Chapter 1345 Celestial Anarchist

1345 Celestial Anarchist

His questions remained unanswered for a very long time. Gaia understood, but she had a duty. The questions lingered between them, like words cutting into Arthur's heart. He felt betrayed, weak, and guilt-ridden. "You have been chosen—" began Gaia. "Who chose me?" interrupted Arthur with a laugh. "Have I chosen myself, Gaia? Have I chosen to suffer this fate?"

"Someone must rise against Devaheim," she answered without meeting his eyes. "It's a testament to my own inability to protect this world, and I chose you to carry that burden. Because you can." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Of course, I can," Arthur said, though his expression crumbled. It quickly returned to its stoic, apathetic state. "And I've never shied away from this responsibility. But when faced with the choice between someone I love and the world, I will always choose her." "What about the legacy the Scholar Guardian created?" asked Gaia, raising her eyes to stare at the world. "You've created this gateway to strengthen our world, and it has saved millions. It needs the mana of creation as fuel."

"I can expand that mana without losing my sight," Arthur answered. "If you want a damn soldier capable of fighting the gods, then don't cripple them."

Gaia was silent once more. She hesitated, unsure whether to grant Arthur's request. It went against her sense of justice. She could not favor Arthur over her world, but what would punishing him accomplish?

"What if I refuse?" asked Gaia, her expression hardening. A cold aura leaked from her body, a clear threat. But even facing the goddess of creation, Arthur didn't falter.

"Then we would become enemies."

Arthur had accepted the price he needed to pay to save Diana, but he realized it wasn't enough to ensure her safety. He couldn't forsake his sight while facing countless enemies.

"Do you think you can challenge the goddess of creation herself?" asked Gaia, her aura exploding. A pulse of creation washed over the empty space, causing Arthur to stagger backward. As he stared at the goddess in her true form, he realized the might of the being he was facing.

Her eerie golden eyes gazed at him with the indifference of a god. Arthur felt as if he were facing a celestial being that could dictate his life and death with a mere flick of its finger.

"There exists a gate inside your soul that brings forth endless amounts of spiritual energy. If you learn to master that energy, not even the gods can defeat you. If you learn to master it, you can end this struggle that has lasted eons."

"...I just got engaged, by the way. I wanted to stop fighting for a little while," Arthur said, changing the subject. "And now here you are with more revelations about me that I don't know and more responsibilities of ending a struggle."

"But that's not really your style, is it? Taking things slow and easy," Gaia said with a smile. "I know that you enjoy the fight. You enjoy the struggle you pretend to hate."

Arthur didn't answer. He remained silent, staring at the pond and watching the tear in the barrier that protected their world slowly heal. Then, he gave an unhinged, almost bestial grin.

"I enjoy dethroning gods and bringing them to the ground. Do you know what that makes me?"

"What?" she asked, intrigued.

"A damn celestial anarchist."

Gaia laughed for the first time since he had met her. Arthur couldn't understand the reason behind her laughter, but he grinned nonetheless. For the first time, he admitted one thing he loved:

Destroying the status quo.

Arthur had lived as a bottom feeder growing up, jumping through the hoops of a society ruled by strength, abilities, and awakeners. Even though he had grown powerful, one thing remained unchanged about him: his hatred for the system.