My Fate System

Chapter 165 – Ruthless Saint

The battle between demigods and gods was not one that mortals could withstand. Aftermath from an impact was enough to turn their bodies into nothingness, which was why all nobles and warriors were deterred away from the two women.

A pair of long wings protruded from the non-human demigod, who looked like a celestial, ethereal queen. In addition, there was a crown on top of her head that radiated divine aura, suggesting that she was a bona fide demigod.

The person standing opposite the queen was none other than a noble from the Rosia kingdom, whose identity was questioned by the rest of the nobles. She was none other than the alchemist, Miss Aya.

"I cannot believe that there would be a person this foolish," Miss Aya muttered as she glanced at the corpse of the young man. "His father was blinded by strength, and unfortunately, this man was blinded by love."

"Are you sure that you have time for this?" smiled the queen. "Vyxas might have realized that he would lose a fragment of his at this rate. You need to hurry up and snatch it."

"And you want me to believe that you don't crave it as well?" grinned the twin-blades woman. "I will take this fragment whether you like it or not, vermin."

Miss Aya rushed toward Lucas's corpse to snatch it, but a blade of energy struck her away. However, she did not stop but continued soaring through the skies, straight toward the gates.

"Your failure is enough for me," grinned the queen as her wings stretched before a single flap made her disappear. The two demigods chased each other while striking down the divine arms attacking them.

The crowd watched, engraving the scene into their minds. Their bodies could tell that they were ants in comparison, and they shook as a response. This was the primal fear that froze all of the attendees.

There was one exception.

A figure tore through the sea of an unmoving crowd, wearing a black suit and mask. His footsteps echoed as they struck the marble floor, but no one seemed to notice his presence. The world was shaking, but he seemed unaffected. Perhaps, he was affected by something else.

"I can't sense any life from him," muttered the figure as he stopped in front of the corpse. "Maybe this was how he was supposed to die?"

Nikolai did not know the answer to that. However, his mind seemed to freeze whenever he looked at the corpse. Then, he crouched and turned the body.

Lucas had a pale face with a bloody chest. His eyes were desperate even in death. The last scene he saw was the murder of the one he loved, and maybe that was what indeed killed him.

"No," muttered Nikolai as he stared at his dead friend. "It was me. I was the one who killed him. Lucas trusted my plan, but I failed to think this would happen."

There were no excuses that he had. Nikolai calculated everything, even the attack on the princess's life by Lilith. However, he had calculated that the Fairy Queen would prevent her.

His calculations were right, but the outcome was far from what he expected. The Fairy Queen prevented Lilith from making the sacrifice, but she did it through an illusion. She could have attacked directly, but she wanted to taunt Lilith.

Nikolai witnessed the test Lilith gave him, but he did not move because he shared the same thoughts as her. Lucas would never kill himself for the person he loves. It was idiotic because no one guaranteed that she would stick to her word.

"I knew that the queen would never allow Lilith to succeed, but I didn't think Lucas would attack her. So, I stood there, watching it unfold because I knew that I would die if I intervened."

His words sounded like an excuse no matter how much he tried to make none. Lucas would never hear them because he died for his beliefs. He died for love.

Nikolai was scared by his actions. This man was the anomaly, not the world. This man would die for what he believed in and would die for others, but that was abnormal.

"I was right, Sergio," smiled Nikolai as he fell to his knees by the corpse. "All those who become my friends end up dying. I was right for pushing you away," he said as he closed Lucas' eyes.

Lucas was as young as him, but he was far stronger than he could ever be. This man trusted Nikolai and sacrificed himself for his love, all to prove his beliefs.

"I never asked you, Lucas. I never asked you why you love her. I never asked you why you wanted to be the strongest. There were so many things I did not ask, but you trusted me anyway."

Nikolai knew that he had a plan to follow and was wasting his time. The Gate of Celestia was still open for him to sneak into it using the secret in the tablet. However, Nikolai did not move.

"Maybe I have changed," he told the corpse as he looked at his palms. "I should be twenty-eight years old, but I still repeat the same mistakes. Why did I drag you into this? I did the right thing with Sergio; why couldn't I push you away too?"

There was no answer, and Nikolai did not need to hear it. Instead, his eyes turned toward the sky where the two demigods fought against each other, vying for supremacy. His time was running short.

"Lucas?" a voice arrived behind him, and Nikolai turned to look at the edge of the pond. There was none other than Saint Maria, who the Fairy Queen saved. "Lyle… what happened? What is wrong with…"

The princess walked deeper into the empty pond where Nikolai sat beside the corpse. Her eyes shook as she saw the hole in her friend's chest and the blood that was starting to dry.

"The Fairy Queen replaced you," said Nikolai as he turned back toward the corpse. "However, we did not know that. Lucas thought that you were held captive, and she told him to pierce his heart."

"You are lying," she took a step back. "Lucas can't be dead. There is no way that he died!" Maria started shaking as she shouted. Nikolai turned to her, tilting his head. It was then that he realized why the princess changed after the assassination attempt. 

Lucas died in the previous timeline, sacrificing himself to save the princess. This timeline was the same, and Lucas died to protect her. This is how the princess breaks apart.

"Tell me that you are lying," she said as she inched closer, her mouth twitching into a smile. "This must be one of his pranks. He wants to see how I react if he was gone, right?"

Nikolai stared at the princess as she started to lose her mind. Finally, he rose and walked toward her before raising his hand and slapping her. Her cheek was red, and she seemed shaken.

"Lucas died," he said. "However," Nikolai paused, "I think that you can save him. I need you to accept his death because only then can you save him."

"Save… him?" she muttered with confusion as she touched her face. "I can save him?" the princess looked uncertain before she turned toward the corpse. Then, reality struck her, and tears spilled out of her eyes. "Please, tell me how. Please," she was sobbing.

Nikolai was not sure about it himself because it was too soon. The girl in front of him might grow up to be the saint, but she was still just a child with average abilities.

"I am worthless," she cried, "I can't do it, Lyle," she wiped away her tears as they flowed down her face. "I call for peace because that is the only thing I can do. I am scared of war because I know how worthless I am in it."

Another slapping sound echoed, and the princess was thrown to the ground. Nikolai was sorry that he did it again, but they honestly had no time for her self-pity.

"Listen up, dumb shit," Nikolai crouched in front of her, and the princess was looking at her with a swollen face. "There is no time left because Lucas was gone for too long. When his soul leaves this world, there is no way that he can return to his body even if you heal it."

"You want me to heal him?" she frowned before shaking her head. "I can barely heal small wounds. I can never restore a destroyed heart, Lyle. Please, don't ask me to do this. I will fail."

"That is fine too," he nodded. "Lucas dies, in that case," as soon as he told her, her body started shaking. Then, the princess stood up, and she wiped away the blood from her mouth.

"I will do it."

Nikolai looked at her and saw the same Saint he met all those years ago. A battle genius who was called the immortal because of her ability.. Saint Maria was the kindest, but she was also named the Ruthless Saint.