Chapter 142: The Choice
The blue eyes continued watching the city. The storm above Dawn grew darker, lightning dancing through the hurricane of stone and clouds swirling in the space where the ceiling used to be.
Arthur never took his eyes off the sky. "Athena," he said, his voice calm. "What do we do?"
Inside the throne room, Athena hurriedly reread the final section of Halburn’s records, comparing them with the golden symbols now floating around the crown. Her breathing was uneven. Then her eyes widened.
"I found it!" she said.
Everyone immediately looked toward her.
Arthur asked, "What do we need?"
Athena quickly said, "We need everyone."
Arthur blinked. "Everyone?"
"The text says the final defense cannot begin until every surviving Goblin gathers beneath the Throne," she said.
Leon immediately looked toward the city. "If you can see everyone through the golden lines," he said, "then you can guide them."
Athena nodded. "I’ll direct every survivor."
Arthur nodded once. "You also said Eden is important," he said. "How?"
Athena hesitated. "I don’t know." She hated admitting it. She continued reading. "It simply says, when the little one touches the Crown, she will understand."
Silence.
Eden slowly pointed toward herself. "I will?"
Arthur immediately smiled. "I guess we’ll find out," he said.
Leon raised an eyebrow. "You’re surprisingly calm," he said.
Arthur laughed. "Why wouldn’t I be?" He looked down at Eden. "I trust her."
Eden froze. "Really?"
Arthur gently scratched the top of her head with one finger. "Of course," he said. "I think you’re going to save every one of us."
Eden blinked. "...You really think I can?"
Arthur didn’t hesitate. "I know you can. You’ve surprised me every single time we’ve met. So why would today be any different?"
Every person in the room looked toward Eden.
Not because they thought she was the strongest.
Not because they thought she had a special ability.
Because every single one of them trusted Arthur, and if he believed she could save Dawn, then so did they.
Eden slowly looked around: Arthur, Vedas, Leon, Athena, Mithra, Sun, Melo, Athy, Kong, every single face smiling at her. For the first time, the little fairy stopped seeing herself as the youngest. She finally felt important.
Eden’s eyes immediately became watery. She clenched her tiny fists. "I’ll do my best!" she said.
Arthur smiled. "I know."
That confidence alone steadied Eden’s trembling heart.
Eden took one long breath.
The fear didn’t disappear but it became smaller. Her partner had full trust in her, so how could she not believe in herself and try?
Athena placed both hands on the crown, and the golden lines brightened. Her voice echoed throughout every district, every alley, every building, every shelter. "Everyone. Head toward the Throne Room. It is our final hope."
A Goblin mother carried one child while another clung to her clothes. A Stone Guardian knelt, and she climbed onto its hand, and it carefully lifted the entire family onto its shoulder before it began running.
A wounded Goblin Hunter supported another whose leg was broken. A Goblin Statue silently walked beside them and, without speaking, simply lifted the injured Hunter into its arms.
The Hunter blinked. "Thank you," he said.
The Statue nodded once, then ran.
Several Goblin children cried because rubble blocked the road. Three Spectral Warriors arrived and, without hesitation, shattered every stone. One even knelt.
"Come," he said.
The children instinctively grabbed his hand, even though he was only a spirit.
Goblin Healers moved through the streets, treating wounds while continuing toward the palace. Goblin Riders escorted civilians, Direwolves running beside frightened children, never once leaving them.
Throughout the city everyone began moving toward one destination. The entire kingdom was converging.
Athena’s voice reached the breached wall. "Everyone. Retreat toward the Throne."
Mithra immediately turned. "You heard her! Move!"
Kong was still breathing heavily from earlier, his eyes occasionally darting toward the sky. The fear hadn’t disappeared. He simply refused to let it control him anymore.
Sun slapped his shoulder. "You with me?"
Kong inhaled deeply. Then nodded. Without another word, he scooped up six frightened Goblins at once: one elderly Goblin, three children, two wounded Hunters, settling them onto his broad shoulders before grabbing two more beneath each arm.
Sun blinked. "...Partner."
Kong looked back. His fear was still there. But so was his determination.
Sun grinned. "That’s my partner."
Kong let out one loud screech, then sprinted toward the palace.
Melo’s five tails kept swaying as she nulled the senses of the Goblins she passed. The Goblin Rider steadied their breathing. Even trembling Direwolves slowly relaxed.
One exhausted Goblin looked at her. "...Thank you."
Melo smiled warmly. "We’re almost there." She wasn’t simply creating illusions anymore. She had become the courage everyone desperately needed.
Several frightened Goblin Mages, Spearman, Riders, Spirit Channalers, and Scouts reached out... Holding onto one of her tails. Melo didn’t pull away and simply kept walking.
Leading them forward.
Mephistopheles lowered himself, and several wounded Goblins climbed onto his back. Even Stone Guardians began carrying the injured Goblin Spearmen and Mages. The entire city became one enormous evacuation.
Then, boooooooom!! Lightning struck. Buildings disappeared and roads collapsed. Another bolt came down, then another. Everyone sprinted faster.
At first Mithra believed the lightning was trying to kill them. Then she noticed. Every bolt landed close, too close, but never directly upon a Goblin. Instead it blocked roads, destroyed escape routes, forced them into different paths.
Her breathing slowed. "No," she said. She looked upward. "It isn’t attacking us."
Another bolt landed, smashing into a building and scaring them all.
"It’s messing with us," she said.
Silence.
Even Sun slowly realized it. "Like animals," he said.
Beyond the walls, the surviving Beasts finally reached the breach. Hope appeared in their eyes. Then an ocean of lightning crashed downward, and the entire breach disappeared behind a wall of lightning. The Beasts immediately skidded to a stop, some crashing into one another, others desperately trying to climb over. They all failed. They were trapped. Just like Dawn. Nobody was escaping.
Arthur suddenly stopped. "Athy."
Leon immediately understood. "The rooftop."
The two of them changed direction at the same time, Arthur leaping across the shattered rooftops while Leon used Dragon Dash, golden flames bursting beneath his feet. They reached the rooftop only moments later.
Athy was exactly where they had left her, the large owl crouched against the broken stone, her black-and-white feathers ruffled, breathing unevenly, her golden eyes following every movement in the sky.
Arthur immediately knelt beside her. "Athy."
She slowly looked toward him.
"You okay?"
For a moment she simply stared. Then she nodded. "...I can move." Her voice was quieter than usual. "My body finally listened."
Arthur let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. "You scared me."
Athy gave a small smile. "I scared myself." She slowly spread her enormous wings. They trembled. Not from injury. From remembering. "I’ve never..." "...been that afraid before."
Leon quietly looked toward the storm. "None of us have."
Athy shook herself once, scattering loose feathers across the rooftop, then her golden eyes sharpened. "I’m alright now."
Arthur studied her for another second. "You sure?"
She nodded. "I’m still scared... but I won’t run again."
Arthur smiled. "Good." He offered his hand.
Athy looked at it, then gently bumped her beak against his shoulder instead. "I’m ready."
Arthur laughed. "Let’s go."
The three of them immediately launched toward the palace together. Arthur raced across rooftops, destroying rubble as he went, and then looked down to see Vedas running through the streets, nine other Goblins behind him.
Arthur landed on a rooftop above the street. "VEDAS!"
Vedas immediately looked up, and for one brief second the battlefield disappeared. The two partners simply looked at one another. Arthur raised a fist. Vedas smiled, and instead of waving, he raised his own. The two lightly tapped their fists against the air, miles apart yet perfectly synchronized.
Arthur suddenly laughed. Vedas laughed too. Neither needed words. Both thought the exact same thing. We survived again.
Without another pause, Arthur pushed off the rooftop, and Vedas accelerated through the street below before shouting, "Why do I always find myself in life threatening situations whenever I follow you?"
Arthur laughed. "I can’t let your life become boring," he said.
Leon laughed. "I’ll admit," he said, "he has a point."
Eden suddenly popped out. "BIG BROTHER!" she said.
Vedas immediately smiled, his entire expression softening. "I’m sorry," he said. "I took so long." Then immediately, "Nobody bullied you?"
Eden proudly puffed out her chest. "No! I helped Arthur!"
Arthur nodded seriously. "Honestly, I’d probably be dead several times if she wasn’t here," he said.
Vedas’s eyes widened. He gently patted Eden’s head. "As expected," he said. "That’s my little sister."
Eden beamed.
Arthur then looked toward Suri, Gruk, and the other Crownwall Hunters. "You all got stronger," he said.
Everyone blinked. "You noticed?"
Arthur nodded. "I’ve been watching your progress," he said. Arthur smiled. "You’ve all been getting stronger. And I’ve been proud every single time."
Suri, Gruk, the Hunters, and even Vedas blinked. "Really?"
Arthur nodded. "I always check. We’ll talk later. Let’s survive first."
Everyone laughed. Even during the apocalypse, Arthur somehow kept everyone’s spirits up.
Everyone reached the Throne Room one by one.
Goblins from the Mu Tribe.
Goblins from the Su Tribe.
Goblins from the Yan Tribes.
Goblins from the Cromwell Tribe.
Stone Guardians stood outside. Goblin Statues formed a defensive ring. Spectral Warriors guarded every entrance. One by one they arrived: Sun, Kong, Melo, Mithra, Leon, Arthur, Vedas. Athy landed beside Arthur, folding her enormous wings.
Mephistopheles squeezed through the palace entrance, lowering his massive head. Even Raku finally arrived, leaning heavily upon his staff.
Nobody said anything.
Someone quietly counted. "...So many of us are here."
No one answered.
Because hearing those words felt like a miracle.
Arthur slowly looked around. Then smiled. "...Not bad."
Sun laughed. "We’re missing a few buildings."
Leon looked outside. "...We’ll rebuild those."
Nobody argued.
Athena slowly removed the crown, walked toward Arthur, and placed it into his hands. "It’s your turn," she said.
Arthur nodded, then knelt before Eden. "Ready?"
Eden took a deep breath. "Ready," she said. She reached out and touched the crown.
The instant Eden touched it, every golden line throughout Dawn began glowing. Outside, the hurricane doubled in speed as the blue eyes slowly narrowed. The lightning became louder, then fell silent.
And soon, a voice that was ancient and indifferent appeared in their heads. "If you wish to continue living, release the little one."
Nobody breathed.
The voice continued. "I shall permit your survival."
Arthur frowned. "Permit?"
The voice answered immediately. "You misunderstand. I do not negotiate. I simply offered mercy." Its tone never changed. No anger. No hatred. No arrogance. Only certainty. As though speaking to insects.
Arthur slowly scratched his cheek. "So you’ve been searching for my Beast Partner?" he said.
Silence.
"I require her," the voice said. "I have searched for her since the peak of the Dawn Kingdom."
Silence.
"I watched many new empires rise in this secret realm and the outside world."
"I watched them disappear."
"And still I couldn’t find her as if something was hiding her away from me... Until now."
Every person in the room slowly felt their hearts sink.
It wasn’t bragging.
It was simply stating history.
Arthur sighed dramatically. "That’s honestly disappointing," he said.
The room froze.
Arthur continued. "I expected some ancient terrifying existence. Instead I get someone who spent centuries looking for a baby and still couldn’t find her."
Leon slowly closed his eyes. "Arthur," he said.
Athena whispered, "Please stop."
Sun covered his face. "He’s doing it again," he said.
Arthur kept going. "You know, I’ve seen Goblins organize treasure hunts better than you. Maybe you’re just incompetent."
Complete silence.
Nobody even looked at the sky anymore.
Every eye slowly turned toward Arthur.
Mithra smile but she didn’t refute or scold him as if she agreed with his words.
Leon trembled before laughing out loud. "I expected nothing less from you!"
Sun stared at Arthur before sighing. "...Really? You’re doing that now? Well, I guess this isn’t the worse way to go."
Athena closed her eyes. "I was hoping this time you wouldn’t go overboard."
Vedas simply sighed. "I should’ve expected this."
Even Kong slowly looked toward Arthur then toward the sky and then quietly took one step farther away from Arthur. As though distancing himself might somehow save him from Arthur insanity.
Melo covered her face with both paws. "We’re doomed."
Even Athy slowly lowered one wing over her eyes.
She couldn’t bear to watch.
"What?" Arthur looked around. "I just answered his offer."
Even the storm paused.
Then the voice returned. Much colder. "I see," it said.
The silence that fell was longer this time.
As though the existence above the city had never before been interrupted and never before been mocked.
"So even vermin may become irritating. I shall reclaim the child. And escort every one of you into your next life."
The pressure exploded.
Everyone fell to one knee. Even Stone Guardians outside cracked. The throne room trembled, and the city trembled with it. The storm became violent before everyone saw it, and in the black clouds and rubble, every type of lightning was crackling: blue, yellow, crimson, white, and even black. Every color appeared, each one radiating a different, terrifying aura, and it made the others flinch and look down.
Arthur still smiled as he slowly raised Dusk, pointing it toward the blue eyes. "You sure talk a lot," he said, "for someone who still hasn’t taken her."
For the first time the blue eyes truly focused on Arthur. Not a glance or simply noticing Eden on him, but truly taking in the vermin who had kept speaking to it.
The ancient voice echoed one final time. "Very well," it said. "Then you shall witness Judgment."
The blue eyes slowly disappeared.
Arthur frowned. "...Where did it go?"
Nobody answered.
Then every golden line throughout Dawn went dark.
Athena’s eyes widened. "The connection to the city is gone!"
Outside—
the hurricane stopped spinning and the millions of floating boulders all pointed downward.
Toward the Throne.
Toward every survivor.
Arthur slowly looked upward. "...Everyone. Get down."
One pebble fell.
Then another and then another. Soon every rubble that had been gathered fell towards the city as if the sky itself was collapsing.