"Now that I really take a moment to think about it, there weren't many mentions of him before regression. There wasn't much mention of his previous life except in Flashbacks which weren't enough to explain the impact of his first life on him. But now, as I consider the situation more deeply, I have to ask myself: is killing him truly the only option left to me? Is there no other path I can take?"
"I know, without a doubt, that 'I' was a terrible person in my first life—ruthless, selfish, and cruel. I destroyed everything he held dear, killed his closest friend, and reveled in the chaos I caused. But that version of me, that wretched creature, is not who I am now."
"I am a different person. I'm no longer that same piece of garbage, and I refuse to believe that my fate is sealed because of who 'I' once was in his previous life. Yes, he swore an oath to kill me, to wipe the name of Hatzok from existence, to erase every trace of my being from this world."
"But even with all that rage and hatred burning inside him, does it really mean he's beyond change? He's still human, after all. He's still capable of growth, of forgiveness, even if it's buried deep within him. If I approach him differently, if I get close enough to show him that I'm not the same person he once knew, maybe, just maybe, I could move him—enough, at least, to spare my life…"
As he sat there, perched atop the thick wall at the edge of the terrace, the stunning beauty of the sunset painted the sky in hues of orange, pink, and gold. The scene was almost serene, a stark contrast to the turmoil churning within him. The cold metal of the can in his hand was a strange comfort as he took a long sip of the cola, the fizzy sweetness grounding him in the present moment while his thoughts spiraled into uncertainty.
"Well, in the novel, he was described as undeniably kind, the sort of person who would go out of his way to help those in need. He was known for his forgiving nature, his ability to overlook slights and injuries with a smile—except, of course, when it came to his enemies. To them, he was the incarnation of death itself, a relentless force that showed no mercy."
"But my situation is different, isn't it? In this body, I'm not the same person who once owned it, not the same individual who committed that unforgivable stuff in his previous life. I'm someone else entirely, a person with a different personality, a different set of values, who has chosen a completely different path from the one that led to destruction."
"Although, admittedly, there's never been an instance where he didn't kill his enemies, even when they begged for mercy at his feet, I can't help but wonder… If I choose a different route—be good, stay out of his way, maybe even try to make amends—then maybe, just maybe, there's a sliver of hope that he might spare me. The chances are slim, but it's a possibility I have to hold onto. I guess…"
"Hey!" Lise's voice startled Lloyd, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Oh, hi! When did you get here?" Lloyd replied, still surprised.
"I've been standing here for a few minutes, but you seemed lost in thought…" Lise said, her tone laced with concern.
"Were you thinking about tomorrow's match?" she added, sounding a little worried.
"It's nothing, really. Don't worry about it," Lloyd replied, waving his hand dismissively, trying to brush off the topic.
"By the way, didn't you say you were heading back to the capital?" Lloyd asked, curious.
"Dad said he had some work to do here, so I'll be staying for a few more days—maybe until the end of the tournament," Lise explained.
"But isn't it better this way? I'll be cheering for you in the crowd," she added, her voice brightening with cheer.
"Well, that would be the best, I'd say," Lloyd responded with a light smile.
---
"Bruh, are you a barbarian or a swordsman? You make Eldric look like a genius compared to your level of intelligence!" Lloyd mocked, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he faced his opponent.
"What did you say, you pesky little bastard?" Aaron roared, his voice echoing like a lion's as anger flashed in his eyes.
His opponent was Aaron, a brute who had muscled his way into the eliminators through sheer force rather than skill. Aaron wielded his beefy longsword with the finesse of a clumsy monkey, stirring up dust as he swung it wildly. But Lloyd, with his agile footwork, easily dodged each attack, moving gracefully out of harm's way at the last second.
Despite being not even sixteen years old, Aaron was already about six feet tall, with muscles bulging under his tunic, making him tower over Lloyd. It could have been a daunting challenge for Lloyd—if it weren't for the fact that Aaron's knowledge of swordsmanship was practically nonexistent. He relied purely on brute strength, swinging his sword recklessly without any strategy, which made him predictable. Lloyd used this to his advantage, dodging with precision, always staying just out of reach.
"I can't believe you actually defeated everyone and made it this far!" Lloyd laughed as he effortlessly sidestepped another one of Aaron's clumsy swings. His voice was light, almost teasing, as if he was toying with his opponent rather than engaging in a serious battle.
Aaron's frustration grew with every missed strike, his roars becoming more ferocious, but Lloyd remained calm and in control, confident that this match was already his.
"Man, that's exactly why you don't spend all of your skill points on physique..."
Lloyd got behind him his hands emitting a dense amount of aura.
"You also need to spend some points in..."
*Thud*
He stamped his punch into his back making him fall down and cough out blood.
"Intellect!"
He put his sword over his neck and won the fight easily!
******
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