BXBX NOVEL Chapter 295: How I wish to live [2/2]
\'Although that does not explain how civilization manages to reset every time the world ends. At least Noah\'s Ark had four pairs of men and women.\'
"When IRIS and previous generations tested their theories, the floor breaks only became controllable when the Formless were excluded from the battle," Roland continued.
So this is why everything was deliberately made more difficult by the Formless. It was to delay the coming apocalypse at the cost of a few.
I understand killing a hundred to save a thousand, but if my loved ones were among the hundred, I would not stand by and watch.
"And now, despite the efforts of the Revenants, you are breaking the notion that the Formless are weak. If you do not stop, the waves from Hellsgate will intensify. When they do, more will die."
\'So I should live with my face to the ground to let these people survive? Fuck that! I am no saint! The hell I would let my girls suffer for fucks I don\'t know!\'
"And I should be concerned, why?" I replied coldly.
"..."
"Old man, if you are looking for a hero, go fuck yourself. I am not a hero, nor have I ever claimed to be one. The world will end no matter how much you delay the apocalypse, right?"
"Yes, that is the case."
"Then should I condemn myself to death just so a few more fuckers can survive a little longer? Why not just kill me now?"
"..."
"We were all born under the same heaven. I am not their parent or their babysitter. If they want to survive, they should fight. If they want to be as strong as I am, then they must fight as desperately as I do," I exclaimed.
"Yes, that is true," the grandpa replied.
"The Revenant\'s thinking is foolish. They weaken their powers just to survive a little longer? The only thing that matters is whether we all survive the coming storm. In my opinion, they should just focus on that."
The voices behind me began to clamor as they each said their piece.
Raymond scolded, "It must be fucking nice to be so fucking stupid that this line of reasoning works for you, no?"
"John Smith, your thoughts are too simplistic," Xander added.
"And why should they be any different? I am a Phantom, my duty is to defend my zone and prepare my assault team for when I become a Specter. All this politics and shit is for you dumb fucks!"
I faced Xander as I added.
"The fuckboy has already given me the Deryck family, so we have no further quarrel. But what about you, mercury man? I intend to eradicate the Saviors. Where does that leave us?"
"I have already tried to dissuade Robert. He also wants to kill you. Since he is still my subordinate, I planned to have you killed. But David took you under his protection. So I will let you fight it out. I am a warrior, I understand that sometimes blood must flow."
"Are you sure? By Sunday, he and Savior will all be dead." I repeated.
"If he dies, that is his fate. Just as it is yours should you fall. I originally wanted to avoid it, but that is the whole point of a Seeker war. I will not contest its outcome."
Having gotten his word to stay out of my way, I turned back to Roland and asked.
"Do you have anything else to tell me, grandpa?"
"In the past, numerous other Reapers have attempted to raise the banner of the Formless. All of them were executed without mercy. Therefore, before you, no one in this generation knew how powerful the Formless could become."
"Then how am I still alive?"
"David Thomas vouched for you," he replied with a frown.
"..."
I remembered the words of those bastards earlier.
"Roland, what does David think about all this?"
"He said he would kill me if I intervened. It seems he has already made up his mind."
"Really? After all this time? Why? What does this Phantom fucker have that the others don\'t?"
"Your guess is as good as mine."
So it seemed they were not lying. They killed every Formless who started to act up, if the other continents were the same, then what were the headlines Bella showed me earlier?
"I can understand David vouching for me, but what about the Formless of the other continents?"
Roland closed his eyes as he replied. Exhaustion and sadness could be felt in his words.
"David broke the armistice of the seven battle fronts. While the manifested are being used to defend against Hellsgate, the Revenants are trying to arm the Formless as quickly as possible."
"To do what, exactly?"
"What else, to attack the other battle fronts. With your rise, the flames of war have been set ablaze, John Smith. The Formless will rapidly grow in power, and they will cause the battle fronts to suffer floor breaks. Hastening the apocalypse."
"..."
An armistice was an agreement between nations to stop fighting. It was never intended to be a declaration of peace. It was only a suspension of hostilities.
Unless the groups involved in the truce stopped wanting to kick each other\'s ass, there would never be true peace.
Yet I felt nothing. I could understand their reasoning. But I could not accept it.
Anyone could say they wanted to sacrifice the few for the many, but most of the time that would only be true if they were part of the many.
For the few, it was hell.
Only a saint or a hero could sacrifice himself for the many. That was why they were revered. But me? I was neither. I was more like a demon king.
Even if my actions would ignite the flames of war. I was more than willing to protect my harem.
I just had to become stronger. No other alternative was acceptable to me.
"John Smith. I will ask you one last time. It is impossible for you to come out of this unscathed. If you join the war, you can never come back. You will have to give up something to protect as well as to kill."
"Old man. If I do not do this, I will not be able to protect anything. I never had a choice. I am certain. Come what may, I will shatter everything!"
"I pray that you will not regret your decision."
"I won\'t, and even if I do. I will accept it and move on. This is how I wish to live my life, Roland. This is the life you saved."
"So it seems. You may go, the next time we meet... I hope your answer remains the same."
Suddenly I felt souls flowing out of Roland. As if I had suddenly regained my sight and hearing, the screen that prevented me from sensing anything beyond this area lifted.
Ding!Ding!Ding!Ding!Ding!Ding!Ding!
Messages were coming in from all possible channels at once. The sources, of course, were the Sirens. The love, worry, and anxiety practically oozed from the girls.
The best way to find out who remembered you was to disappear. If before hardly anyone cared. Now, in just a few minutes, my lovers were all distraught. It made me feel incredibly loved.
I willed my body to teleport back to the boardroom and felt the familiar pull on my soul. I turned back to Roland, Xander and Raymond and wave them goodbye. The next second my body disappeared in a storm of light.