[Quest 3 triggered: Fate had another plans]
[A multiple choice quest]
[1. Actually become a traitor and betray the kingdom](Reward: 5,00,000 points)
[2. Start twerking aggressively towards attacking Selene](Rewards: 1 Million points)
[3. Mock Leor's tears: Tell him he cries better than his sister](Rewards: Gasps of the audience)
[4. Kill yourself dramatically: Yell to Leonard that "they will come after you too old friend" and bite your tongue.](Rewards: A massive civil war will break, killing millions all over the world)
[5. Beg for mercy while calling Leor your father. Kneel and ask if he's proud.](Rewards: Two million points and a possibility of survival.)
[6. Deactivate the seal of death on your forehead, starting the deadliest plague and immediate revival of Goddess of Death, killing billions or even eradicating all life form from the universe](Rewards: Six Million points, Ability: ALL IS WELL)
(This ability will allow the Host to avoid getting infected by the plague.)
[7. Accept your fate](Rewards: Death)
[Host, are you sure you want to select option 1? Every last human Empire will come after your head.]
[Choice confirmed]
The sword was just three inches away from Johan's face, who still sat quietly, staring at the now empty table as everyone had stood to let the fighters apprehend the traitor.
Selene felt sadness still cling to her heart. After awakening the Aether core, the long suppressed memories repeated in her mind.
Back when the world was perfect. When she was young, always being carried around like a princess by either Johan or her mother Alya.
Alya dressed her up every morning, then repeatedly kissed her cheeks while tightly hugging her.
Long, epic stories about heroes who saved the world by making a huge personal sacrifice, told by Johan every night—then kissing her goodnight.
After Alya had died, for Selene, Johan had also died, because that wasn't her father. That wasn't the doting father who spoiled her all the time.
Yet, she still felt hollow inside her heart. Watching as her father just accepted his fate.
But—
A deep mutter came from behind Johan, "Gravitational Push."
Tham!!
Selene instantly flew hundreds of meters away, hitting the lower level stair-seats of the courtroom, panting heavily on the ground.
"Gravitational Push: Rampage," his old lips muttered again. This time, the invisible attack was much more wild and violent.
Every last knight standing with their swords pointed, immediately flew even farther than Selene, digging into walls all over the courtroom, like someone had just used a hair dryer on sand.
Christopher parried away the strong push with his sword, standing still in the face of the violent force without issue.
Radhaan ran a hand through his long dark red hair, seemingly bored out of his mind. An invisible electric current shield was spreading all of the attacks away from him in different directions.
"Ice Tear," Astreus whispered to himself.
Suddenly—
Everything paused. All of the warmth of being inside a closed dome disappeared like it was never there.
Freezing cold rang through every person's bones. Some sneezed, some shivered. Even knights were having trouble staying still.
"The force just turned into ice! Master Astreus is amazing—he can even freeze gravity," a divine knight rejoiced.
He had been about to become mince meat under the strong force of the attack.
"How careless, Radhaan! Do you want your soldiers to die?" Astreus spoke calmly, his tone reprimanding.
Radhaan could've just attacked after Selene had failed, but he stood like he was watching a boring yet long movie with the popular friend who just gossips on his phone with someone.
"Hehe, my bad, my bad. I know you're here so there isn't much for me to worry about." Radhaan shook his head, praising the man he considered an equal.
"Gravity Bomb!" Seeing the mocking expressions of both Radhaan and Astreus—acting like this situation was beneath them—Sebastian directly used the most powerful attack in his arsenal.
A black sphere about the size of a boulder appeared out of thin air.
It was pulling everything toward it, akin to a black hole—rubble, some unfortunate knights, clothes of noblewomen, everything that Astreus and Radhaan weren't protecting.
Everything just mixed with the black sphere, becoming a milkshake of nothing.
Astreus felt a threat from it. He felt as if this could crush him down to the molecular level, killing him instantly—and his instincts were rarely wrong.
Just as he prepared his strongest defense, someone beat him to it—
"Drama Queen: Phase 2!" Selene's voice rang again. Her body was bruised and battered, but she knew Sebastian had spared her life. He could've easily killed her if the strike was a bit stronger.
He will regret it. Appearing right next to the group.
Her gaze grew cold. She had to give it her all—no more waiting or hesitating. This was a war.
Even if Sebastian was like a grandfather to her, she would still kill him—for Leor.
The massive sphere vanished, like it was never there.
Boom!!! Boom!!!
Thousands and thousands of massive explosions rang outside, in the open plains. They were strong enough to be heard from inside the courtroom.
Radhaan frowned, instantly understanding what had happened. 'Selene used a space-time technique to teleport that attack outside…'
Then he scoffed at Sebastian. "Were you planning to kill yourself and everyone present? That kind of chain explosion…"
The attack wasn't just violent—it increased in force every time it exploded, getting stronger and stronger until Sebastian ran out of Aether.
Sebastian's pupils contracted, but then he just sighed tiredly. "You've grown, Selene…"
Just as he was about to reply to Radhaan's words—
His body trembled, falling to his knees, coughing violently.
"Cough! Cough!"
A huge amount of blood pooled from his mouth.
The next second—
Astreus, Radhaan, Selene, and Christopher teleported right in front of Sebastian.
"We weren't mocking you. But who goes all out just to beat an old man?
You're not weak—and that attack could've been enough to break all my defenses.
You're my equal.
But that's the reality of life… it ends." Radhaan spoke cautiously, yet it felt like—for the first time—he wasn't trying to manipulate or deceive, but genuinely saying what he felt.
"Cough! No, I won't let you harm Master…" Sebastian's voice grew low at the end, as if uncertainty was finally creeping in.
He didn't care about Radhaan's praise or taunts. The only thing that mattered to him was the life of his master.
But—
He wasn't strong enough—
…He had failed.
Yet the determination in his green pupils only grew. He tried to stand up, pushing the ground with all his strength, but the body had no strength left.
His hands trembled, the muscles on his body vibrated. He fell again, fully laying on the ground, tasting the dust on the cold marble.
But then, he moved—slowly crawling on the ground, toward the group of four.
"I won't let you hurt Master!!" This time, his voice didn't waver. It was loud and clear.
"…Sebastian." No matter how much anger she was feeling in that moment, she just wanted to get Sebastian up and hug him tightly. But she couldn't. She had to choose—
It was either Leor or Johan.
And in her heart, she had already chosen Leor—from the start—
So, Sebastian had to die. Her feelings didn't matter.
She tightened her grip around the sword, feeling the cold iron. She would do it herself. She would kill her family for the man she loved.
The sword raised high, about to fall—
Sebastian tried to cast a simple fireball spell to deflect it, but the flames were too weak to even reach the people in front of him.
'Then, let me just accept it.'
'Dying by the hands of a Matilda isn't that bad. Serving them my whole life… a deserving end. I hope my son can also experience the warmth of a family…'
Just as he closed his eyes—
A golden warmth spread in his body. His muscles, which had vibrated violently, calmed down.
It felt comforting, as if he had just been hugged by his mother after training hard.
He felt at ease.
"Don't forget, Sebastian… I am a healer." A voice he had heard grow from high-pitched to deep to icy, rang in his ears.
A tear slipped from his eyes—the first time he had cried after embracing warriorhood.
Then his eyes widened—
"Aura of Death!" Johan's cold voice rang throughout the courtroom, making everyone tremble, staring at Johan in deep shock…