“Are you sure you want to do that?”

"Yes," Lapunta nodded slightly as he laid still on a stone bed with magical carvings. “I must secure my own existence.”

"But you will be weak...", Lutes looked at Lapunta with a puzzled expression, and at the same time, the index and middle fingers of his hands joined together, touching the sides of Lapunta's temples to perform the ritual. “You can still defeat them in this match…”

“No,” Lapunta snorted coldly. “I have always had a premonition about this war. I see illusions… I see their faces… staring at me…”

"I will always be by your side to protect you," replied Lutes gravely.

"No, Lutes...", Lapunta shook his head. “You will have to do something more important.”

At the same time, Lutes had already taken something from the head of the great demon lord. An amorphous red, like smoke, like dew, like liquid suspended in Lutes' palm. He let the unknown thing hang in the dark room where only the light of the torch flickered. Lapunta then became so much weaker that he couldn't sit up on his own, so he had to ask for help from Lutes. He looked at the thing without stopping, and so did Lutes. Lapunta smiled as if the plan had come true, saying:

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“This body is only temporary… only the soul is eternal.”

"Forgive me, Your Majesty...", Lutes respectfully. “But this is…?”

“My soul… I have divided my soul in two. And I need you to protect it."

"But my lord," he said confused. "What will God do?"

Lapunta suddenly looked at Lutes with pitying eyes. Lutes caught a little wetness on the corner of Lapunta's eyelids, and in his heart, he immediately understood what he meant. But Lutes had absolutely no intention of fear or resistance. He just immediately knelt down in front of him, his right hand crossed over his left chest, his eyes fixed on him, saying:

“This life is willingly given to you. For His Majesty's sake, Lutes will die for you without complaint!"

Lapunta raised a hand to Lutes' chin, looking at him sadly. This was the first time Lapunta felt pain. When he killed his four brothers, he didn't feel as sad as he did now. He said:

“You are the person I trust the most. I trust you with all my soul,” he paused abruptly, examining Lutes' countenance instead. "You will become me..."