A rare magical miracle in the world

"He wants you to go to the Holy as a hostage?"

Clearspring didn't hesitate for a second, "Impossible, I will absolutely not agree to this condition!"

"Agree to it, this is the best outcome,"

Clearspring didn't know that this was exactly Saros's initial plan; he had schemed everything and laid out such a route.

"Let them feel the strong potential of Clearspring, realize that I am the one causing all this," Saros said, "Then, they will focus their attention on me and target me alone."

"You planned from the start to sacrifice yourself?"

"Yes."

Saros smiled, "Isn't it good? To spare as many people as possible and let the hatred dissipate with my departure."

"But you will die!"

Clearspring couldn't accept such an outcome, "The Emperor Candidate, that person, he remembers every slight, you've humiliated him, how could he possibly let you off?"

Clearspring's worries were not unfounded, as the Emperor Candidate had a terrible reputation in the Miracle Mainland. If Saros fell into his hands, how could there be a good ending?

"It's not him."

Saros said, "If my guess is correct, I won't become a captive of the Emperor Candidate."

"Not his captive?"

That she could even calculate this, had Clearspring not known Saros lacked the prophetic ability, she would have suspected him of being a Prophet.

But even Prophets didn't seem to be a match for Saros.

There were several wars where the Emperor Candidate visited some Prophets early on, asking them to use their power of prophecy to foresee the war's course, yet Saros managed to defy the prophecies with sheer intuition and then turned the tide.

Even the Prophets of the Miracle Mainland said that Saros possessed the power to change destiny.

Only this man could wrestle with fate.

"Don't worry."

That day, Saros made a promise with Clearspring, "Wait for me here, I will certainly not die there."

"I don't want you to go."

Clearspring was incredibly reluctant; she tightly embraced Saros, this young man who by age was just a fraction of her lifetime.

For the first time in her life, Clearspring found her safe harbor, a man who would protect her, whom she could rely on, and entrust everything to.

Saros wasn't one for affectation, just as Clearspring liked him, he also adored this woman who understood him, appreciated him, and trusted him.

From that point on, the two were inseparable at all times, they became intimately involved, and received the blessings of a new generation of Clearspring Miracle Citizens.

Then Saros left, taken away by the envoy from the Holy Empire, taken over there.

"Why did this happen?"

"Why?!"

Saros's departure made Clearspring realize her own weakness and incompetence; she was no longer passive but regained her once majestic presence and confidence, vowing to rise Clearspring Kingdom and personally wrest Saros back from over there.

No matter how long it took, no matter what effort it required, Clearspring was prepared to spare no expense.

"That's right, this is how it should be."

No matter what he did, Saros was always prepared; his sacrifice was not just to save Clearspring Kingdom but also in hopes that Clearspring could be reborn through this.

And now, he had succeeded.

Because of his sacrifice, Clearspring Kingdom welcomed peace, and Clearspring, fueled by his departure, became determined to grow stronger.

As for him...

That didn't matter anymore, for Saros had achieved his vengeance and demonstrated his talent, and what the future held, he would leave to fate.

The Holy Empire, Imperial Capital Arland.

Shackled and with chains dangling, Saros dragged his two-handed hammer in front of him; this was the Holy Empire's arena, an entertainment venue for the nobility to relish in gladiatorial combat.

After the trial of the Holy Empire, Saros wasn't deprived of his life, but was sentenced to life imprisonment.

He would spend the rest of his days in this arena, or perish in one of the fights.

"Move faster!"

The Miracle Soldiers escorting them were unaware of Saros's identity, and he was not the only one there; slaves from all over the world, war criminals, or ordinary people—they had them all.

But unlike Saros, who walked with his head held high, most were dejected, their fear and unease about death and permanent imprisonment having already crushed them.

Some cried, others wailed and pleaded, hoping for mercy.

But it was all in vain; the Holy Empire was never a gentle or kind nation. It was brutal, domineering, especially towards mortals. Once enslaved, one could only be seen as a number for the Upper Tier to dispose of at will.

"The arena."

Saros lifted his head, surveying the massive structure.

There was no fear, just a confident stride forward.

At this moment, Saros seemed not like a prisoner or a felon, but more like a hero, finally stepping onto the stage that belonged to him, to meet the cheers and shouts of countless people.

At the young age of 19, he had gone from a rural hillbilly, drafted into the military, to become a Clearspring Kingdom soldier.

And then, who could have imagined?

A mere mortal, unable to possess Miracle Power, he became the military and political leader of a nation, turned the tide, and defeated the invading enemy with his own strength.

Even the esteemed Miracle Citizens had to follow his commands.

More than that, he had won the favor of the goddess-like ruler of Clearspring Kingdom, making her his woman, to take and request as he pleased, serving him with tenderness.

'Even if this life were to end here, wouldn't it be enough?'

Saros did not fear death. What he wanted was a life without regrets; as for how long or how much time he had, that was of no consequence.

Life is not about its duration, but about living splendidly.

"Mama~~ Papa~~"

"Wuu wuu~~"

In the cell, a girl in tattered clothes curled up in the corner, thirsty and tired, shivering, full of fear and unease about the unknown tomorrow.

"A cellmate, huh? Just a little girl now, but she'll grow into a fine woman, won't she?"

Saros shared a cell with the girl, sitting down beside her without any hesitation, startling the girl, but before she could react, Saros handed her a small piece of cake.

"Hungry, aren't you? Here."

This was the first encounter between Saros and Shi Xiyu.

A piece of cake, made from the coarsest of rye, tasted and felt awful, but to the girl, it was as delectable as manna from heaven.

Of course, the initial contact wasn't that simple.

Shi Xiyu was full of wariness and unease, not trusting Saros, fearful that he might hurt her.

But as they interacted little by little, the gentleness and care Saros showed eventually melted the anxious heart of the girl. He earned Shi Xiyu's trust, becoming the only ray of sunshine for this 5-year-old girl in this dark world...