Will of a Prince

Chapter 209: Humanity Has Already Lost

Everyone stared at Slimo as he spoke of Jacob’s one and only weakness that he was aware of.

"For now? Does that mean Jacob will turn into one of those monsters roaming the land?"

"I’m not sure, but I do not like the sound of it one bit. Thus, I felt the need to hide his true nature from him all this time. I wasn’t willing to take the risks after everything we’ve been through, after everyone we’ve lost."

Everyone stared at each other blankly, incapable of finding words to speak. Lidia looked around at everyone and raised her chin.

"Jacob and Maria made their decision. I don’t know where they are going, but I have no doubt they will be back. The only thing we can do right now is bide our time and wait."

Slimo rubbed his forehead.

"We can’t just sit here. There’s a war that needs to be fought. The winner of this battle could quite literally determine who humanity’s last hope will be."

"Then why can’t we negotiate with them?"

"Think about it. There are two massive empires left standing and only one can survive. Well, after that empire survives, there is still the cultists we have to worry about, correct?"

"That’s right."

"Well, that means this battle isn’t just for surviving anymore. It’s about earning the favor of those cultists to allow them to spare us."

Lidia’s heart dropped.

"What? That doesn’t make sense. Why don’t they just pick a side and help one or the other."

"What’s the point in losing their soldiers needlessly like that? However, if what I am theorizing is correct, then that could only mean one thing."

Slimo looked over everyone in the room.

"Humanity has already lost."

Everyone’s face fell, Lidia covered her mouth and Enki shook his head while staring at the floor.

"What do you mean we lost? There hasn’t even been a battle yet!"

"If the Epigones are retreating from both sides of this war, it means they don’t care who wins or loses anymore because they would be strong enough to take out the winner if need be. Not even to mention that they have Doc, which means-..."

Slimo stopped himself remembering that not everyone knows about Zalo’s revival. He sighed deeply and stared at everyone.

"All we need to know is that we are fighting a losing battle. Alright?"

No one spoke up. The room sat still in a deafening silence for many moments. Squabee walked up to Slimo and punched him in the shoulder.

"Why the hell would you tell us that?! First, you attack Jacob, and now you make us feel hopeless?! What kind of leadership is that?!"

"I’m just trying to be honest with you all."

"Being dishonest is what got us into this mess in the first place! You’re being a hypocrite!"

Zalo walked away from Squabee and refused to look at her.

"I’m just trying to tell you all how it is. These ends times were destined to happen. Both Maria and Jacob’s mark is proof of that. There’s nothing we can do to change this destiny."

Squabee punched him over the head this time.

"OW! Can you stop hitting me?!"

"Shut the hell up and listen to me for one second!"

Slimo’s heart dropped. He had never heard Squabee get so angry at him before. Her face was stern and serious, something people hardly saw come out of her.

"So what if you’re going to be destiny’s slave? Go ahead and lay down to die you coward!"

"W-What did you just call me?"

"I called you a coward, you coward! This isn’t the Slimo I know! Where’s the confidence? Where’s the spirit? You look like a deflated pastry with that posture! Grow a pair, man up, and come up with a plan already!"

Squabee’s words cut him like a knife. It was clear that she was very passionate about getting her point across, but no matter how much Slimo thought to himself, he came up with nothing. He sat up and looked into her eyes.

"But Squabee, you are asking me to fight against the destiny of millions of people and the fate of the world."

"Well then it’s a good thing you have someone on your team who isn’t affected by any of that!!"

As if to emphasize her point even further, she pointed both of her hands aggressively towards herself.

Suddenly, it finally hit him. Slimo felt like slapping himself in the face. It was so obvious.

"Squabee... You’re a genius!!"

Slimo sat up and began running out of the room.

"Huh? I am? I-I mean, yes! Haha! Yes, I am! You hear that Enki, you big loser? That means I’m smarter than you!"

Enki growled at this remark.

"You have no respect for your elders. I’m three hundred years older than you, you know!"

Lidia grabbed Slimo’s arm.

"Wait. Where are you going? What are you going to do?"

Slimo embraced Lidia and kissed her passionately. Lidia’s eyes widened and her cheeks flustered, not expecting Slimo to be as brave as to kiss her in front of everyone they knew.

"What am I going to do? Oh, it’s simple, really. I’m going to fight against fate and destiny!"

He opened the door to the hall. Just before he closed it, he shouted back at them one last time.

"And you are all going to help me!"

The door slammed shut as Slimo rushed down the hall towards his father’s throne room.

The inner sanctum of the palace was very convoluted and had specific enchantments in place to make it harder to find the throne room in case of an assassin or intruder. However, Slimo grew up here and knew every pathway imaginable to get his father’s attention. In little time at all, he barged through the dark steel doors of the throne room.

His father was sitting atop a throne made of diamonds. It illuminated the room with all kinds of unique shapes of light as rays of sunshine passed through it. A saddened gaze fell on to Slimo as he got closer.

"This might just be the worst day of my life. First, my entire fleet of monsters is set loose, then my firstborns killer makes refuge in my home, and now I just discovered the end of the world is unavoidable. What could you possibly have to say to me right now?"

Slimo looked at his father with a smirk.

"Well, I have some good news and some bad news."

"What good news could you possibly be able to give me?"

Slimo puffed out his chest and raised his voice.

"The good news is that I found out a way to save Paria Empire. Well, more specifically, I came up with a plan to save all of humanity from those masked freaks."

The king sat up in his chair, almost choking on air as he heard the words leave his son’s mouth.

"What?! Nonsense! You’re lying to me!"

"Oh, my dear father, how could I ever lie to the man who gave me such a charming face?"

Pelo slammed his fist into his throne, causing a rumble around the room.

"This is no time for antics! On with it!"

"There’s a woman in my party. She was blessed with-... actually, it’s more like she just so happened to receive this power many years ago."

"Go on."

"Well, this power makes her immune to all manner of harm, and she is not bound by the normal laws of our world. In fact, she is the only creature in all of existence who is not bound by fate or destiny."

Pelo looked as if he was going to pass out in his chair.

"That... can’t be. Such a thing can’t exist like that at all... she can’t exist."

"And yet, she does."

Pelo rested his forehead in his hands.

"What is this world becoming? I’m getting too old for this."

He looked up and stared Slimo in his yellow eyes.

"How do you plan to use her?"

"Well, who’s a better candidate to break destiny than the person who is immune to it in the first place?"

Pelo rubbed his chin.

"I see. It’s so crazy that it might just work."

He stood up from his throne and walked towards Slimo.

"What other powers do you have to offer? Those two with the dark marks must be powerful. How do their powers work? Do you think we can abuse them for our benefit?"

Slimo rubbed his head embarrassingly.

"Well, funny you should mention that. I was just getting to the bad news."

Pelo’s face dropped.

"What did you do?"

"Well, I sort of attacked him because it looked like he was about to hurt Lidia and now he and the other marked person ran away, and we don’t know where they went."

Pelo put his hands on his head.

"You WHAT?!"

"Oh, and there’s actually a few more things I need from you too. That is also a part of the bad news."

Pelo balanced himself on a wall.

"Why... why did it have to be you to tell me these things..."

Slimo walked closer to him and slapped his back.

"It’s okay, the request shouldn’t be too taxing! I simply need you to create an entire faction for dealing with the Epigones and helping you with your war efforts. Oh, I also need Avala to be the one leading it. Oh, and all of my friends will be in it as well... and I need you to train them harshly... and feed them... and shelter them. I think that’s all?"

Slimo rubbed his chin.

"Wait! I almost forgot! Do you happen to have a map of every Epigone camp and prison somewhere in this palace?"