Chapter Twenty-Seven: Must Kill Him

Haran felt a bit uneasy when he arrived at the council chamber; he was never accustomed to such solemn occasions.

On the throne, the frailty of King Norwick surprised him, even filling him with dread.

He could not fathom what reason could cause a king so revered by his warriors to become so weak.

Beside King Norwick stood a figure in black robes, wearing a hood that obscured the face hidden beneath the brim.

A flash of displeasure crossed Haran's face, though he quickly masked it.

He naturally recognized those black-robed figures who never showed their faces. They were the anomalies within the Guardian Domain, psionicists specially cultivated for the needs of psionic warfare, serving directly under the royal family.

"My King!" The Champion Swordsman knelt on one knee, offering his highest respects to King Norwick with a firm, powerful voice.

"Champion Swordsman, Haran Ogilvy!"

The King's weak voice sounded like a summons, calling upon his guardian knight.

"Can I trust you?"

In that simple inquiry, Haran felt a crushing weight, as if the entire burden of the King's trust had been placed upon his shoulders.

"My second oath! I shall never fail King Norwick!"

Haran bowed his head low; he was prepared at any moment to fight for Nul with his life, to spill his blood for King Norwick.

"If I were to command you to violate your third oath, to kill Doom in order to uphold the first and second oaths—the guardian oaths you once swore—what would you do?"

BOOM—

King Norwick's question struck like a thunderbolt inside Haran's skull, leaving his head buzzing and his neural pathways in chaos from the explosive information.

The first oath demanded that the Night Watchers must protect Nul; it was the foundational oath of the order, and the entire Night Watchers system was built around it.

Doom... at the thought of that name, a bitter ache rose in Haran's heart. Had King Norwick sensed something that required him to eliminate the very person protecting Nul?

"My King... are you certain of what you just said?"

The Champion Swordsman's body tensed, his skin soaked in cold sweat inside his power armor, as he asked with great difficulty.

To Haran, although his time with Doom had been brief, he had watched his liege grow up; the two were like mentor and student, friends with a deep bond.

Setting aside their personal feelings, Haran felt this request violated all ethical norms.

A father killing his son! Since the establishment of the Guardian Domain, such a terrible sin had never occurred.

Most importantly, Haran felt King Norwick was overestimating him and underestimating his son.

That powerful existence was someone to be grateful for as an ally; if he were an enemy, one could only hope to fight with everything they had to ensure their own death wasn't too unsightly.

"I am certain, Champion Swordsman. If I command you to kill Doom, what will you do?"

Norwick leaned back on his throne, watching Haran with a scrutinizing gaze, waiting for his reply.

"I will fulfill the first and second oaths!" Haran let out a long, heavy breath, as if he had exhausted all his strength to make the choice.

Protecting Nul was the supreme iron law; the Night Watchers would never violate it!

"Very good. Your answer satisfies me."

Having received a satisfactory reply, King Norwick signaled the Psionic Master beside him to deploy a barrier; he had absolute secrets to entrust to the Champion Swordsman.

"Champion Swordsman, come closer."

As he beckoned Haran, King Norwick pressed down on his throne within the psionic barrier, activating the Nul Crystal to open yet another dimensional barrier.

Haran's scalp tingled; he felt as if he were being dragged into a massive vortex, and his choices would be of critical importance.

To his astonishment, King Norwick produced a strange sphere, opening a third transparent barrier.

Haran was certain that this sphere had never appeared in the human civilization of Nul. It possessed a light-gray, jade-like texture, its surface carved with incredibly complex lines, yet it seemed seamless, without any trace of craftsmanship.

"We can speak freely now."

With the three layers of barriers active, the fatigue on King Norwick's face eased, and he revealed a relaxed smile:

"Champion Swordsman, do you believe there are gods in this world?"

"I do not!" Haran gave a firm answer, almost without hesitation, his tone resolute.

There are no gods in the universe!

Humanity had flown past the atmosphere with chemical rockets for the first time and looked all around without finding any gods.

Haran's answer brought an understanding smile to King Norwick's face. Not long ago, he, too, had believed that gods did not exist in the universe.

Gods indeed do not exist within the universe. They reside in the Warp, behind the veil of reality, silently observing the living beings of the cosmos.

"There are gods in this world!" Norwick said with heavy solemnity, then activated the throne's projection, displaying Haran's physical data.

Stationed on the battlefield, aware of every detail regarding the affairs of the Guardian Domain, the King's gaze always perceived everything.

"Haran Ogilvy, you must have felt the changes in your body."

Faced with the data provided by King Norwick, Haran opened his mouth, then closed it again.

He did not know how to refute it; he did not believe in gods, nor did he know what scientific principle could explain the anomalies in his body.

"You are unfortunate, for a god has set its sights on you. Yet you are also fortunate, for It values you highly, and the attention of a god is what has gradually made you powerful."

"Are the gods watching me at every moment?"

"Look at the defenses I've constructed," King Norwick said, gesturing to the translucent barrier surrounding them. "Who do you think I set these measures up to guard against? Who am I trying to block from eavesdropping and prying eyes?"

"My King. Have you seen the gods with your own eyes?"

Harlan removed his helmet, his tiger-like eyes fixed on his king, earnestly craving a definitive answer.

"They speak to me day and night, right here." King Norwick pointed to his own head and smiled with a hint of contempt—not for Harlan, but for the gods.

"Who do you think is responsible for this pathetic state I'm in?"

"Then," Harlan knelt once more, his face etched with cold killing intent, "I am willing to believe in the existence of gods, and I shall swing my longsword against them!"

At this moment, most of the doubts in Harlan's heart were resolved.

His king was afraid—afraid that Doom would be seduced by the gods, led astray from the Way of the Warrior, and perhaps even commit absurd acts that would bring shame upon Nul.

"I swear it to you! If Doom ever turns toward the gods, I will do everything in my power, by any means necessary, to kill him!"

The Champion Swordsman's gaze was resolute, filled with a fearlessness that defied death. He knew of Doom's immense power, yet he made the vow without hesitation, possessing the determination of a moth flying into a flame.

"Very good!" King Norwick nodded in satisfaction. Harlan's thinking was clear; he understood the gravity of right and wrong.

"Open your mind and let the Psionic Master hypnotize you. Seal away these conversations, promises, and memories to evade the gaze of the gods."

"Plant a suggestion deep within your psyche. Once Doom deviates from his path, these memories will be activated, and you will know what must be done."

"Of course, as a father, I hope such a thing never comes to pass."

"This is my final arrangement for you, Champion Swordsman." King Norwick had expended great effort to explain everything clearly to Harlan, using his wisdom to steer everything and prepare all necessary contingencies.

"I offer you my highest respect with the utmost love and devotion!"

Harlan closed his eyes and gradually lowered his mental defenses, allowing the Psionic Master to weave his craft within his mind.

He knew that in King Norwick's grand design, he was the final insurance policy—unable to undo what had been done, but tasked with doing everything in his power to stop the spread of corruption.

The Psionic Master finished his work. By the time Harlan's consciousness returned, he had forgotten everything that had just transpired, though he knew it was time for him to leave.

No explanation was needed; when Harlan saw the Psionic Master standing before him, he knew that his memories had been tampered with, all with his own consent.

"King Norwick." Only the Psionic Master remained in the room—his voice was dry yet filled with profound wisdom. "I look forward to the ending of the story you are directing, though I shall not live to see it."

"My respects to you, Psionic Master. Though all you have done will not be remembered, its impact will be far-reaching."

King Norwick allowed the Psionic Master to brainwash him as well, forgetting everything that had occurred within the barrier, including his own arrangements.

"Farewell." Within the shadow of the Master's hood, King Norwick saw a hint of a smile. "I wish you ultimate victory in your game against the gods."

With that, colorful psionic flames erupted from the Psionic Master's body, and in a calm as still as water, both his flesh and soul were reduced to ash.

King Norwick solemnly paid his respects, put away the orb, and dismantled the multiple layers of barriers.

The game had only just begun, and someone had chosen to sacrifice themselves to keep the secret.

The brief tranquility faded away, and the seductive whispers of the gods returned, turning his mind into a battlefield of debate once more.

"Mortal intellect, attempting to reverse the chessboard? That ancient artifact may shield our sight, but it cannot change the outcome."

"Success lies in human effort!"