Chapter 45: To Survive Or To Fight Back?

Chapter 45: To Survive Or To Fight Back?

"After researching for many years, I eventually found a way to control the blood moon." As Myza said that, he raised his right arm.

Then, to Liu Ji's astonishment, Myza's right arm turned into fine sand and fell to the ground.

Next, Myza gently moved his shoulder, and a wisp of sand rose from the ground, transforming back into his hand, leaving Liu Ji staring with his mouth agape.

"The blood moon wouldn't leave this place as long as I don't die. And as long as I stayed in the desert, the blood moon couldn't harm too many," Myza said, a bitter smile on his face. "Thus, I linked myself to this desert, becoming part of it. As long as the desert exists, I am immortal.

"However... The price was steep. This body has no sense of taste or smell and can't leave this land. I even lost my arcane powers, so when I'm bored, I can only tinker with magic constructs. After all, building them doesn't require magic as long as there's an energy core."

"Y-you..." Liu Ji stammered. "You've stayed here alone for thousands of years just for the sake of this world?"

"Yes. After all, it was her wish." Myza sighed. "Unfortunately, half the world was still destroyed by someone, and I was powerless to stop it..."

"Half the world was destroyed by someone?" Liu Ji was stunned. This was the first time he had heard about it due to the language barrier.

"Yes, the same one who destroyed this city. With a single blow, he flattened everything in the vicinity. I think that the reason you turned into a potato was because the lingering effect of the blessing you had made you instinctively transform to avoid him," Myza explained.

"Your companions call him 'The Tyrant,' and the reason they are trying to cross this desert is because the other side of the world has been almost destroyed by him."

"Th-that's..." Liu Ji was stunned and at a loss for words. Upon recalling the sadness and worry shown on the faces of Yaine and the others, he suddenly understood the implicit meaning behind this.

"Well, now that I've told you my story, it's time to talk about your future," Myza said, looking toward Liu Ji. "I want to ask you this: Are you willing to save this world, going up against that tyrant who single-handedly destroyed half the world, whom even I can't deal with?"

"Huh?" Liu Ji blinked several times, "M-me? No, that can't be right. Besides, didn't you say I was retired..."

"Yes, you're retired, so you don't have this responsibility," said Myza. "No, even if you weren't retired, this responsibility still wouldn't be yours. That damned magic forcibly dragged you into this world without any logic. No one has the right to force you to take on any responsibility."

"Uh." Liu Ji gulped nervously. "I guess you're about to say a 'but'..."

Perhaps, as Myza said, rather than fighting such a monster, living out his days here peacefully suited him more.

That would be more like a retired hero.

But...

Liu Ji's eyes lingered on the hatch covering the stairs leading underground. Down there, a group of companions he had only recently met awaited him.

Perhaps his relationship with them wasn't that established yet, and if asked to risk his life for them, Liu Ji honestly wouldn't be willing.

But the thought of them possibly being ruthlessly killed one day as their faces filled with unwillingness...

Liu Ji swallowed hard, recalling the moment that day when the scout's curved dagger slashed toward Yaine.

If he hadn't intervened and Yaine didn't have a backup plan, that dagger would have sliced through her throat...

Liu Ji tried imagining it, the blade slicing through, blood spurting out from her neck, her despairing head rolling to the ground.

Liu Ji took a deep breath, then called out to Myza who was about to head underground.

"Mr. Myza," he asked, "if I join them, can I really change anything?"

Myza stopped, turned back, and smiled gently.

"No, I never said that, but... there's one thing I can say with certainty. If the decision you make now leads to future regret, an endless life will become nothing but endless torment."

With that, he opened the hatch and descended the stairs.

Liu Ji remained where he was in a daze, gazing out into the vast desert, his eyes filled with confusion.