Vol 6. Chapter 144: The Unsolvable Choice

In the snowy plains of northern Samael, a relentless pursuit had stretched on for days.

“Carl! You’re the last one! Stop this pointless resistance!”

“Hand over the Crown!”

Leon, Rosvisser, and the Sea Dragon King Poseidon’s team had been chasing Carl without rest—day # Nоvеlight # and night—for what felt like an eternity. Now, the chase had pushed them dangerously close to the Far North, a region covered in blizzards and near-zero visibility.

Both sides were utterly exhausted.

Carl had only lasted this long thanks to the Void warriors sacrificing themselves to buy him time. Along the way, Leon’s group had already taken down hundreds of them.

They weren’t there to fight. Their only goal was to delay.

And the plan had worked.

No matter how powerful Leon’s group was, they couldn’t shake off the sheer persistence of the Void. Each time Carl escaped to a new location, they had no choice but to catch up again.

But now... the final act was upon them.

Carl was out of reinforcements.

Like Leon had predicted, he was just flailing in vain at this point.

But that didn’t mean they could let their guard down. Everyone’s stamina and focus had been worn thin, and a single mistake could still let Carl slip away again.

“We need to finish this fast,” Leon said.

He glanced ahead toward the approaching whiteout. “That snowstorm will block visibility. He could hide in there.”

Rosvisser nodded. “I’ll cut off his path. You and Poseidon flank him.”

Leon gave a firm nod. Poseidon agreed as well.

With the plan made, Rosvisser spread her wings—instantly transforming into her silver dragon form.

A thunderous shockwave boomed through the air as she rocketed forward like a silver comet, overtaking Carl in a blink.

The speed took a huge toll on her energy. If she missed, she’d be unable to move freely for several minutes—so she never used it unless absolutely necessary.

Boom!

The silver dragon landed squarely in Carl’s path and immediately reverted to human form, spear in hand.

“You’re cornered, Carl. Surrender the Five-Spirit Crown.”

Carl clutched the golden crown to his chest, panting hard.

He gritted his teeth and forced himself to charge forward—but Rosvisser countered, forcing him back.

His eyes flicked left.

No one there.

He made a break for it.

But a shadow descended.

A massive form landed in front of him with an earth-shaking crash—Poseidon, in his full blue dragon form, easily double the size of Rosvisser’s.

With a roar that shook the mountains, Poseidon slammed the ground with his tail, summoning rows of massive scales from the earth to block Carl’s escape route.

“Then right! Go right!!”

Carl turned to the last remaining path—

Only to see Leon.

Blades of cloud and lightning buzzed to life around him.

Every escape route was now sealed.

Carl was finally surrounded—Rosvisser, Poseidon, and Leon forming an inescapable triangle.

“You actually saw through Dimo’s diversion plan,” Carl said, breath ragged.

“How foolish... You really thought the struggle for the Gold Crowns was our main goal?”

Leon extended his hand coldly, cutting him off.

“Hand over the crown, and I might consider—”

“Let me go?”

“No,” Leon’s voice was icy. “You slaughtered innocent people. You’ll die here, in Samael. But if you surrender the crown, I’ll make your death quick.”

Carl let out a bitter, mocking laugh.

“Those aren’t words a ‘hero’ would say.”

“I’ve never called myself a hero,” Leon replied calmly. “I just want every last one of you invaders wiped out.”

No more talk.

Leon’s killing intent surged.

Carl could feel it pressing down on him like a mountain. For the first time, he began to hesitate.

Was it really worth dying for the Void and Atos?

Crunch. Crunch.

His boots sank into the snow as he took a few shaky steps back.

Rosvisser and Poseidon moved in as well.

Carl’s breath became rapid and shallow. Panic showed plainly in the white plumes of air pouring from his mouth.

He looked to Rosvisser. Then to the dragon behind him.

Then...

Thud.

Carl dropped to his knees in the snow.

Leon blinked. He hadn’t expected that.

“P-please...” Carl stammered.

“Leon... I know you’re not the kind of man who kills lightly, right? I-I’ll cut all ties with Atos! I swear...”

He gulped again, practically dry-heaving with fear.

“I wanted to leave the Void long ago! I... I want to be like Safina and Kaiser, join your side, yes, your side... I—I...”

But fear had overwhelmed him.

Carl doubled over and vomited violently into the snow.

Leon watched silently, brow furrowed.

The sight reminded him of long ago—of Victor, the traitor who’d begged for forgiveness just before Leon killed him.

They always said they were sorry when they were about to die.

But Leon had long since learned: These weren’t people who repented.

They were just afraid.

That was what made Carl different from Safina and Kaiser.

Some grovelled for mercy to survive.

Others never thought about survival at all—and thus had no fear of losing it.

Leon raised his thunderblade.

He felt no pity.

“Samael will never welcome invaders like you.”

He brought the blade down.

But...

Crack.

Carl’s body suddenly jerked.

Leon froze, pulling the blade back instinctively.

Carl began to seize violently, as if his body were being overridden by a surge of power.

Moments later, the spasms stopped.

He hung his head, arms limp, unmoving.

Leon thought he was dead—until Carl suddenly laughed.

The laugh was low, dry, wrong—like something clawing its way out of hell.

“Leon Kasmod... Even now, you still think your little army can stop the Void from coming?”

His voice had changed—deeper, ancient, cruel.

Leon’s expression darkened. “Atos...”

Carl—no, Atos—slowly stood. The fear in his eyes was gone, replaced by disdain.

A dictator’s eyes. The gaze of one who saw the world as beneath him.

“The seal on the Gate of the Void weakens by the day. I can now possess Carl’s body without effort.”

“Still feeling optimistic?”

Leon steadied himself.

No matter who he was talking to now—it didn’t change anything.

“As long as I live, if you take one step into Samael, I’ll kill you.”

“Hah... Hahaha... Still so naive.”

Atos cackled with derision.

“When the last god’s power vanishes from this world, the Void will arrive—unstoppable. You think you, and your dragons, can stand against the entire Void Realm? That’s an entire world coming down on you. No one can stop that.”

Then, suddenly, Atos’s crazed smile vanished.

His voice turned calm, even pitying.

“Of course... there is one way to save your precious world from being devoured. But...

Leon Kasmod...

For you, that way... is an unsolvable choice.”