Raising My Trash Ability into a Broken SSS+ Rank Skill Chapter 539 Falling

The altar teetered on the brink of a violent eruption as hundreds of guests abruptly drew and ignited hidden glyphs. Prepared for any contingency, including a spatial lockdown, they tore open a jagged rift. Though such a maneuver was fraught with peril, it represented their only path to freedom. The collective power of the hundreds of glyphs coalesced, forcing a shimmering tear in space to manifest at the center of the hall.

A figure suddenly materialized beside the cage holding Teresa captive, intent on seizing the entire structure. Vritra, watching with his arms crossed over his chest, simply shook his head. These idiots truly possessed the audacity to try and plunder what belonged to him. Unhurried, he scrutinized the individual daring enough to reach for the cage. Vritra did not recognize the man; his Cultivation was inferior to that of a Lord, though he seemed to possess the strength of the 18th Legion, far surpassing a typical General.

Despite being at the Lord rank, Teresa could vividly feel the chaos erupting around her. However, her fear of inadvertently harming others kept her paralyzed; she simply stood with her hands clasped in silence. This was far from the first time someone had attempted to kidnap her, and in the past, her brother or grandfather had always intervened. She harbored a deep-seated dread of physical contact, as it brought forth nightmares, agony, and visions of doom. Through a single touch, she would witness all the miseries a person had endured or was destined to face.

In her youth, a maid had discovered her secret and touched her. That woman had previously lost every child she bore to mysterious circumstances immediately after birth. By siphoning Teresa’s ill fortune, the maid finally delivered a healthy son. Although Sir Giant eventually discovered the truth and sentenced the maid to death, the spiritual damage could not be undone. On several occasions, Teresa had unwittingly absorbed the wretched fates of others, improving their lives at the cost of her own. Standing motionless within her cage, she was terrified, praying that no one would even graze her by accident as she waited.

'One… Two… Three…' she whispered internally. Both her grandfather and brother had vowed to protect her before she could count to ten whenever danger struck.

However, before she could even reach the count of four, she saw her husband move with a speed that defied her vision. His left hand blurred forward, seizing the man from the Twilight by the throat before Vritra hurled him away. The transition was so instantaneous that the man didn't even realize what had happened before he crashed near the spot where the two Monarchs had just been incinerated. Fiona’s lips curved into a predatory smile; she had found a new toy to hunt.

Vritra’s left hand then reached toward Teresa. His new bride flinched, terrified that his touch would trigger a cascade of nightmares and pain. Yet, the moment his hand made contact with the cage, the structure shattered as if it were made of thin paper. Teresa recoiled slightly, but in a heartbeat, his arm swept around her waist and pulled her flush against him. Her curvaceous form pressed into his, and for a fleeting second, her intoxicatingly sweet fragrance caused Vritra to hesitate. Then, he took to the sky, pausing at a safe distance just as—

BOOOOM!

The altar detonated with terrifying force. Members of the Ford and Yate families recoiled in shock, certain the couple had been consumed by the blast. The Fords believed Teresa might survive the explosion with injuries, but they were sure Art would be vaporized by such raw power. Conversely, the Yates were more concerned for Teresa, knowing Art’s strength far exceeded that of a Lord.

"Noooo!" they screamed, charging forward, though they were far too late to reach the altar.

High above, Teresa kept her eyelids pressed shut, bracing for the horrific backlash that usually followed physical contact. Even through gloves, her abilities were typically strong enough to trigger. But as the seconds ticked by, all she felt was the protective warmth of his arms encircling her waist. Pressed against him, she realized she had never been this physically close to anyone, not even her mother.

Confused, the bride tilted her head and opened her eyes. As her senses reached out, she found Vritra looking down at her.

"H- Huh?" Teresa gasped. She couldn't see his fate at all, leaving her bewildered as to why.

"My dear Tess, I would never hurt you, whether by intent or accident. There is no need to fear being close to me, alright?" Vritra whispered. His left arm remained firmly around her waist while he reached out with his right.

Teresa remained in a state of shock. She had fully prepared herself for a life of misery. She couldn't fathom why anyone would love her or what she could possibly offer. He couldn't touch her or even look at her without risking madness. As others often claimed, she was a harbinger of calamity; the "unfortunate witch" believed this marriage would be a mere formality. She expected to remain isolated, both physically and emotionally, and being wed to a stranger had only intensified that dread.

Yet, the reality was shattering her expectations. It took her a moment to process his words through her daze. Then, she felt Vritra’s gentle grip on her left arm. Before she could protest, he slid the glove off. A pale, slender, and exquisite arm was exposed, though her sleeve still reached her wrist. Vritra softly pressed his palm against hers, interlacing their fingers with profound tenderness.

Her skin felt incredibly silky—a sensation unlike anything he had ever felt. It was difficult to believe she was a mere mortal and not some celestial being. While Teresa’s arm initially remained rigid, she slowly began to curl her fingers around his, soaking in his warmth. Surprisingly, it soothed her soul, and the sensation was wonderful.

Long ago, her mother had told her that someone more significant than any family member would one day enter her life. A person who would offer unconditional love, protecting her and standing by her side even if the entire world turned against her. Teresa had never put faith in those words, but in this moment, it felt as though the rest of the world had vanished. For the first time, she felt truly special.

Her husband was meant to be a stranger with no place in her heart, but now the very word felt intimate. Realizing she could truly depend on him, she yearned to explore this feeling further. She was ready to surrender herself to him, praying only that it wouldn't end in heartbreak.

Her swirling thoughts were cut short when Vritra asked: "Do you feel any discomfort?"

He was genuinely concerned about causing her pain, though he suspected Divine would have alerted him if his touch was harmful. If Teresa were to attempt to steal his fate, he suspected she would be the one in danger of dying, not him.

"..." Teresa said nothing. The expected agony never arrived; instead, she was filled with a pleasant warmth she had never known. After a silent beat, she nodded, savoring the peculiar, wonderful sensation.

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