BXBX NOVEL Chapter 116: I cannot yield here [1/2]
"What the hell? That's not what you said before!"
"Does it even matter? You came here to get me to drop my complaints against the Saviors, right?"
The specter known as Nightmare nodded wordlessly. I wasn't sure why, maybe Zach liked me, but from a Commander's point of view there was no reason to try to convince a lowly Wraith.
As a Specter, he could simply not have submitted my reports, like most human bureaucrats who interfere with investigations.
Zach was a mercenary, which meant he knew what we were fighting for. No one who would lead such an organization could allow scum like Savior to corrupt it from within.
Not if he could help it. Why did he even try to convince me? Why try to explain everything?
'It was like he was trying to test me. His explanations were roundabout, as if he wanted to guide my thoughts.' I mumbled.
Xander and David's relationship should have been kept a secret. There was no point in mentioning it to me. Not unless Zach wanted me to act on that information.
Even explaining the circumstances of the traitors felt unnecessary. Like he wanted me to do something in response. As if he had some kind of message for me that he couldn't tell me himself.
'If that's the case, then I'll bite. But don't blame me for what happens next.'
"I said, submit all three reports and let the Saviors look for me. If they ask for a seeker war, I will oblige."
"What? Are you out of your mind? You would be facing over two hundred Reapers. With over two dozen of them being Phantoms! You don't even have a squad, let alone an army! Are you telling me you want to fight them all by yourself?" he asked angrily.
"Yes. For the record, I will not be calling anyone for this battle. However, I want all information about our match to be kept secret."
"Why?"
"I just want to do the Battlefront a favor and kill those bastards."
It may have started as a boast, but I intended to keep my promise. Robert and I would never be friends. Julius would come for Mike and Santiago sooner or later. And Dominic? There was no way he would leave me alone.
Rather than wait for them to come to me, I would go to them first.
Cancer cells that make the body sick have to be removed. Otherwise, the patient will never get better. There may be good people in Savior, but I doubt they would have stayed if they had a conscience.
"Besides, I want my allies not to feel guilty if I die," I added wryly.
Just for a split second, I saw Zach smile sadly, then twist his face back into one of rage.
"Bastard! If you do this, I won't be able to protect you! You may be good at killing undead and monsters, but phantoms are a whole different ball game!"
"I know. But for my goals of becoming a Revenant, I cannot yield here."
I didn't know if it was my conscience or my gut telling me. But somehow, I instinctively knew that if I compromised here, it would be the end of my journey.
After all, how could I stand up to Hellsgate if I was afraid of only 200 reapers?
I swore, screamed, and willed myself to this point. I would become a Revenant, and if I could not, then I would simply die here.
During my first night, I became comfortable, and my thirst for power was slowly dwindling because of what I was enduring.
My own actions had backed me into a corner. It was time to put up or shut up. If I could not defeat the Saviors, none of my other goals would matter.
"David, told me you were making such outrageous claims. Do you even hear yourself? You were in Hellsgate for what? One night? And you think you know everything?"
Time was irrelevant. Even though I had only been in Hellsgate for one night, everything felt familiar. As if I had done this many times in the past. I didn't know where my confidence came from. But my gut told me it was the right thing to do.
"Focus on the point, Zach. If the Saviors and I butt heads and I die. You will be rid of me and can go on as if nothing happened. If I manage to defeat them, we will all be the better for it."
"Ha! Phantoms aside, what are you going to do about Xander? You are lucky he is still on a mission, when the Mercenaries investigate your reports, the Saviors will be put on ice.
"The moment he returns, he will seek retribution. The man's already reached the rank of Specter. You would be ki..."
"So? I have traded blows with David and even you. You think a mere Specter can scare me?" I abruptly cut him off in mid-sentence.
Zach made an angry face. "Looks like you want to get your ass kicked no matter what. Fine! I will submit them all, when the Saviors reach out, I will send for you."
The nightmare then stood up and stormed out, the soul cage surrounding us disappearing the moment he took a step outside.
"I'll be in touch. Bastard. Do not regret this. Remember to write your will and say goodbye." Zach said condescendingly.
I remained silent and didn't get up from my seat even after the nightmare had left. Things were happening very quickly. I had no idea why that was the case, but it was.
Whether my decision was right or wrong, no one would know for sure. What I was sure of was that I would fight as hard as I could.
But if I kept a low profile, it would only allow the Slayer to hunt me down. If he could dare to come up with such a foolproof plan to kill Krishna. And what more could he do if he wanted to kill me?
"Well, what's done is done. I just have to prepare what I can until then."