Chapter 80: V2 C12 Warning! Do your possible so that it never attains 0 or 100%
[The red star spoke to you, didn't he?]
'...'
[You can't. Do not misunderstand my existence. You should just see me as a tool. Not everyone is fit to be a God, and preserving the world's stability is my priority. I'm just giving you ways, but the choice will always be yours.]
'You just disrespect my choice...'
[I am, after all, but an external tool. You're only a life among others. Would it be fair for me to advantage you too much?]
He thought about it. Maybe he was just a plaything for these entities. Someone whose life was there to feast upon. Then give up trying to understand. This war would be his last, be it by dying or choice.
Regrouping with the other, they continue preparing the defense, this time with Knights joining as well. These were the same tasks they've done before, but they did it with more adhesion. During this time, his mind was bursting with ideas. He had to survive.
What was he good at? He thought about it. He was by no mean a good leader. His skills resumed to energy controlling, fighting, blacksmithing, and maybe thinking. Still, within this range, he couldn't think about anything new.
Then there was the system. Appraisal allowed him to see the status of anyone who was his villager or within his territory. That wouldn't help him. As for his skill Sovereign, setting laws in Nirl was useless. His last skill, however, was useful.
'War monarch' had evolved, increasing the power of all allied by 10% while upping their resistance to pain and desire to live. But even Cleppe's soldiers weren't considered allies until Jean became Nirl's protector. Maybe the boost has extended to all Cleppe's troops, but converting all of the army could only help him. Lost to lost... he had to attempt it.
Then were his regalia. But he doubted he could find some on a battlefield.
In the evening, he set off towards Jean. In his path, however, the system stopped him.
[Your conviction isn't strong enough. Continue and not only will you fail, but lose your only chance as well.]
'Not like I've much of a choice.'
[That's why I'm here: to help you create your path by giving you choices.]
[Quest - the 3rd solution: Fighting or running away will only get you kill. But I will give you one solution. Create an eternal soul based on your spirit and evolves in another world. YES/ NO. This is a one-time quest that will never appear again.]
Strangely, this mission was displayed orally, as if it comes from the voice that always talks to him.
He had long known it. What made a protagonist wasn't only his origin but his choices. Louis had that potential he never used. Not all people wanted to be some hero. But that didn't mean origins were useless. If he had been born off a Paladin, maybe he too would have gotten a choice. If he did chose that, he wouldn't have to worry about death. He would be able to try as much as he wanted and eventually succeed.
But succeed in what?
If a soul wasn't the same thing as one's spirit, that means he was both his soul and the creation of his environment. And that he wouldn't be the 'Alain' or whatever name he'd got that had his soul.
The flame of determination within his heart grows. His whole body became trembling with hatred.
This quest was completely out of question!
55% --> 50%
'Is this?' he thought about his discussion with the red star. When this number would reach or get close to either 100 or 0%, one of the camps in him would win.
But didn't it mean he had been nearer to the camp who wanted him not to live? What feelings could make him think that way? Glancing unconsciously at his right arm, he understood it.
That he couldn't understand himself. Why was he even try to act responsibly? This world made him think so!
They said crying wasn't a man's duty. That's why he didn't cry. Following the rules society made for him... if death ruled the lives ones, these ones were to be cursed for all eternity.
'NO! If it had existed it should have a goal.' Thinking the past and the educated ones were less intelligent than him was pure ignorance, arrogance, and idiocy! Each measure has its own reason and if they need Paladins, then there had to be a reason! A reason they couldn't end this war! But, is the cost worth it? How can one measure the value of a life?
'People will always have the tendency to help those near them if it does not cost much.'
2 oppose convictions came to his head at the same time.
'How dare they impose these feelings this culture on me! to them! To the only place, one can really be himself, in their interior! No one may do this!' / 'Being weak and cry won't help! Crying will only get me to kill! Only strength matters in this world, and they knew it, I cannot blame others!'
'Each action, each step I take, someone takes, has repercussions. This world has no right or wrong only people trying to live in it who made choices more or less influenced.'
'Saving others will save me. Each life is priceless and their potential infinite, my action will hence create an infinite resonance compensating even the less competent!' / 'saving myself will save others. Because life is beautiful I must protect what gave me all of this! my body, my village, my nation! I will use all means possible because life is priceless!'
'My path is mine to take and inaction is the worst choice!'
One would always need to fight in what they believe to be the most competent. But no such time would be given in battlefields.
'When I return, I'll be sure to change things! Just wait for us, Louis!'
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