Chương 78: I Wish I Died Instead

Adam returned to his normal form, the Lion Spear Knight resting in his hand. For a brief moment, he laughed as the crowd watched in tense anticipation.

"Hey," he said, glancing toward Mona.

"I'm going to show you my full power, just this once." He raised the spear slightly.

"I'm probably the only man in the world with two Regalias, so pay attention." Mona steadied herself. Light began to gather in Adam's free hand. At first, it was only a faint glow, but it quickly condensed, taking shape within his grasp. A second spear was born from the radiance. Its shaft resembled a twisted tree branch, dark and rough, as though it had been torn from some ancient forest. In contrast, its blade was long, black, and polished to terrible perfection. Like shadow given form. Two Regalias.

In his right hand, the Lion Spear Knight, whose true name was Lancelot. In his left, the Miracle Child of Light, whose true name was Cú Chulainn.

"To possess two Regalias is already nearly impossible," Adam said calmly.

"But for both of them to be compatible enough to allow a dual Soul Release…" Light and darkness began to swirl around him.

"That is a miracle this world will never see again." Before anyone could react, Adam drove both spears into his chest. The crowd gasped. Power erupted from his body. His right arm twisted and lengthened, becoming a spiraling black drill streaked with flashes of green lightning. His left hand transformed into a claw of polished obsidian metal, sharp and unnatural. His horns elongated and curved backward, giving him the appearance of a demon crowned for war.

Dark armor spread across his body in heavy, sleek layers, while a long white coat manifested over it, its crimson lining flickering like living flame. White light traced itself across the armor's surface, glowing like constellations carved into midnight. Then a veil of armored cloth rose to cover the lower half of his face, stopping just beneath his eyes. Only his gaze remained visible. And those eyes burned. Two myths. Two legends. One vessel.

Adam stood before them as a warrior the world should never have been capable of creating.

"Cú Chulainn allows me to transform anything I touch into a spear." He opened his obsidian claw. A long black weapon formed within his grasp, white light tracing along its blade.

"Every spear it creates is destined to strike its target." Green lightning crackled around his drill-like arm.

"And Lancelot allows me to summon spears capable of piercing anything." Adam lowered the weapon toward Mona.

"So what do you think happens when those powers are combined?" His blazing eyes narrowed.

"What will you do when you can neither block nor dodge?" Mona remained silent behind her mask. Adam rested the spear against his shoulder.

"It's a shame the real you isn't here." He stepped forward.

"But this should still be entertaining."

"Once this clone dies, you won't have any left." Mona moved immediately. Her cloak opened, revealing that her legs were mechanical as well. Purple portals formed beneath her feet.

"Switch." Her lower legs disappeared into Subspace and were replaced by reinforced metal limbs fitted with blazing engines. Flames erupted from her heels as Mona launched herself forward. The sand exploded beneath her as she crossed the arena in a blur, moving faster than any of her previous bodies had managed. Adam watched her approach without emotion. Then he threw his spear. Mona twisted aside. It did not matter. The weapon changed direction in midair. It pierced directly through her heart.

Her body jerked to a stop as the spear emerged from her back. Blood ran beneath her mask. Yet her cannon arm still rose. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. With the clone's final strength, Mona fired. Adam tilted his head. The bullet passed close enough to tear through the armored cloth covering his cheek, leaving a thin cut beneath it. Mona smiled behind her mask.

"My sister isn't the only one skilled at misdirection." Her body dissolved into purple light. Adam's eyes widened. A metallic click sounded behind his head. One final Mona stood at his back. Her cannon was already charged. The barrel hovered only inches from Adam's skull. He had less than a second before Mona fired. Adam did not look worried.

"Anything I desire…" The sand beneath them trembled.

"Can become a spear." The arena floor transformed. Countless black spears erupted from the ground, piercing Mona's body from every direction before she could pull the trigger. Her cannon fell silent. The final clone dissolved into purple light. For several seconds, the arena remained quiet. Then Ars's laughter boomed from the imperial balcony.

"And just like that, Adam Willow has won!" The crowd erupted into cheers.

"Who would have thought that a complete nobody could be so formidable?"

"Hey!" Luna shot to her feet in the stands.

"That nobody is my sister, you fat bastard!" Elijah, seated beside her, grabbed her arm before she could climb over the railing.

"Calm down."

"I am calm!"

"You're trying to attack the announcer."

"He insulted Mona!" Ars wisely pretended not to hear them. Adam's armor receded as he walked toward the tunnel beneath the arena. The two Regalias emerged from his body, returning to their original forms before fading away. Inside the tunnel, Charlie waited for his own match to begin. Adam slowed as he passed him.

"It's like looking into a mirror." Charlie raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" Adam stopped.

"To make a decision you know damn well you'll regret…" His gaze fell toward Charlie's burning hand.

"But when someone offers you something that means more than the entire world, you know you can't refuse." His expression hardened.

"I was in your position six months ago." Charlie stared at him for a moment.

"You chose your daughter, right?" Adam looked away.

"Noah told me a little about you."

"Yeah." A bitter laugh escaped Adam.

"I betrayed him so my daughter's eyes could be restored." He clenched one hand.

"Being a parent makes you do insane things." Especially when there was no one else left to share the burden.

"More so after your wife has passed away." Charlie's smile faded.

"Yeah…" He looked down at the crimson sun marking his palm.

"I'd do anything for my children." His voice began to tremble.

"But I also…" Tears gathered in his eyes.

"I miss her so badly." Adam remained silent for a moment. Then he nodded.

"Same." His expression softened.

"I'm grateful that I still have my daughter." Celia was the reason he continued breathing. The reason he endured the shame of every decision he had made.

"But there isn't a day that passes when I don't think about my wife." Adam laughed quietly, but there was no joy in it.

"Every day, I wish it had been me who died instead of her." Charlie closed his eyes. The same thought had followed him through countless sleepless nights. Two exhausted fathers stood together in the darkness beneath the arena. Two men who had accepted deals with monsters because grief had left them too desperate to refuse. Then, without looking at one another, they spoke at the exact same time.

"So Celia could be raised by a proper parent."

"So June and Mars could be raised by a proper parent." The words echoed through the tunnel. Both men froze. Charlie slowly turned toward Adam. Adam stared back at him. For a brief moment, neither man knew what to say. Then Adam's laughter faded.

"Noah told you about me, right?" Charlie nodded. Adam hesitated before asking the question.

"Does he hate me?" His voice was quiet.

"I need to know." Charlie studied him for a moment.

"I don't think Noah knows whether he should hate you or not." Adam lowered his gaze.

"He understands why you did it," Charlie continued.

"That makes it difficult for him to truly hate you." He leaned back against the tunnel wall.

"Especially when you're practically family to him." A weak laugh escaped Adam.

"That kid…" He shook his head.

"Always sympathizing with monsters."

"He's a good kid." Adam's expression softened.

"Too good, sometimes." He began walking away, then stopped after only a few steps.

"I don't know what you plan to do." Charlie's burning hand tightened. Adam did not turn around.

"But don't tear out his heart." His voice carried the weight of experience.

"Not the way I did." Charlie remained silent.

"Noah still needs to believe there are good people in this world." Adam glanced back over his shoulder.

"People he can trust." Then he continued down the tunnel. His footsteps slowly faded into the darkness. Charlie remained where he stood, staring at the crimson sun marked into his palm. The Crows had promised him the impossible. A chance to reclaim the woman he had lost. All he had to do was betray a child who believed in him. Charlie closed his hand. For the first time since accepting their deal, he allowed himself to consider what victory would truly cost. Outside, the crowd began calling his name.

His match was about to begin.