CHAPTER 174 – MIDNIGHT APOLOGY
LYSANDER FARADEISS
After laying waste to New Vanilla City, I leaped to the next human settlement using the Windwalker’s Fast Travel magic. The ritual was always the same: I would arrive, unleash my Necroblaze Dragon form, trap all the people within the settlement, and then incinerate them with my nuclear flames. The devastation was relentless. Driven by urgency, I annihilated ten human-populated megacities in a mere six hours. Thanks to my Elform transformation, mana was never a concern; I had mastered the art of assimilating nature’s energy into my own. My invulnerability to any attack stemmed from my connection to the ultimate Dragon Lord, making me an unstoppable force.
No one dared to oppose me. Not even Arthur, my greatest adversary, had the courage to face me.
My true enemies were my own conscience and mind. Each time I scorched innocent civilians, their pleading eyes were seared into my memory. The dying cries that echoed unanswered would haunt me forever.
I was mentally exhausted and longed to call it a night. I yearned for sleep, hoping to escape the horrors I had wrought, if only for a moment. Yet, I felt compelled to announce my existence to the world. I wanted Arthur to know I was coming for him, to ensure he lived in terror until his final breath.
I approached the Windwalker’s bridge and spoke to the AI.
“ULYSSES, open a broadcast on all channels to the remaining human settlements. And if possible, I want all races to hear what I have to say too,” I commanded.
“Roger that, Lysander Faradeiss,” the AI replied.
A holographic screen with a bold “SOUND ONLY” label flickered into view.
“You are now online to the whole world,” the ship’s AI announced.
I leaned forward, my voice steady and resolute. “This is for the record. I am Necross, the Destroyer of Worlds and the Outer God of the Undead. I hereby declare the continuation of the Purge of Humanity, a mission initiated by Gazelle Lockwood. Humanity’s existence is a blight, a cancer upon this planet. Now, I address you, Arthurius Elkyria Neos. Though you were once my friend, you are now my target. If you wish to save humanity rather than cling to your own life, then hear my ultimatum: kill yourself. End your life here and now, and I will cease the slaughter of humans. No one else needs to die in this war. It rests solely on you.”
With a swift motion, I cut the transmission, the holographic globe flickering before vanishing. “Transmission complete. Your message has been sent to the whole world,” the ship’s AI confirmed.
“Good,” I replied, a cold satisfaction settling over me. “Now let’s go home. To the Demonic Cathedral.”
“Roger that, Lysander Faradeiss. Initiating Fast Travel in three… two… one…”
Magical circles enveloped the Windwalker airship, and in the blink of an eye, we stood before the imposing edifice of the Demonic Cathedral.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as I stepped off the airship, my eyes drawn to the towering structure before me. The sight of it stirred a tumult of emotions within me, and to my surprise, tears welled up. Hastily, I wiped them away, trying to shake off the unexpected surge of feeling.
“Why the hell am I crying?” I muttered to myself, frustration tinging my voice. “I thought I had already committed to this path.”
I approached the cathedral’s entrance, noticing it was slightly ajar. I paid it little mind, knowing Hiraya was still inside; her heartbeat echoed in mine. But the open door suggested someone had either forced their way in or out.
I walked calmly through the grand, echoing halls of the Demonic Cathedral, making my way toward the living quarters. My mind was heavy with thoughts of what lay ahead, yet I found solace in the familiar path. As I approached Hiraya’s door, I noticed it was open, and the magical barrier I had placed was no longer there.
“The barrier was dispelled!?” I gasped, alarmed.
I rushed to the room, fear gripping me. But to my relief, Hiraya was there, peacefully asleep in her bed. Her delicate form was illuminated by the gentle glow of moonlight, casting her in an ethereal light. On her desk lay a plate of roasted chicken and stir-fried vegetables, carefully covered in cellophane to keep them fresh.
I exhaled deeply, a weight lifting from my chest. “Thank goodness you’re still here.”
The moonlight painted her face like a masterful artwork, reminiscent of the first time I encountered her in this timeline when she was sleeping inside the school library. Her serene expression brought a sense of calm to my turbulent mind.
Hiraya’s elven ears twitched slightly as she began to stir. Slowly, she opened her eyes, revealing golden irises that met mine. “Lysander?” she murmured softly.
“Hiraya…” I replied, clutching my chest to suppress the ache in my heart.
The elven beauty smiled warmly, a sight that momentarily eased my troubled thoughts. “Are you hungry? I cooked dinner for you. You were getting a little bit late, so I went ahead and ate first.”
“H-How…” My voice faltered, my mind reeling with disbelief. “How did you manage to cook in the first place? How were you able to remove the barrier on the door?”
“I was getting bored of being your captive, so I dispelled it,” Hiraya said with a casual smile. “I wandered around the Demonic Cathedral and stumbled upon a dragonoid flea market a few kilometers from here. So I used my Wings of Light to do some shopping.”
Her words left me stunned, a mixture of admiration and bewilderment swirling within me. Hiraya’s resourcefulness never ceased to amaze me, and despite the circumstances, her independent spirit shone through.
“W-Why… Why are you still here anyway? Why didn't you run away?” I asked, my voice unsteady as I clenched my fists.
“So that you will not be lonely,” Hiraya replied, tilting her head slightly. Then she extended her arms, inviting me into her comforting embrace.
Judging from Hiraya’s expression, I could tell she already knew what I was planning to do. After all, the idea of becoming humanity’s enemy had originated with her counterpart from the Previous Timeline, so it was only natural that she understood the turmoil I was experiencing. She must have sensed my inner conflict from the moment I began my rampage. I carried a piece of her previous incarnation within me, and she must have known that my heart had shattered into a million tiny fragments.
It was foolish of me to think I could keep her in the dark. There was no way Hiraya could remain oblivious to my plans. Even without our connection through the Vesryn Pulse, her keen intellect would easily allow her to discern the turmoil within me.
Tears streamed down my face, my blue eyes trembling with emotion. Words failed me, and I was overwhelmed by a storm of conflicting feelings. Though my stomach was empty, it felt as if it were filled with butterflies, and my heartbeat thundered in my chest.
“Hiraya…” I sobbed, collapsing into her embrace. “I-I’m sorry… Hiraya…”
Hiraya gently stroked my silver hair, her touch soothing. “There, there, Honey. You can cry it all out. Let it all out.”
“Hiraya… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” I wept, releasing a torrent of emotions that had been pent up for so long. I cried with a depth and intensity I had never known, like a hopeless newborn burdened with the weight of a million human souls.