Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 36 - 23: Evolving

"I’ll tell Eva that you’re bullying me. How can I even think about eating when my entire body is throbbing with pain?" Aurianna sobbed, dreading the thought of enduring that torturous agony once more.

"Look, you’re not gonna die just by munching on it," Carol face palmed, watching Aurianna cry like a little kid being coerced into eating their veggies.

"But I’ll be going through a whole lot of freaking pain, right?"

"Well, I guess that’s true," Carol reluctantly admitted.

"In that case, I’m not eating it!"

"Oh, really? Cause as of now, you can’t even move, and I’ve got these hearts in my possession. . Plus, thanks to my mind control powers, I can make you do all sorts of things," Carol smirked with an evil glint in her eyes.

Aurianna locked eyes with Carol and defiantly declared, "You wouldn’t dare."

"Oh, believe me, kiddo, I freaking would!" Carol’s innocent smile sent shivers down Aurianna’s spine.

"I’ll tell Eva," Aurianna threatened, glaring at Carol.

"You think she’ll come running? She’s the ruler of this whole dimension, for crying out loud. So she probably knows what I’m up to already." Carol taunted, a wicked glint in her eyes.

"Aw, damn it!" Aurianna cursed under her breath, biting her lower lip in frustration.

"Now, open wide," Carol commanded, placing the hearts in Aurianna’s mouth and using her mind control to force her to swallow.

"Arrgh!" Aurianna screamed in agony as her body convulsed minutes after devouring the heart.

She began to bleed from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. System messages flooded her vision, announcing her death and subsequent revival. Yet, each time she revived in the same spot, still enduring the horrifying pain.

’It feels like my body is breaking apart,’ Aurianna thought as she looked at Carol who was watching her with an evil smile causing Aurianna to tremble in anger.

"No way am I giving her the satisfaction of enjoying my pain. I can handle this. I’m determined to grow stronger, and no amount of agony will stand in my way!" Aurianna thought, biting her lip in determination. In a sudden burst, her skin, eyes, and hair began to emit a radiant glow.

[You have consumed the four hearts of the Crackle, unlocking new abilities and enhancing your attributes.]

[You have acquired the skills {Pain Resistance}, {Underwater Breathe}, and {Choppers}.]

[Your Defense has increased from 1,570 to 1,700.]

[Your Mana has surged from 98,000 to 120,000.]

[Your proficiency in Passive Healing has elevated from 19 to 30.]

[Your Water Magic proficiency has risen from 1 to 5.]

"Congratulations on surviving the devouring of the Crackle hearts. Although, without Eva’s powers, you would have surely died," Carol applauded.

"That’s great, but I still can’t move," Aurianna grumbled, struggling to shift her body with no success.

"Don’t worry, you’ll be able to move very soon," Carol reassured her with a smile.

"I’ve been curious... Why do you say your skills out loud?" Carol asked curious about why Aurianna does that.

"I don’t really have a choice. As long as I’m below level 200, I have to rely on spells with chants. It’s only when I reach level 200 or higher that I can cast spells without the need for chants," Aurianna explained.

"Oh, that’s quite interesting," Carol replied, genuinely intrigued by the mechanics of Aurianna’s magic.

After what seemed like an eternity of immobility, Aurianna’s body finally twitched, signaling the return of movement to her limbs. With a sense of relief, she rose to her feet.

"Finally, I can walk again!" Aurianna exclaimed, her voice filled with joy and gratitude.

Curiosity sparked in Carol’s mind as she observed Aurianna jumping around. ’I wonder if I can evolve by consuming her. Would she respawn? It’s better to put my theory to the test,’ Carol thought to herself, her gaze fixed on Aurianna.

"You’ve been truly cruel, Carol, and I won’t forgive you for making me through that unbearable pain," Aurianna seethed, brushing off the dust from her clothes.

"Why do you have such an enormous mouth, Carol?" Aurianna questioned, taken aback as she saw Carol standing before her. Carol’s mouth stretched to the size of an entire adult’s body, looming over Aurianna.

Sensing danger, Aurianna’s instinct was to flee, but her body remained stubbornly unresponsive. Before she could fully comprehend the situation, darkness engulfed her. Aurianna found herself swallowed whole by Carol.

She felt her bones snapping, her skin being corroded by acidic substances. The pain was beyond imagination, but amidst the torment, Aurianna couldn’t help but wonder why Carol had devoured her.

[ You have respawned. ]

Aurianna awakened to find herself in an entirely unfamiliar location, far removed from where Carol had been. She let out a sigh of relief, though her body continued to tremble uncontrollably.

"Eva, please let me out! Eva! Eva!!!" Aurianna cried out, her voice filled with desperation. She shut her eyes tightly, hoping for a miraculous escape. Upon reopening them, she discovered that she had been transported back to her own room, nestled safely under her bedsheets. Clutching her blanket tightly, she closed her eyes once more, longing for sleep to wash away the agonizing pain she had endured during her training.

_________

Within the grand halls of a magnificent mansion, maids busily went about their tasks, diligently cleaning the walls and windows. They conversed in hushed tones, their voices tinged with eagerness.

"Have you noticed a change in the princess?" whispered Maid 1, leaning closer to Maid 2.

"Yes, she has grown cruel, punishing even the slightest mistakes. If we’re lucky, we might escape with just a whipping," Maid 2 whispered back, her tone filled with apprehension.

"That simply can’t be our princess!" Maid 1 insisted, a determined expression on her face.

"But she bears the princess’s appearance and voice," Maid 2 replied, her nervousness palpable.

"I’ve already reported it to Princess Blade. She’ll come to investigate Aurianna tomorrow," Maid 1 reassured, briefly stepping away from her duties.

_________

In Aurianna’s chamber, as the morning sunlight gently streamed through the windows, she lay pale and motionless on her bed. Beside her, Eva, a somber expression on her face, maintained a watchful presence.

"Why were you crying out for me to let you leave the training grounds?" Eva inquired, settling down beside Aurianna and running her fingers through her flowing white hair with a gentle touch.

"I’m sure you already know," Aurianna replied, avoiding direct eye contact with Eva.

Eva couldn’t help but let out a slight chuckle. "Carol tried to eat you, huh?" she said, her voice laced with amusement, as she continued to stroke Aurianna’s head affectionately.

"Can you believe it? I actually thought she was there to assist me. But she always gave me this eerie feeling," Aurianna remarked, her body still trembling from the harrowing experience.

"Well, what else would you expect from a Death Harpy?" Eva shrugged, a mix of amusement and disdain flickering across her face. ’That crazy lady, always looking out to try her ridiculous theories in her twisted mind without thinking of the consequences. Did she seriously believe that devouring Aurianna would grant her the power to evolve and escape the domain? What a dumbass! Now she has managed to frighten the poor child.’

"I don’t think I want to set foot in the training grounds for a while," Aurianna stated with a dry tone.

"Did she truly scare you that much?" Eva asked, genuinely curious, to which Aurianna nodded in response.

"Well then, we’ll switch to physical training right here, with some good old dumbbells," Eva declared cheerfully, floating around the room before grabbing Aurianna’s blanket and playfully yanking it off her.

"Thank you so much, Eva," Aurianna whispered, her eyes welling up with tears as she looked at Eva gratefully.

"I wonder who’s talking bad about me?" Carol sneezed, rubbing her nose while scanning the empty landscape around her.

"And hey, Eva, I’ve been wondering why my progress has been so slow. Back in the past, it took me a solid twelve years to reach level 200. But now, after over forty years, I’m only sitting at level 72?" Aurianna asked, her face scrunching up in confusion.

"Well, that’s because you’re a Diamond now. See, let’s say an average human needs 100 experience points to level up to level 1. You, on the other hand, would need a whopping 10,000 experience points to achieve the same result," Eva explained.

"So I’ve become a non-genius," Aurianna slumped onto her bed, dramatically crying and wiping away imaginary tears.

"You know what? It’s actually not a bad thing. With your level 72, you can hold your own against folks who are around level 150 to 160!" Eva reassured her.

"Well, that’s better than I expected," Aurianna nodded, finding some solace in Eva’s words. But after sometime of letting Eva’s words sink in she exclaimed, "Wait you said what??!!"

"That’s right! Despite your level, your skills are top-notch, surpassing those of ordinary people at higher levels. You’re on par with people higher leveled than you," Eva affirmed, nodding thoughtfully.

"Wow, so I’m actually a genius!" Aurianna grinned raising her nose up high. "Maybe Carol making me fight wasn’t so bad."

"As you’re done admiring your progress do you have anymore questions?" Eva asked.

"Yes, I have a question which I’ve been wondering for a while now, what is this Diamond Race?" A curious tone laced Aurianna’s question, catching Eva’s attention.

"Well, well, looks like someone’s curious," Eva replied, a hint of intrigue in her voice. "You’re the offspring of a pretty powerful entity, and let me tell you, you’re not alone in this. Diamonds, are these mysterious beings that even I can’t fully understand. But the more I learn about them, the more captivated I become about their existence. They’re responsible for creating universes, planets, chaos, heaven, they’re even credited with bringing life into existence, or so the stories go. Though, gotta admit, it’s all based on what I’ve read."

Eva’s demeanor shifted, a chill creeping into her expression. "Now, here’s the thing. These Diamonds, they possess power that can rival the mighty Regals. And those Regals, a hateful group of godlike beings who thrive on causing chaos."

Pausing for a moment, Eva gauged Aurianna’s comprehension. The young girl sat there, her eyes fixed on Eva, absorbing every bit of information as best she could.

"So, are these Diamonds stronger than the gods?" Aurianna inquired, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

"Stronger than you can even begin to imagine." Eva responded, her words dripping with awe. She continued, "Aurianna, you and your sister Leila are among the thirteen chosen Diamonds who hold the power to be ranked fourth in the Diamond rankings. But right now, well, let’s just say you’re at the bottom of the list."

Aurianna tilted her head, her face reflecting deep thought. "Can I ask you something else?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Eva let out an exaggerated eye roll, accompanied by a playful sigh. "You’re my master, kid. I’m obligated to answer any questions you have!"

’I’m glad that rule exists, but why do I find that wording irritating...’ Aurianna thought with a slightly irritated expression.

"Well, what should I do when I see a Regal?" Aurianna asked curiously.

"Run. Just run for your life," Eva responded, her tone devoid of any hesitation.

"What?!" Aurianna gasped in surprise, taken aback by Eva’s unexpected answer. She had anticipated something along the lines of "stand your ground and fight till the bitter end."

Eva’s response was immediate, catching Aurianna off guard. Up until now, Eva had shown herself to be a master schemer, someone who seemed to derive pleasure from the suffering of others. So, hearing her advise running instead of fighting was quite unsettling for Aurianna.

Eva pressed her finger against Aurianna’s forehead repeatedly, emphasizing her point. "Listen up, kid. You’re no match for a Regal in your current state. Those menaces are practically immortal. How on earth do you defeat someone who can regenerate every time you land a blow? And to make matters worse, their attacks get stronger when you try to fight back. They’re like war maniacs, I tell you! Trust me, in your current condition, there’s simply no way to beat them. Your number one priority should be to survive and get stronger," Eva yelled, her voice filled with urgency. "I’m dead serious about following this advice, okay? This isn’t like leveling up your skills—it’s a matter of life or death. You either listen to me or end up dead."

Curiosity brimming within her, Aurianna mustered the courage to ask, "Have you ever fought a Regal?"

"Yes, I have," Eva replied, her expression darkening. "And those bastards were the ones who ruthlessly tore off my wings." She paused, a deep sense of resentment evident on her face. "All we can do is pray that we never come across an exceptionally powerful Regal."

’Eva had wings? I wonder what they looked like,’ Aurianna pondered while she stared at Eva.

Setting her curiosity aside, Aurianna refocused her attention on the topic at hand. "So, what exactly does a Regal look like? If they’re truly as dangerous as you claim," she inquired, her eyes fixed on Eva.

"Their main identification of Regals is that they typically have rainbow-colored eyes and a distorted rainbow gem either on their forehead or chest," Eva explained, gesturing towards her own forehead and chest to emphasize her point.

"Alright, got it. And Eva, where’s Leila?" Aurianna asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

Eva’s response was swift and evasive. "You don’t have the right to know that just yet," she retorted, averting her gaze from Aurianna and casually inspecting her nails with a disinterested expression.

"But...but I’m your master! I have a right to know. Tell me! Tell me!!!" Aurianna cried out, her emotions spiraling as she threw herself onto the bed, unleashing a tantrum that seemed to defy the bounds of reason.

"Enough with the childish antics," Eva snapped back, her patience wearing thin. With a swift flick of her finger, she delivered a light but firm tap to Aurianna’s forehead, effectively halting her frantic rolling.

"I can’t indulge your every whim. It’ll be a long while before you have a chance to meet Leila, considering you’re both in different dimensions!" Eva retorted, her voice tinged with frustration. She reminded herself ’I can’t coddle her too much.’

Utterly disappointed, Aurianna muttered quietly to herself, "Stupid lady, I’m your master, and yet you refuse to give me the information I desire."

"What did you say?!" Eva retorted sharply, a cold and piercing gaze fixed upon Aurianna.