Chương 46

I wondered why Father Okonkwo needed to talk to me. But given that there was a bloody battle going on, I knew this couldn't be anything simple. The man had been a paragon of duty. So as I was shuffled inside several houses and secret passages below those houses — to lose track of any potential traitor going after us — two guards with their faces covered brought me to an open rooftop. And there, there was nothing. I turned to the two, but one just pushed me forward, and I suddenly found myself in a small room.

There was Father Okonkwo, on his knees, praying in a low voice. I stood there, stunned, looking out. Outside of the door, I could see the two guards, the door closing as they looked meaningfully at me, only their eyes visible.

"John." I turned to see that Father Okonkwo had risen.

"I am afraid I do not have good news."

"I imagine, Father," I said, scratching my head.

"What is it?" Father Okonkwo paused for a few moments and said, "Leonardo" — he used his first name — "is an incredible mind and strategist. But I was shown in a divination that we will all die if we continue fighting like this."

"Oh." I frowned.

"That's bad. Okay. Is there anything we can do to not all die? Should we flee? And why are we going to die?"

"Your own guide must have explained the evolution that some creatures undergo past level twenty-five — specifically, once they cross into level twenty-six."

"Yeah," I said with a frown.

"That's why when I found Queen Zosma, she was level twenty-five. On the first floor, there's only, like, people and creatures under level twenty-five, Father."

"You said there was, John. And inadvertently, you just used the correct tense. I was a fool to not take into account all the manipulations that the evil god we are facing would use against us."

"What do you mean? Manipulations?" I felt my heart rate spike right after it had finally started to go down.

"What's happening, Father? What do you mean? Please. I—""John." Father Okonkwo walked up to me and put a big hand on my shoulder.

"Humanity is dying. I do not see, son, a way out. If you face Bryce and kill her, Alice will be killed. Then all of you after. They made it so that the limit of level twenty-five will be infringed the moment Bryce dies. Those things she has on her face are part of a ritual." If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. I looked down.

"That's…" I stuttered. I didn't know what to say.

"If we killed Bryce—""The moment you do, we will give the undead their strongest warrior. You and the others — the strong ones — must flee. I will personally hold the undead as long as I can. If humanity cannot survive as a whole, then the best thing we can do is to save their strongest. And once you're on the second floor, John, you will need to become even stronger, and then—" I raised a hand.

"No."

"John, I—""No," I said, very calm.

"Father, I've been reading this wrong."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I see now what must be done. I thought I was being smart, giving Alice the glove, you know? But the reality is, Alice was not the one who was given the glove. She was given my heart. And she kept it — or, well, I gave it back to her when she tried to give it to me. That was her fight. Maybe I'll die, you know? There's a chance." But I smiled.

"You know, actually, now that I think about it, we don't need Regulus to carry us, given how the pyrotechnic kit works. It stops everybody. So I think I misread the entire situation here." I put a hand through my hair, finally starting to see the broad picture.

"What are you saying, John?" Father Okonkwo asked.

"I'm saying that, Father, it has to be me. Alice kills her clean, and we lose. I need to get close and see what they put on her. Which, if you think about it, it's also better television than just Bryce and Alice. Alice, I guess, already had her arc. You know, I used to watch a lot of analysis of, like, TV shows and — I'm a little ashamed — but also mangas. The Japanese—""John, what are you talking about?"

"I'm surprised a man of faith like you is not getting it." Father Okonkwo stayed silent, and I just said, "Father, get to praying. And please put in a really good one for me, because, fucking hell, I don't want to die."

"John, I—""Yeah, if I die, though, please get everybody out and go hulk on the zombies or whatever you wanted to do. Until then, just hold tight, and I'll take care of this." I went out of the safe room, and I felt shivers down my back. Then I thought, I mean, I probably have one more chest to open after killing Tim, and that means… How did I not see this? It was not that complicated. Man, we really pigeonholed ourselves, huh? I entered the first hut I could find, telling the guards to leave me alone.

And I thought, Fuck, dude. I wish I had one better Skill before facing Bryce. New Achievement - You Lost Your Head! You have killed a superior undead after killing its mortal coil already. You really, really like the French bowl cut, Mr. Robespierre. Reward: A-Ranked Skill Scroll!

"Oh, a Skill scroll." I actually burst out laughing.

"Fucking hell," I muttered. The timing was not subtle. Then I read the name, and it gave me pause.

"Wait," I said.

"That's not a new Skill, technically." I sighed and got ready. It was time to rumble.