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Boom!

The moment Yaeger tapped the sphere, an overwhelmingly oppressive force burst forth, shaking the very sky. Everyone present was stunned, feeling as if they were being crushed under the weight of a mountain, an intense discomfort washing over them.

Meanwhile, the golden figure on the other side suddenly opened his eyes wide, a mix of shock and unimaginable surprise flickering in his gaze.

The dreadful pressure dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, leaving behind a sense of relief mingled with astonishment. Even Yaeger herself was taken aback.

Before her eyes lay a red gem, about the size of a ping-pong ball. Its vibrant red hue was adorned with intricate golden engravings, exuding an exquisite beauty.

“It carries an incredibly daunting aura!”

Rather than being captivated by its outward appearance, Yaeger found herself more intrigued by its inner essence. The oppressive energy that had emanated from the gem just moments ago was certainly immense, yet it paled in comparison to the power contained within.

That power, sealed within the jewel, was enough to leave a lasting impression. Its mere leakage of aura was enough to impress Yaeger. This gem was undoubtedly extraordinary!

Alicia and the others regained their composure and quickly approached.

“The energy within is so potent. This must be a curse-dispelling treasure!” exclaimed Yunuen, brimming with excitement.

“Most likely,” agreed Little Fairy with a nod.

Alicia appeared calmer, but her heart was tumultuous.

“It has to be… It has to be… It must be the one!” She was consumed by both eagerness and worry.

If even the [Child of Destiny] failed to find the solution, all hope would be lost.

“I made a mistake.” Suddenly, Yaeger’s voice broke the silence.

Upon hearing those words, everyone’s hearts skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding settling over them. Could it be that even the remarkable luck of the [Princess] had faltered at this crucial moment?

They couldn’t bring themselves to believe it, yet it was Yaeger herself who admitted to the error.

Taking a deep breath, Yaeger continued, “Sometimes, being too fortunate isn’t always a good thing.”

Confusion filled the air as everyone tried to make sense of her words. Had she truly messed up, or was there something more to it?

“I aimed for the second prize, but instead, I ended up with the first prize. I can’t quite explain this feeling… I don’t know whether to be happy or sad.”

Yaeger pointed her finger at the red jewel before her, and in the next moment, its information was revealed.

Heritage item: [Crimson Tears] (Restricted to Royal Bloodline)
Grade: Mythical
Description: This jewel holds the legacy of the third Emperor of the Jade Empire, Crimson [Wes]. It was created with his utmost effort before his passing. Possessing this heritage has the potential to make one a legend.

Upon reading the information, everyone’s expressions, except for Alicia’s, twitched with surprise. They finally understood what Yaeger meant.

The Inheritance Jewel before them was the ultimate reward in this place, a treasure beyond compare. Yet, it had nothing to do with dispelling curses.

“This is the most precious legacy of our clan. Brave participant, you are truly fortunate. However, you do not possess the bloodline of our clan,” the golden figure, always silent, floated over and spoke in a calm tone.

As he spoke, he cast a fleeting glance at Alicia, his gaze laden with meaning.

Upon hearing those words, Alicia was initially filled with elation, but her joy quickly turned into a daze of despair. Fortunately, Yunuen was nearby and promptly supported her, preventing her from collapsing.

“No… All hope is lost…” Alicia muttered in a vacant voice, resembling a fish out of water.

Undoubtedly, the greatest inheritance held immense value. In fact, it was the most extraordinary treasure present. However, it held no relevance for the current Alicia.

Her body had been ravaged by the curse over time. Like a fragile glass with countless cracks, it could no longer contain much substance. Attempting to dispel the curse with that inheritance was impractical.

If sheer power alone could banish the curse, Alicia would not have endured years of suffering. With her natural talent, ascending to greater strength would have been a simple feat.

Alas, the curse rendered it impossible. Like a leaky cup, no matter how much it was filled, it would invariably lose its contents.

Hopelessness engulfed Alicia completely.

The scene fell into an eerie silence, simultaneously deafening and void of life.

In the real world, all the viewers stared at the screen with trepidation and worry. However, a glimmer of hope emerged when they noticed Yaeger’s unchanged expression.

“Fortunately, luck is on our side,” Yaeger remarked casually, raising her hand to reveal a gold coin resting in her palm.

“Ah, it’s the coin dropped by the mimic!” Yunuen exclaimed, recalling its origin.

Upon hearing this, Little Fairy remembered that Yaeger had actually obtained a gold coin during their adventure. Furthermore, this coin held the power to draw prizes within the maze.

Alicia’s focus gradually returned as she regained some clarity in her eyes. After enduring continuous failures, she had lost all faith.

What truly drove her to despair was not having her hope shattered once, but having it restored and then dashed once again. Nevertheless, as long as there was even a sliver of hope, she refused to give up.

All eyes were fixed on the gold coin in Yaeger’s hand. Alicia clutched her chest and took a deep breath, calming herself. Regardless of what awaited them next, she was determined to face it head-on. There was no point in succumbing to fear.

In that moment, Alicia experienced an epiphany, and her demeanor underwent a noticeable change. It was as if she had matured significantly.

Observing this transformation, Yaeger smiled gently. However, her own composure shifted, and she became tense. Choosing to draw a prize for the final time not only risked Alicia’s life but also had consequences for her male body. If she failed, her transformation back into her original form would be lost forever.

“Use,” she silently uttered in her heart, causing the gold coin in her hand to disintegrate into particles of light.

“Brave participant, congratulations. You may choose another reward,” the emotionless golden figure spoke at that moment.

“What should I say to improve my chances?” Yaeger looked up at the myriad spheres of light and muttered to herself. After a moment of contemplation, she said, “Sister System, bless me.”

With determination, she pointed at one of the larger spheres above. This time, she decided to go in the opposite direction and choose a larger one.

As everyone watched with eagerness and anxiety, a sphere twice the size of a person descended swiftly and halted before her.

“Alicia’s life and my c̲o̲c̲k̲ depend on you. Please, do not let me down,” Yaeger silently implored.

Mentally preparing herself, she tapped the sphere with her finger.

Crack!

The sphere of light exploded!

Meanwhile, in a transit terminal, a tall adventurer with a pale face paced in circles around a teleportation formation. His expression was grave and solemn.

“Trap or not a trap… Trap or not a trap…” he mumbled, uttering incomprehensible words.

He had been repeating this ritual for quite some time.

“I don’t have much time. I can’t afford to delay. Whether it’s a trap or not, I must go in.”

Finally, the adventurer stepped into the teleporter.

Soon after, the terminal area fell into silence once again.

“Hmph!” With a burst of energy, a cute figure suddenly appeared, furiously throwing punches into the air. Her expression revealed intense anger and frustration.