Journey to Become the Zenith

Why Did He Spare Her?

’I want to fight the original.’

It didn’t matter that they had no chance.

It didn’t matter that victory was impossible.

In fact, that impossibility only made their desire stronger.

What kind of battle could be more exciting than one where the opponent stood so far above them that defeat was almost guaranteed?

They already knew the answer.

None.

If every incarnation attacked Victor together, they knew they wouldn’t even last a few seconds.

Not a minute.

Not long enough to properly understand the battle.

A few seconds would be enough for Victor to overwhelm them.

They knew that.

They accepted it.

And somehow, that knowledge only made their blood burn hotter.

Azriel’s fingers tightened.

Another incarnation laughed quietly under his breath.

Someone else stared toward Victor with an almost feverish gaze.

There was no hatred in their eyes.

No desire to kill.

Only the pure, unreasonable hunger of warriors who had just discovered the summit they wanted to climb.

They wanted to fight the so-called strongest.

They wanted to cross blades with the First Swordsman.

They wanted to test themselves against the original mortal soul.

They wanted to know just how enormous the gap between them truly was.

Even if the answer destroyed their confidence, they still wanted to know.

Their battle spirits continued to rise.

...

While all the incarnations were becoming increasingly excited, the first incarnation turned his attention toward Evelyne.

The change in his expression was subtle.

Victor’s golden eyes rested upon her.

There was no arrogance there.

No contempt.

He had won.

The outcome had already been decided.

Yet he didn’t look down upon her.

Evelyne’s breathing was still somewhat uneven.

Her body remained tense after everything that had happened, but her eyes stayed fixed on Victor.

She had expected many things from the battle.

Pain.

Defeat.

Perhaps even death.

But what she saw in his eyes now was something she hadn’t expected.

Sadness.

Deep, unmistakable sadness.

And beneath it...

Disappointment.

Evelyne could understand the disappointment.

She had challenged him.

She had fought him.

And she had failed.

Anyone standing in Victor’s position would probably feel disappointed.

But the sadness was different.

That sadness seemed too deep.

Too heavy.

It wasn’t the expression of someone who had simply defeated an opponent.

Evelyne frowned slightly.

Why?

Why would someone who had just won look at her like that?

Her thoughts began racing.

She couldn’t understand him.

Then Victor spoke.

”So do you wish to continue?”

The question immediately snapped Evelyne out of her thoughts.

She blinked.

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

Then an awkward chuckle escaped her lips.

Continue?

Her mind repeated the word.

Continue what?

Continue fighting this monster?

A bitter smile appeared on her face.

Even with a thousand versions of herself, she probably couldn’t touch his hair.

After she started living as Evelyne Elmhart, she had always believed that she could eventually become the strongest being in this world.

That belief had carried her through countless hardships.

She had endured humiliation.

She had endured danger.

She had pushed herself again and again because she believed that one day she would stand at the summit.

But now...

Victor stood before her.

The summit she had imagined suddenly looked like a distant mountain beyond the heavens.

There was simply no comparison.

Evelyne lowered her gaze.

”I give up, kill me if you wish.”

Her voice carried no pride anymore.

Only exhaustion.

And regret.

The words were easy to say, but the truth behind them wasn’t.

She didn’t want to die.

Not really.

There were still too many things she wanted to accomplish.

She wanted to show her parents a brighter future for their family.

She wanted to erase the sins committed by her current family.

She wanted to repay what could still be repaid.

And she wanted to get back at the arrogant royal family that had stolen away her younger brother.

There were too many unfinished things.

Too many people she still wanted to protect.

Too many regrets she hadn’t had the chance to resolve.

But what could she do?

Standing before someone like Victor, even her greatest trump card had proven worthless.

The difference between them wasn’t something determination could bridge.

It wasn’t something courage could overcome.

It was simply too vast.

Evelyne closed her eyes for a moment.

Perhaps this was simply how her story ended.

But Victor’s expression changed slightly.

Confusion crossed his face.

”What are you saying? I do not wish to kill you.”

Evelyne’s eyes immediately opened.

”Huh?”

Victor looked at her as though he genuinely couldn’t understand why she had reached such a conclusion.

”If I wanted to kill you, then the moment you told me who you were, was the moment you should have died. But here you are still talking to me, alive, aren’t you?”

Evelyne fell silent.

His words were simple.

And they were completely logical.

If Victor had truly wanted her dead, there would have been no conversation.

The moment she revealed her identity, her life could have ended.

The difference between their strength was so enormous that she wouldn’t even have had the opportunity to resist.

Yet she was still standing.

Still breathing.

Still speaking to him.

The realization slowly settled into her mind.

Victor had never intended to kill her.

Evelyne’s fingers curled slightly.

Then she looked directly into those golden eyes again.

For the first time since the battle began, she felt a different kind of uncertainty.

Not fear of death.

Fear of not understanding the man standing before her.

She swallowed quietly.

”Then, what is it do you want from me?”

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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Journey to Become the Zenith* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!

With love,

Scorpio_saturn777

Creator of Journey to Become the Zenith

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