It was the year 2038. Seven years had passed since Earth had become a slave world.


    Will Willis stood at the window of his apartment, gazing at the grand scene before him. What was once New York now hosted an anthill-like structure filled with honeycomb buildings. From this distance, they appeared geometrically precise and even beautiful—if you didn''t know what they truly were. Glorified slaughterhouses. Thousands upon thousands of people lying in tomb-like capsules, immersed in game-like dreams while their life Essence and Mana were steadily drained to power their new overlords.


    The entire planet was nothing but an empty husk of what it had been. Human civilization had been repurposed to serve the interests of the Xandoral Empire.


    Will stared at what had become of his home city, his home planet. He was a complete failure. He had failed himself. He had failed his people. The fate humanity faced was the result of his actions as well as the actions of the other ten million people who had carried the weight of the entire human race at the Ascension War.


    The war they lost seven years ago.


    The war fought while the rest of humanity had no idea people were fighting for their future.


    Shame for his weakness coiled within him, alongside hatred toward those who had made this possible—be it the Xylars who had taken over their race and treated humans like mere livestock, or the humans who had taken the enemy''s side, leading to humanity''s complete defeat without even a chance to fight back. And more than anything else, he hated himself for being weak, for making so many wrong choices.


    Like many other humans who had earned their right to be called full-fledged System users, Will was a third-rank citizen of the multiverse. He had the right to freedom. Some might call him elite for surviving ten years of the Ascendance War.


    But he knew better than anyone. He was nothing but trash. Not a warrior, not truly—not when compared to people with real power. He was just lucky to survive, as much as he was unlucky to have received one of the worst Talents anyone could be cursed with.


    The floating island beneath his feet sustained itself with Aether Essence, including what was sucked from ordinary people who had no talent or potential for Ascendance, and thus no right to exist in the real world. The island hovered above what was once New York and the Statue of Liberty. Of course, just like all human buildings, both had been repurposed on a structural level to serve the Empire''s needs.


    And despite how much he hated it, now he was part of this new society. How many times had he considered taking his own life? But he knew that would serve no purpose.


    For others, the war ended seven years ago. For Will, it had just begun. Except this time, it wasn''t a war for humanity, but a war to save a single person''s life—the daughter of a precious friend.


    He had failed his parents. Old people didn''t survive the Essence drain for longer than two or three years, even though otherwise they could have lived another decade or two. It showcased how merciless the new world was to normal humans.


    This friend had fallen to the hands of the Xylars, a friend whom he could never avenge, for he was just a helpless man.


    People said that if there''s a will, there''s a way. But this couldn''t be further from the truth. After all, he had all the Will he could have, thanks to his Talent.


    He walked through Heavenly York, the name of the floating Xylar city. It was a strange, unusual sight. Futuristic buildings fused with castles or wooden cottages from the Middle Ages. Humans in tight, luminescent clothes walked the streets alongside the tall Xylars—some blue, some red, but all immensely more imposing than an average human.


    Will didn''t dare to spread his Spirit Sense to avoid unnecessary attention. But unlike humans, Xylars were obvious regardless of their Ascension stage. The weaker ones weren''t much different from humans other than their skin color, average height, and muscularity. The red War Xylars who had Awakened grew a second pair of arms from their sides, while the blue Wisdom Xylars developed a gem in their foreheads. Those who reached the Attuned Realm gained additional features—a scorpion tail for the red ones, and horns for the blue. The violet Xylars, the royalty, possessed both traits.


    Beyond that were the Exalted. But for better or worse, Will hadn''t encountered any through the seven years he''d lived here, nor had he found any of the terrifying violet-skinned royal Xylars.


    Will was about to reach his workplace—his torture chamber, as he thought of it—when a Xylar woman bumped into him. She had been running, almost flying, her speed at least five times faster than his. And she wasn''t even following the rules, running on the wrong side of the walkway that was meant for slower pedestrians.


    Will''s casual walking pace was already faster than Usain Bolt''s record sprint back in the old Earth days—a benefit of his Ascension—but even so, the woman was moving at a blistering speed.


    Thankfully, she was just at the second rank, an Awakened, Tier 7. So even though Will felt the impact, he wasn''t hurt.


    Unlike her. She lost her balance and fell, her shoulder dislocating on impact.


    "You damn bald monkey! How dare you get in my way?" the woman shouted as she stood up. Her crimson skin turned an even deeper shade of red as she glared at him with golden eyes.


    The surrounding people barely paid them attention. Everyone had their own places to be.


    Will was stronger than she was, despite his Talent making him not much of a fighter. Of course, winning against her wouldn''t be easy if she was some spoiled noble of the Empire with powerful artifacts and relics. But it didn''t matter at all. As a human who hadn''t been inducted into a faction, he had barely more rights than the ordinary people kept as livestock. Even humans who hadn''t participated in the war but were found to have talent and enrolled in academies were considered of higher social rank than he was.


    "I humbly apologize for my transgression," Will bowed his head deeply. "Please accept my apology, honorable one."


    The woman was about to start an argument, but seeing how submissive he was despite being an Attuned Realm Tier 3, she smirked. It wasn''t every day she could feel superior to someone higher than her in power. Judging by her reaction, Will concluded she wasn''t a noble, though her simplistic attire had already told him as much. If she had been of noble birth, she would have been accustomed to ordering around those more powerful than herself and wouldn''t have shown such obvious pleasure at his deference.


    "If you beg me for forgiveness, well enough, I may just forgive you. After all, I''m in quite a hurry, as you could have noticed." She grabbed his hair and raised his head forcefully with one of her four arms, while the other three stayed poised at her sides. Even if she was of a lower rank and her Essence didn''t protect her as much, her physical power alone was impressive. She was also a head taller, and just like most Ascendants of her race, had the perfect body of a fitness model.


    "I beg you to forgive my foolish self, my lady," Will said, his expression lifeless as he looked through her, his gaze unfocused. He knew better than to cause problems. Definitely not when he was just a step away from fulfilling his promise.


    "Now that I think about it, you''re quite handsome," the woman said as she licked her lips. "I guess I have some uses for you."


    Will held himself back from grunting in disgust. Some would find this woman extremely attractive and would be thrilled at such a suggestive remark, but he knew that most likely what she had in mind wouldn''t be pleasant. Xylar women, especially the red-skinned ones, tended to be quite violent with their male partners. And more than this, he just hated their entire race.


    He was in a compromising situation. Refusing would cause more problems than it would solve, but agreeing held even greater risks.


    "Ahem," another voice interrupted them. "Don''t embarrass yourself, Carienn."


    A male Xylar with a prominent scorpion tail placed a hand on her shoulder. This one was at the same rank as Will, and despite being only Tier 1, would defeat him with ease. Thankfully, he seemed to be one of the few of his race who was at least somewhat decent.


    "I''m sorry, sir," Carienn said as she let Will go.


    "I guess I''m in a good mood today. You can leave," the male Xylar told Will.


    Trying to hide his anger, Will said, "Thank you for understanding." He bowed again and left, heading toward the tall black building made of stones that absorbed light. It was one of the Essence towers that powered the island''s ability to fly.


    "Good morning," he mumbled to the receptionist, who didn''t even look at him, even though she was a fellow human. Her eyes were as lifeless as his own—perhaps even more so. Who knew what tragedy this woman hid behind her artificial smile. Will didn''t have the will to care.


    He reached one of the highest floors of the tower, entered his office—or torture chamber, as he called it—and the door responded to his Spirit. A massive chair that resembled an ancient electric chair waited for him, its metal frame inlaid with glowing Essence channels and arcane sigils. Leather restraints hung from the armrests and leg supports, though they weren''t necessary for cooperative units like himself.


    Will sat down, and the chair immediately reclined backward until he was half-lying. A metal halo descended from above, studded with dozens of needle-thin probes that positioned themselves precisely around his skull. With a synchronized hiss, the needles penetrated his skin, burrowing through his skull and into the specific points of his brain and Spirit center. Each connection sent a jolt of cold fire through his nervous system as they interfaced with his Spirit, connecting him to the artificial Spirit of the tower.


    Will was one of those used as processing power. His extremely high Will stat for his Realm and Tier made him one of the better candidates for this role. Each tower had ten processing units just like him. But unlike the others, Will had a pathetically low Arcane attribute, which resulted in side effects.


    Normally, if he were a Xylar, he wouldn''t qualify for this job, as having only Will and an extremely low Arcane attribute would lead to excruciating pain as his Spirit was used to support the processing power of the tower. But he had no other choice. This was the only way for him to earn money.


    First, he had to pay back his debt or become a slave, just like the other war survivors among the ten million who were chosen to participate and didn''t choose the Empire''s side. And after that, he needed money to fulfill his promise.


    Of course, in the seven years since the war, Will could have continued ascending in Tiers and perhaps even reached the next Realm. But he was in hiding. His true identity was a death sentence, and several of his abilities were too distinctive—anyone who had fought alongside him during the war would recognize his unique Spirit signature.


    He couldn''t risk joining parties to clear Rifts or complete Trials. He couldn''t even dare to stand out in any way. The moment he began gaining power, he would attract attention, and attention was something Will Willis, formerly Darren Sanderson of the True Freedom Guild, could not afford.


    So he had deliberately stagnated, keeping his head down and his abilities limited, all to survive long enough to complete his mission. In fact, part of him was surprised that he had survived so far without being discovered. Perhaps the Xylars from Amon Vos who destroyed his guild, as well as the human betrayers, believed him dead already. Or perhaps they simply didn''t care about someone as weak as he appeared to be.


    So he was forced to become just a part of the machine, a cog in the clockwork.


    Excruciating pain shot through his mind and soul as the tower used his Spirit to control the flow of Essence from millions of people being sucked dry below. Only a fraction of this energy would be used to keep the island afloat, while most would be sent to the center where the Heavenly York Academy stood, creating a perfect Essence gathering ground for students—both human and Xylar—as well as for everyone who could afford to use its facilities.


    Today the pain was a fraction stronger. After all, there were just nine of them today. One of his fellow processing units had died recently from exhaustion. Working here decreased the potential lifespan of an Ascendant, but it didn''t matter to him. Will definitely didn''t want to live forever in such a hellworld. He just wanted to save one person and give them a road to true freedom—just like the name of his guild suggested.


    As an Ascendant at the Attuned Realm, Will didn''t have to eat or drink every day. But having his entire Spirit treated like a tool put a great toll on his body and mind. After his shift, he approached a small vending machine containing a special recovery Elixir. He could drink one can of it every day as a perk of his job—one of the few perks.


    His last and most important destination for the day was the Chamber of Commerce, a luxurious building. This time he walked more carefully, paying attention to avoid any other encounters that could cost him time or worse.


    The entrance hall greeted him with dozens of portals, with numbers above them. He had already prepared for the purchase, so he knew where to go. He chose dimensional door 32, where a trade consultant greeted him. A blue-skinned Xylar woman with a petite build, a glowing gem in her forehead—marking her as a Wisdom Xylar who had reached the Awakened Realm, Tier 9. There was not a hint of disgust as she looked at him, which signified great professionalism from such a place.


    "Hello dear sir, your lot has already arrived. I''m ready to proceed with the payment," she said as she led him deeper into the hall.


    Your lot. Will felt a surge of disgust. Even this supposedly professional Xylar referred to a human being as merchandise. Just another reminder of humanity''s place in the new order. But he maintained his calm facade and followed her without comment.


    As they passed through a special passageway that led to what might have been another dimension, Will couldn''t help but notice something was wrong with the woman. Despite trying to maintain her outer composure, her hands were trembling. Someone at the peak of Awakened, Tier 9, should be able to control her physiological reactions to a great extent, and yet she couldn''t.


    "So, do you have anything you want to tell me about the seller? The System didn''t give me any information, so it seems they paid an additional fee to hide their identity," Will said.


    "Well... this wasn''t unusual for someone to hide their identity, especially when dealing with this type of item. You will see soon enough. I don''t have the right to give you any more information," the woman said with a stutter.


    So that was it, Will thought to himself. Apparently, this seller is a big deal. This was getting dangerous for Will. He had been hiding his identity and his past for the last seven years. Despite technically not committing any crimes against the Empire, he was considered a threat by some of the Empire''s leadership. But his face had been changed, so the only people who could recognize him would be those familiar with his spiritual imprint—like a unique fingerprint or personal scent that Ascendants could detect when probing with their Spirit Sense.


    When they finally reached the door, the receptionist bowed to him and left without entering. Most likely she had already talked to whoever was behind the door and was told to leave.


    Will stood outside, trying to calm his growing anxiety. He took a deep breath, simultaneously drawing in some of the Essence present in the dimensional passageway. He couldn''t help but think about how much money and Essence was used to maintain it, and how much of this Essence was stolen from his people, milked from them like mere cows.


    He shook his head, taking on a determined expression as he opened the door and passed through it quickly before the passageway closed.


    As soon as he saw the three people inside, a panoply of emotions filled him completely, like a wave crashing over him. And at the same time, an inner countdown started.


    Seven.


    He looked at the beautiful blonde to the right. Her face he couldn''t get out of his head, even after all these years. Her blue dress so captivating, a perfect match for her earrings... his gift. A golden halo above her head, a clear sign of an Exalted human.


    Six.


    The girl to the left appeared to be in her mid to late teens, but he knew her exact age was nineteen. She looked at him with a calm smile. Her eyes were unclouded, her complexion perfect despite the collar and leash she wore, clearly displaying her status despite her luxurious clothes.


    Five.


    Here she was, waiting for him.


    Four.


    And in the middle sat the most imposing being Will had seen since the war. A violet Xylar on a golden chair akin to a throne, his posture relaxed and arrogant. Four arms, a scorpion tail, exquisite horns, and bat-like wings on his back announced to anyone who dared look in his direction that he was Exalted—and not just Exalted, but Tier 9, judging from the pressure he exerted. Just a step away from joining the ranks of Celestials.


    Three. Two.


    Fighting against the feelings surging in his chest, Will knelt.


    "Greeting, Your Imperial Highness," Will said as he lowered his head, resting on one knee before the violet Xylar who looked at him mockingly.


    "Mmm. Interesting." The Xylar''s eyes gleamed with amusement. "You are quite a daring man, despite your looks, aren''t you, Darren Sanderson? Or should I call you Will Willis? Hmm?"


    Will clenched his fists. According to Empire protocol, any subject had exactly seven seconds to kneel upon first encountering royalty, unless they were of an Exalted Realm onwards or from a great noble family. He had deliberately waited until the last possible moment—a small act of defiance that hadn''t gone unnoticed.


    This was the worst nightmare he could possibly imagine. He was done for. These were the two people he least wanted to ever see again—the two people he hated most in the universe.


    A bitter conflict raged within him. He possessed the Trump Card—his most terrible and powerful ability. With it, he could exchange his life for the death of another being, regardless of their power level. He could kill the Prince right now... but then what of his mission? What of Kristen?


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    No. Not yet. Not like this.


    I will fulfill my promise to you, Albert, Will vowed silently as he continued to kneel.


    The protocol required him to remain kneeling for 21 seconds, or until explicitly allowed to stand. But before either could happen, the beautiful blonde woman with deep blue eyes approached him, after receiving a silent nod of approval from the violet Xylar.


    "I was looking for you, Will, all these years," she said, walking toward him slowly, her voice full of affection and a hint of apology.


    Will''s blood boiled. How dare she talk to him in this tone? But he kept his mouth shut.


    "I knew that you were alive, hiding somewhere, afraid that your past would come crashing back to you." She knelt before him as she hugged him from above, placing her hands on his shoulders. "And I couldn''t blame you."


    He wanted nothing more than to push her away, to scream at her: "How dare you!" How dare she look at him that way, her eyes filled with beautiful, deep feelings for him? But he remained expressionless. He still had to kneel until the time was over. He had to endure, even as her mere presence mocked everything he stood for, everything he was living for.


    "Despite everything that happened, I want you to know one thing and one thing only. I still love you. My feelings didn''t change," Nerissa whispered.


    The pain he felt in his chest was more excruciating than what he had been experiencing as a processing unit for the tower. Many, many times more painful.


    "How dare you say those words!" he thought as he gritted his teeth.


    Finally, the 21 seconds were over. As he stood up and glared at the woman, despite being much more powerful than he was, she couldn''t help but take a step back. After all, her abilities were unusual, and enhanced empathy was just one of them—the empathy that made her feel the emotions of others. And it seemed that now she was getting a taste of what he felt for her. All the hate that may or may not have replaced what might still remain in his heart for her.


    He barely held himself back from using his ultimate trump card to make her shut up forever. But to his surprise, as he probed her Spirit, he found out that he couldn''t. Unlike the Prince on the false throne, her Will was higher than his own. Well, of course, she was one of the few who invested in this less-than-perfect attribute. Not as much as he had, but she was many an entire Realm beyond him and some more as a Tier 7 Exalted.


    "Ha! Look at that! Look at him! He sure hates your guts!" the Xylar Prince said mockingly.


    This was the one who had defeated them. The one who had crushed the True Freedom Guild and killed the one known as the Hope of Humanity. The Thirteenth Prince of the Xandoral Empire, who was only a step away from becoming the Crown Prince by proving himself superior to all other candidates. Xander Al''Xando the Hope-Crusher.


    And yet, when Will looked at him, he was able to hide his emotions. But not when faced with the woman who had betrayed her guild, betrayed humanity. All to become the lapdog of the Empire.


    "Hello, Nerissa," Will said as he regained his composure, his voice emotionless.


    "Let me tell you, boy," the Prince continued, "ever since the war ended, she''s been looking for you. Not easy to find someone whose Tier... degraded."


    Will''s jaw tightened. The memory flashed through his mind—the final battle for humanity''s freedom, where he had transferred a significant portion of his Inner Essence to Albert. His own Tier decreasing from 9th to 1st, but allowing his friend to become the first human Exalted. A sacrifice that had given humanity a fighting chance... but even that hadn''t been enough against the Xylar that stood before him now.


    He gestured expansively. "You see, I myself don''t care about you. While you''re one of the few remaining alive members of the guild that caused me some trouble, I''m ready to overlook your transgressions if asked by one of my two favorite humans." He turned to Nerissa. "By my second favorite human."


    "Oh, and yes, you are my favorite human," he said, as he patted the other woman—the one who should have been hating him more than anything else. And yet, she gave Xander a warm smile.


    "Thank you, Master," she said.


    Will had his doubts, but all pointed at that she was Kristen Hunter. Her features were familiar—the same gray eyes, the same linen hair, their faces so alike. As an Attuned, Will could notice the smallest details of her appearance, and so he definitely knew that she had the blood of Albert Hunter, the Hope of Humanity and Will''s best friend. And now she was smiling to the one who had personally beheaded her father.


    Never in his wildest dreams had Will imagined seeing her like this. He had suspected that her becoming a personal slave instead of an Essence provider meant that either she had great potential for Ascendance that made one of the nobles or royals interested, or that she had been targeted by someone who knew of her father. But he certainly hadn''t expected that her father''s greatest enemy would take possession of her—and that instead of hating him, she would be happy being under his rule.


    "Is that a hint of surprise I see in your eyes, Will?" Xander chuckled. "I deeply respected that human who led the opposition against me. Of course, I won''t mistreat his daughter. She is also rather promising. As you can see, she is just one step away from Awakening."


    He leaned back in his seat. "Sure, at first I just wanted to use her to lure out the remnants of your guild. But she wasn''t very useful at that. You''re only the third one who took the bait. And the previous two... were disappointing. I didn''t even bother dealing with them, leaving them to Nerissa to deal with."


    The woman nodded slightly, and added, "After I explained the situation to Kenichi and Kabir, they were willing... to join us. Don''t worry, they are doing well, clearing Rifts with one of my teams."


    Will didn''t believe her easily. If it was those two... would they willingly join their bitter enemies? Only if they had a plan in mind.


    "Besides, she was only two years old when the war started and her father disappeared. She doesn''t even remember him," Xander explained, not paying attention to Nerissa. Then, turning to the younger girl, he asked, "What do you think of your dad, Kristen?"


    The young woman smiled serenely. "He may have been a good person, but he made a wrong, foolish choice to oppose the strong. In the end, Aunt Nerissa was right, and he was wrong. I don''t hate my father, but neither do I hate Master for killing him. He was just doing what was right for his people, for the Empire. And he took good care of me when I lost everyone."


    She turned to Will. "I''m grateful to him for raising me the way I was raised. Besides, Mr. Willis, you don''t have to worry about me. When I Awaken, I will gain my freedom. And I will be free to do whatever I want. And well, what I want is to serve the Empire. So, sorry, but I don''t need your help, mister."


    She bowed her head to Will, and it felt as if all those years he had spent were for absolutely nothing. But still, he couldn''t help noticing that something was amiss in her voice, the way her face twitched. He looked at Nerissa as a realization dawned on him.


    "You distorted her emotions," Will voiced his suspicion.


    "This is for the best," Nerissa acknowledged. "I had nothing but her happiness in mind. The effects will weaken as she grows in power," she said, daring not to look away from his piercing gaze.


    How dare you to acknowledge this so easily? he thought again. Damn bitch!


    Finally, he realized he hated her more than the one directly responsible for the death of his comrades, for the loss of humanity. He hated the woman who had betrayed them more than he hated the Prince. Xander had never been their ally; he had always followed his own interests as well as the interests of his people.


    But this woman, Nerissa Sanders, she was once the most precious person on Earth to him. The one who predicted deadly events, the one who saved him—and Albert—countless times, as well as being saved by them in turn. For years, they had each other''s back. And yet it was she who had backstabbed them all—the woman with a Talent to see the future, the one known as the Seer, the one who had guided their guild and the strongest forces of humanity, the one who had made them catch victory even when all hope was lost.


    What would have happened if she hadn''t betrayed him? Would they have won, or would they still have lost despite everything? Perhaps she had seen the future. Perhaps she had seen that no matter how they struggled, they were destined for defeat. Logically, Will understood, but in the end, he could never find it in himself to forgive her. Not now. Perhaps not ever.


    The Prince sighed as he stood up from his throne. "You know what? You and your people should thank this woman. She is the only reason why you humans are treated so well."


    So well? Will couldn''t help but repeat mockingly. Only in his thoughts, of course.


    Ninety-nine percent of humanity were nothing but livestock, locked in their tombs, drained of their Essence to create the perfect environment for young Xylars and the few humans with potential to grow and ascend the Realms.


    And those lucky enough to have talent for Essence absorption were sent to academies and trained under the ruthless rule of the Xylars to fight against monsters in the Rift and complete the Trials of the System. But some would argue that their fate wasn''t better than those spending their time in blissful unawareness, in a virtual world of dreams as their life was sucked away from them.


    Less than half of those who managed to get into the academies survived until graduation. And after that, they became soldiers for the Xandoral Empire. Most continued to fight and survive as servants, or, if they were the luckiest, as civil servants.


    "You should see other Slave Worlds under our rule," Xander explained. "They''re not treated half as well as your. The Essence drain is faster. Normally, your people would be drained of Essence at a much higher rate. And as for the virtual world—well, that''s a privilege as well."


    His eyes flicked to Nerissa. "Of course, just as the wise woman here suggested, doing things her way only benefits the Empire long-term. With a slower rate of drain, we can get more energy overall. As for the virtual world, it allows humans to experience all sorts of emotions, which actually makes their Essence more stable and leads to increased energy release as well."


    The Prince gestured proudly. "And out of seven foreign races under the rule of our Empire, humans are the second of only two allowed to become full-fledged members and join clans. The others, even when they Awaken and gain access to the System, will still be treated as rightless subjects."


    Nerissa opened her mouth as she explained further, "Everything I did, I did for humanity. Instead of losing in a war that we had no chance of winning, I decided to sacrifice a few people to save many more. And when His Highness becomes the next Emperor, he has already promised to elevate us, to give us the chance to buy back the freedom of our planet. In a few hundred years, Earth will become free. This is my path, my true path to freedom," she declared.


    "And you, Will, can become a part of it. I want you to join me, join us. Swear a Spirit Oath to the Empire, to the Prince, and work with me. Together, we can make humanity great again."


    She bowed her head deeply before him, which was completely comical. She was an Exalted, an Exalted bowing her head to a mere Attuned whom she could possibly crush in the blink of an eye, if she truly wanted to.


    For a moment, Will hesitated. A part of him, despite his hatred for what they represented, wanted to accept their proposal. If he did, he would be unable to exact his revenge, but he also understood that by accepting, he could make a difference for the rest of humanity. He could look after Kristen after she became free. Perhaps as the influence from Nerissa weakened, she would recall who she truly was.


    And if he agreed, he wouldn''t have to use all his System points to buy her freedom. He could use that money instead to help Kristen advance in Ranks and Ascend. He could swallow his pride and his feelings and do what needed to be done. He had been doing just that for the last seven years, and even before.


    Will looked at Kristen as he was about to accept the proposal. But something felt wrong. As he studied her more carefully, he couldn''t help but probe with his Spirit Sense, doing so very subtly. With his high Will, he could do this without being noticed, even by a peak Exalted like the Prince.


    That single touch of his Spirit Sense told him everything he needed to know.


    She wasn''t Kristen.


    His sensitivity, real and perceptive, told him that her unnaturalness went beyond Nerissa''s influence. Despite her physical body being a perfect replica, everything else was... wrong. It was very subtle, and perhaps only he could notice it so easily. But this was an undeniable reality.


    Will''s face remained impassive, but "Kristen" noticed what he did and gave him a smirk. A distorted one. A familiar one. He knew only one other person who could smirk that way—a smirk filled with cruelty and childish amusement.


    His mind froze.


    The woman''s reaction made not only him but even Nerissa respond instantly. Nerissa''s halo started to rotate at a frenzied speed as "Kristen"—or rather, someone else pretending to be her—revealed her true colors.


    A red halo appeared above the tall woman''s head as she changed to her true form. Green hair, silver eyes, and pale skin. Despite looking so ethereal, she was still human.


    Vienna Dexter.


    She was a bane of humanity, an enemy who didn''t just betray humanity but the Empire as well. A serial murderer, a twisted creature who had tortured humans even long before she turned to the other side.


    Nerissa was gathering her power when a wave of Mana from Vienna reached her, paralyzing her for a mere moment. And that was all Xander needed. His scorpion tail pierced Nerissa''s chest before Will could even see the movement.


    "Oh, Nerissa," the Prince said softly. "They called you the Seer, the Wise, but you are so foolish. Did you really think I would never learn how you snooped around our Empire''s secrets? Did you think I wouldn''t find out about all those people you were hiding around the planet, or the military you cultivated, or your dealings with other Emperor candidates?"


    He shook his head in mock disappointment. "I acknowledge you were very good at erasing your footsteps. But just as you betrayed your guild, did you think I don''t have a mole among your people? And even if I didn''t, with my first favorite human at my side, I don''t even need one. Isn''t that right, my dear Vienna?"


    "Yes, my Master," the green-haired woman said. Her crimson halo, signifying her rank as an Exalted being, rotated slowly. It seemed they were already celebrating their victory.


    Will had no idea what he should do. His thoughts immediately went to the real Kristen''s whereabouts, but before he could voice the question, Nerissa spoke.


    "Where is the real Kristen?" she asked, making the two culprits look at each other.


    "Really? This is what you want to know?" The Prince shook his head.


    "What little girl?" Vienna asked, tilting her head. "Oh, I actually don''t know. After I was done torturing her a few years back, we just gave her away to underground slavers. She''s probably now serving some old fart or something." She laughed. "Though I''m not sure who would want a cripple. Missing one of your eyes and legs doesn''t make you very appealing."


    She chuckled. "I mean, I wanted to play with her more, but... I got bored."


    Nerissa, despite being already at death''s door, glared at the woman, mustering some of her Essence and Mana.


    As Vienna was still laughing, suddenly the Mana inside her—which had been affected by Nerissa earlier—flared. Without warning, Vienna''s poisonous green dagger shot toward her master''s throat. The Prince reacted in time, easily catching her wrist even as it moved at the speed of sound.


    "Is this all you''ve got, Nerissa?" The Prince shook his head as he withdrew his tail from her chest.


    Will watched in a trance as Nerissa''s delicate body fell to the floor before him. The previous exchange had been so fast and full of power that an Attuned like him couldn''t even think of interfering.


    "Should we torture her beloved a bit before he completes his transaction?" Vienna asked as she looked at Will wickedly. "Though I am surprised that the so-called wise Seer was unable to see through my disguise. And this guy? Well, a single touch from his Spirit Sense and he knew that I wasn''t who I appeared to be."


    "Killing him? No, do you really think that would be the best way to make her last moments special, Vienna?" The Prince said. "Oh no, I am a fair man. And just like most others, I hate betrayals. Betrayers shall die, don''t you agree, Will Willis?"


    The Prince looked at Will with a warm expression. "Honestly, you are worthy of much more respect than she is. This woman is just a rat who betrays everyone who trusts her. A dog who bites her owner''s hand. She did it with your guild master. She did it with me."


    He spread his hands. "But you see, I am a nice guy. She betrayed you first, didn''t she? So you deserve the right to avenge your people. I mean, of course, I understand that I am the one who killed your... friends and all that. But... it''s not like you can do anything to me, can you? And she? She is right here, completely at your mercy."


    He gestured to Vienna. "Oh, I guess you''ll need a weapon. Come on, Vienna, give your knife to this hero."


    "Oh, Master, you are so... so damn right," Vienna said with a vicious grin. "Yeah, who are we to take the pleasure of revenge from this inspiring young man?"


    Even with a hole in her chest, as an Exalted, Nerissa was still not dead. Given enough time to recover, she could heal completely from her wounds. Alas, she was in no condition to continue any fight. Her attempt to control Vienna for one unexpected attack was all she was able to do in her condition—or so Will assumed.


    Will caught the green knife that gleamed with poisonous energy. His eyes trembled as he looked down at the woman who had taken everything from him, the woman who had betrayed everything he stood for. He knelt down before her trembling form, watching as blood soaked her blue dress, spreading like crimson flowers blooming across silk. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the sweet perfume she always wore, a fragrance that had once intoxicated him in another lifetime.


    "You''re still wearing them. Those earrings," he said as his hand reached toward her ears.


    "They were a gift from you, after all," Nerissa whispered.


    Both were a gift. They weren''t some artifact or relic, but the crystals inside—the blue crystals inside the earnings—hummed gently if you pushed some Mana into them, playing a beautiful melody pre-recorded to them. Will allowed some of his Mana to flow into the earring as the nostalgic music sounded. This was the song he had played on piano for her, "The Moonlight Butterfly."


    "Please, close your eyes, Will," Nerissa said gently, as her palm reached toward his face.


    And then Will''s world went black.


    By the time he opened his eyes, a bloody scene welcomed him. Vienna''s severed head was lying before him. The Prince had lost his tail and three of his arms, his horn broken, body battered. Nerissa was still laying in the same place, unmoved.


    "You damn witch! What did you do to us?" the Royal Xylar spat. "A mere Tier 7 human trash dared to hurt me... dammit!"


    Will had no idea what had just happened, but he had a suspicion—he was familiar with Nerissa''s abilities after all. It seemed that he had been wrong, assuming that she would just die without putting a decent fight. The Xylar coughed blood as he lost his footing, and Will noticed the severed limbs of the maniacal green-haired woman scattered in different corners of the room.


    No one would miss this monster in human form.


    Nerissa didn''t have her halo anymore. Her Mana was completely exhausted, and her life was fading away with each moment. The Prince wasn''t dead just yet. He was in no condition to fight, but if Will tried to kill him directly, the Exalted Prince would still have many ways to defend himself.


    But that was okay. Will only needed to activate his Equivalent Exchange Sutra, using his Spirit Sense as a medium.


    And then his friends would be avenged. The woman who betrayed them, dead. The man who killed his friend, dead. Still, a part of Will screamed at him, telling him that he would fail to fulfill his promise. That he had to stay alive, not sacrifice himself for revenge. But even if he got out, would he be able to find Kristen? No, in the first place, if the Prince stayed alive, he wouldn''t let him go.


    As he looked at Nerissa in her last moments, she looked at him, her eyes not betraying even a hint of remorse. She was still looking at him with the same loving eyes as she did when he gifted her with the earpieces.


    He stroked her cheek gently and said, "You know I hate you, Nerissa. I think I can never forgive you for what you did." His voice was hoarse, but he added, "So why? Why am I crying now?"


    The tears came unbidden, hot streaks down his face that he couldn''t control. Seven years of hatred, of nursing his rage, of living for vengeance alone—and now, at the moment when he should feel triumph, his body betrayed him with these tears.


    "It''s okay," she whispered. "It''s okay to hate me. This time I failed you. And perhaps you won''t remember... you will forget my betrayal, and I won''t be able to look you in the eyes ever again. But... but one day I want you to be happy."


    Will shook his head, giving a quick passing glance to the Prince who was leaning on his throne, unable to stand up. The wounds with poisonous Mana covered his body. He could kill him. He should kill him.


    In that moment, Will realized none of it mattered anymore. His revenge, his pain, his years of planning—all of it suddenly felt hollow and meaningless. There was only one thing left that could make any difference in this broken world: saving the woman who, despite everything, still looked at him with those goddamn eyes filled with love and pity.


    As his Equivalent Exchange Sutra activated, his Life Essence flowed into her dying body. Her wounds began to heal before his eyes, the gaping hole in her chest filling with fresh flesh and tissue. Will felt an irresistible force sucking away his own life. He couldn''t stop it now. He knew the Sutra wouldn''t let him achieve his goal without paying the price—the price of death.


    Was he afraid of death? No.


    As for his promise... listening to what Nerissa had said, perhaps if she lived, she would be the one to find Kristen, wherever she was. Definitely.


    She is still the same woman I love, he thought, and for a moment he felt warmth—the long-forbidden, forgotten warmth in his chest so intense that it completely overshadowed the encroaching darkness in his head.


    As his consciousness began to fade, Nerissa opened her eyes. She looked at him, her expression wide with shock, but only for a moment.


    "So this is the choice you make, Will?" she whispered. "Thank you. I am so happy... so happy to have met you." Her voice cracked. "And I''m sorry. Please... don''t hate the other me. She doesn''t know anything..."


    He had no idea what "other me" meant.


    "I finally see it," Nerissa said, her voice growing stronger as his grew weaker. "The true path to freedom. You are this path, Will." Her fingers weakly brushed his cheek. "If there''s a Will, there''s a way, isn''t there?"


    She smiled. "I love you."


    Her whisper harmonized with the melody playing from her earpieces—the last sound Will heard as his life faded, his body and soul dying to revive another person. The person whom, despite everything, he still loved.


    Finally, a System message appeared as his consciousness slipped away:


    [ECHOES OF TOMORROW TALENT ACTIVATED]


    [TIME TRANSFER: 18 YEARS PRECEDING CURRENT TIMESTAMP]


    [INITIATING MEMORY TRANSFER...]


    This wasn''t the end for Will Willis. But only the beginning of his Way.


    The Way to Freedom.