A man who had been on the brink of death was granted a brief reprieve.

However, that time was just a fleeting moment—a drop in the bucket compared to the lifespan he could have originally expected. For one whose body, soul, and essence were shattered by the failure of the Ascension Rite, it was a blessing nonetheless.

“To be honest, I thought I would die on the way here. I was well aware of my own condition.”

The man gave a faint smile. Although Selene had done nothing wrong, seeing his smile filled her with a sense of guilt.

“The …