From a human perspective, Sphinx was a child. From a sphinx’s perspective, she was already a warrior. Though the bloodline flowing through her veins was artificial and therefore imperfect, it exuded a mythological dignity. It spoke of self-assurance and revenge.
Spiritually bound by Bastard, Sphinx had been forced to serve him. The tiny cage, the starvation, and the complete lack of privacy—not even to relieve herself—would have broken seasoned warriors. Not Sphinx. The pride of her race, the nobility of her birth, and the belief that Priam was coming to free her gave her the strength to fight.
That was exactly what she had done, working around Sumstreh’s commands. He had ordered her to sever the karmic ties to their forr identity to escape their assassins and debts. Sphinx had done more than that. Officially, her racial Talent had cut those connections with the Fallen’s permission. Off the record, she had used his ignorance to bind their fates together. If anything happened to her, Sumstreh would pay the price.
Today, she was turning those karmic links into a weapon. Casting one last glance at Priam, Sphinx unleashed the seal on her attributes and triggered her final Tribulation. The first six could be postponed, but the seventh didn’t wait.
A septuple Tribulation descends.
A terrifying presence made the world tremble. The gaze of an eternal ego fell on Sphinx, and despite her mythic bloodline, she shuddered. A sevenfold Tribulation was unlike the others. It was the defiant declaration of a being ready to fight for the Eighth Throne.
The child stood no chance, but death didn’t scare her. Ever since Priam had confided that this tiline was nearing its end, Sphinx had done everything to accumulate attributes. Squandering her Potential, she had created and leveled up nurous pointless skills. Her initial four Tribulations had swelled to seven, and Sumstreh would endure them.
With a sharp claw, Sphinx slit her own throat and activated her racial Talent. Tightening the knot of her life and Sumstreh’s one last ti, she smiled as the hidden divine mark within her soul activated. It didn’t matter—one can only die once.
Except Priam, she thought as death claid her. Watching the sky darken, she realized she felt cold. If only soone could pet her…
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