Chapter 1151 A Weeping Soul

As the writhing souls of the dead staggered back and forth, they pointed fingers at those who had killed them. The challengers, no matter how strong, screamed in fear as they retreated from the scene. Before long, many began to flee the camp.

"No one will leave this place," said the deep voice again, reverberating throughout existence. A golden barrier appeared around the camp, preventing the fleeing souls from escaping. As they found themselves trapped, they realized that they had no choice but to fight.

"Are you the devil?" asked the blonde warrior as he stared at Arthur through his helmet, fear covering his features. "Whatever you are, it cannot be human."

"I am more human than you have ever been," said Arthur as he flicked his dagger, shaking the very fabric of s.p.a.ce. "Answer these souls that seek your death. If you can convince them to forgive you, then I shall spare your lives."

"Shut up and die!" shouted a rash man from the crowd, who could no longer handle his fear. His footwork left deep imprints on the ground as he dashed toward Arthur, aiming for his neck.

"And the first one wastes their chance," muttered Arthur without looking at the man before waving his hand. The long dagger cut the man in half faster than any eyes could see, leaving a corpse filled with wrath in its place. "But a few souls found peace."

As the man breathed his last, a few souls looked into his eyes. Once he was no longer alive, the souls closed their eyes in peace as their ethereal black bodies began turning golden. Then, they scattered into countless golden lights as their voices echoed.

"Thank you."

As they departed this world with peace, the souls thanked Arthur who brought them justice. The warriors stared at the scene with crippling fear, unable to move an inch. They were smart enough to know that the man who threw away his life was no weaker than them.

A single strike killed him on the spot.

His corpse remained instead of reviving.

Bang!

One of the challengers fell to the ground, starting to weep and beg the souls that Arthur had brought forth. He asked them for mercy, forgiveness, and promised that he would turn a new leaf if he were spared.

As soon as the first will shattered, the rest followed suit. One after the other, they fell to their knees and began begging for mercy. Arthur stood like the devil over their heads, his black dagger threatening to end their lives at a moment"s notice.

"You cowards, rise! If you had any brains, you would"ve been able to tell that he has no plans to spare our lives!" shouted the blonde warrior, who locked eyes with Arthur. "This man will show no mercy toward us!"

"It appears that you have some insight," said Arthur as his lips parted, fumes leaking from his mouth as the lightning began crackling again. "No one is walking out of here alive."

***

The news spread like wildfire until it reached Dorian, who was visiting the corps warehouses in his city. He was discussing some matters with the farmers when Joey came to deliver the news. Although many were overjoyed, Dorian was uneasy.

In the span of a few hours, the challengers who had raised their weapons against him were wiped out. Arthur spared none, even preventing their revival. Their deaths were permanent, and their corpses lived to tell the tale.

Dorian walked among his citizens, who began celebrations after hearing the news. These bandits terrorized many of them, forcing them to remain within the city for over a month. If any of them were caught, they would never return.

As he saw his people break into cheers, dancing, or tears, Dorian tried to appear just as joyful. However, in his heart, he wanted to meet Arthur as soon as possible. Thus, he rushed back toward the academy, where dark clouds gathered.

When he reached the rooftop where the two of them had met a few hours ago, Dorian found Arthur standing beside the railing. He was looking at the city like a protective hero, ensuring its safety. This time, Dorian was the one to interrupt his moment.

"You had to kill them all?"

"Each of them raped, stole, and killed others for their own pleasure or benefit," shot back Arthur without hesitation. "I gave them a quick death, but that was as merciful as I could be."

"I apologize for burdening you with such a task," said Dorian with an apologetic gaze as he walked forward. "I made you make the decisions I could never force myself to do."

"Someone has to make the hardest choices," said Arthur as he turned to glance at him. "You should go and celebrate with your people. I hear them chanting your name, calling you the greatest lord to have ever lived."

"They chant my name because they are too afraid to chant yours," said Dorian with a laugh as he walked forward. "Tell me, Arthur. If those men deserved to die, then why do I feel your soul weeping?"

"It weeps not for their deaths, but for the cruelty of the human spirit. I grieve the goodness in people that has been corrupted by strength. I pity the weak and the strong for their desire to mean something."

Dorian walked as he listened to his melancholic voice echoing atop the rooftop. As he managed to stand beside him and see the same view, Dorian found himself respecting the man even more. Instead of moving on after killing someone, he weeps for their mistakes.

"Humans are weak, no matter how powerful we get," said Dorian while holding the railing, his hand running across the uneven edges. "We need someone to guide us and give us a second chance. You allowed them to reincarnate after killing them, didn"t you?"

"I could not obliterate their souls, only choosing to wipe their memories forever, hoping that their next lives would be different. I think I made a terrible mistake, Dorian."

"You cannot condemn a life that has not existed yet," replied Dorian with a smile. "If that were to be the case, we should both be executed. I am the son of Marshal Stormblade, and you are the embodiment of wrath and destruction."

Arthur was silent in response before turning toward Dorian. He hesitated to say something for a while before it left his mouth, "I"m leaving now. I need to go back and meet Diana."

"I heard her story from Robert," said Dorian with a grin. "I would love to meet the woman who captured your heart in such a manner. Maybe not now, but soon, I hope."

"I would bring her over to visit," said Arthur with a smile before offering a handshake. "Until we meet again, dear friend."

"Thank you for everything you did," said Dorian as he took the handshake with a smile. "You made the tower a better place for us."

"You did too," said Arthur with a smile. "Take care of yourself, Dorian."

"You too, Arthur."

After that, the two broke off their handshake before a portal opened behind them. Arthur and Dorian turned around to see his eight warriors standing there, wearing the same black and golden armor. As he saw them, Arthur smiled as he walked back.

"Our vacation is over," said Arthur as he walked toward the portal, watching his warriors kneel for him. "Rise and bid him farewell. You have three minutes before the portal closes."

"Yes, sir!" shouted the eight as Arthur walked into the portal and disappeared. Dorian walked toward them as they rose from the ground, tears gathering in his eyes. Sarohan was the first to jump and hug him as the rest gathered.

"My little bro! You should come with us!" cried Sarohan as tears and snot covered his face, which he wiped using Whisker"s cloak. "How can I leave my little bro here after everything we did together?!"

Dorian smiled with tears as he remembered how the two saved Jonathan using a flaming carriage, and then fooled the enemies into thinking they had a plan. Whisker kicked the waiga away before landing before him, slamming a fist on Dorian"s chest.

"Take care of yourself, alright?"

"You too," said Dorian with a smile. The rest came to bid their farewell. Jonathan told him that he"s proud of the man Dorian became, and Ilia gave him a small box as a parting gift. Lian thanked him for the blood gem, and Koby bid his farewell as well.

The portal was about to close, forcing the six to follow after Arthur. Seraphine and Dorian were the only two to remain outside the portal. As he looked at the Blood Queen, he found her smiling at him.

"You are the one human I admire," said Seraphine as she patted his shoulder, even though Dorian was far taller than her. "Living here for the past four months has been fun because of you. You created a home for all of us, a gift that we will never forget."

"If this is your home, then make sure to come back," said Dorian as he patted her scarlet hair, brushing against her giant horns. The demon was surprised, but she did not get angry. Instead, she nodded with a grin before leaving.

A few moments before the portal closed, Luna and Ramiel arrived as well. His sister was still crying because the half-minotaur was leaving. After a tight embrace, he also entered the portal, which closed the next instant.

And all of a sudden, the world felt lonelier for the siblings.