Chapter 239 The Sealed Place 9 (1/2)

”Seems like your companions know that you're here.”

The giant of light said as he turned to Lapis who was tied up. Tears appeared in her eyes and the crystal at her chest vibrated as several rays of white light revolved around it.

Rafah was surprised.

It was no easy task as completing the Spirit Crystal required the owner's absolute acceptance. If the owner had even the slightest resistance against accepting the power, it would undoubtedly fail. Even though Rafah managed to forcefully pull out the Spirit Crystal hidden within Lapis' body, it realized that her resistance made it impossible to accomplish his task. If it tried to bend her will forcefully, it might trigger an irreversible backlash and end its goals once and for all.

That was something Rafah would never want to see. Thus, it used the 'persuasion tactic' in an attempt to change Lapis' view. However, no matter how hard it tried to convince her, the timid lady never backed down. Even when Rafah threatened her, her will remained the same. This left Rafah speechless. From its perspective, it didn't understand how a woman with such a major lack of confidence could be so stubborn. Wasn't it supposed to be an easy task to convince her?

”I don't understand why you would reject.”

Rafah shook its head and gazed at Lapis, puzzled.

”I went through your spirit and seen your past. You've faced such situations before, haven't you? We, Berhermes, is neither spirit nor human, but an abnormality. Humans are afraid of us, hate us, and keep a distance from us. You should know how it feels like, so why are you still hesitating? You can control your fate after becoming a perfect being, Lapis.”

”…”

Lapis remained silent for a moment before shaking her head vigorously once again.

If Rhode was present, he would certainly tell Rafah that their methods were wrong from the very beginning.

Truthfully, Lapis was indeed an individual who lacked self-confidence. However, Rafah underestimated the level of her lack of self-confidence. For example, when humans faced setbacks, some would stand up and oppose it while others would sink deeper into the abyss.

Even though Lapis had encountered many setbacks, she had eventually lost the ability to make her own decisions and drowned in an inferiority complex syndrome. In other words, as long as she met a person that could be trusted, she would listen to him or her without question. She would think that she didn't possess sufficient capabilities to make suggestions, and as long someone she trusted could convince her in doing something, she would follow his or her instructions wholeheartedly.

That was why Rhode assigned her to focus on alchemy and forbid her to conceive of her own theories. Well, Lapis wasn't unhappy with his decision. Through experimentation in accordance with Rhode's directions, she was able to understand how to exhibit the greatest potential in blending potions. Thus, after that, she followed his words unconditionally.

Coming back to the current situation — it was exactly the same scenario. Rafah hoped that Lapis would accept her own powers, but Lapis deemed it as an impossible task. From the very beginning, her heart was set against this notion, and even if she took a thousand steps back, her lack of self-confidence would prevent her from thinking that she had the attributes of a perfect being.

However, if it were Rhode, Anne or Randolf who persuaded her instead, Lapis would do it without hesitation.

Rafah had no clue what to do with this stubborn woman. Now, his only option was to break her mind and push her willpower to the brink of despair. Once Lapis had no more hope, she would no longer cling to any willpower to live. Then, Lapis would become the perfect doll that wouldn't resist or doubt. By doing this, she would undoubtedly turn into a perfect product — a perfect product that had lost its self-awareness which would make it somewhat flawed. Nevertheless, Lapis could produce offsprings that could become the next perfect Behermian. So, as long as she lived, it would be enough.

Although it might sound simple, to break the woman's willpower wasn't easy at all. As the spirit and flesh were tightly linked, Rafah wasn't able to use any violent methods that would injure her flesh. What if Lapis couldn't take the pain and passed away from it? Rafah would go crazy…

So, what else could make her fall into despair?

Right. As long as she personally witnesses the death of her companions, Lapis would lose everything that she had loved and fall into despair. Simple.

Alas, things don't always proceed as planned.

Rafah stared at the image floating in the air. Its face twitched as it didn't expect the Golem Guards to be so weak. He was mad as they were all smashed to smithereens in minutes, but what made him even angrier was that because of this, Lapis' will to live actually soared!

It was supposed to break her will, not reinforce it!

But even so, it didn't give up altering Lapis' mentality.

”Do you really think that they would come and save you?”

Rafah sneered as he extended his arm and pointed to the gem that appeared on Lapis' chest.

”Do you think that they would want to save you after knowing what you are? You should already know that humans always hated the Behermes Family. The humans are afraid of the unknown, of what we have, and what they can't understand. We can live in this world without the organ the humans refer as the heart, and continue to appear as ordinary humans without becoming the undead.”