After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

Boom!

Boom boom!

Lin Da didn't care about anything else; he used all the strength he had.

This "battle" would determine whether Mystic Continent could gain a Level 95 veteran Legend.

Behind him stood many companions.

It was as if he could see the spirits of the deceased cats, dogs, cows, and horses all working together, placing their hands on his back.

Lin Da remembered a comic book he'd once read, where the protagonist, battling the final villain, shouted with his companions, "My drill is the drill that will pierce the heavens!"

His own drill surely wouldn't be any worse.

"No, don't! Let me go, you demon! Wuu... wuuu!"

The New Moon Knight had dedicated her life to training and had never experienced such an ordeal before; her face turned pale as snow.

"Now you beg for mercy? It's too late!"

Lin Da sneered, "This strike is for Evelyn!

This strike is for the innocent animals caught in the crossfire of our battles!

Though the citizens had entered shelters in advance, with no casualties, many lives were still lost because of you.

And now you have the audacity to beg for mercy?

Did you ever give them the chance to beg for mercy?

This strike is for the Azure Tree!

The once-thriving World Tree, turned into barren branches because of your battles."

Lin Da roared deeply as he unleashed purification, drenched in sweat, exhilarated and invigorated.

But in his heart, he felt an unprecedented sense of relief!

When purifying Monica and others before, they had been his precious teammates; he couldn't bring himself to use full strength, always holding back.

But when facing a villainous witch like the New Moon Knight, it was different.

Lin Da used every ounce of power he had.

"Witness the impact of my Magical Dragon!"

"Ahhh—no! Please, stop! My head, my head's going to break!"

Black mist poured out furiously from the New Moon Knight's body; she could feel the Demon King's power abandoning her, leaving her as a pitiful, forsaken figure.

Lin Da didn't show a shred of sympathy; he threw himself into the task relentlessly.

Bang! Bang bang!

...

The earth-shaking sounds echoed for a full two hours.

During this time, Evelyn, standing outside, also felt something was off.

However, thinking of the nature of the Dark Shadow, she forcibly suppressed her doubts deep within her heart.

Lin Da had mentioned earlier that the purification process was unique; if she tried to intervene, it would ruin all progress and put the two people inside the house at great risk.

An hour passed, and night fell.

Evelyn gathered her magic power to form a luminous moonlight lamp, casting a bright, gentle glow over the surrounding area.

Why haven't they come out yet?

It's been too long.

Did the purification fail?

Evelyn grew increasingly restless and agitated, almost unable to hold back.

Bang!

The door of the house opened.

"How's Tafu?"

In a flash, Evelyn disappeared, reappearing in front of Lin Da.

Lia and the others also looked eagerly at Lin Da.

If the purification succeeded, Mystic Continent would gain another force of Legendary combat power.

This shift in balance would reclaim some of their disadvantages.

A few who knew the insider details—Tasya, Monica—had awkward expressions, with Monica's face flushed red, stealing glances at a certain spot on Lin Da.

"Mission accomplished."

Lin Da rubbed his waist and smiled, "Former Imperial Knights Leader Tafu has returned!"

Just as those words left his mouth, a cold wind brushed past him.

Evelyn's figure vanished again, already inside the house.

"Has that New Moon Knight really turned good? I'm going to check too!" Lia hurried to follow Evelyn inside.

Ahem.

Lin Da caught Lia's arm, "Let them have some time alone."

He himself was an outsider; he couldn't truly comprehend the feelings between these sisters.

Her elder sister had finally returned; surely, they had much to talk about.

Everyone pressed their ears against the door to eavesdrop.

"Tafu, you..."

Evelyn spoke first, facing the unfamiliar older sister, unsure of what to say.

"I'm sorry."

"Why did you sign a contract with the Demon King? The things you've done, I... I can't forgive you."

Evelyn's voice was heavy with pain and self-reproach: "I didn't take good care of you. After you became the Imperial Knights Leader, I thought you had matured and no longer needed me."

"Evelyn, it's exactly because you're always like this that I grew to resent you."

Inside the bedroom, the New Moon Knight seemed utterly broken, wrapping her body tightly in a blanket.

The bedsheets were soaked with sweat, her silver hair disheveled and clinging to her face and mouth. The room was filled with an indescribable scent.

Evelyn furrowed her brows, assuming it was residue from the purification, linked to the Demon King's pollution, and didn't think much of it.

The New Moon Knight resembled a succubus lady who'd been toyed with by a Paladin, curled up in the corner with a forlorn, hollow gaze.

She began to tell a story about herself.

Evelyn didn't interrupt, quietly sitting at the edge of the bed.

Their identical silver strands of hair cast fragmented shadows under the dim yellow glow of the bedside lamp.

The New Moon Knight's story was simple.

Once upon a time, there were two sisters living in a slum. They had loving parents and, though their days weren't prosperous, they were happy.

For as long as she could remember, the younger sister always walked ahead of the older one. Whether it was wielding wooden swords or reciting knowledge from textbooks, she was always miles ahead.

One night, their parents were murdered by demons.

The two sisters, trembling in the cabinet, witnessed everything.

The younger sister matured quickly, almost becoming a little adult as she took care of food, clothing, and shelter for her older sister, protecting her from harm in the slum.

When the older sister tried to help, she ended up cutting her ankle on scrap metal while scavenging. All their saved copper coins were spent treating her injury.

The younger sister scolded her harshly and made her hide behind her, never stepping forward again.

When they were ten, an adventurer found them and took them on the path of training.

From then on, their lives changed completely.

But... the younger sister always walked ahead of her, like the noonday sun, so bright that it blinded her.

Twenty years passed, and the older sister finally achieved her wish, ascending to the position of Imperial Knights Leader. Traditionally, Leaders of the Knights Order held power above the Four Great Dukes, used by the Royal Capital to balance various factions. However, this balance was shattered when the younger sister received the title of Coldmoon Duke.

She watched her sister's back drift farther and farther away, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't catch up.

Slowly, her desire for power led her astray. When she finally woke up, she'd already signed the contract, her soul turned black, polluted by the Demon Lord's Power.

Until recently.

A brilliant green light entered the dark soul.

The girl trapped in the abyss was forcefully dragged out by a strong, sturdy hand.

The death of the Four Heavenly Kings.

The Imperial Knights Leader, New Moon Knight Tafu, returned to her body once again.

"Evelyn, I've always envied you. Your exceptional intelligence, talents that come once in a century; the things I have to fight for with all my might are as easy for you as drinking water."

The New Moon Knight's voice was hoarse as she said, "I wanted to surpass you. I just wanted to surpass you..."

...

(PS: I was already struggling, now it's put on free promotion for the weekend; the recommendation results are terrible, this is just losing money. Wuuu... feeling so down.)