49 Midnight developmen (2/2)
”I said it before right? East is in the lead right now. If I get rid of her and join forces with South, there is no way for me to lose.”
Evlin had a thought at that moment.
”Isn't that... Cheating...? Won't the other gods copy your idea and send their followers after you as well?”
”Maybe... But I will lose either way at this rate... Might as well try something out of the ordinary...”
”And there will be no consequences for us if the goddess of the East is killed?”
”I suppose her followers might start coming after you... But with my support, you will be safe. I can give you the power to protect yourselves. Like that Marcus kid... I can help you defeat him!”
”!!!” x 6
Evlin and the rest of the group reacted to these words. Marcus almost slaughtered all of them without taking a single scratch. If they butted heads with him again, they might not be able to escape a second time.
”This sounds too good to be true...”
Daren didn't look convinced.
”Why come to help us now?? Where were you when we needed help two-hundred years ago??”
”You didn't need me two-hundred years ago... Gods can't kill beings of the mortal realm. It's against the rules. You were entrapped, but never in real danger.”
She then proceeded to point at the still sleeping Ria.
”But you needed me now, didn't you?”
Evlin understood the situation. They weren't being saved, they were caught in a trap. West had saved Ria, and now they had the obligation of repaying the favor. Evlin risked asking a question.
”... What happens if we refuse...?”
”... Then we part ways right now... And I will watch while you all get shredded by that Marcus kid...”
”!!!” x 6
So that's what she was planning. She was waiting for the group to encounter Marcus to understand the difference in power between them. None of them would dare to try to challenge him again in their current state. She was waiting for the group to be traumatized by this defeat so she could appear as a light of hope in their darkest hour. Saving Ria's life was just the cherry on top.
”You... Bird girl... You are the leader right? What's your answer?”
Bird girl? Evelin finally realized she was still fused with Sphinx and almost forgot she had two giant wings coming out of her back. She used recreation magic to return to normal.
”I need to discuss it with my team... Give us a second...”
”Take your time...”
Part 2
”So... What do we think?”
Evlin was staring at the group while absorbing all that information and trying to process what was the best decision to take. Keep it going as they were or become allies for the goddess of the west? If they just continued on, they would run the risk of meeting Marcus again and be killed by him. But if they allied themselves with this girl they would need to fight an entire country's worth of demons.
Both options were very scary. However if they joined her side, she would give them the power to face Marcus and the demons. But could they really trust the words of a goddess? The reason they were all in that situation was because of a goddess after all.
Evlin decided to simply listen to what everyone had to say.
”Daren, you look like you have something to say... What do you think?”
”I don't like this... I don't want to become another pawn dancing on the hand of another goddess just for her selfish desire... But you're the leader... I'll follow your call.”
”I see... Auren?”
”... She saved Ria... I don't mind being her servant if she can keep protecting us...”
”... Lilith?”
”... She gave me my future sight ability... I don't think she is as cruel as the goddess of the east...”
”She said she didn't remember you...”
”Yes... But I remember her... I think this might be a good opportunity...”
”If you say so... Ash?”
”We almost lost the two of you in this last battle... If she can give us the power to survive another attack, then we may not have another choice.”
”Gustav?”
”My goal was always to gain more power so I could join you on the battlefield. If she can do that to us, then I don't mind accepting it. We are fighting a battle against one goddess, not all the gods.”
”Looks like the majority is in favor Daren...”
”Seems that way... But what about you?”
”Me huh...? I wonder... ”
Evlin was really bad at doing business. Whenever she would find an offer that appealed to her she would just say ”Yes!” without giving it too much thought. That taught her to always think twice whenever something seemed too good to be true. This girl was offering power, support, protection, all on a silver platter. There had to be a catch behind it.
She decided to try and get more information to make her final decision.
”What would we have to do exactly?”
”I need one of you to be my champion, the same way Marcus is for East.”
”What would that mean...?”
”It means you would be mine forever... And by forever, I mean all eternity... You will be granted an immortal body and will be unable to age or die unless you fall on battle. You will become my weapon to use against the demons.”
They would basically become another Marceus. Imprisoned by her side forever, fighting a never-ending battle against all demons. If they wanted to ally themselves with her, one of them would need to say goodbye to anything resembling a normal life.
”So what will it be? Do we have a deal?”
This deal with a goddess felt more like a deal with the devil. Evlin was not thrilled about being this girl's pet for all eternity, nor could she ask that of any of her friends. She decided to refuse the offer.
”I'll do it!!”
Or she was going to, but Auren stepped in and spoke for her.
”Auren?? Wha are you doing??”
”She needs someone to be her champion right? I'm the best option.”
”What are you talking about?? You are the worst option!! You're the only one of us who has a chance of a normal life with Ria, and you want to throw that away??”
”... I'm just dead weight... I can't fight like you, Lilith or Daren, I'm not smart like Ashley, I cant share information like Gustav and I can't help us escape like Ria... I'm just a healer... But even that is useless when we have you...”
”What are you saying?? You just saved me right now!!”
”Yeah... Just barely... But Imagine what I could do if I could fight as well?”
”But... Auren...”
”Gustav... Is that ok with you? I know how much you wanted to gain power as well...”
”Auren... You are really sure about this...? You saw what happened to Marceus...”
”Yeah... I know... But I rather live the rest of my life alone knowing that I protected the people I love than watching you all die in front of me...”
”I see... If that is your wish... I'll respect it...”
”Thank you...”
Auren looked at West.
”I'm ready...”
”Very well... Starting today you shall be my champion!”
West extended her hand and started to release divine energy. It felt similar to the power that would come out from Marcus's blades. Less aggressive but more intense at the same time somehow.
”Waaaaait!!!”
The whole group turned their heads as a voice coming from an awakened Ria was released in the air.
She was standing on the sand with a glare on her eyes.
”Ria!!!”
Auren rushed to hug her but the moment he came closer she slapped his face leaving a red mark.
”Ouchh!!”
”The hell do you think you were about to do??”
”B- But you saw what happened... We need this power!!”
”And that's an excuse to simply abandon me?? You were going to gain an immortal body and leave me to age alone??”
”I- I... But...”
Ria turned her eyes towards the goddess and made her a proposal.
”This power... Can you give it to me too?”