Chapter 2

Upon hearing that request, Nerissa looked troubled.

Halric, however, choked out through tears, "Lucien, why did you trick me by saying Ms. Loden was seriously injured and needed me to rush over? If it weren't for you, how would she be put in such a difficult position now?"

Nerissa looked at me in disbelief. "It was you? How could you trick Halric into coming here? Do you hate him so much that you'd send him to his death?"

Even though they had hurt me countless times before, hearing their accusations without any attempt to understand the truth still made my blood run cold.

"We've been fighting this war for three days and nights. We barely even have time to save our own lives… How could I possibly have the time to trick him into coming here?" I countered.

As I explained, I met Nerissa's gaze. It was clear she didn't believe me at all.

I lowered my head and smiled bitterly. "Forget it. You wouldn't believe me anyway."

Aurelia snorted coldly and turned to Noctis. "Everyone knows you two are good at putting on an act. Noctis, were you involved in this? If you dare to harm Halric on purpose, I'll divorce you!"

"Do as you please," Noctis replied coolly.

His indifferent reply unnerved Aurelia.

"You…"

Before she could go on, Drako interrupted, "I want that wyvern now! Otherwise…"

Halric's face turned pale. "M-Ms. Loden…"

He only called out softly once, and Nerissa immediately rushed to my side.

She lifted my clothes and said, "Bear with it. He's the orphan my close friend left behind. I can't just watch him die. Besides, this was your fault to begin with."

Without waiting for my reply, she brought the blade down.

"Nerissa! Have you lost your mind? He's your husband! Stop! Stop it right now!" Noctis roared helplessly.

He shouted again and again, but he couldn't stop her. Meanwhile, my entire body trembled from the pain.

Gritting my teeth, I demanded, "Is it really because of your friendship with his father… or because of something else?"

Nerissa didn't dare meet my eyes. She only quickened her movements.

Drako watched the scene play out with great amusement.

He was grinning widely as he made another request. "I've heard that Noctis has a Soul Gem inside his body that can greatly increase one's cultivation. Oh, great goddess of fire…"

Before he could finish, Noctis cut him off, "I'll give it to you. I'll give you anything. Just make Nerissa stop!"

Drako replied lazily, "That won't do. Don't you people of the Novem Skies always say everyone has to face their own fate? Well, he is fated to suffer what he's suffering today."

Aurelia walked up to Noctis and began extracting his Soul Gem without hesitation. "I didn't like what you said earlier. Let this be your lesson."

It didn't take long for Drako to get what he wanted, and he was clearly delighted. "You five are truly interesting. I've never seen anything like this. What if I asked you to choose who lives and who dies?"

As soon as he said that, everyone's expressions darkened.

Merrick could no longer hold his tongue. He stepped forward to persuade Nerissa and Aurelia again.

He pleaded, "You absolutely cannot choose Halric over them! If the Chaos Twins die, Chaos will awaken! Think of all the lives around the world!"

The sacred Cosmic Tree on Mount Everspire had given birth to Noctis and me, the Chaos Twins. Together, we possessed the power to destroy all lives around the world and return everything to primordial chaos.

But the world could not exist without the Cosmic Tree. Without it, all living beings would suffocate and die.

That was why they feared us but could not live without us.

As Nerissa hesitated, I looked at Drako and said hoarsely, "They've already made their choice. Can't you see it? No matter how many times you ask, the result will be the same. Your demon lady and demon empress are looking for male consorts, aren't they? Noctis and I will go with you."

Noctis agreed, "Yes. We'll go with you."

Nerissa panicked and questioned, "Lucien, are you truly so shameless that you'd willingly become the consort of such vile creatures?"

"Have you two gone mad?" Aurelia demanded.

Their concern lasted only a moment before being cut short by Halric's sobbing.

"Ms. Loden and Ms. Ignis, it's all because I was captured that you're caught in this situation. I should take responsibility for this myself."

He raised a blade, intending to kill himself.