Volume 6, Chapter 21 – A Heart of Respect

Because he urgently wants to return to his hometown and is tired of his identity as an undead, he hopes I kill him to end all this? Fia ruminated on Davis’s words. Undead creatures were different from normal life. Even if their bodies were crushed and burned to ash, they wouldn’t die completely. Only when their negative life force was worn away by sufficient holy power or vitality could they meet their true end.

Although this didn’t require a special ritual—take Fia for example; as long as she used [Hellfire] or [Spatial Rift] on Davis, his body would be melted and disintegrated by Fia’s vast life force at the same time it was burned and torn apart—Davis couldn’t kill himself. He possessed no positive life force. Even if he used ninth-rank magic on himself, negative life force would always remain negative life force. He could live on forever.

But there were many problems with this.

Fia swung the [Enchanted Blade] and stood impressively before Davis.

“Even if I kill you, you might not be able to return to your own world. Perhaps your soul will follow the rules of this world, return to the Kingdom of Death, and enter the cycle of reincarnation. In that case, not only will you be stranded in this world forever, but you will also forget your former family and friends. Are you sure you want to do this?”

His voice full of self-mockery, Davis said in a low tone.

“I can no longer go back. Once one comes here, it is impossible to return; otherwise, those gods wouldn’t be so wary of us. If even gods cannot do it, what can I do? Forgetting my identity is no different from death. Even if the soul remains the same, I am no longer me. Hmph, thinking about it this way, I can’t blame those gods who play tricks. They don’t want me coming to their turf and threatening them either. If there’s anything to blame, it’s that the shell of this world is too fragile.”

In other words, the claim that Holy Sons are summoned by gods to come to this world doesn’t hold water. It’s a lie spread by the gods to beautify themselves; in reality, they cannot control outsiders entering.

Reαd on КаtRеаⅾinɡCαfe

Fia sighed lightly, attempting a final retention.

“Then haven’t you thought about looking for Holy Sons who might appear in the future and telling them the truth? Maybe you could even meet someone from your hometown. Guiding them onto the right path would also be a redemption for yourself.”

“Impossible. They wouldn’t believe the words of a Darkborn like me. Besides, I have already become an undead. The undead will not spare the living; they fear life, and they crave life. If the part of my soul that belongs to ‘me’ weren’t perfectly preserved, I would have long since been unable to suppress the desire to devour you. If it is like this even in the Netherworld, where the aura of death is thick, let alone the outside world, which is full of fragile life. If I were to come into contact with an environment rich in life force, it wouldn’t take long for me to lose control of my undead instincts and become a shell that only knows slaughter.”

“…”

Fia hesitated.

To be honest, she didn’t want to erase such a pitiful person, even if the other party was an undead. The slaughter Davis spoke of would only be triggered if he left the Netherworld. As long as he stayed in the Netherworld, he was a harmless undead. If a way to send him back was found in the future, but she had killed him, it would undoubtedly become a regrettable thing.

As if sensing Fia’s thoughts, Davis put the crescent pendant Fia gave him into his bosom and tapped his shield with the tip of his sword.

“What’s wrong, God-slayer? Why do you hesitate!”

Rеаⅾ oո КаtReαⅾiոgСαfe

Just as Davis finished speaking, an unpredictable fluctuation of magic power appeared beside Fia. At first, Fia thought it was a sneak attack by some monster, but turning her gaze, she discovered it was a fluctuating blue gate of light, about the height of a person.

The next moment, Nola, with her brows slightly furrowed and lips pursed tightly, walked out of the teleportation gate. Her expression relaxed slightly upon seeing Fia, but her purple cat eyes, filled with exotic charm, still held a melancholy that couldn’t be dissolved. Even her voice lacked spirit.

“Fia.”

Really bad timing.

I can’t let Nola know the cause of Holy Sons, nor can I tell her that there is no god in the Weeping Mountains at all. At least not now.

Before Fia could speak, Nola discovered Davis. She snapped back to reality, rushing forward to pull Fia back, the sorrow in her eyes turning completely into vigilance and hostility.

“This thing is dangerous! Fia, how did you run all the way here? His strength is greater than mine!”

“Weak Divinity… seems to be your friend.”

Rеаԁ on KαtReаԁіոgСаfe

Ignoring Nola’s existence, Davis raised his shield forward, crouched down, and assumed a classic combat stance. He shouted in a high, impassioned voice.

“God-slayer, if you truly pity me, then let me experience this power sufficient to slay gods! I will offer blessings and prayers for you in hell, waiting there in peace for the moment the Corona God comes down too! Come! Let me witness the power of the outstanding figures of this era!”

“Don’t listen to him, let’s quickly think of a way to leave here. If we are defeated by an undead, both you and I will become undead!”

While speaking, sweat had already appeared on Nola’s forehead. Even Fia felt that the pressure Davis emitted was extremely intense, let alone Nola. She only felt that Davis’s existence was like an indestructible statue of a god. Just standing there made one feel immense pressure, making it difficult to even conceive the thought of opposing him. That was an enemy with overwhelming power.

However, determination had already surfaced in Fia’s ruby-like, smooth, and restrained eyes. She took a deep breath and gently pushed Nola away with her arm.

“No, Nola, stay away from me. There are some hidden circumstances here; I’ll tell you when we get back.”

“You want to fight him?” Seeming to realize something, Nola frowned tightly. “Indeed, showing your back to such an opponent is too dangerous. Let’s do it together!”

How did you interpret it that way?

Reаԁ oո ΚatRеaԁіnɡСafе

Fia was momentarily speechless. She feigned seriousness and said.

“This is a duel between him and me. If I win, his lifelong swordsmanship will become mine. Nola, you are a beastman; you should know what a duel signifies.”

Not waiting for Nola’s answer, Fia took the initiative to take a step forward, pointing the [Enchanted Blade] in her hand straight at Davis in the distance.

Although keeping Davis alive might offer a chance to send him back in the future, that is just my wishful thinking. What I see as good might not be so for others; different personal experiences lead to completely different choices. Perhaps Davis once harbored the thought that as long as he lived long enough, he could go back one day. But thousands of years have passed, and that hope has long been shattered. Rather than suffering with an impossible dream, it is better to end the fact of being a detestable undead sooner. He has lost his family and friends in both worlds, and everything he owned. He has no attachments left; his heart is dead.

Respecting his choice is the greatest respect I can pay him.