A voice was heard.
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“All preparations must be complete. The seven souls, eight legacies, and nine powers.”
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Renee didn’t respond.
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‘It’s an illusion.’
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She already knew this was one.
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The reason she recognized this manner of speech directed at her was because her past self had prepared these words in advance for such a situation.
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Everything leading up to this point must have been her plan.
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Renee felt what could only be described as hope.
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‘There’s a way.’
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There was a way to save Vera.
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A way to defeat Alaysia.
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Clenching her fists tightly, Renee focused on the voice she heard.
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However, reality never flowed as one wished.
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“You’ve done well. Now, I will tell you what must be done next.”
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The calm voice continued, conveying an answer completely different from what Renee had wished for.
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“You must make him the Tenth.”
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Once more, time began to flow.
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The thunderous roar, the tremors, the screams. They all shook Renee’s entire body.
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She trembled violently as she endured them.
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Tears she couldn’t stop flowed down her cheeks.
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The words left by her past self were far too cruel, leaving her unable to do anything but to sit helplessly.
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The way she had shown Renee was this.
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- Alaysia’s existence cannot be erased from Providence. The only way to erase her soul is through an existence outside of Providence.
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Alaysia was immortal.
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To damage that immortality required violating Providence itself.
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- The Tenth. You must make him the Tenth, and have him pierce Alaysia’s heart.
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Therefore, Vera had to become the Tenth.
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- He must become the Tenth himself, bring an end to Alaysia, and then perish.
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Vera had to accept that.
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Clench—
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Renee bit her lip.
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It was a natural reaction to having to destroy the man she loved with her own hands.
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However, she had no choice.
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‘...I have to do it.’
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If it meant being able to eradicate Alaysia after so many sacrifices, this had to be done. She could not let her personal feelings steer her in the wrong direction after coming this far.
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Vera wouldn’t want that, either.
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Renee clenched her hand around a pendant.
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It was the legacy Orgus had passed onto her.
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Wooooosh—
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A pure white divinity was unleashed, enveloping Renee’s body and the pendant in her grip.
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The battle ceased.
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Alaysia, the Tenth cradled in her embrace, and the ones attacking them—
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All froze and looked at Renee.
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For the first time, Alaysia’s smile faded.
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“Don’t do ittttttt—!!!”
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Renee’s tears fell onto the pendant.
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Right after, a blurry cluster of light arose around them.
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- This must be undesirable. Yes, surely it is.
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As she prayed, her thoughts repeated the final words she heard.
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- So, I will tell you how to save him.
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Renee activated what had been prepared as she was told.
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- Fortunately, we have the power to save him, don’t we?
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And prepared to part with Vera.
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Vera stood straight, facing Ardain directly.
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“Did you avoid it? Did you give up because you couldn’t stop her yourself?”
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[I cannot make excuses.]
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“Does that give you peace of mind?”
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[What can I do even if I feel uneasy?]
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“...Did you come this far only for that?”
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Vera asked and awaited an answer.
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Clearly, Ardain must have said something to Terdan, so this alone couldn’t fully reveal his reasons for doing all this. That was why Vera asked.
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- When the Time of Promise comes, our era shall end. This land will truly be free from its shackles, leaving only pure possibilities and the unknown. Prepare yourselves. On that day, my siblings, you shall finally see the end of this long nightmare. Welcome the coming Shepherd, bearing only proof of my existence.
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“You still haven’t told me everything.”
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If the Shepherd mentioned in his words was Vera himself, then Ardain had to answer him.
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Ardain observed Vera’s expression.
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His deeply furrowed brows, the tears not yet dried, and amidst it all, the light blazing fiercely in his eyes.
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Everything about him was different from Ardain.
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As he had peeked into the future, Vera was a truly upright man.
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So, Ardain spoke.
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[...I wished for our era to end. I thought that this land has now bloomed so beautifully, so it should no longer be swayed by our will. I also believed that the remnants of the past should now step aside.]
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He was revealing what he had been planning for a very long time.
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[I wished for my siblings and I to finally close our eyes at the end of this long, long duty.]
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Vera could finally grasp Ardain’s intentions.
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“So you wished for me to become the sacrifice.”
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[I’m sorry.]
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“There’s no need to apologize. No matter what you say, I won’t accept it.”
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Vera turned his head to the side.
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There was a cluster of light approaching from afar.
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Gazing at the light, Vera let out the words.
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“Just be free. That was the revelation, surely.”
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At that, Ardain raised his head.
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Still gazing at the light, Vera continued.
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“But, you don’t look free at all.”
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The words criticized him.
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Yet as he said them, Vera felt no regret.
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As far as Vera knew, Ardain was the greatest creation.
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He was someone who could grasp every possibility in his hands, and erase even his own karma with his power.
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But the reason was that he didn’t.
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Vera thought.
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This all happened because Ardain is a coward.
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“I don’t revere the Gods.”
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The approaching cluster of light took shape.
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It was an enormous door.
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“I don’t believe in the faith they bestowed upon me, either.”
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Vera instinctively knew.
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If he opened this door and moved on, he could return to reality.
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“So I won’t hesitate to do what I believe is right, no matter their common sense.”
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Vera placed his hand on the door.
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“As far as I know, this is more fitting for the word ‘freedom’ than what you imagined.”
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He opened the door and walked through.
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Ardain stared blankly at his fading back, repeating the words Vera left behind.