In the quaint kitchen of the Reed residence, two won were washing the dishes. Susan served so pie to ease the mood. Bianca got up to help her clean.
"Let’s just get one thing clear, Bianca. I still haven’t approved of you as Elian’s partner," Susan grumbled. "But I will say that I cannot fault you for wanting him."
"Yes, Mother-in-law. I’ll try my best to gain your approval."
"Good, I like that energy! Do you know how to cook?"
"Uhm...not really. No one ever taught . My parents weren’t exactly around."
At Bianca’s pitiful confession, Susan softened, "Then it cannot be helped. Forget fancy stuff. Feed your man right and you’ll be fine. I will teach you!"
"Yes! Thank you, Mother-in-law!"
"Call Ma. Although I’m only 53. How old are you again?"
"I-I uhm... can we talk about sothing else?"
***
anwhile, in the living room, a heavy silence had settled between Tom and Elian.
"So? What’s really going on?"
"Huh?"
"Co on, Elian. I raised you. You can’t hide anything from ," Tom grunted. He opened a can of beer and drank. "Here, join . Maybe it will make it easier."
Elian took the can and took a gulp; he felt the cold liquid but failed to appreciate it.
"I actually can’t taste anything. I don’t think I can even get drunk."
"That so? Damn sha."
The two n said nothing and just enjoyed the silence. Until Elian eventually grew restless.
"Dad? Can I ask you sothing?"
"Shoot."
"Are you disappointed in ?"
"Huh? Why?"
Elian lowered his head and brushed the back of his hand, "Cause I am a murderer? I killed people, Dad. I wanted to be a good person, a hero. But I ended up being nothing but a Tyrant."
"So?"
"...uh..."
Seeing the confusion in his son’s eyes, Tom took another sip before explaining.
"Would you sleep better if people called you a hero, but your woman is six feet below the ground?"
"No...but."
"Do you think, your Ma or I would? Do you honestly think we would prefer our son to die a heroic death rather than co back ho in one piece?"
Unable to answer, Elian waited.
"Look, Elian, you explained what you had to go through, what you did, and why you did it."
Tom sat up and placed his hand on Elian’s shoulder. "Valuing how people see you is good. But never prioritize that over your own life. We are n. Our greatest responsibility is to protect our own."
"..."
"Do you regret killing those people?"
"Yes."
"Would you do so again if it ant saving Bianca?"
"Yes."
Tom patted his son and smiled with pride, "Then it ans I did my job well."
"Huh?"
"Elian, son, we are good folk living in an evil world. You can be as virtuous as you want, but without the strength needed to protect, you are nothing but a weakling." Tom leaned back in his chair as he took another sip of his beer. "Did it feel good to know you protected Bianca?"
"Yes."
"Rember that feeling. Every ti you doubt yourself, rember why you do what you have to do. Kill if you must, but know why you do so. Never forget that each life you take is a sin. But just because your hands are soaked in blood doesn’t an you can just give up."
Elian clenched his fist; he already knew this truth. More like he had no option but to stare it in the face.
"The world is a bad place. It will try to beat you upside your head. I am filled with nothing but pride at the decisions you have made. You are a hero, to Bianca at least. And that is enough."
"Thanks, Dad. I guess I can live with that."
Tom smiled, then opened another bottle. "But why stop there?"
"Huh?"
"Elian, each life you take, there are hundreds intertwined with them. Friends, parents, lovers, wives, sons, and daughters. Because of your actions, they all will lose soone. I am not saying this to make you feel bad, but that is the harsh reality."
"..."
"So go beyond that," Tom challenged.
"What does that an?"
"Just as with every person you kill, every person you defend also has lives depending on them. Each life you protected ans you saved soone’s parent, spouse, and child. If you truly are strong, then even in this evil world, act as a force for good."
"A force for good?"
Tom nodded in earnest. "If you are to kill ten. Save a hundred. For a thousand, save ten thousand. If you must kill a million, then save a billion. This is how you show your repentance."
A cold shiver ran down Elian’s back. It wasn’t comfort—it was clarity.
"You are worried that you are a bad person for killing a few, then save the whole damn Earth as penance!"
The whole world.
"If you are worried about the blood you have to spill to win, then save as many aliens’ planets as you can. Beco so strong that no one even dares to threaten those under your protection," Tom asserted. "Such a path is only possible for a chosen few."
All of a sudden, Elian’s heart felt lighter. Such a path, it seed to be one he could be proud of. It didn’t justify the bloodshed he would have to endure, but it did give a cost to it. A cost that would take Elian an entire lifeti to pay.
But one that the Tyrant was willing to do.
Tom stood up and stared down at Elian. It was as if his eyes were staring deep into the Tyrant’s soul. "You can never bring back the lives you took. But you can protect the lives of those still living. However, I will reiterate, this path is not for everyone."
Fighting spirit welled up in Elian’s body.
The sha and hesitation he felt at his actions changed and turned into weights on a scale. All he had to do now was save enough people to balance them.
Tom stretched out his hand to Elian, "Saving people is much harder than killing them. Now, my son, tell , are you strong?"
The Tyrant took his father’s hand and answered, "I am."
At that mont, a global announcent appeared—one that would change Earth’s history forever.
[Alert: Crestfall City Announcent: Virexar has invaded Earth.
Invasion Reason: Retaliation.
Win Conditions: Protect Elian Reed for 60 hours or eliminate the invading Tyrant
Lose Conditions: Elian Reed is killed or the invading Tyrant remains alive for 60 hours
Notes: All other dungeons in the region will be unavailable during this period.
Duration: N/A
Battleground: Crestfall City.]
[Ti to Virexar arrival: 23:59:56]
Elian froze. Tom chuckled.
"Well, I’ll be damned. Never expected to see my son’s na on such an important announcent. Looks like that’s for you."
Seeing his father’s lighthearted antics, Elian felt the tension in his body dissolve. All this ti, he had grown restless thinking about the mountain of corpses he would have to bury. But a single evening with the man before him changed everything.
"Yeah, I need to go. Talk to you after all this, Dad."
"I’ll be here," Tom answered.
Bianca walked out of the kitchen, fixing her clothes. "Elian, should we get going?"
Susan followed her out, biting her lip. "Make sure to co back, okay, Bianca? Your olet still looks like sothing the cat dragged in."
"Yes, Ma. Elian and I will be right back."
Bianca hesitated but ran to Susan and embraced her. "Please be careful, Ma. I will protect Elian, I promise."
"Make sure you stay safe as well, okay? I haven’t accepted you yet, but I am thinking about it."
"Yes," Bianca said through tears.
Elian then hugged his mother one last ti before leaving.
"We’ll be back tomorrow."
"Okay."
Then the two of them left. But Susan’s intense sobbing echoed loudly as they walked away.
Instinctively, their hands found each other. Both of them reassuring the other with a squeeze.
"Ready?" Elian asked.
"Yeah. Let’s end this quickly."
They then leaped up, shattering the ground. Jumping over the rooftops, they raced. Sonic booms erupted as they made their way back to Bianca’s boutique. Even as they moved, the city was already in chaos. Many were trying to flee the city.
They landed in the courtyard. Sebastian quickly ran to them and reported in a fluster.
"My Lady, we have a problem. Outside. They are..."
"It’s fine. Let’s go."
Bianca and Elian walked to the front of the shop and saw a large, angry, ard mob of breakers. Ned, the Weapons and Charlotte were standing in front of them.
"Just give him up, you selfish bastards! I heard that was what they did in another city!"
"Yeah! If we give the monsters what they want, they will leave the rest of us alone!"
Similar cries ca from the mob. The Weapons although ready for battle, didn’t engage. Ned, on the other hand, stood in front of the mob, weapons in hand. Four breakers were slumped on the ground, their armors shattered from blunt trauma.
"Sure!" Ned roared, "You are all welco to try. Just get past first."
Seeing his friend already protecting him, Elian smiled. He gave Bianca a kiss on the cheek and hid her behind him. The mont he walked out the door. The people grew noisy.
"THERE HE IS!" "GET HIM!" "HE’S JUST ONE PERSON!"
But Elian stomped on the ground with all his might. A small earthquake made the ground shake, knocking the people off their feet.
"No need. I am heading out to et them myself," Elian declared.
"How can we believe you? You might just run away!"
"Yeah! We’d be screwed if you ran away! The monsters will tear our city apart!"
But Elian simply smiled and announced to everyone, "Then co and join ."
Taken aback, the mob began to whisper among themselves.
"Feel free to follow . Don’t worry. I won’t run. Take pictures if you want."
One of the Breakers asked in confusion, "Why are you so confident?"
"Why?" Elian scoffed. "Because I was born to kill them all."
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