Damn, I Have to Marry the Strongest Antagonist at the Start?

Leslie did not conceal anything from her mentor. She lifted her gaze toward Heaven Beyond Heaven, her expression solemn as she spoke:

"There have indeed been some gains. Perhaps the feud between us and the Celestial can finally come to an end."

Her voice was not loud, yet it carried an unshakable firmness, an undeniable confidence that seemed to make even time and space tremble slightly.

Hearing this, the Old Order woman looked at Leslie with even greater astonishment and immediately pressed further:

"Do you already have the confidence to engage the Celestial in a life-or-death battle?"

She had fought against the Celestial before and knew its unfathomable strength. Even if she gave her all, she was still no match.

Leslie’s talent and power were indeed terrifying, yet in the Old Order woman’s mind, the gap between Leslie and the Celestial was still significant.

However, she also knew that Leslie was not someone who spoke recklessly.

If Leslie had said such words, she must have considerable certainty.

Her curiosity burned.

Leslie remained as calm as ever and simply nodded.

With this confirmation, the Old Order woman and Tsukihime both widened their eyes in shock.

After all, their greatest enemy had always been the Celestial!

And up until recently, Leslie had not been stronger than them.

Yet in such a short time, she had gained the strength to challenge the Celestial?

They could hardly believe it.

"Could it be…"

Suddenly, the Old Order woman seemed to think of something, and she gasped in shock:

"Could it be that you have transformed the Dark Heart into the Heart of Dominion?"

Though her words took the form of a question, her eyes shone with absolute certainty.

Because from the faint aura radiating from Leslie, she felt the same kind of pressure that she had once experienced when facing the Celestial!

Clearly, Leslie had succeeded in taking that critical step within Heaven Beyond Heaven!

Upon hearing this, Tsukihime’s eyes went wide with disbelief as she stared at Leslie.

"Junior… how did you do it?"

She was certain that Mentor’s perception could not be wrong.

But how?

How had Leslie managed to do it?

Under their bewildered gazes, Leslie spoke calmly:

"What the Celestial could do, I can do as well."

Heaven Beyond Heaven was a place of extreme mystery.

Without a guide or coordinates, it was impossible to reach.

Moreover, this place was directly tied to the ultimate legacy of the realm.

According to its rules, only First Celestial Gods or their direct descendants could enter.

Upon stepping inside, Leslie’s bloodline power had been fully awakened, reaching a level comparable to Tsukihime, the First Celestial God Emperor.

Beyond that, her Dark Heart had been blessed by Heaven Beyond Heaven, transforming into the Heart of Chaos.

Only those who wielded the Heart of Chaos had a chance to become the heir of the realm’s legacy.

And the heir of the realm’s legacy was destined to become the new Celestial!

This was the path that the Celestial had once taken.

Back then, the Celestial had overthrown the Old Order precisely because she had awakened the Heart of Chaos and claimed the realm’s legacy, seizing the throne.

A person who possessed the Heart of Chaos was already considered halfway to inheriting Heaven Beyond Heaven.

This was of utmost significance.

In the Old Order woman’s eyes, Leslie now only lacked the final opportunity!

Realizing this, a rare smile appeared on her weary face.

"Excellent… excellent! I truly did not misjudge you!"

She was overjoyed, and even her injuries seemed to ease somewhat.

Leslie smiled softly.

"Mentor, thank you for everything over the years."

There was a trace of guilt in her voice.

After all, without her Old Order mentor’s support, she would not have come this far.

At the same time, in order to deceive the Celestial, her mentor had helped cover for her in countless ways, doing everything possible to shield her.

If not for this, her mentor would not have fallen out with the Celestial so soon, nor reached this irreversible state.

The Old Order woman struggled to steady herself, her face filled with excitement.

"My sacrifices… have finally borne fruit. I am truly happy. My efforts were not in vain."

As she spoke, she inadvertently aggravated her abdominal wounds.

With a violent cough, she spat out a mouthful of dark blood, filling the air with a suffocatingly metallic stench.

Her complexion instantly turned deathly pale.

Leslie immediately stepped forward to support her, sensing the chaotic energy in her mentor’s body, as well as her deep, festering wounds, from which blackened blood continued to seep.

Her guilt intensified, and her voice turned hoarse.

"Mentor…"

Before she could say more, the Old Order woman cut her off with a shake of her head.

"Leslie, do not worry about me. I know my own body. Though I am severely injured, I have a deep foundation—I will not die so easily." @@novelbin@@

She took a deep breath, then fixed her piercing gaze on Leslie.

"There is only one thing I wish to know—do you truly intend to overthrow the Celestial?"

Her expression grew even more solemn as she asked.

Leslie did not hesitate.

"Of course!"

She declared firmly,

"Mentor, wasn’t this always our dream—to overthrow the current Celestial and take its place? That dream has never changed!"

Her voice was unshakably resolute.

The Old Order woman remained silent for a moment before her gaze flickered.

"Leslie, you must understand why I ask this question."

"To replace the Celestial, one needs not only absolute power but also a willingness to pay the price. You should already understand this."

At these words, Leslie remained silent.

Seeing this, the Old Order woman was not surprised.

But this hesitant Leslie—this unfamiliar hesitation—made her feel uneasy.

For Leslie had always been her best, most outstanding student—

A girl who could navigate the most complex choices and act decisively.

Yet now, Leslie hesitated.

The Old Order woman sighed.

She knew there were only two paths to replacing the Celestial.

The Path of Ruthlessness

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The Celestial stood above all, aloof and indifferent, like an emperor overlooking the world.

For an emperor, there was only absolute power—no right or wrong, no emotions.

A blade of grass or a human life was all the same in the Celestial’s eyes.

What mattered was only utility.

This was the best path for Leslie, given her cold, imperial nature.

The Path of Emotion

This was the opposite—one who cherished the world, who saw beauty in all things, who was deeply tied to others.

For a small ruler, this was a virtue.

But for the greatest of empires, this could be a weakness.

This path was far harder.

Leslie was not suited for it.

Yet her actions seemed to suggest that she was trying to follow it.

She had married Owen.

She had a child.

It was too late for her to take the Path of Ruthlessness now.

These two paths were mutually exclusive, like fire and water.

To ignore this was to invite ruin.

Thus, the Old Order woman was deeply curious—

What kind of hold did Owen and Little Leslie have on Leslie?

Finally, under the gaze of her mentor and Tsukihime, Leslie made her decision.

Meeting their eyes, she declared:

"Owen is my husband. Little Leslie is my daughter. I will never forget them, nor will I abandon them."

"But rest assured—the throne of the Celestial will still be ours!"

"I will take everything!"

Her words shook the great hall.

The chaotic aura in the air quivered violently, sending endless ripples across space.

The Old Order woman’s expression darkened.

She shook her head and warned gravely:

"Leslie, this is impossible! You cannot have both!"

"If you do not abandon them, even if you defeat the Celestial, it will be meaningless. It will only bring your own downfall!"