"Rex, are you out of your mind...? Are you really giving a chance for that bitch?"
Stepping up from the side, Adhara looks at Rex in absolute disbelief. In absolutely no reality that she has ever thought this kind of thing was possible, the hopeful thought of him forgiving Giana shouldn't be inside the realm of possibilities.
Yet she heard that impossibility come out of Rex's mouth, surprising her to no end.
Alas, the one who is surprised is not only her. Evelyn frown when she heard this, she also expressed her disagreement as mercy is not worth it for someone like Giana. "I know that most of the part, it was between the two of you. But we also have a say in this, there's no way that this disgusting human gets another chance!"
Even Flunra almost voiced out his disagreement too, sparing his parent's killer is too much.
But as he was looking at the scene folding, he paid close attention to Rex's expression and the fire of hatred doesn't seem to be diminished from his eyes. 'Is he planning on using her? Enemies are also willing recruits, yet there are not many rulers who do this, showing the difficulty of even being near their enemies'
Just as he thought of that, a smile appeared on his face as he keep quiet.
Contrary to the others that were clearly at the edge of losing it from the fact that Rex was showing mercy, Giana's expression lit up as this is exactly what she needs. It was a chance to fix everything, that is the only thing she needed right now.
No matter the payment, she would do anything to get this chance to fix her wrongdoings.
Rex's blazing red eyes can see through her mind easily, he grinned inwardly at the sight of Giana's determined eyes, 'If done right, enemies will work harder to prove than a friend. Seems like I got the one right here, postponing her death is not a problem. This must be why Mother prevented me from killing her before...'
"My decision is round, you can't dissuade me from this" He then declared with authority.
Upon hearing this, Adhara and Evelyn stood on their spots stiffly. Each of their bodies is trembling slightly before they cast a glaring look at Giana, showing their reluctant malice at the thought of her gaining mercy.
Even though it was not them that lost their parents, they know what Giana did to Rex.
Although their hearts were filled with reluctance, wanting Rex to change his decision, they didn't argue further and stood on the side with their heads down. It was unclear whether they surrender in trying to convince Rex or they are trying to suppress their anger.
Looking up, Giana then said, "I'm thankful for giving me a chance, and I will not disappoint"
"Are you really that confident? You don't even know what I need you to do in exchange for my help" Rex said, hiding his smile underneath the nonchalant and calm look that he's wearing right now.
Giana then shakes her head, conviction is blazing inside her eyes.
While lowering her head even more, bending her back forward to show her immense gratitude, she then replied swiftly, "No matter what it is, as long as you give me a chance, I will make sure to fulfill it with my life"
Despite her convincing voice, Rex puts his hand over his mouth, his smile threatens to come out.
"Alright, then... you will complete the tasks that I'm going to give you in exchange for my help to fight against the Executor. But there's a price to be paid to have this chance, are you sure that you want to continue with this?" Rex asked again, trying to see if there was any hesitation inside her.
But there was none, Giana seems to be absolutely ready as long as she can get a chance.
From her perspective alone, gaining a chance from Rex was already a miracle. Giana doubts that there are other things that can dissuade her from accepting this gracious chance, she will make sure that nothing will stop her from re-doing her wrongs.
"I'm sure," Giana replied with a firm voice.
Upon hearing this, Rex slowly stands up from his comfortable throne under the others' gaze. As he descend a stair at a time, his step echoed throughout the entire throne room, flicking Giana's thumping heart.
Even though she has no hesitation, the suspense of the price is killing her from the inside.
While he was descending the stairs with his eyes fixated on the kneeling Giana, his mind traveled back to a while ago, the time when he killed Wesley Atkins at Emham Forest. It was something that he still remembers until this day.
Rex in silence learned the meaning of an Awakened's spirit core from the System.
In the description given by the system, an Awakened's spirit core is akin to a soul, pure essence of energy that was developed through rigorous training, blood, and time. Even in ancient times, it was considered a sacred object.
No matter how weak it is, the ancient humans showed respect for it.
From the understanding in ancient times, the spirit core is an extension of one's soul, a natural link that makes a human, human. Thus, it's widely revered as a sacred thing and is taboo to taint it.
Only the Demons and the wicked are overbearing enough to taint a spirit core.
Because of the description from the System, Rex also learned that the Demons were one of humanity's most hated races in ancient times, and that is one of the reasons that makes humanity hates them.
For humans, trying to taint spirit core would have a high chance of death.
Merging a spirit core to gain a shortcut to power risked overloading one's sound and banishing their existence from the world. A disgraceful death, a punishment from nature itself for training a sacred thing.
Rex dissuade the thought of anything to do with spirit core ever since.
Although there's still some hesitation inside of him regarding this, this is one of the best ways to become stronger quickly considering the fact that Giana's elements are very, very desirable. 'System, are you sure this is possible?'
<Yes, the user's soul is a hundred more times stronger than a ninth-rank realm Awakened>
<Incompatibility, due to the difference in sex might cause more disruption to the soul. But the overwhelming advantage the user has in terms of soul power would triumph over the obstacle, rendering the side effects useless>
Upon reading this, Rex can't help but smile, 'I need to thank those succubi in the afterlife'
Only one instance was responsible for making his soul stronger aside from the fact that he has gotten way stronger, and that is the time when he tries to help Ryze and confront those succubi's souls.
It comes in handy, and now he was going to reap the benefit.
Standing towering over the kneeling Giana, Rex then slowly crouch in front of her before he held her chin to lift her face up. Forcing their eyes to meet, he then said, "Are you willing to pay anything for a chance to fix everything?"
"Y-Yes... I'll do anything" Giana replied, her voice slightly tremble.
Rex gave her a smile that send an inexplicable chill down her spine, forcing her mouth to open slightly, and lets out a light moan. "If that's the case, then split your chest open. I'm going to take your spirit cores..."
For a moment, there was no reaction, everyone's mind was processing what he said.
But as soon as it was registered into Giana's brain, her body jolted as she can feel Rex's finger burning her chin from a touch. Due to the finger, she was unable to look anywhere except for Rex's face.
"She'll die if you do that..." Prof. K suddenly added from the side.
Giana also nodded her head, her trembling hand reaching out and holding Rex's muscular arm gently, "H-How is that a chance when I'll die without c-correcting my mistakes? Are you really going to give me a swift death...?"
While looking at Giana's eyes, Rex caressed her face gently.
Inside his eyes, he was looking at his own deceased mother as opposed to Giana, and that alone pained him to no end. "Don't be mistaken, our feud will not end. I'm only giving you a chance to do what's right. Believe me... I really want to kill you, really bad. But now is not the time, I will not let you die just yet"
After a momentary pause, Rex stands up again with his back facing Giana.
Many wonders how this will go, their eyes are glued to the scene. But then, a move can be seen from Giana, a surge of arcane mana cloaks her right hand before she bravely stabs her hand into the center of her chest.
Splash!
"Huaakhh!" A groan escapes her mouth alongside her blood gushing out.
Prof. K widened his eyes as he is quite certain that Giana will die if she gave up her spirit cores to Rex, he already had an experiment about it, and there was simply no chance that an Awakened can live after their spirit cores were taken out.
Biting her lower lip, enduring the pain, Giana pulls out her hand.
More blood came out, yet Gelmar was ready for the blood before it reaches the ground.
Despite her bending forward posture due to the pain, others can see two shiny objects inside the open wound, one a soft cyan and the other a deep blue hue. One object is brighter than the other, but both are noticeable due to the dense mana coming from them.
With great effort, she straightens her body to present her wound to Rex.
"As I said earlier, I'll do anything for you to get the chance I need. I trust you, Rex..." Giana said, baring the open wound that poked out of her torn clothes, in between her breasts that are slightly exposed.
Glancing back, Rex makes eye contact with Giana for a couple of seconds.
Quickly after, his body disappeared before he appeared right in front of Giana and clutches the wound inside his hand. Rex's fingernails now turned into claws embedded into her skin, coaxing blood out of her mouth again.
'System, extract her spirit cores!' Rex commanded inside his head.
<Does the user wants to extract a peak ninth-rank realm, Angelic Lightning Spirit Core, and a peak eighth-rank realm, Divine Purification Aqua Spirit Core for 250,000 Gold?>
Without any hesitation, Rex immediately answered, 'Yes!'
SWOOSH!!
Immediately after that, Giana's eyes bulged as the mana inside of her started becoming chaotic, lifting her body from the ground. A sudden attack of pain devoured her body, and her veins started pulsating with endless mana that burned her from within.
<Spirit Core Extraction Process: 5%...>
<6%...>
<8%...>
Slowly, two strands of energy protruded out of the center of Rex's palm.
Each of the strands is like a translucent string that slowly wraps itself around the two Spirit Cores inside Giana's chest, binding them within their grasp. Like an expert surgeon, the two strands started severing the link between the two Spirit Cores with Giana's body.
As this process continues, a swirl of mana manifested around them, creating a pushing force.
Everyone inside the throne room finds their eyes glued onto the scene, it was their first time to see someone actually extracting an Awakened's spirit core while simultaneously keeping the Awakened alive. Forcefully extracting it without any regard for the Awakened should be possible, but this is a completely different thing.
Many would consider this impossible, yet Rex is doing it right now in front of them.
Under their eyes, they can see the two Spirit Cores started detaching from Giana. Eventually, the last link that binds the Two Spirit Cores with Giana's body and media was severed and a subtle shockwave exploded to the surroundings.
In an instant, Giana fell to the ground face-first, showing no sign of movement.
But then, under the surprised gaze of everyone, her body twitched before she slowly pushes herself up from the ground. Sitting down slowly, she looks at her own two hands and finds that she was actually still alive.
Giana then widened her eyes finding that she can't sense any mana in her or around her.
Shifting her eyes to the front, she finds Rex has two glowing Spirit Cores that are excluding powerful energy levitating above his palm. It was definitely her extracted Spirit Cores, and this puts Giana in a sudden realization.
'I- I'm a normal person again...' She thought, feeling mixed emotions about her current state.
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