Chapter 272: Hesitation is Defeat (1/2)

The world was shaking as he opened his eyes. He was surrounded by white walls. As his eyes focused, he found that it was the white scarf. He turned his head to the side and saw Rae's back as used the white scarf as a barrier.

”...” Arthur looked at her back silently as the world shook. ”Why are you protecting me?” He was confused, truly. They weren't that close but she kept saving him.

”Huh?” Rae turned to look at him. The side of her face was frowning. ”You're awake? Have you turned nuts?”

She was still as menacing with her words as ever. Arthur turned his head away from her as he tried to stand up, but his body didn't move. The whirling wind stuck his bare skin. His armor was gone.

”Are you not surprised by my appearance?”

”Just by how ugly you look like.” Rae's voice was unfazed. ”You are Arthur Silvera, right?”

”Your highness knows me?” Arthur smiled weakly as the ground shook. ”I don't think this is the best time for hellos.”

”I'm no princess.” Rae's voice was amused. ”Of course, I know you, I signed your assassination order.” She turned toward him with a grin. Arthur met her eyes and knew she wasn't lying.

”Yet here you are, protecting me.”

”Your fake death changed my opinion about you. You're not a threat.” She turned back. ”The real threat right now is that.”

Arthur looked beyond her body as the scarf turned transparent. They were hiding in the middle of a ruined building while the city was being flattened. The serpent had grown two more heads to fight against a single figure. It was the president of the Union, the same white-haired man that fought against the fortress.

”Is he related to you?” Arthur asked as he saw the similarities in them. ”I've met too many abnormally strong people with a similar appearance.”

”It's the secret of my Shon Theocracy,” Rae answered with pride. ”He's simply a traitor.”

”I never knew you were from there,” Arthur said blankly. ”I guess you made sure no one knew.” He started standing up.

His body has been recovering for a while. He clenched his fist and pain shot through his body. He stood up behind Rae as he looked around the battlefield.

The two powerful entities were exchanging attacks even now. The Astra-ranker's eagle was taking care of two of the heads while the president was battling the third.

'Where is... she?' Arthur looked upward and saw a giant black circle in the sky. He looked at his body and his wings were gone now. Lilo was unconscious.

'Do you need me, My Lord?' Ruki asked and Arthur summoned her. He commanded her to aid Rae before walking out of the barrier she constructed.

”Where do you think you're going?” Rae asked with a frown. ”Your body is barely functioning at the moment.”

”You're too caring, Rae.” Arthur smiled as he stretching his arm and a demonic mask appeared in his hand. ”If you keep this up, I might mistake you for a friend.”

”Heh,” She sneered. ”You wish, peasant.” Even at this moment, she refused to admit it. Arthur didn't mind it, as it made things easier for him. Their countless bets against each other needed enmity, not friendship.

He donned the demonic mask as his body began levitating. He reached out toward the barrier Jizo had constructed and demanded power again.

[You might not survive this time.]

A message appeared in front of him and Arthur smiled. He reached beyond the legacy's warnings.

[You don't need to do this.]

This was unusual, as the legacy always pushed him toward fighting the Enders saying they were the bringers of doom.

'Yes, I do.' Arthur was unfazed as the ground beneath him began unpeeling itself under his authority.

[Never a fool again, remember?]

Jizo's emotions flooded into him. Cynicism and doubts emerged in his mind but Arthur shoved them away.

'Try to mess with my head again, you'll see how fast your legacy ends.' The building's framework began bending in his way as the wind danced around him.

[You need this legacy. You need this power.]

'No, this power is mine, to begin with.' Arthur reached out toward the black circle in the sky with Ellen standing in the middle of it. His body disappeared from where it was and he reappeared above the magic circle.

Ellen looked at him with sharp eyes that he has never seen before. It was resolution. She hasn't fallen into a mindless puppet, but she was working toward her goals as well.