The past was built upon collecting unique characteristics.

An international organization once conducted a survey and found that Ingsia not only has a higher per capita income than Hiran, but its capital city also ranks among the world's best in terms of sanitation and living conditions.

My impression is that Ingsia is a country that seems to be keen on worshipping the spirits of fallen heroes.

Elizabeth claims to be Hela's agent, perhaps because she received some kind of inheritance from her.

The more deeply Morian thought about it, the more likely this conjecture seemed.

"Do you have any other ideas about how to leave this place?"

"Yes, find another 'node,' and then defeat the guy located there." Elizabeth pointed to the depths of darkness and explained, "Every dying little world has a source that caused the current situation. As long as you deal with that source, the world will naturally repel outsiders."

This is indeed the same situation I encountered...

Morian recalled that he had just defeated the Pig-Headed Butcher and was about to explore the Misty Manor when he was thrown out by some force and returned to the containment space.

At that time, he thought that power originated from the gray gate or the containment space.

Now, after hearing Elizabeth's description, I have a new understanding of these broken little worlds.

But one goal remains unchanged: to defeat the source of the pollution.

"There are actually many worlds like this that are 'dying'," Elizabeth continued.

"These small worlds are easily corrupted by sources of pollution because of their low status, and eventually they are destroyed."

She recounted her experiences in other worlds slowly, her tone remaining calm.

Morian listened in silence, feeling a pang of sympathy for the plight of these worlds, and at the same time, he understood why all abilities were partially suppressed here.

Just as the other party said, these worlds are of a very low status.

Not only is it impossible for beings like the extraordinary to emerge, but it is also easy for other malicious individuals to spy on it.

Even a monster like the Pig-Headed Butcher can easily dominate and corrupt a world, not to mention other even more terrifying beings.

"After defeating the source of pollution, will the corresponding world return to normal?" Morian asked unconsciously.

Upon hearing this, Elizabeth turned her head to look at him, a flicker of emotion appearing in her grey eyes:

"No, because what we are in now is just a historical projection of this world, most of which is history that has already passed."

The past and the future are interconnected; even if you change the corresponding part of the past, you cannot change the overall trajectory of the world, or rather, you cannot change the trajectory of the main timeline.

So most of these broken worlds are actually part of history that has already happened? Morian was somewhat taken aback, and a huge wave of emotions surged within him.

In other words, even if the source of pollution that is affecting the world is defeated, it can only affect the current parallel world line at most, and cannot change the main world line that has already been destroyed.

"Is the soul power you keep collecting also to help them rest in peace?" he asked cautiously.

“No,” Elizabeth blinked, answering matter-of-factly. “I’m just collecting what I need; their deaths are their own business.”

Okay, never mind... Morian's facial muscles twitched slightly.

I must be sick, because I actually think that the girl in front of me is carrying a much heavier burden than I imagined.

"And what about you, Morian?"

Elizabeth suddenly turned her head, her gray eyes looking at her with curiosity:

"You're so weak, why do you still run to such dangerous places?"

...Morian fell silent instantly when asked the question, which was too direct and almost merciless.

But considering that the girl in front of him was different from ordinary people, it wasn't surprising that she could ask such a direct question.

After a few seconds of silence, he gave a bitter smile and spoke his true feelings:

"Because I need to become stronger so that I can return to my familiar hometown."

"Why? Does the Kingdom of Hiran have very strict requirements regarding strength?" Elizabeth asked, taken aback.

Morian shook his head:

"No, it's because my homeland isn't in the Kingdom of Hiran."

"Then where is your hometown? And why do you have to become very strong to go back?" Elizabeth tilted her head, her gray eyes full of confusion.

Faced with this question, Morian pondered for a moment, and could only offer a wry smile and a rather vague answer:

"...It's a very far place, so far that it can't be reached by ordinary means of transportation, and I can't explain it to you clearly."

"Not even by ship or steam train?"

"no."

"Now that you have my strength, can you return to your hometown?"

"I'm afraid... that still won't work."

"Oh." Elizabeth nodded, seemingly unsurprised by the reply. "Then you'd better get stronger quickly, otherwise when will you be able to go back?"

Morian suddenly felt as if he were being lectured by a clueless airhead.

However, what the other party said was indeed reasonable and could not be refuted.

Having been in this extraordinary world for so long, this was the first time he had revealed his truest goals to others, which instantly made him feel much better.

"Then why did you become stronger? Is there anything you want to do?" he suddenly asked.

Upon hearing this, Elizabeth froze, her steps slowing involuntarily, her grey eyes unusually lost in thought.

It's like someone who has never considered this question before being suddenly asked it, and then falls into a brief state of confusion.

"...Something I want to do?" she repeated softly.

"Yes, that's right."

Elizabeth remained silent.

She looked down at the massive, jet-black scythe in her hand, which was taller than her, and seemed lost in thought.

"I hadn't thought about it," she admitted.

"From the beginning, I was told that all I had to do was wander around the worlds and clean up the sources of pollution."

The two continued to move forward, but their pace gradually slowed down.

Looking at Elizabeth, who was hanging her head like a wounded little animal, Morian suddenly regretted asking the question.

As an agent, she may have received strict management from a young age and had little exposure to the outside world, which may have shaped her current personality.

I should have realized this sooner.

However, judging from what they just said, the other party's faction seems rather inhumane.

"It's not too late to start thinking about it now." He tried to keep his tone light. "If you really can't find a target, you can go out and see more of the world."

"And what you are doing right now is itself very worthy of praise."

"Why?" Elizabeth asked, puzzled. "Does this really make sense?"

She didn't make it clear, but Morian knew she was referring to cleaning up the source of the pollution.

As the other party said earlier, even if the corresponding past is changed, the overall trend cannot be changed.

For the inhabitants of this world, no matter what they do, they will reach that predetermined main timeline.