System's POV

Chapter 1452: More Scarier Than The Monsters Inside Your Head

"Zion, aren’t you scared?" Stella asked the young man as they were about to sleep. "Zaphiel’s army arrives in a few days."

"What’s so scary about it?" Thirteen asked. "If I fail, I die. That’s all there is to it."

Stella pouted, finding the teenage boy’s outlook in life too extreme. She had often wondered why Zion acted the way he did and realized that she didn’t know him enough to know the answer.

For a moment, she envied Tiona, Sherry, Erica, Shana, Princess Aracelle, and Princess Xynalia for knowing much Zion better than she did.

They had been with him for years, while she had only spent a few weeks with him.

While she was deep in thought, she felt his hands wrap around her back, then he pulled her closer to him.

"Don’t overthink things," Thirteen said before kissing her forehead. "I will protect you."

"Mmm." Stella nodded before kissing Zion’s cheek.

A moment later, they shared a brief kiss on the lips, which Stella had taken the initiative to do.

She was starting to be a bit more proactive, even without Tiona’s encouragement. She had a very bad premonition for the upcoming battle, but being with Zion helped her calm down.

Stella gently pressed her lips on Zion’s neck, nibbling it a bit, just like how her mother had taught her.

"Doing this excites your father. You should try it with Zion soon!"

Chiffon had shamelessly taught her daughter to do something like that without William’s knowledge. If the Half-Elf only knew that his daughter was now doing the things that his wives were doing to him, he might have puked blood then and there!

Fortunately, he didn’t know and wouldn’t know for the time being.

Thirteen had gotten used to being marked by his lovers, so he remained still and allowed Stella to do whatever she wanted.

Since she was now his lover, she deserved to be treated the way she deserved.

He understood why she felt anxious. A great battle involving the true powerhouses of Solterra was a major event that could shake the very foundation of the world.

Whenever Erica or Shana felt anxious, they would also ask Zion to ravage them until they could no longer think of anything else.

And they would calm down everytime.

Of course, Thirteen wouldn’t do the same thing to Stella until she herself asked for it.

For now, he planned to take things slowly until both of them opened up to each other.

When Stella finally calmed down a bit, she hugged Zion, feeling the strength of his body.

"Why are you so strong and calm, Zion?" Stella asked. "Just thinking of everything you’ve done in your life makes my legs turn to jelly."

"Stella, when you have experienced all the things I did, a battle against Celestials would be the least of your worries," Thirteen explained. "While this battle might be more dangerous than the ones I faced before, I’m confident I will survive."

"You’re so brave that II sometimes think that you fear nothing," Stella said softly. "Tell me, Zion. What do you fear the most?"

Thirteen didn’t reply right away. Instead, he hugged Stella a little tighter before whispering something in her ear.

"I’m not afraid of dying," Thirteen replied. "I’m most afraid of seeing you, my lovers, my family, and my friends suffer right. For me, that’s the scariest thing in the world—to feel helpless, unable to do anything to protect the people dear to me.

"It hurts more than any wound I could sustain in the battlefield. More painful than getting tortured by the enemies. More terrifying than the monsters inside of your head."

"You’re afraid of losing Sherry, Erica, Shana, Princess Aracelle, and Princess Xynalia as well?" Stella inquired.

"Yes," Thirteen replied. "I’m also afraid of losing you. Even if we hadn’t known each other for a long time, you are still one of my people."

Hearing him call her one of "his people" made Stella feel something warm swell up inside her chest. It made her feel special.

Zion wasn’t someone who easily opened his heart to others. But once he did, he would do his best to ensure their safety, even if it meant sacrificing himself in the process.

But Stella didn’t want that.

She didn’t want Zion to sacrifice himself for her sake because that would make her sad.

"Zion, promise me something," Stella said firmly. "If there comes a time for you have to choose between saving yourself and saving me, you must choose yourself first."

Thirteen didn’t answer, so Stella cupped his face, forcing him to look her in the eyes.

"Promise me," Stella insisted.

"I will only promise if you beat me in archery," Thirteen replied.

The young lady flinched at those words, not confident in beating the record he had left in her home world.

The young lady looked down, pouting like a child who didn’t get what she wanted.

This time, it was Zion’s turn to cup her face and make her look straight at him.

"Stella, if you don’t want me to make that choice, you just have to be stronger," Thirteen said. "And even if you are weaker than me, you don’t have to worry. I will save you because doing so also saves myself."

Thirteen regretted failing to save his Hosts when he was still a System.

He could summon Legendary and even Divine Weapons through the System Shop, but when it mattered the most, he was helpless.

He had lived for thousands of years.

And yet, the pain didn’t heal with time.

The hole in his heart only got bigger as time passed. His attempt to repair it was only a temporary solution.

Even erasing the memories of his hosts to ensure his function as a System left him broken.

"Don’t worry," Thirteen said as he hugged her tighter. "No matter what happens, I will protect you. I will protect everyone."

Stella felt sad, knowing the weight his words carried.

She wondered how someone as young as Zion could shoulder many burdens. Burdens that even adults wouldn’t be able to carry on their back alone.

In the end, she couldn’t help but tear up a bit as he hugged him tight.

She made a promise to herself that no matter what happens, she would protect her boyfriend, who was only living his life, so that others would not need to suffer anymore.