There were many reasons Orion didn't kill him just now.
One of them was that he and Mark were in similar situations. Having multiple elemental talents made Mark a versatile fighter, and Orion knew exactly how dangerous someone with control over many elements could be.
To counter Mark, Orion would need to use his full strength and his arsenal of curses. But if he failed to kill Mark, or if Mark somehow escaped, things would get much worse.
Mark already knew that someone was impersonating Ray. After seeing his different elements and strength during the fight, Mark would come to a shocking conclusion—Orion Darkwood was impersonating Ray. If that happened, Orion's situation would deteriorate.
He was already the most wanted man, and information about him—his face and his abilities—was publicly displayed by the Archons across all three domains. It wouldn't be hard for someone like Mark to recognize him, especially knowing Ray was a fake and after seeing powers comparable to Orion Darkwood's it wouldn't be difficult for him to come to this conclusion.
The second reason was the arrival of his guild. Orion hadn't dismissed the message even after realizing it was Mark in his house because he suspected Mark had come back to extract his talent again.
He thought letting the guild handle it was the better option. But that backfired when Mark revealed he knew Orion was a fake and that Ray had been his best friend. At that moment, Orion knew he had messed up.
If the guild members arrived and Mark exposed him as an impostor, with the real Ray dead, things would only get worse. Even if the guild didn't believe Mark, there would always be suspicion, and Orion couldn't afford that. Not with his plans to enter Dollas Academy on the line.
So, he had to ensure Mark left before the Starfire Guild members arrived, which is why he didn't go for the kill. He knew it would be difficult to pull off, and if the guild showed up during the fight, it would be even worse.
Simply put, he didn't want to take any chances.
Lastly, Orion simply couldn't bring himself to kill Mark. After hearing his story, he realized that Mark's life had been filled with pity and sadness. Orion just couldn't do it.
"I'm still too soft," Orion admitted to himself. "How do I let go of this weakness? If I want to kill all the Archons, I'll have to kill many innocent people who've done nothing to me. They'll have to die. But if I can't even kill Mark, how will I be able to kill them?"
He stood in the oppressive silence, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions and thoughts. His resolve was being tested in ways he had never imagined. He knew why he harbored such intense hatred toward the Archons; the reason was starkly simple and deeply personal.
Erza nodded. "No, it's fine that you contacted us. Anything could've happened, and you did the right thing. Besides, my sister and I were still in the jet, so it was no big deal."
Orion smiled. "Thanks for coming anyway."
"Alright, we'll head back. And don't hesitate to call us if something like this happens again. Guilds are there to protect their members, so don't be shy," Erza said.
"I understand."
Then, with a cheeky grin, Orion added, "By the way, can I invite two lovely ladies to my house at this hour, or will you both choose the boring option and leave?"
"Dream on," Shuna laughed, blushing.
"Maybe some other time," Erza smiled before walking back with Shuna.
"Some other time, huh?" Orion muttered, watching them fly back to the jet and disappear into the sky.
"This night is way too long," Orion sighed as he closed the door and returned to his bedroom. He changed into casual clothes and lay down on his bed.
"I think I haven't checked the curses I copied from my battle with Josh, Reilly, and the others. I also grabbed a few during the party. Let's see if any of them are useful this time," he said, opening his status screen.
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