System's POV

Chapter 1469: Whether You Go Or Not Is Your Choice

"Master, will a situation worse than the last battle really happen?" Tiona asked.

"Yes," Thirteen replied. "And frankly, I don’t have the time to create a massive magical formation to turn the tides in our favor."

Stella wanted to say something, but she hesitated. Her action didn’t escape Thirteen’s gaze, so he pulled the young lady close to him and kissed her forehead.

"I know what you’re thinking, but we shouldn’t do it," Thirteen shook his head. "However, Stella, this isn’t your homeworld. Things will get really dangerous soon, so maybe you should go back and raise our baby in Hestia in peace?"

"Huh?!" Stella shuddered before placing a hand on her abdomen. She then looked at Zion in disbelief.

"I was just joking." Thirteen smirked. "You take things too seriously, Stella."

"Y-You meanie!" Stella pouted and pushed the young man away, which made Tiona shake her head helplessly.

Thirteen held the hand of the pouting young lady before looking straight at her eyes.

"A joke is always half meant," Thirteen said. "It will take us a few days to reach the Godfall Cradle. How about we seriously try to have one? We can even think of names for our baby. Of course, you won’t be the only one pregnant."

Tiona blushed, but her face looked a little anxious. Thirteen’s words were similar to someone writing their last will.

The fact he wanted to leave offsprings behind might be because he didn’t want to make his lovers lonely if something were to happen to him.

At the very least, he would live on not only in their hearts and memories but also through the children who would bear his blood.

"Master..." Tiona spoke softly. "Are you planning to sacrifice yourself?"

Stella’s fingers tightened around the young man’s hand, which held onto her.

For once, Thirteen didn’t answer immediately. He didn’t even make any jokes, knowing Tiona didn’t want to hear any jokes right now.

But he also knew that if he said yes, Tiona would do everything in her power, even sacrificing herself to ensure her Master wouldn’t need to take that step.

"Let’s not talk about this now," Thirteen dodged the question as he wrapped his hands around the waist of his two lovers. "Let’s go to the Domain of the Apocalypse. If we’re lucky, Erica and the others might also be there."

"Y-You’re not seriously going to get us pregnant, right?" Stella asked, her face beet-red.

Thirteen only smirked and pulled his two lovers inside the portal.

As if he had already expected his other lovers to be there, they indeed appeared at the right place at the right time.

Thirteen explained to everyone the current situation and the dangers that he would face.

He advised Erica, Sherry, and Shana to leave Solterra at once.

Just as he expected, the three ladies rejected his request. They even told him that they would do their best to head to the center of the continent, where the final battle was going to take place.

"You’re all so silly," Thirteen said as Erica and Shana hugged him tightly. "Maybe your silliness has rubbed off onto me."

"It’s the pot calling the kettle black." Princess Aracelle commented. "But there’s one thing I agree with, Zion."

"And that is?"

"I want your baby."

Silence.

A very dangerous silence.

The temperature inside the Domain of the Apocalypse dropped several degrees.

Erica slowly turned her head towards Princess Aracelle.

Sherry’s smile froze.

Shana’s arms tightened around Thirteen.

Tiona’s eyes narrowed just a little.

Princess Xynalia smirked.

Stella blinked.

All the girls’ expressions changed, and for a brief moment, Thirteen and Little Thirteen felt that they were in danger.

Even if they were battle-hardened, there were some battles that were truly impossible to win.

Thirteen was able to calculate his chances of winning, but no matter how much he tried to find a way to escape his predicament, every possibility met a dead end.

"Um... girls. Calm down a bit, please?" Thirteen said as calmly as possible. "Today was a busy day, and I’m very tired. Let’s all just sleep, okay?"

Princess Aracelle tilted her head. "Sleep?"

Princess Xynalia smirked. "Yes. Let him rest."

Erica giggled. "We wouldn’t want him collapsing before the final battle."

Sherry smiled sweetly. "That would be tragic."

Shana nodded. "Very tragic."

Stella’s face only turned a shade redder as she watched her sisters grab hold of their lover with smiles on their faces.

Unfortunately for Thirteen, he had no place to run.

There was no path of escape

The only option available to him was to endure and stand tall until he could no longer make it stand anymore.

———

Dantanian felt conflicted after he passed Thirteen’s message to Cahethal and Zaphiel.

The moment they heard of Mammon’s betrayal, their expressions had turned serious.

Barman was with Mammon. He was not easy to defeat unless caught off guard.

Cahethal even asked Dantanian if he had solid evidence of his claims. Unfortunately, the Fiend of Many Faces could only shake his head.

"Zion was the one who told me about Mammon’s betrayal," Dantanian explained. "I don’t know how he knew about this, but he would never lie about something this important."

Zaphiel clicked his tongue. "I already have suspicions that Mammon has the Key of Greed. I just couldn’t get any evidence because I was too busy acquiring the Key of Pride."

"So you want us to go to Godfall Cradle?" Cahethal asked.

"Yes," Dantanian replied. "But only if you want to. According to Zion, we will face a battle that would make the recent incident look like a child’s game. He said if you don’t know the meaning of the word despair, you will see it with your own eyes at Godfall Cradle."

Dantanian gave the two a brief nod before turning around.

"I still have to meet the other Celestials and Fiends," Dantanian said softly. "Whether you go or not is your choice. But if you go, I’ll be there to see things through the bitter end."

After saying everything he needed to say, Dantanian disappeared. He was the only one among the Fiends who could spread the word fast enough, informing everyone that the Fiend of Greed had taken that final step to damnation and beyond.