. No matter what, no matter when, no matter what decisions you make, I’ll stand by your side."

"I don’t like it, either." Lina leaned on Catherine, burying her face in her knees and muttered, "But we’ve promised to stick together, no matter how hard the road ahead. So, I won’t quit halfway."

"Actually, I should be the one most against this." Freya, gazing up at the overcast sky, started, "The Neutral Land my father governs, the City of Knowledge, is one of the primary targets in your plan. From any perspective, it wouldn’t make sense for me to agree. However, I am quite intrigued by your plan. As a politician, your plan sacrifices the fewest people to achieve the best outcome. I believe you could persuade my father to join your cause, removing the biggest obstacle. Looking at the bigger picture, it’s the right move. But personally, I don’t like the method. Yet, we are best friends, how could I oppose you when you need support?"

"You all don’t like this?" Catherine surveyed each girl’s face.

"Yes, we don’t like it." Lina confirmed, "But we will support you."

"Actually, I don’t like it either, this is wrong." Catherine sighed heavily and spoke softly, "But with a little compromise, wealth, power, status, influence, honor, and an ideal perfect world — all these can be easily attained. All beings in the Yarran World would be grateful for the choice I make now. If by stepping back, by compromise, I can achieve perfection, then what’s wrong with that? Only a fool would persist."

"Maybe you are right." Despite their words of support, the girls still felt uncomfortable. Lina whispered, "But you’re hesitating too, aren’t you? You’re saying all this to convince yourself, right?"

"Yes, I’m trying to convince myself." Catherine lamented with a forced smile, "I want to convince myself not to accept it, but in the end, I found no reason to refuse. Everything is just too perfect, leaving me no grounds to turn it down unless I’m an idiot. How could I give up such a wonderful opportunity? Tell me, if it were you, would you give it up?"

"We probably... wouldn’t." The girls exchanged glances, pondered for a while, and finally shook their heads collectively, "Thinking about it carefully, we have no reasons to refuse. But what about the Sea Race? What are they to do? Are they necessary sacrifices for the greater good? Just like the innocents that just died?"

Catherine’s gaze remained on the Nightmare Spirit clasped in her hand, and she said nothing for a long time. The girls didn’t interrupt, silently waiting for her decision. After a while, Catherine suddenly stood up and said loudly, "There’s no need to deliberate over such simple matters. I have already decided."

The girls still remained silent, awaiting Catherine’s decision. They didn’t say it, but they saw that Catherine was starting to resemble the average professionals they’ve met countless times before, people who know to compromise, to bow to reality. Perhaps, only such a person is a wise being. However, even now, the girls could still see the lingering echoes of her former self captured in Catherine’s bewildered gaze - her steadfast commitment to her beliefs, her pursuit of justice, and her relentless dedication to her ideals.

"Wealth, power, status, influence, honor, and a beautiful new world - all of these can be held in my hand just by compromising a little. Even the most foolish person would know how to choose." Catherine gripped the Nightmare Spirit tightly, her voice trembling, "But against all odds, I choose to be more foolish than the most foolish of them all - I choose to refuse. I refuse to bow down and compromise with these temptations. I am a knight, I am Catherine, if I choose to compromise, I cease to be myself, I cease to be your elder sister."

"Indeed, the future it presents to me is incredibly promising, but it is built upon the endless subjugation of the Sea Race. Even though they are utterly unaware of their enslavement, that remains the truth. I don’t need perfection attained on such terms."

"A poisonous seed, no matter how carefully nurtured, only bears poisonous fruit."

"A beautiful new world, built on the foundation of slavery and control, can only be a farce. It would merely be a deformed monster that seems lovely on the surface but is twisted inside. A utopia built upon killing and oppression is nothing more than a joke - the biggest joke."

"The fate and future of the Sea Race should only be decided by the Sea Race themselves. Apart from them, even Deities have no right to control or manipulate them, and I am no exception."

"Perhaps knowing how to compromise and back down in the face of reality might make life easier, but I have my own beliefs and pursuits. I’d rather be a fool who can’t see reality clearly, but never take a step back. That’s my knight’s creed."

Shouting continuously, Catherine clenched her raised right hand into a fist. With a crisp snap, the most potent Divine Artifact in the world, the Nightmare Spirit, which could grant the holder everything, was crushed into halves in Catherine’s hand. At the split second when the Nightmare Spirit shattered, the girls seemed to hear a mournful howl. Because Demos had fallen, the unclaimed Divine Power within the Nightmare Spirit surged out of the shattered artifact, transforming into the purest and most primitive energy, quickly dissipating into the world as if it had never existed. As the artifact crumbled, the clouds in the sky quietly dispersed, the faint rumble of thunder vanished, and the silver moonlight shone again upon the Sea Race’s island. The coruscating lifeforce and radiant energy once again filled every corner of the island.

"Big sister," watching Catherine crush the Nightmare Spirit with force, the surprised girls’ eyes seemed to burst, "Big sister, are you crazy? Such a valuable thing ..."

"This evil artifact, which can control a race, should not exist in this world at all." Catherine opened her hand; the small horn had fractured into four or five pieces. It was useless now that the contained Divine Power had dissipated. Catherine stared at the remnants of the Nightmare Spirit with a complex gaze and said softly, "The picture it drew for me was indeed beautiful, but I won’t bow my head to get these things. Do you want me to compromise? Impossible."

"Ha, our big sister is still our big sister after all," Lina and Vivian shared a knowing smile, "But you are really ruthless, to decide to destroy it directly. In this way, those beautiful temptations will be forever out of reach."

"Those things indeed are tempting, and I want each and every one. But I will attain these things with my own hands, not through enslaving or controlling others. Humph, I am the leader of Nellie’s adventure team and a knight who aims to emulate Lady Nellie. I have my pride and determination."

"Haha." Lina suddenly laughed loudly, flinging herself onto Catherine’s neck, rubbing her cheek against Catherine’s, and said loudly, "I was scared to death just now. I thought you had changed. It’s great you haven’t."

"Yes, really wonderful." Vivian wrapped her arms around Catherine’s neck from behind, luckily her weight was light, so Catherine wasn’t in any danger, "Even if you have changed, you are still our sister, but we would be happier if you could stay the same."

"Ah, this doesn’t reflect the behavior of a mature adventure team leader. Too idealistic and naïve." Freya did not rush over; instead, she sighed, looking back at the silver moon in the sky. However, a smile gradually brightened on her face, "Nonetheless, this outcome isn’t bad. Maybe this is the charm of you."

The girls laughed with unrestrained joy, celebrating how Catherine had developed even firmer beliefs after temptation. But the sudden moaning sounds interrupted them. Then, they remembered the numerous controlled Sea Race members kneeling around them. The girls hurriedly scanned their surroundings. Those who were previously like statues now lay on the ground, clutching their heads and crying out in pain. It wasn’t until several seconds later that some resolved Sea Race members stood up, looking around in confusion, and asked, "Why am I here? Who are you?"

"Being explained, it will be a long story." Catherine said with a significant look, "However, your current High Priest of the Sea God should be on his way here. I think he will arrive in a few hours, and it would be more convincing if he explained it to you. Don’t you think so?"

As she was speaking, the sea suddenly surged with violent waves. A giant crab emerged from the sea bed and swam towards the small island. From a distance, there seemed to be a small black dot on the back of the crab. Only Vivian, who had boosted her vision with the Hawkeye Spell, could see clearly - it was Pannis waving at them. (To be continued. If you like this novel, please vote for it and give it monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users can visit m.qidian.com to read.)