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Chapter 288: To Become Strong, The Will To Live
Chapter 288: To Become Strong, The Will To Live
.....
The Island King cleared up the confusion by saying, "You asked what we shall do, and the answer is that you all will run." He stroked his long white beard with a fatherly glint in his gaze. "While you all escape under the lead of Jing Fu, I will hold off the Crimson Usurper with the Low-Galactic Traverser Rank Sealing Treasure that I took from the Treasury.
This should allow me to hold the monster off for just long enough to enable you all to escape into the nearby Waterfroth Galaxy."
"!!!" "!!!" "!!!"
All of the gathered powerhouses of the various apex factions looked toward their leader with dumbfounded expressions.
"My Lord, you simply cannot do this!"
"What would we do without you!?"
"You are akin to the guiding light that leads us toward a brighter future! It wouldn't be possible to see through the darkness without your presen-"
"Okay, that is more than enough flattery from you all." The Island King waved his hand in an irritated manner, causing the shameless officials to calm down and sit back on their chairs.
After getting them to stop the buttering session, the Island King said, "You all are the future, while I am just a dying man on his last legs. With the youthful Jing Fu as the new leader, you will have a way forward."
"B-But, my Lord! To have Jing Fu take the reigns on matters concerning the inner circle-" One of the high officials attempted to speak up but was swiftly silenced by the Island King, saying:
"My word is final. Jing Fu will be your new leader, and he will take you all and this island to the Waterfroth Galaxy, which is where you will find refuge with a buddy of mine."
The Island King took a long, hard look at all the people whom he had known like family for many billions of years. His eyes briefly glossed over as his aura became melancholic.
"Can you do this for me, Jing Fu…?" He asked, his antiquated gaze focused on the Star Rider's conflicted expression.
"...I will do my part."
Jing Fu gritted his teeth and looked away from the old man.
He was disappointed in himself and in his strength.
But, more than that, he was disappointed in the cowardice part of him attempting to crawl its way out of his shell.
The Island King understood what the surging emotions within Jing Fu implied, but it mattered not for him.
"You will do fine, Jing Fu. Just go about life as you always have, and… please… take care of this island and its people…"
"I will do that…"
After getting out these sappy words, both the Island King and the Star Rider went their separate ways.
They knew what they had to do, and they would get it done, no matter the cost.
-
Meanwhile, in the deep reaches of the speed stream, a devil-like man zipped through the countless layers of space at a speed far surpassing that of light.
"I am close! I just need to become a tad bit stronger, and I'll be able to catch up to that Loot Island!"
Azmodeus's maniacal grin widened to the highest points of his devilish face as he swooped in and out of space. While doing so, he had his other half cultivate with even greater intensity.
He would become stronger!
He would become so strong that no loot bag would ever even dare to dream of escaping his grasp!
With such thoughts whirling around inside his mind, he forced the speed stream to morph to his ideals, subsequently causing another large boost in speed to come his way!
"I will find you two, and when I do, I'll make sure to take you for everything you're worth!!!"
Azmodeus's power-hungry shouts could be heard in the surrounding space for thousands of light years. As he inched closer to his target, those shouts only became louder and louder.
-
Shudder!
The Island King and Jing Fu felt spine-tingling shivers go down their spines.
They were both going about their own tasks, but this unnerving feeling was enough to have them stop in their tracks and look toward the same direction. Even though such a feeling could merely be a coincidence or an independent phenomenon, at their cultivation level, there was no such thing as 'coincidence'.
'I need to speed things up.' They both thought in unison.
One gathered everything inside the Island Treasury, planning for the possible destruction of the island. While the other one stationed himself at the very edge of his cosmically sparkling island, preparing himself for what was to come.
Many spectators watched the Island King with intent gazes, knowing full well what was about to happen to their benevolent leader. Slowly, they started to devolve into depression, thinking about all that would change with the disappearance of their Island King…
"We will be lost without him…"
"Is there even a point in going on…?"
"Should we just let the Crimson Usurper kill us all and let everyone take the easy way out?"
The uniquely dressed citizens of Starfarer Island discussed the uncertainties of the future among themselves. Calculating everything that could or could not happen, they swiftly realized that there was a very low likelihood of them coming out on top.
But regardless of the statistics, people had an inmate yearning for life.
They wished to live…
"..."
The Island King understood this fundamental concept very well. After all, he too wanted to live…
But for him, the people of his home mattered far more than his singular will to live.
These were his family; they were the future-
CRACKA—BOOOOOM!
"!!!" "!!!" "!!!"
A loud, ear-deafening explosion took the Island King and the other citizens out of their thoughts as they shot their heads to the top of the Island Dome.
The first thing they saw was the…
"The sky… It's falling…?"
The Island King watched as a massive hole in the roof only became larger and larger, reaching the size of a solar system in no time at all!
Sparks started to fly, and highly intricate wires and machinery crumbled before breaking apart. Leaving a trail of fire and lightning on the way down, a big chunk of the sky plummeted toward the earth below!
...…