At dusk, the blood-red sunset slowly faded, swallowed by the inky darkness of night.
The scarred battlefield seemed to display the terror of a clash between two Gold-level mages, but every battle had to end eventually.
"Lord Wendell, do you have anything else to say?"
A system notification sounded beside Li Si's ear, but he did not open the system to check it. Instead, he looked at Wendell, the Gold Mage lying before him with his breath gradually weakening, and asked softly.
"No. My final wish has already been fulfilled."
Wendell sighed. Blood from the corner of his mouth stained half his collar red, yet his eyes shone even brighter.
"As expected of a disciple of the Flame of Judgement. Cough, cough... Perhaps only someone like you can reach that higher realm."
"Sadly, I will never see it."
"This is good too."
Wendell slowly closed his eyes. After waiting a moment, Li Si saw the great mage's body gradually turn to sand before finally dispersing where he lay.
Without any ceremony, Wendell used his final strength to leave himself forever within the land of Bertich.
Li Si silently watched it happen, neither stopping Wendell nor helping him treat his wounds.
Everything that had happened was Wendell's own choice. Li Si had neither the need nor the standing to prevent him from choosing his own ending.
Honestly, how many people could be like Wendell?
Whether he chose to aid the Bertich Kingdom or defect to the Fies Kingdom, his status, influence, and power would not have changed in the slightest. Yet for the land and people he loved, he ultimately chose this path.
Perhaps this was for the best. Maybe, at the end, he would once again see the Bertich Kingdom he had loved as a child.
Li Si shook his