Chapter 163: A Choice of One’s Own
Kohler was dying. His body, ravaged by the backlash from using Divine Arts, his organs failing, his continued existence a testament to the Lord of Nightmares’ enhancements.
“You’re hiding in the Church’s headquarters to escape the Lord of Nightmares?” Abyss asked.
Kohler chuckled, his mental voice weak but audible. “Yes, I don’t want to die at his hands. And he wouldn’t grant me a quick death. He would trap me in a dream, an eternity of torment. I’d rather not.”
“I won’t ask how you managed to infiltrate the Church. I’m sure the Lord of Nightmares is eager to find you. He must be furious that you disrupted his plans,” Abyss said.
“But he can’t do anything now. All his followers are bound by your Soul Chains, silenced by your spell. His influence in this world is too weak to reach me here,” Kohler said, his voice filled with a smug satisfaction.
The Church, regardless of its members’ true devotion, was still under the protection of the Nine Gods. By hiding among them, Kohler had effectively shielded himself from the Lord of Nightmares.
According to Kohler, the Lord of Nightmares’ influence in Hai-Teweru had waned significantly. His power couldn’t penetrate the Church’s divine protection. And if he tried to force his way in, the Nine Gods wouldn’t stand idly by. They weren’t unwilling to act, merely bound by the rule that prevented them from initiating a conflict.
“Do me one last favor, Kohler,” Abyss said.
“What can I possibly do for you? Just let me die,” Kohler replied, his voice weary.
“Just answer one question. Are there any other followers of the Lord of Nightmares we haven’t found?”
Kohler paused, then said, “No. At least, not to my knowledge. As the Lord of Nightmares’ champion, I was aware of all his followers, and they’re all bound by your Soul Chains.”
“Good. I’m about to launch my final attack,” Abyss said. “Wish me luck?”
“I won’t live to see it, but I wish you success,” Kohler said, his mental voice fading. “I never thought I would have someone to talk to before I die. Abyss, after our last conversation, I did a lot of thinking. I still want revenge, but I’ve realized that I shouldn’t entrust my fate to others. My life was ruined by others’ choices. I won’t let my death be determined by someone else, not even a god.”
Flora, sharing her perceptions with Abyss, could sense Kohler’s life force fading.
“I envy your strength, your resilience, your optimism. You’re everything I’m not,” Kohler continued, his voice growing weaker. “Our names are so similar, Abyss, Apos, but our fates are so different. I envied your control over your own destiny, but now I understand. I can still choose my own path. I betrayed the Lord of Nightmares. I did what I wanted to do. And I succeeded. I’m dying, but I’m happy. For the first time in my life, I made a choice of my own.”
Abyss remained silent. He couldn’t understand Kohler’s willingness to surrender his free will, but he understood the significance of his final act of defiance.
This man, whose life had been a series of misfortunes, controlled by others’ choices, had finally taken control of his own destiny.
He was intelligent and capable. If he had learned to control his own fate earlier, his life might have been different.
“That’s all I wanted to say. I’m not one for long speeches,” Kohler said, his voice fading. “Let me die in peace. I know you’re a necromancer. Don’t resurrect me. I don’t deserve to live.”
Abyss didn’t offer empty platitudes. “I won’t resurrect you. Allowing someone like you to live would be an injustice to the world. Rest in peace,” he said bluntly.
Kohler had committed too many atrocities. Abyss wouldn’t give him a second chance. Letting him die was his reward for his final act of assistance.
“Hehe, you’re right. It’s a shame we only live once. If reincarnation were real…”
Kohler’s voice faded completely. He hadn’t died yet, but his mind was empty, his consciousness drifting away.
The three girls, having shared Abyss’s conversation through their link, sighed.
“If Kohler had realized this sooner, he wouldn’t have died,” Leona said, her chin resting on her hands.
“Perhaps I would have made him atone for his sins. He might have found peace, but not happiness,” Abyss said. “I wouldn’t forgive someone like him, a traitor who caused so much suffering. It wouldn’t be fair to his victims.”
“Going with the flow is human nature. Most ordinary people do it. He was bitter and resentful, but he never took control of his own life. He suffered a great misfortune in his childhood, but he despaired too easily. That’s what destroyed him,” Rebecca said, offering her perspective.
“One wrong step, and then another,” Flora said, sighing.
“What’s next?” Leona asked Abyss. “Are we joining the Restoration Army’s fight?”
“The Restoration Army… I don’t think we need to follow them anymore,” Abyss said, looking out the carriage window at the Restoration Army soldiers, who were confiscating the weapons of the last remaining enemy troops. “Their victory is assured. And we finally have the upper hand.”
“Then what are we doing?” Leona asked, curious. “Trying to capture the Lord of Nightmares?”
“He won’t be captured,” Abyss said, shaking his head. “But I won’t let him stay in our world either. I’m going to banish him! And I have a bold plan.”
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