Chapter 103: Each Person’s Purpose (1)
“What are you doing, Academy President!”
“…Be quiet. They steal magic. I don’t know how, but what will happen if the magic related to gates falls into their hands?”
There was no need for further words.
The mages lost their voice at the Academy President of Clawclaw Academy’s statement that they had burned all the mages from Ardos Academy who were trying to open the gates.
“Today, we die here.”
Her resolute decision was obviously conveyed to Eve as well. Eve’s face contorted grotesquely as she gripped the throne’s armrest.
“How dare you…”
Unlike other emotions, the feeling of anger was unfamiliar because there was no need to express it through a human body.
Instead, Eve unleashed that anger through the legionnaires instead of her avatar.
In fact, using anger in this way was something Eve had been adept at even before she gained a sense of self; it was far too familiar.
“They’re coming!”
The higher beings raised their swords and quickly closed the distance.
The desperate struggle of the mages bought more time than expected, but the initial numerical difference was unavoidable.
“…You look disgusting.”
As a sword of the higher being pierced her stomach, the Academy President of Clawclaw Academy, who was holding a staff, murmured while grasping the tail that had impaled her.
Eve naturally tried to behead her.
The punishment of anger delivered to a creature that dared to disrupt her plans and arrogantly resist was, of course, death—the worst punishment for a living being that had to survive.
‘Please wait for a moment. My mother’s anger requires more than a simple beheading!’
The problem now was that Eve had someone who desired human suffering and destruction more than anyone else.
Reina’s opinion piqued Eve’s interest.
‘Is there a punishment stronger than death?’
‘I have an idea.’
‘Your idea is inefficient.’
‘It should be usable if it’s at the Academy President level.’
The two beings exchanged opinions briefly. At the same time, having completed her calculations, Eve chose not to behead her immediately, following Reina’s suggestion.
All the humans beside her reacted in stark contrast to that.
“What… what are you doing! Hurry and kill her!!”
The moment she realized Eve’s intention, her eyes widened in fear, more so than the moment before impending death.
As the infectious bacteria intruding her body began to heal her, her fear only increased.
‘Is it true?’
‘Fear of death is fear of the unknown. However, the fear that one is familiar with is greater than that.’
To Eve, who pursued only efficiency, the tortures she had dealt were merely a means to extract information.
But Reina was different. She was well aware that for beings like humans, suffering itself could become a purpose.
“…I thought they were simple, yet they are thorough without leaving a single gap in this chaotic battlefield. Just who are you?”
While Reina and Eve were communicating, Reina was simultaneously engaged in battle with Dark, executing her role without any issues.
Unlike Kang Do-yeon, she didn’t hesitate to unite with the legion, and being rather pleased about it, her adaptability and the increase in ability were significant.
“…”
Reina silently unleashed magic at him.
The one who held the staff blocked the bombardment once more. However, the magic power within the staff was nearly depleted.
‘Our humanity might survive. But it won’t mean anything if I die in the process.’
Dark tightened his grip on the staff in his hand. Since his opponent had also revived after suffering Execution Authority, the authority was meaningless.
[Prepare yourself. The Player has made a decision based on your request.]
“You should focus on the lizards. They’re tenacious.”
Soon, his body began to shimmer with light. That wasn’t all.
Some parts of the units that included him began to disappear as if they were evaporating in the light.
“Species Preservation Authority.”
Reina clicked her tongue and gazed at the empty front.
Dark’s Player had a lot of gold, having combined with local powers to eliminate most units early on.
That meant there were no restrictions on buying and using Preservation Authority from the shop.
‘Retreat. The draconic beings coming from the gate have taken down most of our forces. Since the main force of the humans has already been crushed and the harvest has been gathered, we can take it slow now.’
At the same time, time was also running out.
The draconic beings, who had fallen behind in size and strength that they boasted about, eventually used the gate widened by humans to crush large legionnaires.
Since they were urgently responding to an unforeseen situation, Eve had never thought that her current forces could completely drive them out.
With the retreat order given, Reina prepared to pull back without hesitation.
“Reina!”
Until someone called her name.
Her masked face slowly turned. The one who called that name was none other than Austin.
“I know what has happened. But! Please come back! You’re human. You’re not a monster!”
“…”
The battered Austin shouted with a pale face.
In a fleeting moment, Reina looked at him without any thoughts or emotions beyond the mask.
‘Poor person.’
The first emotion Reina felt was pity.
‘If he united with the legion, he wouldn’t have to suffer like that, nor would he need to be imperfect.’
Of course, she was not shaken by his words. To her now, Austin’s cries were merely the struggles of a loser.
United with the legion, she was reborn with a new power from Eve.
To Reina, who firmly believed that she was getting closer to perfection, Austin’s plea to return to being human was no different than an ant asking a human to become like them.
‘Hypocrite.’
Above all, to her, Austin was just another worthless trash who had betrayed her.
Just before retreating, she aimed her staff at him and unleashed a brilliant lightning strike.
A terrified Austin threw himself to barely dodge the blow.
“How… how did you use lightning magic…”
He murmured with a trembling voice.
Lightning magic was a type of spell with a complex operational principle and difficult equations that had been discontinued in past research.
Reina had thoroughly transformed it into a legion-style magic using her maximized intellect and past knowledge.
“…This can’t be.”
That meant even various failed cases that had been deemed impossible with human abilities could be reprocessed. Realizing this, Austin gasped.
Reina left without bothering to finish off those closing in on Austin.
Other legionnaires did the same.
As the legionnaires vanished like a receding tide, what remained in the ruined city were just a few survivors clinging to life.
“Sir, we need to take cover. They’re… coming. Even those dreadful lizards have set foot on this land.”
And then the draconic beings began to roar in celebration of victory.
Watching the flying dragons rise into the sky, Austin barely managed to lift his body with a mournful expression.
