The chaos finally ceased with the conclusion of the battle between Jack and Amber. First responders were delegated around the continent to help with the accumulated casualties and destruction. They received help from unspecified blessed soldiers in their endeavors.
The first responders felt dispirited at the unimaginable amount of casualties and the screams of the injured and affected. The gloomy feeling mainly came from the physical burden, although the sight of countless civilian deaths weighed on them psychologically. None felt as psychologically exhausted as the Enlightenment Program's soldiers, though.
Amid a ruined city, the Enlightenment Program's soldiers, or what's left of them, were walking around.
"...What the hell happened around here?" Baran questioned as he surveyed the area. "After Sergeant Trixie fought Jack, everything went to shit...plus we haven't found Aiden yet."
"We haven't heard anything from anyone...I'm apprehensive," Ariel added. "Especially for Amber..."
"Well, I'm worried for my friend, Aiden--"
Amid Baran's comment, Ryzen suddenly appeared with Kreuger next to him. Their sudden appearance was not as surprising to the soldiers as what the duo was holding. Their surprise turned quickly to despair as they gazed at the corpses of Altius and Aiden that Ryzen carried. Kreuger also carried the unconscious body of Trixie on his back.
"W-WHAT! NO WAY! AIDEN!!!" Baran yelled as he approached Ryzen and Kreuger. "W-What the hell happened!?"
"Aiden...Mr. Altius!" Ariel said. "W-What is this!?"
Sariel and Ivory were in utter shock, and their jaw dropped in surprise.
"...Jack had killed them," Kreuger stated. "I met with Ryzen and retrieved their corpses on the way back."
Ryzen had dropped the deceased duo, and Baran fell to his knees in front of Aiden's decapitated corpse. While everyone was deeply affected by this revelation, Baran took it the hardest.
"Even though we tried our hardest, we were still...useless," Ariel muttered in a saddened tone as she gazed at the unconscious Trixie. "If only...we were stronger...they wouldn't have died..."
"D-Do you know...where Amber is?" Sariel questioned.
"Well, she was--"
"Sorry for being late..." The voice of Amber said as she approached everyone. As they turned their gazes, they noticed Amber dragging the corpse of Jack across the ground by the back of his coat collar. Since he was deceased, Jack had returned to his normal state.
That sparked bewilderment in everyone except Ryzen.
"I have defeated...Jack the Ripper," Amber stated. "Unfortunately, I couldn't find...the other S-Class criminals, though."
As Sariel and Ariel gazed at her, they noticed a glow from her eyes. The gleam impressed upon them a different feeling than what they usually felt from Amber.
Ah, there's the woman in question. Ryzen thought as he gazed at her. She has attained enlightenment. Anyone can tell there's something special about her just by looking once.
"A-Amber...are you okay?" Ariel questioned. Suddenly, a look of panic filled Ariel's face as she remembered Altius and Aiden being dead. "W-Wait, Amber...don't look over there--"
"It's fine, Ariel. I know that Mr. Altius...and Aiden have died. Jack murdered them before my eyes, and I couldn't even stop Jack," Amber said. "I'm glad that you all survived--"
"DAMN IT! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STILL ALIVE!? WHY DO YOU ALWAYS ACT LIKE YOU'RE SUFFERING WHEN EVERYONE ELSE RISKS THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT YOU!?" Baran yelled as he burst into rage. "YOU SAY YOU'D NEVER BE USELESS AGAIN, BUT MY FRIEND IS DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU!"
Kreuger, Ariel, and Sariel became visibly annoyed in response to Baran's venting. Amber, however, seemed rather solemn.
"It's all your fault why everything became this way! If you never joined this program in the first place, none of this shit wouldn't have happened to us!" Baran continued. "You've always been the cause of all our problems, from the London mafia to Jack. We always risk our lives to help you clean up the mess you create! If only Jack had murdered you along with your damn fa--"
Before Baran could finish, Sariel rushed and delivered a powerful straight punch to his jaw. The punch caused him to violently bounce across the ground several times before crashing into a building.
"SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH, OR I WILL KILL YOU!" Sariel threatened with visible rage. "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT AFTER WHAT AMBER WENT THROUGH!"
"Don't...be angry at him, Sariel. It's understandable why he'd be angry," Amber said. "He's right...your lives became worse because of me. I'll never disagree."
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
"Amber...don't say that..." Sariel said.
"There's nothing I can say that could make this better, and I won't try to change how you feel about anything, Baran," Amber stated. "You can keep cursing and hating me for this. Today will forever be my biggest regret."
While hearing her out, the bruised-faced Baran gazed at her with furrowed eyebrows and gritted teeth. Meanwhile, Ryzen gazed at her with amusement. Kreuger suddenly approached Amber and placed his hand on her shoulder, which surprised her.
"You may think that today is your biggest regret, but I'd say today should also be your greatest delight," Kreuger said. "You kept your promise and killed Jack, which will save so many people in the future. Don't listen to that moron. We're all glad to have met you."
Hearing that, Amber cracked a slight smile.
"Thank you, Kreuger," Amber said.
"Oh, you can call me Leo," Kreuger suggested. "I don't let many people call me that..."
With widened eyes, Amber's smile became even brighter. That was the first time she smiled since her battle with Jack.
"Alright, Leo," Amber replied.
* * *
News helicopters, scoping the scene, spread the news of what took place. While chilling in the hotel, Ada tuned in to the breaking news that interrupted everyone's television.
"Good evening, this is Melissa bringing you the breaking news. As the chaotic fight between the rampant S-Class criminals and our country's brave soldiers concluded, it seems the wind of luck has finally blown in the world's favor," The news reporter, Melissa, stated. "Gaining invaluable information from the United States's president, Ada Foster, our country's forces have eliminated the notorious Jack the Ripper."
Jack's deceased corpse was displayed on-screen.
"Well, oh, my!" Ada exclaimed with visible joy. "You hear that, Charlotte? They killed Jack."
"Yes, your plan worked!" Charlotte responded as she stood by the hotel entrance. "I always had faith in you!"
"Unfortunately, the fate of the other criminals is unknown, but the mere fact that Jack Knight, the perpetrator responsible for civilian casualties estimated in the millions, has been killed puts the world in a much better position than before," Melissa stated. Images of the destruction in several areas were shown in a bird's eye view from news helicopters across multiple cities. "As for now, we have to thank the efforts of President Ada and the military that fought for us."
"Heh, I appreciate the thanks I am receiving. What a considerate reporter," Ada stated.
"You deserve far more than that, though," Charlotte stated. "The Prime Minister and Chief of Defense...no, Queen Isabella should be the one that shows her gratitude."
"Haha, I agree wholeheartedly. Either way, I'm happy with this outcome," Ada responded. "Jack was the one I was worried the most about...and now he's dead. I knew Nathan wouldn't have been killed. He's almost as smart as I am, after all."
"You give him too much praise, miss," Charlotte commented. "That ingrate cannot be compared to you."
"I've taken the biggest crutch from Nathan," Ada continued. "Nothing is stopping me from making him suffer."
I have researched who you are, Nathan. You have lived a very terrible and unfortunate life. Ada thought. But the suffering you've experienced in your whole life will not compare to what you'll go through in the coming days and months.
While Ada pondered, Charlotte's smartphone made an audible ring; she had received a notification, which she checked.
"Excuse me, miss. It seems that Leon and Nolan have found their hideout," Charlotte vaguely stated. "They are waiting on you to act."
"Ah, perfect timing," Ada replied. "Let's get on with it, then."
* * *
Failing the mission of laying waste to England, the game characters returned to the home of Nathan and Lilith in America. The jet ride was accompanied by the unending cries of Olivia and the downtrodden expression of Zack, causing the travel to be solemn.
"It's unfortunate, but this ended up in a failure," The developer stated as he facepalmed. "You guys were forced to retreat because Jack died. Sigh, I can't believe I lost one of my game characters."
"If only...we had...got to him...from the start..." The sniffling Olivia whimpered. "We could...have saved...him."
Y-You were the one that saved...me. You shifted my trust in Ada... Olivia thought. So why...why did you leave me too!?
"I-I don't understand how this could have happened," Zack commented as he sat and gazed at the ceiling. "H-How could Jack...die?"
"Meh, it's not all that bad," Nathan commented. "That unpredictable sociopath is dead. Is that not a good thing anyway?"
"W...What did you...just say?" Olivia muttered.
"We don't need to worry about him potentially wanting to kill us in the future," Nathan explained. "So, I don't understand why you're crying--"
"How could you be so cold and heartless, Nathan! If it weren't for Jack, we would have died long ago!" Olivia retorted. "He's saved us many times, including you! But we couldn't save him once...why do you not feel any way!?"
You are so right, Olivia. Jack has always saved Nathan. The developer pondered. I guess he hasn't realized how much he depended on Jack. He hasn't realized how protected he's been...
"Tch, I hate how you get all outspoken when it's about Jack," Nathan stated. "I'm sorry, but you won't change how I feel. I would never feel sadness for someone like Jack. I'm my own person, after all."
Hearing that, Olivia gave Nathan a dangerous glare. Seeing this, Lilith stepped in front of Nathan.
"Please stop staring at Nathan like that," Lilith said. "I agree with what Nathan said. I'm not the least bit upset that he is dead."
"I-I thought...you'd understand--"
Before Olivia could respond, the house's entrance swung open. With everyone's attention grabbed, Charles had entered with the NPCs. The injuries he sustained from the Queen Deathbringer and her allies had been healed, likely by the doctor.
"Oh, I was wondering if you were still alive," Nathan said. "What were you up to, Charles?"
"Heh, I've just been enjoying myself," Charles responded.
"Enjoying yourself? If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have survived those injuries you sustained from 'enjoying yourself'!" The doctor yelled.
"Heh, it's fine," Charles assured. "I wouldn't have died anywhere outside of a battle, after all."
"Ugh...so reckless..."
"So, what's got you guys looking so glum?" Charles questioned.
"Well, Jack's dead," Nathan bluntly stated.
"He died? Well, that's a bummer," Charles responded. "I was interested in fighting him...well, he wouldn't have fought fairly, so whatever."