With a desperate heave, the beast used all of its remaining tails to launch itself eastward, propelling itself toward the distant mountains. Its massive body crashed through the battlefield.
But the emperor wasn't finished. Even with one arm barely hanging on, he continued his assault. With every flick of his wrist, fireballs erupted, streaking after the monster like falling stars. Chunks of rubble, torn from the ruins of the city, were hurled forward with terrifying speed, each one propelled by the crushing force of his Gravity Runes.
Yet the beast, even as it burned, even as its body failed, managed to weave through the storm of destruction.
It twisted left, then right, erratic but calculated, forcing the emperor's aim to shift with every heartbeat,he didn't like that. The beast was still fighting, the fire wasn't burning fast enough
The beast was running towards the mountens to escape and the empror wasn't able to expect him running this fast with half his organs still burning.
The frustration in the old empror eyes deepene He needed to slow him down.
Gaius started going through his options, his son was still a little far, he is now flying towards this battle with two other warriors with him, The nobles fighting the second monster were growing more desperate by the second. If he left them alone for too long, they would fall. He couldn't afford to let that happen. Then-his gaze caught something.
A structure, that was still standing
A half-circle formation of earth in the distance, partially collapsed from the battle. Realization struck. And with it, a wild crazy smile spread across his face.
The emperor started attacking the beast exclusively from the left, gradually shifting his direction slightly north with each strike.
As the gaius's face appeared on the screen, Viser's expression darkened. He knew exactly what that bastard was planning.
"Two to three minutes max. i won't get far enough, not with four kids"
Nero and Delilah stared in disbelief.
"That son of a bitch," Nero spat, his voice laced with fury. He swore under his breath, pacing like a caged animal.
Viser turned toward them, his jaw clenched. "I'm going to—"
"Don't even think about it," Nero cut him off, his voice sharp with defiance. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Even Nemsus, usually bad with Reading the atmosphere, seemed to understand what Viser intended. The emperor wanted to use them as bait to slow the beast—and Viser was ready to play along.
"Father… there has to be another way, right?" Nemsus forced a smile, but the fear in his eyes betrayed him. His voice wavered as he turned to Delilah, silently pleading for a different answer.
But she remained silent. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her expression torn between guilt and desperation. She was searching for a way out—just like the rest of them.
Viser's gaze remained firm. "He's guiding it straight to us,"
He said it, his tone cold and certain. "Hoping we'll slow it down, even for a few seconds."
"Maybe… maybe it won't attack," Nemsus said hesitantly. "Maybe it'll just pass through."
Viser shook his head, his eyes steely. "A monster that desperate, that wounded… it won't ignore us. It'll see us as a threat. it will attack."
His gaze swept over them, lingering for a second longer on Nero and Delilah.
"But if I go out first, a little farther, the empror will turn him towards me, not you i am a dominus, the beast can't ignore me in that state after all, he's two steps away from dying. That'll give you a chance to escape."
Silence fell over them like a heavy shroud. The weight of his words settled deep in their chests.
He wasn't just suggesting it.
He had already decided.
Wait!" Delilah's voice cracked as she clutched Viser's sleeve. "What about a clone? A copy? You're the one who gave Nemsus the Light spell, right? You could use it as a distraction!"
Viser gave her a soft, sorrowful smile and shook his head. "It won't work. Not against a Sovereign. His mana senses are too sharp—he'd see through it instantly."
Delilah's heart pounded. She had known it was a long shot, but she had to try. She had to find a way.
Lunia sat at the edge of the shelter, her body trembling as silent tears streamed down her face. She had been crying from the start.
Viser turned his gaze to the children before him, they are his—maybe not by blood, but still. They were fighting so desperately to save him. It warmed his heart, even as he knew it was futile.
Nero stood rigid, his grip on his sword so tight. His whole body trembled, his chest rising and falling with heavy, uneven breaths. His red-rimmed eyes darted between Viser and the exit he had just created, searching, calculating, desperate to stop him—even if it meant facing the monster outside himself.
Delilah wasn't much better. Her lips quivered, her eyes glistening, struggling to hold back the inevitable flood of tears. But she knew. Deep down, she knew. There was no other way.
Then there was Nemsus—Viser's real son. He had collapsed to his knees, his head bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the ground. His fingers tore through his own hair, grasping, clawing, as if he could physically rip the pain from his soul.
Then, suddenly, he moved.
With a strangled cry, Nemsus lunged at Viser.
At the same time, Nero did too.
But Viser was faster.
With a wave of his hand, the ground beneath them liquefied, shifting like rolling tides before surging up like coiling serpents. The earth solidified in an instant, trapping them both in place. They struggled violently, their mana surging, their bodies straining against the stone—but the spell held firm.
"I won't forgive you, Viser! I won't!" Nero's scream was raw, his voice cracking under the weight of his rage and despair. He thrashed, his body jerking as he fought against his restraints.
Throwing your life away for me? Is this some kind of joke?! For a street rat you picked up?!. You're the noble one, not me! Nobles don't die for people like us!"
His voice fractured, anger giving way to something even more painful.
"I should be the one to die here!" He let out a bitter, broken laugh. "you are the one that should live to protect them!.
Not me!.
His breathing hitched as his eyes darkened with desperation. "Who's gonna stand with Nemsus and keep him from doing his stupid movements, huh? Your own son hm? And what about me and Delilah?" His voice wavered. "Who's gonna keep teaching us how to be humans? Dont you remember how we were the first time we got here?"
Nero's words started to tumble out in a chaotic mess, tears streaked his face, his shoulders shaking as grief overtook him.
"Please, Viser… don't do this. We can't lose you. I can't lose you…"
Delilah turned away, her arms wrapping around herself, as if trying to hold herself together. A single sob escaped her lips, sharp and broken.
Nemsus, who had been frozen in quiet agony, finally turned his head twords nero. He had never seen him like this—never seen him so utterly shattered, so desperate.
Viser glanced at the glowing screen beside them, displaying the battlefield outside. The old emperor's relentless attacks were forcing the monstrous's path more and more towards them
He exhaled softly and stepped forward, kneeling before his son. His warm palm rested against Nemsus.
"You," he whispered, his voice laced with love, "you are the greatest gift your mother gived me. And as I promised Evry time we talked about you … I will protect you."
A small, peaceful smile touched his lips.
Then he turned to Nero and Delilah. "And you two… you were my children too. You may have never called me 'Father,' and I may have never said it aloud… but it doesn't change the truth." His hand rested over his heart. "You are my son and my daughter."
Delilah's restraint finally shattered. A sob tore through her, covoring her face with tears, she couldn't hold the pain anymore.
Viser turned his gaze fully on her—the only one he left free. "Take care of these two idiots for me," he murmured, forcing a small, teasing smirk. "The spell holding them will break once I'm dead."