Chapter 137: Orphans (1/2)

[Divergence: 49%]

The notification was blood red in the center of the darkness. Nikolai opened his eyes, and he felt pain everywhere in his body. The branches danced in the breeze above him, unhindered.

”You are mine,” the voice, which felt like stabs in his ears, said. Nikolai flinched and jumped upward, looking in the direction of the source. Lilith met his gaze with a grin. ”You are the dark being my generals met and the person who killed the serpent. You are no human.”

It was wishful thinking to believe he could contend against Lilith with his darkness alone. However, it was already a miracle that he survived. Her interest was piqued because of his darkness and Limit Break.

”Is that why you are here?” Nikolai tried to stand up, but he found that his body was drained of mana and refused to listen to him.

”I came to ask Edward if he knew anything about dark beings around here, but I never expected to catch you so quickly,” she said and stood up, her long and sharp eyes curving into a smile. ”You are joining my group.”

It was happening again, the same thing in his past life. Nikolai never thought that he would hear this a second time. However, the circumstances were different because he didn't have to survive the sick game she orchestrated like before.

'How did I ever fall for someone like her?'

Nikolai wondered as he looked at her. It was hard to call his feelings the word love because they were an obsession. Nothing mattered for him other than her, even after he learned of her plans against humanity. At that time, humankind gave him nothing but pain and hardships. He couldn't have cared less about them.

Then, it happened again. His belief that he knew someone, cared for them, and they cared back was broken again by the Elven Princess time after time. She wanted to break him.

Nikolai ignored her and looked around. They were still in the forest, but half of it had been destroyed. He was lying in a crater with the princess sitting on its edge, looking down on him.

”Looking for Edward?” she grinned.

”What do you want from me?”

”Other than payback for the damages?” Lilith shrugged as a dagger materialized in her hand. It was an identical copy of the one he used in his past life, given to him by the princess. ”I want you to join me.”

”I need to attend to some business first,” Nikolai said as he began to stand up. ”After that, I will join you.”

”That easily? After risking your life to run away?” she asked with doubt and an unconvinced expression. ”You will probably run away.”

”Can anyone run away from you or Master Edward?” Nikolai asked with a helpless shrug. ”We aren't meant to oppose monsters or gods.”

”Wise,” she grinned, pleased with his words. ”Is your business related to Edward?” she asked, to which he nodded in affirmation. The Divergence was almost fifty, and he was sweating bullets.

The unknown was terrifying. The termination could mean the end of his second chance at life, and he would truly be dead this time. It didn't matter if Lilith knew everything about him because as long as he ended this vision, it didn't matter. His system constructed this, and the only anomaly was Master Edward.

”I will come for you later then,” she grinned after gaining his approval. This was one of the inconsistent traits of the princess: she was unwilling to use force against those she desired. She could manipulate them or coax them then, but it was beneath her to threaten them into being hers.

Of course, that was only for those she wanted on her side. For anyone else, she might as well be the devil.

Nikolai stood up and started walking toward the ritual grounds under Lilith's sickening gaze. His body ached every time he moved it, and he discovered a new way to feel pain every step he walked.

The percentage of the divergence was still 49%, hanging by a thread. He had no idea what stopped Master Edward from knowing the future yet, but he could only hope that it would last.

The high walls appeared in his view, and he didn't know for how long he walked. There were sounds of battle in front of him, and Lilith seemed to have retreated.

”If I haven't shown her my abilities, there would have been no way that she leaves me alone. This is her way of leaving a good impression so that I join her willingly and never betray her.”