Level Up Legacy

Runera looked as he had left it, and Arthur needed no introduction to his own city. As he looked at Rega in the center, he could feel that something was wrong. Instead of flying cubes that worked as facilities, rubble filled the sky.

A thunderstorm raged above Runera, sending bolts of black lightning every now and then. Each bolt that struck the city shook the entire world, almost bringing it to the ground.

"I believe that you have already met a fallen Runera, but that version of you is not one we could understand," said Azkahar as he strolled forward, his shoes splattering the pooling blood. "In this timeline, you unleashed your wrath against the gods."

"I know the reason, so don't say it," said Arthur as he followed after the humanoid dragon. "I don't want to hear it."

"It seems that you have managed to convince your alternate self to tell you, but it's not enough to change this future," said Azkahar as he glanced at him. "Follow me, Arthur Silvera. I will guide you through this ordeal until we find one."

Arthur did not answer and remained absent-minded as he followed after the blue dragon. This training was not one he wished to undertake, because it might be the hardest of all.

As the two passed through the destroyed city, each scene made Arthur clench his teeth. His eyes could see the destruction he could bring to his own city, making this training even more important. The two reached the ruins where Arthur had fought against Sier.

"There are two important facts that I learned from your alternate versions," said Azkahar as the two walked through the ruins. "The person we must focus on was never you, but the person who could hurt you the most. This universe's most important individual was not the hero, but his weakness."

His words stopped once they reached the ruin's center, a place that Arthur had never reached. Inside it was a bright crystal that shone with brilliant light. As their eyes squinted through the light, a beautiful face could be seen.

"Diana Freya is your weakness, but also what drives you forward," said Azkahar as he stared at the woman within the crystal. "The second fact I learned is that... in every possible timeline where you reached this place, you never managed to restrain the wrath."

Arthur could not focus on his words because seeing her again made him forget about everything. Although he knew the state that he would find her in and even the deadline he had to visit her, seeing her again made him remember the memories in Alka.

"As you have already seen in this tower, Diana is the sole person who could make you stronger. All wrath ceases within you once you see her. It is for that reason that… the gods presented you with an impossible choice."

"An impossible… choice?" muttered Arthur as he froze and turned around slowly, remembering this exact same phrase. "I have once been presented with one, and it changed the entire world."

"The merge of timelines is the reason you are the only one capable of reaching this place," answered Azkahar. "You seem to be unaware of the details of the choice presented to you."

"I know the wrong one that would lead to this destruction."

"They both… lead to this destruction," said Azkahar with narrowing eyes. "Look at the artifact that Diana is holding, Arthur Silvera. That is one you once obtained but lost: the Isotox."

"And?" muttered Arthur as he turned to see the artifact cradled in her hands.

"She has sealed herself within the Isotox. If you wish to release her, the two worlds will merge. This is the choice that you have met, where you released her and lost your contract with Gaia, making you lose control of your wrath."

"There has to be a different way."

"If you do not release her, then wrath will conquer your soul in the end. Diana is the only person who made you feel loved. She sacrificed her life, multiple times, for your sake. Her existence has become pivotal in stabilizing your psyche."

"An impossible choice, where I will lose no matter what I do," muttered Arthur as he stared at the crystal for a long time. "Tell me, Azkahar the Wise: why must I face these hardships? What have I done to deserve being punished in this way?"

His voice betrayed his sadness, and faced with such a question, Azkahar was unable to answer him. The wise dragon remained silent as the golden sad eyes turned toward him.

"I barely remember the years before my father disappeared, and after he did, happiness became the absence of misery. I just want to know one thing: why must I suffer at every turn? Why do I have to sacrifice everything and gain nothing?"

"I can say that it's your fate, but would you accept such an answer?" muttered Azkahar with sympathy. "Your story is a sad one, Arthur Silvera. However, once this hell is over, you will be happy."

"At this point, I cannot believe you. I have made an impossible choice once before and lost the one person I love. I have been enduring this hell for so long just to find her. Is it so wrong for me to feel happy?"

The thunderstorm above them grew fiercer as black lightning began leaking from Arthur. The blue dragon raised his eyes to the sky with a frown as he could not believe that wrath could resonate between timelines, even in memories!

"I have been the outsider ever since I awakened, hunted down and blamed for existing, until I had to forge my identity and lose my friends and family. Then, I was thrown into another world where I lost my freedom and arm. As I overcame the first impossible choice, here you are presenting me with another."

Arthur turned toward Azkahar as he said the last sentence, but his eyes were not wrathful. Instead, they were filled with sorrow and confusion. His eyes did not seek justice, just an answer.

"Please tell me, Azkahar the Wise. You know everything, right? Have I done something to be chosen for this? I am tired, Azkahar. I don't think this is something I can overcome again."

"I have studied for thousands of years," said the blue dragon while placing his hand over his heart. "There is not a secret that I have not explored, just in order to help you overcome this moment. I entered this tower just to meet you, Arthur Silvera."

"And what is that going to help me with?"

"In the infinite timelines, there is not one where you have managed to restrain your wrath," said Azkahar with a sudden smile that made Arthur furrow his brows. "However, what if wrath was never something that should have been restrained?"

"…is there a third option?"

"There is always another option," said Azkahar as he bowed. "You taught me that lesson when you overcame the first impossible choice. Let me help you train in this tower until you can release your wrath."

"I have a war to end."

"The war can wait, but the universe cannot," said Azkahar as his blue eyes bespoke of his worry. "The gods have started moving and might have realized the true purpose behind this tower."

"And what is that purpose?"

"To create the one true Demon King, who will lead the war against the celestials," said Azkahar as his eyes narrowed. "We will take revenge on their selfishness and misdeeds. Your wrath will become the sword reaving through the heavens."

"And once that is achieved, can I rest?"

"Once that is achieved, the struggle will end for every soul in this universe. The tyranny will be overthrown, and freedom will be a right for every creature in this universe."

"I will become anything in order to end this hell, even a Demon King or whatever. I found my purpose, Azkahar," said the man with sorrowful eyes. "I want to be happy."

***

Around the Wide Lakes of Azkahar, the Xelorian Army was becoming more desperate. It seemed more impossible by the day that they would find the artifact. However, this has not been their main source of worry.

"Let me dive into the deepest parts and look again," said Koby as his leg jumped up and down in worry. "It has been many days since Alexie disappeared into the lakes. We combed every part, but nothing! Not even a trace!"

"And what would another search yield?" asked Jonathan while gritting his teeth. "Alexie will be fine, but we cannot afford to lose more time. The artifact might have already been found by another army or random challengers."

"Is that what you care about at the moment?" asked Koby as he banged on the war table. "The one who obtained two artifacts is missing!"

"You might be a valuable asset, but you are still my subordinate," said Jonathan with rage. "We will march home when at sunset. If Alexie is not here before then, we cannot wait for him!"

"The only reason I joined your division is because of Alexie," said Koby with a scowl. "You can leave, ungrateful bastard. I will be waiting here until he returns."