Time continued to tick, reminding Auren that the choice was almost upon him. With a heavy heart, he raised his gaze to the system screen glowing before him. His bones felt increasingly stiff, and his breath grew shorter, as if the world was pressing him into an abyss.
[Time Remaining: 2 hours]
Every second felt like an unbearable weight. Outside the room, Lisea and the others grew increasingly confused, unaware of what was truly happening to Auren. But Auren himself, in his shattered heart, knew that the pain that would come if he failed... was worse than anything he could imagine.
With a heavy heart, Auren decided to carry out the mission. He knew that if he didn't, death would come to him sooner—and more cruelly.
Auren didn't want to be a killer, but the system demanded it. And though no one knew, he understood that this mission would change everything.
The awaited day arrived.
In the silent dead of night, Auren stood before Gellius, his old friend who was now one of the greatest enemies in his life. They didn't know what was about to happen, but Auren had decided to take this path, despite the suffocating guilt in his heart.
> "Gellius..." Auren called out, his voice heavy. "I'm sorry."
>
Gellius looked at Auren with a confused face, not knowing what was going on.
> "Auren, what do you mean? What's wrong?"
>
But before Gellius could understand, an extraordinary power flowed from Auren's body. He felt the system begin to push him to complete the mission—even though he resisted it.
Lisea, catching sight from a distance, ran towards them.
> "Auren, stop! Don't do this!"
>
But Auren couldn't hold back anymore. The system's power controlling his body directed him to destroy the enemies blocking his way.
With one swift motion, the sword, which had merely been a training tool, now felt heavy in Auren's hand. He swung his sword at Gellius.
Gellius only had time to look at him, his eyes filled with confusion and pain.
> "Auren... why?!"
>
Instantly, the sword plunged into Gellius's chest. The incident was so quick, in the blink of an eye. And even though Auren had done it, he felt as if the entire world was bearing down on him.
Lisea arrived there right after, stunned to see her old friend fall to the ground with blood flowing. Auren stood silent, speechless.
> "Gellius..." Lisea screamed, tears streaming down her face.
>
Auren felt deep pain. He had carried out the mission—under duress. But inside him, a voice kept echoing: "Nothing will ever be the same."
Elsewhere, in the darkness of a room far beneath the academy, General Zehnar watched the recording of the event.
> "So... he didn't hesitate. This is just the beginning."
>
But the General couldn't hide the smile on his face. He knew that the mission given to Auren would resolve many things. But at the same time, it would also destroy anyone in his path.
Auren stood there, his body rigid, as if locked in a great dilemma. Was this what he was supposed to do? However, the system had already chosen this path for him.
Now, Auren's path grew darker. With Gellius fallen to the ground, and Lisea in tears, there was no turning back.
Auren knew that the journey to reach the peak of the hierarchy was no longer just about power, but about a shattered heart and a soul lost in the task he had chosen.