Only Wisdom Awakened - Chapter 148

Chapter 148: Hard choices
“I believe so…”

“That is troublesome…

My world is also currently under attack by unknown monsters.

They come out of dimensional rifts and destroy everything in their paths.

Do you think it’s the same entity that assaulted your world?”

“I do not know, but there is a high chance they are something similar”

“What happened after that?”

“…. I was continuously rushing from border to border, proudly defending the last remaining humans on the planet.

In three years, I reached the unachievable rank of archmage, being the first known human to break through the tenth circle in our history.

The people had begun regaining hope, and the soldier’s morale was high.

I also taught my knowledge to many, allowing them to follow the path of ice magic.

But just when we began seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, a door was shut close right in front of our noses.

Her strongest servants began descending on our planet, and the situation got out of control extremely fast.

The four limbs that made up her strongest military force were all monsters at the expert level, which in the magic world would translate as a tenth circle.

When the final attack against humanity began, my body was already afflicted by the aftereffects of using the winter goddess powers.

They knew about me and… they knew about my only weakness.

Two of them headed for the ice temple, while two of them made their way to the last stronghold, and I was forced to make a choice.

Between the people of the city, the last remaining humans on the continent, and the frozen bodies of my ancestors, where my sister’s last efforts lay.

The goddess didn’t force the choice on me, she instead permitted me to do what I wanted.

She also appreciated and owed a lot to my ancestors, so when I decided to leave the city and head to the temple, she remained silent.

I arrived at the temple and quickly climbed up the mountain peak.

I then created my ice throne, just beside the goddess altar, waiting for the two of them to arrive.

You can see the rest for yourself…”

The young man sat on the throne of ice, his frozen fingers covered by a white glove to avoid showing any signs of weakness.

After a while, the earth started trembling….

On a normal day, he would’ve thought an avalanche was sliding off the mountainside, but that day, he knew exactly what it was, and it was coming for him.

The countless beasts, humans, and monsters sent by her were rushing up the stairs that led to the temple.

“Not even you are helping me out?”

Asked himself Caelan, feeling the energy of his friend Khalin still strong even though the enemies had trespassed the territory.

“If no one stands by my side, then I shall do it myself… alone.

You monsters… will not step foot inside this place”

He threatened the incoming beasts using the authority of the goddess, who froze them on the spot.

But after just a few seconds, the two ‘limbs’ leading the group had already broken free.

One of them could be described as an abomination, its skin was made of a slimy substance, and its face was cut in half, leaving place for teeth on the inside of both halves.

It also had tentacle hands, and it could move freely without worrying about any bones breaking.

The second one was twice as tall as a normal human and had a really slim build, its whole body was covered in red scales, only his head being black.

They both walked towards the young man, speaking a language he could not even try to understand.

Then, suddenly, the abomination’s head completely opened, letting out a scream that shattered the ice cubes holding their allies.

As soon as they were freed, they started screaming and creating chaos once again, rushing directly towards the young man, without any fear of his strength.

For a whole day, the boy fought with all he had.

Casting spells up to the tenth rank that would put to shame every single one of his ancestors in a few seconds.

He continued until none of the enemies stood in front of him.

The abomination had been dismantled in little ice shards, while the tall monster’s body had been broken in half as if it were a frail stick.

The whole peak was covered in liquid, since the blood of all the different beings mixed up, creating a warm black substance that emitted a disgusting stench.

Even the stairs had been marked by the liquid since it flowed down from there.

He had won, but his body was at its limits.

Barely managing to walk, he slowly limped down the stairs covered in black and reached the secret door his sister had shown him many years ago.

He entered the hall and sat in front of his sister.

The freezing caused by the overuse of the goddess’ powers had already started wrapping around his chest, and he felt this terrible pain covering up any other emotion.

“Sister… you lied…

You told me you were okay, you told me it didn’t hurt….

But…”

His eyes got lucid, and tears started flowing, wetting his dress which had already been stained by the disgusting black liquid.

“..it hurts…

Sister… it hurts so bad that I want to die”

While in front of the statue, thinking those would be the last moments of his life, and the end of humans on the continent, he heard another tremor coming from the earth.

“The other group is already coming here?

Fuck!

The temple… my sister, my ancestors.

Everything I ever cared for is here.

Do I have the right to let it all be destroyed?

Do I have the right to let my sister’s body be destroyed?

I am going to stop them, whatever the cost may be, none of them shall trespass onto this sacred territory.

In his mind, he thought of one solution, a grimoire he had robbed from one of her followers.

The past owner was a powerful dark mage, who had done a lot of research in order to turn himself into an immortal being.

Unfortunately for him, two conditions had to be satisfied for it to work.

First of all, the caster has to be above the ninth circle.

He didn’t know whether or not the tenth circle would be enough for it, but he did know that it was unattainable with only nine circles.

Secondly, even if he had been at a satisfying level, a catalyst had to be used.

The catalyst needed an incredible amount of mana and dark energy, something which could not be found anywhere in the world…

Anywhere apart from that mountain peak.

He crawled back up the steps, managing to climb up to his throne after an hour of relentless movement.

He then raised his hands and started casting as written in the grimoire.

He cast for a full minute before finally being done with the spell, but just as he was about to release the mana, he could not bring himself to.

And not only that, but he also could not move his arms, or even blink.

Time… had stopped.

A voice spoke to him, a familiar voice he had been hearing often for the past years of his life.

It was the goddess.

“Caelan Frostbane, are you aware of what will become you after the choice you have made?”

He could not move his lips, but his mind spoke for him.

‘I am’

“You will not be able to serve under me after transforming, is that what you want?

If it is not, I shall take you out of this world, and you may follow my footsteps in the future,

Tell me, child, what is your choice?”

“The goddess’ question made things difficult for me, I had to decide once again, this time between the goddess who had protected and blessed me throughout my whole life,

and the remaining memory of my deceased sister.

But In the end, I once again chose to defend what was left of my sister.”

‘We had vowed to protect this place…

Since no descendants are left to take on the role, it is my duty…

To carry on a long-lived promise.

I shall rest here for eternity,

and guard these defenseless memoirs…

Oh, goddess…

Forgive me for my weak faith.’

“That is your choice child, do not forget it even after you die”

…

Just as the boy made his choice, the altar beside his throne broke into pieces, crumbling like a sand castle hit by the waves.

It wasn’t only a simple loss of faith, but also a consequence of what had happened to the world.

After the death of every inhabitant and the betrayal of her Apostle, having no more true believers in that world, the altar, a medium used to connect to her, didn’t have a reason to exist anymore.