1045 A Broken Promise

Haedon fumed like a beast and his body spasmed against the layers of restrictions that enveloped him.

He couldn't move as fast due to the space restrictions, couldn't fight or defend with his body due to the gravity restrictions, and couldn't use superior reaction speed fully because of the time restrictions.

Yet, Haedon growled in anticipation as Varian reached him with glowing fists.

"You have come to me, seeking your own death." Abyss Emperor smiled brightly, even as blood leaked out of his teeth, and clenched his fist.

A golden starlight enveloped Haedon and a powerful aura burst out of him. The space around him twisted as he raised his fist and punched out, meeting Varian's fist at the precise moment.

Varian's eight lights and the golden starlight clashed for a moment before the space went dark.

Then, a golden light lit up and shimmered in the dark space.

"Arg—Fuck…" Varian grabbed his right shoulder and glared at Haedon with a mix of shock and anger.

From the shoulder blade all the way to the hand, his right arm was effectively broken. His arm bones cracked and even splintered. His entire right arm was now just a mass of blood and flesh with pieces of disjointed bones.

"Do you realize now?" Haedon smiled which soon turned into a sneer. "The gap is unsurmountable. But your eight paths, that power might or might not even be from devas. It interests me."

Varian gritted his teeth and wanted to teleport again to wait for his injury to recover. But in that time, Abyss Emperor would also recover.

He's unable to fight even now. Even if his arm got back to perfect condition, would he be able to fight a stronger abyssal emperor?

"Don't worry, you'll tell me your secrets, you'll beg me to listen." Abyss Emperor's eyes shone with hatred. "While you pay for the sins you committed, killing everyone I loved."

"I didn't kill anyone you know, you coward. You couldn't just save them." Varian shot back, trying to delay the fight just a bit longer.

"Then neither have I killed a single human." Haedon smiled carelessly.

"Billions…billions of deaths and you don't even acknowledge…" Varian shook with anger.

"And a hundred billion of mine! You vile thing! You have no idea how much blood you have on your hands!" Haedon roared back, space thundering.

Varian took a short breath and glanced at Haedon's eyes once again, but with a more careful eye this time.

In those eyes, he saw pain. Pain deeper than anything he ever knew. Varian just knew that even if everything went according to Haedon's plans, the man himself would never have happiness in his life.

He's broken from the inside, twisted and destroyed. The only reason he's even alive was to uphold his responsibility.

But Varian couldn't sympathize with him. Because he also saw the seething anger in his eyes. Blazing anger that'd burn down every man, woman, and child to sate itself.

'If I lose, everyone will die.' Varian's right arm still hurt terribly but he raised his left and prepared to fight.

"Huh." Haedon laughed with anger and jealousy. "You pathetic ant. You think you can be better than me? When even I couldn't save my people, you think you can save yours?"

Varian's entire being shook at those words as the powerlessness of his own situation dawned on him rudely. But he clenched his fist harder and said. "I'll either save everyone or…die trying."

Haedon stared into Varian's resolute eyes and paused. Then much to the young man's surprise, Haedon said in a sincere tone. "May luck be with you."

Then, they clashed again. Like two meteors crashing against each other. But only, one was made of diamond while the other was made of copper.

Varian flew back, his left arm barely dangling from his shoulder. There was a big fist print on his chest and blood was openly splashing out.

"It's useless." Haedon shook his head and took a step forward. He crossed a hundred miles and approached Varian.

"Maybe." Varian couldn't even raise his hand to fight. He drew back his right leg and prepared to kick.

If arms don't work, then legs. If the legs don't work, then the head. If the head doesn't…

As his thoughts flashed, Varian suddenly realized he had two girls that loved him to the core. That they're behind him, watching him, supporting him at great risk to themselves.

If he died…

If he really died, they…

Varian felt the corners of his eyes turn wet. He really wanted to turn around and flee from this fight.

This wasn't a fair fight. It never was. He wasn't even a sovereign! He's just a peak level 9!

How could he fight a celestial ranker, no matter how weakened and injured he is?

Why should he fight and head to his death when he had the option to stay alive? Once he got into the ghostship and escaped, even if it was hard to escape, he'd be safe. His lovers would be safe.

He could save a few people close to him. And a few scientists and researchers. He could take them out of the solar system and go find another life-planet.

It didn't have to be this hard. He didn't have to fight.

Yet he fought.

'I'm sorry, I can run away any other time. But not now. I'm sorry I'm going to break your heart, but your hearts will break only after mine.'

Varian's voice sounded in the minds of Sia and Sarah at the same time. Their already pale faces went bloodless and they collapsed powerlessly in the ghostship.

"No…" Sia tried to cry out but her throat seemed to be clogged, her cry died before it could ever reach him.

"Please. No. Don't go! Don't leave me alone!" Sarah's wails echoed across the ghostship as she closed her eyes and stubbornly fought back the tears that were on the verge of spilling out.

Just a few feet away from her was an old man in an emergency tube. Her father was on the verge of dying. She's already on the verge of heartbreak.

And now Varian…

"Please, I beg you!" Sarah yelled at the top of her lungs. "Come back, Varian! Let's go away!"

Varian heard their voices from his comm. His face froze and his eyes shook but he didn't step back.

"Come at me." Varian stared at the Abyss Emperor at him with a fearless gaze.

Haedon's eyes shook seeing his own reflection in the young man. '

"If you…" Haedon's voice was low but it shook the space. "If you swear under my command, serve the abyss race, then I can let you live."

Haedon didn't really want to spare Varian. But he wanted to see the young man's, his own reflection's resolve crumble.

"Your loved ones can also remain alive." He added. "The rest of humanity will get a peaceful death. This will be the greatest concession on my part."

Varian threw his head back and laughed.

Seeing him refuse him without even a second thought, Haedon's eyes shone with fury.

At his enemy, Varian couldn't even flip his middle finger. So, he constructed one with his lightning mana and showed it to Haedon.

"You'll regret this! You'll regret everything as you die!" Haedon clenched his fists, preparing for the final strike.

Varian gave him a nasty smile. "I am the protector of the human race. I swore for this position when I was nine. Everything I worked for, every drop of blood I shed, every hour of training, it's all for this moment. I'll either protect everyone or die before they do."

As a child, Varian always hated heroes. They reminded him of his father who died to save his comrades. It broke his young heart every time he read about a noble sacrifice.

So, he promised himself. He'd train and become the strongest. He'd be the greatest awakener there is. Then, he'd save everyone and bring peace. No more sacrifices. No more sad stories.

He also promised himself one more thing. He'd never become a hero. He'd never sacrifice himself. His own son would never cry for his dead father. His wife wouldn't weep in the dark nights.

The young boy lost his father many years ago grew up and now he stood here alone, between the Abyss Emperor and the Human race.

As the final wall against death and destruction, as the final hope against despair, as the broken promise to his younger self.

Varian stood as a hero.