Chapter 9: Without A Choice
“Tell me, what do you know about our world?” Todd asked as we both sat down.
“Not much, just that this world has 4 different continents for each race and one continent in the middle.” I shrugged, thinking that I really don’t know much about this world. Well, not like I’ve been here for long anyway.
Todd nodded. “Nn, that is what most people know of today. However, there are two more ‘areas’ that only a few people know which existed since the beginning of this world.”
Two more areas? Not continent? Or even an island?
From how old Todd said it, these ‘areas’ are separated from the 5 continents, but at the same time, not categorized as a ‘continent’.
I kept quiet and continued to listen.
“Hmm...it’s a bit complicated to explain from there so let me start at the beginning.” Todd sighed and started his story.
A story from 1000 years ago. As for how he knows it so well, I’ll just blame it all to that old dragon for now…
+ + +
Many years ago, Harus.
Unlike the present, Harus didn’t have separated continents, it was just one single land mass where everyone lived together.
However, it was anything but peace.
Humans, Werebeasts, Dwarves, Elves, Fairies, Angels, Demons, and Dragons all fought for each of their own territories.
There were no alliances at all, just racial wars for many many years.
As for the reason? To protect their worlds.
That’s right. Each of these races are protecting different [World Gates] that led to their own home world.
When humanity first discovered a [World Gate] in their own world, as soon as they reached this world, they were already involved with the war.
Upon the discoveries of new [World Gates], new races would show and new wars raged.
Because whomever is able to control a [World Gate], can possibly control a new world with new resources.
In some times, a few from the other races would make it to the human world, [Earth], and would result into mythologies. Or sometimes, some humans would go back to [Earth] along with their achieved otherworldly powers and would create miracles in [Earth]. Heck, maybe Jesus is from this world or something...
However, the war soon stopped.
It was exactly 1000 years ago when this happened.
It was the appearance of the [Heroes/Villains].
They were a party of diverse races. A human, an elf, a dwarf, a fairy, an angel, and a dragon.
These six individuals were the most powerful individuals of each race and got together to end the war amongst the six races.
How? It was simple...they destroyed the [World Gates].
They each knew what it means to destroy the [World Gates]. That they wouldn’t be able to return to their home world.
They knew it, yet they still did it.
That’s why although they were [Heroes], they were also [Villains] to everyone.
However, there was nothing they could do more about it. Their only option at that time was to unite and destroy the last race which still holds a [World Gate], the demon race.
Hence, the start of another war. But this time, the six races are united.
Still, due to the endless stream of demons coming out from the demon [World Gate], the other races were soon unable to continue their advantage in numbers and started to lose.
The dragon race had especially declined. For each dead dragon, a new undead dragon rises, killing more dragons and people.
In time, the dragon race had become mindless monsters that simply destroys everything in its path. Now, only a few dragons still held intelligence like the dragon of wrath, Roluth.
The other races had also started to decline.
The fairies had scattered and disappeared, soon forgotten.
The elves had isolated themselves in the forests.
The dwarves secluded themselves in their mountains.
The angels distanced themselves in their sky islands.
The werebeasts hid themselves in their fortresses.
The humans surrounded themselves with walls.
It was at this moment when the six most powerful beings once again got together, only to notice that one person was missing.
It was the human. Gildas World.
For some reason, Gildas seemed to have disappeared and no trace of him could be found.
It was strange because with fairy magic, as long as he was alive and in this world, the fairy would be able to find him. Yet she was unable to.
They didn’t believe that he is dead. Because he is the most powerful one amongst the six of them.
Which means...he was not in the world of [Harus]!
Confused, the five had revisited the broken [World Gates] only to find pieces of it are missing!
And it was these missing pieces that made up the key to winning the war. Literally!
It was precisely the [World Key] that Lucas is now holding.
The [World Key] had the ability to open up other worlds that the key remembers. In Gildas’ time, he was able to freely travel to any world he wishes.
In time, he discovered that the [Earth] is the center world of the [Human Worlds] and with some adjustments, he was able to travel to other human worlds.
The same applied to the other worlds.
For a while, he had disappeared, no one knew what he was up to. But when he reappeared, he once again ended the war...only temporarily.
With a might that does not belong to any world, he split the [Harus] continent into five major continents.
[Humus], [Elfein], [Dwarum], [Weregath], and [Amux].
Other than these continents, there were still the floating land of the angels and the underground world of the demons.
The appearance of Gildas holding the [World Key] had nearly put the war into an end. No, it was more precise to say that he alone has brought the whole world to its knees.
However, before Gildas was able to destroy the [World Gate] of the demons. A demon had gone one step ahead of him and destroyed the [World Gate] from their home world while collecting the pieces of the gate in order to live and fight another day.
Angered by this, the remaining demons stuck in [Harus] were wiped clean by him. And for some time, there were no longer any demons.
Gildas became a godlike figure to everyone as he held absolute power.
However, he was more feared than respected.
After all, he had stolen pieces of the other races’ [World Gates] and while he was busy gaining power, countless lives were lost in the war.
Maybe some would call him a [Hero]. But in truth, he was nothing but a greedy and shameless bastard.
Then one day...he disappeared again. Only, this time, he never came back.
Among the five other members in his old party, his most trusted partner was the dragon, who was also his subordinate.
This dragon was of course, Roluth. The dragon of wrath.
Before he disappeared, he told him of a prophecy. One which he told the rest of the world as well. The only difference was that he left out some details to the public and left it incomplete.
He told Roluth, to find a boy with hair as white as snow, and eyes as red as blood. One who knows how to take care of the weak and poor as well as the heart to protect them at the cost of his own.
He taught him of a spell.
This spell would lead him to the key and stop the time of the other worlds for 10 whole days so that he could prepare his heart and get a head start.
He also told Roluth that by the time he would meet this boy, he would most likely die immediately afterwards so he should find a one armed man with a heart of a soldier and a hand of a blacksmith and leave all the explanation to him to tell the boy.
As far as the outside world knows, he told them that years from now, people from another world would start appearing in this one. They would be of different races and have undying bodies. And that one of these otherworlders would someday hold his key.
Thanks to this, when the people of [Earth] visited this world, they were easily accepted by the natives. Because they can never know just which one would suddenly appear and gain the power of Gildas.
Restraining them would not be effective as well because they cannot die and even if they are barely alive, they would still, for some reason, disappear.
No restraint was able to hold them at all, so they could only accept them, and observe them.
This is how the current situation came to be.
+ + +
Listening to the story of the old man, my mind started to hurt...well, not literally but it’s one of those situations where you just can’t help but massage your forehead from the overwhelming amount of information and stress.
Imagine being me and all of these problems were suddenly dropped into your lap by some guy who is currently missing!
It’s like...yeah, it’s like one of those chapters in a novel with nothing but information! Right? I can’t be the only one who hates those chapters right?
...Who am I asking anyway?
Shaking my head that’s currently full of nonsense, I took a moment to digest all the information before asking old Todd.
“So why is it that no one wants to say his name? And what the hell are the dark forces!?”
In the end, those are the most important questions yet they remained unanswered from his story so far.
Old Todd sighed. “Sigh, not long after Gildas disappeared, they came.”
“They? Old man, quit beating around the bush!” I was irritated on how long this guy kept dragging the story out. Seriously, I still haven’t eaten for 2 days! I’m really hungry here so finish the damn story!!!
“...The dark forces. More accurately, the demons from before finally made their comeback.”
“You mean they managed to rebuild the [World Gate]?”
“That’s right. It seemed that they had long since done so, yet they kept themselves in the shadows, away from Gildas’ eyes.” Old Todd spoke solemnly.
“They had been preparing to counterattack. However, they didn’t have the chance as he had disappeared so suddenly. Now that I think about it, perhaps it’s for the better. With his prophecy, the dark forces were once again forced into a stalemate. They take action, yet remain in the shadows. All so they could get their hands on that key of yours.”
He pressed on my chest with his finger as he said the last part as if to make sure I understand the gravity of the situation.
Even so, I am unable to accept the situation.
I was practically forced into this! Why does it have to be me!?
“Why me? What’s with all this prophecy shit!? Tell me the rest of the prophecy!” I snapped.
“I don’t know why you were chosen nor the rest of the prophecy. I just know that you have no choice in this matter.” Old Todd sighed and shook his head.
“Then I’ll just not care at all! I’ll pretend I don’t have the damn key and simply live the rest of my life! I don’t need to follow that goddamn prophecy. This isn’t my world and is certainly not my responsibility.”
Without waiting for his reply, I went back to [Earth]...to my room.
I sat there, staring at the key in my hand.
Why is it me?
Why does it have to be me?
Why do I need to burden the whole world?
There’s no reason. Nothing.
This is just...because of my shitty luck.
“Lucas...” El spoke.
“No, El, I don’t need this...I don’t need to involve myself in this damn war.”
“...I know.”
“But...but I also can’t let this key fall into the wrong hands.” I clenched my teeth and I feel even more conflicted.
“...I know.”
“Someone...I need to pass it to someone who’s more fit for the job.”
...No, why do I have to give this key to someone else? If I give this key to someone else, then I’ll lose all the benefits it can bring me.
Right, I have nothing to do with all of this. I’ll just pretend I don’t know about the whole situation.
I thought I was ready so I pressed on old Todd for answers...I shouldn’t have asked...
Something like holding the whole world on my shoulders...I can’t do it.
But I also can’t give this to someone else.
I...I’m no hero.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
I’m just a selfish and shameless bastard just like-...
...Just like Gildas…
…
“Lucas.” Just as I was wondering if I can still piece myself together, El spoke called out my name.
I waited for her response. Without noticing it, I had began to depend a lot on El. Whenever I feel disturbed or at a loss, she would always set me straight.
Right, if it’s El, as long as she says it, I would be fine. As long as El says-
“Don’t depend on me everytime.”
...Eh?
“Lucas. This decision...you need to be the one to make it. If I keep helping you, you will never be who you are. You will be just like a puppet. Like how that Gildas prophesied everything about you, you will never be able to make your own decision.”
...
I looked at the key in my hands again in silence yet head is filled with countless thoughts.
*Pitter patter*
Surprised with the sudden sound in the silence, I looked out the window and saw that it had started to rain.
However, this made me look outside.
It was already night, and the lights are more visible.
The familiar red and blue lights filled the street below.
When I walked to the window and looked down. It seemed that numerous police cars are speeding on the street as they headed further north.
What’s happening?
I looked towards the north and saw a huge smoke rising upwards.
A fire?
I frowned. I know this street and I know what’s up ahead yet I was afraid to move...I was afraid to use my powers for some reason. I just wanted for things to go back to normal.
So I switched on the TV and looked at the news instead.
Anyway, it’s just a fire right? It’s also raining, they can handle it by themselves.
As I expected, the news showed a burning building as the news reporter narrates.
[[As you can see, the fire in the Mapua building still shows no sign of being extinguished. Despite the heavy rain, there seems to be no end to the fire coming out from inside-...wait, hold on. We just received news that a student inside is broadcasting LIVE from the scene in facebook. We will now bring you the LIVE footage.]]
The scene changed into a shaky video where fire seemed to fill most of the area and numerous students can be heard shouting in the background.
[[Fuck, what is happening!?]]
[[Oh my god, am I going to die here!?]]
[[No! No! Please!!! Some-someone! Someone help us!!!]]
[[HELP!!!]]
The students shouted.
What’s happening? How come they still aren’t saved yet? The police should’ve already made thei-...wait, police!?
How come there’s an unnaturally large number of police heading there!?
Could it be...
[[All of you shut up!!!]]
As I thought, there was a criminal inside!
[[I’ll burn you all you hear me!? You will all burn!!!]]
[[To the criminal inside! You have been surrounded! Surrender now and let the hostages go!]]
A voice that seemed to have gone through a loudspeaker could be heard from the video. The police should’ve already arrived then.
[[Fuck off!!! Today, I’ll see to it that this school is burned! You think your guns can stop me! In this world, I AM A GOD!!! [IFRIT]!!!]]
Suddenly, the flames twisted and a huge figure appeared from above the school building.
It was a figure made out of flames!!!
Fuck! This is the B-rank fire magic, [Ifrit]!!! Why is this in this world!!!???
No good, the police aren’t equip for this!
Without thinking, I rushed towards the window and was about to jump when El called me again.
“Lucas. Understand that if you go out there now, there’s no turning back.”
“...”
El’s right.
This guy that was able to use magic here in [Earth], there’s 99% chance that he has something to do with the dark forces lurking in [Harus] designed to lure me out!
Once I go out there...it is the same as saying that the person in the prophecy has appeared!
Still...I…
[[Hey! Fire bastard!]]
Someone shouted from the video in the TV.
It was...a familiar voice.
[[Hey! Fried chicken! I’m talking to you!]]
[[Who’re you calling fried chicken you peasant!!!???]]
[[Peasant...pft-! I see what you did there. Ah ah ah! Wait wait! Before you fry me, answer my question!]]
...This guy...still dares to joke around! Sigh...he never changes…
[[You have all this power, why are you doing this? Haven’t you read any comics? As a super villain, your end is already written.]]
[[Right right! It’s always the bad guys who loses!]]
[[You think being a bad boy is cool anymore? Keep up with the times! Now, it’s all about smarts!]]
[[And you’re just an idiot!]]
[[Fried idiot!]]
[[Since there is a supervillain, then there would be the superhero! You dumb shit, prepare to be defeated by the plot!]]
Hearing the familiar voices scold the criminal, my face can’t help but twitch.
T-these guys-!
Fuck it! If I don’t go, those fools would seriously get fried!
I decided to forget about everything else and become the superhero they needed. Because if I don’t those guys and everyone else would die.
I remembered El’s words back then.
Only the strong can choose to help!
I am weak! But this doesn’t mean I can’t help! This means that I don’t have any choice! I can only help with all I had!
Gildas, Roluth, and you bastard demons! I’ll show you...I’ll show you all...one day, I’ll be calling the shots!
One day, I’ll make the rules!
One day, I will have all the choices!!!
ONE DAY, YOU WILL ALL BE FORCED TO TAKE ACTION BECAUSE YOU DON’T HAVE A CHOICE!!!
No more hesitating! Since I don’t have a choice, then why do I need to hesitate!?
I used [Blink] repeatedly and sped along above the buildings to rush towards the pillar of smoke ahead.
Soon, the huge figure of the [Ifrit] is already in front of me.
Hovering in front of the flaming figure, I didn’t bother with the fact that I was already falling and just spread my arms wide as if welcoming someone’s embrace.
Water! Control the water from the rain!!!
48 points in water wasn’t big enough, but it doesn’t have to be. I don’t need to extinguish [Ifrit] with water, all I need was an opening so I can get inside!
A burning hand came down on me but it was immediately blown away with the largest water shot that I can make.
The hand immediately restored but it didn’t matter as I had already made my way to the windows.
*Crash!*
I ignored all the exclaims of the people around me as I controlled the rain water outside to pour inside the building.
I don’t mind that my capacity of controlling water seem to be growing exponentially by the second and just focused completely on extinguishing the fires.
Once the fires inside had calmed down, I set my gaze on a man wearing red robes.
“I-it’s you!? Hmph! As I thought, the so called Mr. Knight is the same as me!”
The criminal shouted in exclaim as he saw me and just as I was about to curse back at him, I noticed the charred figures beside him.
N-no way...they’re…
“YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!!!”
[Dragon’s Wrath]!
I no longer cared about the consequences.
The only thought in my mind is a single word.
DEVOUR!!!
+ + +
“Nng...” I don’t know how much time had passed but eventually, I managed to snap out of myself from the influence of the [Dragon’s Wrath] and I immediately noticed the windows in front of me.
You have devoured John Blake!
All Stats: +10!
Fire: +50
Proficiency: +5%
Fame: -50000
You have leveled up!
Wanderer Class level up!
I...really did end up devouring him…
Looking around, the fire were mostly gone and all that was left were a bunch of unconscious students.
I don’t remember them being unconscious though? Maybe I did something?
Well, it would be good if none of them saw me eat a person…
I looked up and saw that the surveillance cameras are all already destroyed so there shouldn’t be any evidence…
Turning to the charred figures, I noticed that they were still breathing from the occasional ups and downs of their chests which made me sigh in relief.
Earlier, I had jumped into conclusions and was again made to use [Dragon’s Wrath]...haha, how laughable. I’m so weak, even my own self knows it and was once again forced to use that skill! I, once again, didn’t have a choice!
...Let’s heal these guys up first.
[Heal]
Then, I used my [Elemental Manipulation] to spread out the holy element so I can cover a larger area...well, my holy points are just 5 so it wasn’t much but I can feel it steadily increasing.
Hm? Looking at my stats, the space element increased by 1? And my mastery in [Spirit Formation] also went up significantly...Just what the hell did I do while under the influence of [Dragon’s Wrath]?
Even though I ask that, at the same time, I also don’t wish to know what I had done while I’m not in control…
While feeling conflicted with myself, I steadily healed everyone and soon, only the dead remained lifelessly on the ground while everyone else seemed unscathe and are sleeping soundly.
I took another look at my old friends lying on the ground and made my decision.
I can no longer run from my destiny.
Now, all I can do is make sure no one else is caught up with it.
Especially the people important to me.
At this moment, numerous footsteps resounded on the side. I know who they are but I didn’t leave.
“It’s Mr. Knight!”
“Mr. Knight! Can you give us some insight on what occurred tonight!?”
“Mr. Knight, are you responsible for the destruction of the Mapua building!?”
“Mr. Knight, where have you been these past two days!? The people have been calling out to you!”
“Freeze!”
“Hands above your head!”
“Do not move or we will open fire!”
The mix of the police and reporter’s shouts created a noise that is almost unrecognizable.
Seeing this, I was pissed. “QUIET!”
Instantly, the surroundings quieted down.
“Today, a huge fire erupted, some people were hurt, and some died. You might be even stepping on their ashes yet all you know is shout!”
As if they had just realized it, their faces paled and they all looked down on their foot and indeed, they are stepping on some ashes.
Only, whether it was human ash or other things, they can’t tell the difference at all!
“Are those all LIVE?” I asked.
“Huh?”
“I’m asking if those cameras you have is broadcasting this.”
“Y-yes...”
“Good. Now listen up. The world is changing and there’s nothing you can all do about it. People with powers like me and that guy before will keep appearing one after the other. Heck, monsters might start appearing in our world for all I know. But understand this.”
I clenched my teeth hard and readied myself for what I am about to say.
“They all have only one goal. And that is to find the key in my hands! That’s right! You heard me you bastards! I have the key! Whatever tricks you use, in the end, you are unable to cross this world and had to use weaker mobs because I’m the one who holds the [World Key]! I am this world’s [Gatekeeper]! And as long as I say it, don’t even think of ever touching this key! You all better hope I don’t find you, because I will make you all remember the fear you had back when you looked at Gildas when you look at me!”
Satisfied, I [Blinked] away and used [Stealth] to disappear.
Ahem, it won’t do if I don’t make a grand exit after all.
I also used a repairing spirit formation, which I hurriedly asked El if there was one, and used it on the destroyed building.
The whole building let out a faint light and the debris and ashes slowly floated as the building repaired itself like magic...ehh, I guess this is magic…
I stood outside, already out of the knight costume, and looked at the building that is slowly being repaired.
“...Are you sure you have to announce something like that?” El asked and I can obviously hear her worrying tone.
“Yeah. Wherever these dark forces are, they should already know I had the key when I showed up today.”
“What makes you so sure? Maybe they’re not sure themselves. You didn’t have to say that you had the key.”
“Sigh. There is only one [World Key]. And since I have it, how did that guy earlier use magic here? There are two theories. One, the dark forces discovered another [World Gate] leading to here. Two, they are able to use some sort of device or magic, maybe a virus, that enables people who wore the [Portal] to temporarily use their characters in this world. And if that’s true...then that means that whoever uses magic other than their ‘victims’ must be the one with the [World Key].”
“...”
“Besides. This is also good. If it was the latter, then it means that I just need to be the strongest player in the world. And since I’m not too far behind from the first batch...just a year...okay, maybe I need to put in more effort from now on...”
“Hmph! That’s right! Now you know why this queen wanted you to finish the [Water of Origin] pool first!”
“Yes yes, milady queen.”
+ + +
The next day, I woke up thinking the world would be in chaos and more problems would land on me.
However…
…
…
…
It is abnormally quiet…
Turning on the TV to look at the news, it was still discussing me and the incident last night but nothing else that needs to pay attention to.
No riots, no rallies…
I thought that some people would hate the idea that Mr. Knight is the reason for the whole mess and would pressure the government to take proper actions but...there was no such thing.
I looked at the internet forums. There are people who hated Mr. Knight as expected but it was just some haters ranting and cursing. No one is saying something about the government should take action or for me to reveal myself.
...Weird…
Shaking my head, I decided to just cultivate today all day while I had El keep watch on the news using the TV in the [World Home].
And so, just like this, a month had already passed.
…
Ehhh???
...Nothing is really happening oi!!!
----------------------------------------
Status
Name
Lucas
Level
9
Race
Human - Dragon
Gender
Male
Class
Wanderer
5
Stamina
7075
Mana
7125
Qi
100000000000
Spirit
1840
Cultivation
Peak Martial Emperor
STR
107
INT
105
SPD
106
DEX
104
VIT
103
LUK
96
Fire
50
Light
216
Water
229
Holy
14
Space
15
Fame
-27000
Rage
0
Sealed
Elena Shenxue
Skills
Concoct
1.04%
Dragon’s Wrath
10.18%
Elemental Manipulation
Passive
Star Convergence
Passive
Spirit Formation
1.27%
Implosion Palm
3.25%
World Eyes
Passive
Smith
32.54%
Blink
3.28%
Stealth
2.56%
Heal
6.34%