[System malfunction. Challenge details are undergoing technical difficulties, please wait…]
Technical difficulties?
I thought it was strange seeing the message. For an alien civilisation with such profound technology, with the capabilities of creating a weapon to wipe out humanity in a single blow, had technical difficulties with a system?
Then again, I didn't know how the system worked, and there was a possibility that it was be more complicated than creating a weapon of destruction. But for some reason, I felt it was highly unlikely.
Something was definitely wrong with the system.
Albeit it was a hunch.
The light surrounding me and Arthur quickly subsided, and in front of us was a tall wooden gate that stretched to the shadowy clouds hanging above. A flash of thunder struck in the sky.
If it was a sunny day, it would have looked grandiose. But with the current predicament we were in, it reminded me of those Demon Lord castles you usually see in some animes – intimidating and foreboding.
I thought back to what happened just now.
A black hurricane – appearing out of nowhere and suddenly destroying everything, and right afterwards the notification popped up.
Could it be a coincidence? Or maybe they are related incidents?
And the flash of silver I saw. I wonder what that was?
And the password Madam mentioned… is that the password for entry into the Castle?
If that was the case, then we won't be able to get in.
I sighed and turned around, but instead darkness greeted me below. I couldn't see the ground at all.
Well, no other way but to go forward.
I spotted Arthur's nervous and shaking eyes, and suddenly felt a tang of sympathy for him.
Arthur had been through a lot. Not only did he have anyone other than me with him, he was also kidnapped once and almost got killed. The amount of trauma for a ten-year-old kid must be taking a toll on him.
I patted on his back, and casted a knowing glance in his direction. He looked at me in surprise at first, but later shifted to an expression of acceptance.
He asked me a question for the first time ever since I met him. It was strange, since the only words I usually heard from him was my name, or "Big sis".
"Big sis Eunari, are you scared too?"
"Of course. But we will get through this and survive. You are a strong boy, Arthur. Just take a deep breath and hold my hand."
Arthur nodded his head. Taking long strides, we reached right at the door, with a statue of the head of a lion holding a door knocker in its mouth.
I knocked it once.
No response. I knocked it again.
Still nothing.
Wait…
I felt a small rumble beneath my feet, and not before long, I barely heard the distant shouts and chants of people reverberating throughout the place, sending cold shivers through me.
Something was coming.
Dust gathered at the doorstep and at the same time, the huge door creaked open, sending in a sudden gust of wind through, throwing my hair unpredictably in all directions.
It was then I could clearly hear the chants that were being said.
"Destroy evil! Liberate the fallen from the demons' grasp! Destroy evil! Liberate the fallen from the demons' grasp!"
The silhouettes of an army of unfathomable size stood like ghosts before the door on the other side, holding what looked like glowing spears in the dark. Soon, they started marching as one, stepping out of the door and heading towards us without a moment of hesitation.
One of the soldiers standing at the very front noticed our presence.
He asked us a question, raising a hand to halt the advancement.
"Are you followers of the Empire?"
I shook my head.
"No, we are not. But we come in peace."
The soldier didn't look convinced, his eyes glancing over our attire and strange clothing that didn't match the customs of this world.
"A measly trick like that won't work on the Empyrean Army. Soldiers! We shall take their heads and purify their transgressions! Onward!"
An execution?
We had to escape immediately. This place did not accept our presence as we hoped, but maybe we can at least reason with them?
A deep rumble shook the ground as the soldiers charged forward, with a determined look flashing deep within their eyes as they readied their spears, closing in the gap. Looking at their expressions, it was most obviously clear.
These people cannot be reasoned with anymore.
Arthur and I immediately sprinted for the edge of the platform, only to stumble precariously over the edge looking down.
There was no way we could survive the fall.
Eunari, think! How can you get out of this situation?
There must be a way. There has to be!
I could feel my own pulsating heart pumping with adrenaline and anxiety. Sweat sliding down the sides of my face.
Arthur looked at me with a worried and anxious expression, yet in his eyes held a sliver of hope.
There was only one way.
I let out a deep breath.
Commit a "sin", and hopefully the Pillar accepts it as tribute for Karma Points.
From there, I could hopefully fight them off.
But even if it works, will my EXP Level increase be enough?
I'm wasn't so sure, but it was worth a shot.
I felt the guilt hitting me hard before I said anything.
But I had no choice, and did it without much hesitation.
"Eunari… what should we do…?"
Arthur… Grandma… I'm so sorry.
Please forgive me once this is all over.
"Arthur, I'm going to kill you right here."
His shocked face was stunned for a moment, before registering what I had just said, and afterwards his eyes brimmed with tears.
"Wha… why… how…"
I gripped his collar, lifted him up with all of my strength and hung him over the edge of the cliff to make it more convincing as he struggled, choking on his own spit. It was grotesque, horrifying and traumatising, not just for him, but for me as well.
Guilt was such a terrible feeling indeed.
[A personal skill has been revealed!]
[Your skill, Conscience (Uncommon) is being activated!]
From the looks of it, it was a useless skill in this situation, but it wasn't the notification I was looking for.
Almost a second later, it arrived.
[You have deceived the human, "Arthur"!]
[The Pillar acknowledges your deception as a "sin"!]
[100 Karma Points has been rewarded.]
Some of the soldiers must have realised my act, as one of them suddenly shouted out.
"Hey, the kid must be a victim! In the name of justice, kill the woman!"
"That bloody whore! She finally revealed her true colours, hasn't she? Kill her!"
System, spend all 100 Karma Points into Strength Level.
[Strength Lvl.1 → Strength Lvl.10]
[Your EXP Level has increased to Lvl.4!]
[As a reward, all physical stats will be further increased by 1!]
Hopefully it's enough.
Please, let it be enough.
"Take this, fool of the Empire!"
A white spear was driven into my side, but surprisingly, it only left a deep scratch when it could have been a near fatal wound.
I shoved Arthur far away from the cliff's edge.
Another spear aimed straight for my head. I quickly ducked, narrowly missing it as it cut a small part of my hair, which scattered into the wind.
Seeing this opening, I swung my fist with all my might at the nearest soldier, landing it with an excruciating sound of bones breaking, and immediately withdrew my hand out of shock.
The soldier tumbled quite a far distance towards the door, collapsing and groaning in pain.
[You have severely injured a human!]
[150 Karma Points has been awarded.]
Now the soldiers' eyes flickered with hesitation.
This was my chance.
"Hah!"
I swung my fist clumsily at another soldier as I rushed forward, but surprisingly, it held a lot of power, knocking him to the ground.
[You have injured another human!]
[An additional 150 Karma Points has been awarded.]
I didn't want to admit it, but it felt strangely… invigorating.
Like I could do anything.
Like I could conquer an army all by myself.
My muscles swelled with energy I had never felt before, and smiling felt instinctive.
[Your skill, Conscience (Uncommon) is being activated!]
A sudden feeling of strong, heart-wrenching guilt washed over me, and my legs gave way, as if all the energy I once had was stolen from me.
Thoughts rushed into my head.
Did I really just… punch that poor soldier?
Why did I do such a thing?
Tears ran down my cheeks, coupled with the pain I felt from my abdomen.
I looked down. A spear was lodged inside.
Yet I couldn't think, couldn't feel, and couldn't see properly.
Sweet, familiar death was near.
My head landed on something hard.
I stared at the scene unfolding in front of me. Many soldiers suddenly halted in their tracks as a woman with silver hair confronted them. A kid was rushing towards me.
I want to die.
The silver-haired woman looked at my direction with an expression of what looked like pity.
[Your skill, Conscience (Uncommon) is being activated at full effect!]
No.
I don't want to die, because there was someone I still had to meet.
Someone that I lived my life for.
Grandma…
My vision was fuzzy and blurry, but I imagined Grandma's face on that silver-haired lady, looking at my direction.
I had to imagine, to bring my heart at peace.
To deceive myself that I had finally found her, and that she was right in front of me and knowing who I was.
The world, like before, faded into darkness. I tried grappling onto the last fragments of my consciousness, but it slipped through like sand sliding through the gaps between my fingers.
I knew that feeling all too well.
The force of death, chaining me to my inevitable fate.
Yet a single thought managed to leak from my consciousness.
Grandma, I have finally found you.
[You have deceived yourself.]
[No Karma Points were awarded.]
[Your body is in a state of critical condition!]
[Within four nanoseconds, your heart will stop beating.]
It's alright. Even though I still had some regrets, that's how life is, isn't it?
Unfair.
But fair at the same time.
[Your heart has stopped beating.]
[You have died.]