Chapter 307 - Yes or No

"I'm split on the decision, so I'll let you decide for yourself."

"... Can I ask questions about this?" Oli asked, trying to adjust to the drastic change in the conversation.

"Go ahead."

"..." Speeding through his thoughts, Oli tried to imagine what the most important question may be. "You can read my thoughts, and you seem to predict everything I do… So which option do you think I'll choose?"

"That I won't say. I don't want to sway you unbiasedly."

"Hmm… Then… Which course of action will cause the worst consequences for me?"

"Great question…" Taking a moment to think and make his thoughts bear a neutral opinion, the man nodded. "One path will lead to you eventually returning and working alongside your family. The other may result in your family's destruction while you're with me in training."

"Then I'll take the option that protects my family."

Expecting Oli's outright answer, the man continued, "That first path will face the same risks as the second path, only you'll bear most of the burden before you're fully ready. The threat that will eventually come to your family will be faced by you, for the most part, and you won't have time to cultivate gradually and steadily. 

"You either prepare to accept this threat personally or you let your loved ones fall while you can grow steadily to overcome everything with time."

"There's no option to negate all this?" Oli asked.

"No. Because I need you for my plans." 

"So your plans will cause my family to be threatened?!"

"Only to an extent. It would happen eventually anyway, with or without you. But don't think I dragged your fleeting soul to this planet for nothing."

The man didn't shout or yell, but Oli's senses were overwhelmed as if the statement was loud enough to vibrate his entire being. His mind shut off momentarily, slowly pausing all new thoughts from emerging.

"I've spent too much time and effort for my plans to be ruined," continued the man, letting Oli's stunned mind forcibly take in more information. "Without my interference, your father would've died before entering Devil's Canyon. Without my gift, your father wouldn't have been strong enough to protect your troop from Brak's wrath that day. Without my tutelage, Dioro would've never known about Devil's Canyon or had the means to become the true mortal champion.

"What I've offered and given away is more than you can comprehend, as are my goals. So forgive me for being selfish. Forgive me for granting you a second life to live, letting you experience life with a loving, supporting family. Forgive me for stopping a high-king from ravaging your family's territory, saving you from imminent and endless torture. Forgive me for offering you what you truly want, the power to protect your loved ones. So please, allow me to apologize for such selfishness."

"..." Oli couldn't begin to imagine how to reply, letting the pause hang in the air.

With a self-mocking smile, the man chuckled, "You don't understand everything I know and see, nor can you attempt to grasp it with your current, pitiful self. Strength is necessary for all justice to be had, as there is rarely justice for the weak. What I offer is something that kings across the globe would beg for on hands and knees. Sure, I may not explain things, but that doesn't mean you'd understand me if I did…

"So, back to the question at hand." Returning to his neutral face and tone of voice, the man took a self-comforting breath. "Because of me, the threat to your family and species will come sooner rather than later, so you can either accept greater, personal risk or let others bear that risk while you train in seclusion and safety. Which option appeals to you?"

"..." Still reeling in bafflement, Oli's mouth hung open without a word. 

"Accept greater, personal risk while risking everything I've planned and prepared since long before you were born in your first life… Or allow others to willingly accept those risks while I prepare you in a secure environment… I'm letting you choose."

"... Why?"

"Why… what?" asked the man, already knowing what Oli would say.

Letting his brain grind and get back in gear, Oli stammered, "Why… let me choose?"

"Because that's what's best."

"But… why?"

The man answered, "Because while there are some factors in favor of your survival on the riskier path, your survival and success would still be determined by your will. If I force you into it, you'll undoubtedly die. That's not even a question."

"... How?"

"You'll give in to the pain until it snuffs out your last breath. Because once this practice has begun, even I won't be able to stop it," admitted the man. "So I'm letting you follow your will. Either accept that your family faces imminent threats or you cling to your will while suffering through pain unimaginable and risks greater than yourself. It has to be your decision, regardless of how much I've planned."

"This… it's a lot to take in…"

"True, but you have to decide now. You don't have time to--"

"I'll take the risk…"

"Are you certain?"

"I am." Oli gave a single nod with a stern glare. "But I'm not sure whether I appreciate your 'help' or not."

"Then I can take back my Infinite Torture Technique if you'd like."

"..."

"That's what I thought," the man scoffed. "Again, you don't know how much time I've spent, how much energy and resources I've exhausted for this… for you."

"Don't make this about me when--"

"I need you, Oli. That's why I carefully chose someone and brought them all the way to Dominus, even preparing and guiding that person's family and surroundings to fulfill all necessary requirements… And that person is you. So I need you, Oli, and I'm hoping we'll be working together as allies, not as a master and slave.

"Speechless? That's fine. Just confirm one last time for me. Are you accepting the risk?"

"... Yes."

"And you'll accept any torment that may come in order to protect your family and loved ones?"

"Will your plans actually protect them?"

"If my plans succeed, you'll become strong enough to dominate the entire planet, let alone protect a handful of people."

"Then yes. Absolutely yes."

"Good. No whenever forget that determination. Forget it and you may never see your family again."