V2C11 The overpowered Paladins.

The death penalty ended their morale. The feeble lighthouse supposed to guide them shattered in a thunderstorm, creating an uproar. From the earth to the sky, thunderous bellowings broke down while intrepid rushed out of this hell.

Alain stopped himself from the urge to join them as he noticed no Cleppe's soldiers move.

''The imperial power do understand the mentality of apes. You may come out.''

Innumerable fluctuation formed around him, the space becoming more and more unsteady as sharp lines seemed to split it, revealing huge holes ready to collapses in which 2 Paladins came out - 1 male and 1 female, wearing the same uniform.

''This word was a bit too much, don't you think so?''

One of the Paladin reminded him coldly.

''What, apes?''

''Don't you dare utter this word again! Lest you want me to report you.''

''My bad, my bad, I sometimes forget not all trusts are good to say. I'll be sure to pay more attention in the future.'' He glances towards the soldiers.

''Doesn't it sound noisy? I'll help you maintain the order before I leave.''

''Don't you think you lot should stop barking?!'' without waiting for an answer, he acted.

Orange-like barriers suddenly pop, locking them up.

'What!'

Alain's deep respiration suddenly stopped in a fright. His synchronized breathing became large gasps as he quickly opened and closed his mouth. He began to tremble, feeling his body becoming colder by the seconds. Falling to his knees, he pressed his throat in disbelief to no avail.

Nothing worked, he couldn't breathe.

Rallying his strength, he glares around, strangely relieved that their situation was similar. Soon, Knights were the last ones standing together with Cleppe's soldiers, their uniforms shinning.

The pressure became so hard he thought a few times he would have fallen unconscious. But then,

''They should have understood by now.''

''If you say so, I'm letting them in your care.'' he free them, preparing to leave, the commanders wrapped into a golden prison.

''Please do wait, your highness!'' A fully armored Knight shouted, throwing a purse the Paladin retrieved. Peeking at it, his expression softened.

''Well? Why did you call me?''

''Your highness.... please take me with you, I cannot continue this war.''

''I would like to help you, but...you know the rules.''

A loud clatter resounds, shocking everyone. ''As you can see, I don't have a sword anymore preventing me to carry on.''

''Indeed, by my authority as a Paladin, I declare you exempt from this war.''

This scene repeated several times before their eyes, unable to do anything. To raise their voices would be a sign of insubordination, and they knew what they were getting into.

Having retrieved a dozen Knights, all from his network, he let out a few words before leaving.

''I will pray for your success. Don't worry, the brave ones will be rewarded! Humanity shall win!''

Nobody spoke anymore. They had no will to do that.

Finally, a Grandmaster Knight broke the silence, trying to federate them.

Seeing them gather, as if nothing happened, he understood the gap between elites and them. They were like children playing war, both compared to these elites and real wars. If these men before him were allowed to use any weapons, wouldn't, at the same level, 1 of them be worth ten of him?

'No, probably more... I... Why did we even come?'

He felt someone's hand touching his shoulder.

''Do not ask yourself meaningless questions. That would only get you killed. Just focus on surviving, and wish for luck, we will need that. All of us.'' Jean said.

''Yeah, you're right. Thanks.''

''Did you heard that?'' he shouted to Cleppe's soldiers. ''He did say something true: merit will always be rewarded! We just have to hold on until the angel's arrival, and every one of us will receive tons of gold. Cleppe won't forget you, Cleppe never forget. Anyone.''

Alain couldn't get into this atmosphere. 90% of them had either died or disappeared, and he would probably join them.

He glanced at his missing right arm. He would never be able to live normally again. His strength was one thing, the loss of his ability to do even minor things was another. Was it the reason he inherits his role? Was ordering more competent people his goal?

How could he? How could he just ask them, ask himself to die fighting?

Rage began to boil up in him, passing into the cracks of his broken spirit.

'They had enough power to stop that!' he howls interiorly. 'A paladin... each one of them is strong enough to kill all of us! Such weapons, actions, wars, they never care about us, this is but a training for them, a selection!'

Why does he even bother fighting? Because he can't run? Because he still has responsibilities?

'When will I be able to know of these truths?' he asked himself, feeling depressed.

[All truths aren't necessarily positive. Nor is gaining strength for that purpose right.]

'Not knowing them will get me kill.'

[As long as you survive, you will gain enough strength to live as you want.

I'm not telling you to ignore all of the truths of this world. You shouldn't hurry to seek answers, as it may change you. You should ask yourself what you really want, between living peacefully with your villagers or looking for the answer of a question you haven't yet asked yourself?]

'You ask me to choose now what I want to do so that I don't stray from the right path? But is that even possible with your help?'

[You have the right to choose what you want. I will respect your choices.]

'Then, how is it that in all these millennia of wars no power has been able to dominate the other?'

[I can't tell you.]

'Why?!'

[It might disturb you in the creation of your path.]

'And if my path is to ask you?'

[Then that path would be wrong.] Pausing, he continued. [Like artifacts, supernatural powers exist. If those bestowed by some entities are weak, those randomly attributed can even impact the whole Globalium. They are the most similar things as the finished path of a God. And one day, the power of stories was given to a woman, creating a brand new law.

Each person who reaches a certain level of particularity or strength will obtain a story. And that effect remained even after her death]

'What does this have to do with me?'

[The system is a strong enough feature to create a story. Giving you information could ruin your story which would directly impact your path...]

'So you're not going to tell me anything?'

[No. It is up to you to use the opportunities I give you to evolve.]

'But can I even trust you?'

[The red star spoke to you, didn't he?]